Bubble Pop Podcast

Australia has OFFICIALLY committed to net-zero emissions, and it only took us a decade, and 3 or four Prime Ministers. Sarah and Amanda chat about why the government’s plan to reach that goal hasn’t been met with resounding applause. Plus international travel begins again on November 1! We chat to the CEO of Flight Centre about how that’s all going to work.

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The week in politics was dominated by the Liberal-National debate over climate change. With the UN Climate Summit just days away, we talk to a top Nat to hear what people are thinking in country Australia. Plus we learn about how Australia’s heritage protection laws need changing to better protect indigenous history. 

Guests: 

David Littleproud, Deputy Nationals Leader and Minister for Agriculture

Josh Wilson MP, Shadow Assistant Minister for Environment

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This week there have been investigations by ICAC and IBAC, but what are these anti-corruption bodies? And why doesn’t the federal government have one? Plus we look at a new government plan to improve mental health and talk to a giant in the field about why the plan isn’t good enough. 

Guests: 

Zali Steggall, Independent MP for Warringah

Professor Ian Hickie, Former National Mental Health Commissioner

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Vaccine rates are skyrocketing. International borders are opening. New drugs will help people be less sick from Covid-19. Everything is finally looking up! We take you through things you can finally look forward to. Also, climate is back on the agenda and it feels like the climate wars could finally be coming to an end. 

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This week we take a look at the crossbench. What is it? Why is it important? And do they have more power than major parties sometimes? We sit down with crossbench senator Rex Patrick, to talk it all through and how he is helping keep the government transparent and accountable.

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Christian Porter has resigned. He’s been dragged over the coals for something called a ‘blind trust’. We take you through exactly what that is and why Porter remaining in parliament as an MP is still a problem. We also look at why France is so mad at Australia over the US nuclear submarine deal and how that might impact us in the future.

Guests: 

- Phil Coorey, Australian Financial Review Political Editor

- Michael Shoebridge, Director of Defence, Strategy and National Security at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute

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Australia has gone nuclear. Nuclear submarines that is. Sarah and Amanda explain what they are and why the news has made China mad. We also look at how companies that made a profit during the pandemic get to keep billions of dollars in JobKeeper payments.

Guests: 

- Rex Patrick, Independent Senator

- Malcolm Davis, Australian Strategic Policy Institute Defence Analyst

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The Women’s Safety Summit was held in Canberra this week, but what does that actually mean for women? Also on the show, the government teamed up with Labor to pass laws that make it harder for smaller parties to get elected. We speak to all-Aussie firebrand, Senator Jacqui Lambie about how it’s impacting democracy.

Guests: 

- Julie Inman Grant, eSafety Commissioner

- Jacqui Lambie, Tasmanian Senator

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Regional Australia is having its worst Covid-19 outbreak since the pandemic began. In the mostly Indigenous town of Wilcannia more than one in ten people have contracted the virus. We hear what the situation is like on the ground from a local. And, border closures dominated headlines AGAIN this week, but are they unconstitutional? We get the low-down from a legal expert.

Guests: 

- Brendon Adams, Wilcannia Community Leader and Wilcannia River Radio Station Manager

- Professor Anne Twomey, Constitutional Law Expert

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This week has been dominated by arguments about how and when Australia should open up again. The PM says soaring Covid-19 case numbers in NSW don’t matter, leading epidemiologists say they do. We find out who’s right. Sarah and Amanda also look into what Australia is doing to help Afghan refugees fleeing the Taliban with a Liberal MP who says we should take more. 

Guests: 

- Professor Tony Blakely, Public Health Medicine Specialist and Epidemiologist at the Melbourne SChool of Population and Global Health at the University of Melbourne

- John Alexander MP, Liberal Member for Bennelong

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