Serious Danger

In this bonus episode for Patreon subscribers, Tom and Emerald speak to Paddy Manning about his epic history of the Australian Greens movement, “Inside The Greens: The Origins and Future of the Party, the People and the Politics.”

Since July 2023 we have been recapping Paddy’s history of the Greens on our Patreon, and now that we finally are through the book, who better than its author to tell us the story of its creation, his feelings about the party, and his expectations for its future? We are going inside inside inside Inside The Greens!!!

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The show can only exist because of our wonderful Patreon subscriber’s support. Subscribe for $3/month to get access to our fortnightly subscriber-only full episode, and unlock our complete library of over NINETY past bonus episodes.

https://www.patreon.com/SeriousDangerAU 

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Links -

Buy Inside The Greens - https://www.blackincbooks.com.au/books/inside-greens 

Paddy Manning -

https://twitter.com/gpaddymanning 

Inside Inside The Greens - a rebuttal -

https://www.inside-insidethegreens.com.au/ 

Produced by Michael Griffin

Follow us on

https://twitter.com/SeriousDangerAU

https://www.instagram.com/seriousdangerau 

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Support the show: http://patreon.com/seriousdangerau

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recorded before the attacks on Iran, Tom is joined by Jan Fran from ETTE Media! Angus Taylor wants to talk about the flag. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese played a stupid game and won a stupid prize, after his gross description of Grace Tame as “difficult.” (29:00) Then, the BAFTA Awards was in the news but its worst act was suppressing support of Palestine. (51:45)

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Just released on Patreon - "Personality politics - how much does it matter?"

The show can only exist because of our wonderful Patreon subscriber’s support. Subscribe for $3/month to get access to our fortnightly subscriber-only full episode, and unlock our complete library of over NINETY past bonus episodes.

https://www.patreon.com/SeriousDangerAU 

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Follow and support ETTE Media - https://www.ettemedia.com/
https://www.instagram.com/ette.media/

Tom on tour! Adelaide, Canberra, Port Fairy, Warrnambool, Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle & Brisbane -
https://comedy.com.au/tour/tom-ballard

Theme by Kye Hughes

Produced by Michael Griffin

https://www.instagram.com/mikeskillz 

Follow us on

https://twitter.com/SeriousDangerAU

https://www.instagram.com/seriousdangerau 

https://www.tiktok.com/@seriousdangerau

Support the show: http://patreon.com/seriousdangerau

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tom is joined by the Charlie Murphy from Pride In Protest, to talk about the fight for Sydney Mardi Gras, as the board overrules membership votes and debate rages over whether the event is a protest or a party. (4:04) Then, why does the world seem to be turning against the queer community? And are lesbians more pro-trans than trans people? (53:05)

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Just released on Patreon - "Personality politics - how much does it matter?"

The show can only exist because of our wonderful Patreon subscriber’s support. Subscribe for $3/month to get access to our fortnightly subscriber-only full episode, and unlock our complete library of over NINETY past bonus episodes.

https://www.patreon.com/SeriousDangerAU 

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Support Pride In Protest -
https://www.instagram.com/pride.in.protest/

Tom on tour! Adelaide, Canberra, Port Fairy, Warrnambool, Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle & Brisbane -
https://comedy.com.au/tour/tom-ballard

Victorian Greens:

Come to Giggle for Gab, Thursday April 9th @ Evie’s Bar & Disco. An amazing night with incredible acts to support Gabrielle de Vietri's re-election!

Join Freddie Arthur (Raw Comedy National Finalist 2025), Tom Ballard (Serious Danger, Greens legend), Janty Blair (Deadly Funny Winner 2022), Bahaa Dabbagh (Comedy Zone 2026), Sammy Petersen (Confessions podcast) and more to laugh away our troubles and poke fun at a shitty world.

https://contact-vic.greens.org.au/civicrm/event/register?id=23727 

AND on Saturday Feb 28th there is a Special State Conference happening, at which among other things, members will be considering a proposal for the Victorian Greens leader - or co-deputy leaders - to be elected by the members

You should have got an email with the details; you can join online or in person 

Theme by Kye Hughes

Produced by Michael Griffin

https://www.instagram.com/mikeskillz 

Follow us on

https://twitter.com/SeriousDangerAU

https://www.instagram.com/seriousdangerau 

https://www.tiktok.com/@seriousdangerau

Support the show: http://patreon.com/seriousdangerau

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this bonus episode for Patreon subscribers, Emerald and Tom ponder the issue of personality politics. Are Mamdani and Polanski popular because they are cool? What about Pauline? What does the research say about some of Australia’s most notorious public figures? Are conservatives more attractive, and are lefties a bunch of ugmos? What is David Pocock up to with his thirst traps?

