We're joined by Jack Gough, CEO of the Invasive Species Council, to talk about protecting Australian wildlife, including when that means culling other animals. We get into feral cats, the Brumby wars, and how a feral horse became a protected heritage item in a national park. We also ask why every conversation about the environment becomes a debate about climate change, and whether conservation should be a natural fit for conservatives.

We then take a deep dive into bird flu, what it could mean for Australian wildlife, and how dead birds on beaches might shift the politics of the environment. Damian explains his “inverse pyramid of f!cks given”, and we talk egg prices, pets, tourism, and when an environmental problem becomes everyone's problem. We finish with immigration, housing, and whether a stronger connection to Australian nature could give us something to agree on. Plus our usual Kiss of Death predictions, and Jack gives us a reason to worry about honey bees. Because apparently the cats and horses weren't enough.

• 00:00 Introduction, Victorian Potholes and Poison of Choice
• 03:41 Introducing Jack Gough
• 06:15 What Does the Invasive Species Council Do?
• 09:11 What Makes a Species Invasive?
• 11:31 Cane Toads, Rabbits and Biological Controls
• 15:52 Feral Cats and Australia's Extinction Problem
• 19:05 The Brumby Wars: Heritage, Horses and Politics
• 24:24 Conservation, Conservatives and Climate Change
• 28:14 Has Climate Change Swallowed the Environment Debate?
• 30:57 Bird Flu: What's at Stake for Australian Wildlife?
• 37:39 Preparing for Wildlife Loss and Building Resilience
• 39:59 The Inverse Pyramid of F!cks Given
• 42:34 Egg Prices, Beaches and the Politics of Bird Flu
• 47:32 Why Not Just Let Nature Take Its Course?
• 51:16 Custodianship and Australia's Changing Landscapes
• 52:37 Immigration and Our Connection to the Bush
• 58:46 Population, Nature and a Shared Australian Story
• 01:02:58 Immigration, Housing and the Skills We Need
• 01:06:22 Kiss of Death: China, AI and Bird Flu
• 01:08:44 Culling, Honey Bees and a Live Show Teaser

This week we talk in-depth about the media landscape and the influence of news outlets on political engagement, including the role of news organisations and the impact of media on public opinion and political discourse.The death of humour in politics and the impact of political satire on free speech.We talk pork barrel politics, bureaucratic accountability, digital duty of care, leadership turbulence in the Greens, ICAC revelations and political fallout, and will Josh Frydenberg's return to politics.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates
• 01:40 Road Trip Adventures
• 03:00 Guest Introductions and Poison of Choice
• 06:48 Reflections on News Corp and Media Influence
• 15:05 Media Landscape and Political Influence
• 22:18 Role of News Outlets and Political Engagement
• 27:35 The Role of Humor in Politics
• 28:19 Political Satire and Free Speech
• 48:39 Pork Barreling and Political Funding
• 53:02 Pork Barrel Politics
• 54:08 Bureaucratic Accountability
• 01:00:32 Digital Duty of Care
• 01:07:22 Leadership Turbulence in the Greens
• 01:09:05 ICAC Revelations and Political Fallout
• 01:12:48 Josh Frydenberg's Return to Leadership

We're joined by Dr Nick Coatsworth, former Deputy Chief Medical Officer, which means we talk the pandemic. What the public health measures actually did, how governments and the media shaped what people believed, and why conspiracy theories filled the gaps. We get into the geopolitics of the pandemic, and what happens when the argument is happening on someone else's platform.

We then exlore social cohesion and why trust in government went up for a while then didn't stay, vaccine disinformation, the tobacco excise, and what the political class does with public health. We also get into how much of what people believe is evidence versus culture, history, and old colonial hangover, whether Dr Nick will take a run at politics, plus a few historical mysteries, because of course we do.

You can also catch Dr Nick and Richard Baker on their Conspiracy Cabal podcast here https://open.spotify.com/show/17VXANMDCOpaSwdDRVjTTQ?si=4921fb5c58124607

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/conspiracy-cabal/id1882577385

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Poison of Choice
• 01:11 Dinner Salon Discussions
• 02:02 Bridging Divides and New Polling Methods
• 03:17 Three-Dimensional Political Landscape
• 04:04 Digital Duty of Care and Consent Education
• 06:19 Introduction of Dr. Nick Coatesworth
• 07:34 Media and Public Perception
• 08:42 Transition to Deputy Chief Medical Officer
• 09:15 Path to Deputy Chief Medical Officer
• 10:07 Formation of Deputy Chief Medical Officer Position
• 11:27 Public Health Expertise and Media Exposure
• 12:26 Public Health Crisis Communication
• 13:31 Media Exposure and Public Speaking
• 14:09 Government Response and Leadership
• 15:28 Institutional Response and Public Trust
• 16:40 Institutional Resilience and Social Media Impact
• 17:44 Shift in Public Perception and Political Leadership
• 18:07 Public Health Measures and Economic Impact
• 19:22 Public Health Measures and Societal Values
• 20:40 Reflection on Government Response and Policy Shift
• 22:23 Policy Decisions and Path Dependency
• 23:44 Public Health Messaging and Communication
• 25:00 Public Health Messaging and Public Perception
• 26:19 Evidence-Based Decision-Making and Public Perception
• 28:49 School Closures and Decision-Making
• 29:54 COVID-19 Origins and Conspiracy Theories
• 31:05 Conspiracy Cabal Podcast and Critical Analysis
• 40:09 Tobacco Excise and Public Health Policies
• 41:12 Freedom of Choice and Public Health Policies
• 41:30 Philosophical Differences in Public Health Fraternity
• 42:16 Conspiracy Theories and Illicit Tobacco Trade
• 43:15 Disruption to Social Fabric and Public Health Policies
• 44:03 Bureaucracy and Policy Making
• 45:00 Influence of Bureaucracy on Policy Making
• 46:13 Regulated Vapes and Nicotine Content
• 47:18 Challenges in Accessing Medicinal Vapes
• 49:33 Political Aspirations and Career Choices
• 51:01 Shift in Moral and Ethical Foundations
• 52:09 Conspiracy Theories and Cultural Beliefs
• 55:27 Conspiracies, Mysteries, and Unsolved Disappearances
• 01:01:31 Predictions and Speculations

