Best Robodebt Podcasts (2025)

1
From Germany to Australia, the crisis of social democracy 26:07

11h ago26:07

26:07

Ian Rintoul looks at how the Labor-style SPD has paved the way for the rise of the far right in Germany and draws lessons for the federal election in Australia. Read more about Germany. Find out more about Solidarity. This talk was recorded at the Keep Left conference on 19 April 2025.By solidarity.net.au

1
DOGE or GROSS (Getting Rid of Stupid Stuff) 😩: the touchy subject of efficiency in the public service 59:00

4d ago59:00

59:00

Efficiency is in the news ... but what does it mean? How should public servants work on improving efficiency? Should we be focused on system reform, ending whole entitlements, or nibbling at the edges? How to know what kind of budget savings task you are in - deep restructuring or a cyclical contraction / expansion? Is front line v back office a he…

1
Islamophobia: a growing racist threat 38:50

8d ago38:50

38:50

Dr Nora Amath, the Executive Director of the Islamophobia Register Australia, reports on the horrific wave of racism affecting Muslims in Australia. She explains how the anti-Palestine agenda of mainstream politicians and the media encourages hatred. Read the latest Islamophobia Register Australia report. Read more about fighting Islamophobia. Find…

1
How mass revolt ended the Vietnam War 16:39

16d ago16:39

16:39

Liz Grosshans tells how, together with the heroic resistance of the Vietnamese, mass revolt by students, soldiers and workers fragmented the US war machine and opened the way to national liberation for Vietnam and an end to the war. Read more about the movement against the Vietnam War. Find out more about Solidarity.…

1
Picking the Scab of Recruitment - Part 2 'The Employer' 37:12

18d ago37:12

37:12

Surfing a wave of listener feelings about this topic, Danielle takes us through the experience of public service recruitment from the other side. Danielle and Alison argue about the merits of requiring 'in house' recruitment before externally advertising positions The role that conservative (perhaps inexpert??) local budget management plays in driv…

1
German Peasants' War: when revolt shook Europe 53:56

22d ago53:56

53:56

Five hundred years ago, the German-speaking lands of central Europe were gripped by mass revolt. Beginning in 1524 and continuing into 1525, the German Peasants' War involved hundreds of thousands of the poor. Martin Empson, a member of Solidarity’s sister organisation in Britain, the Socialist Workers Party, has just published a book that brings t…

1
The Freedom Ride 60 years on: fighting Australian apartheid 41:03

29d ago41:03

41:03

In February 1965, University of Sydney students held a “freedom ride” through northwestern NSW, exposing rampant racism against Indigenous people and putting Indigenous rights on the agenda. Hall Greenland (Freedom Ride participant), Paul Silva (Indigenous activist) and Paddy Gibson (Jumbunna Institute and Solidarity) discuss its impact and relevan…

1
🗳️ Election special 🗳️ Caretaker conventions, IGBs and some 🥳 vox pops 🥳 51:05

1M ago51:05

51:05

The starter's gun has gone on Australia's national elections for 2025 and Parliament has been prorogued. In this episode, former head of Cabinet Office and keeper of the Caretaker Conventions, Alison answers Caroline and Danielle's increasingly pointed questions, and we end with arguing about the importance of formatting. Stay tuned to the end for …

1
Trump's tariffs, trade wars and imperialism 20:56

1M ago20:56

20:56

Phil Griffiths debunks the idea that tariffs have ever been good for workers, discusses how Trump is using tariffs to remake US imperialism and argues that workers have to look to global solidarity. Read more about tariffs. Find out more about Solidarity.By solidarity.net.au

1
Can we win social change by voting? 14:04

1M ago14:04

14:04

Robert Stainsby outlines the socialist view on elections. He argues that while it is important to vote for Greens and then Labor, real change can come about only through workers' struggle. Read more about democracy. Find out more about Solidarity.By solidarity.net.au

1
Picking the Scab of Recruitment - Part 1 'The Applicant' 40:53

2M ago40:53

40:53

Drawing on overwhelming feedback from our listeners, in this episode we unpack the experience of being recruited into the public sector (or ghosted along the way). Danielle takes us through What goes in Role Descriptions (hint: it shouldn't be slabs of legislation) The madness of defined requirements like 'driving' and 'interstate travel' (and whet…

1
Trump, Russia and the carve-up of Ukraine 16:52

2M ago16:52

16:52

Jasmine Ali explains why Donald Trump is ending the US proxy war with Russia in Ukraine. She argues that the Russian invasion and three-year war that followed are products of inter-imperialist rivalry. This talk was delivered in Melbourne on 6 March 2025. Read more about Ukraine. Find out more about Solidarity.…

