Meanwhile, there’s a surge in diversity on Labor’s benches worth celebrating as well as - YES, OMG - real wage growth that’s outpacing inflation as the actual business of government somehow manages to roll on. And if that weren’t enough good news, there’s been a breakthrough in the breakdown of forever chemicals, by jiminy!

It may be one woman talking to herself for 45 minutes, but we hope you enjoy it!

- What led to Labor’s sweeping mandate - Why the Coalition suffered such a brutal collapse - The spectacular fall of the Greens’ lower house ambitions - How union campaigning and party discipline shaped the outcome - The Trump effect—and how Australian voters emphatically rejected it - The nuclear fantasy and the cost of out-of-touch ideology - Why the "parliament of independents" myth finally imploded

Their signature candid discussion takes on democratic responsibility political fantasy and hope hope hope, this episode is a must-listen for anyone who cares about where Australia is headed next.

Van has been keeping an eye on the election, and a couple of perturbing recent twists: parents from Catholic schools in key marginal seats received thinly-veiled “We’re not saying vote Liberal, but…” letters from the Catholic education authorities and publishing them on the internet, with horror. Van, a Catholic herself, delivers a righteous takedown:

Just when you thought it couldn’t get weirder—enter the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church (aka Exclusive Brethren). Members of this secretive sect are popping up en masse at pre-poll booths as Liberal volunteers, particularly in teal and Labor marginals. Uniformly dressed, slogan-repeating, and cagey about their affiliations, Van explains their ultra-conservative, anti-worldly ethos: “No pets, no pop music, no pants for women—but apparently, private jets are fine.” The vibes, friends - are sus.

Ben gives a summary of the polling data this far, and what it’s telling us - but we end with liquid gold. Companies Peequal and NPK Recovery collected 1,000 litres of female runners’ pee at the London Marathon and turned it into fertiliser for wheat—enough for 3,000 loaves of bread. Quote of the day: “It’s brilliant to think that the nervous wees of thousands of women are helping a good cause.”

Enjoy the show!

Yes, the budget includes actual money for women's health (hello menopause clinics!), green iron, and schools. Yes, a real journalist got added to a U.S. government Signal chat where they were planning airstrikes. And YES — for once — something good has happened for penguins.

It's a bananas world, but Van is here to help you make sense of it!

Please light candles and sing songs of magic that Ben can be back next week; we must not let the bananas prevail.

How this may manifest in a his campaign pitch and how those who want to stop him should respond to it is also TOP OF MIND. There’s also good news about cars in Norway, and Germanicus is finally successful in crawling up onto Van’s lap. 

Join us as we unpack the intricate dynamics of the day, offering our own SPARKLING TAKE on why risking Peter Dutton is a bad, bad, very bad idea. 

AND Van gives our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters a shoutout!

Ben shares his expert insights on the economic landscape, highlighting the strength of Australia's fundamentals and dissecting the misinformation clouding public perception, Van is more grateful than ever for having gone to art school, and Germanicus yaps at at least two passers by (you've missed him the most, people, haven't you?!).

As Australia gears up for an election year, the podcast assesses the capitalist conditions imposed on political discourse, the Xenophobic Lie Machine, Peter Dutton's "nuclear mcguffin" and the economic implications of all three. It's a bumper return episode and we are just so glad to be back! Thanks for sticking with us over QUITE the challenging year!  

As Ben recovers from twelve months of illness, this long overdue return to The Week on Wednesday begins with heartfelt gratitude for the Medicare system, as you’d expect. Our delighted duo then analyze the first U.S. presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, highlighting Harris's effective preparation and Trump's off-chops - and certainly weird - shouty rants about pet-eating in Ohio.

They also explore news from the word of “Disinfoland”, concerning the arrest of Telegram's Pavel Durov in France, the suspension of Elon Musk’s “X” platform in Brazil  and the indictment of two alleged Russian agents for “information laundering” pro-Putin talking points through U.S. right-wing influencers. Ben encourages you to JOIN A UNION, and Van cuddles the dog.

A big shoutout to our supporters who’ve stayed with us all these months; friends, we are SO BACK.

More on the US Presidential debate: https://www.npr.org/2024/09/11/nx-s1-5108401/donald-trump-debate-eating-dogs-cats-immigrants-false-stereotype

Great piece from Alexander Howard about the present window for effective social media platform regulation: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/10/opinion/telegram-tiktok-x-social-media.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Sally McManus explains the allegations against the CFMEU: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/Srn4vDrnuCrxcmCa/

Come see Van’s new show about Nazis in Melbourne: https://melbournefringe.com.au/event/werewolf/

Buy us some coffee (and we’ll spend the money on ads): https://buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday

Our hosts dissect Dr Jim’s reintroduction of nation building into macroeconomic management in a discussion that spans the breadth of the budget from fun nuance to big-picture policy decision and rejects the screaming-banana response of the Murdoch media.

Join our hosts as they examine how the media has been conditioned since Howard to expect budgets that are little more than lists of marginal seat give aways and how Jim Chalmers has delivered a truly Keynesian budget that seeks to manage the economy not just tax and spend it for votes.

From tax cuts to cost-of-living relief, education to housing, we unpack complexities and implications of each policy decision on your household, your wallet and the Australian future to come.

Also, the dog barks, cutely.

As the Albanese government makes a string of announcements wiping student debt, funding practical placements and increasing fee free TAFE, we discuss why funding public schools to the minimum resource standard is imperative for Australia's future.

We also find hope in a heartening good news story about renewable batteries revitalizing old coal country. 

Be part of the change for better by listening to our gentle exhortations to JOIN YOUR UNION: you can do it right now at www.australianunions.org.au/wow

And if you want to support us directly, come visit us at www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday.

SPOILER ALERT: trickle down economics gets the rightful kicking from Ben that it deserves.

Next, Van’s horror at the massacre in Bondi Junction, turns to rage about the carnage opportunism of online disinformation influencers exploiting the tragedy.

The good news, though, is about solar cars! 

If you'd like to become a supporter and make a contribution go to www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday Remember all our Extend the Reach and Cadre supporters get acknowledged by Van every episode

The recent Tasmanian election has thrown up a complex and divided result, delivering more crossbenchers to the parliament than opposition members, and the Liberals forming minority government with nothing to guarantee the passage of legislation but wild hope. Ben and Van discuss this in the context of Tasmania’s unusual electoral system and the politics of independent representation more broadly.

The analysis continues as Ben breaks down the ongoing good news about the Australian economy, with the unsurprising if excellent news that union members are seeing significant pay increases as the result of the newly legislated frameworks for improved collective bargaining. (If you want in, join your union right now via www.australianunions.org.au/wow  

Ben peeling back the obfuscations of the Liberals and works through why Labor’s successes aren’t more broadly known. The distraction politics of Peter Dutton and the Amazing Modular Nuclear Reactors That Don’t Actually Exist is placed in the context it so duly deserves. 

Finally, the good news is about airships. This is at least the third time this show has celebrated airship initiatives, as Van is obviously obsessed with them, everyone should Be, they are the jewels of the air and the future of all humanity! (It is possible that Van wrote this).

We’d like to thank all of our listeners for their continued support and solidarity with us over this period of Ben’s illness. It means more to this household than you could possibly know.  You can become a supporter and leave us a message at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday 

The Employment services inquiry has found a huge amount of waste, an ideological system that punishes people and fails to actually help people get work.

Ben takes a look at the report, Van Badham's latest Guardian article on the topic and the insights of Per Capita CEO Emma Dawson as the Labor government considers changes that Dutton's Coalition has already said they will oppose.

The Labor government's reform agenda is starting to face multiple fronts of inertia, vested interest and a media more interested in a fight and "who's winning" than in the impact that governing can actually have in people's lives.  Ben take a look at why we need to cut through the noise and keep the debate focused on the billions of dollars and millions of lives that are improved by reform.

it is Go Home on Time Day!  Workers are losing billions in unpaid overtime and through the corporate exploitation of loopholes. Van and Ben discuss how the union movement is tackling this problem and why you should join at australianunions.org.au/wow

The systemic generational and class divides that are being defended by big corporate interests, billionaires and those who believe in the RBA ideology come into sharp focus as Van and Ben discuss some of the latest research showing just how much economic insecurity is impacting people and how disinformation is trying to keep working people divided.  Why?  To slow and prevent changes that would benefit everyone at the expense of the already wealthy and powerful.

The good news is that renewable energy has driven power bills down to almost ZERO in Portugal! Proving that we can, over the long run, take control of our energy emissions and bills.

As always Van acknowledges our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters who have made ongoing financial contributions to helping us build the audience for the podcast.  Become a supporter at www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday 

You can join your union at www.australianunions.org.au/wow to add your voice to the millions calling for wage increases instead of profit payouts.

The Australian Education Union has released new research that shows our public schools are underfunded by the almost the same amount as the share buy backs that just the big banks are handing out, that private schools are on track to be OVER funded by $3Billion and that the government investment in public education makes a return TWO to FOUR times!

If you want our public schools properly funded go to https://www.foreverychild.au/postcard to send Albo a message.

Finally Ben discusses why Albo needed to go to APEC, why Dutton is attacking him for it and how the Coalition is still desperate to find an existential threat, other than climate change, to justify its existence.  

If you enjoy our podcast you can help us reach more people at www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday 

The union movement wins on minimum wage, awards, for aged care workers and improved collective agreements are lifting wages so if you want to see your pay get above the cost of living join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow 

Peter Dutton is back on the disinformation train, this time using a High Court decision to score political points at the expense of at least 74 innocent people.  Indefinite detention has been ruled unconstitutional and the rules that Dutton put in place during his time in government have been exposed as not just morally without basis but also without legal standing.  As Labor moves to fix these issues Dutton has ramped up mis vitriolic disinformation.  Could it be a handy distraction from his party voting against returning $9 billion in unpaid workers wages? Or the loss of another of his moderate MPs to the cross bench? Or is it just that he bought the Trump/Bannon franchise and is determined to play it out?

There's talk of another surplus budget and the ideas are already flowing.  Ben and Van discuss why Albo's targeted cost of living relief is, in general, the right approach and also why supporting the 98% of public schools that are currently not funded to the MINIMUM level needed for every child is both targetted cost of living support and an investment in the future.  Show your support for properly resourcing every school at https://www.foreverychild.au/postcard 

The good news is that the CFMEU and the broader union movement is winning the campaign to ban engineered stone.  Ikea has joined Bunnings in announcing they won't stock the killer products in the future. A national policy is on the horizon and the campaign to prevent workers dying for bench-tops continues.

Van acknowledges our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters who have signed up at www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday to help us get this podcast into even more ears each and every week.

Van lays out what is wrong with capitalism in Australia and why being in your union, join at australianunions.org.au/wow, has never been more important with over $9,000,000,000 that could become wages if the loopholes close.

Jason Clare, federal Education Minister, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese today launched a $10M campaign to recruit more teachers.  Ben and Van discuss why its a good start but that getting the 98% of public schools that are currently underfunded up to the minimum standard will do more to address the workload, wage and classroom issues that are creating teacher shortages.  You can send the PM a postcard at https://www.foreverychild.au/postcard to show your support for every child being able to access a quality public education.

Albo had a busy day as he also joined Health Minister Mark Butler to announce a boost to the Medicare bulk billing incentive.  The tripled incentive will help 11,600,000 Australians get better access to bulk billing doctors.

Van and Ben discuss why they focus on these core material stories that impact millions of working people when so much of the media is now dominated by culture war issues.

The good news is from our friends at Labor for Farrer and is about spiders!

Plus Van gives a shoutout to our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters.  Head over to www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday if you'd like to help us grow our audience.

Insiders seemed unable to grasp how international politics and domestic politics actually interact so Ben explains what being a "middle power" actually means and why the international rules based order is a constantly evolving concept that dates back to the Treaty of Westphalia and the end of the Holy Roman Empire but now includes people's right to join a union, the rights of people with a disability and equal opportunity for women.  join you union at australianunions.org.au/wow

Plus there is a shout out for the recent world teachers day and the For Every Child Campaign that is trying to get the 98% of public schools that are currently underfunded their full and proper funding.

The union movement has said it will ban the use and transport of engineered stone if the government does not act and it has called for stronger workers rights to lift wages.  Join you union at australianunions.org.au/wow

With inflation jitters spooking economists Ben and Van discuss why the economics of neo-liberalism continues to get it so wrong, what today's inflation figures might mean and why reducing our dependance on foreign oil is increasingly important.

October 27th is World Teachers Day so Van and Ben preview the For Every Child campaign, check out foreverychild.au , which is trying to get full funding for the 98% of public schools which currently don't have the minimum funds required to meet every child's needs.  Van really lays out the issue.

Plus there is good news about Australia's biggest battery!

If you'd like to help support the podcast to reach more people check out our page at www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday and you too can have Van read your name at the end of EVERY episode!  

The new National Skills Agreement is a win for the Australian Education Union, workers and employers who will benefit from the $30 billion investment in TAFE including another 300,000 fee free places in 2024.

1,400 United Workers Union diary workers took a 48 hour strike this week, AMWU members in Tasmania took action, NTEU workers took actions in Victoria and Queensland while AWU and MUA members stood up against a multinational gas giant and won!

Join your union at australianunions.org.au.wow

The Albanese government has introduced laws to increase paid parental leave from 20 weeks to 26 weeks between now and 2026.  Ben discusses why this isn't just good for new mothers but for all Australians.

This week also saw the most important High Court judgement about state and federal tax powers in over 50 years as two EV owners managed to get a Victorian road user tax ruled unconstitutional and opened the door for billions in state revenues to be struck down.  Ben discusses what might happen next and why we need to engage with the potential reforms that will emerge.  

Our co-hosts look at what the results of the referendum tell us so far, why there is such sadness, how we can respond and what it might mean for the future.

The rise of misinformation in the referendum is examined, how electoral politics and referendums are different, why we need to be kind and how we can reengage with solidarity. Send your message of solidarity to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders at https://solidarityalways.ausunions.io/ 

Van and Ben discuss why this result means we can expect to see a rise in misinformation campaigning against workplace reforms as multi-national corporations will be trying to stop $9Billion going from their profit lines to workers wages.

Join you union at australianunions.org.au/wow to make sure you are prepared to win the next struggle for jobs, fair wages and decent working conditions.

Prepoll voting has opened around Australia for the referendum with recent polls showing that the YES case is making up ground.  Van and Ben explore the misinformation campaign that has been largely imported from America, why it is getting traction and what we can do it break the grip of fear.  Check out yes23.com.au for how you can get involved.

With the new Reserve Bank Governor keeping interest rates on hold for another month Ben and Van discuss why the union movement's position of no involuntary unemployment and closing the loopholes to return $9 billion to working people in wages is so important.  You can join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow

And there is good news about Fat Bear Week!

Van also gives a shout out to all our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters who have made a contribution to the podcast at www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday 

The disability royal commission report has been handed down with 222 recommendations from over 10,000 submissions.  Ben looks at how it intersects with the current NDIS review and why reform will take time but is urgently needed.

Mike Pezzullo has stood aside while there is an investigation into his conduct by the public service commissioner.  Ben discusses why there needs to be an investigation, who this man is and what influence he has been wielding over our lives.

Ben also give a shout out to the leader of the Australian Union movement, Sally McManus, for her being named the 4th most powerful person in Australia.  You can join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow   

Dan Andrews departs politics as Labor's longest serving Victorian Premier.  Ben and Van take a look at his legacy and the rise of his successor, Jacinta Allan, who is only the 2nd woman to lead Victoria.

The Albanese government has released an employment white paper so Van and Ben take a look at how the Commonwealth Labor government will deliver "a job for everyone who wants one".  There's some major policy changes to come.

Van has written about disinformation in the Guardian and today her piece has been supported by academia, the Prime Minister and a growing understanding of the problem.  Ben gives an update on Noel Pearson's Press Club address and the coming of pre-poll and postal ballots.

And there is good news about kite power one of our listeners!

Plus Van gives a shout out to all out Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters who make a contribution to expanding our audience at www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday 

Instead of breaking down Insiders he compares and contrasts the difference the Walk for YES last weekend and the far right rallies for NO this weekend.

Ben also reads a message from a listener in Arnhem Land who is talking with local first nations people about the referendum.

With less than three weeks until the referendum and a week until pre-poll Ben is urging people to get involved at yes23.com.au

The Alan Fels price gouging inquiry kicked off this week as the true source of Australia's inflation problem becomes clear; profiteering.

The ACTU backed inquiry has heard testimony from experts and people impacted about how prices have been artificially increased to pump up profits.

At the same time workers are in week nine of their strike at EnerSys and workers have started a strike at Inghams where the company, which has enjoyed a 72% increase in profits, is denying workers a $1.50 pay rise. Join you union at australianunions.org.au/wow

The Labor government in NSW has handed down its first budget following a range of wins by workers in unions there are pay increases, more teachers, more healthcare and less outsourcing of the public sector.  You can join your union, whatever state you live in, at australianunions.org.au/wow

In Victoria a long term Labor government has announced a new massive policy on housing.  Ben and Van look at what's in the package, how it shows the importance of long term Labor governments and contrast material realism politics with culture war politics.

It has been a huge week for workers with the High Court decision finding Qantas illegally sacked 1,700 workers, the cross bench teaming up with the Coalition to delay the closing of loopholes bill until February and polling showing that every major measure to close loopholes has the support of a majority of Australian's of EVERY political persuasion. 

Plus Van, with her croaky voice, gives a shoutout to our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters, check out www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday to become a supporter!

The crossbench teamed up with Peter Dutton's Noalition to delay the closing loopholes laws which will cost workers, just in the gig economy, as much as $200,000,000.  Ben breaks down what the laws are about, why they are important to workers and why big business is fighting so hard to stop them.  Hint: It's got to do with who gets $9,000,000,000

Only unions are fighting for working people in this struggle and if you want your fair share you need to join, go to australianunions.org.au/wow

The NSW Teachers Federation has won a landmark pay deal as the campaign to fix the under resourcing of 98% of our public schools continues.  Check out foreverychild.au for more info

The 1,700 workers unlawfully sacked by Qantas will have their fates decided in the High Court on Wednesday.  Ben looks at how this could have implications for all workers.

If you're able to help us promote the show to more people and spread the message beyond the ONE MILLION + downloads we already have check out www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday for ways to make a contribution.

With $9 billion on the line corporations are fighting back with some of the weirdest and most easily disprovable lies imaginable.  Van and Ben breakdown why the corporate bosses are investing millions in ads to attack the improvements for workers.

Workers are fighting back to secure the pay that should be theirs by join their union at australianunions.org.au/wow and getting involved in the campaign to win over the cross bench.

Alan Joyce is no longer CEO of Qantas!  As of today a new CEO has started and inherited an airline that is, in a strategic sense, on fire.  With law suits from workers, consumers and the government, a potential senate inquiry, an ageing fleet and a brand so damaged it is less trusted than its wholly owned budget version the Qantas story is in heavy turbulence.

The latest GDP growth figures have been released so Ben and Van put them into the context of Australia's overall economic situation and are pleased to find Australia has grown more than five of the G7 countries.

Plus there is good news about solar glass!

And Van gives a shout out to all of our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters who have gone to www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday 

Tony Burke went on Insiders to explain how the new approach will work and David Speers still hasn't wrapped his mind around the idea that Labor is governing from a people first perspective as opposed to a corporate first approach.

Qantas, the company that has unlawfully sacked workers, abused the labour hire system and given huge payouts to executives while taking massive taxpayer handouts is now under investigation for selling 8,000 flights that never existed.  Ben looks at why this might be the latest, and last, opportunity to bring the flying Kangaroo back into the hands of our Commonwealth.

