The Fifth Estate

For this episode, Fifth Estate host Sally Warhaft welcomes Tracey Spicer to the Wheeler Centre for a conversation about her accomplished, diverse and fearless life and career in Australian journalism – and the challenges and opportunities arising from the popular movements seeking to correct entrenched sexist behaviour in the media and beyond.

Sally Warhaft, Richard Di Natale and Fiona Patten in discussion at the Wheeler Centre — Photo: Jon Tjhia

In the 1980s, Australia was an early adopter of free needle syringe distribution programmes. At the height of the AIDS epidemic, this controversial harm-reduction strategy played a crucial role in mitigating the spread of HIV among Australian injecting drug-users.

Despite our history of success with harm-reduction approaches, legislators – and large portions of the public – remain squeamish about these policies. Across Australia, parliaments are still more inclined to pass punitive anti-drug laws. But is this working, and is this even cost-effective, in the context of our spreading problems with ice?

Richard Di Natale and Fiona Patten both worked, in differing capacities, in public health prior to their careers in politics. Both have been vocal and active with regards to drug legislation since entering parliament. With Sally Warhaft, the pair discuss the possibilities and limitations of harm reduction in Australia.

Fiona Patten — Photo: Jon Tjhia

Richard Di Natale — Photo: Jon Tjhia

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Richard Di Natale and Fiona Patten both worked, in differing capacities, in public health prior to their careers in politics. Both have been vocal and active with regards to drug legislation since entering parliament. With Sally Warhaft, the pair discuss the possibilities and limitations of harm reduction in Australia.

Sally Warhaft and Katy Tur — Photo: Jon Tjhia

Katy Tur, sometimes known as ‘Little Katy, third-rate reporter’, is an award-winning NBC News correspondent. She covered Donald Trump’s campaign from day one and quickly made an enemy of the future president.

Tur travelled to 40 states during the campaign and made more than 3,800 live TV reports. Trump didn’t appreciate her direct interview style or her scrupulous attention to facts, and took to singling her out at rallies. He repeatedly named her, called her ‘disgraceful’ and ‘not nice’ and encouraged his supporters to boo her.

Tur’s book, Unbelievable: My Front-Row Seat to the Craziest Campaign in American History, is about her bizarre, exhausting and sometimes frightening days on the campaign trail. It’s also about America’s increasingly hostile political landscape and about the established and shifting standards of Tur’s own chosen profession.

For this episode of The Fifth Estate, this indomitable journalist talks provocations, presidents and facing facts with host Sally Warhaft.

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Katy Tur, sometimes known as ‘Little Katy, third-rate reporter’, is an award-winning NBC News correspondent. She covered Donald Trump’s campaign from day one and quickly made an enemy of the future president. For this episode of The Fifth Estate, this indomitable journalist talks provocations, presidents and facing facts with host Sally Warhaft.

Sally Warhaft and Derryn Hinch — Photo: Jon Tjhia

Derryn Hinch is among the Australian media’s most controversial and unpredictable characters. He’s the former editor of the Sun and the former New York bureau chief for Fairfax. He’s been sacked from high-rating shows on Channel Seven and 3AW and he’s received on-air death threats from gangsters. He’s written 14 books, been jailed twice, married five times, toured with The Rocky Horror Picture Show and undergone liver transplant surgery.

As a veteran broadcaster, journalist and activist, Derryn Hinch has been dubbed ‘the human headline’ – as often the subject, as the reporter, of news. Over the years, he’s embraced the moniker, using his notoriety to crusade for causes he cares about, especially criminal justice reform.

Now a Victorian Senator with his own political party, Hinch continues to work towards tougher penalties for convicted criminals. His new book, Hinch Vs Canberra, describes his late-in-life foray into federal politics. With Sally Warhaft, Hinch talks about crime, contempt, the media and the world of Canberra politics.

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Now a Victorian Senator with his own political party, media veteran turned activist and politician Derryn Hinch continues to work towards tougher penalties for convicted criminals. His new book, Hinch Vs Canberra, describes his late-in-life foray into federal politics. With Sally Warhaft, Hinch talks about crime, contempt, the media and the world of Canberra politics.

Left to right: Sally Warhaft, George McEncroe and Kate McClymont — Photo: Emily Harms

How do headline-grabbing stories about powerful figures in the media affect the broader Australian culture?

The #MeToo movement began in the US – with the Harvey Weinstein revelations in October 2017 – and it quickly spread around the globe. In this discussion, we’ll look at how #MeToo is playing out here in Australia with two guests who approach the subject from very different angles.

Investigative reporter Kate McClymont broke the Don Burke sexual harassment allegation story late last year. George McEncroe is the founder of Shebah, an all-female rideshare service (in the style of Uber), which launched last year too.

With Sally Warhaft, our guests discuss how #MeToo is changing public conversation and affecting private lives. Can #MeToo benefit all women or are the gains of the movement restricted to certain sections of society? What are women riding with Shebah saying about harassment and everyday safety in Australian cities? And what more can be done to effect lasting change?

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Investigative reporter Kate McClymont broke the Don Burke sexual harassment allegation story late last year. George McEncroe is the founder of Shebah, an all-female rideshare service (in the style of Uber), which launched last year too. With Sally Warhaft, our guests discuss how the #MeToo movement is changing public conversation and affecting private lives in Australia. Can #MeToo benefit all women or are the gains of the movement restricted to certain sections of society? What are women riding with Shebah saying about harassment and everyday safety in Australian cities? And what more can be done to effect lasting change?

Pat Cunnane — Photo: Jon Tjhia

‘What’s a POTUS?’

Pat Cunnane, aged 22, asked a co-worker this question on one of his first days working at the White House. It’s safe to say he figured out the answer pretty quickly, rising from his first job as White House media monitor to become the senior writer and deputy director for messaging for the POTUS himself, Barack Obama.

In Cunnane’s new book, West Winging It: An Unpresidential Memoir, he gives fascinating insider’s account of his six years working at the heart of the Obama administration. During these years, Cunnane wrangled reporters and photographers and wrote statements, opinion pieces and even jokes in the former President’s voice. He was there for the big moments and the small and he was there, of course, for the surprise transition to Donald Trump.

With Sally Warhaft, Cunnane talks about what it’s like writing the words that would shape hearts and minds of a nation, and the world. He also shares his thoughts on the American presidency then and now – and the minutiae of daily working life in the White House – talking Trump and Twitter; history and hope.

Sally Warhaft and Pat Cunnane — Photo: Jon Tjhia

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