In this episode, we look at the latest developments in the world of federal politics and the media in Australia.
First, we discuss the seismic shift in the media landscape as media mogul Rupert Murdoch steps down from his role as chair of Fox News and News Corporation, passing the role to his son, Lachlan Murdoch. Despite this transition, Rupert Murdoch’s enduring influence and controversial past come under scrutiny, raising questions about the future of media conglomerates in a changing landscape.
We also examine the surprise resignation of Daniel Andrews, the former Premier of Victoria, who managed to defy the odds and secure victory against a backdrop of media opposition. As we reflect on his nine-year tenure, we explore the challenges and accomplishments that define his legacy.
Next, we turn our attention to the controversy surrounding Michael Pezzullo, the head of the department of Home Affairs, who has been embroiled in partisan political debates. We delve into private text message exchanges that shed light on his political involvement and discuss the broader implications for maintaining the apolitical nature of the public service.
We discuss the Commonwealth Government Covid-19 Response Inquiry announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. This inquiry aims to scrutinise the early stages of the pandemic, assess government preparedness, and draw lessons from the ongoing crisis. We explore the scope of this inquiry, its implications for future pandemics, and the evolving public sentiment reflected in recent opinion polls which, while it doesn’t provide for good news for Albanese, it has seen a massive drop in support for the leader of the opposition, Peter Dutton. Perhap his racist and divisive attacks on the Voice To Parliament aren’t reaping the political rewards he was after…