The Fifth Estate

Fifth Estate host Sally Warhaft talks to defence expert and adviser to Chief of Airforce, Group Captain Catherine McGregor, about the shape of Australia's defence policy in action.

As the dust settles on this year’s federal budget, the Fifth Estate turns its eye to matters economic with Ross Gittins, economics editor of the Sydney Morning Herald, and public policy experts Miriam Lyons and Ian McAuley.

While the Federal Government expects to spend more in 2015 than at the height of the global financial crisis, it appears that well-funded health and higher education are inching further out of reach – not to mention an economy that addresses climate change or the growing divide between rich and poor.

Must the ‘path back to surplus’ entail a leaner, meaner government? Doesn’t public sector involvement make sound economics? What is the role of government in Australia today?

Join Sally Warhaft and guests as they illuminate the complexities and contradictions of the modern economy – and its effects on our daily lives.

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Must the ‘path back to surplus’ entail a leaner, meaner government? Doesn’t public sector involvement make sound economics? What is the role of government in Australia today? Sally Warhaft speaks with Ian McAuley, Miriam Lyons and Ross Gittins.

In the early hours of 29 April, the Indonesian government executed eight prisoners – including two Australians – by firing squad. Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were killed despite intense diplomatic efforts, desperate legal manoeuvring and an enormous public outcry.

These executions, and the promise from Indonesia of more in the near future, have created unprecedented public interest in the death penalty. What can Australia now do to help abolish capital punishment in our region and beyond? Is a moratorium – or abolition – possible?

In a special edition of the Fifth Estate, in partnership with Reprieve Australia and its Mercy Campaign, host Sally Warhaft is joined by Professor Gillian Triggs, President of the Human Rights Commission, renowned anti-death penalty jurist the Honourable Lex Lasry and Richard Bourke, Director of the Louisiana Capital Assistance Center and founder of Reprieve Australia, to discuss Australia’s role in campaigning to end the death penalty.

Presented in partnership with Reprieve Australia.

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In a special edition of the Fifth Estate, in partnership with Reprieve Australia and its Mercy Campaign, host Sally Warhaft is joined by Professor Gillian Triggs, President of the Human Rights Commission, renowned anti-death penalty jurist the Honourable Lex Lasry and Richard Bourke, Director of the Louisiana Capital Assistance Center and founder of Reprieve Australia, to discuss Australia’s role in campaigning to end the death penalty.

In the past six months, Australia has seen the passing of two giants of the political stage — Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser. Defined by the dismissal, and with vastly different leadership styles, their respective visions and energy for reform have left a lasting legacy.

In this Fifth Estate, Sally Warhaft is joined by former Liberal MP, founding director of the Australian Institute of Multicultural Affairs and senior adviser to Malcolm Fraser (amongst others), Petro Georgiou; former Labor MP and friend and colleague to both Fraser and Whitlam, Barry Jones; and La Trobe University professor of politics Judith Brett.

Expect an intimate discussion of the vastly different contributions made by Whitlam and Fraser to the political world, and to Australia as a nation — from free education to immigration to Medicare to arts funding.

How do their legacies inform our understanding of the current political landscape? And can leaders like these, with a clear vision and grandeur of ideals, be seen again?

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An intimate discussion of the vastly different contributions made by Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser to the political world, and to Australia as a nation — with host Sally Warhaft and guests Petro Georgiou, Barry Jones and Judith Brett.

In this special spotlight edition of The Fifth Estate, we meet one of the most influential investigative journalists of our time. Nick Davies wrote more than 100 articles for the Guardian about scandalous crimes at Rupert Murdoch’s News of the World, which led to Britain’s Leveson Inquiry into the culture and practices of the press. He was also centrally involved in the publication of secret cables obtained by WikiLeaks.

How has the media changed since the phone-hacking scandal and subsequent inquiry? What was it like to take on the most powerful media mogul in the world? And what is the future for newspapers, the internet and investigative journalism? Join Nick Davies and host Sophie Black for a unique insight into some of the most important stories about power, freedom and corruption in the 21st century.

Nick Davies is the author of numerous award-winning books, including Hack Attack and Flat Earth News. He also teaches masterclasses on investigative journalism, writes feature films and makes TV documentaries.

This is the second episode of a two-part series; hear Nick and Sophie's earlier conversation here.

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Part two of our back-to-back chats with investigative journalist Nick Davies – whose work includes exposing the NOTW phone hacking scandal, and publishing WikiLeaks' diplomatic cables – and host Sophie Black for a unique insight into some of the most important stories about power, freedom and corruption in the 21st century.

In this special spotlight edition of The Fifth Estate, we meet one of the most influential investigative journalists of our time. Nick Davies wrote more than 100 articles for the Guardian about scandalous crimes at Rupert Murdoch’s News of the World, which led to Britain’s Leveson Inquiry into the culture and practices of the press. He was also centrally involved in the publication of secret cables obtained by WikiLeaks.

How has the media changed since the phone-hacking scandal and subsequent inquiry? What was it like to take on the most powerful media mogul in the world? And what is the future for newspapers, the internet and investigative journalism? Join Nick Davies and host Sophie Black for a unique insight into some of the most important stories about power, freedom and corruption in the 21st century.

Nick Davies is the author of numerous award-winning books, including Hack Attack and Flat Earth News. He also teaches masterclasses on investigative journalism, writes feature films and makes TV documentaries.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.