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Making a living in Australia as a writer, musician, or artist has become an increasingly tenuous proposition. In recent years the arts sector has been transformed — lockdowns and streaming services have radically changed the market, with work becoming more insecure and lower-paid.Now, the federal government has unveiled the first major injection of funding in a decade: under a new national cultural policy it’s calling “revive”.So, what will it mean for artists? Will arts work finally be treated like real work? And will this policy help Australia create good art?Today, Editor of The Monthly Michael Williams on whether the Albanese government’s arts policy can revive the sector. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Editor of The Monthly, Michael Williams.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You would expect that when you give your personal data to the government, that data remains safe.But that’s not how it was for some people who were sent debt notices under therobo-debt scheme – and in at least one case, that information was released after the person had suicided.So who should take responsibility when private data is used to protect an unlawful system? And how do we stop that from happening again? Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton on how the robo-debt royal commission is revealing one of the most shameful chapters in the history of the Australian government.Warning, this episode includes discussion of suicide.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick MortonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Australia’s doorstep, one country has taken the global war on drugs to the extreme.When Rodrigo Duterte became president of the Philippines in 2016 he promised to slaughter drug dealers – and his hardline anti-drug regime lasted until last year, when he was beaten in elections.But has the end of Duterte really ended the slaughter? Has the new government lived up to its promises? Or do the bodies in Manila’s morgues tell us the war has gone underground?Today, contributor to The Monthly Margaret Simons on what happens when you unleash violence on the streets – and why it’s so hard to end.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Contributor to The Monthly Margaret SimonsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia is supposed to be reducing its emissions at a rapid pace, and last year, the Albanese government put a new target into law.Now, we will finally get to see exactly how Labor plans to force our biggest polluters to reduce their emissions.But will the proposal win the support it needs? And how will it shape the political year to come?Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno, on why next week could either end the climate wars, or start a whole new chapter.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More and more people have to pay to see a doctor, GPs are leaving the profession, and the cost of seeing a specialist is rising at an alarming rate.That’s why the government is promising the biggest overhaul to Medicare in its 40-year existence – the details of the plan could be released any day now.Everything is on the table for consideration: increasing the Medicare rebate, giving pharmacists the power to prescribe drugs and more.But how do we make sure we get changes to Medicare right?Today, associate editor of The Saturday Paper, Martin McKenzie-Murray, on why Medicare is being overhauled, and the people responsible for deciding the future of Australia’s public health system.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Associate editor of The Saturday Paper Martin McKenzie-MurraySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Between his death, two weeks ago, and his burial tomorrow, a furious battle has raged over George Pell’s legacy.If you happen to read The Australian newspaper, though, you probably wouldn’t be aware there are two sides to the debate.The Murdoch newspaper has been glowing about Pell’s influence.Why is the Murdoch media so invested in how the former Catholic cardinal is remembered? And what are they willing to ignore to make their case?Today, legal affairs editor for The Saturday Paper Richard Ackland on how Pell built his influence with journalists, and how he wielded it.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Legal affairs editor for The Saturday Paper Richard AcklandSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian law is far from perfect.Not only can it be unjust, it’s sometimes simply no longer fit to do what it was intended to.The person responsible for maintaining our federal laws is the attorney-general. And, since the last election, that’s Mark Dreyfus.Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe – on Mark Dreyfus, what drives him, and why he says Australia’s treatment of refugees has been “deliberately cruel”.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tony Windsor was a politician and, as an independent, he helped hand minority government and the prime ministership to Julia Gillard.He says that at the end of the day, politicians are, by their nature, weak.And if there’s any example that’s taught him that, it’s the decades-long fight over our water and how we protect it.Today, former Independent MP Tony Windsor on our water, how gas developments can threaten it and how grassroots campaigns can force politicians to back down.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Former independent MP Tony Windsor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A crime wave in Alice Springs grew into a national crisis this week, with politicians jumping on planes in a last-ditch effort to listen to a community whose concerns have fallen on deaf ears.But how did the crime rate in Alice Springs become an issue for Anthony Albanese? And how could the situation have deteriorated so far?Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Chris Wallace on how giving communities a voice could force politicians to face complex challenges.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Chris Wallace.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been over 30 years since the high court acknowledged that terra nullius was a lie, that this country was not empty – that Indigenous Australians had an ongoing claim to the land beneath our feet.But still today, officially, large swathes of Australia are held as what’s called ‘crown land’.What is it? And what do the assumptions about crown land say about the attitude to land ownership in modern Australia?Today, author and Noongar woman, Claire G. Coleman on the case for returning crown land.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Author and Noongar woman, Claire G. Coleman.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.