Adrian Esterman On The Winter Wave Of COVID-19; The Demise Of Boris Johnson And The Tory Leadership Contest; The State of Australia's Urban Environments

Epidemiologist Adrian Esterman joins Amy to discuss the winter COVID-19 wave of cases we are currently experiencing. With Australia's COVID cases and death rates the third highest in the world per capita in the past week, there are demands for basic public health measures to be reintroduced. Adrian is Professor of Biostatistics and Epidemiology at the University of SA. Andrew Walter, Professor of International Relations at the University of Melbourne dropped by to talk about the latest in UK politics, including the demise of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the final round of the Tory leadership contest between Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss. Andrew also discusses some of the other leadership contenders who have since left the field but are making their mark on the Tory party, including Kemi Badenoch. Dr Kylie Soanes, conservation biologist at the University of Melbourne delves into the State of the Environment Report, finally released by the federal government. With the report declaring that urban environments are in the best condition – rated as "good and neutral" – Kylie discusses whether this assessment reflects the reality of nature in our cities and urban ecologies. In fact, Australia’s cities and towns are home to more than 46% of threatened species – including some plants and animals that can’t be found anywhere else in the world. Kylie shares what we can do to save our most at risk species living in cities and urban environments – from our backyards and our balconies.