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The Vote is your essential guide to the 2022 election. We’ll bring you original reporting from around the country, interviews with political candidates and the sharpest analysis from the campaign trail. Building on the reporting of The Saturday Paper and The Monthly, episodes of The Vote will come to you in your regular 7am feed. Hosted by Ruby Jones.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the campaign trail, Anthony Albanese struggled to say whether he would change the way people are appointed to the Australian Human Rights Commission. In fact, he didn’t know who the most recently appointed commissioner was.The reason he was being asked about it though, was because the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions recently threatened to downgrade Australia’s Human Rights Commission to a ‘B’ status.Today, The Saturday Paper’s national correspondent Mike Seccombe on the state of the Human Rights Commission and what a downgrade would mean for Australia’s voice on the world stage.Guest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Mike Seccombe.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hillsong Church’s growth and success has faltered in recent years.Founded by Brian Houston in New South Wales, the global megachurch has outposts in 30 countries, including the United States. But mounting scandals at home have led Brian Houston to step aside and now, sensational allegations of misconduct in its US operations have been made public.Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton, on how the leadership of the megachurch has entered a phase of panic and recriminations.Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two years ago, the High Court made a landmark decision that prevented the deportation of non-citizen Aboriginal Australians. Now, the federal government is seeking to overturn that decision after a man, Shayne Paul Montgomery, used the case to successfully challenge his deportation.  Today, lawyer and contributor to The Saturday Paper, Kieran Pender, on the case of Shayne Montgomery, and concerns around the potential politicisation of the High Court. Guest: Lawyer and contributor to The Saturday Paper, Kieran Pender.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2020 we brought you the story of the last family left on Nauru. Just over a week ago - that family was released. They were among the 26 refugees freed from onshore detention. So, today we’re re-releasing that 2020 episode, featuring journalist Hannah Ryan on the story of Mustafa and Salah. Their story is a reminder of what hundreds of refugees have endured within the Australian detention system. Guest: Journalist, Hannah Ryan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, we are spotlighting an episode of 7am from the archive: A major study found that the therapeutic use of the illicit drug MDMA, more commonly known as ecstasy, could cure people suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.At the time, an Australian psychologist was finally embarking on Australia’s first ever clinical trial using the drug. James Bradley on the healing power of MDMA - and why Australia has been so slow to explore its possibilities. Guest: Writer for The Monthly, James Bradley.Editor's Note: Since this episode was published, a complaint has been referred to Health Canada over MAPS's research, alleging inappropriate conduct towards patients, undocumented side effects and flaws in how data was used.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Russian forces have withdrawn from around Kyiv, Ukrainians have found shocking scenes of civilians executed and evidence of alleged war crimes. But Russia isn’t leaving these towns to give up on its war in Ukraine.Today, world editor for The Saturday Paper Jonathan Pearlman, on the race to gather evidence of war crimes and Vladimir Putin’s new plan to win the war in Ukraine.Guest: World editor for The Saturday Paper, Jonathan Pearlman.Background reading: Evidence of atrocities as Russians retreat from Kyiv in The Saturday Paper.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the final days of a Government, before an election is called, last-minute appointments are often made. Last week, the Morrison government made 19 of those, to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Half of the people appointed have ties to the Liberal Party or to conservative politics.Senior Reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton on the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and the case of one young man, who never got his chance at redress.Guest: Senior Reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton.Background reading: Coalition stacking Liberals across the boards in The Saturday Paper.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With an election called, Labor leader Anthony Albanese has six weeks to convince Australia he would make a better prime minister than Scott Morrison. The challenge is to avoid the mistakes of the last Labor election campaign, but as a small target, can he still be inspiring enough to win over voters – and secure a majority?Today, chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper and biographer of Anthony Albanese, Karen Middleton, on his rebrand and what it tells us about Labor’s strategy.Guest: Author of Albanese: Telling It Straight, Karen Middleton.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After years in public life, Scott Morrison can still seem hollow and one-dimensional. According to his biographer, this is deliberate. But with the election now running, Morrison faces one of the strange truisms of politics: that what helped him win last time could be what costs him victory this time. Sean Kelly, author of The Game: A portrait of Scott Morrison, on what we know about the prime minister and what that tells us about the kind of campaign he will run.Guest: Author of The Game Sean Kelly.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.