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

Van Badham and Ben Davison journey into the heart of Australia's Federal Budget 2024. 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.

Van Badham and Ben Davison have rescheduled Wednesday to a Monday this week, to delve into the labyrinth of policy complexities surrounding the fight to end violence against women and children, highlighting the frustrations and challenges faced and dissecting the terrifying implications of a private school’s latest misconduct scandal. 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.

Van Badham and Ben Davison start their Wednesday on a Thursday with discussion of the federal government’s “Future Made in Australia” policy suite, and just what a policy dedicated to local jobs exposes about the people who criticises it and why unions are supporting it.  Join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow 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

Baby, we are BACK! Van and Ben return after a super frustrating hiatus to discuss the issues of the day in their inimitable style.  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

Ben Davison returns to take a look at a week in parliament that saw the Closing Loopholes bill pass the lower house, the greens and coalition team up to block the new shared home equity scheme, the mess that Labor is trying to clean up from Dutton's unlawful immigration detention scheme and Julian Hill's inquiry into Employment services. 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.

Van Badham and Ben Davison give and update on the For Every Child public school funding campaign (www.foreverychild.au/postcard) , the Maritime Union campaign to stop wage theft in shipping and take a deeper dive into the progress on Closing the Loopholes for labour hire, casual and gig workers. 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

Ben Davison returns with the weekend wrap to look at how corporate share buy backs are further evidence of profiteering driving inflation and why the Closing the Loopholes legislation is needed asap. 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

Van Badham and Ben Davison dig into the best wage rise numbers in more than 20 years, discuss why many people will still be going backwards and, as the ACTU Price Gouging Inquiry wraps up, what we can do to help stop the profiteering.  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 Badham and Ben Davison dish the latest on the Optus outage chaos that has swept across Australia - and argue why key national infrastructure should be in public hands. They discuss why another interest rate rise is yet another painful example of an economy outgrowing the neoliberal zealots who insist on running it, and they take a tour into the history of abusive welfare policy. The good news is from America - with key victories for Democrats (and the rights of women) in Ohio, Virginia and Kentucky elections. The dog makes a number of noises that we hope you politely ignore and the whole unscripted, unedited and DELIGHTFULLY ORGANIC conversation is recorded through an improvised tether on Van's (Telstra) mobile phone...

Van Badham and Ben Davison shine on a spotlight on the attempts by corporate giants BHP, Qantas and Doordash to keep the labour hire, forced casualisation and sham contracting loopholes open at this week's senate committee hearings. 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.

Ben Davison gives a breakdown of Anthony Albanese's successful state visit to the United States and places it in the context of what has been happening in the US, the Biden administration demonstrating the "imperial presidency" while the Republican bicker over the speakership and some of the tangible positives for Australia. 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.

Van Badham and Ben Davison are back with a new podcast episode that tackles why anyone would want to keep making a product that kills the workers who create it, how corporations have done just fine during high inflation and why they are spending millions to stop the government closing the loopholes that let them pay people less than their entitlements. 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!

Ben Davison takes a look at some of the stories form this week that Insiders missed given their focus on the Middle East.  While the situation in Israel and Gaza is horrendous, Ben gives a brief synopsis, there is lots happening in Australia. 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.

Van Badham joins Ben Davison for this post referendum special edition of the Weekend Wrap.   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.

Van Badham and Ben Davison take a deep dive into the murky waters of American politics as the Republican Party conspires to unseat one of its own from the role of Speaker.  It is the first time in history that a Speaker of the House of Representatives has been deposed.  Van breaks down why it has happened, what it means for American politics and the kind of markers we need to watch for in our own political system. 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

Ben Davison looks at the established research which shows the NO campaign is leveraging misinformation and a global network of disinformation campaigners.  In a shock admission Ben admits that he agrees with Phil Coorey and Chris Kenny that the No campaign has become a grab bag of grievances. 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

Van Badham and Ben Davison open by congratulating the workers who won their struggle with Inghams chicken, the artists in NSW who won restored funding and by sending international solidarity to the writers, screen actors and auto workers in the USA, who were joined on the picket line by Joe Biden.  Making Biden the first ever sitting President to join a picket.  You can win better pay, better conditions and better management by joining 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

Ben Davison RETURNS with his weekend wrap! 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

Van Badham and Ben Davison are BACK! Having, almost, recovered from their illnesses Van and Ben dissect the disinformation that is swamping the Voice referendum.  They break down what the Voice is, why the disinformation is happening, where it is coming from and what we can all do to make sure it doesn't taint our democracy. 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!

Ben Davison takes a look at Noel Pearson's Insiders interview and how he managed to cut through the misinformation, fear mongering and misdirection to remind Australia that the referendum is an opportunity to accept the hand of friendship by recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as our first people and embrace the opportunity of reconciliation by guaranteeing an advisory body.  Nothing more, nothing less. 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.

Van Badham and Ben Davison examine the government's bill to close the loopholes that are letting corporations take $9 billion from workers through forced casualisation, sham contracting, gig exploitation and legal chicanery. 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

Ben Davison dives into the detail of the new workplace reforms that will give more rights to everyday working people who are casuals, gig workers or engaged as labour hire by setting some minimum standards. 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.

Van Badham and Ben Davison discuss the official announcement of the Voice referendum date, October 14th, while taking a look at the campaigns, the messages and why Albo's message of hope has gained the support of such a broad cross section of Australia. 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 Davison is BACK from a week off with the latest Weekend Wrap.  Insiders discussed productivity, taxes, industrial relations and education with most of the debates missing the point. 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.

