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The AUKUS agreement has brought a rare political sight this week: the government and the opposition are agreeing with each other.Both major parties support the deal and if anything they’re competing to show who can support it more strongly.But how will we pay for it? Will we cut spending on other services? Or try to increase tax revenue?Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno, on how $368 billion dollars in spending is inevitably getting political.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul BongiornoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The single biggest defence spend in Australian history was announced this week, with the government committing up to $368 billion over the next 30 years to acquire nuclear submarines.Former prime minister Paul Keating has called it “the worst decision by a Labor government in a century”.And big questions remain about whether these subs will ever be delivered at all. So, what could a misstep in the rollout mean for our security as tensions rise between China and the United States?Today, emeritus professor of strategic studies at ANU, Hugh White, on why the AUKUS submarines might never be delivered.You can read his article on the deal on The Saturday Paper website, published in conjunction with Australian Foreign Affairs.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Emeritus professor of strategic studies at the Australian National University, Hugh WhiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Hughes was once hailed as a young literary genius, and won a scholarship to Cambridge.Yet he found himself back in Australia working as a librarian and a teacher before his writing found acclaim.Hughes was shortlisted for some of the greatest honours in Australian writing. But under the scrutiny of greater acclaim, a strange web of inconsistencies and copying struck one reader: Anna Verney.Today, writer, reporter and lawyer Anna Verney and contributing editor to The Monthly Richard Cooke, on how they first discovered the borrowings of John Hughes and the revelations that followed.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Writer Anna Verney and contributing editor to The Monthly Richard CookeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The royal commission hearings into robo-debt are over.With over 100 witnesses and nine weeks of hearings, the commission into one of the greatest failures in the history of the Australian government has already given us unforgettable insight into the thinking of our public servants and leading politicians.But there are still questions to be answered: like how could so many — find themselves in lock-step behind a policy that was unlawful?Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton on what we learned from inside the commission’s hearings.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick MortonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia has to act fast to help cut emissions and avoid a global climate catastrophe.After decades of inaction, the Labor Government has brought their proposal forward, adjusting the awkwardly named safeguard mechanism.But this bets our climate future heavily on emission offsets – or carbon credits. They’re a convoluted way of making up for emissions, by doing good elsewhere.Are they actually a scam?Today, contributor to The Monthly Nick Feik, on the dodgy trades for our climate future.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Contributor to The Monthly, Nick FeikSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, a tribute to publisher, poet and memoirist Robert Adamson.Robert died late last year and to mark that moment, The Monthly decided to posthumously republish two of his essays on a subject very dear to him: fishing.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Publisher, poet and memoirist, Robert Adamson.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia’s climate future is again hanging in the balance.And, once more, it could all depend on a Labor government negotiating with the Greens.As it stands, they’re at loggerheads. The Greens want no new coal and gas developments to be approved; the government is accusing the Greens of being unrealistic.But should the Greens be expected to pass whatever Labor is proposing? And where’s the science in all of this? Today, contributing editor of The Politics, Rachel Withers, on the impossible choice facing the Greens.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Contributing editor of The Politics, Rachel WithersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The family court is a place of last resort for spouses and parents, to settle the legal, financial and parenting disputes that can sometimes arise. But lawyers and mothers have been warning that when abuse or violence is part of the equation, the court is failing. Today, author and contributor to The Saturday Paper Jane Caro on the women who feel silenced by the family court, and the changes the Federal government now wants to make. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Author and contributor to The Saturday Paper, Jane Caro.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author Paddy Manning discusses the culture at Fox News where profits surpassed truth. Rupert Murdoch and top hosts knowingly spread lies. Insights into Murdoch's media empire reveal a focus on spreading misinformation for profit.

Whether it’s floods or bushfires, climate-related disaster is something Australia will have to contend with more and more.But so far, Australia isn’t recovering from disaster. It’s one year since the Lismore floods, but the scheme to get people back into homes, and to move those homes away from the floodplain, is taking far too long.And in the absence of real recovery, what’s happening in Lismore is being described as “disaster capitalism” – houses on the floodplain are being sold to investors looking for a bargain.Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper Royce Kurmelovs on what happens when the government doesn’t step up, and the market steps in.Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and InstagramGuest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper, Royce KurmelovsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.