Australia has spent almost 15 years trying to buy new surface ships for the navy, but they are still yet to arrive.
That’s because governments have repeatedly thrown out the old plan to introduce their own.
Last week, the Albanese government was the latest to reveal their plans for the future of the navy’s surface fleet. So, will it work?
Today, emeritus professor of strategic studies at the Australian National University and contributor to The Saturday Paper Hugh White, on Labor’s navy overhaul and whether it’s an expensive grab for votes. 

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Guest: Emeritus professor of strategic studies at the Australian National University and contributor to The Saturday Paper, Hugh White

‘They don't know much’: Politicians spending on the military

A daily news show from the publisher of The Monthly and The Saturday Paper. Hear from the country’s best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia. This is news with narrative, every weekday.

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As Australia demanded answers to the domestic violence crisis, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese became a focal point in all the wrong ways when he got into a confrontation with a rally organiser on Sunday.
But this week’s national cabinet meeting with state and territory leaders offered a chance to respond to the community’s concern and produce real solutions.
So what solutions came out of that meeting? And will they genuinely help women who face domestic violence?
Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno, on the crucial moment for Australia and whether governments are delivering on their mission to end violence against women.

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Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno.

Payments and a porn passport: Albanese’s snap national cabinet

As Donald Trump zeroed in on his successful 2016 run to the presidency, he began to engage in what is called “catch and kill” journalism.
Trump and his lawyers developed relationships with journalists, who were allegedly prepared to track down damaging stories aboutTrump, and then take money to ensure they would never be printed.
Today, managing editor of The Saturday Paper Emily Barrett on the Australian who built a reputation as one of the best at “capture and kill” in America – and how he’s ended up being central to Donald Trump’s trial in New York.

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Guest: Managing editor of The Saturday Paper, Emily Barrett.

The Australian journo on 'catch and kill' for Trump

It feels like hardly a week goes by where we don’t hear about a woman in Australia being killed by a man she knows.
Intimate partner deaths increased by almost a third during the last reporting year and early counts by advocacy groups suggest this year is set to be even worse.
The spike in killings has led to protests, a national outcry and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declaring that violence against women is a national crisis.
Today, author of See What You Made Me Do and journalist Jess Hill, on what can be done to stop the violence – and why “awareness” is no longer good enough.

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Guest: Author of See What You Made Me Do and journalist Jess Hill

Jess Hill on why we need more than ‘awareness’ to end the killing of women

There are strict rules around how drug company representatives can interact with doctors to ensure they aren’t influencing how medications are prescribed.
But when it comes to expensive medical devices inserted in our bodies during surgery – all sorts of screws, pacemakers and implants – those same rules don’t apply.
Medical device sales reps are scrubbed up and working in the operating theatre, even advising surgeons on which products to use.
Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe, on whether the pursuit of profit risks driving clinical decisions.

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Guest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Mike Seccombe

How sales reps infiltrated operating theatres

There’s an old adage in Canberra: every first-term government gets a second chance.
But when voters head to the polls next year, could the current Labor government be an exception?
With so many Australians feeling the cost-of-living crisis, and the government facing a slump in the polls, evidence is mounting that Labor will struggle to retain majority government.
So what’s its strategy to change course?
Today, special correspondent in Canberra for The Saturday Paper Jason Koutsoukis, on why Labor appears so calm in turbulent times.

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﻿Guest: Special correspondent in Canberra for The Saturday Paper Jason Koutsoukis

‘They don't know much’: Politicians spending on the military

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