‘Web of cowardice’: What we learned from the final robo-debt hearings

The Royal Commission into robo-debt is 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?

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How we’re betting our climate future on a scam

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. But are they actually a scam?

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Why can't Labor and the Greens get along?

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 are accusing the Greens of being unrealistic.

Today, contributing editor of The Politics, Rachel Withers on the impossible choice facing the Greens.

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How the family court is failing traumatised women

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.

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It's all about money: Rupert Murdoch's Fox News deposition

We now have the clearest insight into the inner workings of Rupert Murdoch’s media empire. The mogul was forced, under oath, to answer questions about Fox News in a $1.6 billion dollar lawsuit against the company.

What’s been revealed is that Murdoch and some of his most famous hosts knew they were putting lies to air, and allowed it anyway.

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‘Disaster capitalism’: What’s happening after climate catastrophe

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.

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ASIO is worried you’re helping foreign spies

Our intelligence community used to believe terrorism was the greatest threat to Australians. But today, Australia’s domestic intelligence agency, ASIO, says the biggest threat we’re facing is actually from foreign spies.

According to the agency, it’s not just politicians and military officers who are being targeted – it’s everyday people, who might not know they’re giving away information that could cost lives.

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What convinced Albanese to tackle superannuation

A week ago, superannuation reform was just an idea, a national conversation and the prime minister certainly wasn’t proposing anything. But the conversation was brief, and a decision was swift.

So what convinced Anthony Albanese his government had to act? And why was it worth the risk of being accused of breaking a promise?

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