Insiders

Most economists see Tuesday's budget as an opportunity to rein in spending and bring down inflation — not Ken Henry.

With less than a week until Treasurer Jim Chalmers delivers his third budget, David Speers sat down with the former boss of Treasury, Ken Henry, to discuss the state of the Australian economy and whether the government should use the budget to try and crimp stubborn inflation.The longer-term challenge for the Treasurer lies in re-shaping the economy as it transitions to a net-zero future – and re-shaping the Budget to be more sustainable as spending pressures rise. The government's Future Made in Australia industrial policy will be a key feature of those plans, but Dr Henry remains unconvinced about the merits of taxpayers subsidising Australian manufacturers.

Last weekend – demands for more action to keep women safe – spilled onto the streets.

Barely a week goes by when the great energy transition isn’t making news of some sort. This week the government announced feasibility licences for a bunch of developers to work on plans for Australia’s first offshore wind zone in waters off Gippsland in Victoria.At the same time, Energy Minister Chris Bowen was talking up the need to seek new supplies of gas to support renewables. The government’s been making all sorts of announcements under its new Future Made in Australia policy – to subsidise the local manufacturing of solar panels and other green technology. While the Coalition continues to talk up its plans for nuclear energy – even if it’s unclear when those actual plans will be unveiled or whether the opposition will make any sort of commitment to a new emissions target. And this week we also saw a concerning report from the Grattan Institute – warning the great energy transition is “not going well”. So – are we on the right track? And how bumpy is it likely to get?David Speers interviews Kerry Schott, chair of the Carbon Market Institute and AGL board member, among many things, in the latest episode of Insiders: On Background. 

In the lead-up to this year's budget announcement, the Albanese government is struggling to maintain the public's focus and clear air to announce their plans. 

The crisis of male violence against women in this country is escalating, as an average of one woman every four days is killed so far in 2024. The murder of NSW woman Molly Ticehurst allegedly at the hands of her former partner has sparked community outrage and calls for governments to act urgently to protect women against intimate partner violence. We’ve seen these calls before, but the numbers of dead women continue to be a national shame, so what can and should be done? The panel Bridget Brennan, Karen Middleton and Shane Wright discuss.Elsewhere this week, Australia is pushing back at the power of social media giants. The battle over who can watch video of a violent stabbing - has become an important test – being watched around the world. What control can a nation state wield over big tech? David Speers interviews Independent MP for Fowler in Sydney’s southwest Dai Le about her community’s social cohesion following the stabbing of a bishop. Mike Bowers talks the week in pictures with Lewis Hobba.

While Anthony Albanese says we're in a "race for jobs" with other countries offering big government subsidies and can't afford to be "left behind", Productivity Commissioner Danielle Wood isn't sure it's a race we should even be in.

The Prime Minister has already made it clear what will be the centrepiece of the next federal budget. His second term agenda centres around a Future Made in Australia. Everyone loves the idea of more stuff being made in Australia, particularly Labor Prime Ministers - but the question is at what cost to taxpayers and to consumers. Now, we still don't know all of the details of this plan for a future made in Australia. But we do know it will involve government subsidies and tax incentives aimed at trying to encourage more manufacturing of things like solar panels, batteries, and other green tech that's going to be needed in the transition to net zero future.Various former Productivity Commissioners have warned about a return to the bad old days of protectionism, throwing money around on uncompetitive industries. And even the current Productivity Commissioner Danielle Wood, appointed to the role by the treasurer late last year, has raised some concerns. David Speers speaks to Commissioner Wood in the latest episode of Insiders: On Background.

The Insiders panel of Samantha Maiden, Phil Coorey, and Lenore Taylor discuss the judgement in the Bruce Lehrmann defamation trial, with Justice Michael Lee ruling that on the balance of probabilities Lehrmann raped his colleague Brittany Higgins in a ministerial suite inside Parliament House in 2019. The judgement was hailed by journalist Lisa Wilkinson as a vindication of her story, but it also included strong criticism of key parts of the The Project’s broadcast – particularly the suggestion that members of the Morrison government and their staff had covered-up the sexual assault. David Speers interviews Opposition Leader Peter Dutton about the government’s role following the week of violence in Sydney, nuclear power, and the Lehrmann verdict. The panel also discuss defence spending and delays to the EPBC act. 

Sydney has been reeling this week from two horrific attacks. Both the Bondi Junction and the Wakeley attacks have raised all sorts of questions about terrorism, mental illness, the spread of misinformation on social media, and community cohesion.There’s also a big question over the safety of women. The Bondi Junction attacker – Joel Cauchi – killed 5 women and one male security guard. The majority of those injured were also women. The NSW Police Commissioner says it’s obvious he was targeting women. This attack may not have been declared an act of terrorism – but it certainly is terrifying, particularly for women.David Speers speaks to Australia’s Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner Micaela Cronin about whether this aspect of the horrific attack is likely to bring about any policy change.If this conversation raises concerns for you:1800 Respect National Helpline: 1800 737 732Men's Referral Service: 1300 766 491Lifeline (24-hour crisis line): 131 114Victims of Crime Helpline: 1800 819 817Full Stop Australia: 1800 385 578

Given these two horrific attacks happened within days of each other in the same city, the debate over how they've been differently labelled is perhaps inevitable.

