Hello everyone and welcome to the Christmas Eve special episode of the Cory Talks podcast. Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Season's Greetings, Happy Festivus... which ever you like.

On this edition of Cory Talks... It's the 2020 series finale episode. And it's the longest podcast I've done so far coming in at 67 minutes. Please don't miss this one and certainly do not feel you have to listen to it all at once. There's breaks after around each 20 minutes. While Victoria continues on its path to COVID Normal, not so good news out of South Australia which initiated a brief lockdown this past week. It ended earlier than expected because a man lied to contract tracers about his association with a pizza shop. Still health officials were working hard to bring this outbreak to a swift conclusion. Meantime the inquiry into contract tracing in Victoria has seen disappointment levelled at the Department of Health and Human Services over their handling of contact tracing. Australian Defence Force chief Angus Campbell held a media briefing on Thursday over the damning report into Australian Special Forces members abhorrent actions in Afghanistan. *WARNING* the audio contained in this edition of the podcast will be confronting to some. The media diversity Senate Inquiry is going to happen looking into Rupert Murdoch's influence on the Australian media scene, as the attacks on its two poster children, former Prime Minister's Kevin Rudd and Malcolm Turnbull intensifies. A Melbourne based podcaster claims he "tested the system" by getting someone to forge fake digital signatures for the petition. A $1.2 billion AUD victory for those wrongly assessed by the government as owing money to the nation. Freedom of Information (FoI) documents cast light onto Prime Minister Scott Morrison's mirky past when at Tourism Australia and Tourism New Zealand. Rabid celeb chef Pete Evans gets rebuked for a social media post. A big shout out to a really nice and generous person. Filmmaker and musician Patrick McGuinn sent me five of his films after a compliment on YouTube I posted in reference to one of his films. Hear the story on this episode. This being the final show for 2020, I have not one, not two, but three special guests... Guest: - Grant Baensch (@grantbaensch on most social platforms) joins me to talk about his love of the King, Elvis Presley and a radio show he does in tribute. Guest: - Ellie D (@elliedofficial on most social platforms) tells us what's ahead in 2021 for her podcast and YouTube Documentary Series - Behind The Music with Ellie D, plus another project in the new year. www.elliedofficial.com Guest: - Johnno Smallman (@thebizzwithjohnno on Instagram) reviews his year of entertaining us all with his live Instagram Shows during a year where we desperately need entertainment, and what's in store for 2021. The Bizz with Johnno on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwErbx3kGBRTSaboCnXJ1VA Don't forget to subscribe if you haven't already and turn notifications on so you can be alerted when there's new episodes out. What's happening in 2021 for me? Well time will tell. I'll most probably be back before January 20 for the American Presidential Inauguration. Cory Talks website - www.corytalks.com Cory Talks email - send via the website I source information from a variety of sources, most commonly ABC News Australia, Independent Australia and The Guardian.

On this edition of Cory Talks... Trump still refuses to accept the will of the American people. The Biden/Harris team continue on their journey to the White House, despite the lack of help from the current administration. If you're American, are a Trump supporter and are thinking of moving to Canada, think again. Once Canadian man has words for you. Aussie group produces a song in tribute to Trump's denial of facts. You can find it on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ9__8UJSc4&t=7s * WARNING: contains course language and hilarity. Victoria hits more than two weeks without any new positive COVID-19 cases or deaths. The State will also be helping out Mum's who want to get back to work with free Kinder. Australian government calls for an inquiry into the media landscape after the record breaking petition launched by former Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. Who's subsequently been falsely attacked by Sky News tool, Peta Credlin. KRudd fights back though! Aus. government also looks into alleged horrific war crimes by Australian Soldiers. Prime Minister Scott Morrison claims he's assisting Joe Biden in how to deal with COVID-19. Joe should talk to Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews instead. Not a good week for the PM who mansplained which made global headlines over sexism in parliament following an ABC-TV Australia/4 Corners special investigation. Politicians truly don't care because I have a story about some refugees who have already had it tough enough and are now facing deportation. PM announces the possibility of extending travel bubble to Asia. A damning report from Australia's Bureau of Meteorology and top scientific organisation, CSIRO, on Australia's climate change. Guest: - Don't forget to subscribe if you haven't already and turn notifications on so you can be alerted when there's new episodes out. Cory Talks website - www.corytalks.com Cory Talks email - send via the website I source information from a variety of sources, most commonly ABC News Australia, Independent Australia and The Guardian.

