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The founder of Hillsong Church, Brian Houston is on trial.He faces charges of concealing historic child sexual abuse by his father, Frank Houston – who was also a Pentecostal pastor.Houston has returned to Australia and is fighting the charges in a Sydney court, with his defence team arguing that he didn’t conceal the crime from police.Today, author and contributor to The Saturday Paper Elle Hardy, on Brian Houston’s long-awaited day in court.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram.Guest: Author and contributor to The Saturday Paper Elle Hardy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When our politicians are making decisions, they’re often lobbied.These lobbyists arrange meetings, and make the case why the company they represent would do a good job, why a certain policy would be a good one or a bad one. In short, they represent vested interests.There are supposed to be rules to disclose this activity to the public. But what happens when the rules don’t apply? What happens when the people who are talking to our politicians simply deny that they are lobbyists?Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe on former minister Stuart Robert and when personal relationships cross into the public interest.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Mike SeccombeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up to 15 months in jail, with a minimum non-parole period of 8 months – that’s the sentence that a climate protester was handed recently in NSW.It caused widespread alarm from human rights and civil liberties groups, and it heralds a new era in sentencing as anti-protest laws are passed around the country.But will this sentence change the tactics of the climate action movement? Or will it open the door to re-examine these new protest laws?Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper Royce Kurmelovs on the jailing of Deanna “Violet” Coco and how governments are trying to outlaw disruption.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Contributor for The Saturday Paper, Royce KurmelovsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s one last thing Anthony Albanese has to do before the end of the political year.Energy prices are still out of control, and they’re only set to get worse.That’s in part because of global pressures, but also because ageing coal-fired power stations are going offline, without enough cheap electricity ready to replace their output.Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno on the race to cap electricity prices before we see more damage to the economy.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram.Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The trial of Bruce Lehrmann for the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins – an accusation he strenuously denies – will not see a court room again, and a verdict will never be reached.It leaves both parties in limbo, and already there is rampant speculation that civil lawsuits could be filed.But the end of the prosecution raises concerning questions about our justice system, the media and who is put at risk when an allegation of sexual assault reaches the inside of a courtroom.Today, contributing editor of The Monthly Rachel Withers on an unacceptable risk to those seeking justice.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram.Guest: Contributing editor of The Monthly, Rachel Withers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia has a new, stronger emissions reduction target.But we are also one of the world’s biggest exporters of fossil fuels, and there’s no plan from the government to reduce that.That’s because Australian coal and gas exports that are burned overseas aren't counted in our emissions.But could that change? And will Environment minister Tanya Plibersek begin to consider those emissions and the damage they cause to our climate when new projects are approved?Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper Tom Morton on whether Australia is ready to take responsibility for the coal and gas we sell.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram.Guest: Contributor The Saturday Paper, Tom Morton.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Liberal Party is trying to resurrect its popularity after a devastating loss this year, under the leadership of Scott Morrison.But can changing the personalities at the top of the party make a difference? Or is there something deeper behind the decline in its fortunes? A study published yesterday indicates that only one in four voters under the age of 40 voted for the Coalition – and that seems unlikely to change.Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe, on how this generation of younger voters is changing the assumptions we’ve had about the electorate and why all the major parties need to adapt.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Mike SeccombeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1992, the UN General Assembly agreed that 3 December every year would be International Day of People with Disability.It marked an early attempt to treat disability as a human rights and access issue – something that was becoming a movement across the world at the time. Here in Australia, It was the same year that Australia passed the Disability Discrimination Act.But thirty years later, how much progress has been made? And has society really stopped viewing disability through the lenses of medicine or charity?Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper, writer and critic Olivia Muscat on what the day means to her, and how it could be done better.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper writer and critic Olivia Muscat.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A prime minister will never again be able to secretly appoint themselves to act in multiple ministries.The practice will be made unlawful, with new rules to make appointments public – even Scott Morrison agrees with that.He said as much, when he rose in front of the parliament to explain his actions. But the speech he delivered was hardly an admission of guilt.Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno on what Scott Morrison did when faced with the chance to explain himself.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are people inside government departments who want to use insights into human behaviour to influence us.At its best, it can help design systems to get the best outcomes for people. But at its worst, it can ‘nudge’ people into accepting bad outcomes; from not appealing decisions to not getting the services they’re entitled to.Today, senior reporter at The Saturday Paper Rick Morton, on the job ad for someone to look into human behaviour and its strange links to the origins of the Robo-debt disaster.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Senior reporter at The Saturday Paper Rick MortonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.