"The Week on Wednesday" with Van Badham & Ben Davison

Weekend Wrap Mar 7, 2021

Morrison continues to fumble among allegations of rape and sexual assault within his government Are GDP figures hiding the true economic story? Australia’s vaccine rollout off target and hitting potholes Michaelia Cash is back and now first law officer despite refusing to cooperate with the AFP The IR omnibus starts to wobble as cross bench doubt Morrison’s government And Morrison goes into hiding and misses out on Mardi Gras & Clean Up Australia Day.

Episode 27: More Morrison crises, aged care royal commission & good news about busting Nazis and fighting climate change

Van Badham and Ben Davison brave the painful and complicated discussion of the cascading scandals overwhelming the Morrison Liberal government - and Scott Morrison's own painful and complicated mishandling of them. We also talk about the aged care royal commission's findings, and what they augur for Australia's elders... and we have TWO pieces of good news - about busting Nazis and fighting climate change.

A big thanks to Nathan Pippin, who helped produce this episode with Ben at home and Van tuning in from Wagga Wagga. Note that the dog cries a lot because he can hear Van's voice, while she remains away...

Weekend Wrap Feb 28, 2021

Where is Morrison? As the Morrison government shudders from allegations of rape against a minister, the resignation of Craig Kelly from the Liberal Party, Nicole Flint announcing she won’t be standing at the next election, the failure to meet vaccine rollout targets & an IR bill with no friends Morrison has gone missing. WA Labor on track as the Liberals publicly conceded it not their “year” And the Golden Globes, always a scandal and a spectacle.

Episode 26: Cuts to Jobseeker, more accusations of misconduct in the Morrison government as Kelly quits Liberals and Democracy vs Capitalism

Van Badham & Ben Davison look at the Morrison government announcement of a real cut to Jobseeker being dressed up as an increase of $3.75 a day - and what this news really means.

There's a fourth report of an assault by the Liberal staffer accused of attacking Brittany Higgins, and more revelations about misconduct by Craig Kelly's senior advisor. Morrison admits to having raised these problems with Kelly BEFORE he announced his resignation from the Liberal Party to post conspiracy theories from the cross bench.

With the Victorian government announcing a Royal Commission into Crown, the arm-wrestle over news on Facebook and the collapse of the privatised and deregulated Texas energy grid, Van and Ben discuss the tension between democracy and capitalism and why they are on the side of democracy every time... even if it gives us Morrison.

The good news is about being able to eat food and breathe the air thanks to soil!

And Germanicus, the dachshund, nose bumps the mic, gets cuddles and jumps around. 

Weekend Wrap February 21st 2021

Weekend Wrap -Morrison’s handling of alleged rape acquisitions start to draw questions of cover ups -Facebook vs Murdoch when what we really need is quality independent journalism -WA polls set to open -Vaccine starts to roll out as Morrison cosplays his Australian cricket tour travelling supporter character -The court is abolished so now we wait to see if Hanson is going to give Morrison his IR cuts or let banks back into super in exchange.

Episode 25: Morrison government's bungling of alleged rape complaint & changes to BOOT given the boot but cuts to wages & job security still a threat

Van Badham takes us through the alleged rape of a Liberal staffer by another Liberal staffer in the Defence Minister's parliament house office, the inhuman response from Morrison as well as the lack of accountability and the lack of transparency that the Morrison government is entrenching. 

Ben takes us through the latest developments on Morrison's IR Omnibus Bill as the senate cross-bench listens to workers' demands to remove changes to the Better Off Overall Test (BOOT) while the devilish details that would cut wages and undermine both safety and job security start to become clear.

The good news is about the English Crane and urban mushroom farms in Paris.

This is a full on episode that required lots of puppy cuddles and, a warning, it deals with issues relating to trauma and sexual abuse.

Weekend Wrap Feb 14, 2021

Victoria is in a 5 day lockdown but where’s the vaccine Morrison? Trump is acquitted despite the majority voting to convict Sports Rorts & Dutton Donor grants The Altona refinery set to close & Australia’s fuel security problem

Episode 24: Crown loses its sparkle, Morrison's Omnibus Bill hits a pothole & Eddie Maguire's poor me resignation

Van Badham and Ben Davison explore the chequered history of the Barangaroo site of Crown's $2.2 Billion casino, and speak to the dodgy business surrounding Crown - looking at you "Shameful" James - that's put the whole project in doubt.

The Morrison Liberal Government's "IR Omnibus Bill" comes under scrutiny from the senate as experts, regulators, unions and ordinary people line up against pay cuts... while SkyNews "personalities" squawk at union ads and Albo starts to hit the high notes on jobs, jobs security and raising wages.

The good news? Eddie Maguire resigns as President of Collingwood, though he may still not understand why... and football legend Eric Cantona's insight about trawlers comes to life as fishermen find a colourful way to save endangered birds.

Plus: our dog Germanicus knocks over a light, snores, snuffles and makes clear he'd rather be out in the sun. 

 

Weekend Wrap Feb 7, 2021

Ben looks at the lockdown coming off and the bushfires in Western Australia, Victoria bans “gay conversion therapy”, Morrison keeps the focus on Kelly while trying to cut wages, job security and super plus it is the week for Super Bowl LV and the Australian Open. The news you need to start the week in just 11 minutes

Episode 23: Tanya takes on Kelly, The Reserve bank predicts a painful 2021 & a Bernie meme changing lives

Van Badham looks at Tanya Plibersek calling out conspiracy theorist and Morrison government backbencher Craig Kelly and examines why Morrison has been happy to let disinformation be spread by his team.

Ben breaks down the Australian Reserve Bank (RBA) latest predictions on wages, jobs and how, without the Morrison government doing its share of the lifting, the bank won't be able to ease the pain for working people in 2021

The good news is how a Bernie Sanders meme is helping thousands of people out of food poverty.

And our dog Germanicus warns off the neighbours.

This is the Week on Wednesday