On this episode of The Grapevine, Kulja and Dylan get on the line with journalist and author, George Megalogenis to shed some light on the federal budget in the context of the current state of the economy and Australia's reliance on WA's mineral trade with China. And then author and journalist Margaret Simons calls in to discuss the role that Independent candidates may play in the imminent federal election. Simmons explores the influence of the cross-bench in detail in her piece in The Monthly ,...
Apr 04, 2022•25 sec•Season 1Ep. 239
On this episode of The Grapevine, Kulja gets on the line with executive director of Refugee Legal, David Manne, to talk about the Federal Government finally accepting New Zealand's offer for resettling refugees and asylum seekers after nine years of offshore detention. Manne explains where things are currently at with the deal and what a new government should focus on if elected. And Transport and Cities Program Director at the Grattan Institute, Marion Terril, calls in to discuss how “pork-barr...
Mar 28, 2022•51 min•Season 1Ep. 238
Presenter Dylan Bird is joined by Walkley Award winning journalist Jeff Sparrow to discuss whether battling back-to-back natural disasters is distracting Australians from fighting the climate crisis which he explores in his column in The Guardian. Then, PhD candidate at Melbourne Graduate School of Education Alicia Flynn and climate youth activist Varsha Yajman explain the Australian Journal of Environmental Education special issue, which Flynn co-edited, on the impact that the school strikes ha...
Mar 21, 2022•1 hr 17 min•Season 1Ep. 237
On this episode of The Grapevine, Kulja and Dylan are joined on the line by CEO of VCOSS, Emma King, to discuss how the State government has backflipped on a proposed levy on property development that would be used to fund social housing. They also talk with former secondary school principal Chris Bonnor about the book he co-authored with Tom Greenwell, Waiting for Gonski: How Australia failed its schools. The authors explore the growing correlation between social disadvantage and educational un...
Mar 07, 2022•56 min•Season 1Ep. 236
Kulja and Dylan are joined by urban planning expert Dave Nichols, who delves into the significance of the names of places, the convoluted origin of the name of Melbourne, and the truth behind the English lord that is the city’s namesake. AFLW player Libby Birch discusses the opportunity for the inequality in AFLW player wages to be addressed when the current AFLW collective bargaining agreement expires in October; Former Greens senator Scott Ludlam talks about how corporate interest has undermin...
Feb 28, 2022•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 235
On this episode of The Grapevine, Kulja and Dylan get on the line with Cam Walker to discuss Origin’s early closure of Australia’s largest coal fired power plant, Eraring in NSW which will now close in 2025. Then, journalist and co-founder of Declassified Australia, Anthony Lowenstein, calls in to break down Australian corporate exploitation in Afghanistan, ‘ Mystery surrounds how an Australian mining company sought access to Afghanistan’s 3-trillion treasure house of untapped minerals ’. And au...
Feb 21, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 234
On this episode of The Grapevine Kulja and Dylan get on the line with Walkley award winning journalist and author Jeff Sparrow to break down Defence Minister Peter Dutton’s anti-China rhetoric in the context of Russia’s threats to invade Ukraine and how this aggressively hawkish national security stance may impact the Coalition at the election. Then, Hannah McLeay from Greenpeace Australia dials in to talk about the launch of the Green Electricity Guide , which is designed to help Australian’s m...
Feb 14, 2022•43 min•Season 1Ep. 233
The Grapevine is back for 2022! For their first show of the year, Kulja and Dylan get on the line with author and journalist Elle Hardy to discuss her new book Beyond Belief - How Pentacostal Christianity is taking over the World which is out now via Newsouth Books. Hardy exposes the Pentecostal agenda: not just saving souls but transforming societies and controlling politics. Then, research fellow from RMIT’s school of design, Jordan Lacey, calls in to talk about The Sonic Gathering Space a sou...
Feb 07, 2022•42 min•Season 1Ep. 232
On the final episode of The Grapevine for 2021, Kulja and Dylan get on the line with Melbourne author and broadcaster Tony Wilson for the fifth, and very prestigious, Speakolies awards! They analyse and break down the good, the bad, and the ugly of the most iconic speeches of the year that Tony has curated on his website speakola , and discuss the art of oration. Thank you to the listeners and the subscribers for making this year possible, we couldn’t do this without your support....
Dec 13, 2021•51 min•Season 1Ep. 231
On this episode of The Grapevine, Kulja gets on the line with Cam Walker from Friends of the Earth to talk about some of the biggest moments in climate politics in 2021. Walker discusses Labour’s new climate policies, including their announcement that they would increase emissions reduction targets if elected. Plus, Dr Catherine Williams, research director at the Centre for Public Integrity calls in to talk about what the updates and amendments to the Victorian Pandemic Bill mean. And correspond...
