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Michael Lester

Michael Lester

The Conversation

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Doubt, distrust, fear, and uncertainty surround the U.S. election process

With only days until the US Presidential election on 5 November and with polls calling the race 50:50. Michael Lester in discussion with Amelia...

sunday 10

Pearls and Irritations

Michael Lester

Israel-Gaza war, justice and hope: the ‘sublime ideal’ of inalienable dignity

21.10.2024 10

Pearls and Irritations

Michael Lester

Never ending war on terror keeps us anxious, fearful, committed

President Bush declared the War on Terror in 2001. Dr Alison Broinowski AM, Australians for War Power Reforms (AWPR), former diplomat and Author,...

13.10.2024 8

Pearls and Irritations

Michael Lester

Antisemitism, Zionism and the war in Gaza: Sara Dowse, Author

Sara Dowse, Northern Beaches resident and author, discusses the rise in antisemitism in the context of the Israel Gaza war and the ways in which the...

29.09.2024 10

Pearls and Irritations

Michael Lester

Federal seat redistribution implications of bias to small tweaks

The Australian Electoral Commission has announced proposed redistributions of the boundaries of federal election seats with NSW losing a seat (North...

28.09.2024 10

Pearls and Irritations

Michael Lester

Australia-America odd couple relationship needs repair

The largely unrecognised risk to Australia that our powerful ally will strategically collapse through internal political stresses is greater than the...

27.09.2024 9

Pearls and Irritations

Michael Lester

Aged care reforms unfair, unreasonable, unsustainable

Bipartisan agreement between the government and opposition have resulted in compromised, ageist inflected amendments to aged care legislation that do...

26.09.2024 10

Pearls and Irritations

Michael Lester

Culpable corporate mind, legal blameworthiness

Corporate culpability under law relies on a”Where’s Wally” logic to identify a natural person within a corporation to hold responsible for...

25.09.2024 9

Pearls and Irritations

Michael Lester

Secrecy Australia: big gap between official information and reality: Peter Cronau, Declassified Australia

Australia is blanketed in a climate of secrecy with over 800 secrecy offences criminalised with jail terms and large fines under nearly 200 pieces of...

24.09.2024 7

Pearls and Irritations

Michael Lester

Northern militarisation overlooking Indigenous rights: Prof Henry Reynolds, History, University of Tasmania

Indigenous Australians have extensive land rights across Northern Australia where large scale militarisation is being undertaken, raising questions...

23.09.2024 10

Pearls and Irritations

Michael Lester

Rebuilding public service from politicisation and externalisation

Restoring trust and integrity in the Australian Public Service requires tackling the corrosive effects of past politicisation (secretary contracts)...

23.09.2024 30

Pearls and Irritations

Michael Lester

Carbon budget blown, only 50% chance 1.5 degrees

As greenhouse emissions accumulate each year and linger for decades in the atmosphere, effectively adding another layer of climate warming...

18.08.2024 7

Pearls and Irritations

Michael Lester

How to fix poverty? Universal basic income

A single standard income payment, untaxed and unconditional to every person, will provide income security and the freedom to choose education, work...

14.08.2024 10

Pearls and Irritations

Michael Lester

Protest rights: diffuse, proscribed and discretionary

With no formal constitutional provisions or bill of rights the right to protest in Australia relies upon common law judicial interpretations, is...

16.07.2024 9

Pearls and Irritations

Michael Lester

Half hearted housing policies ignore key role of public housing: Michael Pascoe

The housing crisis will not be solved for those who are suffering the most by the mish mash of half hearted, small steps, and policy responses...

08.07.2024 10

Pearls and Irritations

Michael Lester

Guns, butter & taxes: hard choices, volatile economy

The Australian government needs to stand up against growing global protectionism and make some hard budgetary choices between guns and butter, defence...

27.06.2024 10

Pearls and Irritations

Michael Lester

Nuclear and gas expansion weakens our national security

Former Australian defence force chief and admiral retired, Chris Barrie frankly discusses with Michael Lester his deep concerns that Australia is...

21.06.2024 10

Pearls and Irritations

Michael Lester

Nuclear energy in Australia: why now, what sense?

Why is opposition leader Peter Dutton campaigning on nuclear energy for Australia at this time? Michael Lester discuss with Professor Ian Lowe,...

16.06.2024 10

Pearls and Irritations

Michael Lester

A future made in Australia?

Is Australia’s new industrial policy a way forward to a competitive, innovative, and sustainable future in which the benefits of new technologies...

31.05.2024 30

Pearls and Irritations

Michael Lester

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