More than 30,000 people from Pacific Island nations and Timor-Leste are on a working visa in Australia as part of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme – or PALM.

The government sells it as a ‘triple win’: workers earn Australian wages, Australian employers fill jobs they say they can’t fill locally, and money flows back to families and economies across the region.

But Morgan Harrington has been investigating the cases where workers say they were exploited and mistreated – including being overcharged by their employer for housing that’s overcrowded and even dangerous.

And because a worker’s visa is tied to one employer, leaving can mean losing your legal status – but thousands have chosen to, now living in Australia with the risk of deportation.

Today, Postdoctoral Research Manager at the Australia Institute, Dr Morgan Harrington, on why the PALM scheme is ripe for exploitation – and why some say it’s a modern slavery risk.

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Guest: Postdoctoral Research Manager at the Australia Institute, Dr Morgan Harrington

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On Monday, about 6,000 people attended a protest against Israeli President Isaac Herzog's visit to Sydney.

The event began peacefully – but videos later emerged, showing protesters being pepper-sprayed, beaten, and arrested by police.

Police say some demonstrators wanted to march to NSW Parliament despite a restriction making it unlawful – and that when orders to disperse were ignored, they had to move the crowd on.

Twenty-seven protesters were arrested.

There have been a number of incidents in recent years where police have been accused of using excessive force against protesters. It comes as officers increasingly use weapons like pepper spray and rubber bullets.

Today, journalist and author Ariel Bogle on the use of these so-called “non-lethal” weapons, and how they’re changing protests in Australia.

This episode was first published in October 2025.

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Guest: Journalist and author Ariel Bogle

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It took just nine months for the Liberal Party to turn on its first female leader. After months of internal agitation and sliding polls, a spill motion was called and, by the end, Ley was out – replaced by a man many conservatives had wanted all along, Angus Taylor.

Taylor, a former energy minister and standard-bearer for the party’s right, has promised discipline, economic clarity and a return to what he calls “core Liberal values”, where culture wars aren’t a distraction; they’re the strategy.

For some, it’s a reset. For others, it’s a signal that internal battles are far from over.

Today, Political Editor at news.com.au Samantha Maiden, on how the spill unfolded, who backed Taylor and why, and whether this puts the Coalition in a stronger position than it was at the start of the week.

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Guest: Samantha Maiden, political editor news.com.au

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The knives are out. The spill is on!

Liberal MP Angus Taylor is set to challenge Sussan Ley for the leadership in a party room showdown at 9am. Their colleagues are now scrambling to pick sides as the face off looms.

So, who will emerge triumphant? And how will the chaos play with voters?

Today, contributing editor at The New Daily, Amy Remeikis on Taylor’s chances, the gender question, and whether a leadership change can save the Liberal party.

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Guest: Amy Remeikis, Contributing Editor at The New Daily

Photo: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

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It’s Australia’s loudest, proudest celebration.

But two weeks out from Mardi Gras – there are claims a rebel group has hijacked the event from inside the community.

We hear from the two groups at war over the future of the parade.

Today, Peter Murphy from Protect Mardi Gras, and Charlie Murphy from Pride in Protest on the battle threatening to tear Mardi Gras apart.

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Guest: Peter Murphy, Protect Mardi Gras and Charlie Murphy, Pride in Protest

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Jimmy Lai is a media tycoon and hero of Hong Kong’s freedom movement.

A symbol of the city’s fight for democracy and a free press – he has been silenced, handcuffed, and now sentenced to 20 years in prison by a Hong Kong court.

Seen as a traitor by Beijing, Lai has been jailed on charges of sedition and collusion with foreign forces – which he says are politically motivated.

Today, Sebastien Lai on fighting for his father’s freedom and what this case says about China’s ongoing crackdown in Hong Kong.

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Guest: Sebastien Lai, son of jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai

Photo: Kobe Li/Nexpher Images/Sipa USA

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Israeli President Isaac Herzog has arrived in Sydney for a four-day visit to Australia, invited in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack in December.

On Monday, Herzog visited Bondi and laid a wreath to honour the 15 people killed in the attack.

At the same time, pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in Sydney’s CBD to oppose the visit – after organisers launched a Supreme Court challenge to the NSW government’s decision to declare the visit a “major event”, a move that activates special police powers in the city.

It comes on top of the broader protest restrictions NSW introduced after Bondi – which the government says are about community safety in the wake of a terrorist incident – but which civil liberties groups argue tilt too much power toward police discretion and make political protest more difficult.

Today, 7am chats with protestors at the Sydney march, and NSW Council for Civil Liberties president Timothy Roberts, on the new limits being placed on protest in NSW – and across the country.

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Guest: NSW Council for Civil Liberties president, Timothy Roberts

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It’s been just over two weeks since the Liberal and National parties’ dramatic split and now the Coalition is back together.

Sussan Ley and David Littleproud insist they’re now solid, guaranteeing that after two Coalition splits in the space of a year - this time, there’ll be no more break ups.

Today, press gallery journalist Karen Middleton on how the Coalition got back together after their big blow up, and whether this time it’s for good.

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Guest: Press gallery journalist, Karen Middleton

Photo: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

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