Daniel Webb is the Director of Legal Advocacy at the Human Rights Law Centre. He is a passionate voice for human rights and for treating people seeking asylum with dignity and humanity.
In this chat Daniel is so crystal clear about why he does what he does, why what we're doing to refugees is wrong, the alternatives that are out there for us and why it's vital that we as a country need to rethink our entire approach here. He also describes what it's actually like for the men being held on Manus Island at the moment and in particular tells me about Mehdi Savari, an Iranian refugee comedian who has been detained on that hellhole for more than three years.
Stand Up For Mehdi at MICF 2017 - this will sell out, book your tickets now!
Problematic begins at MICF 2017 this week
Boundless Plains To Share is at MICF for one show only on Saturday April 22nd
The US refugee deal grows shakier by the day. Turnbull must find a humane way forward by Daniel Webb
Schoolgirl pleads with government to reunite her with refugee dad on Manus
Mehdi's story on New Matilda, in The Saturday Paper
Cause of the Week: The Human Rights Law Centre (hrlc.org.au)
Writer, feminist, sociologist, social commentator, activist and postage stamp honouree Eva Cox AO is a remarkable person. A Jewish refugee child, Eva has always been something of an outsider, agitating for change and asking tough questions her entire life.
In this wide-ranging, educational discussion, Eva sums up the philosophy of neoliberalism and argues the case for social capital. We discuss feminism, Islam, the shortcomings of the same-sex marriage movement, identity politics and the Universal Basic Income. I was inspired and educated by this chat; I hope you like it as much as I did.
Problematic is on at the Brisbane Comedy Festival this week
It's also heading to Melbourne & Sydney
Boundless Plains To Share is on this weekend in Brisbane
It's coming to Melbourne for 1 show only
Stand Up For Mehdi at MICF 2017
My piece on the abolition of QLD's "gay panic" law
Bring on the feminist revolution! by Eva on medium.com
Eva's Wisdom of the Ages piece for The Guardian: Dare To Be Difficult
Article: It's time to harness angry feminist energy and inject it into welfare policy
A profile on Eva in The Saturday Paper
Cause of the Week: FIND CAUSES AND IDEAS THAT ARE OPTIMISTIC OR THINK THEM UP YOURSELF
Fin Taylor is a British comedian who's making some fascinating politically-charged work at the moment. I saw his show Whitey McWhite Face at the Edinburgh Fringe last year and it lit a fire under my butt. He made me laugh and think and feel uncomfortable, and that's all good stuff.
Here we discuss his disillusionment with the Left, his journey to progressive centrism, class, Corbyn, Blair, Clegg, Islamism, white white white privilege/invisibility and political correctness.
Problematic is coming to Hobart for ONE NIGHT ONLY on Wednesday March 15th
It's also heading to Brisbane, Melbourne & Sydney
Boundless Plains To Share is coming to Brisbane (2 shows only) and Melbourne (1 show only)
Stand Up For Mehdi at MICF 2017
Article: The Left Are The Right's Best Friends by Nick Cohen
The Sydney Morning Herald's profile on The Iraq Dossier
Cause of the Week: The Euston Manifesto (eustonmanifesto.org)
Kate Ellis has been the Federal member for the seat of Adelaide since 2004. She was the youngest person ever appointed as a minister in the Australian government, holding a number of portfolios. She's currently the Shadow Minister for both Early Childhood Education and Development and for TAFE and Vocational Education.
This is a frank, funny and insightful discussion about Kate's career, the state of politics in this country right now and the changes she's seen over her 13 years in the job. We talk about everything from Islamophobia and dealing with Neo-Nazis to how Tony Abbott changed the dynamics of politics to the disappointments of the Labor leadership turmoil years. Kate reflects on the purpose of factions, the fracturing of the right side of politics and tells an extraordinary story about the bizarre issue that prompted the most vehement feedback she's ever received as a sitting member.
PLUS Kate helpfully sets out how she thinks we should talk about debt, early childcare and Labor's approach to offshore detention of people seeking asylum.
Problematic is coming to Hobart for ONE NIGHT ONLY on Wednesday March 15th
It's also heading to Brisbane, Melbourne & Sydney
Boundless Plains To Share is coming to Brisbane (2 shows only) and Melbourne (1 show only)
Stand Up For Mehdi at MICF 2017
Huffington Post long read on "Gay Loneliness"
A 2008 profile on Kate - Her father's daughter
Article: Tony Abbott takes aim at Turnbull and lays out conservative manifesto
Cause of the Week: The Zahra Foundation (zahrafoundation.org.au)
Senator Skye Kakoschke-Moore was elected as part of the Nick Xenophon Team in the 2016 election.
Now that she's 7 months in, she reflects on the job in all its glory and its frustrations. Skye talks about what it means to be in the "sensible centre", why she moved from political staffer to candidate, working with the likes of Cory Bernardi and Pauline Hanson, gambling reform, her views on offshore detention and the government's proposed visa lifetime ban for people seeking asylum and she even gives some tips about the best way to get your Senator's attention.
