Bernard Keane Q&A: Big Build corruption, AI policy, and will Australia introduce a wealth tax?

Australia’s university sector is in tatters. Why?

Australia’s most prestigious universities have been plagued by governance and corruption scandals over the past few years, all the while public debate continues on what role universities should play in modern Australian society.  Julie Hare, one of the country’s most experienced higher education journalists, joins Cut Through to unpack the ICAC investigation into the University of Wollongong, explain how executive greed and policy changes created a perfect storm for the sector, and puts her ideas for how to restore Australian universities to their former glory – and public good. Want to ask us a question? Send an email to letters@crikey.com.au [letters@crikey.com.au] or contact us using the secure methods detailed here: https://www.crikey.com.au/tip-off-crikey/ [https://www.crikey.com.au/tip-off-crikey/]  Subscribe to Crikey now to get 60% off your annual subscription! [https://campaigns.crikey.com.au/subscribe] Read more: * Leaders at Australian universities have lost their moral compass [https://www.crikey.com.au/2026/07/14/university-of-wollongong-icac-vice-chancellor-anu-flinders-adelaide-tasmania/] * ANU and other universities using ‘custom-made’ accounting systems that can obscure financial health [https://www.crikey.com.au/2026/06/16/anu-job-cuts-monash-la-trobe-newcastle-university-accounting-deficit-report/] * More Australian universities than ANU face a governance crisis. But why now precisely? [https://www.crikey.com.au/2026/06/01/anu-australian-universities-governance-crisis/] * ‘Broken and unfair’: Morrison-era policy slogging students with hundreds of millions in extra debt [https://www.crikey.com.au/2026/06/30/scott-morrison-job-ready-graduates-university-debt/]  [https://www.crikey.com.au/2026/07/14/university-of-wollongong-icac-vice-chancellor-anu-flinders-adelaide-tasmania/] * John Dewar’s very public humiliation [https://www.crikey.com.au/2026/07/06/john-dewar-la-trobe-university-kordamentha-nsw-icac/] Sign up to Crikey’s free newsletter: https://bit.ly/crikey-newsletter [https://bit.ly/crikey-newsletter] Crikey’s independent journalism is supported by readers — 98% of our revenue comes from our subscribers. We’re not accountable to billionaires; we’re accountable to you. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Bernard Keane Q&A: Big Build corruption, AI policy, and will Australia introduce a wealth tax?

Politics editor Bernard Keane returns to the podcast to answer subscriber questions in a dedicated Q&A episode. What does he think of critics who say there is “nothing to see here” on union corruption in Victoria’s Big Build? Is there any substance to rumours that Anthony Albanese would leave politics before the next election? Will the global campaign to introduce a wealth tax – advocated by the likes of Gary Stevenson and Gabriel Zucman – make headway in Australia? Keane and Cut Through host Crystal Andrews tackle the following questions: * What kind of Labor leader is Anthony Albanese? * Where will the government land in its approach to AI policy? * Should people question the Watson report into CFMEU corruption? * Will Snowy Hydro 2.0 be “worth it” in the end? * Is an Australian wealth tax on the horizon? * How is Australia’s ageing population contributing to socioeconomic issues? Want to ask us a question? Send an email to letters@crikey.com.au [letters@crikey.com.au] or contact us using the secure methods detailed here: https://www.crikey.com.au/tip-off-crikey/ [https://www.crikey.com.au/tip-off-crikey/]  Subscribe to Crikey now to get 60% off your annual subscription! [https://campaigns.crikey.com.au/subscribe] Sign up to Crikey’s free newsletter: https://bit.ly/crikey-newsletter [https://bit.ly/crikey-newsletter] Crikey’s independent journalism is supported by readers — 98% of our revenue comes from our subscribers. We’re not accountable to billionaires; we’re accountable to you. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Karl Stefanovic and the death of the TV star