Van Badham and Ben Davison take a look at how the release of NAPLAN results highlights the need for our public schools to get the MINIMUM FUNDING that 98% of them are currently being denied. 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.

Van Badham and Ben Davison are all in with the Matildas, Till its done, so take a look at the cultural phenomena that has become the Australian Women's Football team, what it means for sport, our society and why their unionism is an inspiration for so many others to stand up for what's right. 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.

Ben Davison, voice croaky from celebrating the Matildas win, breaks down why the leader of the Nationals, and senior member of the Coalition, would go on Insiders and advocate for the most expensive, least safe, unproven energy technologies and for increasing the cost of medicines. 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 Badham and Ben Davison discuss how the on and off-field success of The Matildas are making us rethink traditional limitations about the role of girls and how they behave.  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.

Van Badham joins Ben Davison for an extended Weekend Wrap to look at Dutton's dishonesty about Garma being exposed on Insiders, the bosses pamphlet (Australia Financial Review) confirming the Noalition views the referendum as a political opportunity to hurt Labor and why it is so important people get involved in their local YES campaign and join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow as your union takes action for the referendum. 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.

Welcome to our first “The Week On Wednesday presents Van Badham in Conversation With…”. And it is A CORKER. 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.

Ben Davison is BACK after a two week break with a deep dive on the FIVE big issues that should be dominating the national debate. 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.

Van Badham and Ben Davison look at how actors, screen writers and even NRL players are getting organised because they need the power of standing together to get a fair deal.  Remember to join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow 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!

Van Badham and Ben Davison congratulate the aged care workers who, by standing together in union, are starting to see their pay increases flow from this week and discuss how there is a union for everyone whether you're in aged care, ice cream making, acting or professional sport. Join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow 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

Van Badham and Ben Davison start this special Thursday edition by tearing apart the ridiculous wage cutting ideologies of Jeff Kennet and exploring why a man who's devoted his life to cutting wages wanting to cut wages isn't news but it is bad for productivity, women and workers in general.  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 Davison spends some time looking at the Robodebt Royal Commission report, the scathing rebuke of the Morrison government, the potential crimes of former ministers and the culture of cooperation between corporate and billionaire owned media and the Coalition of treating people in need as less than human. 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

Van Badham and Ben Davison dive into the explosion of bots, trolls and online hate that is being targeted at YES campaigners and how Pauline Hanson is using her vile and inexcusable comments about Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi to eliminate protections against discrimination and open the flood gates on hate speech. 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.

Ben Davison, fresh from a Yes campaign launch event, talks about why he's voting YES at the referendum and how you can get involved through yes23.com.au or through your union at australianunions.org.au/wow to join and then follow the links. 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

Van Badham and Ben Davison look at the context of the first farm strike in decades as United Workers Union member's stand firm against employer threats and take action for a decent pay rise, same job, same pay rules and the right to pick salads for Coles and Aldi under decent conditions. 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 Davison takes a look at the big stories coming out of Russia, the Musk/Zuckerberg cage match and the Oceangate tragedy and draws together the threads of how these sagas, created and caused by billionaires, usually involve the suffering and or exploitation of working people. And that maybe that's why there's a level of skepticism towards them. 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

Van Badham and Ben Davison explore the broken philosophy of The RBA that denies profiteering is a problem until everyone else has said it is, continues to believe in a wage-price spiral that doesn't exist and both simultaneously says people should get more work but we need less people employed.   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.

Ben Davison takes a look at the horrendous week in federal parliament, the ABC's continued use of billionaire funded journalists on Insiders, the grim reality that women's safety in the workplace is a question of solidarity whether that's in parliament or in a factory. 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 Badham and Ben Davison look at what's happening in Canberra, how Brittany Higgins is again being targeted, why the Liberal's are "flooding the zone" and what it has to do with recent polls that show Labor is the most trusted party on economic management. Warning there is some discussion of violence and assault. 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.

Van Badham and Ben Davison discuss the latest of Phil Lowe's interest rate rises and the Reserve Bank's total ideological capture.  We breakdown why they are happening, how ideological obsession is outweighing economic reality and wonder if Phil Lowe's own crisis about his position may be part of the reason that he gives wildly contradictory statements about the economy one day to the next. 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!

Ben Davison gets under the hood of the minimum wage decision, the cuts the bosses wanted and how millions of Australian's will be better off as a result of the work of the Australian Union movement.  If you're not already a member join now at australianunions.org.au/wow because unions have won an 8.6% increase in the minimum wage, a 5.75% in award wages and unionised workers get paid an average of 26% more! 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 Badham and Ben Davison are BACK and the struggle continues! Visy, Australia's largest private company, is still refusing to make a decent offer to workers after 20 weeks of action and bosses in the university sector are strategising together to cut pay and conditions while bosses unions are calling for cuts to the minimum wage and the right to keep exploiting sham contracting and labour hire loopholes. 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.

Ben admits he couldn't bring himself to watch Insiders as he gives a scathing critique of the Murdoch infiltration of the ABC.  On a week where Stan Grant was hounded out of QandA by Murdoch's dogs, the Uluru statement from the Heart had its anniversary and The Australian admitted to doctoring a letter to the editor about Aboriginal leader Noel Pearson there was an Australian journalist on the Insiders panel.  Who didn't talk about ANY of those issues. 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

Ben Davison looks at the first 12 months of the Albanese Labor government and some of the big changes ranging from the National Anti-Corruption Commission and Robo-debt royal commission to improvements in job security and wages to NDIS reforms and genuine action on climate change.  The first year of Labor at a national level has achieved a lot. 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

Van Badham and Ben Davison take a closer look at Labor's proposed housing fund, why the Green opposition doesn't stack up and why the Dutton position remains the worst of all possible outcomes. 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.

