Open House Interviews

Christians in Africa and the Middle East face appalling levels of persecution in Jesus name. Tim Reid from Open Doors shares the struggles facing Christians in Nigeria where 1,300 have been killed and 30,000 displaced by Muslim extremists between January and June this year. Publishers of the Annual World Watch List, which monitors global Christian persecution, Open Doors is also concerned about the future of Christianity in biblical locations like Syria.

We live in an age where Christian belief has been marginalised and faith relegated to the 'back burner' of life - if it is considered at all. Accompanying this is the rise of 'celebrity' atheists who are feted for their clever anti-religious analysis. In a wide ranging conversation, journalist and author of 'God is Good for You', Greg Sheridan, and Open House host, Stephen O'Doherty, discuss Christianity in the 'post-truth' age, politics and faith and the contribution Christianity has made to the fundamental institutions of western society.

Compelled by compassion and social responsibility, the founders of social enterprise, Sanctuary Place, want to break the cycle of homelessness, especially in the hard-hit Hunter Valley region. WIth long waits for Government housing the business has addressed the need by building social housing themselves. Michael Mason explained on Open House how it works.

A research by the University of NSW and ACOSS highlights a growing gap between the rich and poor in Australia. ACOSS CEO Cassandra Goldie shared insights from the report on Open House.

Does Melbourne really have a problem with African crime gangs or is this just the stirring of moral panic and dog whistle politics? Criminologist Rob White told Open House we have seen this kind of ethnic targeting before.

There are so many injustices in the world from modern slavery and human trafficking to countries in our region suffering under autocratic rule. On Open House, Elaine Pearson from Human Rights Watch discussed some pressing human rights issues and the prospects for improvement.

As we wake up to the reality of environmental impact of the rubbish we create there is a tiny spot of good news. There is a plastic made, not from fossil fuel but corn and it is totally compostable. Australian company biopack are using it in a range of takeaway coffee cups that allow you to have a guilt-free cup of joe and support disadvantage artists too thanks to a partnership with social enterprise, Open Canvas.

The final act of Australia's "Great Citizenship Crisis 2017-18" was played out with the Super Saturday by-elections. Four non-citizens forced to resign their Federal seats were returned to their electorates. Unsurprisingly both major parties took comfort in the result. Politics professor, John Warhurst, dissected the result with Stephen O'Doherty on Open House.

Governments have long used the "Gamble responsibly" message to target problem gamblers. New research from ANU's, Centre for Gambling Research, shows that the strategy just doesn't work.  It turns out, problem gamblers don't think they have a problem. Dr Marisa Fogarty explained the research on Open House.

Despite Australia being involved at a Government level in negotiating UN global refugee and migration compacts, Minister for Home Affairs,  Immigration and Border Protection,  Peter Dutton is now saying Australia won’t be signing because it would be “a surrender of our sovereignty”. Carolina Gottardo, Director of Jesuit Refugee Services Australia, was at the UN as the agreements were being finalised and is disturbed by the possibility Australia won't sign.