A wide ranging discussion today with the very measured & knowledgeable Professor Greg Barton - where we spoke about the rise of the far right in Australia & around the world - & ASIO's recent language change in this regard. We of course discussed the political issues of the day & the challenges facing our democracy which don't currently seem fit to deliver the changes we need to face the challenges of our times - & what some solutions might be. This podcast was a real pleasure to host - & a must listen!

Ex Labor member for Lindsay - Emma Husar joins the SpinProof podcast today where first up we speak about the floods impacting NSW - inc within her old electorate. Emma then speaks about her involvement as a speaker at the Perth March 4 Justice & what might happen next with this movement. Emma also shares her direct experiences as a member of the Labor Party - & what she'd like them to do to address her concerns. An honest conversation - & don't we all need that right now.

Listen in to this inspiring conversation where ex Independent member for Indi - Cathy McGowan AO - speaks about her journey to Canberra through a focus on strong community support. We speak about this weekend's massive March 4 Justice taking place around Australia - & how to then turn this rising momentum into meaningful change. We look at the community minded Independents movement which is also gaining strong traction right across the Country (no co-incidence with the also women led March 4 Justice??). Well worth a listen for tangible ideas on how each of us can step up & take greater responsibility for the state of our democracy.

A wonderful discussion with one of Australia's most experienced political journalists - Malcolm Farr - who now appears in the excellent Two Grumpy Hacks podcast. We spoke about the issues of quite an extraordinary week in #auspol - including Craig Kelly moving to the cross bench, the passing of the News Media Bargaining Code, the cncerning culture within our Parliament in Canberra - Labor's fortunes - & if through his long career Malcolm had ever known a period & a Government such as this. Well worth a listen!

With such a huge week in Australian politics - as always expected we spoke for well over the hour when regular SpinProof guests - Cheryl Kernot & Noely Neate - joins the podcast. Today we spoke about the news of the week including Facebook taking Australian news off their platform & the media commentary surrounding this, Ms Brittany Higgins telling her brave story of being raped in the office of the Defence Minister - Linda Reynolds & the clear Govt cover-up, the dreadful merger of the Family Court with the Federal Circuit Court, the Sri Lankan family the Aust Govt are keeping in detention on Christmas Island - & more! Please have a listen as informed friends discuss our week in #auspol

Join investigative journalist (& ex Professor of Journalism at UTS) - Wendy Bacon - & Co-founder of CommsDeclare & the FiredUp Newsletter - for this week's SpinProof podcast where we discuss Wendy's recent research which quantified the alarming levels of climate change denialism & scepticism in NewsCorp media - & what this means for news consumers & our political landscape. Belinda also discusses her initiatives with CommsDeclare which asks the communications sector not to work with the fossil fuel sector. We discuss what news media consumers should look for - & the greenshoots which are popping up in our media landscape. An interesting & valuable discussion.

An excellent discussion with one of Australia's most experienced & knowledgable finance journalists. We speak about the real state of the Australian economy (very different to the headlines), the Coalition's deliberate policy settings creating a growing wealth divide, their increasing swing to the hard right, the impact of the news media bargaining code - & the strong possibility of an election this year - & Labor's position. A worthwhile & enjoyable chat!

What an inspirational & interesting discussion with Linda from Humans of Hughes & Ali from Hughes Deserves Better. Two community led, grass roots groups which have formed in Craig Kelly's Southern Sydney seat of Hughes who are working to find & elect an Independent representative in the next election - as they feel they are not represented by one of the most divisive members of our current Parliament. We hear why they formed their groups, what they do - & about the huge media & community support they're attracting. Well worth a listen. It's democracy in action!

The first SpinProof live podcast for 2021 & what else to focus on but the extraordinary & historic events in the US - from the domestic terrorists attack on The Capitol Building in Washington DC to the second Impeachment of Trump - we break it down & reflect on the state of democracy both in the US & here. We also look at the clear fractures in the LNP where those on the far right have neutered the Party. A good chat in remarkable times.

No surprise we've gone way over time for the final SpinProof podcast of 2020 where we get the band back together with Cheryl Kernot & Noely Neate. We of course focus on the news of the day being the Covid outbreak in the Northern Beaches of Sydney - & then also reflect on 2020 - & look forward to 2021. A wide ranging #auspol discussion from some podcast favourites. Worth a listen!