Van Badham and Ben Davison give a quick update on the goings on at parliament (Aged care reforms, workers in the halls, cultural policy, a review of defence and attempts to claw back the "Workforce Australia" program) before jumping into how the economic establishment has gotten things so very wrong during the cost of living & inflation crisis.

With inflation climbing and interest rates rising but wages going backwards and profits at record levels Van and Ben discuss how the fever dream of a long dead right wing economist has become the economic gospel with which we are being beaten around the head.

BUT workers are taking a stand to win better pay and conditions at the same time the Labor government is strengthening the social infrastructure that will help workers win pay rises.  Australian union members are taking action at NSW rail and Launceston hospital (among many places) while even more refuse pay cuts from big banks and Qantas. Van sets listeners a challenge to join your union before the end of the episode at australianunions.org.au/wow

Among the many political stories the legislation to enshrine a 43% emissions reduction floor into law is a big focus.  The Greens have finally announced they will support Labor's Repowering Australia approach while Dutton takes his Coalition off to explore nuclear power....again.

The Queensland based leader of the Coalition, Dutton, must be almost thankful for his lack of relevance because at least it means that he, unlike his NSW and Victorian Liberal leaders, isn't currently being investigated for a scandal.  Dom Perrottet lost a minister earlier in the week and lost his deputy leader today while Matthew Guy lost his chief of staff and gained, at least, a Victorian Electoral Commission investigation!

The good environment news is about removing plastics from the ocean and a process that is being refined to the point where it MIGHT happen in our lifetime.

Plus we give a huge shout out to all our supporters from www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday who contribute to making the podcast happen and getting it into the ears of people around the nation.