Liberal-held electorates received three times more taxpayer money than Labor-held seats over a three year period spanning the last federal election. That’s the finding of an exclusive analysis by TheSydney Morning Herald and TheAge released today.

Two of our journalists examined an astounding 19,123 individual government grants to local communities totalling $2.8 billion in taxpayer money.

Their results reveal a highly politicised system rife with uneven spending, which experts have slammed as “soft bribery” and “a corruption of our democracy”.

Today on Please Explain, political reporter Katina Curtis and senior economics correspondent Shane Wright join Jess Irvine to discuss.

Liberal-held electorates received three times more taxpayer money than Labor-held seats over a three year period spanning the last federal election. That&rsquo;s the finding of an exclusive analysis by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age released today.
Two of our journalists examined an astounding 19,123 individual government grants to local communities totalling $2.8 billion in taxpayer money.
Their results reveal a highly politicised system rife with uneven spending, which experts have slammed as &ldquo;soft bribery&rdquo; and &ldquo;a corruption of our democracy&rdquo;.
Today on&nbsp;Please Explain, political reporter Katina Curtis and senior economics correspondent Shane Wright join Jess Irvine to discuss.

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.

Tapping the pork barrel: how the government is spending your cash

It is one of the most powerful unions in the country. And has long barracked for rights that are at the core of the Australian Labor Party: decent pay and working conditions.But now, an investigation by The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and 60 Minutes has revealed that underworld figures and bikies have infiltrated the union, and major building projects in Victoria and NSW.

Today, investigative reporter Nick McKenzie on the sudden resignation of controversial CFMEU boss John Setka, in the wake of these allegations. And whether it’s possible to rid the union of corruption, and a culture of standover tactics and bullying.

It is one of the most powerful unions in the country. And has long barracked for rights that are at the core of the Australian Labor Party: decent pay and working conditions.But now, an investigation by The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and 60 Minutes has revealed that underworld figures and bikies have infiltrated the union, and major building projects in Victoria and NSW. Today, investigative reporter Nick McKenzie on the sudden resignation of controversial CFMEU boss John Setka, in the wake of these allegations. And whether it’s possible to rid the union of corruption, and a culture of standover tactics and bullying.

How bikies, underworld figures have infiltrated our construction industry

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/298093c0-d27e-44c6-9850-b1ae0067141f/transcript

On Sunday morning, Australian time, we woke to the news that Donald Trump was shot at a rally in Pennsylvania. 

We saw the images of him with blood streaming down his face, and shortly after, his fist raised in a seeming show of triumph. 

It’s the first time an American president, or presidential candidate, has been shot at in 43 years.

That was then-American president Ronald Reagan. He nearly died. Afterwards, commentators speculated that his grace under fire helped him solidify the support and affection of the American people. 

Today, in a special episode, North American correspondent Farrah Tomazin, on what happened in Pennsylvania. And how this might impact the presidential election.

On Sunday morning, Australian time, we woke to the news that Donald Trump was shot at a rally in Pennsylvania. 
We saw the images of him with blood streaming down his face, and shortly after, his fist raised in a seeming show of triumph. 
It’s the first time an American president, or presidential candidate, has been shot at in 43 years.
That was then-American president Ronald Reagan. He nearly died. Afterwards, commentators speculated that his grace under fire helped him solidify the support and affection of the American people. 
Today, in a special episode, North American correspondent Farrah Tomazin, on what happened in Pennsylvania. And how this might impact the presidential election.

The extraordinary fallout of the Trump shooting that rocked the world

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/2dfa70ef-5cf0-4169-9f1f-b1ad0067fa6a/transcript

They’re worn by the hundreds of lobbyists who are granted access to the building and the politicians who work inside it.It’s a lucrative business - lobbyists charge handsomely to help big firms get access to large federal deals.

And with billions of dollars of government contracts up for grabs - including $22.7 billion for Labor’s made in Australia plan - a new class of Labor-allied lobbyists has emerged.

This has heightened concerns about the power of top lobbyists and renewed calls for more transparency about the access they get to the country’s decision makers.

Today, Chief political correspondent David Crowe talks to Paul Sakkal to discuss this lobbyland and the rise of Labor insiders becoming guns for hire, as well as the emergence of a new group called The Muslim Vote that is also trying to influence politics.

They’re worn by the hundreds of lobbyists who are granted access to the building and the politicians who work inside it.It’s a lucrative business - lobbyists charge handsomely to help big firms get access to large federal deals.
And with billions of dollars of government contracts up for grabs - including $22.7 billion for Labor’s made in Australia plan - a new class of Labor-allied lobbyists has emerged.
This has heightened concerns about the power of top lobbyists and renewed calls for more transparency about the access they get to the country’s decision makers.
Today, Chief political correspondent David Crowe talks to Paul Sakkal to discuss this lobbyland and the rise of Labor insiders becoming guns for hire, as well as the emergence of a new group called The Muslim Vote that is also trying to influence politics.

Inside Politics: 'Guns for hire' and the power of lobbying in Australia

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/28b30b56-7cb1-47ef-9537-b1ab00603f55/transcript

Tapping the pork barrel: how the government is spending your cash

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