Uncommon Sense

Luke Henriques-Gomes, Guardian Australia’s social affairs and inequality editor, delves into the urgent issues of inequality in Australia and the latest developments in the social security system, including the rate changes to JobSeeker, program changes to ParentsNext, the significant difficulties for people seeking to access the Disability Support Payment, and more. ​​ Ecologist, natural historia...

Solomon Islander journalist Dorothy Wickham speaks from Honiara about what life is really like in Solomon Islands. She explains the political realities and domestic concerns of Solomon Islanders as their country finds itself in the middle of a geopolitical tussle between China, the US and Australia. Dorothy is editor at the Melanesian News Network and her latest essay, 'The View From Solomon Islan...

Amy returns with a federal budget analysis and is joined by politics regulars Chris Wallace and Rachel Withers. Solomon Islander journalist Dorothy Wickham speaks from Honiara about what life is really like in Solomon Islands. She explains the political realities and domestic concerns of Solomon Islanders as their country finds itself in the middle of a geopolitical tussle between China, the US an...

Former Leader of the Australian Greens, environmentalist, and giant of the conservation movement Bob Brown speaks in-depth with Amy Mullins. In a wide-ranging conversation, Bob reflects on his life of activism, protest, and deep personal connection with nature including the giant native trees of Tasmania, as depicted in an inspiring documentary, THE GIANTS (in cinemas April 20). The film interweav...

Rachel Withers, The Politics Columnist and Contributing Editor of The Monthly speaks about the latest developments on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament. Former Leader of the Australian Greens, environmentalist, and giant of the conservation movement Bob Brown speaks in-depth with host Amy Mullins. In a wide-ranging and deep conversation, Bob reflects on his life of activism, protest, and deep per...

It's Piano Day across the world on Wednesday 29th March 2023. Composer and contemporary classical pianist Sophie Hutchings and FLOAT Founder and Piano Day organiser Sofia Ilyas speak with host Amy Mullins as they delve into their love for the piano and contemporary piano music in its many forms. An annual worldwide celebration of the piano, Piano Day is held on the 88th day of the year in referenc...

Nick Feik, former editor of The Monthly returns to speak about how federal Australian climate policy has been reverse-engineered to protect the interests of the fossil-fuel industry. He takes us through the issues with Labor's climate policy and the details of the safeguard mechanism, as outlined in his latest essay for The Monthly . After extensive negotiations, the safeguard mechanism bill is se...

Historian Dr Emma Shortis and veteran political journalist Brian Toohey delve into the multi-faceted problems with the AUKUS alliance, Australia's $368 billion nuclear submarines announcement, and former PM Paul Keating's significant intervention in the debate at the National Press Club . They draw out and explore the big picture strategic issues Keating raised. Brian has been writing extensively...

Dr Emily Millane , Economic Security and Governance Lead at Impact Economics and Policy, speaks in-depth about the history of superannuation policy in Australia, the reluctance of governments to tackle major tax reform, plus how the Robodebt Royal Commission has revealed a deeper problem with the way the public service now operates. Historian Dr Emma Shortis and veteran political journalist Brian...

Canberra-born Alix Biggs speaks to Amy while sheltering from a major air raid conducted by Russia in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv. Alix explains what life is like on the ground for everyday Ukrainians subject to regular air raid offensives with missiles and drones. She shares how Ukrainians perceive the war and the level of military and humanitarian support provided by Western countries, as well as the...

Canberra-born Alix Biggs speaks to Amy while sheltering from a major air raid conducted by Russia in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv. Alix explains what life is like on the ground for everyday Ukrainians subject to regular air raid offensives with missiles and drones. She shares how Ukrainians perceive the war and the level of military and humanitarian support provided by Western countries, as well as the...

Rachel Withers, Contributing Editor to The Monthly and columnist for The Politics chats about the latest in federal politics, including The Voice to Parliament referendum, Labor's proposed amendments to the climate change "safeguard mechanism," superannuation tax reform, and the Robodebt Royal Commission hearings. Chris Schuringa, Campaign Coordinator for Victorian Forest Alliance, speaks in-depth...

Why is philosophy so male-dominated? Did female philosophers exist in ancient times? (Yes.) Dr Dawn LaValle Norman talks about the presence and role of women in ancient philosophical dialogues and her project, The Diotima Prize. This playwriting competition seeks to address the lack of women featured in philosophical dialogues. Dawn explains who the priestess and philosopher Diotima was, as she ap...

