Episode 99: Broken economics, climate change targets, Liberals at it again and good news on plastic

Van Badham and Ben Davison give a quick update on the goings on
at parliament (Aged care reforms, workers in the halls, cultural
policy, a review of defence and attempts to claw back the
"Workforce Australia" program) before jumping into how the
economic establishment has gotten things so very wrong during the
cost of living & inflation crisis.


With inflation climbing and interest rates rising but wages going
backwards and profits at record levels Van and Ben discuss how
the fever dream of a long dead right wing economist has become
the economic gospel with which we are being beaten around the
head.


BUT workers are taking a stand to win better pay and conditions
at the same time the Labor government is strengthening the social
infrastructure that will help workers win pay rises. 
Australian union members are taking action at NSW rail and
Launceston hospital (among many places) while even more refuse
pay cuts from big banks and Qantas. Van sets listeners a
challenge to join your union before the end of the episode at
australianunions.org.au/wow


Among the many political stories the legislation to enshrine a
43% emissions reduction floor into law is a big focus.  The
Greens have finally announced they will support Labor's
Repowering Australia approach while Dutton takes his Coalition
off to explore nuclear power....again.


The Queensland based leader of the Coalition, Dutton, must be
almost thankful for his lack of relevance because at least it
means that he, unlike his NSW and Victorian Liberal leaders,
isn't currently being investigated for a scandal.  Dom
Perrottet lost a minister earlier in the week and lost his deputy
leader today while Matthew Guy lost his chief of staff and
gained, at least, a Victorian Electoral Commission investigation!


The good environment news is about removing plastics from the
ocean and a process that is being refined to the point where it
MIGHT happen in our lifetime.


Plus we give a huge shout out to all our supporters from
www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday who contribute to making the
podcast happen and getting it into the ears of people around the
nation.