The Grapevine

This week on The Grapevine, David Manne, Executive Director at Refugee Legal, discusses the legal challenge filed in the high court on behalf of a refugee at covid-19 risk in immigration detention and the plight of asylum seekers during the pandemic.

And the question of how can Australia aid the Indonesian economy as it suffers from the pandemic is explored with Adam Triggs from the Asian Bureau of Economic Research at ANU. Triggs phones in to explain a cost-free option open to Australia as explored via his piece on Inside Story.

Plus Josh Earl,comedian and former 3RRR Breakfaster,  tells Kulja and Dylan about turning his podcast into a live-streaming event on his website after Melbourne International Comedy Festival was candled due to COVID-19. 

On this episode of The Grapevine, is the Federal Governments COVID-19 tracking app a step too far? Dr Suelette Dreyfus, Lecturer in School of Computing & Information Systems at the University of Melbourne discusses privacy concerns raised.

And community activist and head cook and owner of the Moroccan Soup Bar Hana Assafiri phones in to talk about her project Feed The Frontline where she hopes to supply 300 hot meals a day to hospital and healthcare workers.

On this episode of The Grapevine, Dylan speaks with executive officer of the Flemington Kensington Community Legal Centre, Anthony Kelly,  about the implications of the extra powers police have been granted in enforcing social distancing and how they’re monitoring police conduct through their Policing Covid Initiative. 

And as term two recommences across Victoria, Julie Sonneman, school education research fellow at The Grattan Institute, discusses COVID-19’s impact on students.

Then, what happens when tenants can’t afford rent? Heather Holst, Victorian Commissioner for Residential Tenancies breaks down the struggle renters face and the challenges of developing public policy to stop those without work becoming homeless due to the pandemic.

On this episode of The Grapevine, Gary Dickson from Public Interest Journalism Initiative discusses the closure of news rooms across Australia in the wake of COVID-19,an online resource mapping the changes in media availability and explores the question of whether the Federal Government should step in and subsidise media organisations struggling during COVID-19.

And what does the government’s industry and worker support package mean for the causal female workforce? Mary Crooks, Executive Director of the Victorian Women’s Trust Women breaks down how the pandemic is disproportionately affecting women at work and in their daily life.

Then, cleaners are on the front lines across communities limiting the spread of COVID-19. Bridget Gardner, director at High Performance Cleaning Solutions explains the crucial role cleaners play in the pandemic and gives tips to keep your home hygienic during lockdown.

On this episode of The Grapevine Journalist George Megolagenis maintains social distancing by phoning in to discuss his article in The Age unpacking the politics of COVID-19 and the relationship between the States and Federal Government.

And Cam Walker, Campaign Coordinator for Friends of the Earth talks Covid-19 and the environment:  how will the pandemic impact emissions reductions targets and does it herald a new era for science-based government policy?

Then Donna Morabito, former Grapevine co-host and Media & partnership manager at The Diggers Club talks gardening. With a rush on seedlings and a renewed interest in the 'grow your own food' movement amid the crisis, what are the benefits of putting your hands in the soil and planting some crops?

On this episode of The Grapevine Emma Dawson, Executive Director at Per Capita is back to discuss the Australian Federal Government effectively doubling the Jobseeker Allowance through “rescue packages” in response to the coronavirus crisis.

And Tracee Hutchison, Partnerships and Projects Manager at the Community Broadcast Foundation explains community radio’s response to COVID-19 and what the CBF is doing to support broadcaster’s wellbeing during this crisis.

Then, Rachael Hocking, NITV journalist and co-host of The Point talks about COVID-19’s effect on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and the Victorian government’s announcement of a redress scheme for stolen generations.

Despite threats of jail time, Bernard Collaery, representative of Witness K, has published his book Oil Over Troubled Water: Australia's Timor Sea Intrigue and phoned in to The Grapevine to unpack his legal battles with the government.

And Dave Nichols, Associate Professor in Urban Planning at the University of Melbourne returns for his monthly segment to discuss the role of urban planning in disease prevention.

Then, existential dread, James Button gets on the line to discuss people’s fears for the future he investigated in his essay The Climate Interviews for the The Monthly.

On this episode of The Grapevine Judith Peppard fills in for Dylan Bird and Koujla Coulston

James Chin, Professor of Asian Studies at the University of Tasmania explains the political implications of the unexpected ascension of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin over Former Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad and why many Malaysians are in protest.

And Dr Madeline Taylor, Academic Fellow at the University of Sydney specialising in energy and resources law, calls in to shed some light on Equinor pulling out of the drilling program in the Great Australian Bight.

Then, Judith shares her visit with Dr. Margaret Bowman, author, historian, Tai Chi practitioner and centenarian to commemorate her 100th birthday and her long and fascinating life.

Finally, Erin Lewis-Fitzgerald, journalist, author and passionate clothing mender joins Judith in the studio to talk about what she about the process of writing her book Modern Mending and what she hopes to achieve from it.

On this episode of The Grapevine Hannah Ryan from Buzzfeed News comes in to share what she’s learned about Clearview AI – controversial facial recognition software being used by Australia’s police forces and others globally.

And Cam Walker, Campaigns Coordinator at Friends of the Earth discusses Equinor pulling out of drilling in the Bight, policy making surrounding climate change in Australia and how the UK bipartisan approach on climate compares to the Australian parliament's response.

Then Matt Kunkel, Director of Migrant Workers Centre, explains how the COVID-19 travel ban affects migrant workers and visa changes that allow backpackers to assist with bushfire recovery. What are the implications for the future of temporary migrant workers in Australian society?

Graham Hunter, National Co-Coordinator of the Climate Change Program at the United Nations Association of Australia, discusses the film Global Thermostat screening at Transitions Film Festival in Melbourne, Australia and what geo-engineering technologies can offer in terms of halting, and potentially reversing, the impacts of climate change.

Also, political scientist Dr Mary C. Murphy from University College Cork talks about the recent elections in Ireland, which saw the unexpected rise of Sinn Féin, as negotiations continue on who will form the next government.

Lastly, is press freedom in Australia at risk? Gary Dickson, Research and Project Co-ordinator at the Public Interest Journalism Initiative, examines the federal court’s dismissal of the ABC’s case challenging the validity of the AFP raids, and broader issues around journalistic freedoms and source protections in Australia.