On this edition of Cory Talks... Multiple media outlets early Sunday morning Australian Time projected Joe Biden to be President-Elect of the United States after securing at least 273 electoral college votes, three more than required to assume the Presidency. President Trump has been doing as much as he could to disrupt the counting and diminish the awesome democratic right American's have. But not all agree with that assessment as you'll hear in this episode. Joe Biden spoke of hope on Saturday. This was around twelve hours before he was projected to be the next President. As of Saturday, Victoria had recorded eight straight days of double doughnuts - that's eight consecutive days of zero new cases of COVID-19 and zero deaths in the garden state. The Inquiry into the bungled hotel quarantine system in Victoria is being finalised. There are 69 recommendations and they will be delivered to the Governor General of Victoria. We await the public release. Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's call for a Royal Commission to look into the control Rupert Murdoch's News Corp has over the Australian media landscape recorded a record number of petition signatures from Australian's. The petition will be submitted shortly to the Australian Parliament. New Zealand to open up to Melbourne. Queensland hopefully to open up to Victoria by Christmas. Clive Palmer has his legal challenge to Western Australia's lockdown dismissed. Now the fatuous self-obsessed tool has to pay WA's legal fees! Peta Credlin's Sky News Australia documentary that targeted Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews falls flat on facts... and interest. The death of an Australian swimming great. A Cory Talks medal of honour (if there was such a thing) for an alert parrot from Queensland. Guest: - Don't forget to subscribe if you haven't already and turn notifications on so you can be alerted when there's new episodes out. Cory Talks website - www.corytalks.com Cory Talks email - send via the website I source information from a variety of sources, most commonly ABC News Australia, Independent Australia and The Guardian.

On this edition of Cory Talks... On this special episode, the focus is on the American election. What a result... well maybe... to be honest I don't know because at the time of typing this, votes were still being counted. There you go, honesty OF politics, not honesty IN politics. At the time of typing this, Joe Biden was in front in the Electoral College votes, 203 to 103. While actual votes for the Republicans and Trump are slightly ahead (at 12:47pm AEDT). Disturbing news on the COVID-19 figures in the United Kingdom. Five doughnut day for Victoria with five consecutive days of zero new cases of coronavirus and no deaths. The border between Victoria and New South Wales will end later this month. The CEO of Australia Post has stepped down over the Cartier watches scandal. Guest: - Don't forget to subscribe if you haven't already and turn notifications on so you can be alerted when there's new episodes out. Cory Talks website - www.corytalks.com Cory Talks email - send via the website I source information from a variety of sources, most commonly ABC News Australia, Independent Australia and The Guardian.

On this edition of Cory Talks... A spectacular third term win for Annastacia Palaszczuk and the Queensland Labor party over the Liberal/National Party headed by Deb Frecklington. It was the first election night result where the defeated leader spoke after the winner. The results can be found (once available) on the Queensland Electoral Commission website, www.ecq.qld.gov.au Just days now until the Federal election in the United States. Australia Post CEO engages a lawyer who's not impressed with the Prime Minister for his negative sentiment towards Christine Holgate. The Australian Taxation Office is warning business not to abuse the government's COVID-19 helping hand that is JobKeeper. The CEO of regional Victorian railways operator V/Line has been sacked. Centrelink's Robodebt scheme has been detrimental to many Australian's. Despite the government being forced to pay back millions of dollars, the programme is set to restart. New Zealand says yes to the right to die. Tracey and Cory Road Trip with Helen, last night went to Torquay and a cold and windy viewing spot for the Blue Moon and quite embarrassing for me to find out that the blue moon isn't actually blue... it's not even aqua! Hear the audio on this episode of the podcast and see the pictures and video on @- on Twitter, @- on Twitter and Tracey's socials... see below. Guest: Helen O'Connor (my Mum) Guest: Tracey McGee. Creator of kibo by Tracey. www.kibobytracey.com. Find Tracey on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook as @aussiestorm65 and search for kibo by Tracey on Facebook and Instagram. Don't forget to subscribe if you haven't already and turn notifications on so you can be alerted when there's new episodes out. Cory Talks website - www.corytalks.com Cory Talks email - send via the website I source information from a variety of sources, most commonly ABC News Australia, Independent Australia and The Guardian.

On this edition of Cory Talks... The up's and down's of COVID-19 in the state of Victoria. Thankfully now there are more good days than bad with extra freedoms starting today (Wednesday 28th October). Queensland election on this Saturday. That states deputy Premier has congratulated Victoria on some really hopeful news. Shame the federal government wasn't as giving. Another scalp claimed at the Australian Securities and Investment Commission. Former Victorian Health Minister, Jenny Mikakos calls her former boss, paralysed. Trump walked out of a TV interview. Hear the audio on this edition of the show. The 2020 Australian rules football and rugby league seasons wrapped up on the weekend and Cory Talks wheels out the big guns to discuss the season and Grand Finals in the AFL and NRL. I'm joined by my good friends Tracey McGee and Grant Baensch to discuss the nations two top sporting codes in a pandemic year. Guest: Grant Baensch. Co-host of Elvis Express Radio podcast. www.elvisexpressradio.net. Find Grant on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram as @grantbaensch. Guest: Tracey McGee. Creator of kibo by Tracey. www.kibobytracey.com. Find Tracey on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook as @aussiestorm65 and search for kibo by Tracey on Facebook and Instagram. Don't forget to subscribe if you haven't already and turn notifications on so you can be alerted when there's new episodes out. Cory Talks website - www.corytalks.com Cory Talks email - send via the website I source information from a variety of sources, most commonly ABC News Australia, Independent Australia and The Guardian.