Ben Davison takes apart Insiders for the lack of insight, the lack of economic understanding and the soft rehabilitation job on Peter Dutton. 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!

Van Badham and Ben Davison take a deep dive on the ideological frameworks that have crafted the first Commonwealth budget surplus in 15 years while also delivering increases to wages, Jobseeker, parenting payments, rent assistance and massive investments in health, Medicare and aged care. 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 Davison looks Angus "Inflation" Taylor's terrible Insiders performance, the increases to Jobseeker, gas company taxes, energy bill relief and why a surplus budget is needed when the RBA is obsessed with increasing interest rates. 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.

Van Badham and Ben Davison discuss the Reserve Bank's guerrilla interest rate rise, budget leaks and what they might mean for you as well as the minimum wage and why unions are taking action against the people who'd pay you nothing if they could get away with it.  So join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow 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.

Van Badham joins Ben Davison for a special weekend wrap! They dissect David Speers' on defence policy, consider Insiders' decision to ignore reforms to the pharmaceutical benefits scheme (PBS), ask whether Albo attending the Sandilands wedding was either good or bad politics and the dangers of mistaking online abuse for a real-world movement. Our hosts discuss what real reforms to the social safety net would look like, and how media needs to be careful not to fall into the traps that right-wing media are now tangled in when reporting on policy reforms to the NDIS, unemployment and housing. They also cover the union movement using May Day to campaign for The Voice, with Sally McManus and Michele O'Neil on the ground in the "soft" states of Queensland and Tasmania. This comes on the back of polling showing that YES would win the referendum if it were held today.... so, join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow Ben and Van also discuss the announced reforms to migration, the improved protections for workers, the uplift in regulation in the sector and how Labor is facing down vested interests to deliver needed skills as well as opportunity for people to make Australia their home while contributing to our commonwealth.

Van Badham and Ben Davison look at the threads behind the rise and fall of Murdoch star, Tucker Carlson.  Why he was effective at what he did, why that wasn't making money, how the Murdoch empires remains focused on making money and how their political interference is just a means of more easily making money.  Despite his sacking Tucker Carlson was, and remains, very focused on promulgating his view of what is good and what is evil.  Spoiler: He would think we are evil. Van and Ben also look at the other end of the capitalist spectrum as Elon Musk's Twitter Blue debacle hits new lows, his SpaceX rocket explodes causing horrendous damage and investors in Tesla start to question whether having a CEO who is also CEO of five other companies and spends all his time on Twitter might be a bit distracted. Ben and Van point out that the best protection against the vagaries of capitalist stupidity, whether in the workplace or trying to suppress your human rights, is to join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow Today's inflation figures suggest that Australia is over the worst of the inflation rises and Ben gives his analysis of our current economic situation, what government can do to set the economic environment, shape economic conditions and determine economic outcomes (which is, as we explain, why the Murdoch Empire has an interest in politics) in what Van Badham describes as "The best two minute Keynesian analysis". There is also good news about renewable batteries, sent in by a supporter, and shout outs for all our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters who have gone to www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday which is where we will have more details about a SECOND GOOD NEWS STORY on seaweed nappies!

Ben observes Peter Van Onselen's decision to wear a Foxtel show hoodie on Insiders after a week where his parent Murdoch publication, The Australian, was critical of Van Badham having her book on display in the background of The Drum and another guest seemed to accidentally make the case for why unions are important by pointing out junior employees are often afraid to raise issues.  You can join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow Ben also looks at the debate around the social wage - also called the welfare system - in Australia and analyses Labor's statements over the week and on today's Insiders. It looks like there will be movement on supports for housing, utility bills, single parent households, women's participation and the NDIS.  This follows a week of public discourse where the prospect of real full employment policy has entered the mainstream. Sadly, social media has been full of vitriolic and vile abuse by self-appointed advocates directed at people calling for improvements to the social wage and for full employment. Ben breaks down how these self-appointed advocates have adopted many of the failed techniques of the Murdoch empire in targeting individuals, stifling nuanced debate and misinterpreting statements to suit their own agenda.  Ben explores how a nuanced debate should deliver more employment, more support and better outcomes. Ben also observes that campaigns of vitriolic abuse must take some responsibility for recent polling that shows less than half of Australians support an increase in Jobseeker payments. Plus there's a reminder to vote YES on the referendum and an observation that, despite Dutton's attempts to confuse the issue, the proposition is a very simple one; Do you support recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the constitution?  Do you support consulting with them on policies that will impact them?

Van Badham and Ben Davison look at the shocking collapse in support for the Coalition, the nose dive in Dutton's approval and how Labor has overtaken the Liberals as the party perceived as best to manage all aspects of the economy, jobs, wages and the delivery of services.  Van and Ben explore Dutton's recent poor decisions and how taking shadow cabinet appointment advice from Pauline Hanson may be symptoms of a wider set of problems in the Liberal Party. Bill Shorten has announced a reboot to the NDIS.  Van and Ben look at what Bill announced at the National Press Club this week, the work unions are doing to make the program better and Ben shocks Van with who Dutton has put in as shadow Minister for the NDIS.  Do you know who it is? Here's a hint, they would never join their union at australianunions.org.au/wow which you can do online right now. Father Bob Maguire passed today.  Van and Ben discuss Bob's contributions to the community, to their own lives and to their sense of faith and solidarity.  It gets emotional. And the good news this week is that Australia has an Electric Vehicle strategy.  Chris Bowen and Catherine King have announced an electric vehicle strategy to help reduce emissions, lower fuel bills and improve the quality of cars available in Australia. As always we give shoutouts to our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters who are making contributions on www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday plus there's a couple of other special shout outs.

