On this episode of The Grapevine, Kulja and Dylan are joined on the line by Nick Blandford, Gippsland farmer and member of Farmers for Climate Action, who also sits on Victoria’s Young Farmer’s Advisory Council. Blanford discusses climate attitudes in regional areas and the bush. Then, Executive Director of Digital Rights Watch, Lucie Krahulcova, calls in to talk about their new project Rebalance the Internet Economy to discuss problems with the current media bargaining legislation, especially f...
Jun 28, 2021•53 min•Season 1Ep. 209
As Australia closes its embassy in the Afghan capital Kabul, Kulja and Dylan get on the line with Walkley Award winning writer and broadcaster Jeff Sparrow to discuss Australia’s military legacy in Afghanistan and what it says about conduct in future conflicts. Then, human rights lawyer and Executive Director of Refugee Legal, David Manne, calls in to break down what’s happening with the Murugappan family and discuss Australia's asylum seeker regime. And Karen Ellis, co-founder of Mend It, Austr...
Jun 21, 2021•56 min•Season 1Ep. 208
On this episode of The Grapvine, Kulja and Dylan get on the line with Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS) CEO, Emma King, to discuss the current state of Victoria’s social services as the sector struggles to meet demand. King explains VCOSS’s advocacy for a targeted wage subsidy for workers left without hours during the most recent lockdown. Then, award-winning journalist and author, Trevor Watson, calls in for the 32-year anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre to discuss his cover...
Jun 07, 2021•49 min•Season 1Ep. 207
With Samoa in political deadlock since its elections last month, Lefaoali'i Dion Enari, PhD candidate at Bond University exploring Indigenous and diasporic culture, gets on the line with Dylan and Kulja to break down the political situation in Samoa. The incumbent caretaker Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi from the Human Rights Protection Party has been accused of attempting to retain power from the majority FAST party, which was expected to form a new government under Prime Minister-...
May 31, 2021•54 min•Season 1Ep. 206
On this episode of The Grapevine Kulja and Dylan are joined in the studio by Education Policy Fellow at the Mitchell Institute, Peter Hurley, to talk about the recovery of Australian Universities. With the opening of international borders at least a year away, will the tertiary education sector recover to its pre-pandemic levels? Hurley’s piece, ‘ As hopes of international students’ return fade ’, in The Conversation discusses the economic fallout of keeping the borders closed to international s...
May 24, 2021•45 min•Season 1Ep. 205
On this episode of The Grapevine, Kulja talks to the ABC’s International Affairs Analyst, Stan Grant, about his experience as a foreign correspondent in Hong Kong and Beijing over the last 10 years. They discuss The Beijing Bureau , a new book Grant contributed to that documents the stories of 25 journalists reporting on China from the 1970s to the present day – including a reflection on the first Aboriginal delegation to China. Then, Walkley-Award winning writer, editor and broadcaster Jeff Spa...
May 17, 2021•59 min•Season 1Ep. 204
On this episode of The Grapevine, Kulja and Dylan are joined in the Triple R performance space by former Greens Senator for WA, Scott Ludlam, to discuss his new book Full Circle: A search for the world that comes next. Ludlam explains how humanity got to the Anthropocene, an era of irreversible climate change and ecological collapse, and the corrupt political, corporate and financial systems that brought 99 percent of the world population to labouring for the wealth of the 1 percent and the exti...
May 10, 2021•45 min•Season 1Ep. 203
On this episode of The Grapevine, Kulja and Dylan get on the line with Crikey reporter, Charlie Lewis, to talk all about the Tasmanian State election. Lewis gives his on-the-ground updates of the evolving situation of the incumbent Liberal Party’s struggle to gain a majority in the lower house and discusses the potential fall-out if the government fails to do so. And, in the wake of Richard Flanagan’s reporting into Tasmanian Salmon , what seafood is actually sustainable and ethical that we can ...
May 03, 2021•51 min•Season 1Ep. 202
On this episode of The Grapevine, Kulja and Dylan are joined by Grapevine regular guest Dave Nichols and co-editor Sophie Perillo for a special longform conversation about their new book Urban Australia and Post Punk: Exploring Dogs in Space. A study of an influential music and the cultural scene that existed in Melbourne during the late 1970s and 80s, the release features contributions from music academics, urban planners, and cultural historians
Apr 26, 2021•51 min•Season 1Ep. 201
On this episode of The Grapevine, Dylan flies solo and gets on the line with Walkley-Award winning writer, editor and broadcaster, Jeff Sparrow, to discuss the Biden administration’s decision to pull out of Afghanistan and Australia following suit. Sparrow reflects on the lack of discourse in Australia joining the NATO allies in Afghanistan and on our part in the 20-year-long 'forever war'. Then, as 36,000 Australians remain stranded overseas a year on from the initial international travel ban, ...
