Peter Cochran, Former Member for Monaro & owner/operator of Cochran Horse Treks, joins Luke Grant to continue the discussion of Environment Minister Matt Kean’s aim to balance the support of brumby cultural heritage with the need to protect the fragile alpine ecosystem.

If a new management plan for controlling the animals’ numbers is implemented, it would see the number of brumbies culled from an estimated 14,380 as of last November by almost four-fifths to 3000 by June 30, 2027.

Mr Cochran, whose horse trek camp is located in the northern end of the Kosciuszko National Park, has continually disputed these figures.

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- 13/10/2021

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Rebekah Giles, Principal Director of Company Giles - a reputational risk law firm that has looked at the role social media giants play in defamation action in Australia.

Ms Giles wrote an excellent observation, ‘In the same week that Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his deputy Barnaby Joyce declared war on the social media platforms that publish the posts of anonymous users who defame, vilify, and harass, the same foreign companies that operate these platforms took their seat at the NSW Attorney-General’s roundtable discussions on Stage 2 of the defamation law reforms where they robustly advocated for safe harbour from liability.’

‘The legal implications of social media are of such paramount public importance that dialogue between the government and these tech giants is necessary. However, in circumstances where foreign entities such as Twitter refuse to submit to the jurisdiction of Australian courts, one has to wonder why they are invited to have a say on Australian law reform at all.’

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Dr Lurion De Mello, Senior Lecturer, Department of Applied Finance at Macquarie University's Business School, joins Luke Grant to explain why the world has found itself in the middle of a global energy crisis.

Dr De Mello writes, ‘European and Asian gas prices are at an all-time high, the oil price is at a three-year high, and the price of coal is soaring on the back of energy shortages across China, India and Germany.’

‘The surge in demand is being driven mostly by recovering economies and anticipated extreme weather across Europe and north-east Asia. China is stockpiling domestic coal and gas reserves, and Russia is reluctant to supply gas to Western Europe.’

‘Closer to home, Australia’s gas prices are soaring, but might soon plummet.’

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Liz Callaghan, CEO of Carers Australia, joins Luke Grant to talk about National Careers Week which runs until October 16th to recognise and celebrate the 2.65 million Australians who provide unpaid care and support to a family member or friend.

It is estimated that 2.2 billion hours of unpaid care was given in 2020, equating to almost $80 billion in wages. Even prior to the effects of the pandemic being accounted for, these figures are alarming and growing year on year, with the demand for informal carers estimated to rise by 23% by 2030.

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- 12/10/2021

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Luke Grant is joined by Tim Smith, Victoria’s Shadow Attorney-General, following an explosive day at Victoria’s IBAC yesterday.

Already, Victorian Aged Care Minister Luke Donnellan has quit the Labor ministry after he was accused of paying Labor Party membership fees on behalf of others as part of a branch-stacking operation led by former power-broker Adem Somyurek. 

Federal MP Anthony Byrne on Monday told IBAC that Mr Donnellan was involved in a factional alliance with Mr Somyurek and contributed to a “kitty”, which was used to pay for membership to control branches and secure positions in Parliament for allies.

It makes Mr Donnellan the fourth minister to leave his post in relation to the branch stacking affair exposed in 2020 by The Age Newspaper and 60 Minutes

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Luke Grants speaks with Bevan Shields, Europe correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, about his piece yesterday on what Europe is like following their freedom day.

Mr Shields wrote, ‘Thankfully, the brave new post-vaccination world actually feels much like the old.’

‘If you don’t believe me, consider this: the signs that were once attached to Johnson’s Downing Street lectern – warning the public to stay home, stay alert and wash their hands – have recently gone on display at the Science Museum in South Kensington, relics of strange and unsettling days past.’

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