Episodes
Wednesday Sep 30, 2020
The Looking Forward Podcast Episode 82: Pollies' Prison Prospects: Stunning Own Goal
Wednesday Sep 30, 2020
Wednesday Sep 30, 2020
Victoria has been electrified by the prospect that politicians and public servants from the Premier down could be charged and even jailed for deaths attributable to the Hotel Quarantine fiasco, under tendentious new industrial manslaughter laws only recently enacted by the Andrews Government. Governments must be held to account, but is this the job of the courts, or Parliaments and voters? If we start jailing politicians for incompetence, where will it end? (33:25-44:59).
Scott Hargreaves and Chris Berg are joined by Research Fellow Morgan Begg to discuss this and also the litany of civil rights violations justified in the name of pandemic. Where have been the institutions meant to defend our freedoms, and what precedent does this rampant State create for our future? (1:50-17:59).
The latest concern in Victoria is an “Omnibus Bill”, allowing government appointed ‘authorised officers’ to arrest and detain individuals just on the suspicion of intent to break rules. Is this necessary or just a left-wing Government’s adaption the Police State/‘law and order’ playbook formerly used by the right? (18:00-33:25).
Culture picks this week include the new Netflix film, Enola Holmes by Harry Bradbeer; Karl Ove Knausgaard’s book on Edvard Munch, So Much Longing in So Little Space; and a Netflix documentary by Jeff Orlowski, The Social Dilemma (44:59-1:04:55).
Shownotes:
Letter to WorkSafe Referring Ministers for Investigation; Ken Phillips
Four Victorian ministers, 16 public servants may face prosecution over alleged OHS law breaches; Robert Gottliebsen
Picnicking rule-breakers face $5000 fines with police to blanket parks; Simone Fox Koob
Regulate? Innovate!; Chris Berg on social media regulation
https://ipa.org.au/ipa-review-articles/regulate-innovate
Covid Totalitarianism; Morgan Begg
https://ipa.org.au/publications-ipa/covid-totalitarianism
Culture Picks:
Enola Holmes
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7846844/
So Much Longing in So Little Space
https://www.penguin.com.au/books/so-much-longing-in-so-little-space-9781787300545
The Social Dilemma
Wednesday Sep 23, 2020
The Looking Forward Podcast Episode 81: RBG & After, Plus: Who's Replacing Nettle?
Wednesday Sep 23, 2020
Wednesday Sep 23, 2020
This week saw the death of Ruth Bader Ginsberg and immediate controversy about who will replace her on the United States’ Supreme Court, as the Democrats invent reasons to stall the process. The panellists reflect on the career of a remarkable advocate and jurist, and examine how the Republican push in the Senate to confirm a Trump nomination as replacement will affect the election. If even Mitt Romney wants to do it, what’s stopping them? (2:12-35:50).
Likewise, Australia’s High Court also has some looming vacancies, due to the 72-year age of ‘statutory senility’ enforced on Justices of the High Court, with Justice Nettle soon to step down. Why aren’t Australians more interested in the choice of replacement shortly to be made by the Morrison Government, and – in light of controversial decisions such as Love/Thoms - do we need more scrutiny of the process for nomination? (35:50-56:32).
Culture picks this week include BGG cold war board game, Twilight Struggle; Elena Ferrante’s novel, Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay; and Taylor Sheridan and John Linson’s TV series, Yellowstone season 3 (56:41-1:08:02).
Show notes
Courting Calamity; Morgan Begg (IPA Review, Winter 2020)
https://ipa.org.au/ipa-review-articles/courting-calamity
Porter kicks off search for next High Court judge; Robert Pelly, AFR
Save the Vote, Save the Court; Adam J White, The Bulwark
https://thebulwark.com/save-the-vote-save-the-court/
Looking Forward Ep 74 Review of RBG biopic, On the Basis of Sex; Scott Hargreaves
https://youtu.be/yBBO_wat60Q?t=3480
Culture picks
Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay
Twilight Struggle
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/12333/twilight-struggle
Yellowstone; Season 3
Thursday Sep 17, 2020
The Looking Forward Podcast Episode 80: Tear Down That Wall
Thursday Sep 17, 2020
Thursday Sep 17, 2020
There are hard borders with no sign of let up across Australia, as State Premiers spuriously justify all decisions as being on the basis of medical advice while enjoying the populist support for supposedly keeping out the virus. But they can only do so because in our crazy fiscally frazzled federation the Feds pick up the bill for the economic costs. And why can actors and footballers cross borders when ordinary people can't?
What will be the effects on our economy and indeed our nation; as we revert to self-contained colonies and the ties of family and work across borders are severed?
And for that matter, what of the tens of thousands of Australias stranded overseas because State Government failures mean they cannot be safely returned, as Australia joins North Korea in banning travel from Australia without a permit?
