Uncommon Sense

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, Doing Politics: Writing on Public Life. Judith is Emeritus Professor of Politics at La Trobe...

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 The River: How Robber Barons and Wall Street Traders Cornered Australia’s Water Market. He looks...

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 Literature Prize.

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?

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 Victoria's plan to exit lockdown and open up. Plus, the epidemiology of Victoria's current outbreak,...

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.

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 Barabara Minchinton discusses her new book, The Women of Little Lon: Sex Workers in Nineteenth-Century...

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 Krahulcova, Executive Director of Digital Rights Watch, speaks about the new national surveillance laws,...

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

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, Power and Knowledge. Art curator Sue Cramer explores the work and life of pioneering Swedish...

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 still be unvaccinated once we reach the 80% adult vaccination target? How many cases will there be?...

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 about her new podcast, A Fluorescent Feeling, which explores people's lived experiences of pain,...

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 to list the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex, and its consequences for the Karen people. Pacific...

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 extinction crisis. UNSW epidemiologist Professor Mary-Louise McLaws examines the federal...

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 China Story Yearbook (ANU Press).

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.