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

Weekend Wrap 12 February 2023: Insiders stays in neoliberal frame, Tudge quits in disgrace, bosses attacking workers

Ben Davison looks at the big stories at the end of the first sitting week of parliament in 2023 and neo-liberal skew that Insiders offered up to the ABC audience.

While mouth piece for the bosses pamphlet, Phil Coorey, was promoting his friends at the Mineral's council advertising campaign the hidden truth that profitable major corporations will be fighting to keep workers divided and wages low during 2023 was exposed.  Join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow

Jim Chalmer's delivered the good news that power prices won't be going up by as much as they were forecast, due to their price cap mechanism.  Ben analyses how the Labor government is having to do a huge amount of heavy lifting on economic reform to try repairing both a decade of Liberal mismanagement and the ongoing capture of our institutions by neo-liberal ideologues.  The Reserve Bank's continued assault on working people and dangerous obsession with making more people unemployed, wages lower and economic growth both lower and more concentrated into the hands of a few is proving the Liberals with political talking points and Labor with real problems.

Alan Tudge has quit parliament and, as usual, the truth has been papered over by an emotional speech given by a hypocritical and shameful middle aged upper class white man using his children as a shield from any genuine critique.  Tudge has quit in disgrace.  End of story.  

The Week on Wednesday LIVE! at the Adelaide Fringe festival starts in just 10 days so get your tickets to see Van Badham and Ben Davison in The Yurt now https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/the-week-on-wednesday-live-with-van-badham-ben-davison-live-podcast-af2023

Episode 121: Thorpe leaves Greens in lurch, Dark Brandon rises and good news about the sea!

Van Badham and Ben Davison examine former Greens Senator for Victoria Lidia Thorpe's announcement that she is no longer a Green Party member but is now leader of "a grassroots Blak sovereign movement."

They look at the commentary around her split from the Greens, events leading up to this moment, what "a grassroots Blak sovereign movement" might actually mean based on Thorpe's public statements and the implications for democracy and the Voice referendum.

Thorpe's announcement, made standing alone in a hallway, came on the first sitting day of parliament for 2023 where a large number of issues are being debated, including more improvements for workers rights.  You can join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow to make sure you get your proper wages and conditions.

Dark Brandon (a play on a meme about Joe Biden) rose today as Joe Biden nailed the Republican's during the State of the Union Address.  Van and Ben discuss how Qanon talking points, culture wars and performative politics have so consumed the Republicans that Biden was able to get them to publicly show support for social security and Medicare while their leaders accuse one another of horrendous crimes, ban books and want to legislate putting sugar in milk.

Plus there is good news from the SEA about both hydrogen and plastics!

Van also gives an on air promise to sign copies of her book Qanon and On for anyone who comes to see the Week on Wednesday LIVE! at the Adelaide Fringe Festival, https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/the-week-on-wednesday-live-with-van-badham-ben-davison-live-podcast-af2023 

There's also shout outs to our supporters who have gone to www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday including special ones for a new arrival to Australia and an Extend the Reach supporter who has become Cadre!

Weekend Wrap 5 February 2023: Insider’s returns to discuss The Voice, The Chifley Research Centre conference platforms new ideas and 1 in 10 cancers are work related

Ben Davison reviews the return of the ABC's flagship political discussion show, Insiders.  As host David Speers manages to make incredibly dismissive off hand comment about the Robodebt Royal Commission and another panelist waves off the only first nations panellist's views about the situation in Alice Springs Professor Megan Davis patiently explains that The Voice referendum is about principles, not details. 

No one knows where the offices will be or what colour the business cards might have on them  but we do know that the launch of the YES campaign is happening while Ben and Van Badham will be doing the Week on Wednesday LIVE! at Adelaide Fringe Festival (tickets here: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/the-week-on-wednesday-live-with-van-badham-ben-davison-live-podcast-af2023) and our hosts hope to give you a report back in a future episode.

Ben looks at the Chifley Research Centre conference in Canberra where Albo has defined the referendum as being about two principles; Recognition and Consultation, Tony Burke has outlined the next phases of workplace law reforms and Jim Chalmers has built on his excellent Monthly essay where he essentially argues that society and the economy are two sides of the same coin.  Ben explores what that might mean in the context of the inflation challenge, falling living standards and record profits in some sectors.

Yesterday was World Cancer day and Ben reminds us why union safety standards are so important; 1 in 10 cancers around the world are due to workplace exposure to hazardous material.  If not for better pay and more secure work, join your union for a better, healthier life at australianunions.org.au/wow

Episode 120: Cultural policy at last! Visy, Woodside and Mantle workers facing down corporate greed plus the robodebt royal commission

Van Badham and Ben Davison took a look at the Revive cultural policy launched by the Albanese Labor government and what it will mean for working people in the arts, in Australian audiences and to conversation about who we are as a nation.

