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

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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