Uncommon Sense

Dr Richard Denniss, chief economist at The Australia Institute joins Amy for the final instalment of Uncommon Sense's federal election policy series – this time, on the economy. Richard debunks all the election econobabble on wages growth, productivity, inflation, and much more. He explains and evaluates the economic policies of the major and minor parties at this federal election, including on housing affordability, superannuation, taxation, economic management, and wages growth. Who's talking a load of codswallop and who is on the money? Award-winning author and academic Dr Elizabeth Tynan speaks about her new book, The Secret of Emu Field: Britain’s forgotten atomic tests in Australia. Elizabeth tells us what happened at Emu Field, South Australia in October 1953. She talks of a terrifying black mist that spread across the land after the first atomic bomb detonation called Totem I. It brought death and sickness to Aboriginal people in its path. Elizabeth describes some of the secrecy that still exists today around the testing activities. She tells us about her visit to Emu Field and the consequences of the testing. Elizabeth is associate professor in the Graduate Research School at James Cook University, Townsville. Catherine Watson, member of the Save Western Port Woodlands group, dials in to discuss the last strip of significant woodland left in Bass Coast Shire – a rare coastal forest near Lang Lang and Grantville, which is under threat from a surge in sand mining. After a long fought battle, Victoria's Planning Minister Richard Wynne has just made the controversial decision to approve a significant expansion of the Grantville sand mine despite more than 70 local objections. Catherine explains why the Western Port Woodlands is so ecologically special and why it deserves our urgent protection. Visit their website at www.savewesternportwoodlands.org

Former judge Stephen Charles AO QC and Dr Catherine Williams discuss what a robust and effective federal integrity commission looks like, as well as other accountability bodies and measures needed to protect our democracy from corruption. These include reforms to our political donations system, among many others. Their new book is called, Keeping Them Honest: The Case for a Genuine National Integrity Commission and Other Vital Democratic Reforms. Stephen Charles QC is a former Judge of Appeal in the Supreme Court of Victoria and Dr Catherine Williams is research director of the Centre for Public Integrity.

Richie Merzian, Director of the Climate and Energy Program at The Australia Institute joins Amy for part 3 of the Uncommon Sense election policy series – climate change. Richie looks at Australia's current climate targets and tells us what targets and policies are needed to keep global temperature increases to 1.5 degrees celsius or at the very worst, 2 degrees celsius. He also examines and evaluates what Labor, the Coalition, the Greens, and the independents are proposing to do about climate change and energy policy at this federal election. Former judge Stephen Charles AO QC and Dr Catherine Williams discuss what a robust and effective federal integrity commission looks like, as well as other accountability bodies and measures needed to protect our democracy from corruption. These include reforms to our political donations system, among many others. Their new book is called, Keeping Them Honest: The Case for a Genuine National Integrity Commission and Other Vital Democratic Reforms. Stephen Charles QC is a former Judge of Appeal in the Supreme Court of Victoria and Dr Catherine Williams is research director of the Centre for Public Integrity. Gabriel Shipton, film producer and brother of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, speaks about his film ITHAKA, which follows Assange's father John Shipton in the fight to free Julian. Gabriel discusses the chilling effect America’s efforts to prosecute Julian are having on freedom of press and whistleblowers across the world, and the disturbing tactics deployed to silence him. Julian is currently being held in Belmarsh Prison, London. A court has formally approved the extradition of Julian Assange to the United States on espionage charges. His extradition will ultimately be a decision for UK home secretary, Priti Patel.

Journalist and author Louisa Lim discusses her new book, Indelible City: Dispossession and Defiance in Hong Kong. Among many things, Louisa explores the 2019 protest movement in Hong Kong and the rising number of speech crime convictions under the harsh national security law. She also unearths the stories behind key historical moments and seeks to insert Hong Kongers back into their social and political history.

