Saturday Extra - Separate Stories Podcast

In late August 2001 a Norwegian vessel the MV Tampa picked up more than 400 asylum seekers sinking off the coast of Australia. The following political events led to Australia's hardline border policy dubbed the "Pacific Solution".

Foreign affairs experts Lydia Khalil and Graeme Smith share their recommendations for great things to read, watch and listen to, so you'll stay enlightened and entertained as we head into spring.

After a long and successful career with the BBC, most recently as the New York correspondent, Nick Bryant and his family are settling in Australia. We caught up with him at the end of his time in quarantine to discuss the shifts he's observed in his beloved United States, why he decided to leave and what he plans to do next.

About 55 million payments worth about $650 billion a day are made in Australia every day.  A new federal government review of payments systems by Scott Farrell says urgent reforms are needed to adapt to a revolution in the way people make payments through companies like Google Pay and Apple Pay. 

What does a surge in Covid patients mean for our states' hospital systems? It seems some may be in worse shape than others, so is the stalling among certain premiers around opening up an indication they are uncertain their hospital systems can cope?

There's been a dramatic reversal in declining golf memberships over the course of the pandemic. Participation in the sport increased by more than 30 percent in 2020 due to the socially distanced nature of the sport.  But not everyone is happy with public golf courses using so much of our city’s limited greenspace.

After receiving his second AstraZeneca shot, Sydney-based writer Mark Mordue penned a thoughtful reflection, which he shared with the world. And with so many people in need of assistance in lockdowns across the country, Crisis Heroes co-founder Mark Acheson joins us to talk about the free, nationwide, online platform he created with two friends, where those willing to volunteer can connect with those most in need.  

The 1st of September marks the 70th anniversary of the signing of the ANZUS Treaty. Since then, it's been the cornerstone of Australia's most important security relationship, but is it time to re-think how we approach our alliance with the United States?

The Federal Minister for Education Alan Tudge wants a re-write of the new national curriculum citing criticisms from the Mathematical Sciences Institute about proposed changes to maths. He's also been critical of what he perceives as 'woke' elements on the new curriculum. So, what makes for the best curriculum?  How do you decide on what’s in and out? And what does a ‘decluttered' curriculum look like?

Pakistan has long played a 'double game' when it comes to its relationships with the Taliban and the United States - covertly supporting one, while outwardly being an ally of the other in the 'war on terror'. But will Pakistan regret helping the Taliban to victory?

How do you discuss covid, vaccines and lockdowns with civility?

Since its first edition as a weekly newspaper in August 1951 with a price of one shilling,  The Financial Review has etched out a unique role in Australia's business community.  

July's anti-government protests in Cuba were 60 years of communist rule, showing young people aren't as scared of the government as generations past. So might the protests lead to more much-needed economic liberalisation?

Qantas has joined SPC in demanding mandatory vaccination from their workers. But when it comes to making vaccines compulsory, what are the ethics we need to consider? Where do individual rights stand against the community good?

Once pioneering suffragettes like Vida Goldstein, independents have a long history of challenging the political status quo in Australia. As trust in government wanes and the major parties remain stagnant on issues at the forefront of the national psyche, will there be a bigger push towards politicians promising voters something different, and can independents actually deliver on these promises?

The Taliban has pledged to create an open and inclusive government after taking control of Kabul, but is this so-called 'Taliban 2.0' any different to the Taliban of the 1990's? What more do we need to know about the Taliban today and how they might govern Afghanistan?

You'll have plenty to keep you entertained and informed this month with great recommendations from Damien Cave, New York Times Australia bureau chief and Dr Sara Davies, professor in international relations at Griffith University.

Poetry Month, presented by Red Room Poetry, is a celebration of how poetry connects, entertains and educates. Red Room Poetry is partnering with RN this August to feature some of the commissioned poets and poems.

As NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian takes TikTok by storm with more than 3.4 million views under the hashtag “Gladdy” and has pandemic related games built in her honour, it raises an important question about political memory in Australia – where are all the great women? 

Alan Rusbridger spent 20 years as the Editor in Chief of the Guardian. Now, he’s taking on a new role at the helm of Prospect. So what will he bring to the job? And what are his observations of journalism and politics today?