Anthony Albanese has, with growing confidence, spent years trying to convince voters he's relatable

But this week that confidence carried him somewhere the office of Prime Minister probably shouldn’t go – a game of “shag, marry, date” on a comedy podcast.

The apology came quickly. Then, as the Prime minister turned to rugby league diplomacy in the Pacific, China tested a missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. 

It was a week that moved swiftly from political embarrassment to regional unease, and left Labor managing the Prime Minister’s image at home and Australia’s influence abroad.

Today, press gallery veteran Paul Bongiorno on a turbulent week for Anthony Albaense, marked with missteps, a communication breakdown and a focus on Pacific diplomacy in tumultuous geo-political waters.

 

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

 

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Guest: Press gallery veteran Paul Bongiorno

Photo: @nikkiosborneofficial via Youtube

Anthony Albanese has, with growing confidence, spent years trying to convince voters he's relatable
But this week that confidence carried him somewhere the office of Prime Minister probably shouldn&rsquo;t go &ndash; a game of &ldquo;shag, marry, date&rdquo; on a comedy podcast.
The apology came quickly. Then, as the Prime minister turned to rugby league diplomacy in the Pacific, China tested a missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.&nbsp;
It was a week that moved swiftly from political embarrassment to regional unease, and left Labor managing the Prime Minister&rsquo;s image at home and Australia&rsquo;s influence abroad.
Today, press gallery veteran Paul Bongiorno on a turbulent week for Anthony Albaense, marked with missteps, a communication breakdown and a focus on Pacific diplomacy in tumultuous geo-political waters.
&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: Press gallery veteran Paul Bongiorno
Photo:&nbsp;@nikkiosborneofficial via Youtube

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.

Relatable or risky? The PM’s podcast problem

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/4d0685d3-3474-4ef8-bd5e-b483005682ba/transcript

Another major telco outage has raised the question: what happens when you call triple-zero and can’t get through?

This week, Telstra blamed a software defect for a national outage that disrupted phones, payments and transport – and left more than 300 triple-zero calls failing to connect. The communications watchdog is now investigating.

It comes after last year’s catastrophic Optus failure, when a 13-hour outage blocked hundreds of emergency calls across South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, and was linked to deaths.

ACMA opened an investigation into Optus, but still hasn’t published final findings.

Today, journalist and Crikey contributor Michael Sainsbury – on what went wrong at Optus and how the government’s choices led us here.

This episode was originally 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: Journalist and Crikey contributor, Michael Sainsbury

Photo: AAP Image/George Chan

Another major telco outage has raised the question: what happens when you call triple-zero and can&rsquo;t get through?
This week, Telstra blamed a software defect for a national outage that disrupted phones, payments and transport &ndash; and left more than 300 triple-zero calls failing to connect. The communications watchdog is now investigating.
It comes after last year&rsquo;s catastrophic Optus failure, when a 13-hour outage blocked hundreds of emergency calls across South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, and was linked to deaths.
ACMA opened an investigation into Optus, but still hasn&rsquo;t published final findings.
Today, journalist and&nbsp;Crikey contributor Michael Sainsbury &ndash; on what went wrong at Optus and how the government&rsquo;s choices led us here.
This episode was originally 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: Journalist and Crikey contributor, Michael Sainsbury
Photo:&nbsp;AAP Image/George Chan

Labor’s guilt in the Triple Zero failures

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/310c7843-ca44-40be-a319-b48300549e77/transcript

A call came through with a warning: political operatives were digging for dirt. 

For Amy Remeikis, it wasn’t the first time. But this time, she was told, it was more vicious than usual. 

In Canberra, that kind of warning is part of the machinery: a whisper campaign, a rumour, a file passed around – backgrounding against opponents or perceived threats to vested interests. Enough to make a journalist think twice about who they speak to, where they go and what stories they pursue. 

Too often for women in public life, the tactics are familiar and designed to cut deep. 

Today, contributing editor at The New Daily, Amy Remeikis, on the forces trying to intimidate journalists and why she decided to call it out. 

 

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: Contributing editor for The New Daily Amy Remeikis

Photo: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

A call came through with a warning: political operatives were digging for dirt.&nbsp;
For Amy Remeikis, it wasn&rsquo;t the first time. But this time, she was told, it was more vicious than usual.&nbsp;
In Canberra, that kind of warning is part of the machinery: a whisper campaign, a rumour, a file passed around &ndash; backgrounding against opponents or perceived threats to vested interests. Enough to make a journalist think twice about who they speak to, where they go and what stories they pursue.&nbsp;
Too often for women in public life, the tactics are familiar and designed to cut deep.&nbsp;
Today, contributing editor at The New Daily, Amy Remeikis, on the forces trying to intimidate journalists and why she decided to call it out.&nbsp;
&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: Contributing editor for The New Daily Amy Remeikis
Photo:&nbsp;AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

“Get the b*tch”: The political dirt units targeting journalists

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/7799bb90-0a87-41ef-8dee-b4820055f492/transcript

Survivors say it’s like being stabbed in the back; some were just days away from finally having their day in court against the Christian Brothers when their cases were suddenly put on hold.

The Catholic religious order is crying poor, saying it doesn’t have enough money to pay child sexual abuse victims the compensation they’re owed.

But it’s been revealed that assets worth billions of dollars – that could have been used in the payouts – were instead transferred just out of reach of survivors.

Today, Managing partner at Marque Lawyers, Michael Bradley, on the multimillion-dollar properties sold off for just a dollar, and the crushing court decision that’s left victims in the cold.

 

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: Managing partner at Marque Lawyers, Michael Bradley

Photo: AAP Image/Eoin Blackwell

Survivors say it&rsquo;s like being stabbed in the back; some were just days away from finally having their day in court against the Christian Brothers when their cases were suddenly put on hold.
The Catholic religious order is crying poor, saying it doesn&rsquo;t have enough money to pay child sexual abuse victims the compensation they&rsquo;re owed.
But it&rsquo;s been revealed that assets worth billions of dollars &ndash; that could have been used in the payouts &ndash; were instead transferred just out of reach of survivors.
Today, Managing partner at Marque Lawyers, Michael Bradley, on the multimillion-dollar properties sold off for just a dollar, and the crushing court decision that&rsquo;s left victims in the cold.
&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: Managing partner at Marque Lawyers, Michael Bradley
Photo:&nbsp;AAP Image/Eoin Blackwell

Sold for $1: The Christian Brothers tactic denying victims justice

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/463e64ae-ce9e-47fd-95d5-b4810048503a/transcript

Relatable or risky? The PM’s podcast problem

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