Evan Mulholland joins Chris Berg and Scott Hargreaves to discuss problems and possible solutions, and also look at the battle being waged by tech giants Google and Facebook as they fight moves by Australia's relative media minnows to grab a share of revenue, egged on by the ACCC (33:38-46:06). Just one part of a global war in which Australian consumers could be the loser.
In the regular Books and Culture segment (46:07-58:33) they look a Tim Wilson’s new book on Australia's social contract, the Netflix series Away, and the latest surrealist escapade form Charlie Kaufman, I'm Thinking of Ending Things.
Show Notes:
A big decision is due today in the Clive Palmer vs WA border row — here's why it matters
This is why it is so difficult for Australians to get home
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-17/why-is-it-so-hard-for-australians-to-get-home/12669902
Culture Picks
The New Social Contract; Tim Wilson
Away; Andrew Hinderaker
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Away_(TV_series)
I’m Thinking of Ending Things; Charlie Kaufman
Wednesday Sep 09, 2020
The Looking Forward Podcast Episode 79: Victorians Have Made Their Bed
Wednesday Sep 09, 2020
Wednesday Sep 09, 2020
The Deputy CMO says to Victorians "make your bed", but they're fraying at the edges as their Premier loses credibility for refusing to admit he is pursuing a virus eradication strategy - something achieved literally nowhere in the world. How diabolical is the combination of political spin and ceaseless nudging from the army of "public health" advisers? And how much longer can Victorians be expected to trust the very politicians and ‘health experts’ who have consistently lied and obfuscated? (2:01-22:16).
New IPA research shows a "K-Shaped recovery", with public sector employment trending upwards while the private sector slopes violently downwards. Are we really ‘all in this together’ or is the divide between the public and private sector more apparent than ever? (22:16-32:46).
Victoria Police arrested a heavily pregnant Zoe Lee Buhler for a Facebook post about a peaceful protest. With civil liberties, Parliament, and Cabinet Government all suspended; what does this brave new world of Castro-length speeches from the Premier, unchecked police surveillance and a cowed and frightened population look like? (32:46-41:55).
What can we expect of our media when the Dan Andrews drip feeds a compliant press gallery via daily press conferences, and keeping people scared seems part of the business model? (41:55-57:03). Culture Picks this week include TV series, Schitts Creek, by Dan Levy and Eugene Levy, Righteous Gemstones, by Danny McBride and Raised by Wolves, by Aaron Guzikowski (57:03-1:05:13).
Show notes:
Victorians struggling to cope with lockdown have been told to make their bed in the morning; 7 News,
https://www.facebook.com/363623854300/posts/10159153769824301/?vh=e
A Public Choice Warning About Media; Peter Boettke
https://www.aier.org/article/a-public-choice-warning-about-media/
Daniel Andrews hits his 50th straight coronavirus update today — is it time he took a break?; Patrick Wood
Culture picks:
Netflix TV series by Dan Levy and Eugene Levy, Schitts Creek
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3526078/
TV series by Danny McBride, Righteous Gemstones
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8634332/
TV series by Aaron Guzikowski, Raised by Wolves
Wednesday Sep 02, 2020
The Looking Forward Podcast Episode 78: Hello? My BRI’s Stopped Working
Wednesday Sep 02, 2020
Wednesday Sep 02, 2020
The Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, has announced new legislation to ensure agreement the States, councils and universities have with foreign governments are consistent with Australian foreign policy. What does this mean for the relations with China and are there any risks with giving the Federal Government further powers? (2:05-15:48). What are the risks with the Victorian Government’s Belt and Road agreement as it relates to expensive plans for infrastructure projects that Victoria doesn't want or need? (15:48-27:33). The Democratic and Republican conventions took place in the US with their speeches demonstrating vastly different views of the USA. What does Trump’s post-convention poll bounce and focus on burning cities mean for the November election? (27:35-50:23). Culture picks for this week include Christopher Caldwell’s Age of Entitlement, Leder Games’ new boardgame, Root and Federico Fellini’s 1960 film, La Dolce Vita (51:18-1:04:52).
Show notes:
Scott Morrison vows to cancel state-foreign agreements if viewed to be against national interest; Brett Worthington and Stephen Dziedzic
Ensuring a Consistent Australian Foreign Policy; Prime Minister Scott Morrison
https://www.pm.gov.au/media/ensuring-consistent-australian-foreign-policy
Poll – Victorians Oppose Belt & Road Scheme
https://ipa.org.au/publications-ipa/poll-victorians-oppose-belt-road-scheme
Tunnel Vision: Scott Hargreaves and Daniel Wild
https://ipa.org.au/ipa-review-articles/tunnel-vision
Culture picks:
Age of entitlement, Christopher caldwell
https://www.amazon.com.au/Age-Entitlement-America-Since-Sixties/dp/1501106899
New type of boardgame - Root
https://ledergames.com/products/root-a-game-of-woodland-might-and-right
1960 film, La Dolce Vita, directed by Federico Fellini