Van Badham and Ben Davison discuss Dutton's "unelectable boofheads" and their response to the resignation of now former shadow minister for Indigenous Affairs and shadow Attorney General Julian Leeser which has swung wildly from "Albo should apologise" to their media mouth pieces calling him a "traitor" and "self indulgent".  What does this mean for the ever "unelectable" Liberal Party?  Van and Ben take a peek at the factional swamp that Dutton lords over and offer some ideas of what might be next. Van and Ben remind everyone that if you worked over Easter you should be getting penalty rates and to talk to your union if they don't appear on your pay slip.  Join you union at australianunions.org.au/wow While the Liberals allow their backbench to indulge in conspiracies and speculate about the effect gravity has on climate change people generally assume the Greens are a little more ideologically consistent so have been shocked that Greens have both blocked Labor's National Housing Fund, of 30,000 new homes, for not providing enough homes while simultaneously campaigning in their own seats across Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane to stop new homes being built.  Including 1,300 on an old industrial estate and former barracks in Brisbane. Van and Ben discuss how Housing is a macro and a micro issue and why the Greens talk about being the party of renters while voting with the party of landlords. Plus a supporter from our www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday page has sent in good news about renewable energy batteries in Western Australia!

Ben Davison takes a look at how a NSW jam factory has been able to employee up to 100 children as young as 11 as a former Liberal MP attacks minimum wages for Aboriginal people and the union movement for insisting that all workers get at least the minimum wage. With the minimum wage case underway, unions calling for wages to keep up with the cost of living while the bosses lobby argues for more wages cuts, the debate about wages and jobs is heating up. You can join your union to protect your wages and conditions at australianunions.org.au/wow Pauline Hanson has put out a reprehensible video attacking the NDIS.  Ben discusses how a Liberal MP has been putting up Facebook ads doing much the same thing and getting huge engagement but little media outrage.  With the budget a month away Ben predicts the attacks on the NDIS will keep coming and discusses some of the ways we can all help ensure the NDIS continues to deliver for people in Australia.

Van Badham and Ben Davison break down why Donald Trump was arrested and in a Manhattan court this week, how the alternate reality of Donald Trump has infected American politics and what might happen next in the saga that is Donald Trump, the Republican Party and American politics. Peter Dutton has announced he will be campaigning for the NO vote in this year's Voice referendum.  Van and Ben analyse how Dutton has come to this point, what it says about the present state of the Liberal Party and, given the Aston byelection, NSW and Victorian elections, what Dutton's decision means for the future of Robert Menzie's party. Van and Ben also acknowledge the workers on strike at both Sydney and Curtin Universities, workers at Visy entering their 10th week of strike action and offer support to workers in the broccolini supply chain who are encouraging boycotts of broccolini at Coles, Woolworths and Aldi.  You can join you union at australianunions.org.au/wow The Reserve Bank governor gave a speech at the National Press Club today touting why he's doing a good job as tens of thousands of workers across Australia took to the streets in protest against the increasing cost of living.  Ben and Van break open the high priest of monetary policy's nonsense and expose the reality that he has protected the wealth of the already wealthy at the expense of ordinary working people. The good news is that the majority of Australian's across a majority of states support The Voice referendum!  Van and Ben discuss the numbers and what we need to do to ensure the No campaign doesn't catch up. Plus Van acknowledges our listeners who have gone to www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday to become Cadre or Extend the Reach supporters

Ben Davison breaks down the Aston by-election result which has seen Labor's Mary Doyle win a the formerly safe Liberal seat.  The result is the first time in over 100 years a sitting government has won a seat away from the opposition at a by-election.  The first time a woman has won Aston. Ben looks at how a proud feminist, unionist, single mum was able to win such a "blue ribbon" Liberal seat against a conservative Liberal candidate who ticked all the usual boxes. Peter Dutton fronted up to Insiders today and gave a train wreck of an interview.  Truly a masterclass in how to implode, the Dutton interview included threatening a gas crisis (we are the world largest exporter of gas), claiming the Aston result was due to Labor's negative campaign (apparently posters with his face on them are negative) and that this is a Victoria problem (having lost the NSW election last weekend).  The Insiders panel wasn't buying it and neither is Ben.  The Liberal's are talking about the wrong issues and even if they do stumble into the right issue they are no longer trusted to deliver the solutions. Ben looks at why the Liberals are such a mess.  The party of Menzies is dying a slow painful, public death and Dutton is not capable of reforming them.  Ben examines how The Liberals have found themselves circling the drain of political history and why he thinks that, without major reform, they will cease to be a genuine party of government. Ben also touches on how some of the big policy issues have played out as a result of this realignment. Ben slams Phil Coorey from the bosses pamphlet, the AFR, for continuing the Liberal Party attack against the NDIS and highlights that David Speers dropped out the news the Liberals will bind their caucus to voting NO on the referendum. As always, Ben suggests people Vote YES.