Dr Richard Denniss, Executive Director of The Australia Institute, returns to discuss his latest piece in The Monthly on the failures of federal and state COVID-19 policy and Richard tells us what the real causes of inflation and rising interest rates are. There’s no risk to the economy of a wage-price spiral, rather a profit-price spiral. Dr Damian Smith, art historian, curator, and art critic, s...

Dr Damian Smith, art historian, curator, and art critic, speaks about a new book he edited, The Geoff Raby Collection of Contemporary Chinese Art (La Trobe University Press). Dr Geoff Raby AO was Australia’s Ambassador to China between 2007 and 2011, and donated 174 contemporary Chinese art works to La Trobe University. Raby arrived in Beijing in the 1980s where he first encountered the emerging c...

Professor Andrew Walter from the University of Melbourne stops by to discuss the recent developments in Scotland with the shock resignation of long-serving First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. He also looks at the latest in UK politics and the Northern Ireland Protocol negotiations with the European Union. Acclaimed London-based writer Marina Benjamin speaks in-depth about her latest memoir, A Little G...

Acclaimed London-based writer Marina Benjamin speaks in-depth about her latest memoir, A Little Give: the unsung, unseen, undone work of women (Scribe). Marina talks about these interlinked essays and verse, in which she examines in her own life the tasks once termed, ‘women’s work’. From cooking and cleaning to caring for an ageing relative, Marina shows this kind of unsung and invisible caring w...

Luke Henriques-Gomes, the Guardian Australia's social affairs and inequality editor, speaks in-depth about what have learned from the Robodebt Royal Commission hearings between December 2022 and February 14, in particular the evidence from top public servants and the responsible ministers at the time. He tells us what we’ve learned so far and what we are yet to learn. The final round of hearings c...

Activist and campaigner Judy Ryan discusses her new book You Talk We Die: The Battle For Victoria’s First Safe Injecting Facility (Scribe Publications). Judy, alongside fellow residents, successfully campaigned for the first safe injecting facility in the state after witnessing decades of tragic and frequent cases of lethal overdoses from drugs in the Richmond and Abbotsford areas. She delves into...

Amy speaks with Dr Ben Eltham from Monash Uni and Associate Professor Jo Caust from Melbourne Uni as they delve into the details of Australia's new arts and cultural policy, REVIVE. They talk about how these policy changes will reposition the arts in Australia and affect artists, musicians, writers, actors, and more. They analyse what sectors have benefited from the policy and what areas have been...

Kendrah Morgan, Head Curator at the Heide Museum of Modern Art sits down to speak about the first survey exhibition of modernist sculptor Barbara Hepworth's (1903–1975) work in Australia. Inspired by the landscape and human form, Hepworth was one of the leading British artists of her generation and the first woman sculptor to achieve international recognition. BARBARA HEPWORTH – IN EQUILIBRIUM is...

Professor Chris Wallace returns to speak in-depth about her new book, Political Lives: Australian Prime Ministers and Their Biographers. Chris tells Australian political history anew through her account of prime ministers, their biographies and their biographers – examining their motivations and relationships.

Acclaimed historian Professor Frank Bongiorno returns for an in-depth conversation about his epic new book, Dreamers and Schemers . It's the first full political history of Australia, presenting a social and cultural history of our political life from pre-colonial Aboriginal political and governance systems to the current day. Frank is a Professor of History at ANU and is the President of the Aust...

Regulars historian Dr Emma Shortis and Professor Andrew Walter sit down with Amy to reflect on the major political trends and developments of 2022 in the US, UK, and global geopolitical flashpoints like, US and China tensions over Taiwan, Russia’s war against Ukraine, AUKUS, and more. Dr Emma Shortis is a Research Fellow at the EU Centre of Excellence at RMIT and Dr Andrew Walter is a Professor of...

Historian Dr Meg Foster from the University of Cambridge talks about the fascinating hidden history of Australia's other bushrangers in her book, Boundary Crossers. Meg talks about the bushrangers who didn’t fit into Australia’s national mythology, like African American man Black Douglas, who was seen as the terror of the Victorian goldfields, Sam Poo – Australia’s only Chinese bushranger, and Cap...