Medicare's much-needed reform held hostage by vested interests: Michael Lester in conversation with John Menadue, AO
Access to affordable primary healthcare through GPs has collapsed, forcing more people to rely on overcrowded and understaffed public hospitals. These hospitals, meant to be a last resort, have instead become the costly default option.
Recent articles in Podcast
9 March 2025
Joseph Camilleri and Allan Patience: Beyond the crises – How can we inspire people and institutions to take action?
Allan Patience and Joseph Camilleri discuss global crises — climate change, war, the mental health epidemic, and human rights violations — highlighting the lack of leadership across politics, business, media, education, and religion. The discussion encourages us to ask not only why we’re in this state, but how we can create a better future and overcome the obstacles in our path.
5 January 2025
Overreach and technocratic control in Australian University reform
Announced by the incoming Labor government, the University Accord process and review is being touted as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine the role and funding of Australia's 40-plus universities. With 1.5 million students enrolled, including 500,000 international students, and generating $35 billion in revenue, universities have been struggling in the wake of COVID-19.
23 December 2024
Australia's faltering research and development funding and efforts
Michael Lester in conversation with Professor Ian Chubb AC—policy adviser at the Australian Academy of Science (AAS), former Chief Scientist of Australia, and former Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of several universities—now appointed to lead a once-in-a-generation review of Australia's faltering research and development funding and efforts.
7 December 2024
Whistleblowing, truth and the price of courage
Michael Lester in conversation with Kieran Pender, senior lawyer for the Whistleblower Project at the Human Rights Law Centre (HRLC), discuss recent high-profile whistleblowing cases in both public (e.g. East Timor) and private (e.g. CBA) sectors.
6 December 2024
Courage in public office and Australia's recognition of Palestine
“No room for robust debate” within ALP caucus. “There is so much courage that Australia could exercise. We could come out and be the real champions of human rights, and human life, that we claim to be - especially within the Labor party.” High profile Senator Fatima Payman and former Labor Senator Margaret Reynolds discuss courage in public office, Australia’s recognition of Palestine, Australia’s Voice, and the difficulties of standing up for one’s principles within a party political system.
4 December 2024
Strategic space in a bounded global order: China, Russia and America
Geoff Raby AO, former Australian ambassador to China, discusses with Michael Lester the remaking of the global order in his book Great Game On: The Contest for Central Asia and Global Supremacy (Melbourne University Press, 2024).
28 November 2024
Ending 'Dog Days' stagnant living standards
Over the past decade, Australia has endured its worst stagnation in living standards since the Great Depression of the 1930s, and has lost its way in terms of economic policies that can restore prosperity, says Ross Garnaut in conversation with Michael Lester.
11 November 2024
The Future of Australia's telecommunications sector
While successfully rolling out 5G mobile wireless technology and achieving high rates of penetration and quality services for smartphones, telecom providers like Telstra have faced significant investments in infrastructure. At the same time, they have struggled to raise prices and maintain profitability, particularly in the face of the broadband network rollout (NBN), which has come at great taxpayer expense and performed poorly by international standards.
9 November 2024
The ABC must reinforce its commitment to unbiased reporting
Jonathan Holmes, a respected journalist and former host of Media Watch, with an impressive career spanning over 40 years including work as an executive producer for programs like Four Corners, Foreign Correspondent, and 7.30 Report, has shared his perspective on the challenges facing Australia's national broadcaster, the ABC with Michael Lester.
4 November 2024
Doubt, distrust, fear, and uncertainty surround the U.S. election process
With only days until the US Presidential election on 5 November and with polls calling the race 50:50. Michael Lester in discussion with Amelia Lester, Deputy Editor, Foreign Policy magazine, Washington DC, discuss what the conduct of the campaign tells us about the health of American democracy and the integrity of its electoral processes and institutions.
28 October 2024
The Palestine Laboratory Podcast | Episode 1: Start-up Nation
Investigative journalist Antony Loewenstein questions the narratives he was taught growing up in the Jewish Diaspora as he traces the origins of Israel’s military-industrial complex, examining how Israel became one of the world’s leading arms and tech exporters. When a military force essentially creates a nation, can they ever be truly separated?
23 October 2024
Restoring universal health care in Australia
Listen to Australian Community Futures Planning (ACFP) Founder, Bronwyn Kelly, interview Ian McAuley about the prospects for restoration of universality in Australia’s health care system.
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Antisemitism, Zionism and the war in Gaza: Sara Dowse, Author
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Rebuilding public service from politicisation and externalisation
