Afternoon Light

Fiona Duncan on the attempt to ban the 'Friends of the Soviet Union' | Menzies Early Career Network

In this special series of the Afternoon Light podcast Georgina Downer speaks with participants from the Menzies Early Career Network to discuss their chapters in the new book, Menzies Rediscovered: A new generation’s inspiration for political philosophy, domestic challenges and foreign affairs.
In this episode, Georgina speaks with Fiona Duncan on the topic 'Attorney-General versus Friends of the Soviet Union'.
The Menzies Early Career Network (MECN) is a flagship program of the Robert Menzies Institute, designed to identify, nurture, and connect a new generation of emerging leaders with a deep understanding of Australia’s national story.
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Charlie Hume on Robert Menzies's trips to America | Menzies Early Career Network

In this special series of the Afternoon Light podcast Georgina Downer speaks with participants from the Menzies Early Career Network to discuss their chapters in the new book, Menzies Rediscovered: A new generation’s inspiration for political philosophy, domestic challenges and foreign affairs.
In this episode, Georgina speaks with Charlie Hume on the topic 'A prime minister’s American odyssey'.
The Menzies Early Career Network (MECN) is a flagship program of the Robert Menzies Institute, designed to identify, nurture, and connect a new generation of emerging leaders with a deep understanding of Australia’s national story.
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Axel Melkonian on post-war German immigration to Australia | Menzies Early Career Network

In this special series of the Afternoon Light podcast Georgina Downer speaks with participants from the Menzies Early Career Network to discuss their chapters in the new book, Menzies Rediscovered: A new generation’s inspiration for political philosophy, domestic challenges and foreign affairs.
In this episode, Georgina speaks with Axel Melkonian on the topic 'Political pragmatism and post-war German immigrants'.
The Menzies Early Career Network (MECN) is a flagship program of the Robert Menzies Institute, designed to identify, nurture, and connect a new generation of emerging leaders with a deep understanding of Australia’s national story.
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Mary Coleman on Civic Virtue in a Technological Age | Menzies Early Career Network

In this special series of the Afternoon Light podcast Georgina Downer speaks with participants from the Menzies Early Career Network to discuss their chapters in the new book, Menzies Rediscovered: A new generation’s inspiration for political philosophy, domestic challenges and foreign affairs.
In this episode, Georgina speaks with Mary Coleman on the topic 'Civic Virtue in a Technological Age'.
The Menzies Early Career Network (MECN) is a flagship program of the Robert Menzies Institute, designed to identify, nurture, and connect a new generation of emerging leaders with a deep understanding of Australia’s national story.
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Pablo Avaria-Jimenez on Australia's middle power statecraft | Menzies Early Career Network

In this special series of the Afternoon Light podcast Georgina Downer speaks with participants from the Menzies Early Career Network to discuss their chapters in the new book, Menzies Rediscovered: A new generation’s inspiration for political philosophy, domestic challenges and foreign affairs.
In this episode, Georgina speaks with Pablo Avaria-Jimenez on the topic 'Blueprint for middle-power statecraft'.
The Menzies Early Career Network (MECN) is a flagship program of the Robert Menzies Institute, designed to identify, nurture, and connect a new generation of emerging leaders with a deep understanding of Australia’s national story.
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Anton Vassallo on the historic importance of Australia's wool exports to Japan | Menzies Early Career Network

In this special series of the Afternoon Light podcast Georgina Downer speaks with participants from the Menzies Early Career Network to discuss their chapters in the new book, Menzies Rediscovered: A new generation’s inspiration for political philosophy, domestic challenges and foreign affairs.
In this episode, Georgina speaks with Anton Vassallo on the topic 'Riding on the sheep’s back into Japan'.
The Menzies Early Career Network (MECN) is a flagship program of the Robert Menzies Institute, designed to identify, nurture, and connect a new generation of emerging leaders with a deep understanding of Australia’s national story.
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Andrew Fankhauser on Konfrontasi & the evolution of Australian defence policy | Menzies Early Career Network

