In this weeks episode of The Five Minute Advocate, Julie McCann delves into the controversial AUKUS deal, a $400 billion decision that could redefine Australia's role on the global stage. With a focus on the implications of nuclear-powered submarines, Julie explores how this agreement might shift Australia from a defensive to an offensive military stance, and the potential consequences for our nation's future.

Drawing parallels to Canada's failed submarine program in the 1980s, she questions whether this investment is truly in the best interest of the Australian people—or if the money would be better spent on pressing domestic needs like healthcare, infrastructure, and climate adaptation.  

In this weeks episode of The Five Minute Advocate, Julie McCann delves into the controversial AUKUS deal, a $400 billion decision that could redefine Australia's role on the global stage. With a focus on the implications of nuclear-powered submarines, Julie explores how this agreement might shift Australia from a defensive to an offensive military stance, and the potential consequences for our nation's future.
Drawing parallels to Canada's failed submarine program in the 1980s, she questions whether this investment is truly in the best interest of the Australian people—or if the money would be better spent on pressing domestic needs like healthcare, infrastructure, and climate adaptation.

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 and has worked with a variety of non-profit organisations.

Produced for community radio stations across Australia by the Community Radio Network.

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 and has worked with a variety of non-profit organisations.
Produced for community radio stations across Australia by the Community Radio Network.

Weekly Australian perspectives for a greater society

The Five Minute Advocate Podcast

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 and has worked with a variety of non-profit organisations.

Michael Walker has over 20 years in experience in advocacy having spent most of that time with SDA Trade Union, is Co-chair of the Sydney Alliance Council and a sessional lecturer at Australian Catholic University.

Produced for community radio stations across Australia by the Community Radio Network.

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 and has worked with a variety of non-profit organisations.
Michael Walker has over 20 years in experience in advocacy having spent most of that time with SDA Trade Union, is Co-chair of the Sydney Alliance Council and a sessional lecturer at Australian Catholic University.
Produced for community radio stations across Australia by the Community Radio Network.

The Five Minute Advocate

Australia's $400 Billion Dilemma - With Julie Macken

This week on The Five Minute Advocate, Michael Walker explores the concept of negativity bias and argues that the media’s exploitation of this bias has led to an overemphasis on negative news which has in turn skewed worldviews, our perceptions of other societal challenges and thus our active citizenship.  Michael does introduce two initiatives aimed at countering negativity bias: Amplify, which seeks to provide constructive political discourse, and The Australian Peace and Security Forum, which focuses on envisioning and discussing a peaceful and secure future, rather than just avoiding war. Michael argues that our collective health is being undermined by our negativity bias and urges us to be more intentional about the information we consume and the real world challenges we tackle. 

This week on The Five Minute Advocate, Michael Walker explores the concept of negativity bias and argues that the media’s exploitation of this bias has led to an overemphasis on negative news which has in turn skewed worldviews, our perceptions of other societal challenges and thus our active citizenship.  Michael does introduce two initiatives aimed at countering negativity bias: <a href="http://www.amplifyaus.org/">Amplify</a>, which seeks to provide constructive political discourse, and <a href="http://www.austpeaceandsecurityforum.org.au/">The Australian Peace and Security Forum</a>, which focuses on envisioning and discussing a peaceful and secure future, rather than just avoiding war. Michael argues that our collective health is being undermined by our negativity bias and urges us to be more intentional about the information we consume and the real world challenges we tackle.

Positivity Bias – With Michael Walker

This week on the Five Minute Advocate Eva Cox revisits the issue of Australia’s chilcare sector, specifically reflecting on its shift from being community led and controlled services, to what it is today – overwhelmingly privatised. Eva calls for the government to assume greater responsibility in the sector, to view and provide childcare as community service and to prioritise accessibility over profit as a means to rebuild trust between citizens and policy makers.   

This week on the Five Minute Advocate Eva Cox revisits the issue of Australia’s chilcare sector, specifically reflecting on its shift from being community led and controlled services, to what it is today – overwhelmingly privatised. Eva calls for the government to assume greater responsibility in the sector, to view and provide childcare as community service and to prioritise accessibility over profit as a means to rebuild trust between citizens and policy makers.

Reclaiming Childcare: A Call for Community Over Profit - With Eva Cox

This week on the Five Minute Advocate Michael Walker explores the alarming rise in cyber insecurity and its impact on Australians’ wellbeing where new data reveals a sharp increase in online harm and hate and recent events that have seen this translate to real world violence. Michael delves into what’s fuelling this uptick in unrest and calls on the Federal Government to update their wellbeing dashboard to provide more clarity on exactly why online behaviour has taken a turn for the worse.  

This week on the Five Minute Advocate Michael Walker explores the alarming rise in cyber insecurity and its impact on Australians’ wellbeing where new data reveals a sharp increase in online harm and hate and recent events that have seen this translate to real world violence. Michael delves into what’s fuelling this uptick in unrest and calls on the Federal Government to update their wellbeing dashboard to provide more clarity on exactly why online behaviour has taken a turn for the worse.

Australia's $400 Billion Dilemma - With Julie Macken

In 1 playlist(s)

The Five Minute Advocate

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips