Ross Gittins, the longest continuously serving columnist in The Sydney Morning Herald’s 193-year history, is celebrating his 50th anniversary of writing for our mastheads, today.

Over the last 50 years, he’s covered 50 federal budgets, 19 federal elections, 11 prime ministers, and 16 treasurers.

He’s seen promises made and broken - and the economic reality of Australians change immeasurably.

Ross was, after all, around to write about the time when the price of eggs, bread and petrol were all set by the state government.

Today, he joins me to discuss how life has improved - and worsened - over the last 50 years, as a result of our economic policies. 

Ross Gittins, the longest continuously serving columnist in The Sydney Morning Herald’s 193-year history, is celebrating his 50th anniversary of writing for our mastheads, today.
Over the last 50 years, he’s covered 50 federal budgets, 19 federal elections, 11 prime ministers, and 16 treasurers.
He’s seen promises made and broken - and the economic reality of Australians change immeasurably.
Ross was, after all, around to write about the time when the price of eggs, bread and petrol were all set by the state government.
Today, he joins me to discuss how life has improved - and worsened - over the last 50 years, as a result of our economic policies.

The Morning Edition (formerly Please Explain) brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition (formerly Please Explain) brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition

The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

Bastardry, budgets and broken promises: Ross Gittins on 50 years covering economics

Last week, the leader of Australia’s opposition party Peter Dutton called for a ban on visas for all Palestinians from war-torn Gaza, saying the potential security threat was too great.

It set off furious debate, and was condemned as divisive and heartless by some, while others said such a ban should apply, but only to Hamas supporters.

While this argument continues, we go to Gaza, where life has become almost one big queue for survival as families spend their days lining up for daily rations of water and food. All while trying to stay well and safe amid the spread of disease and continued bombardment.

Today, an aid worker with Oxfam, Bushra Khalidi, speaks to us from the West Bank about her family’s life in Gaza. How common support for Hamas is there, and what she thinks of the debate about visas for Palestinians in Australia.

Last week, the leader of Australia’s opposition party Peter Dutton called for a ban on visas for all Palestinians from war-torn Gaza, saying the potential security threat was too great.
It set off furious debate, and was condemned as divisive and heartless by some, while others said such a ban should apply, but only to Hamas supporters.
While this argument continues, we go to Gaza, where life has become almost one big queue for survival as families spend their days lining up for daily rations of water and food. All while trying to stay well and safe amid the spread of disease and continued bombardment.
Today, an aid worker with Oxfam, Bushra Khalidi, speaks to us from the West Bank about her family’s life in Gaza. How common support for Hamas is there, and what she thinks of the debate about visas for Palestinians in Australia.

What life in Gaza is like while Australia debates visas

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/02097d7d-e6f1-45c4-b435-b1ce0064e781/transcript

After a six-week break over winter, the Parliament was a fiery place this week.

Labor framed the next election as one between the “mainstream vs the maddies”, and the opposition is homing in on its framing of the prime minister as dishonest.

But, as has been the case so many times in the past year, the parliament again convulsed over the war in Gaza. Opposition leader Peter Dutton started a sharp immigration row when he called for Palestinians to be blocked from Australia because they may sympathise with Hamas. The vehemently pro-Israel leader sought to portray Labor as weak on the Gaza issue by questioning their approach on the refugee intake.

But how will this play out in electorate, and how has the government responded?

Joining Paul Sakkal are chief political correspondent David Crowe and home affairs and immigration reporter Natassia Chrysanthos.

After a six-week break over winter, the Parliament was a fiery place this week.
Labor framed the next election as one between the “mainstream vs the maddies”, and the opposition is homing in on its framing of the prime minister as dishonest.
But, as has been the case so many times in the past year, the parliament again convulsed over the war in Gaza. Opposition leader Peter Dutton started a sharp immigration row when he called for Palestinians to be blocked from Australia because they may sympathise with Hamas. The vehemently pro-Israel leader sought to portray Labor as weak on the Gaza issue by questioning their approach on the refugee intake.
But how will this play out in electorate, and how has the government responded?
Joining Paul Sakkal are chief political correspondent David Crowe and home affairs and immigration reporter Natassia Chrysanthos.

Inside Politics: Dutton goes hard on visas for Palestinians

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/7a831aaa-8d8a-4bd3-9871-b1cd00540cb6/transcript

When former White House deputy national security advisor, Matt Pottinger, issued a warning to global leaders the other day, he didn’t mince his words.

Those who still entertain the idea of a ‘stable’ relationship with Chinese president Xi Jinping are “smoking dope”. To do so, he says, means they haven't really been listening to Xi Jinping, about his aims for world domination.

Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher, on the dangerous message that China sent out, the other week. And which global leaders, according to Matt Pottinger, need to rethink their relationship with China.

When former White House deputy national security advisor, Matt Pottinger, issued a warning to global leaders the other day, he didn’t mince his words.
Those who still entertain the idea of a ‘stable’ relationship with Chinese president Xi Jinping are “smoking dope”. To do so, he says, means they haven't really been listening to Xi Jinping, about his aims for world domination.
Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher, on the dangerous message that China sent out, the other week. And which global leaders, according to Matt Pottinger, need to rethink their relationship with China.

'We do a terrible job at listening': Peter Hartcher on China's growing threat

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/45b8c23b-6686-472a-8e7e-b1cc005bbb64/transcript

Bastardry, budgets and broken promises: Ross Gittins on 50 years covering economics

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