Van Badham joins Ben Davison for a special Weekend Wrap to discuss the rapid rebuilding of Australia's international reputation, the latest Per Capita report on systemic risks of contracting in the NDIS and Australia suffering our 10,000th COVID death.

Albo and the Labor government have rapidly rebuilt Australia's international reputation with allies in Europe and pacific embracing the new government.  The results are tangible with new trade, regional security and bi-lateral relations that had been off the table under the Liberals all restarting.

Per Capita released a report that shines a light on the problems of contracting in the NDIS this week.  Van and Ben look at the real impacts of sham contracting on workers, people with disabilities and the NDIS as a system.  From worker's being ripped off with "bridging loans" to clients being held legally responsible for workplace safety to foreign private equity taking taxpayer money and operating "unregistered" the growth of "contracting" in the NDIS is creating a range of problems.  Links to the report will be shared on our supporter page www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday

More than 10,000 Australian's have died of COVID since the start of the pandemic.  The rate of deaths has climbed rapidly with the first 1,000 deaths coming between March 2020 and August 2021 but the latest 5,000 happening between February 2022 and July 2022.  Australian Unions are arguing we need to continue support for people to isolate and many are calling for masks to be made compulsory again.  Van and Ben share their recent experience of having COVID and of the total lack of masks during a recent shopping trip.  With COVID increasingly a workplace by workplace issue its more important than ever to join your union at australiaunions.org.au/wow