Wake Up Australia

Listen to the full show podcast with Luke Grant, filling in for Michael McLaren. 

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Steven Wardill, State Affairs Editor for The Courier-Mail/Sunday Mail, joins Luke Grant regarding Queensland opposition leader Deb Frecklington’s rejection of reports that the NLP had referred her to the electoral watchdog over fundraising concerns.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has called on the Opposition leader Deb Frecklington to address reports related to property developers attending an LNP fundraiser event.

It follows speculation the LNP referred Ms Frecklington to the Electoral Commission of Queensland, over concerns about a series of fundraising events, which could have violated laws intended to stunt political influence of property developers.

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Listen to the full show podcast with Luke Grant, filling in for Michael McLaren. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the full show podcast with Luke Grant, filling in for Michael McLaren. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Luke Grant is joined by Victorian Senator Jane Hume, Federal Assistant Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services & Financial Technology, who has hit back at criticism of the Federal Budget missing the mark for helping women and has said that it was “not a budget for men”.

As part of the 2020-21 Budget, the Minister for Women, Senator Marise Payne, released the 2020 Women's Economic Security Statement which included a $240.4 million package to deliver employment opportunities, support to parents and support for women in the workplace.

“This includes employment programs to support women’s leadership and development, and increase opportunities for women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), business and male-dominated industries.”

Responding to criticism on Twitter that the package was inadequate, Senator Hume said that the Budget was not exclusive of women and it was “not a budget for men”.

“It’s for all Australians and record support for all Australians is being provided,” she said on Twitter.

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Liz Callaghan, Chief Executive Officer of Carers Australia, joins Luke Grant to celebrate National Carers Week which is a time to recognise and celebrate Australia’s 2.65 million unpaid carers who make this great contribution to our nation.

This year, Carers Australia is asking all carers to visit carersweek.com.au and ‘Tell Us Why You Care’. By publishing authentic accounts of unpaid caring in Australia, we will raise awareness of the realities of the caring role and continue to work towards a 'carer-friendly' Australia.

Throughout 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic, carers have experienced a significant increase in stress and caring responsibilities. Carers have played a major role in flattening the curve of infection by sheltering at home and keeping vulnerable Australians safe.

Even before the effects of the pandemic had been accounted for, unpaid carers were estimated to be providing 2.2 billion hours of unpaid care in 2020 – over 42 million hours every single week.

The replacement value of that care was estimated at almost $78 billion, or almost $1.5 billion every week. This highlights the remarkable contribution that unpaid carers make not just to our communities, but also to the national economy.

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Luke Grant is joined by Leith Van Onselen, Macrobusiness - the 'Unconventional Economist', who writes that the usual suspects are already fretting over the Australian Government’s ballooning debt, claiming we will leave a nasty legacy for future generations.

Mr Van Onelen writes, ‘The Federal Government has committed to a record $213.7 billion deficit this year as it attempts to borrow and spend its way out of Australia’s first recession in nearly three decades – brought on by devastating COVID-19 lockdowns.’

‘The IPA has modelled two scenarios, one in which gross debt peaks at $1.92 trillion in 2037, the budget returns to surplus the following year, and the debt is paid off by 2063.’

‘The second scenario has debt peaking at $2.05 trillion in 2042, a return to surplus in 2046, and the debt paid off by 2080.’

‘In the first scenario, GDP growth stabilises at 5 per cent, whereas in the second it settles at 3 per cent.’

‘The IPA’ Mr Cian Hussey told news.com.au budget forecasts “tend to be optimistic” so it was “pretty depressing that the Morrison Government hasn’t even tried to outline when we might see a surplus or pay down the debt”…’

‘Would the IPA seriously prefer that the federal government cut spending? This would be a terrible idea as it would send the economy into an austerity-led depression, driving unemployment into the stratosphere, causing widespread business failures, and tanking tax receipts.’

‘The Australia’s government should instead take advantage of record low borrowing rates to ramp-up infrastructure and public housing spending. Not only would this help overcome Australia’s massive infrastructure and public housing deficits (brought about by 15 years of mass immigration), but would also help stimulate the economy during a period of weak private demand and high unemployment.’

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Listen to the full show podcast with Luke Grant. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Luke Grant speaks with Wayne Schwass, former North Melbourne & Sydney Swans AFL legend and mental health warrior, who along with his charity PukaUp has teamed with eharmony to shine a light on men’s mental health issues as we head into World Mental Health week tomorrow.

 

According to new research from relationship experts at eharmony, more than half (55%) of Aussie males feel the need to hide mental health issues from their partners, while a similar number (54%) feel pressured to be their family’s financial provider.

 

When it comes to talking about matters of the mind and heart, Aussie blokes remain resolutely tight-lipped.  Ironically, this lack of communication often intensifies emotional struggles, and is likely to be a contributing factor to the one in eight men battling depression and mental health issues each year.

 

Mr Schwass, the founder of PukaUp, has openly shared his own experiences with depression in the past which culminated in him ‘lying, hiding and pretending’ he was happy for 12 long years.

 

“While disappointed, I’m not at all surprised by eharmony’s findings which illustrate that over half of men still hide difficult feelings from their partners, and many feel they have to find their own ways to deal with things, rather than talk things through with their loved ones or mates”, he says.

 

“When I had despairing feelings, I certainly felt as a man I had to contain them to some extent. But the problem is if you don’t talk to people when you’re down, things build up even more creating huge emotional isolation and disconnection. Over time, this sequence of events can actually be quite dangerous.”

 

“That’s why I’ve taken my own experience to look at how it can help others. At PukaUp we are creating genuine and authentic conversations around mental health and emotional wellbeing– we tackle tough topics and offer resources to help build the conversational tools that might seem difficult at first but will actually help so much more in the long run.”

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the full show podcast with Luke Grant. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.