Problematic is coming to Hobart for ONE NIGHT ONLY on Wednesday March 15th
It's also heading to Brisbane, Melbourne & Sydney
Boundless Plains To Share is coming to Brisbane (2 shows only) and Melbourne (1 show only)
Guardian long piece on Rachel Dolezal
Skye's First Speech to Parliament
Cause of the Week: The Carly Ryan Foundation (carlyryanfoundation.com)
Comedian and Daily Show correspondent Ronny Chieng is back in Australia at the moment and gave me some of his time to talk about a whole many things. We covered offence, racism, interviewing white supremacists, freedom of speech, outrage, satire in the age of Trump and his conservative upbringing and disposition.
Oh, and my Nazi haircut. Apparently.
Apologies for the slightly not great audio quality on this one. Persevere, please: it's worth it. It's Ronny Chieng, for God's sake.
Stand Up For Mehdi at MICF 2017
Problematic is coming to Adelaide, Hobart, Brisbane, Melbourne & Sydney
Boundless Plains To Share is coming to Adelaide, Brisbane & Melbourne
The Daily Show on Comedy Central
Ronny dismantles Fox News' stupidly racist "Chinatown" report
Make America Hate Again - Ronny's undecided voters piece
Cause of the Week: The CNN Freedom Project (cnn.com/freedom)
Let's talk about a little thing called democracy.
MiVote is a new political movement that launches next week and it's all about direct democracy. It's an online platform and political party that enables its members to directly influence their elected representatives: representatives that will be committed to enacting the people's (informed) will.
Founder Adam Jacoby kindly gave me a lot of time to talk through the idea and answer my annoying questions. He sets out just how fucked the system currently is and why he believes this might just work.
Problematic is coming to Adelaide, Hobart, Brisbane, Melbourne & Sydney
Boundless Plains To Share is coming to Adelaide, Brisbane & Melbourne
Stan Australia announces One Night Stan
Article: Our democratic operating systems aren't working: here's how to upgrade them by Jon Barnes
Article: Mob rule: Iceland crowdsources its next constitution
Fast Company story: Can direct democracy be revived through new voting apps?
Cause of the Week: MiVote.org.au
Charlie Wood is the Campaigns Director at 350.org, an international climate action organisation that are fighting for a future that’s free from fossil fuels.
Here she describes where climate politics is at in these troubling times, how divestment is changing the game, climate scepticism, just how much the fossil fuel industry influences our politics, fear-mongering, how she manages to maintain hope. Charlie explains why Trump might actually be a good thing for the movement and whether or not, actually, for real, we (the human race) are fucked.
Problematic is coming to Adelaide, Hobart, Brisbane, Melbourne & Sydney
Boundless Plains To Share is coming to Adelaide, Brisbane & Melbourne
RISE Refugee's #BlockTheBill campaign
#BlockTheBill Snap Rally this Saturday in Melbourne
Cause of the Week: 350.org
Playwright, Black Comedy writer, tweeter and Aboriginal not-activist Nakkiah Lui joins me for a chat ahead of that ugly date, January 26th. Nakkiah reveals how she and her family mark Invasion Day and we discuss the merits of even having a national day at all.
We also touch on ideological diversity within Indigenous Australia, the "personal responsibility" narrative, deconstructing whiteness, the myth of multiculturalism, Bill Leak and the new TV series we're now going to pitch all over town, Blackfulla Mirror.
Reconciliation Comedy Gala at at the Malthouse Theatre on Invasion Day
Invasion Day Melbourne Event on Facebook
My Work in Progress show starts at Perth Fringeworld next week
Article: Why are we fighting Islamaphobia at the expense of Indigenous Australians? by Sara Saleh
Nakkiah on The Osher Günsberg Podcast
Article: It's not racism that Australia needs to get rid of - it's the privilege of whiteness
Article: As an Aboriginal teen I thought about killing myself every day
Article: Australia Day is a time for mourning not celebration
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Black Is The New White coming to Sydney Theatre Company
An Octoroon coming to Queensland Theatre Company
Cause of the Week: Butucarbin Aboriginal Corporation (butucarbin.org.au)
Lara Jeffery is the director of MyChoice Australia and describes herself as a right-wing libertarian. She's all about pushing back against the "nanny state", reducing the size of government and letting the free market do what it does.
Here we discuss how she came to this worldview and how that plays out in relation to education, healthcare, social justice, housing, smoking, the environment and more. We also cover the legacy of Ayn Rand, claiming the moral ground and Uber.
Boundless Plains To Share is coming to Perth Fringeworld for 2 shows only!
I'm bringing a Work In Progress to Fringeworld from Tuesday January 31st
I'm also touring to Adelaide Fringe, Brisbane Comedy Festival & the Melbourne Comedy Festival
Australian Taxpayers' Alliance forum: Women In Politics
Cause of the Week: Students For Liberty Australia & New Zealand (studentsforliberty.org/anz)
Happy 2017 everyone!
Sally Goldner is the Executive Director of Transgender Victoria, the treasurer of the Bisexual Alliance Victoria and the first ever trans woman to be included on the Victorian Women's Honour Roll.