You're the Voice, try to understand it.  Those immortal words from John Farnham will grace a new YES campaign ad just as Peter Dutton launch his own latest effort to muddy the waters around the referendum.

The union movement is campaigning for YES and you can get involved with your union at australianunions.org.au/wow and the campaign at yes23.com.au 

A listener wrote in with a question about Andrew Tate's influence over young men so Van and Ben discuss how the toxic individualism of Tate is evident in the behaviour of the Spanish Football President and how the benefits of collectivism, community and team work are present in everyday life and in the response from the broader football world.

Inflation is at its lowest point in 17 months.  Ben and Van discuss the impact this might have on the referendum, what it tells us about economics and why the mystics who demand working people pay to keep inflation low have been proven wrong.

There is also good news about wind powered shipping!

If you'd like to become a supporter and send through questions check out our supporter page at www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday where you can become an extend the reach or cadre supporter and have Van give you a shout out every episode!

Ben breaks down how the points raised on Insiders show we need full funding for public schools, Qantas demonstrates the need for both workplace reforms and a focus on capital productivity and that if we want more skilled migrants following the lead of Belize and Somalia probably isn't the solution.

The union movement is working for better job security, higher wages and safer workplaces for all so join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow

The intergenerational report shows a changing Australia will continue to change but that there are some clear policy priorities around workforce participation, supporting superannuation and accepting higher levels of debt (which will still be lower than most countries have now) if we want to have the standard of living we have now.

Finally Ben discusses Dutton's latest attack on democracy.  The sad swipe on behalf of the No case against the Australia Electoral Commission.  Dutton continues to show himself to be either ignorant or lazy when it comes to doing the job of opposition leader.

The Australia Education Union is running a campaign at foreverychild.au calling for every public school to get the funds they need for every child to get the education they deserve.  

The American CPAC event was held in Sydney last weekend and Van Badham gives a breakdown of how this piece of American cultural-political imperialism is used as a front for hatred, division and racism.  Van and Ben discuss how "identity death" is driving these events, just how few people actually participate and compare it to the grassroots movement of people supporting the YES campaign.  You can get active in making Australia a better place with your union by joining at australianunions.org.au/wow 

The recent ACTU Price Gouging Inquiry was given a boost today as the federal government announced its own taskforce into competition.  The announcement comes as the two major supermarkets announce massive increases in margins and almost double digit increases in their dividend to investors.  Ben and Van discuss how weak competition impacts working people through prices and undermines wages.

There is good news about micro plastics, sawdust and tea!

As we have crashed through the 1,000,000 downloads we take the time to give shout outs to our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters who have gone to www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday to help us grow our audience.

Join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow

While Australia is having a sport led cultural moment the United States is again mired in the muck of its political system and the disgrace that is Donald Trump.  Van breaks down, in detail, the new racketeering charges that could be what finally puts Donald Trump behind bars.  Van and Ben also look at how the disconnect from truth and political convenience is playing out.

Back home the National Cabinet has announced a new deal on housing which sees billions of dollars flow into improving supply of housing, reform planning rules and regulate rental markets.  Ben discusses how this step forward, coupled with the recent good news on wages, shows how an interventionist economic policy can work, given time.

There is good news about offshore wind in Wollongong

Plus this episode will see us breakthrough the 1,000,000 download mark! So Van gives a special shout goes to our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters who have gone to www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday to help grow our audience.

The answer is the same reason why he, Peter Dutton and the Coalition oppose The Voice and Unions.

Lobbyists.

From mining and energy to pharmaceuticals, post offices and private education the Coalition is captured by lobbyists.  Their policies reflect the interests of lobby groups and corporate lobbyists.

Democratic groups with democratic mandates, like the Voice and Unions, threaten to make democracy a participation sport instead of the pay to play game that the Coalition like to play.

If you want democracy to be more than just casting a ballot on election day join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow and get involved in the Yes campaign, the price gouging inquiry or a local campaign like the one to Save Glenroy post office

Van and Ben discuss how the unionisation and professionalisation of the game is providing inspiration while at the same time the success of the billion dollar Barbie Movie is unifying women through a shared experience.  You can be like the Matildas and Barbie star Margot Robbie by joining you union at australianunions.org.au/wow

The Australian Council of Trade Unions has launched a price gauging inquiry, chaired by former ACCC Commissioner Alan Fels.  Ben and Van discuss price gauging in Australia, how it is being executed and why it needs to be stamped out to improve the living standards of everyday people.  You can make a submission to the inquiry at https://pricegouginginquiry.actu.org.au

Peter Dutton has been found to have diverted community safety grants away from disadvantaged communities towards Coalition and must win seats prior to the last election.  Coming on the back of the recent "Home Truths" expose which detailed mismanagement, or worse, in the Department of Home Affairs under Dutton, Van and Ben discuss why Dutton is unfit to lead Australia. 

The good news is about Quolls!

Van also gives a shout out to all our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters who have gone to www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday and helped us grow our audience.  

There's also a look at the policy action from parliament this week with family and domestic violence leave becoming avaliable to employees in small businesses, the Noalition opposing increases to Jobseeker which Labor was able to push through and the Housing Affordability Future Fund making it's return to the parliament.  If the Greens team up with the Noalition again to block it the government will have a trigger for a double dissolution.  Ben and Van discuss what that could mean.

Innes Willox, CEO of the Australian Industry Group, gave a national press club speech this week which could just as easily have been given in 2013.  The usual justifications for corporate greed were rolled out so Van and Ben explore what's really happened with productivity, wages and profits.  Hint: Corporate executives are not an oppressed class.

We take a special look at two big campaigns to improve our Commonwealth.  The www.foreverychild.au campaign of the Australia Education Union which is trying to close the funding gap that currently sees 98% of public schools not get MINIMUM funding and the Transport reform campaign from the Transport Workers Union that is trying to make our roads safer and our supply chains more sustainable.

Don't forget to go to our supporter page www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday to catch up on past episodes and help us reach and even larger audience by making a contribution. 

Miles Taylor is a former national security adviser to the Trump administration - yes, you read that correctly, and he is absolutely a guest on our show.

In 2018, as “Anonymous”, Taylor published an infamous op-ed in the New York Times entitled "I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration" that shone a terrifying light on the chaos and dysfunction of Trumpism in power, and the danger it posed to the world.

Taylor quit the administration and expanded on his insights about America’s dangerous political turn in his 2019 book, A Warning. By 2020, he’d revealed his identity - and became the first former Trump administration official to endorse Joe Biden for President.

His latest book, Blowback, tells the personal story of what Miles Taylor saw in the Trump White House - and what he did about it.

In an alternative universe where Trump wasn’t elected in 2016, Miles Taylor and the Week on Wednesday are faceless opposing combatants in democracy’s endless ideological war over macroeconomic policy and the frontiers of regulating markets.

… But in the fight against the hard right, populist authoritarianism that’s resurgent across the west, we are enthusiastic and committed allies.

It’s a great conversation and you should totally read his book.

98% of our public schools don't have the resources they need.  Ben reads out a message from a listener about how the failure to support every child has left class sizes too big, teachers overworked and kids missing out on the support they need.

Inflation is coming down.  The spokesperson from the bosses pamphlet on Insiders continued to recite the neo-liberal mantras of higher rates, more unemployment and lower wages but Ben outlines how Jim Chalmers and Labor are implementing a neo-Keynesian approach that is bringing down prices, keeping people in work and supporting those most in need.

Workplace reforms are coming to parliament to stop the multi-billion dollar loopholes that see labour hire workers paid less, forced casualisation of millions of people and profiteering at working people's expense.  There's a union for every worker, casual, labour hire, teacher, miner, nurse, graphic designer and you can join at australianunions.org.au/wow

The Housing Affordability Future Fund is coming back.  With $1,300,000 a day NOT going into housing because of the Greens back Dutton's Noalition Labor is ready to set up a double dissolution trigger.

The Voice.  Greg Sheridan can go on Insiders to say that Dutton isn't racists if the referendum fails but if all the racists are voting NO does it matter if he considers himself to be racist?  Ben argues you pick a side.  No has Pauline Hanson and Andrew Bolt.  Yes has Marcia Langton and Noel Pearson.  Which side are you on?

Plus Ben touches on why the noise around the Rockingham by-election is meaningless Liberal narrative and why Dutton's abysmal record on government contracts is best left to the National Anti-Corruption Commission to determine.

With the NO campaign in full swing the Murdoch Empire has clearly identified its target market.  Van and Ben discuss why a Royal Commission into the influence of the Murdoch Empire is a good idea, why it is NOT a "news" source and present examples of it pushing a narrative that undermines truth while backing in racists.

Inflation continues to fall despite the neo-liberals saying we would need to see hundreds of thousands of people made unemployed for it to happen.  Ben and Van discuss how the high priests of monetary policy twist every outcome to support their ideology and why it is Labor's macro-economic management and the community demanding an end to profiteering that is bringing inflation down WITHOUT scrapping thousands of jobs.

With unemployment at 3.5% and millions of people trapped in casual employment but working the same hours every week for less money, the union movement has thrown its support behind the Labor Government's plan to end forced casualisation.  Ben and Van discuss what this means, how it will empower workers and dispel the doomsayers from the Noalition.

The good news is about trees being planted!

We have even more supporters and Van reads out the names of all our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters.  If you want episodes emailed to you, along with links and more information, go to www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday 

Plus we have an announcement about a special new series!

Dan Andrews has said no to the Commonwealth Games cost blow out so Van and Ben explore the reaction, what it means for the legacy infrastructure and just why billionaire and corporate owned media is SO upset.

The official referendum "information" pamphlets have been published and it is already clear that the NO campaign is relying on misinformation, misrepresentation and Americanised tactics.  Van and Ben discuss why Albo standing up to 2GB's Ben Fordham and people speaking out against the misinformation is vital for our democracy.

Jason Clare, Commonwealth Education Minister, gave a National Press Club speech today so Ben and Van take a look at the reality of public education in Australia.  With NINETY EIGHT PERCENT (98%) of public schools underfunded our hosts explore what is happening in education in Australia.

The good news is about plastics!

Our supporters continue to help us grow which is why we give our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters personalised shoutouts. You can join them by visiting www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday 

Which is why unions are campaigning for more flexibility to work from home and you can join them at australianunions.org.au/wow

The Guardian has exposed that the NO campaign has been importing American MAGA campaign tactics for the referendum with evidence that two companies in particular are making more than a dollar from dividing Australia with racist, sexist and classist hatred.

The Robodebt Royal Commission handed down its report six days ago so Van and Ben explore how the Liberals have responded by denying any wrong doing, making accusations against Labor and doing everything they can to undermine their own chances in the Fadden by-election this Saturday.

Ben and Van also contrast the failures of Dutton as defence and home affairs minister against the work Albo is doing to defend democracy at the NATO summit while also improving our trade relations.  Van and Ben make clear that there is no "left wing" way to support Putin's gangster state and recall some of their own experiences in the nuclear armed kleptocracy. 

The good news is that solar glass is a thing and windows that make electricity are on their way!

As always we give shout outs to our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters who get extra content from www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday and help us grow the audience. 

Ben explains why Robodebt was bad policy, how we avoid such policies in the future and why unions calling for a more secure public sector workforce are part of the solution.

Join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow

The Health Services Union (HSU) in NSW has won a pay rise of up to 8.5% for its lowest paid members and Ben explains how this union has tackled the issue of low paid "essential workers" and won.

The Commonwealth has also announced changes to teacher education over the next two years so Ben has a look at why that's happened, why we need to fix the Morrison era funding set ups and what impact it has on productivity,

If you'd like to get the Week on Wednesday emailed to you everyweek and help us reach ever more people you can become a supporter at www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday

The farm workers we reported on last episode won their strike and you can win better pay and conditions by joining your union at australianunions.org.au/wow

Ben and Van look at why a budget surplus now is a good thing, why a bigger surplus has helped stop interest rises and the struggle that is currently happening in the way the Australian economy works.  And who it actually works to help.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission has started and it has a veritable smorgasbord of options for its first investigations.  Ben and Van look at the current controversy surrounding former LNP Minister Stuart Robert given the by-election in his former seat, Fadden, is less 10 days away.

Plus there is good news about the mass production of electric vehicle batteries!

And as always Van gives a shout-out to our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters who have gone to www.buymeacoffee.com/wow to help us grow our audience.  Don't forget from there you can send us your questions and sign up to get episodes emailed to you directly.

ICAC has found Gladys Berejiklian engaged in serious corrupt conduct.  Ben discusses why the bosses pamphlet was so very wrong about Glady's "saving Australia" and why corruption has no place in our democracy.

The NDIS is turning 10 and the former minister under Morrison decided to throw some grenades at the people trying to navigate the system and those trying to stamp out sham contracting, differential price gauging and multinational rorters.  Ben talks about the need for reform but that the Liberals, like the Greens on housing, are all politics and zero policy.

Ben explores the raft of changes Labor has starting in the economy from July 1 and why a larger budget surplus is good news for reducing inflation, future investments in education and a motivation for companies to pull their finger out and invest in workers and equipment.

You can help us grow our audience by liking, sharing, commenting and becoming a supporter at www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday

There's a union for everyone and if you've got a boss you should be a member of your union, join at australianunions.org.au/wow

Van and Ben look at the latest in delusional thinking from the Greens political party on housing and their desire to mimic the failed policies of San Francisco, which has among the worst homelessness issue of any wealthy western city and rents almost EIGHTY PERCENT HIGHER than SYDNEY!

Good economic news today saw inflation fall.  Ben and Van briefly discuss what this means and why Labor's intersectional economic policies are helping tame inflation after a decade of Morrisonism.

A clayton's coup is the coup you have when you don't have a coup because your country is a gangster state not a nation state.  Van and Ben explore what happened and a little bit about why Putin is still President but no one is really sure of what.

And the good news is about record wind energy production in Victoria driving prices DOWN!

Van gives a shoutout to our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters, who you can join at www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday to get episodes emailed to you and extra content!

Ben also discusses the passing of the referendum bill, the decision by Lidia Thorpe to support the NO case and breaks down the three different, equally bad, arguments for voting NO.  Remembering that a referendum is a binary choice and that only a YES vote moves reconciliation forward.

Julie Collins, Minister for Housing, was on Insiders and she tore apart the Greens political party's position on housing.  Revealing that the delay to the Housing Affordability Future Fund also delayed $200,000,000 in repairs and maintenance on regional and remote Indigenous housing, that rent freezes REDUCE supply of housing and that the Commonwealth is working with the states but cannot legally direct them.

Ben also answers a listeners question about trans rights and responds to a listener and MUA member from Sydney Ferries.  Remember to join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow and send us your questions by email or on our supporter site www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday  

Of course the union movement was among the first to point out the fallacies of the RBA's ideology and continues to win better pay and conditions so join at australianunions.org.au/wow

Ben and Van also examine how Japan's monetary policy is structured and the outcomes that can be achieved when the high priests of Milton Friedman are no longer in charge.

The Greens have delayed the Housing Affordability Future Fund until at least October.  Ben and Van look at the arguments, break down the math and try to get a better understanding whether it is politicking or ignorance that is driving The Greens to upend millions of dollars in social housing funding.

The referendum legislation has passed parliament meaning that the government must call a referendum within six months.  Van and Ben discuss the campaign so far, the work being done for a big national YES day on July 2nd and offer solidarity to those being attacked by the billionaire and corporate owned media for daring to have a Voice.

The good news is that despite the misinformation and vast corporate media NO machine the YES vote is ahead.  Ben and Van look at some polling, some analysis and give their views.

All this is made possible through the contributions of supporters.  You can become a supporter at www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday and while you're there send us a question for Ben to answer on the Weekend Wrap this Sunday. 

The Liberal's "flood the zone" strategy failed and has exposed, on Insiders, that the Coalition was aware they had a Senator who was subject to sexual misconduct allegations.

Remember that, thanks to unions, every workplace MUST proactively protect you against sexual harassment and assault.  Join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow

PM Albanese announced a $2,000,000,000 increase to an existing $5.5Billion housing program which the Greens have both claimed credit for and said is not enough.  Ben discusses what's really happening with the various housing policies and programs and why the Housing Affordability Future Fund should pass the Senate this week.

Plus Ben answers listener questions on The Reserve Bank losing billions of dollars, what tools should the RBA have to control inflation, whether or not inflation is happening because companies are just trying to make up losses from the pandemic and what "increasing productivity" really means vs what the media and bosses try to make it mean. 

Send your questions and we will try to answer them next week!

Don't forget you can help grow the podcast by becoming a supporter at www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday

Van and Ben discuss the recent data showing CEO's getting 15% pay rises while their lobby groups make ads, that are definitely classist and possibly racist, to argue against workers getting pay rises.

The boss will always give himself a pay rise but your pay rises come from standing together in union, so join at australianunions.org.au/wow

If you think that Dutton and the Murdoch media's interest in who knew what/when/about what did or didn't happen in Linda Reynolds' office is unrelated to the economic reforms that Labor and the union movement are trying to achieve then listen closely as Van and Ben explain the connection.

The good news is that Tanya Plibersek and the state environment ministers are taking action on plastic waste.

Van also gives a shout out to all our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters who have gone to www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday to help us grow the audience and spread the message.

The union movement has achieved reforms to bargaining laws which will give workers more power to negotiate better wages and conditions.  To make sure you're getting what you're worth in the workplace join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow

Van and Ben also look at yet another Morrison era scandal that has been exposed.  This time $2,000,000,000 of tax payer money was funnelled to projects which ranged from barely suitable to an organisation practicing exorcisms and conversion therapy.  An organisation that Morrison said had "completely, completely captured" his heart.  And our wallets, apparently.

Western Australia has a new Premier so Ben and Van take a quick look at Roger Cook and his new cabinet, while Van tells an embarrassing story about Ben.

The good news is about renewable energy transmission.

And we shout out to our supporters who've gone to www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday and become part of our Cadre and Extend the Reach crew.

Also we will be starting a NEW SEGMENT on The Weekend Wrap from Sunday the 18th of June.  You'll have to listen for the details of how you can be part of the show!

The RBA governor said that we need more people to live in each "dwelling" during his senate estimates appearance and Ben breaks down why that's such a gaffe and how The Greens Party spokesperson against Labor's housing policy used his appearance on Insiders today to effectively double down on the conditions that lead economists to the idea that the housing crisis won't be solved with more housing anytime soon.

Ben Roberts Smith lost his defamation trial this week.  Ben explores what the trial was about, what it means Ben Roberts Smith probably did, why it impacts our view of the defence force and how this demonstrates that billionaire and corporate owned media fuels, feeds and festers toxicity for its own purposes.   

Van and Ben take a look at how sham contracting in the gig economy, labour hire across multiple industries and forced casualisation has undermined wages and conditions.  Ben and Van look at how workers, in union, are campaigning for same job, same pay laws, rights for platform based workers in the NDIS, aged care and transport sectors as well as an end to the loopholes that allow BHP to own a labour hire company it then uses to engage workers in their mines to do the same work but for LESS pay.  You can stand up for your job and your wages by joining your union at australianunions.org.au/wow 

Ben hits a classic rant about the greedflation spiral, Phil Lowe's high priests of Monetary Policy and why it is time to stop listening to incompetent Australian executives and start believing our own eyes when it comes to economics. 

The Albanese Labor government wants to see more Australian content on Australian screens with proposed laws to make sure streaming services invest here, where they are making their profits.  Van talks about why Aussie stories on Aussie screens is so important.

Plus The Voice is a step closer, despite the misinformation campaigns online.