1
Beyond the binary: transgender liberation and socialism 15:26

2M ago15:26

15:26

Trans rights are under attack. Casey Forsyth explains why our rulers are so keen to promote transphobia and how we can defeat it and win a world of trans liberation. Read more about the fight against transphobia. Find out more about Solidarity.By solidarity.net.au

1
Oakden aged care scandal part 3 - “Boss on the floor” … or, how bad things stayed secret 35:02

2M ago35:02

35:02

How did the abuse at Oakden remain hidden for so long? And what finally brought it to light? In this episode we discuss: why families might not complain how small, isolated outposts can hide terrible things the importance of following up on things that don’t feel quite right. Intro grab from the RN Background Briefing episode A Failure to Care: The…

1
Robodebt: war on the poor 53:51

2M ago53:51

53:51

Robodebt saw more than 526,000 people told they had Centrelink debts, even though it simply wasn’t true. To unpack this piece of bureaucratic bastardry, we talk to journalist Rick Morton, who has written a book about Robodebt called Mean Streak, published by HarperCollins. Rick is the Saturday Paper’s senior reporter. He won two Walkley Awards for …

1
REDUX - What the NACC is going on? Updates on Robodebt and the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) 34:17

2M ago34:17

34:17

In light of this week's decision that the NACC will pursue investigations into six public officials, we thought we would repost this episode from December 2024 explaining why the NACC's original decision to take no further action needed to be revisited, with a little explainer up front on the latest news. You can find out more about the NACC's anno…

1
Trump, imperialism and a world in turmoil 16:44

2M ago16:44

16:44

Solidarity editor James Supple assesses a world in turmoil, the impact of Trump's election and the potential for a fightback against the rise of the right. Read more about Trump. Find out more about Solidarity.By solidarity.net.au

1
Oakden aged care scandal part 2 - there’s no $$$ in limbo 45:10

2M ago45:10

45:10

For over a decade, the state government vacillated about whether or not to privatise the Oakden Older Persons Mental Health Facility. Once the 2007 accreditation crisis had passed, however, it never reached the top of the ‘to do’ list. Meanwhile, investment in facilities and staffing were endlessly postponed pending a decision. In this episode, we …

1
I was there: the Battle of Waterdale Road 32:17

3M ago32:17

32:17

John (Janusz) Ebel was a student at La Trobe University in 1970 and active in the movement against the Vietnam War. He burned his draft card, helped lock up a Liberal Minister, was shot at and took part in the Battle of Waterdale Road, when police ambushed and bashed student activists. Read more about the Vietnam War. Find out more about Solidarity…

1
Left wing communism: an infantile disorder 24:43

3M ago24:43

24:43

David Glanz discusses Lenin's 1920 pamphlet, Left wing communism: an infantile disorder, its importance then and its relevance today. Read the pamphlet. Find out more about Solidarity.By solidarity.net.au

1
Oakden aged care scandal part 1 - good in a crisis (...bad on the follow through) 35:15

3M ago35:15

35:15

We return for 2025 with a series on the Oakden Older Persons Mental Health Facility, an SA Government run facility whose scandalous conditions and institutionalised elder abuse were exposed in 2017, prompting (among other things) a Commonwealth Royal Commission. In this episode, we unpack a missed opportunity in 2007 to move Oakden from a mid-twent…

1
Trump: instability, reaction and resistance 17:26

3M ago17:26

17:26

Jonathan Sherlock discusses Trump 2.0 - how Trump won, the threat he poses and the potential for resistance. Read more about the fight against Trump. Find out more about Solidarity.By solidarity.net.au

1
The Second International, war and revolution 22:45

3M ago22:45

22:45

Jean Parker looks at how the debates between reformists and revolutionaries played out in the Second International, the grouping of socialist parties on the eve of the First World War, and their relevance for today. Read more about the Second International. Find out more about Solidarity.By solidarity.net.au

1
I was there: the Austudy 5 53:08

4M ago53:08

53:08

In 1992, the then Labor government announced it would cut student support, Austudy, from its already derisory level. Thousands of students took to the streets. In Melbourne, the police counter-attacked by arresting five socialists. It took more than two years but a significant defence campaign led to all the major charges being dropped. Among the f…

1
Ask a Secretary! Mike Kaiser (former) head of the Department of Premier and Cabinet (Qld) 41:34

4M ago41:34

41:34

What do Secretaries really think when junior staff ask for career advice? Why are silos so impermeable? And should Christmas really be cancelled? Join Danielle and Caroline as they take Mike through listener questions. Now for some appropriately bureaucratic disclaimers.... While we have tried to be as thorough in our research as busy full time job…

