Advertise on podcast: Think Again

Kevin Brennan shares his knowledge and experience in democratic community governance, including the forms this might take and what is required to make it happen.He draws on real-life examples from his involvement in Moonee Valley Sustainability References Moonee Valley Sustainability website: https://mvsustainability.org.au/Lyn Carson & Stephen Elstub 2019, Comparing participative and deliberative democracy, New Democracy Foundation, Newcastle: https://www.newdemocracy.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/RD-Note-Comparing-Participatory-and-Deliberative-Democracy.pdfMark & Paul Engler 2016, This is an uprising, Nation Books, New York.Jon Hawkes 2001, The Fourth Pillar: Culture’s essential role in public planning, Cultural Development Network, Melbourne: https://culturaldevelopment.net.au/about/publications/publications-research/fourtBill Moyer, Doing Democracyh-pillar/Bill Moyer 2001, Doing democracy – The Map Model for organising social movements, New Society, Gabriola Island BC.Thomas E. F. & Louis W. R. 2013, ‘Doing democracy: The social psychological mobilisation and consequences of collective action’, Social Issues and Policy Review, 7(1), 173–200. (Murdoch University)

The presenters return to the theme of democracy and the rather undemocratic political system we live in.They argue that restoring democracy 'of the people for the people' is more urgent than ever, especially given the 'overlord' threat of Artificial Intelligence.In our current political system, mainstream parties have very small memberships and largely operate on centralised command-and-control principles. Their dominance has been challenged to some extent by the rise of the independents. Also, what was considered a right-wing, racist fringe party, One Nation, is apparently surging in popularity.The presenters explore community-based, deliberative democracy ways of doing things.ReferencesDuran G 2026, The nerd reich: Silicon Valley fascism and the war on democracy, UK, Simon & Schuster.Gauja A 2015, ‘The individualisation of party politics: The impact of changing internal decision-making processes on policy development and citizen engagement’, The British Journal of Politics and International Relations, Vol. 17(1).Hendriks C M & Dzur A W 2022, ‘Citizens’ governance spaces: Democratic action through disruptive collective problem-solving’, Political Studies 2022, Vol. 70(3).Hendriks C M & Reid R 2024, ‘Citizen-led democratic change: How Australia’s community independents movement Is reshaping representative democracy’, Political Studies 2024, Vol. 72(4).Successful examples of decisions affecting roads being made by Citizens Juries: https://participedia.net/case/4528

The housing crisis in Australia is made to feel like a confusing, multi-facetted and complex monster. Daily we witness public opinion battles between groups and interests set to lose or win, with different factors presented as the real cause or solution of the housing problem ... And the piecemeal and rather one-dimensional approach taken (house ownership) clearly is not leading us anywhere much... apart from growing unaffordability... Matt Lloyd-Cape has just published a book on this topic: 'Our place: How to solve the housing crisis and rebuild the Australian dream' which offers some plausible solution/s. Matt joins Jacques (for the third time) on Think Again to talk us through the housing crisis and some feasible ways out of it.Matt is a principal fellow at the Centre for Equitable Housing associated with think tank Per Capita and a prominent commentator and advisor on housing policy.

Artificial Intelligence is back in the news with a vengeance, as OpenAI broke into a Medicare statistics website, and tech bosses called for a slow down in AI development until we can be assured it is safe. Meanwhile there is widespread community opposition to data centres to power AI.Jacques and Jennifer talk about two key factors stopping AI being regulated properly: (i) our society being run for corporate profit, and (ii) politically-motivated, weak government. They turn to PM Andy Burnham in the UK, for inspiration as to what courageous and principled leadership might look and sound like. ReferencesRichard Flanagan 2026, 'Albanese is selling out Australia to AI colonists', The Age, 18 September, p.24.Ian Dunt Substack 2026, 'Burnham speech: An astonishing moment of radicalism and commitment', 29 September.Nick Bryant Substack 2026, 'The perfect apocalypse: Rapid advancements in AI come at a terrible time', 14 September.Karen Barlow 2026, 'Exclusive: The former staffers influencing government on AI', The Saturday Paper, No. 620, 3 October (NB: Published the day after the progam went to air).