And good news from one of our staunch supporters about the CSIRO and Hydrogen!

Van shouts out to our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters who have gone to www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday and signed up to help grow the audience and get every episode delivered to their inbox along with extra content.

Lidia Thorpe continues to not understand how a referendum works by no claiming she'll abstain from the binary YES or NO vote on the Voice.

Liberals in the senate used their time to continue to platform ideas from Steve Bannon, anti-vaxers, the nuclear lobby and far right "fathers" groups while wasting time on the fashion choices of public servants.  In NSW they chose between the loser of Gilmore and the loser of Parramatta to fill a casual senate vacancy.  The loser of Parramatta was chosen.

Meanwhile in the real world more Australian's are trapped in sham contracting and its costing thousands of dollars per worker per year and millions in retirement.  Australian Unions and The Centre for Future Work have research that shows in the NDIS, Aged Care and transport platforms are being used to make people into sham contractors but that it doesn't have to be that way.  join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow to find out how to protect your employment conditions.

And we had Public Education Day this week with Ben reflecting on why so many of us are #ProudToBePublic.  You can have your say on the importance of giving our schools the resources they need at https://www.education.gov.au/review-inform-better-and-fairer-education-system/consultations/review-inform-better-and-fairer-education-system-consultation

The union movement has had successes on wages, women's participation in the workforce, job security, the energy transition authority and improvements to the social wage.  join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow

Ben also takes a look at why media is obsessed with the negatives.  The Voice is a classic example where two polls released in the same week get very different treatment by the media.  Ben explains how this empowers the fringe elements and the impact that has on people, such as Stan Grant's announcement, and our political system.

The Liberal's in Victoria continue to want a party leader that will embrace hatred and defend Nazism with the state conference in Bendigo marred by walkouts, booing and cries of "shame" as Menzian Liberal leader John Pesutto took the stage.

Ben asks the question, if we want more progress on education, healthcare, NDIS, tax reform and climate change do we really think the Liberals will deliver it better than Labor?

There's no Week on Wednesday this week but you can catch up on old episodes and extra links via our supporter page www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday

With debate still raging about "the best" housing policies Labor's policy achieves some core outcomes.  More homes, a mechanism that Dutton can't easily scrap and an acknowledgement of the physical limitation imposed by supply chains and the availability of skilled workers.

The Green "Build all the homes now, just not in our backyard" policy lacks the pre-requisite of being based in reality.

Today is IDAHOBIT and Van and Ben discuss how communities have done the work to make progress on LGBTQIA+ rights and the difference between changes that need symbolic or small resource shifts but large cultural shifts and issues that need large scale resource reallocation.

The union movement campaigned for and won protections for trans, intersex and gender diverse workers in the Fairwork Act, has helped raise wages by the largest amount since 2013 and is currently campaigning for a 7% minimum wage increase.  You can join these campaigns at australianunions.org.au/wow

Van and Ben discuss how the bosses lobby continues to fight against wage increases and even denies the role of profits in raising inflation. 

The good news is about a new national park the size of Bali in Western Australia and we acknowledge our supporters who have gone to www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday to make a contribution towards growing the podcast.

The budget this week was a step change towards Keynesian economic frameworks that support employment, wages growth and a social wage that keeps inflation under control and provides opportunity for people.

The Insiders analysis and questions of Jim Chalmers showed a lack of understanding, an entrenchment in outdated Morrison-era politics and a commitment to supporting Dutton that was shocking to witness.

Dutton actively opposes wage increases and more job security, even for our lowest paid, for women and for jobseekers. Australian Unions have been campaigning for improvements in wages and working conditions for all, particularly women, and you can join at australianunions.org.au/wow

As the Liberals implode in Victoria and Tasmania Ben looks at the very different reasons why both they and the Greens are opposing more homes for working people.

The question is asked will they push it to a double dissolution or will we get to see another budget with more investment in education and the next stages of Labor's Keynesian economic model?

Happy Mothers day!

The budget doesn't deliver everything everyone wants and Ben and Van explain how and why some of the decisions, both popular and unpopular, have their roots in Keynesian economics which, after 40 years of neoliberalism, is not something everyone instantly recognises.

The union movement has made some big wins in this budget for jobs, wages, energy transition, TAFE and much more.  You can join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow

There is also great news for the environment with the establishment of an Environmental Protection Agency and big investments in our national parks and waterways.  Plus real commitments to the arts, the Voice, breaking the artificial "caps" imposed under Morrisonism and beginning to rebuild our public services, needs based education and NDIS.

As always we give shout outs to our amazing Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters from www.buymeacoffee.com/WeekOnWednesday 

Ben also looks at how effective the union movement has been in securing pay increase for aged care workers, an energy transition authority and ended the sham contracting in the public sector that was costing $21,000,000,000 under Morrison.  You can join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow

As the budget approaches we expect that many people will be dissatisfied so Ben dives into how the various elements of the social wage, what it is and how it interacts to support people out of work, unable to work and in low wage employment.

Ben breaks down the incoherence of the reserve banks ideological attack on working people and the government we all elected.

Van looks at how targeted budget programs can improve living standards and why it is a good thing to tax fossil fuel companies.

Plus there's a look at some key news for working people involving universities, Qantas and the minimum wage.

The good news is about electric roads!

We also give our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters from our www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday page a shoutout.

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.

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!

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?

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.

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!

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.

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 

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.

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 

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.

Of course UnionsNSW and the many affiliate unions that are made up of workers in sectors cut, smashed and abandoned by Perrottet's Liberals are campaigning and you can become a union member to protect your rights at work, whatever state you are in, at australianunions.org.au/wow 

In Victoria we suffered through a TERF-Nazi joint rally on the weekend.  Van explains how TERFs are NOT feminists, are a vocal EXTREMIST minority and that Liberal MPs and Senators defending those associated with these individuals are putting a toxic set of values into our political discourse.  Van and Ben offer their solidarity to members of the Trans community and all minority groups who would have, understandably, been concerned by the scenes over the weekend.

The Voice is a step closer with the machinery of the referendum set to pass the parliament.  The laws on how to run the referendum needed updating given we haven't had a referendum since the invention of social media!

And there is good environmental news about the capturing of carbon which may or may not being able to supply every home with enough baking soda to ensure no fridge is ever smelly again!

Van also acknowledges our Cadre and Extend the Reach Supporters who have gone to www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday and helped us grow our audience.

Van and Ben also look at how Peter Dutton has decided to frame the AUKUS deal, which was started when he was Defence Minister, as a choice between funding the NDIS or building submarines.  The false choice framework is explored as is the jobs that BOTH programs are providing to workers in Australia and the need to fully fund our society.  You can join your union, whether you're a care worker or a ship builder or any kind of worker, at australianunions.org.au/wow

The New South Wales election is less than two weeks away and Van and Ben break down Perrottet's half billion dollar voucher program and contrast it against Minn's $400m commitment to "fully fund" public schools and "end the war on teachers".

Plus there is good news about the death of "Rambo" and Billbies!

Van manages to give shout outs to our www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters and all the Adelaide Fringe folk who have made these shows possible.

Ben discusses how the unions in NSW that have been racking up wins across education, healthcare, transport as part of the campaign and the flow on effects for working people across the state.  You can join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow

The Robodebt Royal Commission has wrapped up and despite Insiders discussing the cultural problems of the public service without mentioning that culture flows from the top, Morrison, Tudge, Porter, Stuart Robert, Ben discusses what the lack of billionaire owned media coverage says about the state of public discourse.

The RBA and Productivity Commission continue to kick working people.  Ben makes clear that Labor government's need to intervene to support working people.  That a former Liberal staffer running the Productivity Commission is unacceptable and that the RBA continues to use a broken ideology rather than economic reality to set monetary policy.

Ben reminds listeners that the FINAL Week on Wednesday LIVE at Adelaide Fringe is on THIS WEEK and the special guest will be Kyam Maher, Attorney General, Industrial Relations Minister and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, who passed the first Voice to Parliament in Australia. tickets here: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/the-week-on-wednesday-live-with-van-badham-ben-davison-live-podcast-af2023

And the podcast would not be possible without the support of our www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday supporters.  Whether a one off or a regular contribution, all funds help us grow our audience.

Van and Ben discuss the socialist foundations of International Women's Day, the struggles that are still to be won and Van's view of why being a woman shouldn't be an "economic class" but has been made one by men in grey suits.

Whatever industry you’re in you can join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow

The outrageous "bro" behaviour of Elon Musk is brought into focus as he picks a fight with a hero of the Icelandic people.  Van and Ben explore how ego made a man who paid $44 Billion for Twitter ended up having to admit on Twitter that Twitter is not great for "communication.  

As the Australian people wrestle with inflation, driven by profiteering, the RBA governor has admitted that the record increases in interest rates are being driven by "the vibe" of their "business liaison" rather than the stats of the ABS.  Van and Ben pull apart what the latest rate rise might mean and how it could impact working people.

And the good news is about a new deal for the world's oceans.

Van and Ben will be doing the FINAL edition of their AWARD winning Week on Wednesday LIVE next week with South Australian Attorney General Kyam Maher to talk about The Voice in South Australia and the upcoming referendum.  Get tickets at https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/the-week-on-wednesday-live-with-van-badham-ben-davison-live-podcast-af2023

And Van gives a LIVE shoutout to our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters who have helped us grow the podcast via www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday

Stuart Robert is the opposition spokesperson for superannuation but was to busy avoiding media scrutiny over his time as the minister responsible for Robodebt to get involved in the attacks on Labor's reforms.

Ben looks at how the Robodebt royal commission has exposed the media's lack of focus on the material reality of millions of Australians and how that allowed a consequence free environment for the Morrison ministers.

The NSW Labor Party is launching it's state election campaign in Hurstville TODAY and Mary Doyle launched her campaign for Aston on Saturday.  While neither story was covered on Insiders, Ben looks at why these are crucial campaigns and very winnable for Labor.

More broadly Ben laments that the Insiders panel wants reform but remains addicted to the gotcha moments and feeding of the Murdoch/Stokes outrage machinery.

Also this week we won an Adelaide Fringe AWARD for "best workshop and talks".  You can still get tickets to our FINAL two LIVE shows here: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/the-week-on-wednesday-live-with-van-badham-ben-davison-live-podcast-af2023

We hope to see you at the Yurt on Wednesday!

You can join you union at australianunions.org.au/wow to make sure your super is paid, your workplace is safe and your rights are always getting stronger.

Van and Ben discuss the reforms to superannuation tax concessions which will raise $2BILLION from the 80,000 accounts with more than $3million, the Murdoch media's meltdown over this "communism" and why Ben and Van think this modest reform gets super closer to the original purpose that unions set it up to achieve; dignity in retirement for working people.

Van and Ben congratulate the quick reaction to the union campaign to stop sillicosis and point out that 1 in 4 stonemasons may have already been exposed to "popcorn lung" by bosses who have gone so far as to to refer to the victims of silica dust as "dogs".

The scourge of "greedflation" continues to ravage Australia, and much of the world, as prices surge on the back of profiteering and outdated economic ideologies that keep whacking working people.  

There's also good news about endangered animals!

And Van again does the Cadre and Extend the Reach shout outs LIVE for those who are making contributions through www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday

The From the Heart YES campaign launched in Adelaide and Unions for YES launched online (you can join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow) as the vast majority still support recognition and consultation being enshrined in the constitution.

At his 35th Mardi Gras parade Albo became the 1st sitting PM to march at Mardi Gras as towards the back Tsarina Thorpe, self proclaimed "Movement Leader", staged a one woman protest and had to be removed.

Sadly Insider's became a turgid mess when Speers became fixated on "Florence" the bogged drill as Chris Bowen attempted to discuss emissions reduction policy, then for the second week in a row Speers obsessed over a minor detail in the Voice referendum working group that guest Mark Kenny called a "phantom argument" and finally Speers managed to round out the show by spending less than 10 seconds on the largest cut to real wages, record corporate profits and the greed-price spiral by throwing to the Murdoch journalist who made a quip about airline prices.

As you can imagine, Ben gets fired up today.

Ben also covers off the remaining dates to see The Week on Wednesday LIVE at Adelaide Fringe tix here:  https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/the-week-on-wednesday-live-with-van-badham-ben-davison-live-podcast-af2023 

And you can catch Ben in conversation with Stephen Donnelly over on the Socially Democratic podcast.

The Murdoch organisation has boycotted the Adelaide Fringe, Australia's largest arts festival, after a dispute about advertising.  Van and Ben look at what Australia's NINTH largest newspaper boycotting Australia's largest arts event has to do with Trump, Fox News, Sky News and the cultural war that has turned news audiences into market segments.

With The Statement from the Heart YES campaign launching and the Unions for YES campaign underway Van and Ben open the show with a traditional acknowledgement of country and discuss how Murdoch's NO campaign is as much about about subscription and advertising sales as it is trying to stop the referendum.

Albo spoke at the National Press Club about the concepts that underpin national security and Ben and Van explore how a broader understanding of security, security of employment, of pay, of opportunity and community participation comes together as the counter to the Murdoch organisation's project and Dutton's "Noalition".

Plus there is good news about renewable energy batteries.

You can get tickets to the next Week on Wednesday LIVE in Adelaide here: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/the-week-on-wednesday-live-with-van-badham-ben-davison-live-podcast-af2023

And Van acknowledges our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters who have helped make these live events possible and reach an ever bigger audience, you can become a supporter at www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday

The bosses pamphlets have argued against working people being involved in the running of the country but you can have your say by joining your union at australianunions.org.au/wow

Adam Bandt went on Insiders and couldn't name one country that has banned new coal and gas, couldn't say how much it would cost and wouldn't support his own Senator's statement that the government should arbitrarily override the RBA.  Ben discusses why the RBA is wrong and how the government can systemically address the issues without random interventions.

While the nation is gearing up for the launch of YES to The Voice campaigns (union online launch this Wednesday night https://www.australianunions.org.au/action/voice-campaign-launch  and Statement from the Heart campaign launch on Thursday https://fromtheheart.com.au/take-action) Samantha Maiden repeated Dutton talking points about the Voice not "fixing things" on Insiders.  Ben looks at how empowerment has improved outcomes in the NDIS and why The Voice will help close the gap.

And finally Ben takes a look at the chaos that is the NSW Liberal state government.  From Minister's distributing explicit pictures to undisclosed conflicts of interest in toll roads to MPs banned from entering parliament while facing criminal charges running as an "independant" the Liberal-National Coalition looks on the ropes.  UnionsNSW is running a campaign "Essential Workers Deserve Better" focused on the high costs, low wages, high workload approach of the Liberals that Labor has promised to change.

Van and Ben will be doing the Week on Wednesday LIVE! from Adelaide Fringe https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/the-week-on-wednesday-live-with-van-badham-ben-davison-live-podcast-af2023 for the next four weeks.  

Regular supporters from our www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday page can also get a special discount code to come along to see us LIVE in the Yurt.

With the Commonwealth Bank declaring a record profit and 20% increase in dividends Van and Ben breakdown the fallacies at the heart of the neo-liberal ideology.

Of course at the same time mega corporation Visy is trying to give workers real term pay cuts and Ben and Van send the workers who have joined their union, join yours at australianunions.org.au/wow, solidarity in their struggle.  

Van looks at "team Jorge" and how bad faith actors have been uncovered undermining democracy around the world at the same time as Elon Musk and Rupert Murdoch are getting chummy at the Superbowl.

Oh yes, its an episode where we make the links between ideology, media control, billionaires and how they all combine to both undermine your democratic power and your wages!

But there is good news about grass!

Don't forget that The Week on Wednesday LIVE is coming to the Adelaide Fringe Festival for four shows with tickets available here https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/the-week-on-wednesday-live-with-van-badham-ben-davison-live-podcast-af2023

Supporters from our www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday will be getting their discounted ticket information by email THIS WEEK!

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

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!

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

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...)

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

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!

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

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!

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

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

Peter Dutton has kicked on 2023 behind in the polls and desperate to find a pathway into government.  Today's press conference on The Voice was a classic polyphonic speech, talking to multiple audiences with a different set of meanings.  It was crass, it was disingenuous, it displayed how he remains beholden to far right ideologues and it had a touch of cooker sprinkled into the middle.

Ben breaks down why this double speak will fail to win back the Menzian centre right and further entrenches people's distrust of Dutton and his conservative rump.

Plus if you worked over the recent public holidays you should have received penalty rates, check your payslip and join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow to make sure you are getting the wages you've earned.

Van and Ben also look at how the ACMA letter to the ABC exposes the neo-liberal success at "institutional capture" and why the fallacy of "non-political" appointments has seen ideologues who oppose policies of the elected government exercising power in Australia. 

The chaos engulfing the US Congressional process to appoint a speaker is a stark example of how important continual vigilance and engagement is in protecting democracy.  While Murdoch issues demands via Fox News the Republicans STILL only have one candidate but won't use their slim majority to appoint him if he doesn't bend the knee.

Van and Ben discuss how involvement in your union, join at australianunions.org.au/wow, and engagement with what is happening in your community is vital for democracy to thrive.

Plus there is good news about garbage powered cars!

And we give shoutouts to our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters who have gone to www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday to help us grow our audience. 

A terrible act of terrorism in Queensland have resulted in the deaths of three innocents and three suspected terrorists.  Police were ambushed by conspiracy cultists at a property in Queensland.  Ben does discuss what happened but more importantly why it happened and what we need to do to stop QAnon and other conspiracy cults from inciting violence.  HINT: it involves a higher level of journalism, among other things.

At the other end of the political spectrum Ben speaks with Annabel, a Pampas worker of 33 years service, who is on strike for better job security for casuals and a decent pay increase.  You can show support to Annabel and her fellow strikers at https://chuffed.org/project/pampas-strike and join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow

The good news is a $10 Billion renewable investment fund that will give the public a stake in the success of a raft of new wind, solar and battery projects.

Plus we give our supporters from www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday a shout out and congratulations on what has been a MASSIVE 2022.

Van Badham and Ben Davison will be back with an end of year wrap up and more episodes and live events in 2023!

The national cabinet has agreed a new national energy policy to cap fuel input costs and reduce energy costs in 2023 for households and businesses.  Ben explores how a decade of Coalition mismanagement and failed privatisations has made our domestic energy market a mess and contrasts that with the Western Australia experience where they have maintained ownership and control.

The Pampas workers are still on strike and Ben takes a look at both the local owners, Goodman Fielder, and the multinational corporation that owns them, Wilmar International.  The chain of greed stretches into some surprising places. 

Remember that the only solution to organised greed is organised workers so join you union at australianunions.org.au/wow

Join Van, Ben and the NSW  Labor leader as they discuss the need to put workers at the centre of reform, how each of us can improve our communities by talking with people about the issues we face and why being opposition leader is a hard job but doesn't have to mean always being negative.

Van and Ben also discuss the Pampas strike and the failure of Zambrero to protect workers in their supply chain.  A deeper dive with workers involved in the campaign will be in next week's episode.  Don't forget wherever you work, whoever you work for you need to be a union member and can join at australianunions.org.au/wow

And the good news is the re-election of Democratic Senator in Georgia Raphael Warnock!

Plus we give shout outs to all our www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters. 

Ben talks about what's happened with Labor in power, Dutton's move to the political fringe and what we might see in 2023.

With workplace reforms passed and more likely in 2023 nows the best time to join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow

Plus Ben praises the Socceroos not just for their performance on the field but also for their solidarity off the field too!

Tony Burke, the federal industrial relations minister, announced on Insiders that the Albanese government has come to an agreement with ACT independant senator David Pocock to pass the Secure Jobs, Better Pay laws.