Van share's some of her experiences as an artist and just what Revive will mean for the tens of thousands of people working in arts and culture across Australia.

After a decade, or more, of campaigning in union workers now have a right to paid family and domestic violence leave.  Van and Ben take a look at three examples where workers are standing together against extraordinary pressure from billionaires, multinational corporations and dodgy bosses across Visy, Woodside and the Mantle Group.  Whether you're in the arts, resources, hospitality, manufacturing, healthcare, education or any other work you can join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow

The Robodebt royal commission is continuing but revelations this week about the extent of the wrong doing by the former Liberal-National government has shocked the nation.  Van and Ben discuss how Australia got to this point, their own experiences of unemployment and what lessons the royal commission has already given us.

And there is good news about crushed glass being used as a whole new material!

Don't forget to get your tickets to the Adelaide Fringe festival to see The Week on Wednesday LIVE! at https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/the-week-on-wednesday-live-with-van-badham-ben-davison-live-podcast-af2023

Plus Van gives shoutouts to our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters who have visited www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday (Ben promises Van will always be the one to do it in future too...)

Weekend Wrap 29 January 2023: Alice Springs, a complex story needing complex solutions, West Australian opposition shuffles deck chairs and stranded ship crews

Ben Davison takes a closer look at the situation in Alice Springs and how the end of a 15 year ban on alcohol in some communities coincided with cuts to support services, a federal election and a Morrison government unable to think beyond the news cycle to create the slow moving storm that has now engulfed the community.  And maybe provides the clearest example of why The Voice is needed.

Ben looks at how the West Australian opposition, with only six lower house members across two parties, has managed to find itself in disarray at the start of 2023.

With more companies abandoning ships Ben takes a look at the case of the Yangtze Fortune and the crew.  Owed money, unable to get home to the Philippines and no clear path to freedom the workers are relying on the International Transport Federation (ITF) and the Maritime Union of Australia to make it through each day.  Join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow

You can also get your tickets for The Week on Wednesday LIVE! at Adelaide Fringe festival now at https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/the-week-on-wednesday-live-with-van-badham-ben-davison-live-podcast-af2023

 

 

Episode 119: Whether Australia Day or Invasion Day January 26th needs to change, will the RBA cause a recession? Good news from the Mersey river!

Ben Davison examines some of the history, the changing attitudes, the cultural impacts and the evolving community sentiment towards January 26th.  Ben believes there is a need for change to "Australia Day"/"Invasion Day" if we are to have a day that celebrates modern Australia while recognising our complex and painful history.   You can find more info on the views of First Nations Workers and how to become an ally at www.fnwa.org.au

Inflation has hit a new high, though lower than the 8% forecast, and Ben discusses what that means, what the policy options are and why the RBA might end up forcing Australia into a recession.  With the RBA governor demanding that workers wear the cost, while businesses reap the profits, it is a vital time to join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow to help protect your wages, conditions and even your job.

Once the most polluted river in the UK, the Mersey is now a thriving habitat again.  Ben talks through some good news and the lessons it gives us all.

While Van couldn't be in this episode she will be at the Adelaide Fringe for The Week on Wednesday LIVE! Tickets now available at https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/the-week-on-wednesday-live-with-van-badham-ben-davison-live-podcast-af2023

And Ben does the shoutouts for our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters, reminding us all why Van normally does them!

Weekend Wrap 22 January 2023: Labor leads in NSW, The Voice winning across the nation, Ardern retires and Qantas has been Joyced!

Ben Davison looks at the recent polling showing a surge in support for Chris Minns and the NSW Labor party at the expense of Dom Perrottet's Liberal/National coalition government.  Ben goes through why working people have had enough of the cuts, the costs and the waste during  a decade of mismanagement by the Liberals.  Also how unions are getting organised to win better pay, services and more secure jobs, join them at australianunions.org.au/wow.  You can check out Van and Ben's interview with Labor leader Chris Minns from December 7th on Episode 114 of The Week on Wednesday.

The Voice enjoys support from a majority of Australian's in a majority of states.  While Dutton "reaches for the Abbott playbook" and the conservative media try to pretend otherwise every state, except Queensland, would deliver a comfortable majority YES to for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice referendum.  Ben breaks it down state by state.

Ben touches on the retirement of Jacinda Ardern. Van's Guardian article articulates why she was important, not just to New Zealand but to many people around the world.

