What's Your Poison

This week we are joined by Rabbi Gersh Lazarow, founding rabbi of Shtiebel in Melbourne, for a conversation we have mostly avoided on this show. We recorded it a few days after the anniversary of October 7. It is frank, sometimes uncomfortable, and one of the more important episodes we have done. We discuss personal journeys, cultural traditions, and identity. Gersh shares his story of leaving apa...

We're joined by Louise Clegg, former Sydney barrister, Spectator columnist and wife of Opposition Leader Angus Taylor. She takes us through life at the bar, the Constitution, and her views on the Voice. We talk technocracy, and how it affects everything from native vegetation rules to renewable energy zones. We explore why the Liberals are roadkill and why One Nation can't survive captain's calls...

An OpenAI agent wandered into the Medicare and Services Australia backend. OpenAI told Canberra three months later in an automated email, and the government held the story until Albo was at the UN selling the digital duty of care. We cover what agents actually do, whether a missing fence counts as a break-in, Klaus, the pause letters, and the race with China. Then the duty of care itself. After th...

We're joined by Jack Gough, CEO of the Invasive Species Council, to talk about protecting Australian wildlife, including when that means culling other animals. We get into feral cats, the Brumby wars, and how a feral horse became a protected heritage item in a national park. We also ask why every conversation about the environment becomes a debate about climate change, and whether conservation sho...

This week we talk in-depth about the media landscape and the influence of news outlets on political engagement, including the role of news organisations and the impact of media on public opinion and political discourse. The death of humour in politics and the impact of political satire on free speech. We talk pork barrel politics, bureaucratic accountability, digital duty of care, leadership turbu...

We're joined by Dr Nick Coatsworth, former Deputy Chief Medical Officer, which means we talk the pandemic. What the public health measures actually did, how governments and the media shaped what people believed, and why conspiracy theories filled the gaps. We get into the geopolitics of the pandemic, and what happens when the argument is happening on someone else's platform. We then exlore social...

We talk about living wakes and their significance, then take a deep dive into the Bush Summit in Dubbo, where farmers air their grievances and political figures respond. We get into the dynamics between the Nationals and One Nation, and what they mean for regional politics. We cover the challenges facing the agricultural industry, how geopolitical issues ripple through the food supply, including b...

This week we sit down with Elizabeth Lukin, ex-AFL GM Corporate Affairs and Comms, who arrives with an alcohol-free drink and many good stories. We unpack the Sydney Swans scandal, how it's being handled, the culture of sports, the AFL, and the Swans. Francis Leach also joins us as we get into male entitlement and misogyny in sport, how much of the pile-on is genuine accountability versus media sa...

With guest Ryan Heath - Editor of Politico Australia. We cover the week, Ryans story and the changing Australian political landscape. We explore the media's approach to reporting political events and the role of Politico in filling the gaps in political reporting. We also talk political media tactics, diplomatic incidents, party politics, and the impact of populism on political parties.

Guests: Danielle Elston & Caroline Croser-Barlow from the Westminster Tradition podcast. We cover a range of topics, including the Canberra experience, the role of Parliament, the naming of Canberra, whiskey and beer, the Westminster Tradition Podcast, perspectives on staffers and bureaucrats, the role of lobbyists and advocacy, perceptions of the bureaucracy, the impact of COVID on bureaucrac...

Guest - Keith Wolahan (former MP, Menzies) This episode we deep dive into Victorian politics, the future of the Liberal party, the the evolution of political messaging, the impact of historical political strategies, and the role of values in political identity. You can read Keith's article here: https://inflectionpoints.work/articles/liberal-foundations Chapters 00:00 Setting the Scene: Happy Frid...

Peter is live from the Labor National Conference in Adelaide. The backdrop for discussions on various policy issues. We discuss various issues including the role of the Labour Party, the impact of One Nation, and the significance of the AUKUS alliance. We also touch on the gas export tax, Palestine, and voluntary assisted dying. We also explore Barnaby and his on-air dog yelling, Pauline and her g...