Luke Hilakari, Secretary of the Victorian Trades Hall Council tells us the full story behind the fight to save the John Curtin Hotel. A green ban has just been announced in the effort to protect the socially and culturally significant John Curtin Hotel in Carlton. Union workers will now refuse to work on any redevelopment or demolition of the Curtin Hotel, after it was sold to an international buyer.

Nic Maclellan, Pacific affairs correspondent for Inside Story, talks about Australia's foreign policy, including its relationships with Pacific island nations, China, the U.S. and France. Nic also explains the positions and recent policies of the major and minor parties. This is the second instalment of Uncommon Sense's federal election policy series. Journalist and author Louisa Lim discusses her new book, Indelible City: Dispossession and Defiance in Hong Kong. Among many things, Louisa explores the 2019 protest movement in Hong Kong and the rising number of speech crime convictions under the national security law. She also discusses key historical moments and seeks to insert Hong Kongers back into their social and political history. Luke Hilakari, Secretary of the Victorian Trades Hall Council tells us the full story behind the fight to save the John Curtin Hotel. A green ban has been announced in the effort to protect the socially and culturally significant John Curtin Hotel in Carlton. Union workers will now refuse to work on any redevelopment or demolition of the Curtin Hotel, after it was sold to an international buyer.

Luke Henriques-Gomes, Guardian Australia's social affairs and inequality editor, joins Amy for the first instalment of a special federal election policy series examining key policy areas in-depth. Luke discusses the policies and track record of the major and minor parties in the areas of social policy, including the cashless debit card, JobSeeker, and the NDIS. Veteran broadcaster and author Jon Faine joins Amy to discuss his new book, Apollo & Thelma: A True Tall Tale. Jon tells the astonishing true story of legendary strongman Paul Anderson ‘The Mighty Apollo’ and his sister Thelma, the pioneering publican of the ‘Wanda Inn’ at Top Springs in the Northern Territory. As Jon was Apollo's lawyer, he reckons with his own story too. This book is a memoir, a true tale, and a reflection on Australia's history and the fight for indigenous rights. Rachel Denber, Deputy Director of the Europe and Central Asia Division at Human Rights Watch speaks about the atrocities and "apparent war crimes" being committed by the Russian military against Ukrainian civilians in Bucha, Ukraine.

Veteran broadcaster and author Jon Faine joins Amy to discuss his fascinating new book, Apollo & Thelma: A True Tall Tale. Jon tells the astonishing true story of the world's strongest man Paul Anderson, also known as ‘The Mighty Apollo,' and his sister Thelma, a pioneering publican of the ‘Wanda Inn’ at Top Springs in the NT. As Jon was Apollo's lawyer, he reckons with his own story too. This book is many things – a memoir, a true tale, and a reflection on Australia's history and the fight for indigenous rights.

Scottish paleobiologist Dr Thomas Halliday joins Amy for an in-depth conversation about his debut book, Otherlands: A World in the Making. Thomas takes us on a journey into deep time and introduces us to the awe-inducing ecosystems, animals, plants, and places that existed – from Alaska during the Pleistocene (20,000 years ago) to Australia during the Ediacaran (550 million years ago).

Thomas is an Honorary Research Fellow, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Birmingham. His PhD won the Linnean Society Medal for the best thesis in the biological sciences in the UK.

Dr Chris Wallace discusses the media's role and performance in the federal election campaign and previews Labor's chances of winning. Chris is the author of, How To Win An Election, and is Associate Professor at the 50/50 By 2030 Foundation at the University of Canberra. Scottish paleobiologist Thomas Halliday joins Amy for an in-depth conversation about his debut book, Otherlands: A World in the Making. Thomas takes us on a journey into deep time and introduces us to the awe-inducing ecosystems, animals, plants, and places that existed – from Alaska during the Pleistocene (20,000 years ago) to Australia during the Ediacaran (550 million years ago). Plus, songwriter and comedian Andrew Hansen (The Chaser, CNNNNN, Stories From Oz) stops by to talk about the craft of comedy and his new stage show, Everyone Else Is Wrong, which he will perform at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.