Backchat

This week Max Chalmers brings a feature on the Safe Schools program. We speak to an ethicist about surgical training on live animals, and we hear about the decision on PNG refugees. This episode was brought to you with thanks to Squarespace.

What happens when companies get involved in environmental initiatives? We've got a story about the cash for containers recycling system which will be voted on in NSW Parliament this month. We talked to consumer advocacy organisation Choice about greenwashing and the free range eggs debacle, and we also spoke to Bethany Sheeehan, the founder of a group called My Body My Right, who act as a human shield for women accessing the abortion clinic on Devonshire Street in Surry Hills. This episode was brought to you with thanks to Squarespace.

On the show today, Osman Faruqi and Michaela Morgan chat to Clover Moore about lockouts and liquor. We'll also cover the data leak known as the Panama Papers which revealed billions of dollars in offshore funds through an epic international journalistic collaboration. Also, we'll ask why we still don't accept blood donations from gay men. This episode was brought to you with thanks to Squarespace

SMH Education reporter Eryk Bagshaw joined us to explain the government's proposed changes to education funding. This episode was brought to you with thanks to Squarespace.

We chat with Thomas Mukoya, photojournalist from Reuters; Blair Palese from 350.org; Tim Wilson on anti-terror laws; and Albo signs up as an FBi supporter.

Alison Schmidt from Oaktree; Legalising medical marijuana; Rob Oakshott and reform from the right; Mohamad Tabba and terrorism laws; News in Brief.

What if Australia had basic income? We look at how or if it could work here as Switzerland prepares to go to a referendum to decide whether or not they should introduce BI. Karl Widerquist, the co-chair of an organisation called BIEN - the Basic Income Earth Network - talks about the history of the idea and its effects on workforce participation and inflation. USYD economist, Stephen Whelan, talks about how, or if it would ever work in Australia. Daniel Flitton, senior correspondent for The Age and former intelligence analyst, says why he thinks placing the terror threat alert level on high was perhaps not the best move for the Government to have made. And a look at the toll of the lockout laws being felt by Sydney businesses.

Backchat looks at the lock out laws 6 months since they were put in place. Director of the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, Don Weatherburn, talks about whether the data released saying violence had gone down was reliable and realistic or whether it's still too late to tell what the laws have changed. Heidi and Luke tackle the Iraq debate and talk to former US ambassador in Iraq who offers one side on whether western countries should be sending arms to the Kurds, and then international law expert Anthony Billingsley to offer a counter argument.

Phillip Pell on the impacts of extracting coal seam gas; we hear from Lock The Gate farmer Phil Herbert; NSW Greens Senator Jeremy Buckingham talks down the government's new early warning system for Coal Seam Gas; News in Brief

Declan Kuch visits the studio to discuss the released RET Review, how it's been received and what it means if it's scrapped, Simon Hunt aka Pauline Pantsdown updates us on what's been happening at the World Congress of Families in Melbourne, and Jessica Dean talks about the possible changes that could be seen within the medical community if students have to pay more for their degrees.

Economist from the University of Melbourne Jeff Borland speaks about the proposed work for the dole scheme. Dan Nolan and Junkee's Alex McKinnon talk about metadata, what it is and why George Brandis got his tongue tied over it. We also talk about the NSA and gathering intelligence.

Liberal Democratic senator David Leyonhjelm talks about a government minister teaching other MPs about what a VPN is. Independent councillor Alex Greenwich and Shooters and Fishers MP Robert Borsak discuss business voting in council elections. Heidi Pett meets members from Love Makes A Way, a group of Christians protesting against Australia's inhumane treatment of asylum seekers.

Investigative journalist from the Sydney Morning Herald Kate McClymont chatted with us about her new biography on Eddie Obeid, titled He Who Must Be Obeid. Sam Regester from GetUp! comes in to talk about their recent YouTube controversy surrounding the Carmichael mine.

This week on Backchat we spoke to Stephen Blanks, President of the NSW Civil Liberties Council about Transport for NSW's privacy policy for its new Opal cards allowing personal information of users to be given to law enforcement agencies without a warrant. Melissa Brookes came in to speak to us about the Going Home Staying Home reports, while comedian Cameron Smith gave us a rundown on the death of the carbon tax. We also spoke to Luke Carroll about the legacy of the Deadlys, following the death of founder Gavin Jones and funding cuts.

On the show today we talk about asylum seekers being sent to WA with Hugh DeKretser, the Executive Director of the Human Rights Law Centre; Jonathan Moylan phones in to reflect on avoiding a jail sentence after producing a fake ANZ media release that caused a massive shock to the share market; and Backchat producer Laura Brierley tells us the real reason why electricity prices have been rising, and it's not the carbon tax.

This week on Backchat Emilia Terzon had a chat with Chris Graham to see what's going on with the proposed Basics Card. We also looked into our obsession with emulating America's failed policies. And we thought we'd make Scott Morrison an automated teleconferencing system for assessing asylum seeker claims.

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Deciding to work from Abbott's premise that the world has bigger problems than climate change (and presumably that the main one is Labor's Legacy of Debt And Deficitâ„¢) this week we decided to look into the economics of climate change and the investment potential of renewables and carbon markets, and how they can boost Australia's economy. This week's show includes interviews with the CSIRO, advance findings from the Climate Council's report, Ross Garnaut with an economic perspective and chats with Opposition spokesperson for the Environment Mark Butler, and Greens leader Christine Milne. Who's missing? Only the Minister for the Environment, Greg Hunt. We asked nicely, too.

Full Episode for Saturday June 7, including Emilia Terzon's piece on unemployment in the Illawarra and our chat with Ben Solity about the spies infiltrating the Leard Blockade.