Veronica Sherman talks about Zionism, Christian Zionism, and the ideological bubble that people in Israel live in.This ideology includes their elite status as ostensibly chosen by god, and the dehumanisation of the Palestine people. It also includes an adopted victim status, in denial of the considerable power that the state of Israel wields.Veronica talks from her own experiece as a Swedish-Israeli writer and pro-Palestine activist, who has Jewish heritage and was raised in a Christian Zionist household before spending time in the Israeli Air Force, and finally settling in Australia.Take actionSupport the BDS movement (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions)FREE PALESTINE RALLY 'Global day for Gaza' Sunday, 11 October, 12pm State Library, MelbourneSupport the Red lines packageOther actions: Free Palestine MelbourneAustralia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN)Reference: Documentary: Human Animals

Parts of Australia's mainstream media have been replete with ominous bits of news about recent election victories of the far-right neo-Nazi party in Germany, the AfD – or (The) Alternative for Germany. The party reached over 43% of the vote in the state of Saxony Anhalt formerly part of East Germany and another state there has also seen the AfD become the strongest party. Like in Australia and elsewhere, the 'traditional' parties are dramatically losing support and soon far-right parties are expected to - at least - become part of governing coalitions.  The program attempts to explain what's going on, looking at history and present political and economic/social context and at what we can learn from these for our own situation. Reference Waleed Aly Time of Monsters: What future fir Liberalism? Quarterly Essay 103

Dr Albert Palazzo from UNSW-Canberra explains why the AUKUS deal that Australia has with the US is not in Australia's interests. In other words,'the US was smart to do it and we were dumb to do it'.AUKUS allows US military bases on our soil to contain China and underpin US dominance. This makes Australia a military target and puts us in danger. Meanwhile Australia loses its autonomy and sovreignty, with the country's enmeshment and subservience to US military strategy and operations. In addition, AUKUS is likely to bring nuclear devices to our shores, in violation of the Treaty of Rarotonga which we have signed.We receive nothing of consequence in return, except non-binding promises of submarines that would not be effective anyway in defending against military attacks that AUKUS has attracted.Albert Palazzo says we need to change our culture of looking to the US to defend us. The technology we need already exists, and we also need to invest more in diplomacy and peace.Take actionMake a submission to the AUKUS Public Inquiry:https://aukuspublicinquiry.com/#make-a-submission Read moreAlbert Palazzo 2025, The big fix: Rebuilding Australia's national security, Melbourne University Press Albert Palazzo 2026, 'How AUKUS could destroy Australia', The Saturday Paper, No.615, 29 August 2026.

This program is about the Four Red Lines campaign, calling on Federal Parliament to review and pass a package of 4 Bills. If enacted, the 4 Bills will ensure that Australia doesn't fund, arm or invest in illegal settlements, war crimes, or genocide anywhere in the world.Jacques and solicitor Rita Jabri  Markwell discuss the broad-based campaign and the details of each proposed piece of legislation.Link:Learn about and support the redlines campaign: www.redlinespackage.com.au   RED LINES PACKAGE

The presenters re-visit the housing crisis, with rental affordability at a crisis low point for employed people and those living on Centrelink payments.Many renting long-term still require a stable home, and government policy needs to recognise this. In particular, the government needs to commit to and build more public housing, and enable alternative forms of home ownership such as cooperative housing, co-housing, housing trusts and eco-villages.The crisis cannot be addressed on its own, as housing policy encompasses a range of other policy areas, such as family, relationship, youth, women and economic policy. Built housing also needs to be addressed within proper planning processes, and we shouldn't have to choose between more housing and good planning that prioritises people's preferred living circumstances and the liveability of local areas. We can do both, and there are good examples of this around the world.Underpinning all of this, we need to start taxing properly. ReferencesAmy Remeikis 2026, 'House price blip sets off panic', The New Daily, 8 July 2026.Emma Riley 2026, 'The false choice at the heart of Australia's housing debate', The New Daily, 12 July 2026.Luciene Pereira 2026, 'Why slums persist', IEA-WE Women in Economics, 14 May 2026.Matt Grudnoff 2026, 'Using super for deposits would just put more fuel under house prices', The New Daily, 17 August 2026.Saul Eslake & Adrian Pisarski 2026, 'Labor's housing tax reforms must be the beginning...', Crikey, 7 July 2026.Simon Kuestenmacher 2026, 'How unaffordable housing breaks families apart...', The New Daily, 7 July 2026.Simon Keustenmacher 2026, '...the myth of the downsizing baby boomers', InDaily, 24 August 2026. SPECIAL ALERT: The 'Cities for Everyone' event that was scheduled for 29 August 2026 at Borderlands has been cancelled. It will be rescheduled and we’ll keep you posted.

