Some things never change, and 75 years since 12 men representing 12 countries signed the first North Atlantic Treaty, there were just four women attending the NATO Summit in Washington D.C. It says a lot about women’s representation around the world - Angela Priestley and Olivia Cleal share more.

We also look at Australia’s first national examination of filicide figures, and why we need to be examining this right now. Plus, the NDIS was under the microscope this week: how and why did sex work get approved for NDIS funding?

This podcast contains references that some listeners may find distressing. To avoid this content, you can choose not to listen from 5 min 40 sec to 11 min 55 sec.

If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au for online chat and video call services.

If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit http://www.ntv.org.au.

Feeling worried or no good? No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn. Speak to a 13YARN Crisis Supporter, call 13 92 76. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Stories discussed this week:

• ‘Art is a lie’: Kirsha Kaechele confesses to replicated Picasso artworks in MONA’s Ladies Lounge
• Record number of women elected to UK parliament, with first female chancellor appointed
• 138 children killed by parents in 8 years. It’s ‘senseless’ but research shows opportunities to stop it
• The government wants to end gender-based violence in one generation but they have forgotten about children
• 75 years of NATO but little change for women’s representation
• How and why did sex work get approved for NDIS funding?

The Crux is produced by Agenda Media, the 100% women-founded and owned media business, publishing the daily news publication Women’s Agenda.

Producers: Olivia Cleal and Allison Ho

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Sweden, it's paid parental leave for grandparents, thanks to new laws this week. In the UK, Labour's Keir Starmer will be the next PM and he's had a few things to say about spending time with kids.

Plus, what the US presidential debate says about all of us. We talk through all the latest stories from the week.

The Crux is produced by Agenda Media, publisher of Women's Agenda. You can subscribe to our daily update.

Some of the stories discussed this week below!

Author Jessie Tu on the inspiration behind her highly anticipated second novel, The Honeyeater

Paid parental leave for grandparents? Sweden has just introduced the world-first policy

More time spent arguing who’s better at golf than answering childcare question

As a young American woman, the presidential debate was an insult to my future

Labor purports to be a party exemplifying diverse leadership? Suspending Fatima Payman contradicts that entirely

‘My conscience leaves me no choice’: Fatima Payman quits Labor Party

UK’s likely next PM attacked as ‘part time’ for wanting Friday nights with kids

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CEOs say staff need to 'prepare to go to war' and are bemoaning work-life balance. We discuss the trend plus much more, including the salary bump for Australia's next Governor General and the media reactions, pay rises for nurses, and Sarah Ferguson taking on a far-right MAGA supporter and winning.

Also in the week that Julian Assange came home to Australia, we discuss some of the women who've been instrumental in his plight including Jennifer Robinson and Stella Assange.

You can subscribe to our daily update here. This week's episode of The Crux is produced by Allison Ho, with Tarla Lambert and Angela Priestley talking through the stories.

Stories discussed this week include:

Is it ‘indefensible’? Sam Mostyn to receive $214,000 more than predecessor

Victorian nurses and midwives to receive 28 per cent pay rise in massive deal

‘Are you even a serious interviewer?’ Sarah Ferguson meets a far-right congresswoman and shows how to stay cool in the face of personal attacks

Jen Robinson and Stella Assange: The women who worked to bring Julian Assange home

Senator Fatima Payman says she is not a ‘token representative of diversity’ as she crosses the floor over Palestine motion

Prepared to ‘go to war’ and quit the balance myth? These founders want you

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Police are prosecuting a 31-year-old woman from Geraldton for stealing menstrual products from a store earlier this year. This week, Olivia Cleal spoke with Rochelle Courtenay from Share The Dignity about the reality of period poverty in Australia. Olivia shares more with Tarla Lambert in today’s episode.

Also today, we go through some findings from WGEA on the gender pay gap in the Commonwealth public sector, and how it compares with Australia’s private sector. Plus: Peter Dutton has unveiled his nuclear energy plan. Will it convince voters?