Van Badham and Ben Davison discuss what the latest inflation figures might mean for working people when the high priests of neo-liberal monetary policy at the Reserve Bank meet again. Van and Ben discuss how the bosses lobby groups think they can argue the RBA needs to raise interest rates to create more unemployment but also not that the Fair Work Commission shouldn't raise minimum wages because it would cause unemployment.  Ultimately they're just fronting for more profits.  Which is why unions are arguing for a wage rise that keeps up with the cost of living.  You can join you unions at australianunions.org.au/wow As well as calling for wage rises the President of the ACTU, Michele O'Neil, gave a national press club speech this week calling for the establishment of a Just Transition Authority.  Van and Ben discuss why Australia needs coordinated action on climate change and how, without such a tri-partite body, it isn't anyone's job to make sure that the economic transition is just, equitable or orderly. Saturday is the first by-election since the 2022 federal election with Labor's Mary Doyle up against the Liberal Roshena from Brunswick in the seat of Aston (which is about an hours tram & bus ride from Brunswick). Today's revelations about the Liberal candidate's policy hypocrisy have people thinking Labor is in with a chance, even though it would be a historic victory for a sitting government to win a seat from the opposition at a by-election. Of course, Van and Ben couldn't ignore the behaviour of six member's of Peter Dutton's caucus, including three members of his front bench, who injured a parliament house worker while trying to avoid casting their votes in the house of representatives.  Ben and Van discuss why this sort of thing has happened, how it not only breaks parliamentary rules but also the fundamental rule; No worker should ever be injured at work. The podcast does have some good news about the Desert Skink which Ben explains after Van acknowledges our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters who are chipping in monthly contributions via www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday

Ben Davison returns with the Weekend Wrap to breakdown the landslide Labor victory in NSW.  With Labor set to win its biggest ever majority when coming into government from opposition.  Labor's lower house performance was only bettered by its performance in the upper house where it has achieved a 9% swing and battered the Liberal/National coalition.  Ben breaks down some of the seats that Labor won, some of the seats where there is a genuine close contest and just why the media continues to be so out of touch. Chris Minns will become the 47th Premier of NSW with a mandate for change while Dom Perrottet and his supporters in the media are left to shake their heads and claim that it wasn't Labor's focus on wages, more teachers, minimum health service staffing levels, banning privatisation, investing in more local jobs and refusal to get sucked into fringe issues pushed by the media but just that it people thought it was time to mix things up a bit. ACTU President Michele O'Neil will be giving a National Press Club address on Tuesday focussing on how we move to net zero with workers winning rather than paying the bill for billionaires and Ben links this approach to how Labor in NSW campaigned.  Putting people first.  Unions always put people, particularly their members, first and you can join at australianunions.org.au/wow Just look at how teachers, nurses, train drivers, child care workers, cleaners and more have been coming together in union and winning change across Australia. Ben looks at Insiders treatment of the Voice question announcement and their interview with Attorney General Mark Dreyfus.  Ben does not believe Peter Dutton's support is needed for the referendum to be a success and raises his concern that if the billionaire owned media performs as badly during the referendum as they have during the last few state and federal elections by amplifying loud minority positions it could be a problem, for the media.  The referendum, like the elections and the marriage equality plebiscite, will be won by people getting involved so check out yes23.com.au or Unions for YES to see how you can be part of a better future. And don't forget you can catch up on Ben and Van's interview with Chris Minns in Episode 104 from December 7th 2022 to get some more insight into what Labor will be doing to deliver a fresh start for NSW.

Van Badham and Ben Davison return home from their award winning run at the Adelaide Fringe Festival to discuss the NSW State Election, on March 25th, the issues, the leaders, the optional preferential system and the seats to watch.  It is looking like a tight election but if NSW wants, as the polls are suggesting they do, guaranteed minimum staffing levels in hospitals, public schools that have resources for every student, wages that are going up and leadership that's focused on the issues that matter to everyday people then Labor should win.  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 Badham and Ben Davison do their FINAL Week on Wednesday LIVE at Adelaide Fringe with special guest South Australian Aboriginal Affairs Minister and Attorney General Kyam Maher discussing how South Australia became the first part of Australia to create a Voice to parliament and what lessons it provides for the national Voice referendum. 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 Davison looks at (rants about?) how Insiders managed to spend three quarters of the show talking about submarines in the same week that the robodebt royal commission ended, the national reconstruction fund became law, the RBA put up interest rates for a record 10th consecutive time, the Aston by election is only three weeks away and the NSW election is only two weeks away! 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 Badham and Ben Davison LIVE from the Adelaide Fringe Yurt cover the broccolini boycott, Qantas refusing refuelling workers pay rises and the 10 big wins for women that unions have won in the last 12 months. 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

Ben Davison takes a look at Angus Taylor's dreadful performance on Insiders and the disproportionate focus on tax concessions for the wealthiest at a time when more people than ever are working multiple jobs and wages are making up less and less of our national income.  Unions keep raising these issues and reminding us that superannuation is for retirement, not tax evasion, and you can join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow 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!

Van Badham and Ben Davison are LIVE in the Yurt at Adelaide Fringe talking about how the week's news shows us that, for some bosses, if they can get away with it they will and that we need strong, democratic movements to curb the excesses that create greed-price spirals, shorten people's lives for the sake of a kitchen bench and funnel our commonwealth to the 0.5% richest people in the country at the expense of working people's retirements. 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

Ben Davison wraps up a huge week where the scale of corporate profiteering, what Sally McManus calls the Greed-Price Spiral, has been exposed as driving 69% of inflation, the nation is debating whether 11,000 people who have more than $5M in super should get a tax concession or whether that money is better invested in the 24,000,000 other people struggling under a 4.5% real wage cut, record rises in interest rates and underfunding in our public schools. 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.

Van Badham and Ben Davison deliver The Week on Wednesday LIVE! from the Adelaide Fringe!  Live from the Yurt Van and Ben expose that "broccolini" is a trademarked term and that some of the agri-corp businesses, many around Adelaide, may not be all they seem.  The United Workers Union are encouraging people to contact Coles and Woolworths to demand that exploitation doesn't make it on Australian tables.  Don't forget you can join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow 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

Ben looks at the first two weeks of the parliamentary sitting for 2023 where Labor introduced housing policy, manufacturing policy and emissions reduction policy all of which were opposed by Dutton and the Greens.  Plus our friend Mary Doyle is running for Aston following Tudge's retirement. 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.