Guest: Lizzie O'Shea - Lawyer and Author. This week's conversation we really focus on AI, Data Centres, digital rights, technology, and government policy. We explore the complexities of AI, the role of digital rights, and the impact of technology on society. We debate the challenges of centralising policy-making and the commercialisation of technology, the need for a nuanced approach to AI and the...

Telstra OUT! We cover telecommunications, political media, and Telstra network outage(s), the impact, the fallout, the causes, the handling of it. What does this mean for Australian businesses, data centers, AI regulation, and the impacts on society. We then move onto the complexities of regulating AI and the importance of understanding the practicalities of implementing such regulations. Chapters...

Guest: Ed Coper We discuss the impact of social media algorithms on political discourse and public opinion. The role of anger and outrage in shaping online content and the need for algorithmic reform, including the challenges of educating people on information literacy and the ethical implications of AI-generated content. We talk about Ed's new book 'Angertainment'. And of course the critical anal...

We discuss the Brisbane vibe, then dig into unions and collective bargaining in the workplace. We discuss Victoria's upcoming election, some of the controversy and the fallout it caused, the disunity and public opinion of the Liberal Party, the rise of One Nation and its influence, how public perception and politics have shifted post-lockdown, the role of billionaires in policy, and the risk that...

We cover the inner workings of the Prime Minister's Office, Pauline's Press Club speech, populist campaign and political risks, immigration and multiculturalism, press club questions, and public perception and political shifts. The impact to the two-party system, media influence, and political positioning on the Australian political landscape. The role of humour and engagement in political communi...

Guest: Eamonn Fitzpatrick This week we cover a range of topics including, the impact of Indonesia as an economic and cultural partner, China's role in the region, and the challenges of middle power coordination. The economic impact of global events and the potential disruptions to supply chains. The rise of populism and media disregard, particularly in the context of Trump's approach and its simil...

Guests : Parnell Palme McGuinness and Francis Leach This week we discuss political tribalism, careers across media and politics. Labor passing budget measures, Allegra Spender’s protest, and AUKUS shifting to three used submarines and long timelines. AUKUS as deeper US integration, deterrence and sea-lane security, changing warfare via drones, nuclear sensitivities, and Australia’s energy and indu...

Featured guest: Jacqui Munro MLC (NSW) Political decisions seen through the lens of the West Wing, House of Cards, and The Thick of It. State-owned development and housing affordability in New South Wales. The challenges posed by bureaucratic regulations in construction, the impact of unions, fire ratings, and excessive paperwork. The data centre inquiry and governance, the lack of clarity in poli...

The budget one week on, CG and the media/political class response, hypocrisy and political posturing. The inaugural enhanced games and what it means for athletes. The impact of data centres and AI . Takeaways Budget and Taxation Media and Political Class Hypocrisy and Political Posturing Political dynamics between parties Impact of AI on society Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Poison Choices 06:28...

Guests: Fiona Scott, and Fiona Scott. Budget Week in Canberra, the impact of the budget on Labor and the Coalition, and the issue of trust in politics and broken promises. Housing affordability and the political blame game surrounding it. Dark economic scenarios and homelessness measures. Takeaways Budget Week in Canberra Impact of the Budget on Labor and Coalition Trust in Politics and Broken Pro...

We talk about Farrer by-election , First Nations tragedies and political failures, the impact of AI on media, challenges in journalism and media revenue, and predictions for the upcoming budget and its economic impact. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Drink Choices 23:05 First Nations Tragedies and Political Failures 31:37 The Impact of AI on Media 55:05 Budget Predictions and Economic Impact

We discuss Anzac Day (and the booing) and it's ever changing nature the evolution of Anzac Day celebrations, the state of the Minns NSW government, responses to crises, drug law reform, and our predictions for the week ahead. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Poison of Choice 09:16 Anzac Day Controversy 22:15 New South Wales Government and Policy 31:25 Drug Law Reform 44:30 Public Opinion and Politi...

We're in person this week talking about the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and its complexities, international alliances, defence relationships, energy policy, and nuclear technology. Chapters 00:00 Drinks and Introductions 07:12 History and Reform of the NDIS 13:17 Challenges and Controversies of the NDIS 21:08 International Alliances and Defence Relationships 32:59 Nuclear Technolog...