Stories discussed this week:

• Jacinda Ardern heads new empathy and kindness program for global political leaders
• ‘She wasn’t meant to live’: Swimmer Alexa Leary has qualified for the Paralympics
• Coalition talks ‘hope’ while outlining plan for building seven nuclear reactors
• The public sector has a smaller gender pay pap than the private sector, but women are still earning much less
• ‘Disgusting’: Woman in Geraldton faces trial for stealing $10 packet of period products

The Crux is produced by Agenda Media, the 100% women-founded and owned media business, publishing the daily news publication Women’s Agenda.

Producers: Olivia Cleal and Allison Ho

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Senator Jane Hume had a bit of a slip up during Senate estimates this week... but let's be real: we can relate. If anything, it humanises her as a politician. Plus, it was a lighter moment in the news cycle this week.

In today's episode, Tarla Lambert and Olivia Cleal discuss the recent election of Claudia Sheinbaum as the President of Mexico, and what it means for women's representation worldwide. Also this week, Women's Agenda launched its latest report in partnership with CommBank Women in Focus exploring women-led businesses - we unpack the findings here.

Stories discussed this week:

• Ego men, yes men, convicted men and why we need more women leading
• Molly Baz featured as first pregnant woman on cereal box
• How women are defying the odds to build successful businesses in Australia’s economy: Report
• Evonne Goolagong Cawley honours Lydia Williams in perfect farewell on home soil

The podcast is brought to you by the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. Many refugee families are left without the basics they need to survive this winter. A donation to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) provides these families with basic essentials such as food, housing, medication, legal support and holistic healthcare. Make a tax-deductible donation to the ASRC’S Winter Appeal, and give refugees and people seeking asylum a hand up as they rebuild their lives. Donate today at asrc.org.au/donate

The Crux is produced by Agenda Media, the 100% women-founded and owned media business, publishing the daily news publication Women’s Agenda.

Producers: Olivia Cleal and Allison Ho

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s official: Former US President Donald Trump has been found guilty of all 34 charges in his hush money trail, seeing him become the first current or former US president to be convicted of felony crimes. In this week’s episode, Tarla Lambert and Olivia Cleal discuss the breaking news. What will it mean for the 2024 presidential election in November?

All eyes are on Rafah, following a devastating Israeli Military attack in Gaza that killed at least 45 Palestinians. We take a look at the latest from the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and how world leaders are responding.

Also this week, we learned Ariel Bombara alerted police three times to the threat of her father’s collection of 13 guns, just weeks before he shot and killed a mother and daughter in Western Australia. Coming forward for the first time since the incident, she says she felt “let down” by the police. So where is the system going wrong - and what needs to be done about it?

Content warning: This podcast episode contains content that some listeners may find distressing, including references to violence. If you need support, please contact:

• Lifeline: 13 11 14
• 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732
• Men’s Referral Service: 1300 766 491
• 13 YARN: 13 92 76

Stories discussed this week:

• Aussie sailor Lisa Blair becomes first person to solo sail around New Zealand in under 17 days
• ‘A nation first’: Jacinta Allan announces new parliamentary secretary role to change men’s behaviour
• ‘I did everything I could’: Daughter of gunman that killed two women in WA feels ‘let down’ by police
• Trump guilty. First former US president convicted of felony crimes
• ‘This horror must stop’: Israeli airstrikes leave devastation in Rafah

Many refugee families are left without the basics they need to survive this winter. A donation to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) provides these families with basic essentials such as food, housing, medication, legal support and holistic healthcare. Make a tax-deductible donation to the ASRC’S Winter Appeal, and give refugees and people seeking asylum a hand up as they rebuild their lives. Donate today at asrc.org.au/donate

The Crux is produced by Agenda Media, the 100% women-founded and owned media business, publishing the daily news publication Women’s Agenda.

Producers: Olivia Cleal and Allison Ho

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Budget Week draws to a close, Angela Priestley and Tarla Lambert dissect the wins and the losses for women in this year’s federal budget. Is it really a budget that “works for women”?

Plus: everybody is talking about Baby Reindeer, the British hit show on Netflix. But a controversial interview on Piers Morgan’s YouTube show with Richard Gadd’s alleged stalker has raised some interesting questions. Thank you for listening.

