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More than three years ago, the Prime Minister Scott Morrison made an election promise to pass new laws protecting people of faith from discrimination.While the promise is now in tatters, the political debate around the bill has exposed enormous divisions in the Liberal party and raised important questions about how we treat some of the nation’s most vulnerable children. Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Mike Seccombe on the revolt over the Religious Discrimination Bill, and the political faultlines the bill has exposed. Guest: National Correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Mike Seccombe.Background reading: How the religious freedom bill fell apart in The Saturday Paper.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia has long been considered an international pariah on climate policy. Governments on both sides have regularly been criticised for failing to act fast enough.But one Australian, a former climate advisor to US President Joe Biden, thinks that we’re uniquely positioned to become one of the most successful zero emission economies in the world.Today, inventor and scientist Saul Griffith, author of ‘The Big Switch’, on his plan to transition Australia into a clean energy future.Guest: Author of The Big Switch, Saul Griffith.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joe Rogan hosts one of the world’s most popular podcasts, regularly listened to by over 10 million people. But after interviewing a notorious anti-vaccination doctor on his show, Rogan and Spotify, the company that paid $100 million to exclusively host his podcast, are being targeted by high profile musicians like Joni Mitchell and Neil Young.The episode has sparked important conversations about free speech, censorship, the role of capitalism in art and the ethics of streaming giants.Today Dr Matt Beard, an expert in philosophy and ethics, joins The Culture to unpack all these questions and more. Guest: Dr Matt Beard, Director of the Vincent Fairfax Fellowship at the Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Tuesday Prime Minister Scott Morrison formally apologised to all those who have experienced sexual harassment, assault or bullying while working in federal parliament. During his speech he directly addressed former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins, whose advocacy initiated the review that led to Morrison’s apology.The very next day, Brittany Higgins, alongside former Australian of the Year Grace Tame delivered an explosive address to the National Press Club - questioning just how seriously we should take the Prime Minister’s words - and whether they will translate into action. Today, contributing editor to The Monthly Rachel Withers on why Scott Morrison’s apology might be too little, too late. Guest: Contributing editor to The Monthly Rachel Withers.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time is running out for the Liberal Party to select candidates in a number of key seats, ahead of the federal election.The process should have finished months ago, but internal battles within the party have caused significant delays.And there are allegations that one senior minister - close to the Prime Minister - may be holding up the process to deliberately engineer a crisis. Today, chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Karen Middleton on the power struggle within the Liberal Party that is threatening their re-election chances.Guest: Chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Karen Middleton.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every year millions of dollars flows into the bank accounts of Australia's political parties - from individuals, businesses and unions.But loopholes and weak federal election laws mean that the source of more than half of the money political parties receive remains a mystery. Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper Hannah Ryan on how political parties are hiding the real source of their donations – and what that means for the way our democracy works. Guest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper, Hannah Ryan.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Right now, if you contract Covid-19, the federal government’s advice is to contact the national coronavirus helpline. The hotline is supposed to direct you to the latest medical information, inform you of how long you should isolate and whether you should get tested. But in practice, it's staffed by workers who don’t have access to the information they need and administered by a company that previously chased welfare recipients caught up in the infamous Robo-debt program.Today, senior reporter at The Saturday Paper Rick Morton on the outsourcing of a key frontline health service and the impact of privatisation during the pandemic. Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Right now, in Western Australia, plans are underway to build Australia’s largest new fossil fuel project.If built, Woodside’s Scarborough gas plant would contribute significantly to global carbon dioxide emissions. But, it also threatens the existence of some of the oldest - and most significant - rock art in the world. It’s not the first time a mining company has threatened an Indigenous heritage site in WA, just two years ago, Rio Tinto blew up rock shelters at Juukan Gorge. Today, contributor to The Monthly Jesse Noakes on why the Scarborough project is being called Juukan Gorge in slow motion. Guest: Contributor to The Monthly, Jesse Noakes.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Gina Rushton’s latest story for The Monthly magazine, ‘The first victim’ is voiced by Lucy Moir. The piece explores how victims of sexual assault are treated in courts of law - and asks whether the legal system in Australia puts people through unnecessary trauma.Warning: This episode contains descriptions of sexual assault.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Indie music icon Mitski had already released five albums and received critical acclaim before her 2018 song ‘Nobody’ blew up on TikTok. On her new album, ‘Laurel Hell’, Mitski explores her relationship to the music industry and making art under capitalism, at a moment when she’s more famous than ever.Today Shaad D’Souza joins The Culture to talk about Mitski, TikTok, and the grind of being a musician. Guest: Shaad D’Souza, music critic for The Saturday Paper.Background reading: Mitski's Laurel Hell in The Saturday Paper.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.