x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Afternoon Light

Robert Menzies Institute

Welcome to the Afternoon Light Podcast, a captivating journey into the heart of Australia’s political history and enduring values. Presented by the Robert Menzies Institute, a prime ministerial library and museum, this podcast illuminates the remarkable legacy of Sir Robert Menzies, Australia’s longest-serving prime minister. Dive into the rich tapestry of Menzies’s contemporary impact as we explore his profound contributions on the Afternoon Light Podcast. Join us as we delve into his unyielding

history politics

All Episodes

41:44

Gosia Klatt on Australia’s surprising role...

Afternoon Light ·

2024/08/14

Did the West sell-out Poland during and after World War II? On Afternoon Light #159 Georgina Downer speaks with Gosia Klatt to tell the remarkable tale of how Australia came to diplomatically represent Poland in Moscow in the early 1940s. A story which highlights how even at the height of the War, the USSR was a highly ‘problematic’ ally, having invaded and massacred the very nation Britain and Australia went to war to protect. Malgorzata (Gosia) Klatt is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of

en-au

42:13

Tony Brady on the Empire Air Training Scheme | “Never...

Afternoon Light ·

2024/08/07

Have you heard the story of how Australian pilots helped to defeat the Nazis?On Afternoon Light #158 Georgina Downer speaks with Tony Brady to explore the remarkable tale of the Empire Air Training Scheme. A policy which drove a massive expansion in the Royal Australian Air Force that was perhaps the greatest logistical achievement of Australia’s war effort – leaving airfields dotted all around the nation to this day. Tony James Brady was the inaugural winner of the RAAF Heritage Fellowship in 2014

en-au

43:32

Ann Howard on the evacuation of Australian children...

Afternoon Light ·

2024/07/31

What would you do if you felt Australia faced an imminent invasion?On Afternoon Light #157 Georgina Downer speaks with Ann Howard to explore how Australian families dealt with the very tangible threat of war on Australian soil. Mass child evacuations are a little-remembered aspect of war on the home front, but one which those who were sent away will never forget. Ann Howard came out from London in the 1970s, and became an Australian citizen. She was struck by the richness of Australian history, and

en-au

49:36

Scott Prasser on the role of Parliamentary...

Afternoon Light ·

2024/07/24

How did the concept of ‘His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition’ emerge, and what advantages does it offer a democratic system?On Afternoon Light #156 Georgina Downer speaks with Scott Prasser to unpack the purpose and utility of Parliamentary Oppositions. An understudied yet vital aspect of Westminster governance, Oppositions are expected to go beyond mere criticism to provide the electorate with genuine choices. Scott Prasser has worked in senior policy and advisory roles in state and federal government

en-au

37:07

Denis Byrne on the China-Australia Migration Corridor...

Afternoon Light ·

2024/07/17

Is migration a one-way street, or does its cultural impact flow both directions?On Afternoon Light #155 Georgina Downer speaks with Professor Denis Byrne to discuss the China-Australia migration corridor. A phenomenon which saw Australian money, ideas, objects and people shape areas of the Chinese mainland from the 1840s onwards. Denis Byrne is professor of archaeology and heritage studies at the Institute for Culture and Society, Western Sydney University. Previously he had led the cultural

en-au

49:11

Peter Londey on the history of Australian...

Afternoon Light ·

2024/07/10

When did the concept of ‘peacekeeping’ emerge? And have its successes outweighed some glaring failures?On Afternoon Light #154 Georgina Downer speaks with Dr Peter Londey to discuss 77 years of Australian peacekeeping efforts. Never envisaged in the UN charter, the episode reveals how Australia has been at the forefront of how the practice first began and has continued to evolve. Dr Peter Londey is a lecturer at the Australian National University. He previously worked as a Senior Historian at the

en-au

41:42

Brad Underhill on the ‘Territory’ of Papua New Guinea...

Afternoon Light ·

2024/07/03

Could Papua New Guinea have become Australia’s seventh state? And would that have saved us money on an NRL franchise?On Afternoon Light #153 Georgina Downer speaks with Dr Brad Underhill to discuss how PNG was once an Australian territory. After years spent trying to foster development and ‘prepare a nation’, independence came suddenly, reluctantly and possibly prematurely. Dr Bradley Underhill is a research fellow in Deakin University’s School of Humanities and Social Science. An expert in the

en-au

50:00

Jeff Kildea on Sectarianism and the Irish in...

Afternoon Light ·

2024/06/26

When did Australia become a multicultural nation?On Afternoon Light #152 Georgina Downer meets with Dr Jeff Kildea to unpack how ‘White Australia’ was never quite as homogenous as many now assume. As tensions between the Protestant majority and an Irish Catholic minority produced sharp, longstanding, but never quite universal divisions. Jeff is an honorary professor in Irish Studies at the University of New South Wales. He has written extensively on the history of the Irish in Australia, most

en-au

38:44

Chris Monnox on How Compulsory Voting Changed Our...

Afternoon Light ·

2024/06/19

Compulsory voting is as Australian as the ‘democracy sausage’, but how did its introduction reshape the way our elections are fought? On Afternoon Light #151 Georgina Downer meets with Dr Chris Monnox to explore how different polling day was a century ago. Back when our political parties used to focus on getting people out to vote - often quite literally in providing them with transportation - rather than persuading them who to vote for. Chris is the author of ‘Letterboxes and Loudspeakers:

en-au

36:01

Teesta Prakash on Australia-India Relations | "There...