Stories discussed this week:

• ‘Long overdue’: NSW government proposes new bail laws for domestic violence offenders
• David Trone spent $60 million and still couldn’t defeat Angela Alsobrooks
• What’s in the federal budget for women? This is what you need to know
• The key wins for women’s health in the budget
• What advocacy groups are saying about this year’s budget
• Limited support for ‘Crisis’ of domestic and family violence
• Where are women in the ‘Future Made in Australia’ plan?
• The dollars women could save this year following the Federal Budget
• ‘Leave me alone please’: The alleged real-life Martha from ‘Baby Reindeer’ denies stalking claims

The Crux is produced by Agenda Media, the 100% women-founded and owned media business, publishing the daily news publication Women’s Agenda.

Producers: Olivia Cleal and Allison Ho

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The list that ranked girls based on their attractiveness that was created by Year 11 boys at Yarra Valley Grammar in Melbourne is unfortunately nothing new. As Chanel Contos said, if you’re surprised, you’re not paying attention. What was promising to see was the swift action from the school’s principal. Find out what he said in this week’s episode.

Ahead of next week’s budget announcement, Tarla Lambert and Olivia Cleal discuss the latest call for Australians to have more babies to combat a decline in the country’s population growth. Plus, we ask how the media can do better when it comes to racial stereotypes.

Stories discussed this week:

• ‘A great mathematical achievement’: Two high school students have solved an ‘impossible’ maths problem
• How young women will benefit from the new prac placement payment and changes to HECS-HELP debt
• It’s going to take a lot more than financial help to convince me to have a baby for the country
• Melbourne private school boys rank female students according to attractiveness
• Sky News’ humiliation of Keegan Payne is a lesson for the media on ‘balanced’ storytelling

The Crux is produced by Agenda Media, the 100% women-founded and owned media business, publishing the daily news publication Women’s Agenda.

Producers: Olivia Cleal and Allison Ho

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Angela Priestley and Tarla Lambert break down the federal government’s response to the national crisis of men’s violence against women. Has Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met the needs, or is there still a way to go?

Part of the government’s announcement following the national cabinet was to target young men and boys’ attitudes towards women and girls. We look at a recent study that shows just how dangerous online toxic masculinity can be for male students, as sexist behaviours targeted at female teachers are on the rise.

Don’t worry - we haven’t forgotten the wins that have come out of what has otherwise been a very heavy news week. Nicole Kidman has become the first Australian to win the AFI Life Achievement Award, plus some big news for a female-founded tech company

Stories discussed this week:

• Cyan and Collis Ta’eed achieve a $375.2 million exit, proving you can build a massive business and a life
• Nicole Kidman becomes first Aussie to win AFI Life Achievement Award
• It’s in our ‘national interest’ to deal with this: PM unveils $925 million over 5 years to help women escape violence
• Social media’s ‘feedback loop’ is a barrier for girls pursuing a career in STEM: UNESCO report
• Male students are exhibiting frequent sexist behaviour towards their teachers, new study shows

If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au for online chat and video call services.

If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit http://www.ntv.org.au.

Feeling worried or no good? No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn. Speak to a 13YARN Crisis Supporter, call 13 92 76. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Crux is produced by Agenda Media, the 100% women founded and owned media business, publishing the daily news publication Women’s Agenda.

Producers: Olivia Cleal and Allison Ho

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After sharing some wins, Tarla Lambert and Olivia Cleal start this week’s podcast with the biggest story to come out of this week: the outcome of the Lehrmann v Network Ten defamation trial. Justice Michael Lee found, on the balance of probabilities, that Bruce Lehrmann raped Brittany Higgins in March 2019. 

This week, we also talk about Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan’s strong words on family and domestic violence, plus – is Australia in a ‘baby drought’, and what does this mean for future generations?

Stories discussed this week:

• Beyoncé is the first Black woman to reach No.1 on the Billboard country album chart
• WA government to provide free period products in public primary schools
• ‘Mr Lehrmann raped Ms Higgins’: Justice Michael Lee delivers judgement on Lehrmann v Network Ten defamation trial
• Jacinta Allan says violence against women is the ‘number one law and order issue’ in Australia
• How Australia has created the perfect storm for a baby drought

The Crux is produced by Agenda Media, the 100% women founded and owned media business, publishing the daily news publication Women's Agenda.

Producers: Olivia Cleal and Allison Ho

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.