In this episode of The Mark Pirotta Show, we look at the growing political crisis facing Victorian Labor—and the extraordinary contrast between Ben Carroll and One Nation's Warren Pickering.

Pickering has come under intense media scrutiny over his past. Drugs, DUIs, a difficult upbringing and serious mistakes have all become part of the political conversation.

But there's another side to that story.

He joined the Australian Defence Force, turned his life around, helped raise a family and, decades later, is putting himself forward to represent Victorians.

Is someone's past evidence that they're unfit for public life—or can redemption, responsibility and what someone does with the rest of their life matter more?

We also look at:

- The latest polling and One Nation's continued rise

- Australia's proposed digital duty of care

- Joanna Howe and the fight over free speech

- Government funding for campaigns targeting online misogyny

- The Sydney Swans controversy

- Men's issues and prostate cancer funding

- Why young men are moving politically to the right

- Media coverage of Warren Pickering

- Pickering's response alongside his family

- Redemption and the Christian attitude towards someone's past

- Ben Carroll and the crisis engulfing Victorian Labor

- IBAC and Victoria's union scandals

- Red Union and Edward Schuller

- Labor's relationship with the traditional union movement

- Ben Carroll's pitch to Indian-Australian voters

- Multiculturalism versus a shared Australian identity

- The Fabian method and political power

- Big government, small government and individual responsibility

- Why Victoria could become a major test for One Nation

The central question is whether politics should be reserved for people who have spent their entire adult lives building spotless political careers—or whether someone who has made serious mistakes, accepted responsibility and rebuilt their life can bring something valuable to public office.

Conservatives constantly tell people to take responsibility.

Pick yourself up.

Fix your life.

Become something better.

If someone actually does that, shouldn't it count for something?

Support the show:

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https://linktr.ee/mark.pirotta

00:01 – One Nation rises again in the polls

02:24 – Is the digital duty of care targeting the Right?

04:15 – Joanna Howe and the problem with defining hate speech

05:10 – What counts as misogynistic content?

07:32 – The Sydney Swans controversy

09:32 – Men's health and prostate cancer funding

11:32 – The media goes after Warren Pickering

13:48 – Should politicians be judged by their entire past?

14:37 – Warren Pickering's family responds

15:56 – Pick yourself up by your bootstraps

17:38 – Ben Carroll, Red Union and Victorian Labor

20:02 – Labor's pitch to Indian-Australian voters

21:48 – Victoria and the Fabian method

24:01 – Power, democracy and individual responsibility

26:27 – What choice does Victoria have?

In this episode of The Mark Pirotta Show, we look at a question that is becoming increasingly important in Australian politics:

Who gets to decide which ideas you're allowed to hear, support or believe?

We begin with the White Australia Party's constitutional challenge against the Commonwealth and Australia's prohibited hate-group laws. I strongly disagree with ethno-nationalism and much of what the party represents—but that doesn't answer the much bigger question of whether governments should have the power to suppress political organisations and criminalise forms of association with them.

From there, we turn to the Australia Institute and the influence think tanks can have over political debate.

We examine:

- The Australia Institute and its influence on Australian politics

- Dave Hughes' criticism of the think tank

- David Shoebridge and Mehreen Faruqi

- How statistics can be manipulated through selective comparisons

- Climate-change arguments and Nepal's glaciers

- The Fabian model of gradual political change

- Superannuation and government-directed investment

- Australia's under-16 social-media restrictions

- Algorithms, censorship and political content

- Men's issues and mainstream political debate

- The distinction between censorship and protecting children

- The White Australia Party and Thomas Sewell

- Why defending someone's freedom to speak isn't the same as agreeing with them

- Ethno-nationalism versus a nation built around shared values

- Christianity, Catholicism and national identity

- The danger of creating political powers that could eventually be used against your own side

The common thread is the slippery slope: powers introduced for seemingly limited purposes gradually expanding until institutions exercise authority that would once have been considered extraordinary.

You don't have to agree with an idea to defend someone's right to express it.

And you don't have to agree with the White Australia Party to ask whether a government should be capable of deciding that a political movement is simply beyond the boundaries of legitimate politics.

Support the show:

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Labor has a problem—and Secret Harbour may have just exposed how big it really is.

After three weeks away, The Mark Pirotta Show returns with a deep dive into One Nation's historic victory in the Secret Harbour by-election and what it could mean for Australian politics.

Luke Herdegen has won what was considered safe Labor territory, delivering One Nation its first lower-house seat in Western Australia.

But the bigger story isn't simply that One Nation won.

It's who appears to be moving away from Labor.

Secret Harbour is an outer-suburban electorate filled with young families and working Australians—the kind of voters who were once central to Labor's electoral coalition.