Visiting a shopping centre on a Saturday is such a familiar thing to do. The horrific attack at Westfield Bondi Junction has understandably shocked many. And given heightened community tensions – there were fears over what might have motivated such an attack. The NSW police commissioner was last night confident enough to say she did not believe this was an act of terrorism. David Speers interviews Treasurer Jim Chalmers about the latest, as well as getting his take on Iran’s attack on Israel and the government’s new Future Made in Australia act.The panel John Kehoe, Anna Henderson, and David Crowe also turn their minds to the government’s new Future Made in Australia Act. The Prime Minister wants to see a new wave of local manufacturing – powered by clean energy. And to get there – he’s willing to seriously ramp up government subsidies and incentives. How much taxpayers’ money will be spent? And who will be the winners? Also discussed is Penny Wong’s speech on the possibility of Palestinian statehood before a two state solution. Mike Bowers talks the week in pictures with Mark Humphries.

Just how far should the government go when it comes to trying to keep manufacturers in Australia and attract new ones? In a significant pre-budget speech this week, the Prime Minister has suggested the role of government needs to evolve as he flagged a much more interventionist approach and what he's calling a future made in Australia. But why should Australian taxpayers be funding local production of things like solar panels? And how far do you go with this? Where does it end? What or who deserves support? Who doesn't?David Speers talks to the Business Council’s Chief Executive Bran Black about the government’s ambitious new agenda.

The prime minister sees an agenda to grow local green manufacturing as not only economically and strategically vital, but a political no-brainer. But that's only if it all works.

Not good enough.  Australia is demanding more answers and greater transparency – over how Israel managed to launch deadly air strikes on an aid convoy in Gaza. Israel is blaming poor visibility and a communications stuff-up. That hasn’t satisfied the Albanese Government.David Speers interviews Shadow Foreign Minister Simon Birmingham about the Coalition’s view of the incident, and how the Opposition believes the government should proceed in their relations with Israel.The panel Paul Sakkal, Karen Middleton, and Katina Curtis also discuss the continuing debacle over migration laws, the appointment of Sam Mostyn as Governor-General, and the Opposition’s position on breaking up the big supermarkets.

Israel's airstrike on a convoy in Gaza earlier this week quickly sparked international condemnation, anger, demands for answers and a lot more pressure on the Netanyahu government over its conduct in this war. The attack on the World Central Kitchen convoy killed seven people, including an Australian aid worker Lalzawmi "Zomi" Frankcom. Joe Biden says he's outraged and heartbroken. Rishi Sunak has called it an appalling attack. Anthony Albanese is demanding accountability from Israel. But what exactly does that mean? What should accountability look like? What should the independent investigation that’s been promised, actually involve? And could this moment lead to a serious change in the conduct of this war? David Speers explores this potential tipping point in the conflict with Reverend Tim Costello, one of Australia's best known leaders in international aid.

There have been many moments described as "tipping points" since the war in Gaza began nearly six months ago. But this week's deadly Israeli air strike on an aid convoy may prove to be one of the most significant.

Navigating differences with China. All in with the British on nuclear submarines. And buckling up for a potential return of Donald Trump to the White House. In one week - the directions, difficulties and dilemmas of Australian diplomacy have all been on show. David Speers interviews Defence Minister Richard Marles about the new submarines funding, China, Trump and more.The Insiders panel, Clare Armstrong, Anthony Galloway, and Shalailah Medhora have plenty to discuss on the domestic front too. The religious discrimination bill is yet again a political hot potato, after Albanese told Labor caucus he could shelve the government’s promised changes to the act – protecting LGBT staff and students from facing discrimination and acting on religious hate speech – unless he gets bipartisan support on the reform.They also run the ruler over the surprisingly strong unemployment figures out this week, after the biggest monthly jobs gain on record outside of the pandemic period. Economic growth was slowing at the end of 2023, but now appears to have strengthened. Mike Bowers talks the week in pictures with Jack The Insider.

An unhappy experience with the Voice referendum explains the Albanese government’s reticence to push ahead on religious freedoms. Even if that means failing to deliver on an election promise.

Housing affordability has been one of the biggest political issues over the last two years since inflation, mortgage rates and rental prices started spiralling. The plight of those trying to buy a home or struggling to pay the rent has focused the attention of many politicians. But what about those who don’t have a roof over their head at all? The housing crisis has forced some – even with full-time jobs – to sleep in their cars or in tents in local parks. And then there are kids with low or no income at all who just can’t stay at home for various reasons but are left couch surfing, or sleeping rough – at a critical time when they should be supported and learning life skills. So what happens when you’re homeless? Where do you turn? And what can actually help turn your life around?David Speers speaks to Brea Dorsett and Tyrah Chan-Hampton, both of whom are Youth Ambassadors for Foyer Foundation – an organisation that helped change their lives.Insiders: On Background digs a little deeper into an issue that will be covered on the show each week with an expert to better understand the debates dominating politics.