Van and Ben discuss the changes that Pocock and Burke have agreed, why the laws are needed and why joining your union at australianunions.org.au/wow is so important.

Plus we thank all of our www.buymeacoffee.com.au/weekonwednesday supporters and Maurice Blackburn for making the election night broadcast, which is now available on YouTube, Twitter and our Buy me a coffee supporter page, possible.  

Joining your union and being part of making this change happen is just a few clicks away at australianunions.org.au/wow

The Victorian election is on THIS SATURDAY.  Van and Ben look at the campaign that has been punctuated by scandals, cookers and a Liberal Party so far removed from the Menzian ideal that top of the ticket candidates are being told they can't sit in the party room while marginal seat candidates are telling people they "don't believe in kinder".  Van and Ben will be doing a LIVE election night broadcast, join the watch party here https://fb.me/e/6NK1MrjXu

Elon Musk has taken over Twitter, saddled it with debt, broken it and invited some of the worlds worst people to slop about on it.  Van and Ben look at the economic, social, political and potential legal ramifications, as well as the history of billionaire takovers of social media platforms.

There is good news about the largest renewable energy storage battery being built in NSW

And we give a special shoutout to all our supporters from www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday who have stuck with us during this difficult time.

With Biden's Democrats set to retain the senate and pushing the house elections to the wire its been a good week for democracy.  

Ben also takes a look at the debate on the Albanese Government’s Secure Work, Better Pay laws.  Apparently some people on Insiders and on the cross bench thought "get wages moving again" was rhetoric not a promise to Australian's to get wage moving again. Ben encourages people to send a message to their senator at www.australianunions.org.au/email-your-mp/take-action-send-your-senator-a-message/ and join their union at australianunions.org.au/wow if you want to make sure wages get moving again.

While Van and Ben have been in Sydney the Victorian election has been heating up and Ben looks at Matthew Guy's new promises to bring back fracking and to take policy advice from the IPA.

There's a special big thank you to all our www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday supporters who've stuck with us while we take care of our family.  Hope we can get another podcast out soon!

With 29 of 33 OECD nations in structural deficit the issue of how we invest in our commonwealth, how we generate revenue from our productivity and resources and who benefits from that is front and centre of debate in Australia and around the world.

Ben and Van breakdown the Secure Jobs, Better Pay bill.  They look at the faux friend big business is pretending to be for workers and small business on bargaining while also highlighting some of the less discussed improvements for contract based workers, people with caring responsibilities and the improved powers of the umpire to get agreements done.

And there is a shout out for the Australian Unions victory on paid family violence leave.  It is now law that every worker can access 10 days paid leave if experiencing family violence and that comes after more than a decade of campaigning by the union movement.  So join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow to help win the secure jobs and better pay that we are campaigning for now.

They also take a look under the hood at some of the big six programs including some of the savings made by stopping the Morrison era rorts.

With inflation getting above 7% the need to "slay the dragon", as it was put at the national press club, has never been greater.  This budget starts the battle in earnest and changes to workplace laws will be the part that gets wages moving again.  Van and Ben discuss why workers need to be in unions now more than ever as the profiteers try to shift the blame for inflation onto workers.  Join at australianunions.org.au/wow

Tony Burke will introduce new Secure Work Better Pay laws in the budget week.  Van and Ben discuss why these new laws are needed, how they reflect best practice around the world and how big business lobby groups will try to scare people about them.

SPOILER: They will lift the pay packets of workers in Australia.

Meanwhile in the formerly Great Britain Rishi Sunak has become the third Tory Prime Minister in three months.  Van and Ben discuss how this billionaire, who brags of having no working class friends, came to power and what might happen in the next season of "Britain's got Chaos"

The good news is about electric vehicle batteries!

And Van reads out our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters who have become contributors at www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday 

Angus Taylor went on Insiders and Ben tears apart the shadow Treasurer's ideological fantasy world.  From giving power companies more profits to stopping working people winning pay rises, Angus Taylor reminded Australia why he MUST NEVER be allowed to become Treasurer and why being in your union is so important.  Join at australianunions.org.au/wow

Proving ideological fantasy land thinking and post truth politics does have limits Liz Truss is gone from the British Prime Ministership in record time. Demonstrating that the Australian Liberal Party will never learn Angus Taylor thinks it was because of her desire to lower energy prices not the wrecking ball tax plan. 

Lidia Thorpe has, after being asked by Green Party Leader Adam Bandt, resigned as Deputy Senate Leader for the Greens.  Ben looks at what caused this to happen, why asking for her resignation was justified and how double standards in politics work.  HINT:  Angus Taylor and Sussan Ley should also not be in leadership roles.

Predictably big business lobbyists are unhappy.  Van and Ben breakdown why these changes are needed (Hint: neo-liberalism is, was and always will be broken) and why being a union member is so important, join at australianunions.org.au/wow

Van and Ben also take a look at the situation in Ukraine and particularly look at Putin's information war, how its influencing American politics, why Iran is sending weapons to help Putin and the dangers of applying a cold war era mindset to the conflict.

And the good news is a HUGE investment in renewable energy in Victoria, Tasmania and into NSW with rewiring Australia projects securing Commonwealth and state funding!

We also give shout outs to our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters who have made a contribution on www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday and to our friends at On the Job for their 100th episode!

With business and unions engaged in the policy process now is the time to join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow and be part of reshaping Australia.

Coorey's Insiders contribution contained more than one clanger but Ben focusses on both his and his paper, the Australian Financial Review's, ongoing failure to understand the NDIS as an investment.

Catherine King spelled out just how much of a mess the Morrison government has left and some of it even surprised Ben.

Meanwhile in the UK Truss has replaced Kwarteng with Hunt in an attempt to stop the bleeding from multiple self inflicted economic wounds.

Complete with audience participation our hosts talk about tax cuts, neo-liberalism, Putin, Musk and good news about plastics coming out of the oceans!

Enjoy this very special episode of The Week on Wednesday.

Van and Ben discuss Dutton's Insiders interview which showed how little he's been prepared to change from the dark days of the Morrison government.  In addition to fantasies of improbable future wealth he rolled out religious culture wars as cover for bad corporate behaviour and fear mongering about Australian toddlers being secret terrorists.

After a decade of "let it rip" ideology smashing labour markets the NSW Labor Party is promising to regulate the gig economy.  In what unions are calling a "win for workers and a level playing field for business" the reforms will see workers rights established regardless of the label stuck on the worker.  Unions have been working across state and commonwealth jurisdictions to ensure workers get their rights whether they are direct employees, contractors, labour hire, full time, part time or casual.  Join them at australianunions.org.au/wow

Van gives an update on the destruction of Putin's bridge from Russia to Crimea and what it might mean for Putin's war. Spoiler: He's not doing very well.

Van and Ben will be at the Melbourne Fringe THIS WEDNESDAY!  Get you tickets here: www.melbournefringe.com.au/event/the-week-on-wednesday-live

Our hosts contrast this democratic advancement with the repressive regime in Iran and the violence that oppression of women in Iran has created.

The killing of Mahsa Amini and the weeks of violent clashes, government suppression, mass arrests and murders has some suggesting that the Iranian people have had enough of the theocratic regime.  Van and Ben explore what's been happening, why it is happening and what might be next.

In Australia, disgraced former NAB CEO Andrew Thorburn has resigned as CEO of Essendon football club after 30 hours in the job.  Van and Ben unpack how this multi-millionaire with powerful political connections, who was slammed by the banking royal commission, was engaged to review the club, managed to become CEO and when told he had to choose between his role as chairman of the "City on a hill church" or his paid employment at Essendon football club he chose to quit his job.

Warning: The rich, white, male, privileged whining that Thorburn has since embarked on gets thoroughly dismantled and his time as NAB CEO critically examined. 

The good news is that Tanya Plibersek has announced the Albanese government's plan to prevent species extinction in Australia!

Also The Week on Wednesday LIVE! at Melbourne Fringe is happening on the 12th of October at Victorian Trades Hall and you can get tickets at www.melbournefringe.com.au/event/the-week-on-wednesday-live

Plus we give a shout out to all of our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters.

Ben discusses the ups and downs of public hearings and how the union movement first passed a policy on a national anti-corruption Commission in 2015!  You can join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow

The RBA is likely to raise rates this week and Ben looks at how the unfunded tax rebates to the wealthy in the UK have caused an economic meltdown and what signal that sends Australia on the stage three tax cuts due in three budgets time.

The big news about COVID was national cabinet's decision to remove the five day isolation orders from mid-October.  Ben looks at the Insiders analysis of the decision as well as the BIG spike in UK hospital admissions and wonders what might happen next.

Don't forget to get your tickets for the Week On Wednesday LIVE! at Melbourne Fringe on October 12th here: www.melbournefringe.com.au/event/the-week-on-wednesday-live 

In Queensland the union movement has worked with the state Labor government to develop a ten year energy plan that includes a charter of worker's rights, moving to renewables and guarantees both jobs and lower carbon emissions!  Van and Ben discuss how environmental outcomes and social outcomes align.

The Albanese government has introduced a federal ICAC, known as the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), with Peter Dutton having to accept that it will become law.  Van and Ben discuss why the NACC is important to democracy and what happens when we don't maintain our democratic institutions.

Plus we shamelessly plug our Melbourne Fringe festival gig on October 12th, get your tickets here www.melbournefringe.com.au/event/the-week-on-wednesday-live  and praise our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters who have become contributors at www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday 

Ben explores the Insider's interview, the Coalition policies that do exist, how the federal anti-worker approach has seeped into the NSW and Victorian Liberals and how it is putting them on the road to electoral oblivion.

Ben dives into the abolition of the cashless debit card, which mostly impacts communities in Western Australia, Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory and explores Labor's new programs for those impacted.

There will be a federal ICAC introduced to parliament this week and Ben discusses how that process is playing out, why Albo has an obligation to consult with the opposition and why instead of independants attacking Labor for doing so they should adopt Katherine Murphy's view of aiming for an ICAC "Everyone in parliament can support".

Plus a shoutout to the Maritime Union of Australia's 150th anniversary celebration in Melbourne, workers taking action and a reminder to join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow and to come along to The Week on Wednesday LIVE! at Melbourne Fringe on October 12th tickets here: melbournefringe.com.au/event/the-week-on-wednesday-live

Our hosts also offer solidarity to the workers who have been locked out, are taking action or have had to go on strike and encourage listeners to join their union at australianunions.org.au/wow and check out the funds to support locked out workers at https://knauf-lockout-fund.raisely.com/ and the NSW workers under attack from the Perrottet government at https://workers-fund.raisely.com/legaldefence

By contrast to Morrison's secret shadow government and Perrottet's anti-worker policies the Albanese Labor government is engaging across Australia on policy, budgets and reform.  Van and Ben discuss what this means and why it is important for democracy.

The gig economy was let rip under Morrison and now Labor is tasked with how to regulate 21st century technology that has allowed 17th century working conditions to spread "like a cancer" through everything from transport and delivery to aged care and the NDIS.  Van and Ben look at what's being done to protect workers rights and deliver sustainable services.

And of course Qantas and its many failings gets a mention as consumer advocates put forward ideas to end the cowboy behaviour of Alan Joyce.

Plus there is good news about carbon capturing kelp in WA and green hydrogen in Queensland!

Van also reads out the names of our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters who have gone to www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday to help us reach even more listeners.

The RBA admits that a lack of worker power has made wage cuts and profiteering possible while CEO's and executives claim huge increases for their own pay increases.  Meanwhile the bosses pamphlet (the Australian Financial Review) claims offshoring jobs will magically increase local wages, lottery tickets for aged care workers will relieve staff shortages and that insecure work isn't a problem but is a good thing!

Ben looks at the explosion in multiple jobs and how Australian's are now in a worse place than American workers and how California is moving ahead with multi-employer bargaining to improve worker wages.

As Australian workers, in union, continue to push to improve wages and conditions by changing the policy settings so if you want better wages and conditions join australianunions.org.au/wow

New data shows that record numbers of workers in Australia hold down multiple jobs but still can't get ahead, which is why union campaigns for secure jobs remain so crucial.

Van runs through the analysis about how Russia went from the status of having "the second greatest army in the world" to barely being the second greatest army in Ukraine, and there's good news about air - on both Earth AND on Mars!

Plus we give shoutout to our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters from www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday and don't forget to get your tickets to see The Week on Wednesday LIVE! at Melbourne Fringe Festival.

Van and Ben - both republicans - discuss why the passing of the Queen is a historic moment, the differences in Australian and British reactions, why Prime Minister Albanese's nuanced understanding of this moment as Australia makes our own way towards recognition & reconciliation was so important on Insiders and how the 73 year old King Charles III may, or may not, take his lifetime of environmental advocacy into his role as King.

While the last 70 years have seen a passive and unifying monarch on the throne, Ben and Van remind us that Elizabeth's kingly grandfather was a key player in the First World War, her kingly uncle abdicated while harbouring fascist sympathies and that while the United Kingdom is currently so very troubled it remains to be seen what role King Charles III will take in British life.

Australian Unions made huge progress towards multi-employer bargaining, tripartite decision making on the transition to net zero as well as skills and policies that improve access for women, workers with disabilities and migrant workers to better pay and secure employment. 

Ben also looks at Brendan O'Connor's Insiders interview and the need for everyone to do more to support apprentices.  You can join your union, whether you're an apprentice or not, at australianunions.org.au/wow

Peter Dutton and his Liberal Party decided not only to not attend but launched attack ads against the summit participants.  Dutton and his team rolled out the same old attacks against workers and pretended to be concerned for small business while their big business lobbyist mates were attacking small businesses calling them "weak links"  and accusing them of "betrayal".

Alan Joyce, Gerry Harvey and the usual gang of rent seekers have tried to undermine the summit outcomes because their business models are built on exploiting a system that is about to change.

Unequal payday happened this week and the ACTU released a report showing how we can unlock $111Billion by empowering women in the workplace and closing the gender pay gap.  Van and Ben examine some of the findings.

We also talk about the planned Stage 3 tax cuts, as per listener request, with our views on why they are bad, why they are not a pressing issue and why Dutton wants this to be the story instead of Jobs and Skills.

We talk about SO much stuff, in fact, that our good news story for the week (about polystyrene!) is going up on our supporter page at www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday 

The government has announced an inquiry into Morrison's shredding of democratic convention to be conducted by a former High Court judge and Ben looks at why the Morrison supporters are squealing.

The Robodebt royal commission has been announced and Ben discusses why this needs to be a watershed moment for how we think about citizens in need of support.

Sally McManus, leader of the Australian Union movement, and Jennifer Westacott, head of the Business Council of Australia, were on Insiders debating proposals for bargaining reform, skills development and migration settings ahead of the Jobs and Skills Summit. Even Westacott admitted that workers on collective agreements get paid better!

Ben looks at some of the fake arguments that get used against collective bargaining and ow Michaelia Cash might have given us an unintentional insight into how the Coalition was deliberately keeping wages low.

Don't forget you can become a supporter of the podcast at www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday and get every episode emailed to you along with interesting links.

As Labor's support surges ahead of the Jobs and Skills summit the ACTU, Australian Unions, has put out a discussion paper on how to create jobs while taking action on emissions reduction and climate change.  Van and Ben discuss the difference having genuine stakeholder engagement and participation makes to the policy process and, given the upcoming Jobs and Skills Summit,  what this might mean for laws in our workplace.  The best way to a secure job and higher wages is to be a union member so join at australianunions.org.au/wow

The neo-liberal corporatisation of higher education has smashed job security in our universities while also sending the wages of the executives who are making profit driven decisions about higher education through the roof.  Ben shares a recent discussion he had with a leader of the NTEU (National Tertiary Education Union) on how the Liberal party used people's pre-conceived ideas about the sector and a strategy of not engaging stakeholders to create a workforce that is now mostly casual, underpaid and often the victims of wage theft.

The good news is about PFAS, the "forever chemical" might not be so "forever" after all!

And as always we give shout outs to our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters who have gone to www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday and are making regular contributions to help us grow our audience.

Insiders had former Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce on for a car crash interview where between calling for modular nuclear power plants in every town he admitted he didn't confront or make public Morrison's secret portfolios because he had been given ministries the Nationals weren't entitled to, staff they weren't entitled to and was concerned they'd be taken away!

Plus the end of the week saw the devastating application of a high court decision to prioritise contract terms over reality as a delivery worker lost his Fair Work Commission case.  Ben explains why this is terrible outcome for all workers, what it means now for the gig economy and what we can do to fix it. (It starts with joining your union australianunions.org.au/wow)

And Ben give a preview of a special upcoming edition of the Week on Wednesday with Van Badham. 

While Morrison flatly denies any wrong doing most of the country thinks he should resign from parliament and that he has undermined democratic processes.

Van and Ben breakdown what happened, why it is a problem and what might happen next.  

While the legacy of Morrison's Napoleonic power grab continues to be record cuts to wages and record increases in profits the union movement has put forward its 2nd pre jobs summit discussion paper on skills and migration.

Van and Ben explain why the ACTU call for structural reforms to be put in place before more migrants are exposed to exploitative practices is the right call.  

To ensure better wages and conditions for you and all workers join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow.

The good news this week is about hydrogen in Australia.

And as well as giving shout outs to our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday Van and Ben give shout outs to the listeners who have listened to all 100 episodes so far!

Chris Bowen gave a masterclass interview on Insiders where he outlined the complexity of the electricity market while providing assurance that real reforms are underway.  Ben discusses how the interview also showed up the Insider panel's anti-union biases as the kinds of reforms Bowen discussed aligned with the ACTU jobs summit paper "An Economy that works for People" which they roundly dismissed.

Despite the Insiders panel having concerns about tax cuts legislated before COVID that will give bank CEO's $5,000 tax cuts on top of their 35% pay increases, despite their concerns about a lack of teachers, a lack of investment in local manufacturing, a lack of reliable supply chains, the panel dismissed the ACTU paper. 

The paper which speaks to all those issues.

Ben breaks down how unions across many sectors are taking actions while also being the only stakeholders to offer up ideas for discussion at the summit and why workers should join australianunions.org.au/wow because clearly the media are not even reading the materials.

And Ben condemns the cookers who protested outside the Children's hospital in Melbourne over the weekend.  The puppets of American right wing propagandists are causing distress to sick children and their families.  Ben and Van will discuss how these latest actions are being fed by Trump's desperate situation on Wednesday's episode.

Australian Unions have today put out a paper calling for economic reforms that would reduce inequality, support wages growth and enshrine Full Employment as a key economic goal.  To be part of your union join at australianunions.org.au/wow

Van and Ben discuss how and why the current economic debate is between a broad base of stakeholders trying for consensus on reforms and Peter Dutton trying to bash unions.

Trump's Mar-a-Lago palace was raided by the FBI this week and Van gives a rapid deep dive on why the raid happened, what it might mean for American democracy and how the neo-fascists who support Trump have responded.

The good news is about the Great Barrier Reef expanding.

And for our 100th episode we give shoutouts to our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters (you can join them at www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday) and announce a LIVE show!

Don't forget to join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow (you know Dutton will hate it)

With Paul Karp's Guardian piece exposing the "Pay to get paid" Uber platforms in the NDIS Ben discusses how Uber style "contracting" is undermining the assumptions of employment in the NDIS, the profiteering that is happening at tax payer and participant expense and how some Uber-style platforms have traded shares to the Murdoch empire for media coverage.  Just like Uber did in Europe.

With inflation climbing and interest rates rising but wages going backwards and profits at record levels Van and Ben discuss how the fever dream of a long dead right wing economist has become the economic gospel with which we are being beaten around the head.