Ben closes off with an examination of the escalating problems at Qantas.  Remember you can hear what the maintenance workers were telling Ben and Van back in September in Episode 104 about Joyce's cuts.  SIX MONTHS BEFORE the four "mechanical issues" in three days that the airline has suffered this week.

And don't forget you can Van and Ben doing The Week on Wednesday LIVE at Adelaide FRINGE, tickets here https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/the-week-on-wednesday-live-with-van-badham-ben-davison-live-podcast-af2023

 

Episode 118: Dutton playing politics with The Voice, Stoves new culture war front, is it time to end the free ride? And good news on plastics!

Van Badham and Ben Davison look at how Dutton is playing politics over The Voice to parliament, why he's playing a politically dangerous game and just how easy it is to find "the detail" he claims he cannot find.  (Ben reads it out if you're interested Peter)

Turns out gas appliances aren't great for our health, our environment or our wallets but, as culture war correspondent Van Badham reports, there's enough vested interests to keep American law makers and ridiculous sky news types ranting about why pumping gas that makes unwell directly into your home should be a right.

With workplace law changes meaning more workers than ever will be able to get the benefits of union negotiated and won pay agreements the debate about "free riders" has started.  Many union leaders from sectors as diverse as childcare and the rail industry, healthcare and manufacturing are calling for changes to the law to allow for union won pay rises to include a fee for the service that non-members would have to pay.  Van and Ben discuss the idea, where it has come from and how Australia has ended up with huge numbers of people getting benefits they aren't paying for at the moment.  You can join your union anytime at australianunions.org.au/wow to make sure your workplace has the resources needed to win better pay and conditions.

Van and Ben also reveal the dates of The Week on Wednesday LIVE at Adelaide Fringe 22nd February-15th of March tickets at https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/the-week-on-wednesday-live-with-van-badham-ben-davison-live-podcast-af2023

And as our downloads get closer and closer to ONE MILLION the support of our Cadre, Extend the Reach and Buck a Week supporters in growing our audience is even more valuable.  Check our supporter page at www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday to get the podcast, links and early info in your inbox!

Weekend Wrap 15 January 2023: Workers beat wage thieves at Mantle, Pell is gone and who is Perrottet really?

Ben Davison explores how workers at the Mantle Group stood together in union against a sham agreement that saw hundreds of workers denied their proper wages.  The Queensland and New South Wales based hospitality company continues to deny any wrong doing but the case is damning for the company (who might face criminal charges) and a win for workers.  Join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow

This week saw the death of George Pell.  Ben, from Ballarat, talks about what this has meant for him, his community and how one man's indifference to the suffering of others has caused damage that even his death will not simply repair.

NSW Premier Dom Perrottet gave a press conference this week where he admitted to wearing a Nazi uniform at his own 21st birthday.  Ben questions how NSW youngest premier couldn't have known that was an inappropriate thing to do and how the dysfunction of the NSW Liberals is exposing that maybe Dom Perrottet is really only interested in having power.

Plus there's a reminder of you can catch The Week on Wednesday LIVE at the Adelaide festival from the last week of February to the middle of March tickets here https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/the-week-on-wednesday-live-with-van-badham-ben-davison-live-podcast-af2023

 

Episode 117: Sunak’s anti-strike laws have Australian flavour, Republican supreme court could strip right to strike,Brazil’s far right storm their capital

Van Badham and Ben Davison take a look at some of the big issues facing working people in the UK and the USA and find that there's an Australian flavour in conservative moves to strip worker's of rights.

In the UK Rishi Sunak is trying to ban effective strikes and force people to cross picket lines with a law that one of his own MP's has called "shameful".  The "protecting essential services" approach is one that is already law in Australia and has been used to stop industrial actions from train strikes to the release of exam results. With industrial action at low levels and wages going backwards its clear why Sunak wants an even more heavy handed version of these laws.

Over in the USA the Supreme Court is hearing a case that may rip up nearly 60 years of precedent to make individual workers and their unions liable for losses incurred by a boss during industrial action.  This would in effect make every strike a huge financial risk as opposed to an immediate small cost for a longer term gain.  Its an approach the Liberals tried in Australia with the ABCC regime in construction (now abolished).

Unions everywhere are standing up against these attacks and you can join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow

In Brazil the far right play book has entered its final chapter, an attempted coup.  Van runs through why the coup attempt against Lula happened, how Trumpists and billionaires have incited it and why Lula was able to restore order and democracy so quickly.

You can catch Van and Ben LIVE at the Adelaide Fringe https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/the-week-on-wednesday-live-with-van-badham-ben-davison-live-podcast-af2023

And support the podcast reaching even more people by becoming a Cadre, Extend the Reach or Buck a week supporter at www.buymeacoffee.com/WeekOnWednesday