

Rear Vision — How History Shaped Today
ABC
Move beyond the headlines to see how the past defines our world. Whether it's a local or international story, Rear Vision's expert analysis gives you the background you need to understand today's news.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 4, 2022 • 30min
Centrelink, the Coalition and Robodebt
Centrelink’s 'automated debt recovery system' - or Robodebt - sparked two Senate inquiries, an Ombudsman inquiry, numerous court cases and now a Royal Commission. Despite being found to be unlawful by the Federal Court, questions remain.How and why was this system introduced? And why was it allowed to run for so long?

Nov 27, 2022 • 30min
Gambling on the nose—Australia’s gambling industry under attack on all fronts
Casino inquiries, cashless gambling cards, new laws on gambling advertising—the gambling industry in Australia is under the microscope as never before. Just how far has the tide turned and what needs to be done to address the problems associated with Australia’s gambling addiction?

Nov 20, 2022 • 30min
National Disability Insurance Scheme
The NDIS was meant to transform the lives of all Australians with a disability, but things haven’t quite gone to plan. Many people have found the NDIS difficult to access or inadequate and there has been a huge cost blowout. Hear the story of the NDIS – what we’ve got right, what we’re got wrong and how we might fix it.

Nov 13, 2022 • 30min
National Housing Accord—one million new homes promised
The federal government has committed to work with states and territories, local government and investors to reshape housing in Australia. Perhaps most significant is the commitment to build fifty thousand social and affordable homes, bringing some relief to those on the lowest incomes currently forced into the private rental market.

Nov 6, 2022 • 30min
The Republican Party and its embrace of far-right extremism
The US midterm elections are happening this week and many people say that the outcome could determine the future of democracy in America. We look at one side of this electoral race—the Republican Party—and its historical links with the extreme right.

Oct 30, 2022 • 30min
Brazil at the crossroads—voters choose a new president
The choice is between the former leftist president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva—known as Lula—and the far-right incumbent, Jair Bolsonaro. Who are these men and what will this vote mean for the future of Latin America’s biggest country?

Oct 23, 2022 • 30min
Iran protests—women, life, freedom
The death last month of a young Iranian woman while in the custody of the morality police has sparked widespread protests across Iran. Protests are not new in Iran. Since the 1990s, there have been many protests, but these are unusual in that they are being led by women and girls. This is the story of women and politics in Iran.

Oct 16, 2022 • 30min
Chairman Xi—his life and times
As the all-powerful Chinese Communist Party elite gather for a public display of their authority, Xi Jinping cements his grip on China. Xi’s family background put him on the fast track to success within the Party, although like many so-called ‘princelings’, he endured great hardship during Mao’s Cultural Revolution. How did Xi rise to the top and what has his ascendancy meant for the people of China?

Oct 9, 2022 • 30min
The Commonwealth—relic of empire of or society of equals?
The modern-day Commonwealth emerged out of the British Empire. Can it separate itself from this colonial past and its legacy of slavery and racism?

Oct 2, 2022 • 0sec
Tall and supertall — New York skyscrapers
The sky’s the limit for New York City skyscrapers, from the Art Deco delights of the Chrysler Building to today’s controversial supertalls.


