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

Weekend Wrap April 30 2023: Van Badham joins Ben to discuss Insiders, reforming jobseeker, YES on track to win and migration reforms

Van Badham joins Ben Davison for a special weekend wrap! They dissect David Speers' on defence policy, consider Insiders' decision to ignore reforms to the pharmaceutical benefits scheme (PBS), ask whether Albo attending the Sandilands wedding was either good or bad politics and the dangers of mistaking online abuse for a real-world movement.

Our hosts discuss what real reforms to the social safety net would look like, and how media needs to be careful not to fall into the traps that right-wing media are now tangled in when reporting on policy reforms to the NDIS, unemployment and housing.

They also cover the union movement using May Day to campaign for The Voice, with Sally McManus and Michele O'Neil on the ground in the "soft" states of Queensland and Tasmania. This comes on the back of polling showing that YES would win the referendum if it were held today.... so, join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow

Ben and Van also discuss the announced reforms to migration, the improved protections for workers, the uplift in regulation in the sector and how Labor is facing down vested interests to deliver needed skills as well as opportunity for people to make Australia their home while contributing to our commonwealth.

Episode 132: Tucker taken down, Elon gives Twitter the blues, tackling the cost of living and good news about batteries

Van Badham and Ben Davison look at the threads behind the rise and fall of Murdoch star, Tucker Carlson.  Why he was effective at what he did, why that wasn't making money, how the Murdoch empires remains focused on making money and how their political interference is just a means of more easily making money.  Despite his sacking Tucker Carlson was, and remains, very focused on promulgating his view of what is good and what is evil.  Spoiler: He would think we are evil.

Van and Ben also look at the other end of the capitalist spectrum as Elon Musk's Twitter Blue debacle hits new lows, his SpaceX rocket explodes causing horrendous damage and investors in Tesla start to question whether having a CEO who is also CEO of five other companies and spends all his time on Twitter might be a bit distracted.

Ben and Van point out that the best protection against the vagaries of capitalist stupidity, whether in the workplace or trying to suppress your human rights, is to join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow

Today's inflation figures suggest that Australia is over the worst of the inflation rises and Ben gives his analysis of our current economic situation, what government can do to set the economic environment, shape economic conditions and determine economic outcomes (which is, as we explain, why the Murdoch Empire has an interest in politics) in what Van Badham describes as "The best two minute Keynesian analysis".

There is also good news about renewable batteries, sent in by a supporter, and shout outs for all our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters who have gone to www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday which is where we will have more details about a SECOND GOOD NEWS STORY on seaweed nappies!

 

Weekend Wrap 23 April 2023: Labor reforming social wage, Insiders intrigues and the dangers of self-appointed advocacy

Ben observes Peter Van Onselen's decision to wear a Foxtel show hoodie on Insiders after a week where his parent Murdoch publication, The Australian, was critical of Van Badham having her book on display in the background of The Drum and another guest seemed to accidentally make the case for why unions are important by pointing out junior employees are often afraid to raise issues.  You can join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow

Ben also looks at the debate around the social wage - also called the welfare system - in Australia and analyses Labor's statements over the week and on today's Insiders.

It looks like there will be movement on supports for housing, utility bills, single parent households, women's participation and the NDIS.  This follows a week of public discourse where the prospect of real full employment policy has entered the mainstream. Sadly, social media has been full of vitriolic and vile abuse by self-appointed advocates directed at people calling for improvements to the social wage and for full employment.

Ben breaks down how these self-appointed advocates have adopted many of the failed techniques of the Murdoch empire in targeting individuals, stifling nuanced debate and misinterpreting statements to suit their own agenda.  Ben explores how a nuanced debate should deliver more employment, more support and better outcomes. Ben also observes that campaigns of vitriolic abuse must take some responsibility for recent polling that shows less than half of Australians support an increase in Jobseeker payments.

Plus there's a reminder to vote YES on the referendum and an observation that, despite Dutton's attempts to confuse the issue, the proposition is a very simple one; Do you support recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the constitution?  Do you support consulting with them on policies that will impact them?

Episode 131: Dutton tanks Liberal vote, NDIS reboot, Father Bob passes and good news about EVs

Van Badham and Ben Davison look at the shocking collapse in support for the Coalition, the nose dive in Dutton's approval and how Labor has overtaken the Liberals as the party perceived as best to manage all aspects of the economy, jobs, wages and the delivery of services.  Van and Ben explore Dutton's recent poor decisions and how taking shadow cabinet appointment advice from Pauline Hanson may be symptoms of a wider set of problems in the Liberal Party.

Bill Shorten has announced a reboot to the NDIS.  Van and Ben look at what Bill announced at the National Press Club this week, the work unions are doing to make the program better and Ben shocks Van with who Dutton has put in as shadow Minister for the NDIS. 

