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Australia can claim a significant world first: a special government adviser on Women’s Affairs.

Fifty years ago, Elizabeth Reid stepped into the newly created role in Gough Whitlam’s government.

Abortion access, workplace rights, contraception and education – it was a time of huge change in gender parity and access. But the reaction to Reid and the new position was vicious in some circles. She resigned just two and a half years into the job.

What motivated her? How did the job change her? And why did she leave Australia once it was over?

Today, we’re looking back on this interview between Ruby Jones and Elizabeth Reid, one of our favourite episodes of 2023.

(This episode was first published in May 2023.)

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Guest: Women’s affairs adviser to Gough Whitlam, Elizabeth Reid.

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Those who imagined, designed and delivered robo-debt put their personal ambition above the wellbeing of the people they were meant to serve. But there were some on the frontline who knew from the very beginning that this government shakedown was wrong.

One, Colleen Taylor, came forward at the royal commission. While senior leaders failed to recall, or refused to say how robo-debt happened, she told the truth and helped crack one of the biggest scandals in Australian government history wide open.

Today we’re looking back on this interview between Rick Morton and Centrelink worker-turned-whistleblower Colleen Taylor, one of our favourite episodes of 2023.

(This episode first aired in July 2023.)

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Guest: Former Centrelink worker Colleen Taylor.

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At certain times of the year, a group of volunteers can be found roaming Canberra’s bush reserves bearing raw chicken carcasses – all in the name of saving and studying the small local population of goannas.

Of particular interest to the volunteers is the Rosenberg’s monitor – only seven are known to be living in the area, and their survival in an environment so close to Canberra’s city is uncertain. 

But, armed with bait and cameras taking millions of photos, local ecologists and volunteers hope to give Canberra’s goannas a chance.

Today on the show, Suzannah Marshall Macbeth, with her piece from a recent edition of The Saturday Paper, ‘Saving Canberra’s goannas’.

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Guest: Writer Suzannah Marshall Macbeth

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When Behrouz Boochani first wrote about life on Manus Island for The Saturday Paper in 2016, he described it as an island of the damned.

Writing through WhatsApp, he documented the horrors of everyday life as a subject of Australia’s policies towards asylum seekers.

Behrouz is now free, after being granted refugee status in New Zealand.

Despite being told he would never step foot in Australia, last month he visited Parliament House to launch a campaign for a royal commission into Australia’s system of immigration detention. It’s a system he says has dehumanised refugees and led to violence, death and corruption scandals – rubber-stamped by both major parties and shrouded in secrecy.

Today, Kurdish-Iranian born writer and human rights advocate Behrouz Boochani joins us in the studio.

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Guest: Kurdish-Iranian writer and human rights advocate, Behrouz Boochani

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Former radio host Alan Jones was once the most influential broadcaster in the country.

Now, he’s been accused of indecent assault by six men who revealed their allegations of abuse, which Jones denies, in reporting by the Nine newspapers. 

This isn’t the first time Alan Jones has dealt with a scandal. In fact, his career has been defined by controversy, and his reputation is something he’s spent decades defending with the support of Australia’s elite. 

Today, associate editor of The Saturday Paper Martin Mckenzie Murray on how the influence of Alan Jones was built and why his career has weathered so many scandals.

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Guest: Associate editor of The Saturday Paper, Martin Mckenzie Murray

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The defamation trial between Bruce Lehrmann and Network Ten is nearing its end. 

More than two weeks of the hearing has revealed emotional evidence from witnesses, exposed lies and shed new light on the culture inside Parliament House. 

Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton on the attitudes, behaviour and personal feuds in the lead up to the events in Canberra in March of 2019.

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Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton

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This time last year, the government was confident, popular and getting its agenda through without controversy.

But a year later, the Labor government has slumped in the polls, lost a historic referendum and is now facing stronger opposition – both inside and outside the parliament.

So, is this all a temporary blip, or an urgent warning? And does the Albanese government need to change course, or is it better to persevere with its existing agenda?

Today, contributor to The Monthly, Sean Kelly, on the story of Labor’s year and what it’s taught us about Anthony Albanese’s style of leadership.

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Guest: Former advisor to Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd, contributor to The Monthly, Sean Kelly

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The world’s biggest climate change summit, COP, is held every year with a bold vision: to bring nations together to negotiate and find solutions for the climate crisis.

But COP28 faces criticism for becoming a corporate wasteland filled with lobbyists.

So has the summit strayed from its purpose? 

Today, climate leadership expert from the University of Melbourne, Linh Do, who is in Dubai at COP28, on the goals and the pitfalls of the event. 

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Guest: Climate leadership expert from the University of Melbourne, Linh Do.

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Rupert Murdoch’s global media empire is in decline - yet, as Malcolm Turnbull tells Paddy, he was still able to roll a sitting prime minister and be invited into cabinet. In this series finale, Paddy investigates Rupert’s relationship with Donald Trump and his ongoing impact on democracies around the world. Finally, with Lachlan taking over from his father, he explores how much longer the empire will survive without Rupert in control.

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A High Court decision ruling indefinite detention unlawful – leading to the release of 148 immigration detainees, some of whom are criminals – has sparked weeks of toxic political debate about refugees.

In the last few days, the government raced to pass new immigration laws that will put an end to it, but the style of debate has already caused damage.

So, what have we learned from the debacle, and did Australia miss an opportunity to have a conversation about our hardline immigration policy?

Today, contributing editor of The Politics for The Monthly online, Rachel Withers, on how parliament ended the year on ugly scenes.

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Guest: Contributing editor of The Politics for The Monthly online, Rachel Withers

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