The wait for elective surgery in our public hospitals is longer than ever, but it seems there’s a way to jump the queue. If you can afford to pay for private care in a public hospital, you might find yourself being offered more perks than just a free bathrobe and some slippers. Today, lawyer and contributor to The Monthly Russell Marks, on whether our public health system is truly fair and what happens when your own child’s health is on the line. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Lawyer and contributor to The Monthly, Russell Marks

An attack at a Western Sydney church last week was inextricably linked to social media. The bishop who was stabbed is a social media celebrity, the attack itself was live-streamed, and both the attack and the reaction may have been inflamed by online extremism. The Australian government is so concerned it has picked a fight with the global social media giants X and Meta, ordering them to pull down content about the attack. Today, counter-terrorism expert and Lowy Institute fellow Lydia Khalill, on the attack, whether it was an act of terrorism and how we can do more to prevent extremism. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Project director of the Lowy Institute’s Digital Threats to Democracy Project and expert on counter-terrorism, Lydia Khalil

Grace Tame knows how to advocate. Her campaigning for survivors of sexual assault and abuse helped to create real change and pushed powerful institutions to be better. Now, Tame is turning her focus onto something she has lived with her whole life and which is now on the agenda in Canberra, – autism and neurodivergence. Today, former Australian of the Year and contributor to The Saturday Paper, Grace Tame, on Australia’s first attempt at a national autism strategy – and why we must get it right. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: former Australian of the year and Contributor to The Saturday Paper, Grace Tame

It’s now been a week since the Federal Court of Australia’s Justice Michael Lee ruled it was substantially true that Bruce Lehrmann raped Brittney Higgins in a minister’s office at Parliament House back in 2019. In other cases, that may have been the end of the matter. But this case has drawn in dozens of characters, with careers ended, others on the rocks and Channel Seven appearing as if it could implode. Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton, on who emerges from the wreckage of one of the most dramatic defamation cases we’ve seen in years. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton

Today, columnist Elizabeth Farrelly will read her piece about our modern cities and how they relate to the history of how humanity has imagined the perfect city. Farrelly is one of Australia’s foremost writers on urban development and the communities of our cities – having earned devoted readers at the Sydney Morning Herald and now at Schwartz Media, inThe Saturday Paper. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Columnist Elizabeth Farrelly

At the end of the day, the people who decide what path Australia takes to solve the housing crisis are those in government. In this episode, we speak to the federal minister for housing, Julie Collins. Does the government think we’re in a crisis? How does she plan to ensure we all have a safe and affordable place to call home? And how will she convince voters in the next election that Labor has the boldest ideas? In this final episode of 7am’s five-part series, we dive into what the government is doing and whether there is more that could be done. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Federal minister for housing, Julie Collins

A solution to the housing crisis is one of the most sought-after ideas in Australia. Political careers, fortunes and the fate of a generation will rest on how we respond to the increasingly dire housing market, which means there are countless solutions to this crisis being debated throughout the country. In this episode of 7am’s five-part series, we explore four of these possible solutions to the crisis. You will hear from finance expert Alan Kohler, Greens spokesperson for housing Max Chandler Mather, housing advocate Maiy Azize and former deputy lord mayor of Sydney and author, Jess Scully. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Finance expert, Alan Kohler; Greens spokesperson for housing, Max Chandler Mather; housing advocate, Maiy Azize; former deputy lord mayor of Sydney and author of Glimpses of Utopia, Jess Scully.

With federal, state and local governments promising to build more Australian homes, it’s fair to say that all levels of government want to fix the housing crisis. But are they building enough? Are they listening to the people they’re building it for? And who really benefits from the way we build housing in Australia? In this episode of 7am’s five-part special series on the housing crisis, we find out who gets a say when it comes to housing, and why that can get in the way of building the homes Australia needs. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Public housing tenant, Carolyn Ienna; Housing expert, Nicole Gurran; Sydney Editor of The Sydney Morning Herald, Michael Koziol.

With home ownership out of reach, more and more younger Australians have no choice but to rent for much longer than their parents ever did – maybe for the rest of their lives. That puts younger Australians at the mercy of landlords, making some intensely angry and leading to what might be described as a “renters resistance”.  In this episode of 7am’s five-part special series on the housing crisis, we meet the people who are trying to make it better: the people who are mobilising, taking matters into their own hands and fighting back. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Tenant, Blake Hesketh; founder of shitrentals.org and social media figure, Jordan van den Berg; Senior lecturer in the School of Architecture, Design and Planning at the University of Sydney, Dr Sophia Maalsen.