Van Badham and Ben Davison break down the ideological nonsense at the heart of the Reserve Bank Governor's decision to prioritise bank profits over employment, living standards and the well being of the Australian people. 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!

Ben Davison looks at the big stories at the end of the first sitting week of parliament in 2023 and neo-liberal skew that Insiders offered up to the ABC audience. While mouth piece for the bosses pamphlet, Phil Coorey, was promoting his friends at the Mineral's council advertising campaign the hidden truth that profitable major corporations will be fighting to keep workers divided and wages low during 2023 was exposed.  Join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow Jim Chalmer's delivered the good news that power prices won't be going up by as much as they were forecast, due to their price cap mechanism.  Ben analyses how the Labor government is having to do a huge amount of heavy lifting on economic reform to try repairing both a decade of Liberal mismanagement and the ongoing capture of our institutions by neo-liberal ideologues.  The Reserve Bank's continued assault on working people and dangerous obsession with making more people unemployed, wages lower and economic growth both lower and more concentrated into the hands of a few is proving the Liberals with political talking points and Labor with real problems. Alan Tudge has quit parliament and, as usual, the truth has been papered over by an emotional speech given by a hypocritical and shameful middle aged upper class white man using his children as a shield from any genuine critique.  Tudge has quit in disgrace.  End of story.   The Week on Wednesday LIVE! at the Adelaide Fringe festival starts in just 10 days so get your tickets to see Van Badham and Ben Davison in The Yurt now https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/the-week-on-wednesday-live-with-van-badham-ben-davison-live-podcast-af2023

Van Badham and Ben Davison examine former Greens Senator for Victoria Lidia Thorpe's announcement that she is no longer a Green Party member but is now leader of "a grassroots Blak sovereign movement." They look at the commentary around her split from the Greens, events leading up to this moment, what "a grassroots Blak sovereign movement" might actually mean based on Thorpe's public statements and the implications for democracy and the Voice referendum. Thorpe's announcement, made standing alone in a hallway, came on the first sitting day of parliament for 2023 where a large number of issues are being debated, including more improvements for workers rights.  You can join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow to make sure you get your proper wages and conditions. Dark Brandon (a play on a meme about Joe Biden) rose today as Joe Biden nailed the Republican's during the State of the Union Address.  Van and Ben discuss how Qanon talking points, culture wars and performative politics have so consumed the Republicans that Biden was able to get them to publicly show support for social security and Medicare while their leaders accuse one another of horrendous crimes, ban books and want to legislate putting sugar in milk. Plus there is good news from the SEA about both hydrogen and plastics! Van also gives an on air promise to sign copies of her book Qanon and On for anyone who comes to see the Week on Wednesday LIVE! at the Adelaide Fringe Festival, https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/the-week-on-wednesday-live-with-van-badham-ben-davison-live-podcast-af2023  There's also shout outs to our supporters who have gone to www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday including special ones for a new arrival to Australia and an Extend the Reach supporter who has become Cadre!

Ben Davison reviews the return of the ABC's flagship political discussion show, Insiders.  As host David Speers manages to make incredibly dismissive off hand comment about the Robodebt Royal Commission and another panelist waves off the only first nations panellist's views about the situation in Alice Springs Professor Megan Davis patiently explains that The Voice referendum is about principles, not details.  No one knows where the offices will be or what colour the business cards might have on them  but we do know that the launch of the YES campaign is happening while Ben and Van Badham will be doing the Week on Wednesday LIVE! at Adelaide Fringe Festival (tickets here: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/the-week-on-wednesday-live-with-van-badham-ben-davison-live-podcast-af2023) and our hosts hope to give you a report back in a future episode. Ben looks at the Chifley Research Centre conference in Canberra where Albo has defined the referendum as being about two principles; Recognition and Consultation, Tony Burke has outlined the next phases of workplace law reforms and Jim Chalmers has built on his excellent Monthly essay where he essentially argues that society and the economy are two sides of the same coin.  Ben explores what that might mean in the context of the inflation challenge, falling living standards and record profits in some sectors. Yesterday was World Cancer day and Ben reminds us why union safety standards are so important; 1 in 10 cancers around the world are due to workplace exposure to hazardous material.  If not for better pay and more secure work, join your union for a better, healthier life at australianunions.org.au/wow

Van Badham and Ben Davison took a look at the Revive cultural policy launched by the Albanese Labor government and what it will mean for working people in the arts, in Australian audiences and to conversation about who we are as a nation. Van share's some of her experiences as an artist and just what Revive will mean for the tens of thousands of people working in arts and culture across Australia. After a decade, or more, of campaigning in union workers now have a right to paid family and domestic violence leave.  Van and Ben take a look at three examples where workers are standing together against extraordinary pressure from billionaires, multinational corporations and dodgy bosses across Visy, Woodside and the Mantle Group.  Whether you're in the arts, resources, hospitality, manufacturing, healthcare, education or any other work you can join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow The Robodebt royal commission is continuing but revelations this week about the extent of the wrong doing by the former Liberal-National government has shocked the nation.  Van and Ben discuss how Australia got to this point, their own experiences of unemployment and what lessons the royal commission has already given us. And there is good news about crushed glass being used as a whole new material! Don't forget to get your tickets to the Adelaide Fringe festival to see The Week on Wednesday LIVE! at https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/the-week-on-wednesday-live-with-van-badham-ben-davison-live-podcast-af2023 Plus Van gives shoutouts to our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters who have visited www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday (Ben promises Van will always be the one to do it in future too...)