Afternoon Light ·

2024/06/12

Dive into the personalities and politics that shaped Australia-India relations during the Menzies era! On Afternoon Light #150 Georgina Downer meets with Teesta Prakash to explore the structural and personal factors that complicated Robert Menzies’s diplomatic relationship with Jawaharlal Nehru. The two question the extent to which the complexities of India’s independce possibly contributed to perceived neglect of this crucial partnership, and proceed to discuss Menzies' efforts to find

en-au

44:32

Katharine Betts on Population & Social Cohesion |...

Afternoon Light ·

2024/06/05

On Afternoon Light #149 Georgina Downer meets with sociologist Dr Katharine Betts to discuss the history of migration and social cohesion in Australia.Together, Georgina and Katharine explore the cultural benefits of immigration, the complexities of identity and belonging and the importance of unity, our collective responsibility towards the broader community and the environment, and the need for careful consideration and management of immigration to avoid social unrest and ensure economic

en-au

48:28

Tania Cammarano on Italian Food in Australia |...

Afternoon Light ·

2024/05/29

On Afternoon Light #148 Georgina Downer meets with Tania Cammarano, a food historian, author, and public speaker, to discuss the historical evolution and cultural significance of Italian food in Australia. Italian food plays an important role in our food culture, not just for its popularity and versatility. Together, Georgina and Tania explore the development of Italian food in Australia, including the import of historic culinary traditions; how restaurants influenced our broader food culture

en-au

42:51

Amanda Laugesen on the Australian Accent | "Language...

Afternoon Light ·

2024/05/22

On Afternoon Light #147 Georgina Downer meets with historian, lexicographer, and Director of the Australian National Dictionary Centre at ANU, Amanda Laugesen, to discuss on the evolution and cultural significance of the Australian accent.They explore changes to the accent over time, from its stigmatisation in the early 20th century to its eventual acceptance and celebration; dissect debates of the 1930s and 40s about what constitutes an Australian accent; and examine the influence of education,

en-au

42:47

Senator James Paterson on National Unity &...

Afternoon Light ·

2024/05/15

In this episode of Afternoon Light, Georgina Downer sits down with Senator James Paterson, Shadow Minister for Home Affairs, delving into crucial topics surrounding national security and defence. From the imperative of heightened investment and patriotism to the historical resonance and contemporary relevance of conscription in Australia, they explore the intricacies of maintaining national unity amidst the increasing global pressures. Their discussion concludes with mention of Australia's nuclear

en-au

45:51

Paul Tilley on the History of Australian Tax Reform |...

Afternoon Light ·

2024/05/08

Georgina Downer and author and economist Paul Tilley discuss the history of tax reform in Australia to highlight its influence on present day policy decisions. Through comparative analysis of tax structures overseas, they also explore the benefits of a system of taxation characterised by three key markers of success — efficiency, equity, and simplicity. Paul Tilley is an author and economist. He served as an economic policy adviser to governments for 30 years, working mainly in Treasury but also the

en-au

39:43

Brian O'Malley on James 'King O'Malley' Malley |...

Afternoon Light ·

2024/05/01

This week on Afternoon Light, we cover the turbulent and theatrical story of 'How James Became King' as detailed by author and historian, Brian O'Malley.James 'King' O'Malley (of no relation to his biographer) is known to history as a larrikin and maverick politician, member of the first Australian Federal Parliament and Federal Minister, whose political career spanned two decades. Arriving from America in the late 1880s he quickly drew attention through his public shenanigans; his theatrical

en-au

40:22

Thea Gardiner, ‘Her main duty in life was to give...

Afternoon Light ·

2024/04/23

Mab Grimwade was one of the most important philanthropists in Australian history, yet like many female figures, she seldom appears in the history books. That was until our guest, Thea Gardiner, authored a new biography which reveals the story of Mab and the fascinating world in which she lived. Learn how this amazing woman was able to work within the confines of gender roles to make an enormous contribution to the arts, horticulture and early education in Australia. Thea Gardiner researches and

en-au

50:01

Saul Eslake, ‘A distinctive part of life in...

Afternoon Light ·

2024/04/17

Arguably one of the most profound ways in which Sir Robert Menzies shaped modern Australian was by helping to lift homeownership rates from 53% to 71%. Defying a Labor Party that decried the creation of ‘little capitalists’ Menzies forged a property owning democracy where the middle class he championed grew so large that Labor had to reorientate itself to court its votes. But since the 1960s, government at federal, state and even local level have adopted policies which have exaggerated demand and

en-au

39:45

David W. Cameron, ‘We punched well above our weight’...

Afternoon Light ·

2024/04/09

25 April is eternally associated with the Gallipoli landings, but there is another ferocious battle fought by Australian troops on that date which deserves to be better remembered. That battle is the Battle of Kapyong, waged in the so-called ‘forgotten war’, the Korean War. Between 23-25 April 1951, with exceptional valour, fewer than 1,200 Australian and Canadian infantrymen, supported by New Zealand artillery and 15 American Sherman tanks, held the line against a Chinese Division of

en-au

45:49

Peter Brune, ‘Totally Bipartisan’ How post-war...

Afternoon Light ·

2024/04/03

When World War Two revealed that Australia needed to ‘populate or perish’, Menzies and the Labor Government were in lock step agreement about the need to broaden the sources of Australian immigration beyond the British Isles. But the political leadership faced a far harder task in bringing the nation, which had long been indoctrinated in the dogma of White Australia, along with them. That they succeeded is one of the greatest political and logistical miracles in our history, and one which has

en-au

238 results

Similar Podcasts

The Old Front Line

Paul Reed

Today In History with The Retrospectors

The Retrospectors

جنود خلدهم التاريخ

ALSUMOOD PODCAST

Film History - Daily

Inception Point Ai

Madonna - Audio Biography

Inception Point Ai