This is the first episode of 7am’s new five-part special series on the housing crisis. What happened to housing in Australia over the past few decades wasn’t by chance. It’s the result of decades of deliberate decisions that have turned us into a nation of landlords and property speculators. This episode uncovers who broke the housing market, and introduces one of the few people who saw what was coming and tried to warn us. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Economist Saul Eslake; Television producer Julian Cress; Housing expert Professor Nicole Gurran

When Penny Wong took the lectern for the keynote speech at a conference on foreign affairs this week, she could have done what politicians usually do at these events. She could have delivered a mundane speech about the same challenges we all know Australia faces in its region. Instead, she decided to float the idea that Australia should recognise an independent Palestinian state. Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno, on what recognising a Palestinian state would mean – and why the foreign minister decided to talk about it now. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno.

Three years ago, Australia became the first nation in the world to make Facebook pay for news.  Now, those deals are about to expire, and Facebook isn’t willing to renew them. That leaves Australia’s world-first deal hanging by a thread, and if the conflict escalates, it could even lead to Facebook and its other products, Instagram and WhatsApp, pulling out of the Australian market completely. Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper and author of Media Unmade: Australian Media’s Most Disruptive Decade Tim Burrowes, on why the world is watching Mark Zuckerberg’s fight with the Australian media and government. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper and author of Media Unmade: Australian Media’s Most Disruptive Decade Tim Burrowes

Australian Border Force and Western Australian police spent the weekend searching for 15 men who had arrived in the country by boat. Eventually, all 15 were arrested and put on a flight to Nauru. The arrival of this boat comes as the federal government attempts to legislate controversial new laws, deflect criticism from the opposition and keep immigration off the political agenda. Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe, on the politician in the middle of it all – Immigration Minister Andrew Giles – and his surprising 23-year journey from asylum seeker lawyer to immigration minister. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Mike Seccombe

Former Channel Seven producer Taylor Auerbach has given extraordinary evidence at Bruce Lehrmann’s trial against Channel Ten over defamation. Auerbach’s evidence is significant enough that the judge sensationally reopened the case, and it could impact the final verdict – but it has also led to explosive allegations that ask questions of the entire Australian media. So, what has Auerbach alleged and why has he come forward now? Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton, on the three men who are now at the centre of the Bruce Lehrmann defamation case. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton

The Albanese government was elected on a sense of optimism for the climate movement. But nearly two years later, there’s a growing sense of unease from the climate movement and traditional owners towards the government in Canberra. So, what’s going on? How has this distrust emerged? And will it practically change how we all live with the consequences of climate change? Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper Royce Kurmelovs, on the bad blood brewing between the government and environmentalists. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper, Royce Kurmelovs

Today, author and editor Sophie Cunningham reads her piece from a recent edition of The Saturday Paper. Australian author Georgia Blain chronicled her battle with cancer in a monthly column for The Saturday Paper, sadly passing away in 2016. Blain is remembered in this piece by her friend of over two decades, Sophie Cunningham – championing her legacy as a writer of rare talent, with a clear-eyed gaze, and a capacity to talk about sadness without self-pity. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Author and editor, Sophie Cunningham

Israel’s killing of seven aid workers in Gaza has been met with international outrage. The workers at World Central Kitchen, including an Australian woman named Zomi Frankcom, were providing critical relief to Palestinians in the form of food.  Their deaths now risk entrenching starvation further, as aid organisations begin to doubt whether they’re receiving the protections and safety they should be offered in a war zone.  Today, world editor for The Saturday Paper, Jonathan Pearlman, on Australia’s response to the Israeli attack and whether this is a turning point in the Middle East. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: World editor for The Saturday Paper and editor of Australian Foreign Affairs, Jonathan Pearlman

Donald Trump is known for being the loudest, most controversial and outburst-prone politician of our time.  Now, a judge has issued a gag order against him in an attempt to prevent further outbursts. Can Donald Trump really be told to be quiet? And will orders from the courts begin to hamper his chances of being re-elected as president? Today, senior fellow at the United States Studies Centre and author of Trump’s Australia Bruce Wolpe, on whether Trump’s legal battles are finally catching up with him. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Senior fellow at the United States Studies Centre, and author of Trump’s Australia, Bruce Wolpe

Some of Australia’s most powerful religious bodies have taken aim at Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and also the Greens – accusing them of threatening the future of religious freedom. But the cause of this backlash is simply the possibility that the government would work with the Greens to reform a 40-year-old loophole in our discrimination laws. So, what’s really at stake? And is there about to be a showdown between religious lobbies and the prime minister? Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Mike Seccombe, on religion’s influence in Canberra and the political strategy behind Albanese’s latest move.  Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: National correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Mike Seccombe

With an election looming in the United Kingdom and chaos among the British Conservative Party, 2024 could see a new prime minister taking residence at 10 Downing Street.  Amid the political drama, a right-wing broadcaster named GB News has been stirring up debates, igniting culture wars and making headlines for its provocative social commentary. So, what is GB News? Who’s behind it? And what role has the Australian media played in its rise in popularity?  Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper, Amy Fallon, on the Australian inspiration behind Britain’s divisive broadcaster.  Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Contributor to The Saturday Paper, Amy Fallon