7am

The Great Barrier Reef has avoided being placed on UNESCO’s “in danger” list – for now.
But the warning hasn’t gone away. UNESCO says Australia still needs to do more to protect it, including on water quality. And one of those problems starts far inland: when bushland is cleared, soil can wash into rivers that flow out to the coral.
The Australian Conservation Foundation says bulldozing for beef production is a major driver of that runoff. And now, Australia’s new national environment watchdog – the National Environmental Protection Agency – has opened its doors with more than 100 potentially unlawful land-clearing cases already on its books.
Labor says its new nature laws will protect the environment and speed up approvals for housing, renewables and infrastructure. But will they actually stop the clearing – or just speed up a broken system?
Today, CEO of the Australian Conservation Foundation Adam Bandt, on the first test of Labor’s new nature laws – and whether they can make an impact before it’s too late.

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Guest: CEO of the Australian Conservation Foundation, Adam Bandt
Photo: WWF Australia
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The Prime Minister has announced a plan for how Australia approaches AI, with a new office to be created, and new standards expected to be legislated early next year.
As part of the plan new data centres can be fast tracked, but will have to supply their own power.
And while Anthony Albanese said that artists should be able to control the use of their work, there are still fears about what will happen when potential investment meets copyright law.
Today, Chair of Digital Rights Watch Lizzie O’Shea on whether the government can walk the tightrope of the AI boom, while protecting and benefiting all Australians.

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Guest: Chair of Digital Rights Watch Lizzie O’Shea
Photo: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts
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When Pauline Hanson was at the previous peak of her political popularity, in the late 90s, one journalist was there chronicling it.
Margo Kingston followed Hanson on the 98 campaign trail, and has followed her career ever since – pulled back in, even when she wanted to walk away.
So what do Pauline Hanson’s beginnings tell us about her future? And what are the parallels between 1996 and 2026?
Today, Margo Kingston, on what Pauline Hanson has come to represent, and how she’s using her past to fashion her present.

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Guest: Journalist and author of Off the Rails: The Pauline Hanson trip, Margo Kingston
Photo: AAP Image/Tony Phillips
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Is the media’s reporting on Israel’s attacks on Gaza fuelling antisemitism? That’s the question facing the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion – which has been examining the role of the public broadcasters – the ABC and SBS.
Appearing before the commission was Australia’s Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, Jillian Segal – who came out swinging at the broadcasters’ Middle East coverage, reccomending it be overseen by an independent committee.
But do Segal’s claims stack up?
Today, former Media Watch host and ABC Alumni board member Jonathan Holmes, on the submission ABC Alumni put to the commission, and the role of the public broadcaster in reporting on war.

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Guest: Former media watch host Jonathan Holmes
Photo: AAP Image/Dominic Giannini
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New York Times journalist Jonathan Swan is famous for his trainwreck interview with Donald Trump at the height of covid.
Now, he’s exposing the US president again with a forensic look at what he says was the most consequential year of an American presidency in our lifetime.
Donald Trump’s first presidency was defined by chaos – but also by the people around him trying to contain it.
Swan says the second term is different. Trump has returned to the White House with a tighter circle of loyalists, and far fewer people willing to say no.
In a new book Regime Change co-authored with Maggie Haberman, Jonathan Swan goes inside the first 14 months of Trump’s return to power, documenting a presidency using the machinery of government to punish enemies, pressure institutions and test what one president can get away with.
Today, Jonathan Swan, on Trump’s second term – and how he’s changed America forever.

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Guest: Co-author of Regime Change Jonathan Swan
Photo: AP Photo/Francisco Seco
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