Uncommon Sense

Epidemiologist and WHO Adviser Professor Mary-Louise McLaws takes us through everything we need to know about the Omicron variant, the current COVID-19 outbreaks in Victoria and NSW, plus how to best stay safe over the summer holiday period.

Have you heard about the damage being done to our orbital environments by rapidly growing satellite mega-constellations? Writer Ceridwen Dovey discusses her award-winning essay, "Everlasting Free Fall.” She writes that, “in the past 2 years, over 1000 new commercial satellites have been shot into low Earth Orbit.” These satellites are altering the night sky and have many consequences for the scien...

Economist Dr Richard Denniss debunks the political spin from Canberra during the last sitting week of parliament. He looks at the modelling and "plan" behind the Coalition's 'Net Zero by 2050' target, as well as the pandemic failures of the Morrison government. Nic Maclellan, Pacific Affairs Correspondent for Inside Story, discusses New Caledonia's third independence referendum controversy, civil...

Political historian Judith Brett reflects on over 40 years of writing about Australian politics, as she discusses subjects from her new book of past essays, Doing Politics: Writing on Public Life . Judith is Emeritus Professor of Politics at La Trobe University

Historian Emma Shortis talks about the latest in US politics including the Virginia election, as well as Australian diplomacy fails, and the COP26 climate talks. Emma is an author and Research Fellow at the EU Centre of Excellence at RMIT. Political historian Judith Brett reflects on over 40 years of writing about Australian politics, as she discusses subjects from her new book of past essays, Doi...

Historian and author Stuart Kells talks about his new book, 'Sold Down The River: How Robber Barons and Wall Street Traders Cornered Australia’s Water Market.' He and co-author Scott Hamilton look at how the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and the marketisation of water has gone horribly wrong. Stuart Kells is also adjunct professor at La Trobe Business School. He has twice won the Ashurst Business Lite...

Guardian Australia Environment Reporter Graham Readfearn previews the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow and talks about Australia's global reputation and history at UN climate negotiations since Kyoto. He also discusses the Coalition government's internal negotiations over climate policy and their eventual commitment to net zero emissions by 2050. Is it enough?

Guardian Australia Environment Reporter Graham Readfearn previews the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow and talks about Australia's global reputation and history at the climate negotiations since Kyoto. He also discusses the Coalition government's internal negotiations over climate policy and net-zero by 2050. Historian Stuart Kells talks about his new book co-authored with Scott Hamilton, Sold Down...

Greg Mullins, long-serving volunteer firefighter and former NSW Fire and Rescue Commissioner discusses his book, 'Firestorm: Battling Super-Charged Natural Disasters.' Greg describes the dire effects of human-caused climate change on bushfire seasons here in Australia and globally. He also speaks out strongly over the policy and federal leadership vacuum on these issues.

Greg Mullins, firefighter and former NSW Fire and Rescue Commissioner discusses his book, 'Firestorm: Battling Super-Charged Natural Disasters.' Greg describes the dire effects of human-caused climate change on bushfire seasons here in Australia and globally. He also speaks out strongly over the policy and federal leadership vacuum on these issues. Epidemiologist Mary-Louise McLaws discusses Victo...

NGV senior curators Dr Ted Gott and Dr Miranda Wallace discuss the pioneering artists and works featured in the NGV's latest major exhibition, French Impressionism from the Museum of Fine Art, Boston

Historian Dr Alexis Bergantz from RMIT talks about the diplomatic fallout from the AUKUS security and submarine announcement, and why Australia should have seen France’s hurt coming. NGV senior curators Dr Ted Gott and Dr Miranda Wallace discuss the pioneering artists and works featured in the NGV's latest major exhibition, French Impressionism from the Museum of Fine Art, Boston. Historian Baraba...

Gabrielle Chan returns to talk about her new book, Why You Should Give A F*ck About Farming

Gabrielle Chan returns to talk about her new book, Why You Should Give A F*ck About Farming. Luke Henriques-Gomes, Social affairs & inequality editor at the Guardian, talks about inequality in Australia, including the Senate Inquiry into the Disability Support Pension, calls to bring back the coronavirus supplement payment, and the government's pursuit of alleged welfare debts. Lucie Krahulcov...