Ben Davison takes a closer look at the situation in Alice Springs and how the end of a 15 year ban on alcohol in some communities coincided with cuts to support services, a federal election and a Morrison government unable to think beyond the news cycle to create the slow moving storm that has now engulfed the community.  And maybe provides the clearest example of why The Voice is needed. Ben looks at how the West Australian opposition, with only six lower house members across two parties, has managed to find itself in disarray at the start of 2023. With more companies abandoning ships Ben takes a look at the case of the Yangtze Fortune and the crew.  Owed money, unable to get home to the Philippines and no clear path to freedom the workers are relying on the International Transport Federation (ITF) and the Maritime Union of Australia to make it through each day.  Join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow You can also get your tickets for The Week on Wednesday LIVE! at Adelaide Fringe festival now at https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/the-week-on-wednesday-live-with-van-badham-ben-davison-live-podcast-af2023

Ben Davison examines some of the history, the changing attitudes, the cultural impacts and the evolving community sentiment towards January 26th.  Ben believes there is a need for change to "Australia Day"/"Invasion Day" if we are to have a day that celebrates modern Australia while recognising our complex and painful history.   You can find more info on the views of First Nations Workers and how to become an ally at www.fnwa.org.au Inflation has hit a new high, though lower than the 8% forecast, and Ben discusses what that means, what the policy options are and why the RBA might end up forcing Australia into a recession.  With the RBA governor demanding that workers wear the cost, while businesses reap the profits, it is a vital time to join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow to help protect your wages, conditions and even your job. Once the most polluted river in the UK, the Mersey is now a thriving habitat again.  Ben talks through some good news and the lessons it gives us all. While Van couldn't be in this episode she will be at the Adelaide Fringe for The Week on Wednesday LIVE! Tickets now available at https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/the-week-on-wednesday-live-with-van-badham-ben-davison-live-podcast-af2023 And Ben does the shoutouts for our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters, reminding us all why Van normally does them!

Ben Davison looks at the recent polling showing a surge in support for Chris Minns and the NSW Labor party at the expense of Dom Perrottet's Liberal/National coalition government.  Ben goes through why working people have had enough of the cuts, the costs and the waste during  a decade of mismanagement by the Liberals.  Also how unions are getting organised to win better pay, services and more secure jobs, join them at australianunions.org.au/wow.  You can check out Van and Ben's interview with Labor leader Chris Minns from December 7th on Episode 114 of The Week on Wednesday. The Voice enjoys support from a majority of Australian's in a majority of states.  While Dutton "reaches for the Abbott playbook" and the conservative media try to pretend otherwise every state, except Queensland, would deliver a comfortable majority YES to for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice referendum.  Ben breaks it down state by state. Ben touches on the retirement of Jacinda Ardern. Van's Guardian article articulates why she was important, not just to New Zealand but to many people around the world. Ben closes off with an examination of the escalating problems at Qantas.  Remember you can hear what the maintenance workers were telling Ben and Van back in September in Episode 104 about Joyce's cuts.  SIX MONTHS BEFORE the four "mechanical issues" in three days that the airline has suffered this week. And don't forget you can Van and Ben doing The Week on Wednesday LIVE at Adelaide FRINGE, tickets here https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/the-week-on-wednesday-live-with-van-badham-ben-davison-live-podcast-af2023

Van Badham and Ben Davison look at how Dutton is playing politics over The Voice to parliament, why he's playing a politically dangerous game and just how easy it is to find "the detail" he claims he cannot find.  (Ben reads it out if you're interested Peter) Turns out gas appliances aren't great for our health, our environment or our wallets but, as culture war correspondent Van Badham reports, there's enough vested interests to keep American law makers and ridiculous sky news types ranting about why pumping gas that makes unwell directly into your home should be a right. With workplace law changes meaning more workers than ever will be able to get the benefits of union negotiated and won pay agreements the debate about "free riders" has started.  Many union leaders from sectors as diverse as childcare and the rail industry, healthcare and manufacturing are calling for changes to the law to allow for union won pay rises to include a fee for the service that non-members would have to pay.  Van and Ben discuss the idea, where it has come from and how Australia has ended up with huge numbers of people getting benefits they aren't paying for at the moment.  You can join your union anytime at australianunions.org.au/wow to make sure your workplace has the resources needed to win better pay and conditions. Van and Ben also reveal the dates of The Week on Wednesday LIVE at Adelaide Fringe 22nd February-15th of March tickets at https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/the-week-on-wednesday-live-with-van-badham-ben-davison-live-podcast-af2023 And as our downloads get closer and closer to ONE MILLION the support of our Cadre, Extend the Reach and Buck a Week supporters in growing our audience is even more valuable.  Check our supporter page at www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday to get the podcast, links and early info in your inbox!

