Weekend Wrap 11th September 2022: SPECIAL Van Badham joins Ben to discuss parliament, the death of Queen Elizabeth II and what’s next

"The Week on Wednesday" with Van Badham & Ben Davison

Van Badham and Ben Davison discuss the big issues from the week in parliament, including the first climate legislation in a decade, family and domestic violence leave and the scrapping of the the multi-million dollar grant program to the governor-general's pet foundation, before the historic passing of Queen Elizabeth.

Van and Ben - both republicans - discuss why the passing of the Queen is a historic moment, the differences in Australian and British reactions, why Prime Minister Albanese's nuanced understanding of this moment as Australia makes our own way towards recognition & reconciliation was so important on Insiders and how the 73 year old King Charles III may, or may not, take his lifetime of environmental advocacy into his role as King.

While the last 70 years have seen a passive and unifying monarch on the throne, Ben and Van remind us that Elizabeth's kingly grandfather was a key player in the First World War, her kingly uncle abdicated while harbouring fascist sympathies and that while the United Kingdom is currently so very troubled it remains to be seen what role King Charles III will take in British life.