The Fifth Estate

With Sally Warhaft, American writer (and former senior writer and deputy director of messaging for Barack Obama) Pat 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 Jacqui Lambie — Photo: Jon Tjhia

Jacqui Lambie is hot-blooded, unpredictable and often startlingly candid. Rising to public office with the Palmer United Party in 2013, she quickly outplayed her billionaire party leader, and struck out on her own as an independent for Tasmania in the Senate. In her new memoir, Rebel with a Cause, she shares her story in detail.

Hailing from north-western Tasmania, one of the most disadvantaged pockets of the country, Lambie has fought hard for welfare recipients, veterans and families affected by ice addiction, speaking compellingly on these issues from personal experience. Her views on Islam and immigration, meanwhile, have attracted controversy and censure.

She was felled by last year’s citizenship debacle, but you can bet we haven’t heard the last of Jacqui Lambie. In the first Fifth Estate session of the year, she talks with host Sally Warhaft about outsiders, authenticity and why ‘you can’t keep a bloody Lambie down’.

The Fifth Estate: Jacqui Lambie Watch

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Jacqui Lambie is hot-blooded, unpredictable and often startlingly candid. Rising to public office with the Palmer United Party in 2013, she quickly outplayed her billionaire party leader, and struck out on her own as an independent for Tasmania in the Senate. In her new memoir, Rebel with a Cause, she shares her story in detail. Felled by last year’s citizenship debacle, but you can bet we haven’t heard the last of Jacqui Lambie. In the first Fifth Estate session of the year, she talks with host Sally Warhaft about outsiders, authenticity and why ‘you can’t keep a bloody Lambie down’.

Guests George Megalogenis and Alice Workman join host Sally Warhaft, to reflect on the wild ride of 2017 – from the citizenship debacle to Adani and beyond.

For the final Fifth Estate of 2017, Sally Warhaft and guests George Megalogenis and Alice Workman look back at the year in Australian politics.

The panel dive deep into the issues that have dominated this year’s domestic headlines, from energy policy to housing affordability. They look at the major events that have attracted international attention, too: the Uluru Statement from the Heart, the same-sex marriage postal survey and the crisis following the closure of the Manus Island detention centre.

This is the year Bill Shorten freestyled, Pauline Hanson wore a burqa into the Senate and the federal government managed to cause a diplomatic incident with New Zealand. Join us as we reflect on the wild ride of 2017 – from the citizenship debacle to Adani and beyond.

Sally Warhaft, George Megalogenis and Alice Workman

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Guests George Megalogenis and Alice Workman join host Sally Warhaft, to reflect on the wild ride of 2017 – from the citizenship debacle to Adani and beyond.

Senator Sam Dastyari is among the youngest politicians in Canberra, but in just a few years, he’s attracted more attention than many politicians garner over their entire careers. The combination of compelling backstory – told in his new book, One Halal of a Story – and industrial-strength audacity has meant he’s never far from the limelight.

Dastyari was born in Iran to student activists and arrived in Australia aged four. He joined the ALP shadow cabinet in his early 30s and quickly rose to prominence in the media too, especially for his campaign against corporate tax avoidance. In 2016, however, he resigned from the Labor frontbench after it was revealed he’d allowed a Chinese-linked company to pay a travel bill. In a radical move, Dastyari now calls for a blanket ban on political donations.

At this Fifth Estate session, Sally Warhaft meets a controversial figure in Australian politics. They talk about the inner workings of Parliament House, multiculturalism, memoir and more.

Sally Warhaft and Sam Dastyari — Photo: Sophie Quick

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Sally Warhaft meets Labor senator Sam Dastyari – a controversial figure in Australian politics. They talk about the inner workings of Parliament House, multiculturalism, memoir and more.

Gareth Evans

Gareth Evans was at the centre of Australian politics for much of his 21 years in parliament, serving as cabinet minister in both the Hawke and Keating Labor governments. His term as foreign minister, from 1988 to 1996, marked a pivotal time in Australian foreign affairs – and the start of an increased engagement with our Asian neighbours.

Since leaving politics, Evans has applied his talents to major posts in international relations, working on crisis resolution, genocide prevention and curbing nuclear proliferation.

What does Evans – whose memoir, Incorrigible Optimist, has just been released – make of the growing rumblings of discontent with the political establishment across the western world? And does he believe we can regain faith in political actors and institutions?

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Gareth Evans was at the centre of Australian politics for much of his 21 years in parliament; since then, he's been applying his experience to international relations. He chats with Sally Warhaft about politics, policy and public life – yesterday, and today.