We talk about living wakes and their significance, then take a deep dive into the Bush Summit in Dubbo, where farmers air their grievances and political figures respond. We get into the dynamics between the Nationals and One Nation, and what they mean for regional politics. We cover the challenges facing the agricultural industry, how geopolitical issues ripple through the food supply, including biosecurity, fertilizer and the impact of climate change on farming.

We then celebrate Peter's stepping back from Essential media after 30 years and reflect on how politics and activism have shifted over the past three decades. Building alliances, the power of lobbying, what long-term politicians actually change, the value of failure, and the stability of government and the role of public service.

Chapters

• 00:00 The Significance of Living Wakes
• 03:25 The Bush Summit: Farmer Grievances
• 17:27 Political Dynamics: Nationals vs. One Nation
• 25:12 Agricultural Challenges and Food Supply
• 27:18 Biosecurity and Fertilizer Industry
• 30:30 Climate Change and Farming
• 43:47 Changing Landscape of Politics and Activism
• 52:02 Building Alliances and Social License
• 52:59 The Power of Lobbying
• 54:30 Impact of Long-Term Politicians
• 01:07:31 Value of Failure and Stability of Government

This week we sit down with Elizabeth Lukin, ex-AFL GM Corporate Affairs and Comms, who arrives with an alcohol-free drink and many good stories. We unpack the Sydney Swans scandal, how it's being handled, the culture of sports, the AFL, and the Swans.

Francis Leach also joins us as we get into male entitlement and misogyny in sport, how much of the pile-on is genuine accountability versus media sanctimony chasing clicks, the manosphere's grip on young athletes, and the partners who cop the social media fallout. We also ask what would real change at the AFL actually take, beyond just managing the headlines?

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
• 02:01 Career Journey and AFL Experience
• 03:19 Scandal and Culture in Sports
• 32:37 Male Entitlement and Misogyny in Sports
• 34:20 The Impact of Sanctimony and Media Sensationalism
• 37:07 The AFL Landscape and Public Perception
• 48:00 Rebuilding and Brand Damage
• 49:54 Media's Handling of Serious Issues
• 50:35 Impact of the Attention Economy
• 55:22 Influence of the Manosphere on Young Athletes
• 58:07 Role of Masculinity in Sports Culture

With guest Ryan Heath - Editor of Politico Australia.

We cover the week, Ryans story and the changing Australian political landscape. We explore the media's approach to reporting political events and the role of Politico in filling the gaps in political reporting. We also talk political media tactics, diplomatic incidents, party politics, and the impact of populism on political parties.

Guests: Danielle Elston & Caroline Croser-Barlow from the Westminster Tradition podcast.

We cover a range of topics, including the Canberra experience, the role of Parliament, the naming of Canberra, whiskey and beer, the Westminster Tradition Podcast, perspectives on staffers and bureaucrats, the role of lobbyists and advocacy, perceptions of the bureaucracy, the impact of COVID on bureaucracy, and understanding public acceptance.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to What's Your Poison
• 01:03 The Canberra Experience
• 02:14 The Role of Parliament in Canberra
• 03:29 The Naming of Canberra
• 04:06 Discussion on Whiskey and Beer
• 04:38 Reflection on Guardian Essential Report
• 05:01 Introduction of Guests and Their Poison
• 07:23 Westminster Tradition Podcast and Public Service
• 09:40 Perspectives on Staffers and Bureaucrats
• 24:30 The Role of Lobbyists and Advocacy
• 26:24 Perceptions of the Bureaucracy
• 29:04 The Impact of COVID on Bureaucracy
• 33:53 Understanding Public Acceptance
• 34:22 The Limitations of Bureaucracy
• 35:19 Government Decision Making During COVID
• 42:21 Trust in Government and Public Sector
• 46:35 The Role of Public Servants and Consultants
• 56:06 Technology and Public Sector Efficiency

You can listen and subscribe to the Westminster Tradition podcast here:

https://thewestminstertradition.buzzsprout.com/

Guest - Keith Wolahan (former MP, Menzies)

This episode we deep dive into Victorian politics, the future of the Liberal party, the the evolution of political messaging, the impact of historical political strategies, and the role of values in political identity.

You can read Keith's article here:
https://inflectionpoints.work/articles/liberal-foundations

Chapters

• 00:00 Setting the Scene: Happy Friday, Peter
• 02:34 Introducing Keith Wolahan
• 37:03 The Evolution of Political Messaging
• 41:01 The Impact of Historical Political Strategies
• 45:19 The Role of Values in Political Identity
• 46:51 Modernising Political Infrastructure
• 51:02 The Influence of Digital Technology on Politics
• 55:01 The Changing Dynamics of Political Alliances
• 01:01:45 Reforming Parliamentary Practices
• 01:06:52 The Future of Infrastructure Projects

01:08:17 Predictions and Speculations