The Last Place on Earth

The seat of Forrest in WA’s South West has been held by the Liberal party for 52 years — but surgeon and community independent candidate Dr Sue Chapman is hoping to shake things up this federal election. 

Dr Chapman stopped by Last Place HQ to discuss the true identity of an ‘anonymous’ campaign donor, the big money behind the big major parties, and South West WA as a microcosm for the Australian energy debate.

Following a big swing against the Liberals in 2022 and with the sitting MP retiring, is Forrest ready to try an alternative?

Head to www.lastplaceonearth.com.au for reportage, opinion, analysis and more.

Email subscribers to The Last Place On Earth will be the first to know when a new podcast episode drops.

Send us a tip if you liked this episode.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Konrad Benjamin of Punter’s Politics has built a huge audience online by explaining how rigged our political system is — and he’s ramping up ahead of the federal election.

This week, Konrad visited the fossil fuel heartland of Western Australia, where he’s installed a billboard right next to the Woodside building to highlight how little tax the oil and gas industry pay.

He stopped by The Last Place on Earth to discuss:

• How oil and gas dominate in WA — and what that means for the rest of the country
• The privatisation of everything, even our polling booths
• Friendlyjordies’ argument that there’s nothing we can do to stop the mining industry
• The challenges and opportunities of creating political content online

Links:

• ‘Company at centre of WA election furore donated thousands to Labor last year’ - WA Today
• Can Australia Tax Its Resources?’ - @friendlyjordies

Head to www.lastplaceonearth.com.au for reportage, opinion, analysis and more.

Email subscribers to The Last Place On Earth will be the first to know when a new podcast episode drops.

Send us a tip if you liked this episode.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can subscribe to The Last Place on Earth for just $5 a month to hear the full episode.

The mainstream media are explaining the WA state election as another big win for Labor and another big loss for the Liberals – but there's more to the story than that.

On a special election wrap podcast edition of The Week in the West, we look at how a huge swing against Labor in Fremantle and a best-ever result for the Greens suggest voters are tiring of captured major parties – and the implications of that for the upcoming federal election.

Subscribe for the full episode.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Brian Walker MLC is the leader of WA's Legalise Cannabis Party and a practicing GP.

He's up for reelection this weekend – and hoping his party will pick up more Upper House seats.

Dr Walker joined us at Last Place on Earth HQ to discuss:

• Arguments for freeing the leaf from health and economic perspectives.
• Whether or not we should be worried about Chinese warships off the coast.
• Psychedelics and spirituality.
• The mainstream media's resistance to covering minor parties.

So fix yourself a cone or a cup of tea (depending on your persuasion) and settle in for the ride as Dr Walker takes The Last Place on Earth to new dimensions.

Head to www.lastplaceonearth.com.au for reportage, opinion, analysis and more.

Email subscribers to The Last Place On Earth will be the first to know when a new podcast episode drops.

Send us a tip if you liked this episode.

Here's that Adam Morton story from The Guardian on the gas industry in WA.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Western Australian MP Ben Dawkins recently garnered international headlines when he legally changed his name to Austin 'Aussie' Trump.

In his first ever sit-down interview, Aussie Trump joins The Last Place on Earth to explain his shift in identity and walk us through his chequered political past.

We discuss:

• The traits of Donald Trump's that Aussie does and does not identify with.
• The circumstances in which Aussie left the Labor party.
• The circumstances in which Aussie left One Nation.
• Aussie's allegation that our current government is the most corrupt in WA's history.
• The plans and policies Aussie Trump is bringing to next month's state election.

Aussie reckons we're woke, inner-city ideologues. Listen to find out if we can find any common ground.Find news, opinion, and analysis at www.lastplaceonearth.com.au — and be sure to subscribe to stay up to date.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's clear the WA government is captured by the resources industry, but Brad Pettitt's seen it closer up than most. He joins The Last Place on Earth to reflect on his time as the sole Greens Parliamentarian in Western Australia's parliament.

Brad explains how mining companies exert their influence, and what entrance they use when visiting the Premier at Parliament House.

He also looks ahead to what might happen in the WA state election and how things might change if the Greens gain the balance of power in the upper house.

Plus, Gerard and Jesse debrief Premier Roger Cook's recent trip to Karratha, where he received a less than warm welcome, and contemplate what a US TikTok ban might mean for Australians.

Head to www.lastplaceonearth.com.au for reportage, opinion, analysis and more.

Email subscribers to The Last Place On Earth will be the first to know when a new podcast episode drops.

Send us a tip if you liked this episode.

Links:

'Is TikTok knockin' on heaven's door?' - The Last Place on Earth

WA government statement on Roebourne District High School redevelopment

'Community members disappointed as additional Roebourne school funding fails to deliver original plan' - Ngaarda Media

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recently launched independent candidate for Fremantle Kate Hulett joins the podcast to discuss her plans to do politics differently.

She says Freo has been taken for granted by Labor - and that a local community independent could be the answer.

Plus, it's been a grim week for Western Australian marine life. Gerard and Jesse talk shark nets, oil spills, and fish kills.

Head to www.lastplaceonearth.com.au for reportage, opinion, analysis and more.

Email subscribers to The Last Place On Earth will be the first to know when a new podcast episode drops.

Send us a tip if you liked this episode.

Links:

Santos pleads guilty over Varanus Island dead dolphin oil spill - Boiling Cold

Shark freed from Cottesloe Beach barrier after 27-hour operation - WAToday

Failed net to blame for dead fish washed up on Perth beach - WAToday

Gina Rinehart's incredible act for Donald Trump is revealed and why she wants Australia to 'watch and learn' - The Daily Mail

WA election 2025: Artist and retailer Kate Hulett set to be named as Independent candidate in Fremantle - The West Australian

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To ring in the New Year, we wildly speculate on what might happen in 2025.

• How badly is Albo cooked?
• Will Labor maintain its iron grip on Western Australian politics?
• Is the MAGA civil war a sign of things to come?
• What's left for the radical left?
• What will Tanya Plibersek do about Woodside's North West Shelf extension?

Head to www.lastplaceonearth.com.au for reportage, opinion, analysis and more.

Email subscribers to The Last Place On Earth will be the first to know when a new podcast episode drops.

Send us a tip if you liked this episode.

LINKS:

• WA Labor and Liberal parties create memes on TikTok in a bid to woo young voters - The West Australian
• Peter Dutton the latest politician to seek popularity boost by podcast - The Guardian
• 'MAGA civil war': Why are Trump supporters fighting each other over foreign workers? - SBS

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following the shooting of a health insurance CEO, a mysterious assassin has been winning hearts and minds, at least online. What accounts for his popularity? How does the assassination work as a direct action protest? And how to weigh it all morally?

The Last Place on Earth is a new media project. Visit www.lastplaceonearth.com.au for news, opinion, analysis, podcasts, and more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gerard Mazza and Jesse Noakes bring you the latest on power and politics in the west:

• There were reports of a snake on a plane flight between Broome and Perth – but did anyone actually see it?
• The US election has proved the world is getting weirder and everyone wants a purpose.
• Basil Zempilas is gliding up the ladder – will he be Western Australia's next premier?

Read more from Gerard and Jesse on lessons from the US election.

The Last Place on Earth is a new media project. Visit www.lastplaceonearth.com.au for news, opinion, analysis, podcasts, and more. Become a paid subscriber to keep us going.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.