In this episode, I argue that Labor has spent years trading its traditional working-class identity for the priorities of political institutions, professional activists and an increasingly powerful union establishment.

We look at:

• One Nation's historic Secret Harbour victory
• Why the result matters beyond Western Australia
• Labor's collapsing primary vote
• The changing politics of working and middle-class Australians
• Why safe Labor territory is no longer necessarily safe
• Pauline Hanson and One Nation's growing appeal
• The difference between the historic labour movement and today's Labor Party
• Australia's modern union establishment
• The battle involving Red Union in Victoria
• Jim Chalmers and Anthony Albanese's attempts to reconnect with workers
• Why Labor's political messaging increasingly feels disconnected from the people it once represented
• What the Secret Harbour result could tell us about the next Australian election
• A look back at my interview with John Ruddick
• What's coming next on The Mark Pirotta Show

The argument of this episode is simple:

The workers didn't abandon Labor. Labor abandoned the workers.

For decades, Labor could rely on working families because of its historic connection to the labour movement. But modern Australian politics is changing, and Secret Harbour may be one of the clearest signs yet that those old political loyalties are breaking down.

The show is back. Let's get into it.

00:00 – The Mark Pirotta Show is back
00:25 – Why Secret Harbour matters
00:45 – Looking back at John Ruddick
01:05 – Labor's working-class problem
01:30 – What happened to the union movement?
01:50 – Red Union under pressure in Victoria
02:20 – Labor tries to win workers back
02:45 – Albanese and Chalmers' political messaging
03:05 – The new direction of the show

TIMESTAMPS

John Ruddick MLC joins The Mark Pirotta Show for a wide-ranging conversation about ICAC, Operation Rosny, Christianity in politics, the growth of government and the future of conservatism in Australia.

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At the centre of our discussion is the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption and its investigation into Liberal Party figures associated with efforts to recruit thousands of conservative and Christian members.

Ruddick argues that Operation Rosny raises serious questions about political impartiality, prohibited political donations and whether ICAC itself has accumulated too much power.

We discuss:

John Ruddick's libertarian case for conservative values

Why he believes smaller government produces a more conservative society

Pauline Hanson, One Nation and the future of the Australian Right

How political parties become captured by careerists

How Canberra accumulated power after Federation

Operation Rosny and NSW political donation laws

Whether political donations should be treated as free expression

Catholics and Christians attempting to reshape the NSW Liberal Party

ICAC's structure, leadership and political independence

Ruddick's case for abolishing ICAC

The Fabian Society and institutional politics

Opus Dei and Catholic participation in Australian politics

Australia's tax burden and Ruddick's "Freedom Bus"

Privatising and decentralising healthcare and education

Government funding of charities

Childcare subsidies and the modern family

Christian schools and the rise of homeschooling

The changing political attitudes of younger Australians

Energy policy and the retreat from Net Zero

Ruddick's sex-selective abortion bill

Ruddick's central argument goes considerably further than criticism of one ICAC investigation: the fundamental problem, he says, is the extraordinary expansion of government itself.

He argues that replacing the people running government isn't enough if the institutions continue accumulating power—and explains why even a future One Nation government might not permanently solve that underlying problem.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – John Ruddick on libertarianism and conservative values

03:00 – Government subsidies and manufactured culture

04:50 – One Nation, Pauline Hanson and the Libertarians

07:00 – Why successful political parties attract careerists

09:00 – Federation and the original purpose of Canberra

11:00 – How the Federal Government became so powerful

12:40 – Why stronger states matter

13:00 – ICAC and Operation Rosny

15:00 – Should political donations be considered free speech?

17:00 – The battle to control the NSW Liberal Party

19:00 – Conservative Catholics and the ICAC investigation

21:00 – Is ICAC politically compromised?

24:00 – Who actually runs ICAC?

25:00 – The Fabian Society connection

29:00 – Opus Dei, Catholics and Australian politics

31:30 – Ruddick's case for abolishing ICAC

34:30 – The Nick Greiner precedent

36:45 – How do you actually shrink government?

38:15 – Is Australia already a socialist country?

39:40 – Ruddick's "Freedom Bus" explained

41:20 – Could healthcare operate without big government?

44:10 – Government funding and Australia's charities

47:40 – Childcare subsidies, taxation and the family

49:30 – The Fabian Society and education

53:20 – How regulation expands government

55:10 – Government funding of Catholic schools

56:15 – The rise of homeschooling

58:40 – Is the West beginning to turn around?

1:14:45 – Ruddick's sex-selective abortion bill

1:17:30 – Final thoughts

John Ruddick MLC joins The Mark Pirotta Show for a wide-ranging conversation about ICAC, Operation Rosny, Christianity in politics, the growth of government and the future of conservatism in Australia.

At the centre of our discussion is the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption and its investigation into Liberal Party figures associated with efforts to recruit thousands of conservative and Christian members.

