The Grapevine

On this episode of The Grapevine, George Megolagenis talks about his article in The Good Weekend regarding Melbourne becoming Australia’s largest city. Infrastructure upgrades abound but what does this mean for Melbourne’s influence on culture and politics nationally?

And Matt Cowgill, Senior Associate at the Grattan Institute and co-author of the report No free lunch: higher super means lower wage discusses the wisdom of raising Australia’s superannuation guarantee from the current 9.5 percent to twelve percent.

Then, Giles Parkinson, editor of RenewEconomy phones in to discuss climate politics and whether any meaningful change has come about as a result of this summer’s bushfire disasters.

On this episode of The Grapevine, Chief Executive Officer and Dean of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government, Ken Smith, discusses his essay 'Remembering Who You Report To' in Griffith Review, which examines the changing relationship between the government and the public service and how 'the public' may be losing out.

Next, author and journalist Andrew Darby calls in to talk about his book Flight Lines - an experiential examination of the extraordinary feats of migratory shorebirds and how their habitats are threatened by climate change and development around the Yellow Sea.

Then, NITV journalist and co-host of The Point Rachael Hocking discusses how a new, more consultative approach to the Australian government's 'Close the Gap' initiative might help to reduce the disadvantages experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia.

On this episode of The Grapevine, academic at UNSW and author of Corporate Power in Australia: Do the 1% Rule? Dr Lindy Edwards, shares her research into how corporate interests are compromising Australia’s democracy.

Next, Peter Greste, Journalist and Professor of Journalism and Communications at The University of Queensland calls for the public to get vocal in advocating for the release of University of Melbourne academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert from prison in Iran.

Then, Emma Dawson, Executive Director at Per Capita, unpacks her article in the Guardian Australia discussing the positive impact of national unity during the bushfire crisis and how this could help to inform a more progressive and productive style of politics.

Kulja and Dylan chat with Associate Professor in Urban Planning at The University of Melbourne Dave Nichols for his monthly segment to wrap the year in urban planning issues, spanning construction headaches, level crossings pains and local government responses to the climate crisis.

Next up Tony Wilson, author and founder of the Speakola website drops in for his annual visit to round out the year's most significant speeches across a variety of genres.

Lastly, author and illustrator Sally Rippin drops in to the studio for her monthly instalment of the Reading Room, joined by author and children's and young adult specialist at Readings bookstore Leanne Hall to suggest some kids reading picks for summer.

This is the last edition of The Grapevine for 2019. A huge thanks to the listeners and Triple R subscribers for all your support this year - can’t wait to bring you more in 2020!

This week Kulja and Dylan speak to author and former Triple R Breakfaster Jeff Sparrow about his book Fascists Among Us: Online Hate and the Christchurch Massacre - an enlightening account of what Fascism looks like today, how it manifests in decentralised online spaces and the nature of the threat it poses to societies around the world.

Also, get egg-cited for Fiona Scott-Norman as she clucks all about her book This Chicken Life, the pros and cons of chicken ownership and the backyard theatre of the pecking order.

This week Kulja and Dylan speak with Anthony Kelly, Executive Officer at Flemington and Kensington Community Legal Centre - which runs the Police Accountability Project - about police misconduct, complaints procedures and the police’s accountability to the public.

And Economist Ross Garnaut phones in to The Grapevine to discuss his new book Super-Power: Australia’s low-carbon opportunity, Australian climate and energy policy discussion and the opportunities that a transition to renewables will bring for the Australian Economy.

Finally, The Big Issue Editor Amy Hetherington steps into the studio to celebrate the magazines monumental 600th edition and look back at the evolution of The Big Issue over the last 23 and a half years.

This week Kulja and Dylan speak with Rolf Schmidt, Invertebrate Palaeontology Collection Manager at Museums Victoria to discuss his pieces of the Berlin Wall, collected just after it fell and on display at the Immigration Museum as part of 30th anniversary commemoration of the wall's fall.

Then, co-host Sally Rippin is back for the Reading Room, joined by celebrated author and illustrator Graeme Base to discuss his new book Moonfish, his creative process and his continued refusal to fall into the latest trends.

And finally Professor Nick Richardson drops into the studio to convince Kulja and Dylan that 1956 was a cultrually crucial year for Australia as they explore the themes of his book 1956: The Year Australia Welcomed the World.

This week Kulja and Dylan speak with SBS sports analyst, Craig Foster, about his new book Fighting For Hakeem, which accounts the story to return soccer player Hakeem Al Araibi to Australia after attempts to extradite back to Bahrain.

Then, film maker Grant Baldwin comes on the show to talk about his new film This Mountain Life, as part of the environmental film festival.

Finally, Professor Virginia Barbour, director of the Australasian Open Acess Strategy Group at QUT, comes on the show to talk about the pressure on academics to publish new papers.

This week Kulja and Dylan speak with Zali Steggall, the member for Warringah about the climate change bill she's proposing to introduce into parliament in 2020.

Then, Ben Bohane, Vanautu-based photojournalist comes on the show to talk about the upcoming Bougainville independence referendum.

Finally, Azadeh Moavani, journalist and author comes on the show to talk about her new book Guest House For Young Women: Among The Women Of Isis.

This week Kulja and Dylan speak with Dr Suelette Dreyfus from the University of Melbourne about her removal from the speakers list at CyberCon.

Then, Julian Vincent from Market Forces comes on the show to talk about the campaign to pressure banks to get out of the fossil fuel industry.

Finally, Dr Tezcan Gumas from the University of Melbourne about Turkey's planned incursions against Kurdish-led forces in North-East Syria.