Dec 06, 2021•51 min•Season 1Ep. 230
On this episode of The Grapevine, Kulja and Dylan get on the line with constitutional law expert, Associate Professor Luke Beck from the faculty of law at Monash University, to discuss the Federal Government’s third draft of the Religious Discrimination Bill. Prof Beck breaks down what’s in the bill, how it impacts state and federal powers, and what it could mean for the LGBTQI+ community. And a new report has found climate activists are being institutionally suppressed. Senior lawyer at the Hum...
Nov 29, 2021•43 min•Season 1Ep. 229
On this episode of The Grapevine, as the COP26 climate summit wraps up, Kulja and Dylan get on the line with Walkley Award winning journalist, author and regular voice on The Grapevine, Jeff Sparrow, to break down the influence of corporations at the negotiations, along with accusations of greenwashing. Sparrow has a new book out; Crimes Against Nature: Capitalism and Global Heating, exploring the private sector’s role in driving climate change. Then, expert in gender-based violence, Professor A...
Nov 15, 2021•50 min•Season 1Ep. 228
On this episode of The Grapevine, Kulja and Dylan get on the line with the Australian Workers’ Union National Secretary, Daniel Walton, to discuss the historic win for fruit workers – who have been historically exploited by the agricultural industry – securing a minimum casual rate of pay. Then, journalist Sean Kelly calls in to talk about his new book, The Game: A Portrait of Scott Morrison . Kelly exposes Morrison’s approach to politics as a game that is his to win, and how the Australian peop...
Nov 08, 2021•48 min•Season 1Ep. 227
Content Warning: This episode touches on some sensitive topics including sexual violence (segment discussing sexual assault at the 36:38 mark and ending at 59:30 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 1800respect on 1800 737 732. On this episode of The Grapevine , Dylan gets on the line with Associate Professor William Partlett at Melbourne Uni’s Law School, to discuss his article in The ...
Nov 01, 2021•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 226
On this episode of The Grapevine, Kulja gets on the line with ecologist and historian Benjamin Gray to talk all about his new book Extinct: Artistic Impressions of our Lost Wildlife . Grey captures 39 unique Australian species that have been lost forever or are close to extinction. Then, Dylan speaks with singer and songwriter of Parquet Courts, Austin Brown, about the band’s new album Sympathy For Life. Dylan and Austin discuss Parquet Court’s connection to the Melbourne music scene and their p...
Oct 25, 2021•53 min•Season 1Ep. 225
On this episode of The Grapevine, Kulja and Dylan get on the line with Walkley Award winning journalist and author, Jeff Sparrow, to talk about the current state of accountability for corrupt politicians and why Australia doesn’t already have a federal corruption watchdog, as state investigators IBAC and ICAC scrutinise both major parties in NSW and Victoria. Then, emergency specialist who works across a number of Melbourne hospitals, Dr Stephan Parnis, calls in to break down what’s been going o...
Oct 18, 2021•51 min•Season 1Ep. 224
On this episode of The Grapevine, Kulja and Dylan get on the line with Dr Saul Griffith, founder of the Rewiring Australia & Rewiring America, to discuss the benefits of a net-zero emission economy. Dr Griffith breaks down the findings of the new report ‘Castles & Cars, savings in the suburbs through electrifying everything’ that details how Australian households could save up to $5000 on their bills through complete electrification. Then, regular guest on The Grapevine, Associate Profes...
Oct 11, 2021•57 min•Season 1Ep. 223
On this episode of The Grapevine, Kulja and Dylan get on the line with author, journalist and research, Dr Suelette Dreyfus to discuss the newly released feature by Yahoo!News outlining a CIA plot to capture or assassinate Julian Assange. Assange is still being detained in London waiting to see if he will be extradited to the US to face charges of espionage. Then, Cam Walker, campaigns director Friends of the Earth calls in to discuss Australia’s climate policy considering the upcoming COP26 cli...
Oct 04, 2021•52 min•Season 1Ep. 222
On this episode of The Grapevine, Dylan gets on the line with associate professor of history at Monash University, Julie Kalman, to talk about the book she co-authored, ‘Smuggled; an illegal history of Journeys to Australia’. Then, lawyer, activist, and chair of Digital Rights Watch, Lizzie O’Shea, calls in to discuss the News Media Bargaining Code in light of Facebook refusing to play ball with SBS & The Conversation in their recent negotiations over use of content on the social media platf...
Sep 27, 2021•47 min•Season 1Ep. 221
On this episode of The Grapevine, Kulja and Dylan get on the line with Dave Sweeney from the Australian Conservation Foundation to break down what Australia’s new nuclear submarine deal means for the future of the Australian energy sector, Australia's relationship with its Pacific neighbours and with other global powers. Then, journalist George Megalogenis discusses Victoria’s roadmap out of lockdown, vaccination targets – and the consequences of getting it wrong. Megalogenis touches on the stat...