Ruddick argues that Operation Rosny raises serious questions about political impartiality, prohibited political donations and whether ICAC itself has accumulated too much power.

We discuss:

• John Ruddick's libertarian case for conservative values
• Why he believes smaller government produces a more conservative society
• Pauline Hanson, One Nation and the future of the Australian Right
• How political parties become captured by careerists
• How Canberra accumulated power after Federation
• Operation Rosny and NSW political donation laws
• Whether political donations should be treated as free expression
• Catholics and Christians attempting to reshape the NSW Liberal Party
• ICAC's structure, leadership and political independence
• Ruddick's case for abolishing ICAC
• The Fabian Society and institutional politics
• Opus Dei and Catholic participation in Australian politics
• Australia's tax burden and Ruddick's "Freedom Bus"
• Privatising and decentralising healthcare and education
• Government funding of charities
• Childcare subsidies and the modern family
• Christian schools and the rise of homeschooling
• The changing political attitudes of younger Australians
• Energy policy and the retreat from Net Zero
• Ruddick's sex-selective abortion bill

Ruddick's central argument goes considerably further than criticism of one ICAC investigation: the fundamental problem, he says, is the extraordinary expansion of government itself.

He argues that replacing the people running government isn't enough if the institutions continue accumulating power—and explains why even a future One Nation government wouldn't permanently solve that underlying problem.

Whether you agree with him or not, this is a fascinating discussion about the proper limits of government, political freedom and the future of the Australian Right.

Victoria's political landscape is changing fast.

Ben Carroll has replaced Jacinta Allan and Labor is hoping a new Premier can reset the government before the state election—but beneath the headline polling, the contest on the Right is becoming much more interesting.

In this episode of The Mark Pirotta Show, we examine the first polling since One Nation announced its Victorian candidates, Warren Pickering's emergence, Jess Wilson's growing profile and why crime could become one of the defining issues of the election.

We break down:

• Ben Carroll's early polling bump
• Why replacing Jacinta Allan doesn't erase Labor's record
• One Nation's growing presence in Victoria
• Warren Pickering's reported 16% support
• Jess Wilson's appeal and tough-on-crime strategy
• The Victorian Vietnamese community's response to violent crime
• Bail laws and youth crime
• Whether Labor's leadership change will actually work
• The census and the campaign around religious identification
• John Ruddick's criticism of the NSW ICAC investigation
• Christianity and political participation
• Government funding and the controversy involving a former church
• The broader cultural argument over Australia's Christian heritage

The central political question is simple: has Labor genuinely changed direction, or has Victoria simply been given a new Premier to defend the same government?

The transcript argues that Carroll remains closely connected to both the Allan and Andrews governments and that One Nation's emergence could complicate the electoral mathematics for both Labor and the Liberals.

The crime discussion becomes particularly important later in the episode, where the death of a Vietnamese shopkeeper and subsequent community reaction are connected to the wider debate over bail, youth crime and Victoria's political direction.

Support the show:

https://patreon.com/TheMarkPirottaShow

https://linktr.ee/mark.pirotta

In this episode of The Mark Pirotta Show, we examine what happens when political ideology collides with reality.

From the extraordinary claim that Aboriginal heritage extends to the Moon, to the Oxford Union debates, Western Australia's political shift, Victoria's struggling Labor Government and Australia's growing defence concerns, the same pattern continues to emerge: ideas are increasingly being tested against real-world outcomes.

We break down:

• The "Sky Country" controversy and the future of Welcome to Country
• Tommy Robinson's Oxford Union debate
• Why universities are losing public confidence
• The Secret Harbour by-election in Western Australia
• One Nation's growing support across the country
• Victoria's new Premier and Labor's reshuffle
• Tim Richardson's appointment despite worsening domestic violence statistics
• Pauline Hanson's latest polling surge
• The Greens' declining support
• Australia's falling housing market
• Why Defense is openly preparing for a more uncertain world

We also examine why voters appear to be rewarding parties they see as grounded in practical concerns while losing confidence in ideological politics.

If you're interested in Australian politics, culture, housing, national security and the changing political landscape, this episode explores why reality is beginning to reshape political debate.

Support the show:

https://patreon.com/TheMarkPirottaShow

https://linktr.ee/mark.pirotta

00:00 – The "Sky Country" controversy

03:30 – How ideology enters institutions

05:20 – Tommy Robinson at Oxford Union

07:45 – Why universities are losing trust

09:20 – Secret Harbour by-election

11:30 – One Nation's Victorian candidates

14:00 – The media vs Pauline Hanson

15:30 – New polling shocks Labor and the Greens

17:00 – Australia's housing market turns

19:00 – Defence prepares for an uncertain future

21:20 – Final thoughts

TIMESTAMPS

In this episode of The Mark Pirotta Show, we examine how small cultural and political changes can gradually reshape an entire society.

