The federal Attorney-General Christian Porter has identified himself as the cabinet minister accused of a sexual assault that allegedly took place in 1988. He strongly denied the allegations and refused to resign or step aside. Also on today’s show, Judith Brett on the crisis facing Australia’s university sector.

The future of Australia’s universities hangs in the balance, with radical reforms to funding and student fees due to be voted this week. The government has been negotiating furiously behind closed doors to pass its legislation through the Senate. Today, Rick Morton, on the surprising stance taken by Senator Jacqui Lambie.

Australia’s universities have been hit hard by the pandemic, with thousands of job losses. Now the federal government wants to change the way the sector is funded, and how much students will pay. Today, Rick Morton on the crisis facing our universities, and why we’re on the brink of destroying our national research capacity.

As our hospitals face pressure from coronavirus outbreaks, we’re relying on nurses more than ever. But at the same time, the pandemic means many nursing students may not be able to graduate. Today, Santilla Chingaipe on the looming shortfall in our health workforce.

Almost overnight, Australian universities lost billions of dollars in international student fees. Some are asking how they could have been so reckless in depending on this money in the first place.

The boom in international education has seen students become commodities. It has also changed the way universities operate - chasing rankings and casualising teaching staff.