BUT workers are taking a stand to win better pay and conditions at the same time the Labor government is strengthening the social infrastructure that will help workers win pay rises.  Australian union members are taking action at NSW rail and Launceston hospital (among many places) while even more refuse pay cuts from big banks and Qantas. Van sets listeners a challenge to join your union before the end of the episode at australianunions.org.au/wow

Among the many political stories the legislation to enshrine a 43% emissions reduction floor into law is a big focus.  The Greens have finally announced they will support Labor's Repowering Australia approach while Dutton takes his Coalition off to explore nuclear power....again.

The Queensland based leader of the Coalition, Dutton, must be almost thankful for his lack of relevance because at least it means that he, unlike his NSW and Victorian Liberal leaders, isn't currently being investigated for a scandal.  Dom Perrottet lost a minister earlier in the week and lost his deputy leader today while Matthew Guy lost his chief of staff and gained, at least, a Victorian Electoral Commission investigation!

The good environment news is about removing plastics from the ocean and a process that is being refined to the point where it MIGHT happen in our lifetime.

Plus we give a huge shout out to all our supporters from www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday who contribute to making the podcast happen and getting it into the ears of people around the nation.

How the Voice comes into being will depend on winning the referendum and Ben analyses the approach Albo is taking to make sure he wins the debate.

The 1st week of the 47th parliament saw a flurry of legislation.  Ben examines why aged care reforms, emission reduction targets scrapping the cashless debit card and childcare are both good social policy but will also improve productivity and lift participation.

The state of Australia's economy is a shambles after a decade of coalition mismanagement that has seen record corporate profits, record wage cuts, misuse of government funds and huge skills gaps.  Dutton's response?  To attack unions, attack workers, dismiss government policy and reject the invitation to Garma.

Along with the policies before the parliament Ben discusses why the Jobs and Skills summit must rebalance the power in our economy to lift wages before 2024. 

Van and Ben discuss the emotional opening of parliament and why Labor's time in government, particularly under the current circumstances, is so important.

With neo-liberal economic ideologues dominating the institutions of our economy the Labor government's drive for more secure work, better wages, paid family and domestic violence leave, the establishment of Skills Australia and a 43% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 and net zero by 2050 will rely on the Skills and Jobs summit to rebalance power towards working people.

Union member's continue to get better wages, win better conditions and have more secure employment so join at australianunions.org.au/wow

COVID has now infected almost half of all Australian's as more people than ever are in hospital.  Van and Ben talk about the personal impact and why we should all be following the advice of the nurse's union.

Morrison hasn't rocked up to work but continues to conduct his speaking tour.  Van reports live from the seat of Cook, where no one has seen their MP except on TV....

The good news is that the European Bison is BACK in the UK!

And we give shout outs to our awesome www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday supporters and drop the date for the next Cadre supporter video!

Join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow

Tony Burke is promising minimum standards for all workers, the end of "illegitimate" labour hire uses and to build a ramp for gig workers to move to more secure employment.  Ben reminds us that the ramp will still need safeguards to stop bad bosses from pushing secure jobs down rather than help bring workers up.

Katherine Murphy lets rip on a decade of the Coalition choosing to be "on the wrong side of history" over climate change as cracks appear in the Dutton opposition ahead of the 43% emission reduction target coming to the parliament.

Mark Kenny tells us Karen Andrews "should consider her position" as it is revealed she politicised the arrival of an asylum seeker boat on election day and pressured the department at the behest of Scott Morrison.

Phil Coorey accuses workers of "sneaking around" parliament ahead of the first sitting week where family and domestic violence leave, the establishment of Skills Australia and the emissions reduction target legislation is due to be introduced.

Plus a reminder of what the nurses of Australia want us to do to stay safe and keep our loved ones safe from COVID.

Tanya Plibersek has released the previous Morrison government's environment report which has some damming facts and figures about the state of Australia's environment.  Van and Ben discuss the Labor promise to establish an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and their commitment to protecting 30% of our land and water by 2030.

New research has confirmed what we, unions and economists have been saying; Corporate greed and profiteering, not wages, is driving up inflation.  Ben and Van look at the villains who run Qantas, Merrivale, and CSL to discuss how greed, contempt for workers and hypocritical behaviour needs to be removed from corporate Australia.

A listener who works for CSL, and joined their union after listening to the podcast, wrote to us and we share their story of being given a real pay cut by a CEO being paid nearly $60M that receives billions in taxpayer funding.

Plus COVID is getting worse.  Hospitalisations are up, deaths are up and the union movement is calling for employers to provide RATS, work from home where they can, masks and paid leave to isolate as more and more health care workers are getting sick.  You can join your union for a safer workplace, for a better pay deal or just to be part of a community of working people at australianunions.org.au/wow

Also we give our regular shoutout to Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters who've gone to www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday to make regular contributions towards helping us grow the Week on Wednesday audience.

But the news waits for no one. Albo's decision to reinstate paid pandemic leave payments for worker's who have to isolate shows the power of working people raising their voice together and the willingness of a Labor government to listen to workers.  The union movement (which you can join at australianunions.org.au/wow) worked hard to make sure the full social, economic and health impacts of forcing people into an economic choice around COVID were understood by the federal and state governments. As COVID continues it will be more important than ever that worker's voices are heard.

On Insiders this morning Adam Bandt managed to reignite the mistakes of the climate wars by threatening to vote with the Dutton Liberals to block a legislated 43% reduction in emissions because it wasn't "ambitious" enough. Or if it didn't have a mechanism to stop ALL future coal and gas projects.  Or possibly because he wants the campaign issue.  Van and Ben breakdown why this is bad policy development and self indulgent politics.

Plus the happy couple take a look at why Van's mum's local MP, Scott Morrison, is delivering a sermon on the other side of the country at the church of well known anti-equality activist Margaret Court.

Australian Unions are positioning to have the summit fix our broken workplace laws, improve wages, job security, working conditions for women and access for all.  To be part of the movement, like Steve (listen and you'll understand), go to australianunions.org.au/wow

Ben and Van examine a couple of case studies of how broken the workplace laws are when business can be crying out for more workers yet companies are cancelling staff agreements and cutting wages. The workers at Tuftmaster are being threatened with the loss of job security and a cancelled agreement while Ben spoke with MUA Sydney Deputy Branch Secretary Paul Garrett about the attempts by massive multinational Maersk to almost HALVE the wages of tug boat crews in Australia through their subsidiary company Svitzer by cancelling their agreement. 

All of this is happening against a backdrop of record profits, record CEO pay and increasing productivity but declining wages.

Van and Ben discuss some of the egregious cases like Qantas, Afterpay and CSL where government funding, subsidies, unlawful conduct or total lack of profitability hasn't stopped the executives from taking MASSIVE pay days.

COVID is getting worse.  Van and Ben run through some figures but also their own experience of COVID and why wearing masks, supporting people having to isolate and getting vaccinated is so important.

The good news is sand powered batteries in Finland!

We also congratulate our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters who have helped us get to more than 500,000 downloads! You can become a supporter at www.buymeacoffee.com/WeekonWednesday  

Ben has a particular focus on the failures of Australian media in recent coverage of events that could have or may yet cause harm, with Bevan Shields from the SMH and former minister Karen Andrews being called out.

The NSW Liberal government has lost its bid to stop rail workers taking action to improve rail network safety and Ben takes a look at how this action and the attempts to cancel staff agreements at Tuftmasters and Svitzer are evidence our workplace laws need to change.  Unions are organising workers in these sectors (and every sector) so you should join today at australianunions.org.au/wow to keep your workplace safe, connect with your community and improve your pay and conditions.

The union movement calls for an extension to the COVID disaster payment have gone unheeded despite increases in cases, hospitalisations and Ministers in Queensland and across the country calling for people to wear masks.  Ben breaks down some of the latest issues with COVID here in Australia.

Even NSW Liberal state Premier Dominic Perrottet has defended Albo saying the state and federal government had been working well on dealing with the current flooding disaster. 

Van and Ben look at what is happening with the floods from a political perspective and the immediate relief being delivered.

While Dom Perrottet may be doing better with this round of flooding he continues to fail the workers of NSW.  Today's rail worker actions come on the back of weeks of industrial action from health workers, teachers and public transport workers. 

Van and Ben look at how the Liberal ideological framework of underinvestment, cuts and punishing workers is driving disruption, undermining wages & safety and wasting both public money and people's time.  To stop the actions Dom Perrottet is threatening unions in NSW with HUGE fines and there is a public fund people can contribute to via Unions NSW.

COVID never left and it is getting worse.  Van and Ben discuss their own recent COVID experiences and why they are supporting the Australian Unions push to keep COVID isolation supports, more people wearing masks and getting boosters.  Union workplaces are safer workplaces and you can join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow

The good news this week comes from the United States (believe it or not) and is about efforts to preserve more maritime parks.

As always we acknowledge our contributors who've signed up to make regular Cadre and Extend the Reach contributions on our www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday page and Van is excited about us approaching a MASSIVE new milestone.

Albo and the Labor government have rapidly rebuilt Australia's international reputation with allies in Europe and pacific embracing the new government.  The results are tangible with new trade, regional security and bi-lateral relations that had been off the table under the Liberals all restarting.

Per Capita released a report that shines a light on the problems of contracting in the NDIS this week.  Van and Ben look at the real impacts of sham contracting on workers, people with disabilities and the NDIS as a system.  From worker's being ripped off with "bridging loans" to clients being held legally responsible for workplace safety to foreign private equity taking taxpayer money and operating "unregistered" the growth of "contracting" in the NDIS is creating a range of problems.  Links to the report will be shared on our supporter page www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday

More than 10,000 Australian's have died of COVID since the start of the pandemic.  The rate of deaths has climbed rapidly with the first 1,000 deaths coming between March 2020 and August 2021 but the latest 5,000 happening between February 2022 and July 2022.  Australian Unions are arguing we need to continue support for people to isolate and many are calling for masks to be made compulsory again.  Van and Ben share their recent experience of having COVID and of the total lack of masks during a recent shopping trip.  With COVID increasingly a workplace by workplace issue its more important than ever to join your union at australiaunions.org.au/wow

The reality doesn't match the ideological chest beating from the business lobby who were quick to claim a Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) mandate for a wages cap (their isn't one) to stop a "wages spiral" and that Sally McManus, leader of Australian Unions, had called the RBA governor a "boomer". (She didn't).  

Van and Ben look at the ways collective bargaining is failing, how it can/could work to lift wages, some innovations like the TWU/Uber agreement and why more and more workers are banding together to take action across whole sectors (like the teacher unions in New South Wales). 

Across the board union members are earning more, so join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow

Of course Liberal Leader Peter Dutton was quick to jump on the "wage spiral" rhetoric along with his anti-teacher culture war so Van and Ben look at why Liberal's in Australia might be using American style tactics.

This episode takes an extended look into the US Supreme Court, the fundamentalists that Trump appointed to the court, the activism they are now displaying in overturning Roe V Wade, removing gun control laws, imposing religion in schools and directing federal funds to religious organisations.

With the January 6 Commission hearings in full swing Van gives a clear eyed analysis of Trump, and his enablers, lack of commitment to democracy, dedication to culture wars and power at all costs approach.

The good news is that Queensland is imposing a form of progressive taxation on coal companies!

And as always we acknowledge the Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters who make it possible for us to reach even more people at www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday

While many appointments across government may have been on merit the uniform ideological background of people on the Reserve Bank Board have many people questioning the recent demands by the Governor of the RBA for workers to wear more pay cuts and suggesting a return to the board of a strong worker voice. 

Just as Fraser, Hawke and Keating appointed the head of the Australian Union movement to the board of the Reserve Bank many are now calling for Sally McManus, or at least someone with a labour market understanding, to be appointed.  If you think worker's should wear the costs of higher profits but should get decent pay rises and want one for yourself join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow

Van gives a background on where "long march through the institutions" comes from and Ben gives a rant about "If I was reserve bank governor."  Did we mention they both have COVID?

COVID hasn't gone away.  Van and Ben have it and discuss how, after a lull, the numbers of infections, hospitalisations and deaths are again rising.  Wear a mask, get vaccinated, stay safe.

The good news is that the Albanese Labor Government has signed up to a 43% reduction in emissions by 2030.  In a move that brought together stakeholders from across the environment, labour and business sectors Labor has set out an achievable ambition for real climate action.

It might be a shorter episode but we'd never forget to acknowledge our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters who Van reads out by name every episode.

Albo has outlined the first three items for parliament, along with a framework for the rest of 2022.  Van and Ben discuss how these priorities, emissions reduction, women's safety and socio-economic participation, employment and skills, workplace reforms that grow wages, improve collective bargaining and job security line up with Albo's embrace of the Hawke consultative approach to government.  

Plus Ben reviews Dutton on Insiders, discusses how badly the Morrison era managed the economy in creating the inflation problems we now have and Dutton's attempt to avoid any responsibility while weaponising claims about child abuse, that his own government couldn't find evidence to support, to divert from the indigenous Voice to parliament.

As well as the dollars and cents, Van and Ben break down the economic and socio-political realities of the minimum wage decision, what we need to do to help lift the wages of the other 75% of workers in Australia not on minimum awards (it starts by joining your union australianunions.org.au/wow) and how an Albanese Labor government faced down the business lobby fear campaign to deliver better wages.  

The leader of Australian Unions, Sally McManus, has called for systemic changes saying, "the current system is failing. It is unable to deliver wage increases despite low unemployment, high productivity and high profits." Perhaps unintentionally parts of the business lobby have supported the call for reforms and demanded "more effective enterprise bargaining".

Van and Ben also look at the national press club address by ALP National Secretary Paul Erickson and discuss how Labor won the 2022 election and the political reality of Australia being a "Two party, Labor Party and non-Labor parties, system".

As Australia shivers in a cold snap energy producers have shut down 25% of the energy generation and Van and Ben discuss how coal and privatisation are failing our nation.

But the good news is that in Western Australia climate action means huge investments in renewables, new jobs and the closure of coal plants by 2030!

Plus Van reads out the names of our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters from our supporter page www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday 

While every dollar invested in the NDIS returns $2.25 the lack of quality control, auditing and minimum levels of training in the unregistered sector is undermining those outcomes.

Ben discusses the issues around choice and control in the broader context of how consumers exercise choice and control in other parts of the economy and how the Liberal's twisted the concept to fit a neo-Liberal version of "free market" that has seen an explosion in overcharging, digital sham contracting, the entry of organised crime and genuine safety concerns.

The issues with the NDIS mirror a broader toxic culture among parts of Australia's business community.

Ben dives into why Mabel (disability & aged care), Merivale(hospitality & entertainment) and Qantas stand out in their sectors as examples of profit before all else.

Using a variety of unlawful conduct, wage theft, government subsidies, Liberal Party connections, publicity puff pieces, market domination, customer capture and "leadership" baubles the executives of these companies have profited at the expense of working people in Australia. 

And they are totally unapologetic.

Ben looks at why people like Alan Joyce and Justin Hemmes aren't role models on leadership but are examples of profiteering, a broken economic system and corporate cultural failures.

Van and Ben get underneath the headline figures to look at what's really driving inflation, who's profiting and why wage increases are exactly what we need to get the economy humming.  You can get your wages moving by joining your union at australianunions.org.au/wow

They also examine how the Liberal/National policies of the last decade put more workers on minimum rates, forced more people into their own "business" (with no employees and revenues of less than an average wage) and what the "Uberfication" of growing sectors means for job security and wages.

It has only been a little over two weeks and already Albo and his ministers are making their mark on everything from foreign relations to the minimum wage, from arts policy to the NDIS.  Van and Ben look at some of the highlights, including the departure of the CEO of the NDIA and the Charities Commissioner, along with some of the policy statements from the ministers.

In NSW the Perrottet government is trying to divide workers through a series of industrial bully boy tactics, selective bribes and divisive language.  But as today's public sector walk off shows, the workers of NSW remain united whether they are in teaching, higher education, health, nursing, transport, railways or a paramedic.  Check out psa.as.au for details of the latest actions.

And there is good news about the worlds largest plant, right here in Australia!

Plus we give shout outs to our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters who have grown the audience of The Week on Wednesday to nearly 50,000 a month, you can check out the supporter page at www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday

Insider's had National Party leader David Littleproud on who expressed "no regrets" over the policies of the last decade of Liberal-National misrule, lied about Labor's efforts to fix the energy crisis and doubled down on the Morrison era policy of supporting multi-national gas companies over the needs of the Australian people.  There's also a quick look at the rogues gallery that's likely to be the shadow ministry under Dutton.

Ben breaks down the reality of the gas situation (we export too much), the economic situation (too much is going to profits instead of wages) and the work unions are doing to fix it (taking action across the country).

NSW workers are suffering under a wage cap and are holding a summit on how to make the Liberal government lift the cap, which is costing workers more than $6,000 a year.

Australian unions are getting wins, with Labor pushing for a proper increase in the minimum wage, and new ads showing the power of sticking together in wage negotiations.  Join at australianunions.org.au/wow

Ben also thanks all the supporters, who contributed at www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday, for helping the podcast reach almost 50,000 downloads just in May.

Big appointments in defence, skills, education, environment, climate change, NDIS, government services, aged care, housing, Indigenous Australians, infrastructure, the arts and workplace relations all align with some key Labor priorities for this term of government.  Many groups are already pointing out the passion and commitment the new ministers have for these portfolios, as well as the size of their bibles?  Its a real thing. 

For the first time in a decade Australia has a workplace relations minister who proudly tells people to "join your union" so do it here australiaunions.org.au/wow

The swearing in of the ministry was carried live across the media and some of the bloopers showed a distinct lack of understanding about the backgrounds of the new government and by extension many millions of Australians.  Ben and Van discuss whether there is a class bias in Australian media.

One of the potential problems with a lack of broader political context in journalism is that people like Peter Dutton may try to exploit it and say not untrue but also damaging lies.  Today Dutton imported, lock, stock and barrel, a Trump Republican talking point about teacher unions having too much power.  Apparently the not affiliated to the Labor Party teacher unions control the Labor Party with their "extremist agenda".  Van and Ben discuss why this kind of ultra-conservative babble gets air time and why it shouldn't.

Plus after a record number of downloads in May we thank our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters, you can check out the supporter page at www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday

Ben also reviews the latest episode of Insider's where Phil Coorey calls Education, Health, The NDIS, ICAC, early childhood, aged care, industrial relations, the arts, infrastructure, climate change, the environment and women's rights "2nd tier spots" demonstrating that a panel of two people who's papers endorsed Morrison and a third who worked for Howard probably haven't fully digested the impact of last Saturday's election.

Speaking of people who learnt nothing from the election, The Liberals seem set to crown Peter "not a monster" Dutton as leader this week.  Despite his slanderous comments about the Bilo family, and the Biloela community, and his long track record of division and misuse of power the "Liberals" can't come up with anyone better.  The Nationals will be running a three horse race between Barnaby Joyce, Darren Chester and David Littleproud to see who gets the dubious honour of being Dutton's side kick.

The episode ends with a round up of some of the key industrial actions in schools, universities, aged care and against Amazon that have occurred this week with a reminder that joining your union at australianunions.org.au/wow is the best way to lift your wages, make your job more secure and be part of a community committed to building a better future for workers in Australia.

Van and Ben look at Labor's policy priorities between now and the end of the year, the make up of the parliament, the failure of the Liberal Party to hold any of the inner city Liberal "seat by rights" and what we will be looking for in the coming week as a full Ministry is sworn in next Wednesday.