Sep 20, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 220
On this episode of The Grapevine, Kulja and Dylan get on the line with Walkley Award winning author and journalist, Jeff Sparrow, to break down the High Court’s ruling that found Australian media outlets are responsible for defamatory comments left on their social media platforms. Then, the worst is yet to come for Australian universities following last year’s 6 percent drop in revenue across the tertiary sector, Peter Hurley from the Mitchell Institute, calls in to talk about the fall out, and ...
Sep 13, 2021•42 min•Season 1Ep. 219
On this episode of The Grapevine, Kulja and Dylan get on the line with Executive Director of Grata Fund, Isabelle Reinecke, to discuss the Coalition Government unlawfully blocking FOI requests and its impact on democracy in Australia. Then, contributing editor of Inside Story, Peter Mares, discusses his piece ‘ A Line in the water’ , reflecting on the anniversary of the Tampa incident in 2001. Mares talks about the Australian Government’s treatment of asylum seekers, how the 9/11 attacks influen...
Sep 06, 2021•52 min•Season 1Ep. 218
On this episode of The Grapevine, Kulja and Dylan get on the line with Shamsiya Hussainpoor, an Afghan from the Hazra community, to discuss those left behind at the mercy of the Taliban back in Kabul. Hussainpoor talks about her story that was published on the ABC , what she fears will happen next. Then, Executive Director at Refugee Legal, David Manne, calls in to analyse the Australian Government’s response to the situation in Afghanistan. Manne talks about the support and support and opportun...
Aug 23, 2021•45 min•Season 1Ep. 217
On this episode of The Grapevine, Kulja and Dylan get on the line with PhD candidate at Melbourne Uni’s Law School, Elizabeth Hicks, and Greg Dore, infectious disease physician and epidemiologist at UNSW’s Kirby Institute, to discuss the epidemiological and policy challenges of bringing Australians returning from international travel. Then in the wake of the IPPC report on the impact of 1.5 degrees of global warming, Editor of Renew Economy, Giles Parkinson, calls in to talk about economic solut...
Aug 16, 2021•47 min•Season 1Ep. 216
On this episode of The Grapevine, Kulja and Dylan get on the line with Cam Walker from Friends of the Earth to discuss his new report ‘An Icon at Risk: Current and Emerging threats to the Victorian High Country’, which explores the threat of climate change to Snow Gums, and other Australian flora. Walker discusses these threats in the context of the findings of the IPCC report into climate change released this week. Then, CEO of VACCA and Joint Council member of the Coalition of Peaks, Muriel Ba...
Aug 09, 2021•57 min•Season 1Ep. 215
On this episode of The Grapevine, Kulja and Dylan get on the line with Walkley Award winning writer and broadcaster, Jeff Sparrow, to talk about the recent anti-lockdown protests across the country in response to covid-19 restrictions – who are they? And what’s spurring them on? Then, managing solicitor for crime at North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency, Beth Wild, calls in to breakdown the latest on Don Dale, the notorious youth prison in Darwin was set to close, but is now expanding as yo...
Aug 02, 2021•33 min•Season 1Ep. 214
On this episode of The Grapevine, is Crown Casino too big to fail ? Kulja and Dylan get on the line with Associate Professor Charles Livingstone from the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at Monash University to discuss the most recent developments of the Crown Royal Commission. Then, as the 2021 Olympics kicks off, regular guest Associate Professor of urban planning at Melbourne University, Dave Nichols, calls in to discuss the impact of the Games on host cities and the incredibly...
Jul 26, 2021•45 min•Season 1Ep. 213
On this episode of The Grapevine, Kulja and Dylan are joined by CEO of VCOSS Emma King to discuss the ad campaign ‘Let's get back to the good things’ that encourages vaccination in the community and analyses the efficacy of the Government's messaging. Then, Guy Morton, one of the founders of Voices of Kooyong, a group seeking better political representation for their community, calls in to discuss their independent candidacy, what they’re doing in the lead-up to the election, and the issues thei...
Jul 19, 2021•53 min•Season 1Ep. 212
On this episode of The Grapevine, Kulja and Dylan get on the line with AFL diversity consultant Rana Hussain, to talk about the significance of sport in Australia, and how it transcends the game into all areas of culture. Hussain and other experts will be discussing this and more at the long awaited Broadly Speaking event ‘Ahead of the Game, Sport, Storytelling and Symbolism at the Wheeler Centre’. Then, Cam Walker from Friends of the Earth calls in to discuss the Federal Court's decision regard...
Jul 12, 2021•47 min•Season 1Ep. 211
On this episode of The Grapevine, Dylan is joined on the line by journalist and researcher for Human Rights Watch, Sophie McNeill, to discuss the findings of their new report into Chinese government surveillance of pro-democracy students from the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong in Australian universities. The report finds that students and faculty have been targeted with intimidation and harassment after expressing pro-democracy sentiments. And as Australian vaccination continues to crawl ahead a...
Jul 05, 2021•55 min•Season 1Ep. 210
