RN Drive's Country Drive ploughs through some of the most important news of the week from rural and regional Australia.

The Government has updated the SafeWork Australia website with industry-specific guidelines for businesses to re-open and carry on in a "COVID-safe" manner.

The Prime Minister is urging Australians to start returning to Covid-safe workplaces, as the number of people unemployed grows to one million.

Last month, the government of Malawi tried to impose a lockdown, but was knocked back by the courts.

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission is threatening to revoke the license of the facility at the centre of a deadly COVID-19 outbreak at Penrith in Sydney's west.

Australia's $15 billion arts industry has been smashed apart by the restrictions put in place to tackle coronavirus, so when restrictions do finally lift, will our arts industry have the same support?

Cardinal George Pell was aware of abuse being committed by clergy as early as the 1970s, and failed on two occasions to take action to remove paedophile priests, the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has found. Cardinal Pell said he was surprised by some of the views of the Royal Commission about his actions, and he said these views are not supported by evidence.

Up to 150 superannuation accounts have been illegally accessed by what the Australian Federal Police says is a sophisticated operation targeting the early release super scheme.

According to a new model of measuring burnout symptoms, our personality types, along with our at-home juggle, may be impacting our achievement levels.

There are fears without adequate protection, entire tribes in the Brazilian Amazon could be eradicated.

South Korea has this week further relaxed their social distancing rules, allowing a phased reopening of businesses as the nation has largely managed to get on top of the coronavirus outbreak.

Parliament is set to pass legislation introducing tough penalties for people or agencies who access data from the COVIDSafe app in violation of its stated purpose.

A timeless, anachronistic debut record from the double-Grammy-winners.

North Carolina outfit’s seventh LP seduces the listener from its first track.

Their first album for 10 years is more than a purely perfunctory comeback.

Tilston eloquently explores the relationship between technology and the human condition.

Artful simplicity from the couple in the cottage next door.

A concept album about the 17th century witch trials of Essex? Yes please.

A spirited album converting life’s sadder aspects into music graced with humour and joy.

A refreshingly varied voyage, with Tom Waits, Beth Orton and Patti Smith amongst the crew.

A sense of love and lightness lingers after this eighth album has run its course.

A lovely piece of programming, tenderly performed.

Bělohlávek and the BBC SO make a powerful case for this intense work.

Ibragimova’s svelte, unforced violin tone is just right.

Uchida's measured approach reaps rewards, capturing the joy in this life-affirming music.

The first step on what seems to be a joyous journey for the Norwegian pianist.

Vinci’s final opera possesses extraordinary energy and some beautiful moments.

The most exciting and consistently well-sung Don Giovanni to appear for several years.

Schiff transcends all questions of instrumentation to deliver a pure experience.

Fluently stylish and idiomatic, these performers live and breathe Bach's music.

A deeply affecting experience that ought to win the opera many new admirers.

The pair exhibits a refined style on these illuminating performances.

This sensitive, dynamic recording is a joy, and may even constitute a revelation.

In its own way, the Seven Words of Christ is just as sublime as the Stabat Mater.

This joyous set of Beethoven's sonatas takes its place among the very best.

Bolan’s brilliance came through clearly on T. Rex’s seventh LP.

Offers more than a whistle-stop tour of the hits.

A debut both understated and triumphant the same time.

An indispensable illustration of the wild and vivid evolution of 1960s psychedelia.

A justified addition to the many Rumours already making the rounds.

A triumphant, almost defiant, return – innovative, dark, bold and creative.

Foxx’s third Maths-assisted set is probably his best post-Ultravox LP.

How the US and China have handled the coronavirus contagion and the secret history of Labor's election debacle.

Is the government pulling the right levers to mitigate the economic impact of Covid-19. How long can the Australian economy survive shut downs before we tip into irreparable damage? 

Hear from the chair of Infection Control at the National University Hospital in Singapore, who says home isolation is impossible to enforce, and everyone who tests positive for coronavirus should be isolated in hospitals or in designated hotels until they recover. Plus, veteran British historian Max Hastings discusses his new history of the World War Two Dambusters raid.

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has told the army to shoot to kill anyone who violates strict COVID-19 lockdowns. Has he gone too far, or is this just more of the strong-man machismo that made him so popular? We talk to Sheila Coronel, Professor of Investigative Journalism at the Columbia Journalism School. Also, why don't Australian prime ministers leave quietly? Australia has had 30 prime ministers since its Federation in 1901. According to political historian Norman Abjorensen they all have one thing in common: a marked reluctance to relinquish power.

What impact will Boris’ bout of COVID-19 have on his leadership and the nation’s fight against the virus?  His former boss, political columnist Charles Moore weighs in. Later in the program Moore discusses his best-selling three volume biography of Margaret Thatcher. Was the Iron Lady really an eco-warrior? Would she have supported Brexit?

How do we revive the economy once the pandemic passes? Coronavirus has Australia headed for a deep recession, so what can we do now to plan our way out of it? Is the answer more government intervention and state planning? Or, is now the time to launch a new reform agenda that sharpens the incentives to work, save, invest and hire? And, Alexander Downer: “I don’t know what China’s problem is” Prime Minister Scott Morrison has called for an investigation into the origins of the virus. But China’s Ambassador in Canberra upped the stakes this week by threatening a trade and tourism boycott of Australia. Australia’s longest serving Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer says China’s Cold War style rhetoric will backfire on it, and it is in everyone’s interests to investigate the origins of the virus. But as we head into recession, can we afford to aggravate our largest trade partner?

Sweden's virus experiment: death sentence, or a way forward?

We make it easy for New Zealanders to work in Australia but not so easy for them to survive in times of personal crisis. Four Kiwis tell their stories of falling between the cracks.