Ben Davison explores how workers at the Mantle Group stood together in union against a sham agreement that saw hundreds of workers denied their proper wages.  The Queensland and New South Wales based hospitality company continues to deny any wrong doing but the case is damning for the company (who might face criminal charges) and a win for workers.  Join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow This week saw the death of George Pell.  Ben, from Ballarat, talks about what this has meant for him, his community and how one man's indifference to the suffering of others has caused damage that even his death will not simply repair. NSW Premier Dom Perrottet gave a press conference this week where he admitted to wearing a Nazi uniform at his own 21st birthday.  Ben questions how NSW youngest premier couldn't have known that was an inappropriate thing to do and how the dysfunction of the NSW Liberals is exposing that maybe Dom Perrottet is really only interested in having power. Plus there's a reminder of you can catch The Week on Wednesday LIVE at the Adelaide festival from the last week of February to the middle of March tickets here https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/the-week-on-wednesday-live-with-van-badham-ben-davison-live-podcast-af2023

Van Badham and Ben Davison take a look at some of the big issues facing working people in the UK and the USA and find that there's an Australian flavour in conservative moves to strip worker's of rights. In the UK Rishi Sunak is trying to ban effective strikes and force people to cross picket lines with a law that one of his own MP's has called "shameful".  The "protecting essential services" approach is one that is already law in Australia and has been used to stop industrial actions from train strikes to the release of exam results. With industrial action at low levels and wages going backwards its clear why Sunak wants an even more heavy handed version of these laws. Over in the USA the Supreme Court is hearing a case that may rip up nearly 60 years of precedent to make individual workers and their unions liable for losses incurred by a boss during industrial action.  This would in effect make every strike a huge financial risk as opposed to an immediate small cost for a longer term gain.  Its an approach the Liberals tried in Australia with the ABCC regime in construction (now abolished). Unions everywhere are standing up against these attacks and you can join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow In Brazil the far right play book has entered its final chapter, an attempted coup.  Van runs through why the coup attempt against Lula happened, how Trumpists and billionaires have incited it and why Lula was able to restore order and democracy so quickly. You can catch Van and Ben LIVE at the Adelaide Fringe https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/the-week-on-wednesday-live-with-van-badham-ben-davison-live-podcast-af2023 And support the podcast reaching even more people by becoming a Cadre, Extend the Reach or Buck a week supporter at www.buymeacoffee.com/WeekOnWednesday

Ben looks at how the dysfunctional Republican Party took a record number of ballots to finally elect the only candidate they had for speaker and why the next two years may be ungovernable for the Party that once saw itself as the "natural party of government". 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 Badham and Ben Davison return in 2023 by breaking down the collapse in support for Dutton's Liberal/National Coalition, why the post Gen X generations are not buying the culture wars and how the combination of material pain caused by insecure work, housing affordability & neo-liberal economics has joined the existential threat of climate change to alter generational voting patterns.   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.

Ben Davison looks at Scott Morrison's performance at the Robodebt Royal Commission and isn't surprised to learn that Morrison has not regrets, is still pitting groups of Australian's against each other and is avoiding answering the questions. 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!

Ben Davison looks at the Albanese Labor government announcement of an Environmental Protection Agency to improve our natural environment and meet the zero extinctions target. 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

Van Badham and Ben Davison sat down with NSW Labor Leader Chris Minns to discuss his campaign, why privatisation doesn't work, why his former school teacher dad inspires him to respect the power of education to change lives and what it will take to fix the gig economy, workers rights and local manufacturing. 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 Davison starts by acknowledging our Buy me a Coffee supporters www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday and breaking down some of the achievements of the first six months of the Albanese Labor government. 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!

Van Badham and Ben Davison examine the historic censure motion against former Minister-for-Everything Scott Morrison and his entirely egregious response to it. They also discuss a refreshingly busy legislative week in the federal parliament, with Labor's IR bill and National Anti-Corruption Commission set to become law. While Australia steps into the future, the National Party remain deeply wedded to the past, committing themselves to campaigning against the First Nations' Voice to Parliament that a majority of Australians already support. Is the Coalition out of touch? Or are they on an ACTUAL ASTEROID shooting out of our galaxy at incredible speed? Decide for yourself when you hear the good news about electric vehicles...

Van Badham joins Ben Davison to give a deep dive on the Victorian state election.  How the media narratives were so wrong, the death of the Menzian Liberal Party, the misinformation about the Greens, the quiet success of the Nationals and why Labor has so convincingly won. 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.

Van Badham and Ben Davison RETURN to the podcast following the sad passing of Van's mum, Barb.  With the Secure Work, Better Pay laws before the senate and Barb being a lifelong unionist Van and Ben pay tribute to her life by examining why David Pocock needs to pass the whole package of laws to get wages moving.  And just what the laws really mean for jobs, wages, climate action and social change.  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.

Ben Davison gives a brief update on the situation with Van and her Mum, thanking all The Week on Wednesday listeners for their support and solidarity. 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!

Van Badham joins Ben Davison to discuss the issues that the October Budget has highlighted, how Insiders dealt with those issues and what is really happening with the Secure Jobs, Better Pay laws. 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.

Van Badham and Ben Davison look at the Albanese Labor government's first budget, handed down by Jim Chalmers.  They explore the three themes of keeping election promises, targeted cost of living relief and putting downward pressure on inflation interact with each other.  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

Ben Davison looks at the big investment's Jim Chalmer's has announced for pensioners, jobseekers, domestic violence, housing and indigenous organisations in the lead up to the budget. 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.

Van Badham and Ben Davison take a look at the Albanese government's soon to be introduced workplace laws that will remove pay secrecy, create a dedicated goal of gender pay equity, give the care and community sector its own pathway in the system and give workers more rights to collectively bargain. 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!

Ben Davison takes a look at the Albanese government's paid parental leave policy and how it adds to the macro-economic policies designed to improve our economy and the economic outcomes for Australians. 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.

Van Badham and Ben Davison do the Week on Wednesday LIVE at Melbourne Fringe! 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 Badham joins Ben Davison for The Weekend Wrap to discuss why Dutton's fantasies of improbable future wealth are not a good reason to keep stage three tax cuts- cuts that the Treasury advised were unaffordable if the budget was in deficit. 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