The Liberal Party have wasted no time and are already back to ignoring the will of the people by giving Peter Dutton a coronation as new Liberal Leader.  Van and Ben discuss the how, why and what of the "not a monster", potato, pacific island disrespecting, searching Victorians on the street, not "very smart", "Extremist" who once handed out defence contracts to companies that didn't have any staff and is now the leader of the party founded by Menzies.

For the first time the Murdoch's backed a loser and we look at what the changing shape of media means in Australia.

Plus good news about democracy sausages and solar panels!

As always we give a shout out to our cadre and extend the reach supporters who you can join at www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday 

With Albo's Labor Party winning a majority but the most independant MPs elected into parliament since before WWII Van and Ben look at what has happened from a macro perspective and how this election signals that Australia is still a Menzian/Hawke nation.  A concept that Morrison's "Liberals" seem to have forgotten.

Van and Ben explore what that concept means, how it might influence an Albanese Labor government, how it played out in the campaign and what might happen next.

And remember if you want to be part of shaping your future join your union australianunions.org.au/wow.  Who knows?  Maybe you'll end up singing on stage with Van and Sally McManus at 1am at Trades Hall sometime.....

With profits up, sales up, CEO pay up, the cost of living going up and Morrison demanding workers wear a $4,000 pay cut Van and Ben ask the question;

"How can Morrison be promising to cut wages, cut jobs and raid people's retirements but still be in with a chance of winning this election?"

Ben breaks down why the raid on retirement is bad housing policy and bad economics.

The Australian Union movement has had a big win with working people on award rate winning 10 days of paid family and domestic violence (FDV) leave.  After a decade of the "we won't campaign successfully expanding paid FDV  leave through many agreements with big employers, unions have won the right for more than 2.6 million award workers. If you want to make sure your workplace is safer, your wages higher and your job more secure join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow

Van breaks down the real life implications of not having access to paid leave when experiencing intimate partner violence.

As the polls tighten the lines between a re-elected, wage cutting, job cutting, retirement raiding, anti-women Morrison government and an Albanese led Labor government have become even clearer in the final week of the campaign.  Albo used his final National Press Club Address to reiterate his commitment to extending FDV leave to all workers, supporting wage increases, doing more to stop deaths from COVID, end the Morrison era rorts and introduce a federal ICAC.

The election is on Saturday and Van Badham and Ben Davison will be hosting a live watch along broadcast.  Links and details on all Week on Wednesday social media and through the support page (www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday)

And the good news is about rats being purged from an Australian island...maybe an omen?

As always we give shoutouts to all our Cadre and Extending the Reach supporters too!

Morrison ended the week promising to change but immediately doubled down on all the same old policy positions. The Liberal campaign launch shows a weakening grip on older voters and Dutton says things that are untrue about China and the USA.

While Ben attended a union organised choral protest against Morrison at a community centre where the staff slipped a subtle protest of their own into Morrison's birthday cake photo op. You can join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow

Today Ben Davison is live at the Queenscliffe Literary Festival where Van Badham will be hosting a panel on the ABC this afternoon.

Huge thanks to all our supporters on www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday 

Since Morrison responded to Albo's question on whether or not every worker should be paid the minimum wage with "it depends" the focus of the election has been on wages.

Workers in aged care, hospitals and education have all recently taken action to lift wages, Australian Unions have increased their minimum wage claim (don't forget to join your union for better wages and more secure work australianunions.org.au/join) and this week Albo responded to whether wages should keep pace with inflation, currently 5.1%, with "absolutely"

Van and Ben breakdown the facts, the evidence and the commentary on wages in Australia to see what's real, what's spin and whether there is anything government can actually do to increase wages. 

Spoiler there's lots governments can do, wage increases don't automatically create inflation and the people who say "nows not the time" say that all the time.

Voting has started with pre-poll opening to record numbers of early voters.  Ben and Van discuss why universal voting is important and how Morrison is cutting off thousands of Australian's from being able to vote.  With misinformation flying around social media and into letter boxes civil society forums and union sources of information are vital.

Luckily Van Badham is teaming up with Francis Leach, from On the Job, and Australian Unions to do a 3rd debate watch along TONIGHT (May 11th).  Thousands of people watched the fun loving crew during the 2nd debate and this one promises even more good times and great analysis.

This weeks good news is about offshore wind turbines and coral reefs and was sent to us by the Communications, Electrical, Plumbing Union of Australia (CEPU). 

Plus we give shoutouts to our www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday Cadre and Extending the reach supporters.

And wages have been going backwards.  Ben looks at why inflation is happening despite wage cuts and what can be done about it as he reviews Tanya Plibersek's Insider interview promises for workplace reform.

There's been a lot of coverage about discussing the NDIS so Ben looks at what some of the NDIS issues actually are, as opposed to the coverage of the coverage, and suggests we focus on the policies in the folder rather than the folder itself.

Ever hear bulk billing stats and think "but I pay out of pocket all the time?!?" Turns out there is a scandal in Medicare with patients being charged out of pocket but it not being recorded.  The Morrison government claims around Medicare are now in doubt.

The 2nd debate is on TONIGHT and will be covered LIVE on Facebook and YouTube by Van Badham and Francis Leach for Australia Unions. Check them out from 8pm. Join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow 

And it being Mother's Day we wish all mother's a happy day and cover some of the Mother's day election special policy announcements. 

The crew examine some big questions:

Is Labor's polling lead translating on the ground?

Has Morrison lost control of the economic and national security narratives?

Have Australian Unions turned "economic management" into a discussion about "managing wage growth and lower prices"? 

Is the mainstream media losing its influence or is it just shifting?

What role will minor parties play in the end?

With pre-poll opening on Monday is it all over in the next few days or is the most dangerous time for disinformation just beginning?

So tune into this fascinating "crosspod" as Van, Ben and Stephen explore Election 2022 so far and what we might expect in the next three weeks.

As always we give a shout out to our supporters from www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday and remind people that joining your union is the most effective way to lift your wages and improve your job security so join at australianunions.org.au/wow

Remember union member's have more secure jobs and earn more so join at australianunions.org.au/wow

Ben looks at Labor's promise to launch a RoboDebt royal commission and the justice it may bring for nearly 400,000 Australian families.

Labor launched their campaign in Perth.  Ben looks at the big announcements and how many jobs, homes and TAFE places will be created while childcare, aged care, medicines and renewable energy all will be cheaper.

Morrison's campaign of chaos has continued with a minister demanding a pay rise..for himself, more "grants" for companies with Liberal connections, an on again/off again PBS pricing change and Morrison himself demanding that people in isolation with COVID should be working harder.

April was another record month for the Week on Wednesday, the fourth in a row since we launched our supporter page, and if you'd like to help us continue to grow check out our supporter page at www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday like, share, comment and subscribe.

Van and Ben look at how the inflation spike, wages cuts, impending interest rate rise and ongoing job insecurity shows Morrison's economic ideology that "government can't do things" is built of false assumptions and the proven fallacy of trickle down economics. 

With United Workers Union (UWU) member's set to take action in aged care facilities around the country and NSW Teachers Federation members to walk off the job the team discusses how workers shape wages through government policy as well as directly, in union, and how joining your union (at australianunions.org.au/wow ) is still the best way to get lift your wages wages, make your job more secure and workplace safer.

Labor seized on the awful economic numbers for the Morrison government by launching their own economic policy today.  The three point plan aligns to what Van and Ben have been saying about public sector jobs, taxing multinational corporations and stopping the rorts and waste of the past decade.

The Coalition campaign chaos picked up a gear today with the Liberal Treasurer suggesting they were better economic managers because they kept the animals at the zoos and aquariums fed, Canavan being told to "pull his head in", the home affairs minister making wild and baseless claims about the Solomon Islands, a Liberal candidate in a safe seat courting cookers and a Queensland senate candidate basically calling the citizens of Australia fat and lazy.

We give a big shout out to our Cadre and Extending the Reach supporters who make sure we keep growing our audience and getting the message out there, you can check out www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday to make a contribution. 

Plans have been cut by an average of 4%, appeals to the AAT have doubled, foreign private equity backed unregistered and unregulated "platforms" that "connect" workers and participants in, what has been described as, digital sham contracting arrangement are taking 14% margins out of the tax payer funded system. 

As the campaigns head into the Northern Territory it is timely to remember that HALF of NDIS plans in the NT have been cut in the last six months.

Insiders discussed in detail the failures of the Morrison government on the Solomon Islands and Ben explores how Morrison spent the end of the week setting up another pork barrel program while refusing to answer questions about Australia's largest foreign policy blunder in the pacific for over 70 years.

Barnaby Joyce was the Insiders guest from the government and he made it clear that their only plan is to let multinational corporations sell our resources overseas.  While sitting in Gladstone, where people have to fly to Brisbane to get medical treatments as billions of dollars of resources depart the docks, Barnaby was asked what the government's plan for the future "If they want to buy it we will sell it" was his response.

This ideologically lines up with the findings of two major pieces of work from the Australian Union movement this week. 

The ship building company Austal received a Morrison campaign visit and a $124M contract after having been found to underpay its workers. The union, ETU, won the money back but Morrison wouldn't even acknowledge the request for safeguards to prevent this from happening again on government funded projects.

The ACTU released research showing that while 100 countries put limits on the use of "fixed term contracts" Australia is not among that group of 100 nations and that casuals in Australia are being paid up to $350 LESS than ongoing workers doing the same job.

Ben urges everyone to join their union at australianunions.org.au/wow and to put the Liberals last (with a brief explanation of how the ballot papers work)

Morrison's campaign continues to take place in workplaces where workers are being offshored, wages cut, temporary migrants exploited and former Liberal Minister's chair the board.  The work of unions in exposing these travesties while also fighting for better wages, safer workplaces and more secure jobs might be why Morrison wants to double the fines on unions, it is certainly why you should join your union australianunions.org.au/wow

Van and Ben look at how Morrison could put forward policies that will cut wages by up to $14,000 when wages have already been going backwards and we are in a cost of living crisis.  They explore how the cashless debit card, and Morrison ideological framework for "welfare", combine with his anti-worker agenda to create the kind of trickle up society he wants for Australia.

Labor has announced their NDIS reform agenda.  Ben shares the story of GT to demonstrate how broken the NDIS has become for participants, workers and families.  Van shares her experiences with the MyAgedCare system. The need for Labor's changes to get rid of the "cowboys" is highlighted by one foreign private equity backed "platform" making a 14% margin from NDIS and Aged Care services!

The good news is about solar power being stored on a microchip that lasts for up to 18 years!

As always we give shoutouts to our Cadre and Extending the Reach supporters who've gone to www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday to make regular contributions.  

On ABC's Insider's program the panel openly discussed Morrison's decision to install a bigot into a seat he does not expect to win in order to help gain communities in other seats. Meanwhile his own Foreign Affairs Minister refused to endorse the candidate during their interview on the program.

Van and Ben discuss the Morrison agenda, laid out so far, as being almost entirely based on fear, continuing to drive down wages and job security, avoiding anti-corruption commissions being established and creating disinformation about Labor.

The expected announcement of Anne Ruston as Morrison's pick to be Health Minister, if he wins the election, is analysed with her recent extreme ideological positions against women, unemployed workers, taking advice and Medicare raising concerns for her suitability.  

Van discusses the "Disinformation window" beginning to open.  For Morrison to tell a big lie about Albo and Labor on election day he needs to have created an openness to that lie within the electorate.  People are already reporting lies about policy, statements, people and Labor's agenda.

Ben and Van are both still sick but manage to get through the whole episode with only one or two coughs (we just couldn't edit them all out)!

Don't forget two of the three ways you can increase your wages and job security involve joining your union at australianunions.org.au/wow and the third is a combination of natural talent, lifetimes dedication and the vagaries of popular sport.

We also give a shout out to our supporters who have been making a contribution at www.buymeacoffee.com/WeekOnWednesday to help us keep reaching new audiences despite the election period.

With disinformation campaigns having shaped national elections in Australia, the UK and the USA in recent years Van and Ben discuss why trust in the media is so important and how recognising the potential for bias by being up front with your views, values and interactions is so critical to democracy.

There have been some policy announcements in the first days of the election, on Medicare from Labor and on jobs from Morrison (though the details might be better news for workers in Vietnam than in Western Sydney). There have also been revelations about Liberal travel rorts and George Christensen locking in his $100k severance by jumping into an unwinnable senate spot for One Nation.

Australian Unions have put out a secure jobs policy paper which shows 1 in 3 workers in Australia currently has no job security.  Union jobs are more secure jobs and you can join your union at Australianunions.org.au/wow

The good news is that solar panels are being designed that collect energy at night!  

Plus we give a huge shoutout to our Cadre and Extending the Reach supporters who have allowed us to keep promoting the show, despite the spike in advertising costs due to the election.  Check out www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday to make a contribution and read the posts.

They take a brief look at some of the battle ground seats around the country, the key issues that have been put forward by the leaders and seperate some of the spin from the reality.

So settle in for a wide ranging chat about the issues, the leaders, how the systems of our democracy work and some frank confessions about who has eaten chalk and people's favourite cheeses in this "hey ho, lets go" election kick off special.

All while his intervention in the NSW Liberal Party pre-selections has been called a "debacle" by NSW Liberal Premier Dominic Perrottet. 

When the fish rots from the head it soon spreads to the rest of the body, Van and Ben look at some of the Liberals with questions to answer following exposes by FriendlyJordies, The Guardian and the SMH on Peter Dutton, George Christensen and Andrew Lamming respectively.

As the trust deficit in the Morrison government grows the election battle lines are being drawn with Albo's budget reply focussing on aged care support, wages for workers and "putting the care back into aged care, child care and medicare."  Jim Chalmers, the man who would be Treasurer, has given a Press Club speech and picked up on the themes of insecure work and low wages while pointing out the Morrison era "to gdp" targets on tax etc are "arbitrary" and "all politics and bad economics".

At the same time ACTU Leader Sally McManus has been at a small business conference talking about the need for Australia to be self reliant and that the claim for a 5% increase in the minimum wage is about ensuring a better life for each generation of Australians. 

To help ensure a better life, better work and better wages, you can join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow

And the good news is that Fortnite gammers have raised more than $144M for the people of Ukraine to help provide essential food, shelter and other supplies.

We know that people build community and community builds solidarity.  We've seen it in the support for The Week on Wednesday as our podcast has had THREE record months IN A ROW thanks to everyone listening, sharing, downloading and contributing. 

If you want to help us spread the word even further go to www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday 

From refusing to fund aged care wages to it being exposed that he had planned to reduce the price of medicines but had it cut from the budget and continually saying he and Morrison were offering "temporary cost of living relief", when what we need is a permanent improvement in living standards, Josh came across as a man who doesn't believe his own spin.

Australian Unions have put in a minimum wage case claim to lift minimum wages by 5%, business lobby groups want a cut, yet the Morrison government won't even commit to funding a regulated increase in aged care wages. Go to australianunions.org.au/wow to join and support wage increases.

The budget showed wages have gone backwards and will keep going backwards.  Ben looks at how workers are standing up against wage cuts and job insecurity from nurses, and printers, McDonalds workers and security guards to carpet makers and aged care workers.

There is also a quick summary of the situation in Ukraine where Putin's forces are leaving a trail of destruction in their withdrawal and accusations of massacres are emerging.

And there's a huge congratulations to our www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday supporters who have helped the podcast have our third record breaking month IN A ROW!

While the average worker has already gone backwards $1,300 over the last 18 months this budget locks in another $1,355 cut to the living standards of the average working Australian. Union member's have been campaigning on the need for more secure work and better pay, you can go to australianunions.org.au/wow to join them. 

There's plenty of pork being slushed around with 123 of the 144 projects announced in the budget not stacking up to the standards set by Infrastructure Australia and $600M going into more gas projects.

While the media focuses on the one off cash handouts and temporary petrol tax cut (that might be eaten up by oil price rises anyway) this waste and vote buying is being paid for with cuts to schools, universities, the arts, public sector workers, climate change prevention and $3 BILLION in cuts "decided but not announced".

These sneaky cuts have been exposed at the same time that soon to be former Liberal Senator from NSW Concetta Fierravanti-Wells has opened the lid on Morrison's take over of the NSW Liberal Party saying "There is a putrid stench of corruption emanating from the New South Wales division of the Liberal Party", claiming Morrison is "a bully with no moral compass" and that party members "don't like Morrison and they don't trust him". 

These claims follow on from Barnaby Joyce calling Morrison a "hypocrite and a liar", Gladys Berejiklian calling him a "horrible, horrible person" and another minister calling him "a fraud and a complete psycho". With the holes in his budget becoming apparent and his own leadership called into question it is clear why Morrison has canceled his appearance on ABC 7:30....

Van and Ben talk about how the COVID booster program is becoming another "strollout", with the time to reach 90% boosted getting pushed later and later into the year. This mismanagement is happening just as floods once again consume Lismore and northern NSW, making it harder to rollout boosters, and COVID cases rise, hospitalisations increase and more Australian's are tragically dying.

But there is good news about wind turbines!

Plus we give a shout out to all our Cadre and Extending the Reach supporters who have signed up to make a regular contribution towards helping us grow the audience through www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday 

Van and Ben dive into the Morrison government's pre-budget leaks, analyse Insiders and Jim Chalmer's focus on wages and job security during his interview.  The budget will benefit from rising commodity prices but Morrison's renouncement of old policies, leaking of cash hand outs and continued waste on rorts doesn't look like addressing the job insecurity, real wage cuts and increasing living costs that are smashing Australian households.  Australian Unions are taking action in workplaces and communities around the country to make work more secure and lift wages join them at australianunions.org.au/wow

Morrison's record on delivering lines up with his record on lying as he was caught out in yet another needless lie about his connection to the Hillsong Church and its now disgraced former leader Brian Houston.  Van and Ben look at how the 2022 election will be impacted in a very different way by Morrison's trust deficit from the way it impacted 2019.

Putin's four day war in Ukraine enter's its 30th day with another dead general, senior staff missing, field commanders turning on each other, civilians ejecting soldiers from cities and Biden condemning Putin as a war criminal while the autocrat of Russia starts to talk about withdrawing to the most eastern parts of Ukraine.

There is good news for cows, methane emissions and seaweed farming as Chris Bowen points out Barnaby Joyce's call to shoot every cow in the head may have been pre-mature.

We have had two new Cadre supporters join us on www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday since our short Wednesday edition.  Our next episode will have the full shout outs for our Cadre and Extending the Reach supporters.

In a shorter 30 minute episode Ben looks at how Morrison is leading the charge on cutting wages while the reserve bank admits that under the current government policies workers face another wage cut this year, on top of the cut last year!

As Morrison tries to make the election about fantastical culture wars (while ignoring the suspect behaviour of not only his own members but his spiritual advisor!) Albo has doubled down on what Labor is about: Delivering material improvements in people's lives that give space for progressive social policy as we've seen in Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria.

The budget will see an improvement in national income from higher commodity prices driven by Putin's war in Ukraine but while that is good for the budget it is increasing the cost of living here and literally killing people in Ukraine.

Ben gives a quick update on the bogged down mess that is Putin's war as it enters day 28.

Even a shorter Week on Wednesday needs good news and this week it is about International Forest Day!

And as always Ben gives a shout out to all our Cadre and Extending the Reach supporters who've headed to our page www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday and to everyone who has joined their union at australianunions.org.au/wow 

Don't forget to check out this Sunday's special Weekend Wrap with Ben AND Van Badham

Morrison minister, Simon Birmingham, appeared on Insiders this morning to claim the people of South Australia had been "tricked" and that there were no lessons for the Morrison government.  The Morrison government will be handing out some form of one off payments in the budget but doing nothing to address the systemic issues of insecure work, declining wages or rising living costs.