1
Do workers in the West benefit from imperialism? 34:59

4M ago34:59

34:59

David Glanz challenges some common arguments that workers in Australia and the West benefit from the exploitation of the Global South. He argues that workers everywhere have common interests, laying the basis for a common struggle against the system. Read more about imperialism. Find out more about Solidarity.…

1
Fighting for the right to protest in 1970s Queensland 35:00

4M ago35:00

35:00

Solidarity member Judy McVey took part in organising the campaign for the right to march in Queensland. Judy talks about why the ban on marches was put in place, how the campaign was organised and what debates took place inside it, how victory was won and what this means today. Read more about struggle in Queensland. Find out more about Solidarity.…

1
Mike Kaiser, former DG of Department of Premier and Cabinet (Qld) 48:36

4M ago48:36

48:36

Mike Kaiser, recently departed head of the Queensland Public Service, joins us to chat about the interface between political offices and the public service, lessons from robodebt, why delivery is everything in government and the secret of leadership. Now for some appropriately bureaucratic disclaimers.... While we have tried to be as thorough in ou…

1
The State of the Service - drawing the threads from Coombs to Thodey to where we are now 34:26

5M ago34:26

34:26

Danielle unpacks the recently released APS State of the Service, with a look over our should at where we’ve come from - from the 1976 Coombs Royal Commission on Australian Government Administration, to the 2019 Thodey Review of the APS. How are women, First Nations and people with disability going in the APS? What about class? Now for some appropri…

1
Sudan—civil war and revolution 20:16

5M ago20:16

20:16

Luke Ottavi describes the revolutionary process that shook Sudan and gave hope to millions before it faltered and created space for ruling class factions backed by regional powers to fight for power and wealth. He points to the politics needed to ensure that the next mass upsurge ends in victory for workers and the poor. Read more about Sudan. Find…

1
The struggle against anti-Aboriginal racism in 1920s and 1930s Australia 1:14:17

5M ago1:14:17

1:14:17

Solidarity member Paddy Gibson discusses socialist anti-racist theory in the 19th century, its flaws and how it was modified and challenged by the Communist Party of Australia during the 20th century, and the amazing campaigns led by the Communist Party against anti-Aboriginal racism during the 1920s and 1930s. Read more about Aboriginal resistance…

1
What the NACC is going on? Updates on Robodebt and the National Anti-Corruption Commission 32:35

5M ago32:35

32:35

Keeping track of the National Anti-Corruption Commission and Robodebt is tricky - first there's no investigation, then there's some kind of review, then there's a search for an eminent person.... In this episode, we talk about where things are at, managing conflicts of interest, and whether corruption always involves brown paper bags. For Rick Mort…

1
US, Australia: the fight for abortion rights today 39:17

5M ago39:17

39:17

Abortion rights are under attack in the US and Australia. Why is the right fixated on controlling women's bodies? How can we fight back? Judy McVey, author of the Solidarity pamphlet, Abortion: The fight that’s still to be won, discusses the issues. Read more about the fight for abortion rights. Buy the book, Marxism and Women’s Liberation. Find ou…

1
Why hasn’t the US restrained Israel? 17:34

5M ago17:34

17:34

Some say it is the influence of the Zionist lobby in the US that explains America's unwavering support for Israel. But David Glanz argues that the real reason is that the US sees Israel as an indispensable ally in a region of huge strategic importance. Read more about Palestine. Find out more about Solidarity.…

1
Ray Hilton on AI & Deep Tech

5M ago

—

A fantastic conversation with Ray Hilton. “on its own, like data is relatively inert and doesn’t really have much value – like the value comes from what you do with it and how you interpret it. And it can obviously be interpreted in many different ways. “ “It’s not just the fact you’ve identified these people.… Continue reading Ray Hilton on AI…

1
Mr Bates v Post Office part 8 - ‘The One Where The Report is a Slide Deck’ 41:27

5M ago41:27

41:27

Post Office’s internal inquiries never got to the bottom of the situation. Here we unpack how to choose an investigator, getting the information to the person, and what do with a report. Opening grab from Sir Anthony Hooper, independent chair of Horizon mediation scheme. Subsequent grab from Mr Beer KC and Paula Vennels, former Post Office Limited …

1
Why did Trump win and how should the left respond? 15:26

6M ago15:26

15:26

Julie Monteiro explains how the Democrats paved the way for Trump and how building mass resistance is the key to turning the tide on reaction. Read more about US politics. Find out more about Solidarity.By solidarity.net.au

1
I was there: ANU student occupation 1994 32:00

6M ago32:00

32:00

Thirty years ago, in September 1994, students at the Australian National University in Canberra occupied the chancellery building for eight days. Tom Orsag was working in Canberra at the time and was an active supporter of the occupation. Here he tells the story of the struggle. Read more about student struggles. Find out more about Solidarity.…