Apr 19, 2021•47 min•Season 1Ep. 200
On this episode of The Grapevine, Kulja and Dylan get on the line with former chief scientist of Australia, Dr Alan Finkel AO, to discuss the challenges facing Australia reaching carbon neutral and to unpack the comprehensive roadmap he laid out in the Quarterly Essay ‘Getting To Zero, Australia’s Energy Transition’. Then, Crickey’s politics editor, Bernard Keane, wades through the muck seeping out of Canberra to talk about their new series ‘The Dirty Country’, reporting on corruption in Austral...
Mar 29, 2021•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 199
On this episode of The Grapevine, Dave Wells, CEO of Reclink, a charity that funds a variety of community recreation groups, gets on the line to discuss some of the plans and projects to support disadvantaged members of the community across Australia in 2021. And Dave Nichols returns to break down the contention between the Albert Park residents and the local school students accessing public parkland and discusses the general aversion to students in public urban spaces. Then, Misha Ketchell, edi...
Mar 22, 2021•50 min•Season 1Ep. 198
On this episode of The Grapevine, Kulja and Dylan get on the line with Cam Walker, campaign organiser at Friends of The Earth to discuss the world-first trail of using Latrobe Valley coal to produce hydrogen for export to Japan . Walker unpacks the latest energy sector announcements, including Energy Australia’s decision to close the Yallourn power plant early, following the Hazelwood station’s decommissioning. Then, editor at Croaky and freelance journalist Jennifer Doggett explains the systema...
Mar 15, 2021•44 min•Season 1Ep. 197
On this episode of The Grapevine, Kulja is joined by special guest co-host Judith Peppard for an International Women's Day edition of the program. They get on the line with Australian Council of Trade Unions President Michele O’Neil intersection of IWD and Labour day in 2021. O’Neil discusses the disparity between the value of industries comprising mostly women in the Australian economy, and the inequality still present in the labour market and tax system – issues only exacerbated by the pandemi...
Mar 08, 2021•39 min•Season 1Ep. 196
On this episode of The Grapevine, Kulja and Dylan get on the line with Executive Director of Per Capita Emma Dawson to breakdown the Coalition Government losing their working majority in the house, the $3.50-a-day increase to JobSeeker, the revelations of the Aged Care Royal Commission, and the expose of Canberra’s toxic culture. And, Don Weatherburn, Adjunct Professor at the University of New South Wales explains the dramatic decline of crime in Australia. Weatherburn’s new book ‘The Vanishing ...
Mar 01, 2021•57 min•Season 1Ep. 195
On this episode of The Grapevine , Kulja and Dylan get on the line with Jeff Sparrow, Lecturer in the Centre for Advancing Journalism at Melbourne University, and long-time Triple R broadcaster, to break down the Facebook ban of Australian News media and the implications this conflict has for regulation of big tech globally. This development is a poignant reminder to source your news directly, so subscribe to the Triple R newsletter to make sure you don’t miss any updates (on the footer of the T...
Feb 22, 2021•52 min•Season 1Ep. 194
On this episode of The Grapevine Dylan and Kulja get on the line with Associate Professor in Pacific Studies at ANU, Katerina Teaiwa to break down what happened at the Pacific Island Forum and why one-third of the member nations have indicated they will walk away … Then, journalist and author Jo Chandler discuss her essay in the latest Griffith Review ‘ Tales from the frontline: The emotional impact of climate change ', exploring the impact of the pandemic on climate action through the unique le...
Feb 15, 2021•46 min•Season 1Ep. 193
On this episode of The Grapevine , Kulja and Dylan break down Victoria’s new rental laws coming into effect in 2021 with Professor of Housing and Social Policy at Swinburne University Wendy Stone. Then, ABC’s China correspondent Bill Birtles gets on the line to talk about the ‘Foreign Correspondent’ Hong Kong special on ABC TV ‘City of Fear’, and his coverage of China since he was forced to flee the country in September last year. And CEO of the Paul Ramsay Foundation, Professor Glyn Davis AC, d...
Feb 08, 2021•53 min•Season 1Ep. 192
On this episode of The Grapevine , Kulja and Dylan get on the line with Professor of History at La Trobe University Clare Wright to discuss her essay for Griffith Review 71, ‘Masters of the Future or heirs of the past? Mining, history and the right to know’. Wright explains why it’s crucial the mining industry work with First Australian communities to avoid incidents like the tragic detonation of the Juukan Gorge by Rio Tinto last year. Then, does Australia have a growing problem with far-right ...
Feb 01, 2021•52 min•Season 1Ep. 191
On this episode of The Grapevine, Kulja and Dylan get on the line with author, guardian columnist, and former RRR Breakfaster, Dr Jeff Sparrow to breakdown Australia’s diplomatic fallout with China, and the measures that need to be taken to forestall a looming trade-war. And, human rights lawyer and Executive Director of Refugee Legal, David Manne discusses the plight of refugees detained indefinitely in hotels and unpacks the High Court’s decision that refugees can bring legal action to the cou...