Greg Sheridan offered the insight that under Morrison and Dutton we "couldn't stop an invasion of penguins" given the hollowing out of our defence capability, despite huge amounts being given out to contractors and offshore suppliers.

Morrison's attempt to pork barrel the flood relief has backfired with one NSW coalition upper house MP resigning in protest and another claiming it would be "hard to vote for him"

And Morrison minister, Stuart Robert, has called public sector teachers duds as new research shows they in fact working 60 hours a week, 1 in 3 is thinking of leaving teaching and the independant and catholic school teachers are now looking at taking industrial action too.

A sharp 20 minutes to wrap up your weekend.

Van shares her own story of going to work in hospitality while extremely sick in London just to make the rent.

With the Victorian government stepping in to offer a sick pay guarantee to casuals to help stop the spread of illness and address the symptoms of insecure work Morrison has chosen to attack the Victorian government and unions.

Albo is promising that Labor will address the insecure work, systemic low wages and rising costs of early education and childcare that are driving the cost of living crisis.

Morrison's solution?  Cheaper beer, from taps, in pubs.  Not even Andrew Bolt supports the idea.  Even the mainstream media seems to have finally had enough of Morrison's opportunist politics.

Peter Malinauskas looks set to topple a one term Liberal government in South Australia this weekend, in what Ben and Van are calling a microcosm of the national mood, the chaotic, ineffective and mismanaging Liberal government looks set to be punished by the public.  And Steven Marshall isn't even as unpopular as Scott Morrison!

Putin's War in Ukraine is failing.  Van looks at how his autocratic rule of Russia allowed Putin to build a fantasy world where he only hears what he wants to hear.  Now Russian forces are stuck in the mud, Putin is running out of money and the world is laughing at his "retaliatory sanctions" against American officials who have no dealings with or in Russia.  But, as Ben points out, sanctions can cut two ways with the oil situation in India a development worth watching.

And the good news is that scientists have developed the kind of technology that might allow us to build "moisture farms" like on the Star Wars plant of Tatooine using solar panels and hydrogels!

Plus we thank all of our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters.  To become a supporter check out our www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday page.    

The nation dug deep to support a flood relief telethon overnight but with the insurance bills likely to top $1 BILLION Ben asks the question; is this the Liberal party just once again trying to deflect from its failings and push the role of government onto the people?  

Morrison was on the Today show this morning rejecting that very claim and calling it a "Labor narrative".  The 865,000+ Australian's having to work two or more jobs, millions who've had a pay cut, tens of thousands who were abandoned during fires and floods and thousands who's loved ones have needlessly suffered and died in aged care might disagree.

Morrison has banned the flying of the Eureka flag on construction sites.  Despite failing to implement the recommendations of a review of workplace health and safety laws and standing to one side while two major construction companies have gone under Morrison's Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) have spent two years getting a ban upheld by the federal court.  The Eureka flag, flown by our first diggers, remains a powerful symbol of grass roots democracy and is a part of union iconography while also being a key part of Ballarat's cultural identity.

Van and Ben will be proudly marching under the Eureka Flag at the Ballarat Labour Day march tomorrow.  Don't forget to join you union and check out our supporter page!

Morrison has flown to Lismore to declare a national emergency in a photo-op but refuses to acknowledge that the undermining of the public sector, the sell offs, favours for mates and dodgy grant schemes, coupled with a refusal to acknowledge the science of climate change, is the root cause of the problem.

With people hiring helicopters, setting up their own field hospitals and Chris Hemsworth donating tonnes of food people are rightly asking "isn't this the role of government?"

Putin's War in Ukraine hasn't gone to plan with high casualties, equipment failures and stubborn Ukrainian resistance throwing his "special operation" into a chaotic second week.

The West has responded by imposing sanctions, the latest of which strikes at the rivers of black gold that Russia has been selling to Europe, the UK and USA.  Bans and rapid transitions away from Russian oil, coal and gas by the Western nations will cripple the Russian economy and speed up the global transition to renewable energy.

The good news is that South Korea has floated giant flower shaped solar farms that not only provide renewable energy but are also beautiful tourist attractions.

As always we thank our Cadre and Extending the Reach supporters, check out https://www.buymeacoffee.com/WeekOnWednesday, for how you can help us keep making The Week on Wednesday.

While people in Queensland and Northern New South Wales are forming a "mud army" to deal with the disaster Dutton railed against suggestions his government hadn't done enough to support the people.  Despite even NSW Liberal Premier Perrottet admitting they had failed to do enough.

Ben looks at how this part of a broader picture of failure by the Morrison government on everything from a federal ICAC to un-needed car parks and how this weeks economic figures show that failure is being paid for by working people with wages FALLING while profits SKYROCKET.

We round out with a shoutout for the International Women's day events happening this week, including the big union rally in Melbourne this TUESDAY.

Plus there's a shout out to our supporters who've said hello while in Adelaide and made a contribution at www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday

But unions have taken up the issue with a claim to lift wages to $30 an hour, have nurses in nursing homes, have staff to resident ratios and ensure people are feed more than $6 a day worth of slop.

The Australian Union movement also released a report this week called "Morrison Missing: A record of his failure for working women".  The report shows how under the Morrison government 2 out 3 working women have faced sexual harassment at work, women are paid nearly $500 a week less than men, retire with half as much as men and are more likely to experience insecure work, unemployment and homelessness.

The report coincided with the union movement bringing a case for paid family and domestic violence leave in the workplace commission.  While employer lobby groups were happy to contest the claim no employer was willing to put their face to opposing a paid day off for the victims of family and domestic violence.

While the Australia Services Union has asked Qantas to get rid of some outdated gender bias uniform laws, Tony Abbott has been spouting American right wing talking points that "gender whispering" is basically why Putin has invaded Ukraine.

It is not.  Putin has invaded Ukraine because he believes in a fascist ideology espoused by one of his advisors and praised by people like Steve Bannon.

Putin's War in Ukraine has highlighted how his far right ideology has been supported by bad faith actors in the west and is based on a written doctrine of fascism, "Greater Russian" rule over large parts of Europe and the "destruction" of "liberalism"

While the war is not going to plan for Putin it has unified democracies against his authoritarianism in some interesting and unexpected ways while also having devastating economic consequences for Putin and his cabal of oligarchs.

The flooding disaster in south east Queensland and northern NSW has claimed 10 lives and left over 50,000 properties without power.  Van and Ben rail against the failure of Morrison and Dutton to understand the role of government in supporting people in a time of crisis while praising the selflessness of the volunteers and community members on the front line.

Plus there is good news about Guinness and carbon capture! 

And as always we give a shout out to our supporters, you can check out the supporter page at www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday

The Week on Wednesday focusses on issues that impact working people, whether in work, looking for work, unable to work or retired for work, and Putin's war will impact working people in Ukraine, Russia and around the world.

While giving a breakdown of how Putin has misjudged the resistance of the Ukrainian people, and their President, Ben explores how Putin used his puppet Trump to deny Ukraine weapons, his pawns to spread division and chaos in our democracies during the US election, Brexit and through the Qanon Cult.

Ben gives a rapid summary of the sanctions, military situation, international pressure and domestic unease that surrounds Putin's war. 

Here in Australia floods have claimed at least six lives in Queensland with flooding rains expected to continue in the days to come.  Emergency services are receiving as many as 1,000 calls an hour for assistance.

Ben rounds out the wrap with a call for peace, a hope for the safe return of AWU National Assistant Secretary Misha Zelinsky who is in Kyiv and a thank you to all those who are helping protect people from the floods in Australia.

On Monday the NSW Liberal's effectively conspired to shut down the train system by locking out the workers and then spent the entire day using a decision, made by their management team (some who had played the same role locking out workers at Qantas), to attack workers, union leaders and the Labor Party.

From Prime Minister Morrison and his industrial relations Minister Michaelia Cash to the boy prince Premier Perrottet and his Transport Minister David "I don't answer my phone after dark" Elliot the full weight of the Liberal Party was focused on blaming the workers for stopping the trains when the truth is that it was the NSW Liberal government and their hand picked underlings who threw the state into chaos.

Tuesday saw no apology but did see Morrison move onto his other favourite target group; trans children.  On the same day that we received a copy of "This is me", a heart warming picture book written by a teacher and AEU member about sporty young people coming out to their family the Prime Minister of Australia was supporting banning trans children from playing sport.

Van and Ben discuss how this behaviour by Morrison is about his desperate attempts to revive his political fortunes in the face of news today that real wages are going backwards, living costs are going up, insecure employment rampant and his ideologically driven leadership has made things worse.

The news that billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes and Canadian private equity fund Brookfield want to buy AGL has been greeted by some as the arrival of climate change Batman but Van and Ben breakdown why the low ball offer was never likely to succeed and what it tells us about the battles between billionaires for power and money.  Never simp for a billionaire.

Plus there is good news about carbon capturing soft drinks in The Netherlands!  

And as always we pay tribute to our contributors.  You can become a Cadre, Extending the Reach or Buck a Week contributor at www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday or you can just make a once off contribution.  

Western Australia is due to reopen on March 3rd with nearly 99% of people over the age of 12 vaccinated.  

Ben dives into why Morrison launched, what Nikki Savva on Insiders called, a desperate attempt to tarnish the reputation of the opposition leader.  How James Paterson was unable to provide any evidence for the accusations Morrison has thrown at Labor and what it all actually means for the state of Australian politics. 

Plus Morrison's campaign circus is on the road again with the ringmaster himself very nearly welding his own face

Also Ben thanks our www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday supporters and reminds people to join their union, because Morrison isn't going to be lifting wages.

Morrison appeared on 60 Minutes playing the ukulele while his NSW Liberal Party colleagues were being resoundingly spanked in by-elections across the state.  With nurses going on strike about a lack of staff at over 150 hospitals (during a pandemic) - and rolling industrial actions across the train network - it is easy to see why.

At the federal level, the Morrison Liberals aren't doing any better.  The aged care crisis is now exposing the dire state of our sovereign capacity with only 106 of the promised 1,500 defence personnel actually in aged care facilities.  The government's own committee has stated the NDIS will need another 83,000 full-time workers in the next two years - yet the sector is "overworked, underpaid, undervalued and poorly trained".  And total "payroll" wages in the economy dropped nearly 9% in January on the back of the total number of "payroll jobs" (a measure of jobs that are sometimes more secure) dropping nearly 6%.

Even on COVID Morrison is still failing, with January 2022 costing more lives than any month in 2021.

Van and Ben also look at the Dyson Heydon sexual harassment case settlement and draw together the strands of how the Liberal party treats the powerful - like Heydon - vs how they attack the disempowered and the vulnerable, like Grace Tame and Brittany Higgins. 

Plus TWO good news stories.  The first on clean energy from ammonia and the second on reforestation in India that includes an improvement in the social conditions for women.

Don't forget to join our supporter page www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday

The divisive "religious discrimination" bill, a centre piece of Morrison's promises to the Australian Christian Lobby, was effectively gutted by a Labor party, very much in the minority, who was able to tactically navigate amendments, small "L" liberalism and the weaknesses of Morrison's leadership to put forward a genuine religious freedom bill that didn't allow discrimination against the LGBTIQA+ community. Morrison, wanting the wedge and hate more than the freedom, killed the bill in the senate and now it seems unlikely to happen before the election.

Morrison's hunt for friends and slices of the electoral pie has led to him blaming the states for vaccine mandates and tip toeing around the "Carnival of Crank" currently in Canberra that is stopping Lifeline fundraisers and generally causing a nuisance while also acting as the Australian chapter of the "Brownshirts without borders".

Van also gives some analysis of Morrison's desperate attempt to regain "daggy dad" status with his 60 Minutes piece.  If you can watch Scott Morrison play a ukulele and not think of him abandoning Australian's to horrific bushfires then you haven't been paying attention.

And if you'd like to support The Week on Wednesday and the Weekend Wrap you can check out our supporter page www.buymeacoffee.com/WeekOnWednesday   

The Australian Union Movement "We Won't Wait" Campaign continues to press on getting real action on these issues, you can join at australianunions.org.au/wow

Grace Tame and Brittany Higgins appeared at the National Press Club today and outlined their concerns with the Morrison government's inaction on violence against women and put forward three priorities for how we can move forward on these issues.  

Van and Ben look at the religious discrimination bill and break down the parliamentary parlour games that are now being played in place of making real reforms on issues impacting people while talking through some of the hurt that is being caused.

Morrison has come to the defence of his aged care minister after it was revealed he didn't attend senate hearings about the COVID19 response. The Australian defence force has finally been called into assist the sector which has seen 500 deaths in the time between the unions and providers calling for help and the Morrison government providing support.

QAnon and anti-vax protests in Canberra are getting support from Morrison Senators and MP's as they call for Morrison to face a gallows and get signed into parliament by former Liberal and current Palmer pupper Craig Kelly.

And the good news is a million sunflowers are blooming!

Plus we are doing a Fabian's event, Van is discussing her book "QAnon and On" and we give shout outs to our supporters, which you can also find here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/WeekOnWednesday 

Ben Davison dives into the latest revelations about how much Morrison's own Deputy PM, Ministers, Liberal Premiers, Former Liberal Prime Ministers and his own members don't trust the "horrible, horrible person", who puts "politics before people", is a "liar", a "fraud" and "a hypocrite".  Barnaby Joyce was due to appear on Insiders but due to his own text messages where he revealed he feels the same way about Morrison he dropped out of the show and left Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews to pick up the pieces. 

The interview is worth watching for some insight into the cruelty of the Morrison government approach to genuine refugees but also because when asked if Morrison was no longer the campaign asset he was in 2019 she said. "We need to get him out."

The latest bombshell comes as Barnaby Joyce offers his resignation over a question of political appearances yet Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck refuses to even acknowledge the sector is in crisis! Morrison rejected Barnaby's resignation and continues to support Colbeck in the face of calls for the Minister to be sacked by Labor and the unions while the sector, unions and providers, demand military support.

While this coming week in parliament should see two new ministers (it won't) and a plan to fix aged care (also won't happen) it will instead be focussed on the "Religious discrimination bill", or what is in effect the bill to legalise bigotry in schools.  Ben, a gayby, has strong views on this topic

Ben gives a brief wrap up of the situation in Western Australia with fires and school closures, Queensland schools returning next week, NSW by-elections looking like a referendum on the boy prince Perrottet's Let it Rip strategy and the upcoming South Australian election gets firing with accusations that the Liberal Premier suggested weakening COVID protections in return for political support!

Don't forget you can support the podcast at www.buymeacoffee.com/WeekOnWednesday

Down the road from the parliament house protests Scott Morrison delivered a National Press Club speech full of self congratulation, reminders that things could have been worse, half baked policies and laundry lists of stats that bear no resemblance to lived reality.  In the questions that followed he was torn to pieces by a cascade of insightful and explosive revelations about his honesty, his failures and his integrity.   The subsequent attempts to spin the disaster have only further stripped away the facade of the "daggy dad" to expose the "fraud" politician who "cares more about politics than people" and is desperately out of touch with the lives of ordinary people.

The "how to vote cheques" of up to $800 for fulltime aged care workers has been called out as being symbolic of the "trinkets in place of diamonds" approach that Morrison has consistently taken to the aged care sector.  Despite the sector, the staff and unions all agreeing wages need to increase Morrison has ruled out supporting a wage case to improve conditions in aged care and continues to defend his government's performance.

Van and Ben explain why Sunrice workers have gone on strike and how Morrison's government refuses to help protect the wages of the thousands of Qantas workers that the company, heavily subsidised by taxpayers, is trying to cut by up to 65%

And the good news is about bees!

Don't forget we give shout outs to all our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters which you can check out on the supporter page here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/WeekOnWednesday

Insiders returns for 2022 with a first up interview with Labor leader Anthony Albanese.  Albo gave all the right answers to the wrong questions.  It boiled down to Speers repeatedly asking how much will that cost/how will it be paid for and Albo responding with "We will stop the waste, the rort and the corruption."

NSW has recorded the worst day for COVID deaths while Dominic Perrottet, Boy Prince, announces a business support package where the devil is once again hidden in the details.

Finally as the death toll in aged care facilities rises and Morrison's Aged Care Minister appears to be in hiding (possibly at the cricket) Ben asks, "Where is Richard Colbeck?"

You can support The Week in Wednesday at www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday

Van and Ben also remind people they can get active to support better safety for women at work, and in society, through their union at australianunions.org.au/wow with the We Won't Wait campaign and the demands to implement all the recommendations of the Respect@Work report.

COVID deaths in Australia are spiking with daily deaths per million currently higher in Australia than in Brazil.

With Morrison prioritising making RAT importer millionaires over providing RATS to NDIS participants and aged care residents Van and Ben look at how people in those sectors are struggling as well as how the Ministers are, not only failing, but hiding out at the cricket!

The union movement is holding webinars TOMORROW (Thursday 27th) on your workplace safety rights, hosted by Australian Unions leaders Sally McManus and Liam O'Brien, the webinars are a must for any worker who is concerned about COVID exposure at work, the shortage of RATS and what the rules are about not having to work in an unsafe environment.  The Australian Unions webpage and twitter has all the details.

Dylan Alcott is the Australian of the Year for 2022! His first acts were to call for more support for the NDIS, free RATS, a shift in mindset and to take a very cheerful selfie with Grace Tame.

Today is the Australia Day public holiday but the desire for a national day that all Australian's can celebrate is gaining momentum.  Van and Ben discuss some of the issues surrounding today, cameo some remarkable social shifts that commemorated Survival Day and suggest people check out Thomas Mayor's article on this topic in the SMH and Age.

The good news is about the Yarra River!

And we give shout outs to our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters.  You can get a shout out by contributing at www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday 

Triple J's Hottest 100 has been announced with The Wiggles winning the annual song poll with their Like A Version cover of Tame Impala's track, Elephant.  

WA announced it will be keeping border protections in place beyond the initial February 5 date originally floated for reopening.  Premier McGowan has said that concerns about the efficacy of double vaccination against Omicron and the "shadow lockdowns" that Omicron outbreaks have caused in the rest of Australia are behind the move.

While NSW and Victoria suffer from shadow lockdown, staff shortages, supply chain constraints and collapsing consumer demand, both state governments have announced plans to get kids back to school.  Regular testing, combined classes, vaccine mandates for staff and mask mandates for grade 3 and up are all part of the approach designed to keep schools open.  Queensland has already delayed the restart of school to February 7th to have its plans in place.

While the states are rolling out RATs to schools the he said, he said of Commonwealth RAT procurement and supply continues.  Many organisations have claimed their RAT supplies have been diverted to meet Commonwealth procurement contracts while the Morrison government claims it hasn't "seized" any RATs from the private market.  While this is going on people are paying hundreds of dollars to regularly test disability support workers and pharmacies cannot get RATs to give out to those who would qualify for the Morrison concessional RATs program.

In New Zealand new gathering limits and mask rules have been announced as Omicron threatens to breakout.  New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has canceled her wedding in order to comply with the new protective measures.

And Ben thanks all of the Week on Wednesday listeners who have checked out the support page at buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday 

With RATs being stolen, hospitals overwhelmed and death rates spiking Morrison used up an hour of live TV to announce a visa fee waver for international students and backpackers along with a grant for his former employer, Tourism Australia, in what amounts to just another piece of minor tinkering on his failed "workforce" management policies.

