Local government elections are more essential than ever during the COVID-19 lockdowns

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 Ross to discuss the importance of local elections to the democratic process as the pandemic has the effect of denying women access to participation in local government.

Then, Executive Director of Per Capita, Emma Dawson gets on the line to discuss the implications of the Federal Government's recently released delayed budget for a COVID-recovery. Dawson’s new book Co-edited with Professor Janet McCalm ‘What Happens Next?’ explores innovative ideas from Australia’s leading minds for reconstructing Australia in the aftermath of the pandemic.

And, author and journalist, Erik Jensen discuss his Stephen Murray-Smith memorial lecture ‘The Man with no face’ for the State Library of Victoria. Jensen discusses the death of asylum seek Hamed Shamshiripour on Manus island in 2017, and the phenomenon of “the Australian facelessness” that dissociates “other” people, and “disappears” them from national political debate.