Dec 07, 2020•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 190
On this episode of The Grapevine, Kulja and Dylan speak with journalist, author, and chief political correspondent of the ABC’s ‘7:30’, Laura Tingle about her Quarterly Essay ‘The High Road’. Tingle contrasts the two countries’ responses to socio-economic, and environmental circumstances to draw up some important lessons for Australian leaders. And Associate Professor Dave Nichols returns to breakdown Victoria’s announced $5.3 billion budget for a new infrastructure project that will include big...
Nov 30, 2020•1 hr 14 min•Season 1Ep. 189
On this episode of The Grapevine , how effective will Victoria’s $5.3 billion social housing project be for those threatened with, or experiencing homelessness? Dr Sarah Taylor & co-author Juliet Watson discuss the challenges of investing meaningfully, after their new report for RMIT’s Unison Housing Research Lab found social housing tenants are more likely to have experienced chronic, often lifelong, disadvantage than other groups. Then, author, historian, speechwriter, social critic, and h...
Nov 23, 2020•55 min•Season 1Ep. 188
On this episode of The Grapevine , Kulja and Dylan get on the line with Julie Sonnemann, Acting School Education Program Director at the Grattan Institute to discuss Victoria’s $250 million plan to help students who fell behind catch up on their education, and her piece in The Conversation arguing what is necessary for the plan’s success. And, how does Australia prosecute war crimes ? Rawan Arraf, Principal Lawyer and Director of the Australian Centre for International Justice discusses the inst...
Nov 16, 2020•57 min•Season 1Ep. 187
On this episode of The Grapevine , Dylan gets on the line with three-time Richmond Premiership player Bachar Houli to discuss his new memoir ‘Bachar Houli: Faith, Football and Family’ co-written with broadcaster and writer Waleed Aly. Houli is most known for his strong adherence to Muslim values and has used his position to become the AFL’s leading voice for inclusion and tolerance. As World leaders send their congratulations to President Elect Joe Biden, Amber Jamieson, Buzzfeed reporter based ...
Nov 09, 2020•58 min•Season 1Ep. 186
On this episode of The Grapevine , what does Australia’s growing economic ties with Asia mean for the US alliance? Dylan and Kulja get on the line with US writer and journalist Patrick Lawrence to discuss Australia’s future in Pacific region that he explores in his essay for Australian Foreign Affairs ‘Goodbye America - the remaking of Asia’ . Then, as former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s petition for a royal commission into the Murdoch media monopoly gains hundreds of thousands of Australian sign...
Nov 02, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 185
Content Warning: This episode touches on some sensitive topics including mental health and family violence (beginning at the 14:04 mark and ending at 27:46 if you’d prefer to skip this). If anything you hear is distressing please reach out to someone who can help keep you safe. Or remember you can call 1800 respect on 1800 737 732. On this episode of The Grapevine , as restrictions begin to ease in Victoria, Kulja chats with Matt Ruchel, the Executive Director for the Victorian National Parks As...
Oct 26, 2020•51 min•Season 1Ep. 184
On this episode of The Grapevine , will the Northcote golf course remain public parkland as pandemic restrictions ease? Kulja is joined on the line by Associate Professor and Lecturer of Urban Planning at Melbourne University, David Nichols, to discuss the negotiations about future use of the Northcote golf course. Then, award winning author, climate activist, and academic, Dr Tony Birch discusses the Melbourne School of Discontent’s 'Black Fire' lecture series, and how they are attempting to ch...
Oct 19, 2020•54 min•Season 1Ep. 183
Content Warning: this week's episode touches on some sensitive topics including suicide and mental health (beginning at the 40:42 minute mark if you'd prefer to skip this). If anything you hear is distressing please reach out to someone who can help keep you safe. Or, remember you can call lifeline at any time on 13, 11, 14. On this episode of The Grapevine , as local government elections go postal, Kulja and Dylan speak with President of the Municipal Association of Victoria, Councillor Coral R...
Oct 12, 2020•59 min•Season 1Ep. 182
On this episode of The Grapevine, As Australia mourns the deaths of feminist icons Susan Ryan and Helen Reddy , Dylan is joined by Mary Crooks, Executive Director of the Victorian Women’s Trust to reflect on the role these extraordinary women played in furthering gender equality, and their impact on Australian culture and society. And what does ‘populism’ actually mean? American political analyst, historian, and journalist Thomas Frank calls in all the way from the US to talk about his new book ...
Oct 05, 2020•57 min•Season 1Ep. 181
On this episode of The Grapevine , Dylan and Kulja talk accountability and integrity in government with Paddy Manning, journalist and contributing politics editor at The Monthly. And the significance of the Federal Government’s announced $4.5 billion upgrade to the NBN , ahead of the upcoming release of the delayed budget . Then, as Indonesian President Joko Widodo enters his second term, Director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Lowy Institute Ben Bland, discusses how a prospective champion...
Sep 28, 2020•49 min•Season 1Ep. 180
