The interview with Rachel Merton, a newly elected member of the New South Wales Legislative Council, delves into various pressing issues affecting the community, from bank holidays to education, housing, and healthcare. Host Alistair raises concerns about the relevance of bank holidays in the modern era, given the changing landscape of banking services and reduced accessibility. Merton points out that such issues resonate with small businesses and communities, especially in regional areas, where bank closures and reduced services create inconveniences.

Transitioning to the topic of education, Merton highlights the declining faith in democracy among young people, a trend she finds concerning. She stresses the importance of teaching history and democratic values accurately, allowing students to form balanced opinions and encouraging their active participation in the democratic process.

The interview then shifts to the significance of home ownership and housing. Merton emphasizes the value of owning a home and criticizes the opposition party's stance on housing affordability. She points out that initiatives like stamp duty reforms and investment in infrastructure were intended to encourage homeownership and provide stability for families.

The conversation turns to healthcare, where Merton passionately speaks against the forced takeover of a privately-owned hospital by the government in Canberra. She highlights the risks of such actions, including discouraging private investment in essential services and undermining public trust.

Throughout the interview, Merton's background as a seasoned campaigner and her father's 23-year parliamentary service are briefly mentioned, hinting at her deep involvement in politics. Her commitment to addressing critical issues and advocating for constituents' needs is evident in her words and passion for driving change.

In a concise and dynamic discussion, the interview sheds light on Rachel Merton's perspective on a range of topics, revealing her dedication to fostering positive changes and ensuring a better future for her community.

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In this episode, Alister Henskens sits down with Kellie Sloane. Kellie is the newly inaugurated Member for Vaucluse and the Shadow Minister for the Environment. She has had an impressive career spanning journalism and education. Alister and Kellie discuss her childhood in regional South Australia, her career in journalism and her time as CEO of Life Education. They explore what Liberal values are, and how we should think about the role of government in our lives and communities. We hope you enjoy this fascinating discussion.

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In this episode, Alister discusses the recent political developments in NSW politics. From the ICAC report into Gladys Berejiklian to banning offshore oil and gas. Alister sits down with Member for Davidson Matt Cross and chats about his path to politics, values and inaugural speech.

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In this episode, Alister sits down with Member for Drummoyne, Steph di Pasqua. In this week's D'oh moment, Labor ministers can't stop talking about this podcast.

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In this episode, Alister is joined by the newly elected Member for Ryde, Jordan Lane. Jordan is one of the youngest members of Parliament. He discusses his campaign trail experience and bold ideas about reforming education.

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In episode 2, Alister is joined by the Hon. Chris Rath MLC. They discuss last week's sitting week in NSW Parliament. They delve into Chris's political journey and the values that drive him.

Alister and Freya discuss the key political themes of the week, namely the recent strikes by the HSU.

The "D'Oh" moments of the week include comments from Mark Latham, triggering Labor with declining union membership statistics, and Premier Chris Minns giving this podcast a shoutout in Question Time.

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In the first episode of Macquarie Street Matters, Alister Henskens SC MP sits down with his team, Freya Leach and Steph Le Bas to discuss the first two sitting weeks of the new Chris Minns Labor Government. They discuss the key bills that were considered in Parliament; the Constitution Amendment (Sydney Water and Hunter Water) Bill 2023, First Home Buyer Legislation Amendment Bill 2023, Residential Tenancies Amendment (Rental Fairness) Bill 2023, Electoral Funding Amendment (Registered Clubs) Bill 2023. Alister then sits down with the new Member of the Legislative Council the Hon. Susan Carter to discuss her first few weeks in NSW Parliament. They discuss her career prior to politics and her inaugural speech. Freya and Steph come back onto the podcast to discuss the "D'oh" moments of the week - a reference to Homer Simpson meaning funny stuff ups. They discuss Steve Kamper, his blunders in Parliament and the replacement of Lee Shearer before even telling her. The team then looks at Rose Jackson's inability to explain how development occurs without privatisation. Alister talks about how the $16m put towards bringing UFC to NSW could fund 160,000 Active Kids vouchers. Finally, Freya looks at Labor's housing affordability page and finds that there is nothing on their website which is symbolic of the fact they have zero plan for housing affordability.

Thank you for listening to the first episode of Macquarie Street Matters with Alister Henskens. Alister and the team will return next week to wrap up another sitting week in NSW Parliament.

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