Supermarket shelves are bare, hundreds of thousands of people are sick and exposed to COVID and the Morrison government is talking about changing the rules that keep workplaces safe and bringing in more temporary visa holders as solutions.  Australian Unions leader Sally McManus, on the back of stopping a corporate meat-works forcing hundreds of COVID infected workers to process meat alongside healthy workers, has said it will "strongly oppose" moves against "worker's health and safety" while the migrant workers centre has said that "temporary visa holders aren't an expendable last resort workforce".

You can join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow

In aged care the situation has become so desperate that the ACTU, Australian Nurses & Midwives Federation (ANMF), Health Services Union (HSU), United Workers Union (UWU), Australian Workers Union (AWU), Aged and Community Services Australia and Leading Aged Services Australia have requested military support to keep aged care facilities operational.  The rare joint request from workers and employers was effectively dismissed by Morrison during the press conference without direct reference but with a curt "there aren't magic workforces".

Australian's living with a disability and on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) are being left behind in the race to be vaccinated with the supposed priority group well below nationwide vaccine and booster rates.  The rollout, described by the Disability Royal Commission in October as "seriously deficient", has been called a "roll call of failure by the Morrison government" by NDIS shadow minister Bill Shorten following damning evidence that booster levels are roughly half what has been provided to the general public.

Plus there is good news about Australian birds and the release of an ARIA Top 5 album of endangered bird songs called "Songs of Disappearance" which is raising money to support repopulation and conservation.

And we give shoutouts to our Extending the Reach and Cadre supporters.  You can check out supporter options here www.buymeacoffee.com/WeekOnWednesday

Ben looks at the situation in WA as they learn from the failures of the NSW Liberal Party and prepare for re-opening to the rest of Australia on the 5th of February.

Morrison has opened the flood gates to corporations forcing COVID positive workers back into the workplace with Teys abattoir instructing its 140 covid infected staff to come to work in different coloured hairnets.  Teys, who supply Woolworths, has apparently earmarked most of the meat for export.  Australian Unions are running a campaign #WTFWoolies to pressure the supermarket giant to stop their supplier from making workers come to work infected.

Morrison opened the flood gate by announcing a three priorities framework for allowing exposed workers back to work earlier in the week. 

Australian Unions are holding an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss how to deal with the situation

Ben looks at the double standards in applying the framework as dock management company Patrick tries to cancel its workplace agreement to cut workers wages, but in the process would end 24 unloading shifts, without a peep from the Morrison government about the impacts on Australia's supply chain.

And of course Novak Djokovic has ruined everyones weekend (and last two weeks really) with his ongoing anti-vax saga.  Today we will find out if a court will keep him in Australia or if Morrison's punitive immigration system can throw out an anti-vax, lying, multi-millionaire friend of foreign governments or just poor, scared, refugees.

There is good news as RATS arrive in Victoria and listeners just like you have been contributing to the Week on Wednesday supporter page.

With workers being sick and exposed to COVID Morrison intends to use national cabinet to try and water down workplace safety protections while the Australian Union movement and leader Sally McManus have call on Morrison to abandon his plans and instead focus on more rapid antigen tests, masks and support for workers to stay safe and small businesses to function.

Ben takes us through the state by state numbers, the impacts across industries and some of the more "interesting" policy approaches, while Van gets theoretical guns blazing against two political leaders who have chosen ideological blindness just when more Australian's than ever are experiencing the lived reality of COVID.

In a late breaking addition Ben and Van look at whether Novak Djokovic was not only lying about his COVID situation but asks the question; Were Djokovic's tests altered? 

Information published by German news outlet Spiegel questions the legitimacy of Djokovic's claims through an examination of public information, timelines and testing records.  https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/novak-djokovic-were-the-results-of-his-positive-pcr-test-manipulated-a-cf3e7344-e98f-4fc3-8bb3-7727d4795e97 

Good news out of Germany, where rapid antigen tests can be bought from vending machines and despite KFC running out of some chicken products there is good news in the form of plant based alternatives!

Plus we give shout outs to our first wave of Cadre and Extending the Reach supporters from our supporter page: www.buymeacoffee.com/WeekOnWednesday 

Ben explores how Let It Rip has crippled the economy, created staff shortages, bare supermarket shelves and has the Morrison government scrabbling to strip away workplace health and safety protections and create an even worse set of conditions going forward.  The union movement is pushing back against the Morrison government and is pointing out the crisis is only made worse by sending sick and exposed people into workplaces.

QLD has confirmed schools won't go back until the 7th of February as the state grapples with the outbreak and a cyclone that has crashed into at least 80 homes and sees a 14 year old girl missing in flood waters.

Novak Djokovic is due to have is day in federal court tomorrow but the real story is what his case is telling us about the 30 asylum seekers being held in the same hotel.  Here's a clue: they are genuinely in need of asylum and should be released from the "prison like conditions" in which they are being held.

Plus we've launched our contributor page https://www.buymeacoffee.com/WeekOnWednesday where you can help support the podcast, which will always be free to listen too and download.

With COVID being let rip by boy Prince of NSW, Dom Perrottet, Morrison has taken the opportunity to make an ideological shift that will see 20 million Australian's left to "thunderdome" for RATs, bread and fuel while being told to go back to work when exposed to COVID.  Because "critical workers" exposing our most vulnerable to COVID is apparently no longer a problem....

They look at the overseas experiences and what we can do to protect ourselves and our communities.  Here's a hint: Join your union, get vaccinated, don't expose others when you're ill.

Plus there is good news about problematic beavers in Utah.

Welcome back to the Week on Wednesday!

Is it just a cowardly political calculation?

Morrison's government is crooked, corrupt, incompetent, ideologically vacuous and failing to deliver.  Van and Ben look at some of the best (and worst) elements of Morrison's government from 2021.  From buying votes in wealthy seats using working people's money to ignoring ways to make workplaces safer for women and care homes safer for our elders Morrison isn't just failing to deliver more religious discrimination and an independent anti-corruption commission.  He's failing full stop. 

2021 was enough to make you cry, and in this episode Van and Germanicus both shed a tear, so we look at the hope on the horizon for 2022.  There are elections to be won, striking workers to be supported (check out the CSR Gyprock fundraising page, links on our socials), cooperative power companies you can shift too and cool political actions like #AbscondmentDay to participate in that will all make 2022 an even better year. 

A tornado has devastated Kentucky and in the process exposed some major fault-lines in US workplaces.  With 70 killed in a candle factory, six killed in an Amazon facility and many more still to be located the callous indifference of Jeff Bezos, who owns much of Amazon, has enraged many observers.

This has happened as Kellogg has attempted to replace its 1,400 striking workers in what US President Joe Biden has called an attack on workers and said he would support laws to make replacement workers illegal.  Redditors, from social media platform Reddit, effectively overwhelmed the Kellogg online application system stopping the companies attack, for now.

Ben contrasts the US political leadership on worker conditions with Australian reactions to workers asking for decent wages, secure jobs and safe conditions.

Back home print workers at the West Australian took a four hour stoppage action and the billion dollar company responded by locking the workers out of their jobs.  The NSW government has attacked teachers and transport workers looking for fairer pay and more secure work and Scott Morrison has attempted to blame dock workers for the failure of globalisation to provide during the pandemic and his own government's lack of domestic industry policy.

Unsurprisingly this is all culminating in higher inequality, lower wages and richer billionaires in Australia.  

Featuring interviews with:

ACTU President Michele O'Neil about the macro economic issues and economy wide impacts, particularly on women and carers, of insecure work,

National Assistant Secretary of the SDA, Julia Fox, on their groundbreaking "who cares?" campaign looking at the destructive impact of insecure work on retail workers who have caring responsibilities, often of both young children and ageing parents, and

Tim Petersen from the United Workers Union, which helps power HospoVoice, on how insecure work is smashing the mental and physical health of hospitality workers.

This special episode looks at the problems of insecure work, the impact on how we care for one another and the things that workers are doing, in workplaces, the community and parliaments, to try and restore the balance between work, life and care.

And that's all before the "retirement" of Christian Porter and Greg, I don't take calls from Pfizer, Hunt.  To pile further shambles into the cess pit of the Morrison government Alan Tudge was forced to stand aside following allegations of physical and mental abuse by his former staffer/lover.  Having promoted the hypocritical Tudge to education Minister, where he spent his time lecturing educators on Australian Values, Morrison was finally forced to investigate his behaviour following the public revelation of the abuse complaint.

Ben look at how in a desperate attempt to distract Morrison made a university funding announcement, but the devil is in the "must be insecure work" details

All of which stands in stark contrast to the Albo Labor Party which this week announced a new Powering Australia policy which delivers 600,000 new jobs, 84% renewable energy, $275 a year power bill savings, cheaper electric vehicles and a 43% cut in emissions. And today announced 20,000 new university places and 465,000 free TAFE places to skill up Australian's for in demand industries.

Plus Ben looks at the fact SA won't make Christmas day a public holiday, transport workers winning improved job security by standing together in union and previews the reasons for Tuesday's NSW Teachers strike #MoreThanThanks.

Australian living standards have declined to 2018 levels with the latest economic figures showing Australia has just had our 3rd worst economic report EVER.  With wages going backwards, petrol prices climbing and fewer secure jobs under the Morrison government it is no wonder the once impenetrable "better economic managers" title is shifting away from the Morrison Liberals.

Albo got fired in parliament this week with his call out of Peter Dutton to "sit down boofhead" capturing a national mood.  Morrison's government voted against itself numerous times as some thought cuddling up to anti-vaxers and QAnon conspiracists was more important than good governance, for which they received no punishment while others were given Prime Ministerial "counselling" when they crossed the floor to vote for a federal ICAC.

The good news is that the Mexican Jaguar being saved by local communities working together with government and conservation groups.

Ben looks at Morrison's attempts to stop class action lawsuits, like the one that ended robodebt, his attempt to protect aged care companies from prosecution while delaying the implementation of the Aged Care Royal Commission recommendations, Morrison's NDIS Minister calling the scheme welfare that people need to "get off" and Morrison's attempt to make it easier to sack people for who they are and who they love at a time when Australian's are already facing the greatest period of job insecurity in our history.

Ben examines why Morrison is doing all this while running away from the interventionist economic policies of the pandemic that worked.  Like raising Jobseeker, creating a job security program (as flawed as their roll out was) and providing free childcare.

A new COVID variant is out in the world and two years into the pandemic Morrison hasn't built any quarantine facilities, is still allowing international flights next week and will be relying on hotel quarantine.  Buckle up, vax up and get ready for wild ride!

Van and Ben discuss how there are 200,000 workers already in Australia who can't get the support for their child, elder or family member with a disability that they need to take up a job and how the Morrison government's "can do capitalism" has failed to deliver for them, the two million other unemployed and underemployed Australians and our suburbs and towns that need proper services.

Anti-Vax foreign propaganda and domestic right wing nut jobs have percolated into the Australian Senate with Pauline Hanson and a gaggle of Liberal Party fringe dwelling senators have help up all other legislation to try and over turn state health orders.  The plot failed and Jacqui Lambie gave a speech which blew them out of the water.  Van and Ben look at how these rogues have now resorted to foreign intimidation tactics by releasing personal information about Lambie.  Lambie's response?  Go even harder.

Morrison meanwhile is choosing to let this chaos play as he loses control of the government and choses to let his members try to find thin slices of extremists whose votes they can try to win over.  Van and Ben discuss how our political system is being played by these people and the dangers of allowing mainstream political parties to engage with extremist cultures.

There is good news in Washington where sewage is being turned into fertiliser and making soil fertile again! 

Why does Morrison allow someone who has fallen so far below the bar required to be a leader in our nations cricket team to continue to be a cabinet minister in his government and lecture the nation's educators on what is and isn't acceptable values to teach our young people?

The latest wage growth figures have come out and show that the real value of wages continues to drop.  ALP Treasury spokesperson Jim Chalmers has claimed on Insiders that petrol prices have gone up $900 while wages have declined $700 and that Labor welcomes a debate about economic management.

The final sitting fortnight for 2021 is about to kick off and Albo has challenged Morrison to a series of debates.  Given Morrison won't be passing a federal ICAC and may struggle to get his religious discrimination bill passed, with some in his government saying it goes to far and others saying it doesn't go far enough, a series of debates might be the only useful way to fill the allotted time. 

We have seen more death threats against Victorian and Queensland MPs, as well as actual violence committed against a cross-bench MP's daughter, while globally coordinated far right and Qanon aligned protests took place in Australian capital cities and across Europe . 

Morrison has tried "who do you trust", "The Australia Way", and pretending that being paid $1,500 a day to have haircuts and hangout cooking BBQs was governing and is now going back to the 2004 Howard era playbook of "Interest Rates and Petrol Prices" in his ongoing attempt to find a winning strategy.  After eight years of Liberal/National government it is a pathetic and sad thing for the Australian people to watch.

The word "Strollout" coined by Australian Unions leader Sally McManus about the failures of the Morrison government vaccine program has been named the Australian word of the year by the Oxford English Dictionary.  Given it seems to apply to the Morrison government approach to economic support, climate action, job security, disaster relief and the NBN, as well as the vaccine roll out, maybe it is the word of the Morrison "era"?

Finally, there is some good news about solar, self propelling caravans and mangroves.

The serious side was on show too as a gallows was marched through the threats, "kill" chants were conducted and this week saw threats levelled against the animal justice upper house MP, Andy Meddick, as well as Labor MPs, Premier Andrews, Chief Health Officer, Brett Sutton and the Australian Labor Party Vice President.

It is no coincidence that Steve Bannon was indicted this week, the Trump strategist and podcaster (Morrison government MPs have appeared on his show), was charged with contempt of Congress as the US mid-term election season enters the final 12 months.

For more on how QAnon is infiltrating our politics check out Van Badham's new book "QAnon and On; A short and shocking history of internet conspiracy cults"

Cop26 has ended with a commitment to "Phase down", not "phase out" coal power, 130 governments increasing commitments on emissions reductions (Not Morrison's) and agreement to end "inefficient", not all, fossil fuel subsidies.

COVID is exploding again in Europe.  The Netherlands is going into a three week lockdown, Austria is locking down the unvaccinated, the UK has 500 cases per million people and Germany has the worst outbreak since the start of the pandemic.  Portugal and Spain, above 80% vaccinated, are doing much better.  Get vaccinated and get a booster.

The Morrison government has announced a new uncapped seasonal worker program expansion despite unemployment spiking this month and hundreds of thousands of people who want to work unable to do so due to caring responsibilities.   

Morrison's claim that "Climate change will ultimately be solved by can do capitalism" has sent a shiver up the spine of anyone who has ever known the sharp end of a "profit maximising decision".  Despite coalitions of unions, business groups, environment groups and civil society calling for government intervention, policy certainty and even providing a plan written by consulting firm Accenture to create 395,000 new jobs and $89 billion in export revenue from a clean economy Morrison is giving the "can do capitalists" of carbon capture ANOTHER $500Million for a technology which even mining baron Twiggy Forrest called "an unproven failure" when it comes to emissions reduction.

So now that Morrison has put "can do capitalism" in charge of his "technology led" solution to climate change how are we doing? 

Well, according to the Climate Change Performance Index we are 59th out of 64 countries overall in progress to meeting our targets and LAST on climate with a zero point score.  Possibly most damming of all, the index says we are "failing to promote new technologies".

There is good news in Cameroon where refugees are reforesting and good news in Australia where the Victorian Trades Hall has released a children's book "Sticking Together" and Van is releasing the much anticipated "Qanon and On: A short and shocking history of internet conspiracy cults" 

The hospitality sector is claiming it needs 100,000 temporary migrant workers to meet demand even as it claims a $44Million program from the Victorian government designed to boost demand in hospitality.  The sector is rife with wage theft, super theft, rostering abuses, sexual harassment and awful working conditions.  None of which the Hotels Association is suggesting they will fix before the importation of more easily exploitable temporary migrant workers.

These "labour shortage" claims come as RBA and ABC reports show that 2.2M Australians who want to work do not have the work they need.  More than 200,000 people who want to work can't due to caring responsibilities and a lack of access to appropriate alternative care for their child, elders or family member with a disability.  

The systemic problems are low wages, poor working conditions, lack of support to enter the workforce through the provision of care facilities and services and a quick fix mentality among many in these sectors that have become hooked on easily exploitable temporary migrant workers.

There's also info on the launch of the new children's book by the Victorian Trades Hall Council "Sticking Together", a new track by mr?e & the 4.I.S crew, an update on FriendlyJordies' effective win over Barilaro and Van's in studio appearance on Marcus Paul to talk Alan Jones, Morrison's disgrace and Qanon and On.

With Morrison himself called a liar, not just by President Macron but also, by Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull the credibility of Morrison's leadership is being called into question.  If other leaders can't trust Morrison what does that mean for our national security?  If we can't trust him here at home what does that mean for our economy, jobs, health and education systems?

Dom Perrottet is holding a review of grant decisions following Glady's ICAC hearing testimony.  In a piece of pure political theatre the man who was treasurer and a member of the expenditure committee is pretending to not have been in government when his government was "throwing" money to win seats.  

Did you know that Liberal Senator Hollie Hughes is also a consultant?  It has been revealed that the Senator for NSW has a side hustle as a consultant for a bio-fuels company that she has pay into a trust where she is the only shareholder and only beneficiary.  She's taken something meant to make our democracy stronger and perverted it to add to her $249,000 salary. 

No wonder the Morrison government won't regulate the gig economy!

The Cop26 Climate Conference has started in Glasgow and Morrison has wasted no time in rejecting the Global Methane Pledge and giving pride of place to massive gas exporter Santos.  In a move described as "a joke" by Malcolm Turnbull Santos' "Blue Hydrogen" process, where you burn and "carbon capture" gas to make renewable hydrogen instead of using solar, wind or hydro to make renewable hydrogen, has been promoted by the Australian stall and Morrison minister Angus Taylor. 

On the plus side we have signed up to end deforestation and will participate in the protection of large parts of the worlds rainforests.

The heart-warming news that every Australian awoke to this morning was the rescue of four year old Cleo Smith.  WA Police found the little girl alone in a locked house, her first words to them were "My name is Cleo". 

The impact of the rescue, coming 18 days after her disappearance, is serving as a beacon of hope for many people after a trying period for the nation.

Plus news on pay rises for hairstylists and a pay dispute at Country Road with gender equity undertones.

Tim Smith got drunk at a dinner party and drove his car into another vehicle and through a fence.  He's resigned from shadow cabinet and lost his licence.  But will we have to pay his taxi bills?

Morrison is going to promote more Australian Gas in Glasgow despite work from Australian Unions, the Business Council of Australia, The Australian Conservation Foundation, the World Wildlife Fund and Accenture showing that clean energy could create 395,000 new jobs.

Angus Taylor, who is joining Morrison's gas sales trip, has gone on Insiders to say that governments don't plan more than four years out and the $20Billion commitment, half what was wasted on profitable companies with misallocated Jobkeeper, is as far into the future as they can plan.  Despite the multi decade nuclear submarine deal and other countries adopting long term bi-partisan approaches.

We need real cuts to emissions to avoid temperatures increasing by 2.7 degrees. but there is no roadmap for tech led change just a do nothing government hoping Australia will simply get swept along as capitalists, investors and corporations invest in future profits. 

Van and Ben ask the question; If the Morrison plan is to just let profiteers find the profits in a low emission future what will happen to the worker's and communities they leave behind?

Van and Ben look at the Morrison government tipping $2.1Billion into Telstra to fund the purchase of a South Pacific telco that was owned by an Irish billionaire and who, having received our money to build a cable to Australia, was courting Chinese investment. 

Proving once again that the Morrison government is prepared to spend our money but it isn't prepared to buy us anything.

The good news is BP, that's "British Petroleum" is making steel in Colorado using solar power. 

See what we mean about companies investing in future profits?