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The show can only exist because of our wonderful Patreon subscriber’s support. Subscribe for $3/month to get access to our fortnightly subscriber-only full episode, and unlock our complete library of over NINETY past bonus episodes.

https://www.patreon.com/SeriousDangerAU 

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Links -

The 2025 ANU Australian Federal Election Study - https://australianelectionstudy.org/wp-content/uploads/The-2025-Australian-Federal-Election-Results-from-the-Australian-Election-Study.pdf 

Produced by Michael Griffin

Follow us on

https://twitter.com/SeriousDangerAU

https://www.instagram.com/seriousdangerau 

https://www.tiktok.com/@seriousdangerau

Support the show: http://patreon.com/seriousdangerau

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tom is joined by the Surfing Senator, the retiring Greens Senator for Tasmania, Peter Whish-Wilson! First up, Angus Taylor has rolled Sussssan Ley and is the new leader of the Liberals. Say the line, Angus! (10:57) Next up, a look at the aftermath of Israeli President Herzog’s visit to Australia, the abuse of power at protests, and these cops not being tops. (31:07) Finally, Peter looks back at his time in office and ponders what’s next. (45:18)

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Just released on Patreon - "Inside the Greens #11: Greensland emerges, 2019 election, NSW fractures"

The show can only exist because of our wonderful Patreon subscriber’s support. Subscribe for $3/month to get access to our fortnightly subscriber-only full episode, and unlock our complete library of over NINETY past bonus episodes.

https://www.patreon.com/SeriousDangerAU 

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Watch our unlocked Patreon episode with the late great Jon Kudelka where we play rusted-on bingo!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZiZ1_lLEWw
https://omny.fm/shows/serious-danger/unlocked-rusted-on-bingo-ft-jon-kudelka 

Follow Peter Whish-Wilson -
https://greens.org.au/tas/person/peter-whish-wilson
https://www.facebook.com/senatorsurfer/
https://www.instagram.com/senatorsurfer

Tom on tour! Adelaide, Canberra, Port Fairy, Warrnambool, Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle & Brisbane -
https://comedy.com.au/tour/tom-ballard

Victorian Greens:

Come to see Ballard @ Ballard’s on Saturday February 21st from 1pm, launching Campbell Gome’s campaign for Northcote - 

https://contact-wa.greens.org.au/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=23148 

AND on Saturday Feb 28th there is a Special State Conference happening, at which among other things, members will be considering a proposal for the Victorian Greens leader - or co-deputy leaders - to be elected by the members

You should have got an email with the details; you can join online or in person 

Theme by Kye Hughes

Produced by Michael Griffin

https://www.instagram.com/mikeskillz 

Follow us on

https://twitter.com/SeriousDangerAU

https://www.instagram.com/seriousdangerau 

https://www.tiktok.com/@seriousdangerau

Support the show: http://patreon.com/seriousdangerau

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tom is joined by Amy Remeikis from The Australia Institute! First up, what is going on in South Australia? Are the Greens going to team up with the Liberals?! (08:32) Next, the Liberal-National coalition is a hot mess, and it’s melting. (26:21) Finally, the Israeli President Isaac Herzog is visiting Australia, and it shines a light on our nation’s dubious relationship with international law. (1:07:09)

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Just released on Patreon - "Inside the Greens #11: Greensland emerges, 2019 election, NSW fractures"

The show can only exist because of our wonderful Patreon subscriber’s support. Subscribe for $3/month to get access to our fortnightly subscriber-only full episode, and unlock our complete library of over NINETY past bonus episodes.

https://www.patreon.com/SeriousDangerAU 

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Follow Amy -
https://australiainstitute.org.au/expert/amy-remeikis/
https://www.instagram.com/pyjamapolitics 

Buy her new book Where It All Went Wrong: The case against John Howard -
https://www.simonandschuster.com.au/books/Where-It-All-Went-Wrong/Amy-Remeikis/9781761822117 

Max Chandler-Mather article -
https://www.deepcutnews.com/p/the-greens-must-pivot-to-meet-the

GetUp petition against Herzog visit -
https://www.getup.org.au/campaigns/core-2026/herzog-visit/sign-detain-and-investigate-herzog 

Protest Herzog’s visit to Australia -

https://www.greenleft.org.au/2026/1446/news/protest-war-criminal-isaac-herzog 

Theme by Kye Hughes

Produced by Michael Griffin

https://www.instagram.com/mikeskillz 

Follow us on

https://twitter.com/SeriousDangerAU

https://www.instagram.com/seriousdangerau 

https://www.tiktok.com/@seriousdangerau

Support the show: http://patreon.com/seriousdangerau

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this bonus series for Patreon subscribers, Tom and Emerald reach the end of Paddy Manning’s epic history of the Australian Greens movement, “Inside The Greens: The Origins and Future of the Party, the People and the Politics.”

In this episode, the Batman by-election disaster, trouble in NSW, the rise of the Greens in Brisbane, and the 2019 election!

This is the end of the book! But, it is book one of two. There may be some discussion of the second section. But thus ends the history of the Australian Greens. Phew.