Do you know who it is? Here's a hint, they would never join their union at australianunions.org.au/wow which you can do online right now.

Father Bob Maguire passed today.  Van and Ben discuss Bob's contributions to the community, to their own lives and to their sense of faith and solidarity.  It gets emotional.

And the good news this week is that Australia has an Electric Vehicle strategy.  Chris Bowen and Catherine King have announced an electric vehicle strategy to help reduce emissions, lower fuel bills and improve the quality of cars available in Australia.

As always we give shoutouts to our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters who are making contributions on www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday plus there's a couple of other special shout outs.

Episode 130: Duttons unelectable boofheads, Greens block more homes and a listener sends good news about batteries

Van Badham and Ben Davison discuss Dutton's "unelectable boofheads" and their response to the resignation of now former shadow minister for Indigenous Affairs and shadow Attorney General Julian Leeser which has swung wildly from "Albo should apologise" to their media mouth pieces calling him a "traitor" and "self indulgent".  What does this mean for the ever "unelectable" Liberal Party?  Van and Ben take a peek at the factional swamp that Dutton lords over and offer some ideas of what might be next.

Van and Ben remind everyone that if you worked over Easter you should be getting penalty rates and to talk to your union if they don't appear on your pay slip.  Join you union at australianunions.org.au/wow

While the Liberals allow their backbench to indulge in conspiracies and speculate about the effect gravity has on climate change people generally assume the Greens are a little more ideologically consistent so have been shocked that Greens have both blocked Labor's National Housing Fund, of 30,000 new homes, for not providing enough homes while simultaneously campaigning in their own seats across Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane to stop new homes being built.  Including 1,300 on an old industrial estate and former barracks in Brisbane.

Van and Ben discuss how Housing is a macro and a micro issue and why the Greens talk about being the party of renters while voting with the party of landlords.

Plus a supporter from our www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday page has sent in good news about renewable energy batteries in Western Australia!

Weekend Wrap 9 April 2023: Child labour, minimum wage wars, NDIS under attack

Ben Davison takes a look at how a NSW jam factory has been able to employee up to 100 children as young as 11 as a former Liberal MP attacks minimum wages for Aboriginal people and the union movement for insisting that all workers get at least the minimum wage.

With the minimum wage case underway, unions calling for wages to keep up with the cost of living while the bosses lobby argues for more wages cuts, the debate about wages and jobs is heating up.

You can join your union to protect your wages and conditions at australianunions.org.au/wow

Pauline Hanson has put out a reprehensible video attacking the NDIS.  Ben discusses how a Liberal MP has been putting up Facebook ads doing much the same thing and getting huge engagement but little media outrage.  With the budget a month away Ben predicts the attacks on the NDIS will keep coming and discusses some of the ways we can all help ensure the NDIS continues to deliver for people in Australia.

Episode 129: Trump in court, Duttons Noalition, RBA says rates may rise again and the good news is the majority say YES to The Voice

Van Badham and Ben Davison break down why Donald Trump was arrested and in a Manhattan court this week, how the alternate reality of Donald Trump has infected American politics and what might happen next in the saga that is Donald Trump, the Republican Party and American politics.

Peter Dutton has announced he will be campaigning for the NO vote in this year's Voice referendum.  Van and Ben analyse how Dutton has come to this point, what it says about the present state of the Liberal Party and, given the Aston byelection, NSW and Victorian elections, what Dutton's decision means for the future of Robert Menzie's party.

Van and Ben also acknowledge the workers on strike at both Sydney and Curtin Universities, workers at Visy entering their 10th week of strike action and offer support to workers in the broccolini supply chain who are encouraging boycotts of broccolini at Coles, Woolworths and Aldi.  You can join you union at australianunions.org.au/wow

The Reserve Bank governor gave a speech at the National Press Club today touting why he's doing a good job as tens of thousands of workers across Australia took to the streets in protest against the increasing cost of living.  Ben and Van break open the high priest of monetary policy's nonsense and expose the reality that he has protected the wealth of the already wealthy at the expense of ordinary working people.

The good news is that the majority of Australian's across a majority of states support The Voice referendum!  Van and Ben discuss the numbers and what we need to do to ensure the No campaign doesn't catch up.

Plus Van acknowledges our listeners who have gone to www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday to become Cadre or Extend the Reach supporters 

Weekend Wrap 2 April 2023: Labor wins Aston, Dutton’s train wreck on Insiders and Liberals circle the drain

Ben Davison breaks down the Aston by-election result which has seen Labor's Mary Doyle win a the formerly safe Liberal seat.  The result is the first time in over 100 years a sitting government has won a seat away from the opposition at a by-election.  The first time a woman has won Aston.

Ben looks at how a proud feminist, unionist, single mum was able to win such a "blue ribbon" Liberal seat against a conservative Liberal candidate who ticked all the usual boxes.

