The tiny town with a big problem

The Albanese government came to power promising to ease the housing crisis by increasing supply. But has its housing agenda stalled?  This week, the Greens hardened their opposition to two key elements of the government’s housing policy.  The Prime Minister has urged the Greens to “get on with it” and wave the plans through. So will Labor be able to secure its agenda? And if not, who will pay the political price?  Plus we have a look at the war of words between the business lobby and the government. Is this just the usual tension we often see between a Labor government and corporate interests? Or is it something more significant?  Joining Jaqueline Maley to discuss, is federal political correspondent Paul Sakkal and chief economic correspondent Shane Wright.Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What obligation does the Australian government have to help retrieve its citizens from debilitating circumstances, overseas? This question will be at the heart of a High Court case on Monday, which will help decide the fate of 12 Australian women, and their 22 children, who’ve been languishing in refugee camps in Northern Syria for five years. To those who have opposed bringing them home, the women are a threat - the family members of slain or defeated Islamic State fighters who may believe in dangerous ideologies. But to those who say they should be repatriated, they are victims of war.  Today, associate editor and special writer Deborah Snow on what distinguishes these women from those before them, who were successfully brought home to Australia.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the next week, while you and I are sleeping, members of the Murdoch family will be duking it out in an American courtroom over control of one of the most powerful media empires on the planet. It’s the latest escalation in a civil war that has been building within the family for years.   Today, media writer Calum Jaspan, on why Rupert Murdoch has pitted one of his children, Lachlan, against three of his other kids. And how the outcome of this case will impact all of us.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nine weeks after Republican candidate Donald J Trump was almost killed at a rally in Pennsylvania, the FBI is investigating another attempt on his life. Trump was on his golf course in Florida on Sunday afternoon when Secret Service officers spotted a man with an AK-47 hiding in the bushes a few hundred metres away. In the aftermath, Vice President Kamala Harris said: “Violence has no place in America”. Her running mate, Tim Walz, declared: “It’s not who we are as a nation”. But, isn’t it? Today, North America correspondent Farrah Tomazin on how, when shocking forms of violence are so commonplace, another attempted assassination almost feels normal. And why that't not OK.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's arguably the most shameful stain on Australia's military. In 2020, an inquiry concluded that there was credible information implicating 25 special forces personnel in alleged war crimes in Afghanistan. Four years on, the finding is still reverberating.  Last week, Defence Minister Richard Marles announced he would strip medals from a number of senior officers who served in Afghanistan. The move has drawn the ire of some veteran groups who argue no action should be taken until any charges are proven against soldiers.  Today, foreign affairs and national security correspondent Matthew Knott on what the announcement means, and why one of the country's most famous special forces soldiers, Ben Robert Smith, still has his Victoria Cross medal.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Snapchat is officially on notice. As are Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.  This week the Prime Minister and his communications minister Michelle Rowland announced they will introduce a ban on young people using social media. But they were short on detail, including exactly what age the government would require teens to be before they could access social media.  Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton promised the minerals industry that a Coalition government would be the “best friend” of miners.  Joining Jacqueline Maley to discuss, is chief political correspondent David Crowe and shadow communications minister David Coleman. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was one of the most highly anticipated debates in modern politics: a verbal showdown between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. Because for millions of Americans, the stakes couldn’t be higher. For many, a Trump win will stoke fears of a more autocratic United States. And for countless others, a Harris win would mean a move against conservative beliefs. Today, North America correspondent Farrah Tomazin on how the candidates, who were neck and neck before the debate, might fare now. And the viral moments we can't stop talking about.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deep in the snowy mountains is a tiny town called Nimmitabel. It’s almost smack bang in the middle of Sydney and Melbourne, it’s got a school, a pub, a couple of churches – enough for a few hundred people. It’s the sort of place you move to start a fresh chapter of life, to feel part of a community, where literally everyone knows your name and drops round a casserole or a jar of freshly made jam. And Nimmitable is all of those things, but it’s also something else: a place where a man by the name of Andrew Thaler, a serial political candidate and serial pest, is bullying and threatening women. Today, Jordan Baker on the tiny town with the big problem, the man at the centre of it, and the women who’ve had enough.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In terms of bizarre court cases, investigative journalist Kate McClymont has covered a few. But this most recent one, which ended in the conviction of colourful construction boss George Alex, was right up there. There was a soapie star turned doctor, who gave evidence that jail was a “terrible idea” for George Alex. Then there was an arrest warrant issued when Alex failed to appear at court in person, but rather, logged on from his hospital bed. And then, maybe most bizarre of all, were some strange events within the jury itself, with allegations of drug dealing and failed pay-offs investigated by police. Today, Kate McClymont on the case had it all. Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia's major union for construction workers, the CFMEU, has long been known as hardline in the way it went about its business. But a couple of months ago, investigative journalist Nick McKenzie's stories revealed damaging accusations that the union, which regularly overseas government funded work sites had been infiltrated by organized crime.  Even before the story broke on 60 minutes and in our mastheads, it triggered the resignation of the Victorian construction union boss John Setka.  But Setka will not go without a fight, and last week, he appeared at prize government worksites to rail against the move to place the Union under administration.  Today, Nick McKenzie on what the surprise appearance of the former Union boss means and what it will take to clean up the CFMEU.   Further reading: - Nick McKenzie and The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald's 'Building Bad' series.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.