In this special series of the Afternoon Light podcast Georgina Downer speaks with participants from the Menzies Early Career Network to discuss their chapters in the new book, Menzies Rediscovered: A new generation’s inspiration for political philosophy, domestic challenges and foreign affairs.
In this episode, Georgina speaks with Andrew Fankhauser on the topic 'Konfrontasi and evolving defence policy'.
The Menzies Early Career Network (MECN) is a flagship program of the Robert Menzies Institute, designed to identify, nurture, and connect a new generation of emerging leaders with a deep understanding of Australia’s national story.
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Brent Taylor on Australia's WW2 Commander Sir Thomas Blamey: "A real stomach for pugnaciousness"

How did Australia's most decorated military leader become so loathed, & is his negative reputation unfair?
On this week’s Afternoon Light Georgina Downer speaks with Brent Taylor to discuss the distinguished yet controversial career of Field Marshal Sir Thomas Blamey. The man Robert Menzies chose to lead the Australian Army in World War Two, and who equally received the full backing of John Curtin. Yet, a figure who has since been subject to an extensive smear campaign for allegedly accusing the heroes of the Kokoda Track of 'running like rabbits'.
Brent D. Taylor is an engineer and businessman, specialising in quantitative research and statistics, including benchmarking studies for management in the private and public sectors. His focus on Thomas Blamey stems from a keen long-term interest in military history and high-impact leaders, having previously written three books on what drove extreme achievers. He is a member of Military History & Heritage Victoria and has been mentored on by senior military officers in authoring Blamey: The story of Australia's greatest general. Brent lives in Richmond in Melbourne.
 
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Leila Brammer on the art of fostering healthy debate: "Tell me more"

Is the sickness of modern democracy our increasing inability to argue constructively, with an honest view towards convincing or even learning from our opponents?
On this week’s Afternoon Light Georgina Downer speaks with Leila Brammer to unpack the centrality of debate to democracy, why its quality has declined in recent years, and what we can do to reverse the trend. For as Robert Menzies said, ‘if truth is to emerge and in the long run be triumphant, the process of free debate, the untrammelled clash of opinion must go on’.
Professor Leila Brammer is Director of Outreach and Instructional Development of the Parrhesia Program for Public Discourse at the University of Chicago. The University of Chicago’s Parrhesia Program for Public Discourse aims to foster ‘vigorous, inclusive, and productive public discourse’ through its undergraduate curriculum, live events, and support for principles of free expression. Professor Brammer’s academic work focuses on rhetoric — how arguments are made, how persuasion works, and how public disagreement shapes democratic life. She studies not just what people argue about, but how they argue — which goes directly to the heart of respectful disagreement.
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Andrew Hastie on 75 Years of ANZUS & the Challenges that Australia Faces Today: "What value do you bring"

After 75 years of the Australian-American Alliance, are we still pulling our weight?
On this week’s Afternoon Light Georgina Downer speaks with Andrew Hastie to mark 75 years of the ANZUS Treaty and explore the myriad of challenges that Australia faces today. From unpredictable allies to deindustrialisation, the complacency with which we have coasted through the post-Cold War period will no longer keep us safe.
The Hon Andrew Hastie MP is Shadow Minister for Industry and Sovereign Capability, and the Member for Canning in the House of Representatives. Mr Hastie completed a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in History and Philosophy through the University of New South Wales at the Australian Defence Force Academy. In 2006, he graduated officer training at the Royal Military College, Duntroon. In 2009, Mr Hastie deployed to Afghanistan as a Cavalry Troop Leader. In 2010, he was selected for service with the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) as a Troop Commander, taking commands in maritime and special reconnaissance capabilities. He deployed to Afghanistan again in 2013 as a Troop Commander with the Australian Special Operations Task Group. During his service with the SASR, he deployed to various theatres in the Middle East and Indo-Pacific.
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