Peter Dutton fronted up to Insiders today and gave a train wreck of an interview.  Truly a masterclass in how to implode, the Dutton interview included threatening a gas crisis (we are the world largest exporter of gas), claiming the Aston result was due to Labor's negative campaign (apparently posters with his face on them are negative) and that this is a Victoria problem (having lost the NSW election last weekend).  The Insiders panel wasn't buying it and neither is Ben.  The Liberal's are talking about the wrong issues and even if they do stumble into the right issue they are no longer trusted to deliver the solutions.

Ben looks at why the Liberals are such a mess.  The party of Menzies is dying a slow painful, public death and Dutton is not capable of reforming them.  Ben examines how The Liberals have found themselves circling the drain of political history and why he thinks that, without major reform, they will cease to be a genuine party of government.

Ben also touches on how some of the big policy issues have played out as a result of this realignment. Ben slams Phil Coorey from the bosses pamphlet, the AFR, for continuing the Liberal Party attack against the NDIS and highlights that David Speers dropped out the news the Liberals will bind their caucus to voting NO on the referendum.

As always, Ben suggests people Vote YES.

Episode 128 Inflation slows, workers call for wages and just transition, Aston byelection, Liberal MPs injure worker and good news about Skinks!

Van Badham and Ben Davison discuss what the latest inflation figures might mean for working people when the high priests of neo-liberal monetary policy at the Reserve Bank meet again. Van and Ben discuss how the bosses lobby groups think they can argue the RBA needs to raise interest rates to create more unemployment but also not that the Fair Work Commission shouldn't raise minimum wages because it would cause unemployment.  Ultimately they're just fronting for more profits.  Which is why unions are arguing for a wage rise that keeps up with the cost of living.  You can join you unions at australianunions.org.au/wow

As well as calling for wage rises the President of the ACTU, Michele O'Neil, gave a national press club speech this week calling for the establishment of a Just Transition Authority.  Van and Ben discuss why Australia needs coordinated action on climate change and how, without such a tri-partite body, it isn't anyone's job to make sure that the economic transition is just, equitable or orderly.

Saturday is the first by-election since the 2022 federal election with Labor's Mary Doyle up against the Liberal Roshena from Brunswick in the seat of Aston (which is about an hours tram & bus ride from Brunswick). Today's revelations about the Liberal candidate's policy hypocrisy have people thinking Labor is in with a chance, even though it would be a historic victory for a sitting government to win a seat from the opposition at a by-election.

Of course, Van and Ben couldn't ignore the behaviour of six member's of Peter Dutton's caucus, including three members of his front bench, who injured a parliament house worker while trying to avoid casting their votes in the house of representatives.  Ben and Van discuss why this sort of thing has happened, how it not only breaks parliamentary rules but also the fundamental rule; No worker should ever be injured at work.

The podcast does have some good news about the Desert Skink which Ben explains after Van acknowledges our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters who are chipping in monthly contributions via www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday 

Weekend Wrap 26 March 2023: Minns Labor wins NSW, media fails with call of tight election, Voice question and putting workers in the centre of debate

Ben Davison returns with the Weekend Wrap to breakdown the landslide Labor victory in NSW.  With Labor set to win its biggest ever majority when coming into government from opposition.  Labor's lower house performance was only bettered by its performance in the upper house where it has achieved a 9% swing and battered the Liberal/National coalition. 

Ben breaks down some of the seats that Labor won, some of the seats where there is a genuine close contest and just why the media continues to be so out of touch.

Chris Minns will become the 47th Premier of NSW with a mandate for change while Dom Perrottet and his supporters in the media are left to shake their heads and claim that it wasn't Labor's focus on wages, more teachers, minimum health service staffing levels, banning privatisation, investing in more local jobs and refusal to get sucked into fringe issues pushed by the media but just that it people thought it was time to mix things up a bit.

ACTU President Michele O'Neil will be giving a National Press Club address on Tuesday focussing on how we move to net zero with workers winning rather than paying the bill for billionaires and Ben links this approach to how Labor in NSW campaigned.  Putting people first. 

Unions always put people, particularly their members, first and you can join at australianunions.org.au/wow Just look at how teachers, nurses, train drivers, child care workers, cleaners and more have been coming together in union and winning change across Australia.

Ben looks at Insiders treatment of the Voice question announcement and their interview with Attorney General Mark Dreyfus.  Ben does not believe Peter Dutton's support is needed for the referendum to be a success and raises his concern that if the billionaire owned media performs as badly during the referendum as they have during the last few state and federal elections by amplifying loud minority positions it could be a problem, for the media.  The referendum, like the elections and the marriage equality plebiscite, will be won by people getting involved so check out yes23.com.au or Unions for YES to see how you can be part of a better future.

And don't forget you can catch up on Ben and Van's interview with Chris Minns in Episode 104 from December 7th 2022 to get some more insight into what Labor will be doing to deliver a fresh start for NSW.