The Five Minute Advocate
The Five Minute Advocate
Australian perspectives on the week's neglected social aspects of life, too often ignored by economics-driven priorities. These undermine our options for good societies, not just growth. Eva Cox is a well-known sociologist and public feminist commentator with a long involvement in advocacy for more civil societies. Julie Macken has a wealth of experience as a journalist for AFR and New Matilda a…Social links:
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Dark Times and Reasons To Hope - With Julie Macken
In this episode of The Five Minute Advocate, Julie Macken reflects on a year of upheaval, from global politics to the challenges of democracy and humanity. Drawing inspiration from Vaclav Havel’s ‘The Power of the Powerless’, Julie reminds us that in dark times, small acts of decency—looking one an…
05:38
US election: lessons for Australia - With Michael Walker
In this episode of The Five Minute Advocate, Michael Walker unpacks the real story behind the U.S. election results, pushing back against the media's tendency to overhype shifts in voter sentiment. He explores why economic struggles in Middle America drove support for bold promises and how Australi…
04:51
Rethinking Democracy: Restoring Care Over Profit with Eva Cox
This week on The Five Minute Advocate, Eva Cox breaks down the troubling shifts in democracy, social care, and economics, as nations worldwide—from Australia to the U.S.—increasingly prioritise profit over people. With democracy under threat and communities disconnected, she calls for a return to v…
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Submarines Over Services With Julie Macken
In this episode of The Five Minute Advocate Julie Mackin critiques Australia’s $400 billion submarine deal with the US, arguing that funds are urgently needed to address domestic issues. She highlights the crisis in NSW’s mental health sector, where psychiatrists face burnout and low pay, risking…
05:31
Handover of the Chagos Islands - With Michael Walker
In this episode of The Five Minute Advocate, Michael Walker reflects on a historic moment as Britain announces its decision to return the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius after over 200 years. While Diego Garcia will remain a military base, this victory highlights the power of persistence and intern…
04:44
Exploring Identity and Belonging – With Eva Cox
In this episode of the Five Minute Advocate, Eva Cox reflects on the complexities of identity, religion, and nationality. Drawing from her own life as a Jewish refugee from Austria, she questions the meaning of patriotism, religious identity, and the labels society places on individuals. Eva advoc…
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A Mature Democracy Is a Healthy Democracy – With Julie Macken
This week on The Five Minute Advocate, Julie Macken dives into the views of the influential psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott on democracy as laid out in his work Home Is Where We Start From. Winnicott argues that democracy thrives not just through conscious efforts, but also through our unconscious a…
05:35
Doubt & Conviction - with Michael Walker
In the 1930s, British Philosopher Bertrand Russel said, that 'the whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.' This phrase still applies to so much to our world today. As Michael explains, If you want to convince p…
04:25
The Latest Inquiry Report on Early Childcare – With Eva Cox
This week on The Five Minute Advocate Eva Cox shares her thoughts on the Productivity Commission’s latest inquiry report on the future of Australia’s Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) system. Whilst there are several recommendations and findings outlined in the report that Eva agrees with, …
05:10
The Danger of Border Force Exemptions - With Julie Macken
In this episode of The Five Minute Advocate, Julie Macken critiques a recent amendment passed by the Albanese government that exempts Border Force officers from workplace laws protecting asylum seekers during boat interceptions. She argues that this dangerous exemption, supported by both major poli…
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