Dr Richard Denniss, chief economist at The Australia Institute talks federal politics and closely examines Morrison's "safe plan" for opening up, including Richard's recent report on the centrality of Australia's TTIQ (Test, Trace, Isolate, Quarantine) system to the plan, which underpins the Doherty's modelling. Writer Bri Lee returns to talk about her new book, Who Gets to Be Smart: Privilege, Po...

Dr Richard Denniss scrutinises the Prime Minister's "safe plan" for opening up Australia in a COVID world, and debunks the neo-liberal political spin from Canberra and NSW. Does the Doherty Institute's modelling support the plan? What does the modelling even say (in plain English)? And what are its underlying assumptions? Will lockdowns really be a thing of the past? How many Australians will stil...

Rachel Withers, Contributing Editor to The Monthly, discusses the latest in federal politics. Wildlife cinematographer Nick Hayward and behavioural ecologist Dr Anastasia Dalziell take us into the forest, describing the brilliant mimicry of the lyrebird in Australia and their involvement in The Message of the Lyrebird documentary, directed by Mark B. Pearce. Artist and writer Georgia Mill talks ab...

Renowned wildlife cinematographer Nick Hayward and behavioural ecologist Dr Anastasia Dalziell take us into the forest, describing the brilliant mimicry and fascinating behaviours of the lyrebird in Australia, and their involvement in The Message of the Lyrebird documentary, directed by Mark B. Pearce (Balagara Films).

Historian Dr Emma Shortis speaks in-depth about her brilliant debut book, Our Exceptional Friend: Australia’s Fatal Alliance with the United States. Guardian Australia’s environment reporter Graham Readfearn discusses the Australian government’s lobbying efforts to prevent the Great Barrier Reef from being listed as ‘in danger’ by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. Plus the committee's decision...

Historian and author Dr Emma Shortis joins Amy to speak in-depth about her brilliant debut book, Our Exceptional Friend: Australia’s Fatal Alliance with the United States. We begin the conversation considering the situation in Afghanistan where the Taliban has taken over and there is a mad scramble for countries like the U.S. and Australia to evacuate people from Kabul Airport.

Rod Campbell, Research Director at The Australia Institute talks about how Australia can gain a ‘Nordic Edge’ in its policy and politics. Rod co-edited a new book called, The Nordic Edge: Policy Possibilities for Australia. Author Harry Saddler discusses his new book, Questions Raised By Quolls: Fatherhood and Conservation in an Uncertain World – a very pertinent subject in a time of climate and e...

Author Linda Jaivin discusses her new book, The Shortest History of China. Linda explores with Amy the vast expanse of China's fascinating cultural, philosophical, and political history from ancient and imperial times to the modern day. Linda has been studying Chinese politics, language, and culture for more than 40 years. She has been a foreign correspondent in China, and is co-editor of the Chin...

Amy speaks with Bill Bowtell about pandemic politics in Australia, the 'Zero COVID' strategy under threat in NSW, lockdowns, state and national vaccination targets, and all things public health. Bill Bowtell is an Adjunct Professor at the UNSW and a strategic public health adviser. He led Australia's response to the HIV/AIDS crisis.

Epidemiologist Professor Mary-Louise McLaws explains how Australia can reach herd immunity against COVID-19 and when children should be vaccinated against the virus in Australia. She also discusses the Delta variant outbreak in NSW and its concerning trajectory, the reality of Long COVID, and whether we will ever be able to treat this virus “like the flu,” as the Prime Minister suggests. Mary-Loui...

Journalist Maddison Connaughton joins Amy to talk about the latest in federal politics. Epidemiologist Mary-Louise McLaws explains how Australia can reach herd immunity against COVID-19 and when children should be vaccinated against the virus in Australia. She also discusses the reality of Long COVID overseas and here, and whether we will ever be able to treat this virus “like the flu,” as the Pri...