Australian politics, minus the spin. Neil Pharaoh and Erin Watson put the week's biggest political stories through the pub test - does it make sense, is it fair, and what does it really mean? New episodes weekly.
Hosts: Dr. Erin Watson and Neil Pharaoh
Producer: Keehlan Ferrari Brown
Latest Episodes
Season 3
Season 3: Episode 1: Australia’s Lobbying Problem, Victoria’s New Premier & The One Nation Test
We’re back from the winter break with plenty to catch up on. Ben Carroll is Victoria’s new Premier, One Nation is becoming a serious threat to the Coalition and Australia’s political landscape is shifting fast.
Then Saffron Zomer, Executive Director of the Australian Democracy Network, joins us to discuss their new report, The Invisible Hand, which examines lobbying, political influence and transparency in Australia. How much influence happens outside public view and what needs to change to make the system more transparent?
Season 3: Episode 2: Pakistan’s Growing Power, Australia’s Child Protection Crisis & Alice Springs
Pakistan is back in the news, with Imran Khan, its relationship with India and its growing role in talks between the US and Iran. So why does Pakistan matter and why should Australia be paying more attention?
Then Catherine Liddle, CEO of SNAICC, joins us to talk about what’s happening in Alice Springs, Australia’s child protection system and why tough-on-crime politics can miss the bigger picture.
Previous Episode
Season 3: Episode 3: Australia's Parenting Problem & Why Ireland Looks So Rich
What does parenting in Australia really look like and are parents getting enough support?
Rob Ryan, CEO of the Parenting Research Centre, joins us to unpack new national parenting research. Does the way we raise our kids pass the pub test?
Then over to Ireland, a small country with big wealth on paper. But how much of that comes from its low corporate tax rates and how are everyday Irish people being affected by housing, migration and the country’s complicated history? How rich is Ireland really?
Season 3: Episode 4: Are We Over Diagnosing Kids, The Parenting Crisis & Moldova’s Fight for Democracy
Are we too focused on fixing children instead of the systems around them?
Dr Caroline Croser-Barlow, CEO of The Front Project, joins us to talk about early childhood, rising diagnosis, the pressure on parents and teachers and why supporting the adults around children may be just as important as diagnosing the child.
Dr Caroline Croser-Barlow is a former senior public servant with extensive experience across early childhood education, disability in education and social policy, including senior roles in South Australia’s Department for Education
Then we head to Moldova, a small democracy caught between Europe and Russia. What can its experience with disinformation, vote buying and foreign interference teach Australia about protecting democracy?
With over 20 years’ experience across government, business, and the social sector, Neil specialises in turning complexity into clarity - whether through high-impact governance, public policy strategy, or stakeholder influence.
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Dr Erin Watson is a sought-after speaker, moderator and MC, renowned for her ability to distill complex global issues into sharp, compelling conversations that resonate across sectors and borders.
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