From Spain's immigration crisis and Australia's border policies to debates over free speech, social media, and the role of government, we explore why seemingly minor decisions often have far-reaching consequences.

We break down:

• Ben Shapiro's concept of "permission structures"
• Why Spain's immigration system is under pressure
• Australia's "Stop the Boats" policy and its legacy
• The Sal Grover case and women's-only spaces
• David Shoebridge's criticism of Meta
• The debate over content moderation and social media
• Julie Inman Grant and the Online Safety Commission
• Why governments increasingly regulate speech
• The importance of free expression—even for unpopular views
• How small policy decisions can reshape a nation's culture

We also discuss why protecting institutions, borders, and civil liberties remains central to maintaining a free and stable society, and why today's political debates often begin with issues that initially seem insignificant.

Support the show:

https://patreon.com/TheMarkPirottaShow

https://linktr.ee/mark.pirotta

00:00 – When did society start changing?

02:00 – Rights versus responsibilities

03:50 – Spain's immigration crisis

05:50 – Sal Grover and women's spaces

07:50 – Why "Stop the Boats" worked

10:10 – David Shoebridge vs Meta

12:30 – Social media and content moderation

15:20 – Julie Inman Grant and online regulation

17:40 – Why small changes matter

19:20 – Free speech and political protest

21:30 – Final thoughts

TIMESTAMPS

In this episode of The Mark Pirotta Show, we examine the end of Jacinta Allan's premiership—and ask whether changing the Premier changes anything at all.

After years of mounting debt, cancelled projects, rising crime, and growing public frustration, Victorian Labor has replaced its leader just months before a state election. But is Ben Carroll offering a new direction, or simply a new face?

We break down:

• Why Jacinta Allan's leadership came to an end

• The Commonwealth Games cancellation and Victoria's financial crisis

• Australia's success in Glasgow despite Victoria's withdrawal

• Gina Rinehart's support for Australian athletes

• The ABC controversy and public broadcaster accountability

• Ben Carroll's leadership bid and his previous pledge to support Jacinta Allan

• Why internal party leadership spills raise democratic questions

• One Nation's growing influence on Victorian politics

• Corey Bernardi's push for greater transparency on youth gender medicine

• Why Labor is increasingly responding to One Nation's agenda rather than setting its own

We also examine whether Victoria's problems are the result of one leader—or whether they reflect deeper issues that have developed over decades of government.

If you're interested in Victorian politics, government accountability, public spending and the changing Australian political landscape, this episode explores one of the biggest political stories ahead of the state election.

Support the show:

https://patreon.com/TheMarkPirottaShow

https://linktr.ee/mark.pirotta

00:00 – Why Jacinta Allan is out

02:20 – The Commonwealth Games Victoria lost

04:20 – Victoria's debt crisis explained

05:45 – Gina Rinehart backs Australian athletes

07:50 – The ABC controversy

10:20 – Jacinta Allan's farewell speech

12:40 – Ben Carroll's promise—and what happened next

14:45 – Can a new Premier fix Victoria?

16:40 – One Nation's growing influence

18:15 – Corey Bernardi's transparency campaign

20:00 – Final thoughts

TIMESTAMPS

In this episode of The Mark Pirotta Show, we examine a growing political trend that extends far beyond opinion polls: Australians are increasingly questioning whether they can trust what they're being told.

From media reporting on the vehicle attack at a Pride parade in Germany to Victoria's crime debate, Anthony Albanese's latest controversies, and One Nation's continued rise in the polls, the common thread is accountability.

We break down:

• The Germany vehicle attack and media reporting
• Crime, sentencing and public safety
• Jacinta Allan's leadership and Victoria's political future
• Anthony Albanese's latest controversies
• Australia's trade relationship with China
• New US tariffs and Australia's supply chains
• Pauline Hanson's latest polling momentum
• Why the two-party system is under pressure
• Peter Credlin's latest investigation
• Whether Australians are reaching a political tipping point

We also discuss why trust in governments, institutions and legacy media appears to be declining, and what that could mean heading into the Victorian election and beyond.

Support the show:

https://patreon.com/TheMarkPirottaShow

https://linktr.ee/mark.pirotta

00:00 – Germany's vehicle attack and media headlines

02:20 – Christianity, Islam and public debate

04:30 – Crime, sentencing and public safety

06:50 – Jacinta Allan under growing pressure

08:45 – Albanese's latest controversy

10:30 – The escalator moment goes viral

11:20 – New US tariffs on Australia

13:00 – Pauline Hanson's polling surge

14:45 – Is the two-party system breaking?

16:10 – Peter Credlin's latest investigation

17:45 – Final thoughts