Two-time Miles Franklin Award-winning author Michelle de Kretser has never been afraid of formal experimentation. Her seventh and latest book supports that idea. It is bold and, once again, a heady mix of serious intellectual inquiry with beautifully observed characterisation and formal play. On this episode of Read This, Michael sits down with Michelle for a conversation about Theory & Practice and she reveals why writing it felt so different to all of her other books.

Two-time Miles Franklin Award-winning author Michelle de Kretser has never been afraid of formal experimentation. Her seventh and latest book supports that idea. It is bold and, once again, a heady mix of serious intellectual inquiry with beautifully observed characterisation and formal play. On this episode of&nbsp;Read This, Michael sits down with Michelle for a conversation about&nbsp;Theory &amp; Practice&nbsp;and she reveals why writing it felt so different to all of her other books.

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.

A daily news show from the publisher of The Monthly and The Saturday Paper.

A daily news show from the publisher of The Monthly and The Saturday Paper. Hear from the country’s best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia. This is news with narrative, every weekday.

Read This: This Is Not Michelle de Kretser

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/b49d9711-cbc0-4f34-8dd0-b27d00332af3/transcript

It was the second of March 1996. After 13 years of Labor in power, Paul Keating’s government had been defeated in a landslide, closing the door on the Hawke-Keating era and opening another on a new political age.

John Howard’s victory marked the beginning of a prime ministership that would run for eleven years – redefining the Liberal Party, reshaping the economy, hardening the culture wars and changing the way power is exercised in Canberra.

In this three-part series, Amy Remeikis – contributing editor at The New Daily takes us back to Howard’s years in power.

Amy has just released a new book on Howard, Where It All Went Wrong: The case against John Howard. In this series she traces his improbable rise to the prime ministership, the way he consolidated power, and how he reshaped the nation in his own image.

This is Part 1 of a three-part series.

 

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: Author of Where It All Went Wrong: The case against John Howard, Amy Remeikis

It was the second of March 1996. After 13 years of Labor in power, Paul Keating&rsquo;s government had been defeated in a landslide, closing the door on the Hawke-Keating era and opening another on a new political age.
John Howard&rsquo;s victory marked the beginning of a prime ministership that would run for eleven years &ndash; redefining the Liberal Party, reshaping the economy, hardening the culture wars and changing the way power is exercised in Canberra.
In this three-part series, Amy Remeikis &ndash; contributing editor at&nbsp;The New Daily takes us back to Howard&rsquo;s years in power.
Amy has just released a new book on Howard,&nbsp;Where It All Went Wrong: The case against John Howard. In this series she traces his improbable rise to the prime ministership, the way he consolidated power, and how he reshaped the nation in his own image.
This is Part 1 of a three-part series.
&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: Author of Where It All Went Wrong: The case against John Howard, Amy Remeikis

The Howard Effect: Australia’s Sliding Doors Moment

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/7efbb76d-2e62-4bc0-9bfb-b3fe00584b93/transcript

The United States has entered a new war in the Middle East – alongside Israel – launching strikes inside Iran.

Iranian authorities say civilians have been targeted, including in a strike on a girls’ primary school in Minab – killing more than a hundred children. Israel says it’s targeting the regime’s military and nuclear infrastructure. And across the region, Iran has already fired missiles and drones at Israel and at Arab states hosting American forces.

Then came the most consequential announcement of all: Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is dead.

Khamenei was the centre of Iran’s power for decades – and his death leaves the country’s leadership in flux, at the exact moment the conflict is spreading.

Today, Dr Bader Mousa Al-Saif – a Gulf politics expert, assistant professor of history at Kuwait University and non-resident fellow at The Arab Gulf States institute – on the goal of regime change in Iran and whether Gulf states will pick a side.

 

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: Gulf politics expert and assistant professor of history at Kuwait University, Dr Bader Mousa Al-Saif

Photo: EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH

The United States has entered a new war in the Middle East &ndash; alongside Israel &ndash; launching strikes inside Iran.
Iranian authorities say civilians have been targeted, including in a strike on a girls&rsquo; primary school in Minab &ndash; killing more than a hundred children. Israel says it&rsquo;s targeting the regime&rsquo;s military and nuclear infrastructure. And across the region, Iran has already fired missiles and drones at Israel and at Arab states hosting American forces.
Then came the most consequential announcement of all: Iran&rsquo;s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is dead.
Khamenei was the centre of Iran&rsquo;s power for decades &ndash; and his death leaves the country&rsquo;s leadership in flux, at the exact moment the conflict is spreading.
Today, Dr Bader Mousa Al-Saif &ndash; a Gulf politics expert, assistant professor of history at Kuwait University and non-resident fellow at The Arab Gulf States institute &ndash; on the goal of regime change in Iran and whether Gulf states will pick a side.
&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: Gulf politics expert and assistant professor of history at Kuwait University, Dr Bader Mousa Al-Saif
Photo:&nbsp;EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH

Trump’s Iran war: regime change or regime chaos?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/9798e4c7-2280-43b2-a39d-b400006d52fe/transcript

Immigration is back at the centre of federal politics – again.

The Coalition’s new leadership is arguing Australia needs lower numbers, tougher rules, and a clearer cap on how many people we bring in each year.

It’s a familiar conversation. In the lead up to the 2024 election, Peter Dutton tried to put a hard number on it – promising to cut migration by 100,000 a year, saying it would help free up housing for Australians.

But critics say a large cut would hit the workforce Australia relies on, including the people needed to build more homes.

Abul Rizvi was a senior official in the Department of Immigration from the early 90s to 2007, when he left as deputy secretary.

He says the argument we keep having – election after election – skips the bigger question: Australia’s need for a long-term population plan, and what we want it to achieve.

Today, Abul Rizvi on the politics of population growth.

This episode was first published in April, 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: Former deputy secretary of the department of immigration, Abul Rizvi.

Photo: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

Immigration is back at the centre of federal politics &ndash; again.
The Coalition&rsquo;s new leadership is arguing Australia needs lower numbers, tougher rules, and a clearer cap on how many people we bring in each year.
It&rsquo;s a familiar conversation. In the lead up to the 2024 election, Peter Dutton tried to put a hard number on it &ndash; promising to cut migration by 100,000 a year, saying it would help free up housing for Australians.
But critics say a large cut would hit the workforce Australia relies on, including the people needed to build more homes.
Abul Rizvi was a senior official in the Department of Immigration from the early 90s to 2007, when he left as deputy secretary.
He says the argument we keep having &ndash; election after election &ndash; skips the bigger question: Australia&rsquo;s need for a long-term population plan, and what we want it to achieve.
Today, Abul Rizvi on the politics of population growth.
This episode was first published in April, 2025.
 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: Former deputy secretary of the department of immigration, Abul Rizvi.
Photo: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

How big should Australia be?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/11d02339-bad1-4c4e-9bd1-b3fb003f6226/transcript

Read This: This Is Not Michelle de Kretser

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