On this edition of Cory Talks... Despite a resurgence of COVID-19 cases in the northern suburbs of Melbourne and protests at the capital's Shire of Remembrance, Victoria should still expect some further restrictions removed from the states lockdown. Time for the Chief of Australia Post to step down after a Senate Estimates inquiry. Victorian Hotel Quarantine guard speaks out. The final Presidential Debate for 2020 was not so much about fireworks from the mouth of Trump. Quite astonishing that the Pres pretty much kept his cool. The Foxtel rort. Another reason why a Royal Commission into Rupert Murdoch's News Corp which own's 65% of Foxtel, should get off the ground. What's up with the Vatican sending money to Melbourne to defend Cardinal George Pell? What's Trump's Twitter password. Did the President pull a Vodafone? (Throw back to a couple of years ago when Vodafone's Customer Database password was... password). Reminder that Tracey McGee and Grant Baensch join me on episode 15 (Wednesday 28thOctober) with a wrap up of this weekend's Grand Finals in the AFL and NRL. Guest: - Don't forget to subscribe if you haven't already and turn notifications on so you can be alerted when there's new episodes out. Cory Talks website - www.corytalks.com Cory Talks email - send via the website I source information from a variety of sources, most commonly ABC News Australia, Independent Australia and The Guardian. CORY TALKS.

On this edition of Cory Talks... Lockdown law restrictions continue to ease as the number of new cases of COVID-19 in Victoria continue to drop. There could be further easing early next month. Federal Health Minister criticises the Victorian Premier claiming the state is not opening up quick enough. Yes, that tired old message from a Federal government that is "not in this" with Victorian's. Victorian Chief Health Officer given a please explain over a contradiction in his evidence at the Victorian Hotel Quarantine Enquiry. Concerns over New Zealand tourists who are entering Australia as part of the Trans-Tasman Travel Bubble. They're not all in the states or territories they're supposed to be in. Retail giant's Gerry Harvey doesn't understand who Melbourne businesses aren't opening sooner. More to do with his Harvey Norman stores more than anything else. Horrific information relating to the ABC Investigations report into the Afghan Files which resulted in two ABC staff members being investigated by Australian Federal Police. Trump's got the hump (again) with Dr Fauci. Final Presidential Debate coming up at the end of this week. Don't worry people, this will all be over soon! Asylum seeker sues the Australian government. An update on a story Cory presented last month. Google may also be heading to the US courts, as the Department of Justice files an anti-trust law suit. Information about Tracey, Cory and Helen's Road Trip on Monday to Daylesford in regional Victoria. Guest: - Don't forget to subscribe if you haven't already and turn notifications on so you can be alerted when there's new episodes out. Cory Talks website - www.corytalks.com Cory Talks email - send via the website I source information from a variety of sources, most commonly ABC News Australia, Independent Australia and The Guardian.

On this edition of Cory Talks... The New Zealand election and a stunning result for Jacinda Ardern's Labour Party with a mandate to lead the country for the next three years. It's the first election win in 25 years where a single party has received enough votes to lead without the support of another party. Also election for Labor in the ACT (Australian Capital Territory). The Labor party has been in power in the nations capital for almost two decades. The Victorian Liberal Party have a plan for COVID-19... finally. But is it too late with the states positive cases continuing to fall? The US Town Hall Presidential Debates. The President on NBC and Biden on ABC. We all know how much ratings are important to the Orange Idiot, so he's probably not going to like that more people watched the Democrat nominee. What does copper and COVID-19 have to do with each other? The answer might surprise. Rupert Murdoch's attack drone, Peta Credlin tries standover tactics on the Victorian Premier... which fail, and she was not happy. Police looking into someone who's caused a COVID-19 panic in two regional Victorian locations. And a nice political story to end with. Yes I know, good and politics are not words that are at all expected to co-exist. Guest: - Don't forget to subscribe if you haven't already and turn notifications on so you can be alerted when there's new episodes out. Cory Talks website - www.corytalks.com Cory Talks email - send via the website I source information from a variety of sources, most commonly ABC News Australia, Independent Australia and The Guardian. CORY TALKS.