Dr Charles Livingstone from Monash University talks with Jennifer about the new gambling legislation just passed by the federal parliament (Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026).While it was meant to build on the late Peta Murphy’s landmark parliamentary inquiry report (You Win Some, You Lose More), this legislation will do little to reduce gambling harm. In fact, the substantial compromises in the legislation are clearly designed to protect the lucrative revenue stream for the gambling industry (sports betting), major sport codes and commercial broadcasters.As recommended in the Peta Murphy inquiry report, Charles argues we need to eliminate all forms of gambling advertising, ban inducements to gamble, and establish a new national gambling regulator.Genuine change will come about through a groundswell of protest from the community, and listeners can contact their local federal MP to push for change.Contact your local MP Cities for everyone forum, Saturday 29 August, 11am-3.30pmBorderlands Cooperative, 32a Pickett Street, Footscray

The presenters talk about the growing authoritarianism in Australia, and how it is being appeased to our peril.Capitulation to and accommodation of One Nation is a case in point, with our political leaders too timid to call it out. Meanwhile mainstream parties shift further to the right as a result, while migrants are increasingly scapegoated.We see all the signs of authoritarian takeover, and we should certainly learn from history to stop this in its tracks.Take actionRock against racism: Sunday 30 August, 2pm to 8pm, Camp Sovreignty, Lithgow Ave, Kings Domain, Melb.Public forum: Don't let the racists divide us! Building the fight against One Nation: Wednesday 9 September, 6.30pm, Victorian Trades Hall, 54 Victoria St, CarltonReferencesDennis Glover 2024, Repeat: A warning from history, Collingwood, Black Inc.Amy Remeikis 2026, 'Appeasement of authoritarian voices dooms us to repeating a disastrous history', The New Daily, 8 August 2026

Jose Ramos talks with Jacques about the massive invasion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into all areas of our daily lives and systems and the profound implications of this takeover.As Jose points out, AI steals from our common human knowledge selling it back to us for private profit, rapidly and hugely increasing already existing inequality.Even so, the 'intelligence' in 'Artificial Intelligence' is not intelligence at all. It is a misnomer, and human intelligence is quite a different thing - it is experiential, embodied, relational and responsive to the world on an ongoing basis. We need to guard against the negative effects of AI on human learning and understanding, and on 'live' human intelligence itself.More broadly, we need to protect the commons of human knowledge and keep it in public hands, while increasing the transparency and oversight of how AI systems are operating.Doctorow, Cory (2025) Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got WQorse and What To Do About It London: VersoDoctorow, Cory (2026) The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI London: VersoHao, Karen (2025) Empire of AI: Inside the reckless race for total domination London: Allen LaneYudkowsky, E & Soares, N (2025) If anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies: ther case against superintelligent AI  London: The Bodley Head

Have you ever wondered why interacting with governments and companies has become so complicated and time-consuming?Madison Moffatt gives an insider view of how governments came to offload regulation compliance work onto companies from the 1990s, and how companies subsequently developed ways to offload administration work onto customers. At the same time, governments have increasingly required us to do our own administration online.In these cost-cutting drives over the last few decades, it is citizens and customers who have picked up the cost through many hours of unpaid work.Activism linksFREE PALESTINE RALLY 2nd August 12pm State libraryPublic rally for a moratorium on data centresCities for everyone: Beyond neoliberalism urbanism

Claire Weekley from Friends of Merri Creek talks about the campaign to create the Wallan Wallan Regional Park about 45 kilometres north of Melbourne CBD.The area includes wetlands, waterways, and grasslands, as well as astonishing grassy hills that are volcanic cones, and stony rises formed by old lava flows. This provides habitat for various threatened species including the Growling Grass Frog  and the Golden Sun Moth.Drainage works in the past led to the substantial loss of wetlands, however these can be restored in a beautiful regional park and protected into the future. Benefits would include: amenity and enjoyment of nature, flood prevention, groundwater protection, cooling of surrounding suburbs (that can act as 'heat traps'), meaningful conciliation with traditional owners, and an avenue for education about nature and ecology.Listeners are urged to get behind the campaign to establish the Wallan Wallan Regional Parkland.LinksSign the petitionWallan Wallan Regional Parkland campaignFind and contact your local MP

The presenters discuss the dramatic breakdown of the separation between church/religion and state in the US, especially from the 1980s, under the influence of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR). The NAR is key part of President Trump's support base, and he isn't too shy to bring it right into the White House and the Government's policies, actions and public performances.The NAR is reportedly the fastest growing Christian extremist movement worldwide. Its followers believe that demons have literally taken over government and civil institutions like courts and schools; violence is promoted and even glorified as a way to get rid of them and to advance Trump's autocratic and narcisistic program.The NAR belief system has been described as a variant of fascism, with a focus on authoritarianism and christian purity as a prerequisite to establish god's kingdom on earth after an apocolyptic war between good and evil.ReferencesJulia Conley in the New Daily on 9/07/2026: Donald Trump accused of ‘exploiting religious faith’ over branded Bible profitshttps://decorrespondent.nl/  Rinke Verkerk & Rosan Smits: These Christians want to overthrow democracy all over the world. Thanks to Donald Trump, they succeed