Three years ago this month, Sussan Ley stood beside Peter Dutton as his deputy, the newly installed pair projecting confidence about the contest ahead.

Ley backed Dutton enthusiastically. But now, in 2025, she faces the public as the Coalition’s new leader after voters rejected the Dutton-Ley project and handed the Liberals its worst defeat on record.

The task before Ley is threefold: unite the Coalition, reset its policy platform, and win back the city women and younger voters who deserted the Liberal Party.

Today, chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper Karen Barlow, on Sussan Ley’s uphill battle to rebuild the Coalition.

 

If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.

 

Socials:Stay in touch with us on Instagram

Guest: Chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Karen Barlow

Photo: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Three years ago this month, Sussan Ley stood beside Peter Dutton as his deputy, the newly installed pair projecting confidence about the contest ahead.
Ley backed Dutton enthusiastically. But now, in 2025, she faces the public as the Coalition&rsquo;s new leader after voters rejected the Dutton-Ley project and handed the Liberals its worst defeat on record.
The task before Ley is threefold: unite the Coalition, reset its policy platform, and win back the city women and younger voters who deserted the Liberal Party.
Today, chief political correspondent for&nbsp;The Saturday Paper Karen Barlow, on Sussan Ley&rsquo;s uphill battle to rebuild the Coalition.
&nbsp;
If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at <a href="http://7ampodcast.com.au/support">7ampodcast.com.au/support</a>.
&nbsp;
Socials: Stay in touch with us on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/7ampodcast">Instagram</a>
Guest: Chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Karen Barlow
Photo: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

An independent daily news show. We feature the country’s best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia. This is news with narrative, every weekday.

An independent daily news show. We feature the country&rsquo;s best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia. This is news with narrative, every weekday.

Can Sussan Ley rebuild the Coalition?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/df8e3edf-cbf3-44c5-83b1-b2dd00671a9c/transcript

Almost one year ago, the Supreme Court of Victoria allowed a television camera to broadcast a sentencing for the first time ever – the hearing for convicted triple murderer Erin Patterson.

Justice Christopher Beale imposed life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 33 years for murdering three in-laws – and attempting to murder a fourth – by lacing their beef Wellingtons with poisonous death cap mushrooms in 2023.

Now, Patterson has been back in court appealing her convictions, while prosecutors argue her sentence is too lenient and that she should never be released.

Today, we revisit our conversation with investigative journalist and author Lucie Morris-Marr on the sentencing of Erin Patterson, the suffering her crimes caused, and how the judge decided her punishment.

This episode was first published in September 2025.

 

If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.

 

Socials:Stay in touch with us on Instagram

Guest: Investigative journalist and author, Lucie Morris-Marr

Photo: AAP Image/Anita Lester

Almost one year ago, the Supreme Court of Victoria allowed a television camera to broadcast a sentencing for the first time ever &ndash; the hearing for convicted triple murderer Erin Patterson.
Justice Christopher Beale imposed life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 33 years for murdering three in-laws &ndash; and attempting to murder a fourth &ndash; by lacing their beef Wellingtons with poisonous death cap mushrooms in 2023. Now, Patterson has been back in court appealing her convictions, while prosecutors argue her sentence is too lenient and that she should never be released.
Today, we revisit our conversation with investigative journalist and author Lucie Morris-Marr on the sentencing of Erin Patterson, the suffering her crimes caused, and how the judge decided her punishment.
This episode was first published in September 2025.
&nbsp;
If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at <a href="http://7ampodcast.com.au/support">7ampodcast.com.au/support</a>.
&nbsp;
Socials: Stay in touch with us on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/7ampodcast">Instagram</a>
Guest: Investigative journalist and author, Lucie Morris-Marr
Photo:&nbsp;AAP Image/Anita Lester

‘You inflicted untold suffering’: the Erin Patterson sentence being appealed

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/35495b78-6d79-4e52-97ba-b4ad0043aaeb/transcript

For more than a decade, Independent MP Andrew Wilkie has been talking about gambling addiction.

His advocacy means he’s become a lightning rod for people to share their stories.

Now, as the government this week passed legislation aimed at reducing gambling harms, Wilkie is among an angry group of dissenters who say the bill is a “national shame”.

 

If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.

 

Socials:Stay in touch with us on Instagram

Guest: Independent MP Andrew Wilkie

Photo: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

For more than a decade, Independent MP Andrew Wilkie has been talking about gambling addiction.
His advocacy means he&rsquo;s become a lightning rod for people to share their stories.
Now, as the government this week passed legislation aimed at reducing gambling harms, Wilkie is among an angry group of dissenters who say the bill is a &ldquo;national shame&rdquo;.
&nbsp;
If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at <a href="http://7ampodcast.com.au/support">7ampodcast.com.au/support</a>.
&nbsp;
Socials: Stay in touch with us on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/7ampodcast">Instagram</a>
Guest: Independent MP Andrew Wilkie
Photo:&nbsp;AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

“National shame”: Andrew Wilkie on the government’s gambling reforms

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/ce584339-e33b-4f6b-9490-b4ad0040993a/transcript

In 2022, Masha Alyokhina escaped Russia disguised as a food delivery courier. 

She had spent years being arrested, imprisoned and watched by the state for her work with punk rock protest group Pussy Riot and for speaking out against Vladimir Putin.

But Alyokhina says the Russia she fled wasn’t transformed by one dramatic moment. Repression came piece by piece, until fear, censorship and eventually silence became part of everyday life. 

Now, she says the same pattern is taking hold elsewhere, as people become overwhelmed, disengaged from politics, and complacent that the freedoms they inherited will simply endure. 

Today, Pussy Riot’s Masha Alyokhina on what Putin’s Russia can teach us about authoritarianism, and why democracy can never be taken for granted. 

 

If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.

 

Socials:Stay in touch with us on Instagram

Guest: Pussy Riot’s Maria (Masha) Alyokhina

Photo: AAP Image/Kelly Barnes

In 2022, Masha Alyokhina escaped Russia disguised as a food delivery courier.&nbsp;
She had spent years being arrested, imprisoned and watched by the state for her work with punk rock protest group Pussy Riot and for speaking out against Vladimir Putin.
But Alyokhina says the Russia she fled wasn&rsquo;t transformed by one dramatic moment. Repression came piece by piece, until fear, censorship and eventually silence became part of everyday life.&nbsp;
Now, she says the same pattern is taking hold elsewhere, as people become overwhelmed, disengaged from politics, and complacent that the freedoms they inherited will simply endure.&nbsp;
Today, Pussy Riot&rsquo;s Masha Alyokhina on what Putin&rsquo;s Russia can teach us about authoritarianism, and why democracy can never be taken for granted.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
If you enjoy&nbsp;7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at <a href="http://7ampodcast.com.au/support">7ampodcast.com.au/support</a>.
&nbsp;
Socials: Stay in touch with us on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/7ampodcast">Instagram</a>
Guest: Pussy Riot&rsquo;s Maria (Masha) Alyokhina
Photo:&nbsp;AAP Image/Kelly Barnes

Pussy Riot’s Masha on Putin, democracy, and escaping Russia

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/7d3c16d3-6646-4abc-8ce0-b4ac00683c72/transcript

Can Sussan Ley rebuild the Coalition?

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