In this episode of Uncommon Ground, Talal Yassine sits down with Arthur Sinodinos, former Chief of Staff to Prime Minister John Howard, senior minister, senator, and Australia’s former Ambassador to the United States.

Arthur reflects on his journey from a Greek migrant family in Newcastle to the centre of Australian public life, sharing insights on economic reform, political discipline, leadership, and diplomacy. He discusses the Howard years, the GST, the changing culture of politics, his battle with cancer, and what he learned representing Australia in Washington during the Trump and Biden years.

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Episode Running Order

• Arthur’s childhood in Newcastle and growing up in a Greek migrant family (00:00:50)
• School, university and discovering economics (00:04:57)
• From Treasury to John Howard’s office (00:07:16)
• Working inside government and the road to Chief of Staff (00:10:50)
• The GST, economic reform and the discipline of policy (00:28:28)
• Lessons from politics, government and party leadership (00:47:57)
• His cancer diagnosis and recovery (00:55:15)
• Becoming Australia’s Ambassador to the United States (01:01:32)
• Trump, Biden and representing Australia in Washington (01:03:27)
• AUKUS, diplomacy and the changing strategic world (01:07:18)
• Life lessons, risk-taking and what matters now (01:15:47)