1
Mr Bates v Post Office part 7 - ‘The One Where The Inquiries Go Nowhere’ 35:01

6M ago35:01

35:01

Post Office leadership commissioned at least 6 different investigations of varying degrees of independence and rigor into complaints about Horizon after 2010. And yet none of them got to the truth. In the next two episodes, we unpack what not to do when setting up inquiries and investigations. Opening grab from Mr Beer KC and Alice Perkins, former …

1
Revolution and the Middle East: can Israel survive? 26:45

6M ago26:45

26:45

Paddy Gibson looks at the potential for revolt against Israel's genocide and also against the Arab leaders who are helping make it possible. Read more about Palestine. Find out more about Solidarity. This talk was given at Solidarity's Resist and Rebel conference in Sydney on 24 August 2024.By solidarity.net.au

1
I was there: S11 2000 - lessons for direct action 20:37

6M ago20:37

20:37

On 11 September 2000 (known as S11), 10,000 people surrounded the World Economic Forum in Melbourne and shut it down. In the wake of the recent action against Land Forces, David Glanz discusses the lessons of S11 for organising effective direct action today. Read more about direct action. Find out more about Solidarity.…

1
Unions and the fight against homophobia 30:06

7M ago30:06

30:06

In this episode, Graham Willett and Geraldine Fela share stories about how the union movement has stood up against homophobia. Graham Willett is a recovering academic, a socialist and an historian. He has been involved in groups as diverse as the Gay Community News collective, ACTUP and the Australian Queer Archives. Geraldine Fela is a labour move…

1
TWT Ask Us Anything! Part 2 - culture and integrity agencies 31:13

7M ago31:13

31:13

Another great round of questions, thanks! Now for some appropriately bureaucratic disclaimers.... While we have tried to be as thorough in our research as busy full time jobs and lives allow, we definitely don’t guarantee that we’ve got all the details right. If you want rigorous reporting on Robodebt, we recommend the work of Rick Morton at the Sa…

1
Only allies? Marxism, unity and identity politics 13:56

7M ago13:56

13:56

Julie Monteiro discusses how oppression can bring people into the struggle for liberation but why organising primarily on the basis of identity can be a dead end. Read more about the fight against oppression. Find out more about Solidarity. This talk was given at the Resist and Rebel conference in Melbourne on 24 August.…

1
What is fascism? Then and now 27:26

7M ago27:26

27:26

Far right and fascist parties are on the rise across Europe, from the National Rally in France to Austria’s Freedom Party and the German AfD, while in the US Donald Trump still has a chance of taking back the Presidency. Adam Adelpour explains the difference between fascist parties and other forms of far right politics -- and why it matters for how…

1
TWT Ask Us Anything! Part 1 - trust in government, and how we organise ourselves 29:33

7M ago29:33

29:33

Thanks for the questions folks! Now for some appropriately bureaucratic disclaimers.... While we have tried to be as thorough in our research as busy full time jobs and lives allow, we definitely don’t guarantee that we’ve got all the details right. If you want rigorous reporting on Robodebt, we recommend the work of Rick Morton at the Saturday Pap…

1
Why is Labor so rightwing? 13:35

7M ago13:35

13:35

Labor is pushing a rightwing agenda -- attacking the CFMEU, leaving refugees to rot, spending billions on nuclear submarines and the military, and more. Maeve Larkins unpacks why the ALP is putting Australian capitalism first. Read more about Labor. Find out more about Solidarity.By solidarity.net.au

1
Trump and Europe: how can we fight the rise of the far right? 22:46

8M ago22:46

22:46

David Glanz looks at the dangers posed by the rise of the far right and argues that the left has to avoid the trap of "lesser evilism" and instead build a united front of revolutionaries and reformists to stop our common enemies. This talk was delivered at Solidarity's Resist and Rebel conference in Melbourne on 24 August. Read more about fascism. …

1
Finally, the APSC has published its findings about Robodebt: what did they find, and where to from here? 47:00

8M ago47:00

47:00

The Australian Public Service Commission has released the findings of its Centralised Code of Conduct Inquiry into Robodebt. Outro grab from The West Wing, Season 3, Episode 10. Now for some appropriately bureaucratic disclaimers.... While we have tried to be as thorough in our research as busy full time jobs and lives allow, we definitely don’t gu…

1
Middle East in revolt: from permanent war to permanent revolution 22:46

8M ago22:46

22:46

Cooper Forsyth outlines how imperialism has shaped the Middle East and laid the basis for Israeli war and genocide. He explains how Leon Trotsky's theory of permanent revolution can point a way forward for Palestinian liberation. This talk was delivered at Solidarity's Resist and Rebel conference in Melbourne on 24 August. Read more about Trotsky. …

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Robodebt Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen