Peacock Politics

All ministers are politicians but not necessarily experts in their assigned area - a health minister usually isn't a doctor and an education minister doesn't need to have been a teacher. So how do ministers have the authority to make decisions that are in the best public interest? Adam Peacock is joined by Labor MP Jason Clare to discuss how ministers are elected, what it takes to be good at the job, and all the ego and ambition that gets mixed in with it.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They are the person behind the politician. The one to help them think, devise strategy and run their office: The Chief of Staff. Adam Peacock is joined by former Chief of Staff to state premiers and Prime Ministers, Clive Mathieson to discuss the huge impact this role has on how a politician performs.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some of the greatest moments in political history are no accident, and an impactful speech from a leader can inspire change. Adam Peacock talks to Terry Szuplat, former speechwriter to one of the 21st Century’s great orators, President Barack Obama to learn about the art of a great speech; from concept to delivery and everything in between.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We hear plenty about the main show in Canberra and state politics, but what does local government mean in the Australian political landscape? Deputy Lord Mayor of City of Sydney, Jess Scully joins Adam Peacock to chat about the importance of local government, how it perhaps affects us more than state or federal politics and the tricky nature of being neighbours with the people that did or didn't vote you in.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The superpower base seems to be shifting and our northern neighbour China is becoming increasingly influential. Adam Peacock chats to former ambassador to China Geoff Raby to discuss to rise of China, from the delicate political balance to how the relationship touches our day to day existence. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We hear a lot about it, but what actually is government debt? Adam Peacock sits down with acclaimed journalist Shane Wright to find out what happens when Australia’s balance sheet is in the red and how much it affects our daily lives. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do the state governments mean in the grand scheme of Australian politics? Host Adam Peacock sits down with former Premier of Western Australia, Geoff Gallop to find out the role of state governments in the Australian political system, how the balance between state and federal works and what the pandemic has exposed. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who has the final say in the big decisions that govern Australia? Host Adam Peacock speaks to former Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove, about the role of the Governor General, the scope of their power, and how much it actually effects the way our country functions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do politicians trust each other and can we trust them? Host Adam Peacock asks former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull why trust in politics and politicians is such a problem.

How do personal relationships among politicians influence political progress? Host Adam Peacock speaks to Ed Husic, Labour Member of the House of Representatives, on how politicians navigate relationships with those they fundamentally disagree with, and how they manage friendships for the sake of political agenda.

What is the Deep State and who really runs our country? Host Adam Peacock asks political commentator Dr Keith Suter whether big business guides the government economically and socially and if politicians are just minor players in the grand scheme of things.  

What is lobbying and is it necessary for a democracy? Host Adam Peacock speaks to Danielle Wood, Program Director of Budget Policy and Institutional Reform at the Grattan Institute, about the role of lobbying in Australian politics and whether lobbyists have an influence on political agenda.

What happens to our hard-earned tax dollars after they go to the government? Host Adam Peacock sits down with Stuart Ayres, a senior minister in the NSW state Liberal government, to find out what the government spends our money on, and how exactly these decisions are made.

It seems like a dream job - travelling the world to manage international relationships while getting wined and dined by people with global influence; but is the world of foreign affairs really as good as it seems? Host Adam Peacock sits down with former Foreign Affairs Minister Bob Carr to learn about the role of diplomatic relations in Australian politics.

What makes a great leader in Australian politics today? Host Adam Peacock asks political editor of the Financial Review, Phil Coorey whether leadership follows good politics, or politics follow good leadership.

How does the government create policies around a complex issue like climate change? Host Adam Peacock sits down with Director of the Energy Program at the Grattan Institute, Tony Wood to discuss how much of an impact the government has on enacting policy around climate.

Covid19 - it's like nothing we've ever lived to see. A worldwide pandemic which has stopped us in our tracks. As our health system strains and our economy nearly breaks, it's up to our elected politicians to deal with it. But how? Host Adam Peacock speaks to economist and former politician Craig Emerson, who was Minister for Small Business when the GFC hit in 2008, to find out how politicians work through a global crisis to come up with what's best for Australia.

Get behind Canberra's closed doors. In Peacock Politics, host Adam Peacock speaks with politicians and leading commentators to find out how the Australian political system functions and why it was set up the way it was.

Can Labor recover from its surprise defeat? Former leader of the Liberal Party, John Hewson, opens up about his own experience losing the "unlosable election" to Paul Keating in 1993 and sheds light on how the opposition goes about rebuilding their strategy behind-the-scenes.

It's the global phenomenon taking off in Europe, India, Brazil and even the US. Host Adam Peacock speaks with Professor of Politics at Griffith University, Dr Duncan McDonnell, about what populism means, what motivates a populist politician and why it's more relevant in Australia now than ever before.