How did Karl Stefanovic rise to the pinnacle of TV stardom, and what does his move to even smaller screens say about the current state of Australian media? Tina Quinn joins the podcast to go behind-the-scenes of her latest article for Crikey, which saw her speak to a long list of sources who worked alongside Stefanovic — from junior producers all the way up to senior management — about how he really got to the top.  Quinn and host Crystal Andrews discuss what made Stefanovic “special”, the one industry development that changed Australian TV for the worse, and why we might never see a TV personality like Karl again. Have a tip for us or want to ask a question? Send an email to letters@crikey.com.au [letters@crikey.com.au] or contact us using the secure methods detailed here: https://www.crikey.com.au/tip-off-crikey/ [https://www.crikey.com.au/tip-off-crikey/]  Subscribe to Crikey now to get 60% off your annual subscription! [https://campaigns.crikey.com.au/subscribe] Read more: * Insiders reveal the real story behind Karl Stefanovic, a monster of Nine’s own making [https://www.crikey.com.au/2026/07/09/karl-stefanovic-australian-tv-nine-today-show/] * Job cuts, takeovers and mergers can’t fix the mess that is Australian TV [https://www.crikey.com.au/2026/06/17/seven-job-cuts-lachlan-murdoch-roku-nine-sale-australian-television/] * The Stefanovic saga and Hanson’s haymaker: it’s all part of Australia’s surging right-wing moment [https://www.crikey.com.au/2026/06/25/karl-stefanovic-pauline-hanson-tommy-robinson-nine-right-wing/] * Gina Rinehart joins Australia’s billionaire media moguls. You’re welcome, One Nation [https://www.crikey.com.au/2026/05/28/gina-rinehart-media-stake-southern-cross-seven-network-one-nation/] * The Free Speech and Free Fall of Karl Stefanovic on Fourth Estate podcast [https://open.spotify.com/episode/52vEoXwgn4hFxZpcSzkF4j?si=7081c50bf6c14cdf] Sign up to Crikey’s free newsletter: https://bit.ly/crikey-newsletter [https://bit.ly/crikey-newsletter] Crikey’s independent journalism is supported by readers — 98% of our revenue comes from our subscribers. We’re not accountable to billionaires; we’re accountable to you. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Teal, Orange, Green: Who’s holding Labor to account?

There was a flurry of activity in parliament as politicians tried to make the last sitting fortnight before the winter break really count. So it’s the perfect time to bring Cut Through back from our mid-year break – re-energised and ready to call it as we see it!  Crikey’s politics writer Rachel Withers joins readers’ editor Crystal Andrews and reporter-at-large Charlie Lewis to discuss the highs and the lows, from the announcement of Zali Steggall and Allegra Spender’s new party “Community Strong Australia”, to the Greens’ role as policy gatekeepers, and why Barnaby Joyce is clearly not helping One Nation MP David Farley learn the ropes.  Plus, where does Nuclear for Australia get its cash from… and is Bridget McKenzie up to something? Have a tip for us or want to ask a question? Send an email to letters@crikey.com.au [letters@crikey.com.au] or contact us using the secure methods detailed here: https://www.crikey.com.au/tip-off-crikey/ [https://www.crikey.com.au/tip-off-crikey/]  Read more: * Does Steggall and Spender’s new party go against the independent movement — or strengthen it? [https://www.crikey.com.au/2026/06/26/zali-steggall-allegra-spender-community-strong-australia-party-independents/] by Tina Quinn * What Liberal-types like Jason Falinski get wrong about the ‘teals’ [https://www.crikey.com.au/2026/07/01/jason-falinski-allegra-spender-zali-steggall-community-strong-teal-party/] * Labor is playing a dangerous game on gambling reform [https://www.crikey.com.au/2026/06/22/labor-gambling-advertising-reform-murphy-report/] * Tax reform has winners and losers. Business makes an ugly loser [https://www.crikey.com.au/2026/06/17/tax-reform-inquiry-capital-gains-negative-gearing-business-impact/] * One Nation now has to hold itself together — and grow [https://www.crikey.com.au/2026/05/11/one-nation-pauline-hanson-farrer-by-election/] by Leonardo Puglisi * Tip on Nuclear for Australia’s merch sales [https://www.crikey.com.au/2026/06/29/chuck-schumer-ufo-liberals-polling-chris-minns-award-chalmers-tele/] * What is Bridget McKenzie up to? [https://www.crikey.com.au/2026/06/29/bridget-mckenzie-pauline-hanson-nationals-arc/] Sign up to Crikey’s free newsletter: https://bit.ly/crikey-newsletter [https://bit.ly/crikey-newsletter] Crikey’s independent journalism is supported by readers — 98% of our revenue comes from our subscribers. We’re not accountable to billionaires; we’re accountable to you. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

2026 federal budget: does anyone care about broken promises?

The 2026 federal budget was one of the more “memorable” in recent history. Despite the vast majority of measures having already been aired in the media weeks prior, Jim Chalmers kept one major reveal for budget night: a three-part tax reform, winding back the favourable settings of capital gains tax, negative gearing and private trusts. The mainstream media has been bleating about “broken promises”, but do voters actually care if the government changes its mind in pursuit of better policy? Politics editor Bernard Keane and readers’ editor Crystal Andrews discuss what they liked in the budget, what was disappointing and the missed opportunity of the gas export tax.  Plus, does Angus Taylor have any hope of improving the Coalition’s fortunes with his budget reply speech? Sign up to Crikey’s free newsletter: https://bit.ly/crikey-newsletter [https://bit.ly/crikey-newsletter] Crikey’s independent journalism is supported by readers — 98% of our revenue comes from our subscribers. We’re not accountable to billionaires; we’re accountable to you. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.