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The show can only exist because of our wonderful Patreon subscriber’s support. Subscribe for $3/month to get access to our fortnightly subscriber-only full episode, and unlock our complete library of over NINETY past bonus episodes.

https://www.patreon.com/SeriousDangerAU 

----------

Links -

Buy Inside The Greens - https://www.blackincbooks.com.au/books/inside-greens 

Paddy Manning -

https://twitter.com/gpaddymanning 

Inside Inside The Greens - a rebuttal -

https://www.inside-insidethegreens.com.au/ 

Produced by Michael Griffin

Follow us on

https://twitter.com/SeriousDangerAU

https://www.instagram.com/seriousdangerau 

https://www.tiktok.com/@seriousdangerau

Support the show: http://patreon.com/seriousdangerau

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a quick pop-in from Emerald, Tom is joined by Gary Stevenson, the People’s Economist! (13:28) With the world seemingly falling apart around us, how can we fight back and wind back wealth inequality before it's too late? And with the UK Greens flourishing under Zack Polanski, how can the wobbly Australian Greens recapture the narrative?

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Just released on Patreon - "Nationalise the pub? The left politics of alcohol"

The show can only exist because of our wonderful Patreon subscriber’s support. Subscribe for $3/month to get access to our fortnightly subscriber-only full episode, and unlock our complete library of over NINETY past bonus episodes.

https://www.patreon.com/SeriousDangerAU 

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Follow Gary -
https://linktr.ee/garysecon

See Gary live in Australia in Feb/March -
https://au.thinkable.events/gary-stevenson-tour-ticket-sale/ 

See Tom live at the ETTE Media Live show in Canberra, on Wednesday Feb 4th https://fane.com.au/whats-on/ette-media-live-its-a-no-from-me/ 

Theme by Kye Hughes

Produced by Michael Griffin

https://www.instagram.com/mikeskillz 

Follow us on

https://twitter.com/SeriousDangerAU

https://www.instagram.com/seriousdangerau 

https://www.tiktok.com/@seriousdangerau

Support the show: http://patreon.com/seriousdangerau

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

(Note: Sorry for some unavoidable sound issues later on this ep!)

Tom is joined by guest host Larissa Baldwin-Roberts, from Common Threads and former CEO of GetUp! First up, the new hate speech laws have passed (13:16). How bad are they? What did we gain in exchange for giving up some essential rights? Next up, Invasion Day 2026 (43:59). What is the state of the discussion about Australia Day? How does it and the hate speech laws reflect the state of First Nations justice in the country?

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Just released on Patreon - "Nationalise the pub? The left politics of alcohol"

The show can only exist because of our wonderful Patreon subscriber’s support. Subscribe for $3/month to get access to our fortnightly subscriber-only full episode, and unlock our complete library of over NINETY past bonus episodes.

https://www.patreon.com/SeriousDangerAU 

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Common Threads -
https://www.commonthreads.org.au/

Follow Larissa -
https://www.instagram.com/riss_bundjalung/ 

Support Together For Treaty -
https://www.togetherfortreaty.org.au/ 

See Tom live -
- Be Funny Challenge (Impossible) in Perth from 23rd https://comedy.com.au/tour/tom-ballard/
- Play at Midsumma, four shows from Jan 28th https://www.midsumma.org.au/whats-on/events/a-comprehensive-profoundly-queer-accounting-of-the-brief-yet-glorious-history-of-the-gay-lesbian-kingdom-of-the-coral-sea-islands-by-tom-ballard/
- At the ETTE Media Live show in Canberra, on Wednesday Feb 4th https://fane.com.au/whats-on/ette-media-live-its-a-no-from-me/ 

Theme by Kye Hughes

Produced by Michael Griffin

https://www.instagram.com/mikeskillz 

Follow us on

https://twitter.com/SeriousDangerAU

https://www.instagram.com/seriousdangerau 

https://www.tiktok.com/@seriousdangerau

Support the show: http://patreon.com/seriousdangerau

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this bonus episode for Patreon subscribers, Emerald and Tom talk booze! Emerald is straight edge and Tom is an occasional lush, how do they feel about alcohol in 2026? Why are young people drinking less - are they wowsers or just poor? Is it poor form to have alcohol at Greens events? What is the left position on the demon drink?
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The show can only exist because of our wonderful Patreon subscriber’s support. Subscribe for $3/month to get access to our fortnightly subscriber-only full episode, and unlock our complete library of over EIGHTY past bonus episodes.

https://www.patreon.com/SeriousDangerAU 

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Links -

Socialism and Temperance Reform -  in a 1908 edition of the Social Democrat https://www.marxists.org/archive/quelch/1908/01/temperance.htm 

Flinders study: https://news.flinders.edu.au/blog/2025/10/07/drinking-through-the-generations/ 

2023 study https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/dar.13709 

Straight Edge: Hardcore Punk, Clean-living Youth, and Social Change by Ross Haenfler

Produced by Michael Griffin

Follow us on

https://twitter.com/SeriousDangerAU

https://www.instagram.com/seriousdangerau 

https://www.tiktok.com/@seriousdangerau

Support the show: http://patreon.com/seriousdangerau

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.