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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

48:26

David Day on Labor icon Ben Chifley: "It seems in...

Afternoon Light ·

2025/11/18

How did a PM who only ever won one election become as iconic as Ben Chifley?On this week's Afternoon Light Georgina Downer speaks with David Day to discuss Australia's 16th PM. The pipe smoking Bathurst train driver who suffered a trade unionist's martyrdom, before rising to become the architect of Australia's post war settlement. An endearing pragmatist respected even by his opponents, who ironically came unstuck in attempting to push beyond the welfare state towards fully fledged state

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55:48

Troy Bramston on his new biography of Gough Whitlam:...

Afternoon Light ·

2025/11/11

Did Gough Whitlam crash through or simply crash?On this week's Afternoon Light Georgina Downer speaks with Troy Bramston about his new book, Gough Whitlam: The Vista of the New. The first full length biography of the iconic Labor PM since his passing in 2014, and one replete with lessons for Australia's present generation of political leaders. Troy Bramston is a senior writer and columnist with The Australian newspaper. His critically acclaimed book, Robert Menzies: The Art of Politics (2019), is

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44:59

Julian Leeser & Damien Freeman on the poetry of R.G....

Afternoon Light ·

2025/11/05

How did Robert Menzies develop his skillful way with words? On this week's Afternoon Light Georgina Downer speaks with Julian Leeser & Damien Freeman about the new book Fancies I Dare Not Speak: The Hidden Verse of R.G. Menzies. Revealing how poetry helped to shape the young Menzies, Australian culture, and our nation's quest to understand who we are. Julian Leeser is the Shadow Minister for Education and Early Learning and for the Arts, and Federal Member for Berowra. Dr Damien Freeman is a

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36:08

Charles Moore on Margaret Thatcher's Life, Legacy &...

Afternoon Light ·

2025/10/29

What did the Iron Lady have in common with Pig Iron Bob?On this week's Afternoon Light Georgina Downer speaks with Margaret Thatcher's official biographer Charles Moore to explore her life and legacy on the centenary of her birth. Revealing how the grocer's daughter from Lincolnshire drew inspiration from the shopkeeper's son from Jeparit, in her trailblazing quest to reinvigorate Britain and defeat global communism. Charles Moore joined the staff of the Daily Telegraph in 1979, and as a political

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50:32

Toby Young on the Current Battle for Freedom of...

Afternoon Light ·

2025/10/21

Why are we so quick to try to censor opinions with which we disagree?On this week's Afternoon Light Georgina Downer speaks with Toby Young, founder of the Free Speech Union, to discuss the current fight for free debate across the Anglosphere. Giving insights into his own experience of being 'cancelled', the massive legislative encroachment on free expression, and what the FSU is doing to protect those who have been brave enough to openly speak their minds. Lord Young of Acton is the Founder and

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53:24

Margaret Simons on the life, legacy & liberalism of...

Afternoon Light ·

2025/10/15

What happens to an ex-prime minister's legacy when they repudiate the political party that would otherwise have championed it?On this week's Afternoon Light Georgina Downer speaks with Margaret Simons to unpack the complexities of the career, beliefs and impact of Australia's twenty-second prime minister Malcom Fraser. A leader whose profound contribution to our nation has sadly been obscured by their infamous role in the dismissal and later-life political apostacy. Margaret Simons is an

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49:36

Kirsten McKenzie on the Bigge Report & inquiries into...

Afternoon Light ·

2025/10/08

How did long have politicians been dodging criticism by appointing elaborate Royal Commissions and inquiries?On this week's Afternoon Light Georgina Downer speaks with Kirsten McKenzie to explore how the famous Bigge Report denouncing Lachlan Macquarie's liberal treatment of convicts fit into a broader attempt to regulate and rationalise the kaleidoscopic British Empire, as it had emerged from the Napoleonic Wars. A discussion which reveals how our 'national' story cannot be understood in

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50:31

Jackie French & Kate O'Donnell on the History of Book...

Afternoon Light ·

2025/10/02

How did Book Week grow to become an Australian institution, inspiring children & stressing parents nation-wide?On this week's Afternoon Light Georgina Downer speaks with children's authors Jackie French & Kate O'Donnell to mark 80 years of Book Week. Exploring the annual celebration's wartime origins, the hope its founders had for promoting understanding and world peace, the role of the Children's Book Awards in promoting Aussie literature, and whose bright idea it was to introduce

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38:58

Bonus Episode - Kai Bowie on 100 years of the...

Afternoon Light ·

2025/09/29

Why is the Melbourne University Liberal Club (MULC) older than the Liberal Party of Australia, & what grand tales and battle scars has it developed carrying the liberal banner on a hostile campus for over a century? On a special bonus episode of the Afternoon Light podcast Georgina Downer speaks with MULC President Kai Bowie to mark 100 years since the club's formation. A very timely discussion, considering the ability of universities to foster debate and accommodate a broad range over views has

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47:39

Alex McDermott on John Hirst's contribution to the...

Afternoon Light ·

2025/09/24

How can Australians know who we are and where we're going, without skilled historians who can map how we even got here in the first place?On this week's Afternoon Light Georgina Downer speaks with Alex McDermott to discuss the profound career and contribution of Australian historian John Hirst. An inquiring mind, who asked unorthodox questions and succeeded in explaining many of the paradoxes of our national story, including how a convict colony gave birth to one of the world's most successful

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44:04

Hugh Rogers on the life & foreign policy legacy of...

Afternoon Light ·

2025/09/17

Who is going to celebrate a prime minister who got kicked out of multiple political parties?On this week's Afternoon Light Georgina Downer speaks with Hugh Rogers to explore the complex career and legacy of Billy Hughes. The man who ensured that Australia had its own 'seat at the table' in international relations & won the acclaim of foreign media, but who is now most often remembered for the bitter divisions sparked by his conscription plebiscites. Hugh Rogers is a PhD candidate in History at

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51:03

Nicholas Ferns on Australia's attempt to guide Papua...

Afternoon Light ·

2025/09/10

On 16 September 1975 Papua New Guinea gained its independence, but how well did Australia prepare its former territory for that day?On this week's Afternoon Light Georgina Downer speaks with Nicholas Ferns to unpack the ideology and policies known as 'developmentalism' - Australia's concerted attempt to help its neighbours achieve the same level of economic prosperity & political stability enjoyed in 'the lucky country'. Nicholas Ferns is an ARC DECRA Research Fellow in History at Monash

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50:57

Salvatore Babones on the Ascent of Democracy in...

Afternoon Light ·

2025/09/03

Should India be considered a democratic success story? On this week's Afternoon Light Georgina Downer speaks with Salvatore Babones to explore the remarkable rise of democracy in India, and why it has recently become the subject of much international criticism. A story which reveals the importance of culture in maintaining democratic institutions, and how cultural differences therefore shape the differing nature of democracies around the world. Salvatore Babones is an Associate Professor at the

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53:03

Charles Richardson & Zachary Gorman on the Future of...

Afternoon Light ·

2025/08/27

If more than a third of voters are opting for Independents and minor parties, does Australia even have a two party system anymore?On this week's Afternoon Light Georgina Downer speaks with Charles Richardson and Zachary Gorman to discuss a new Robert Menzies Institute policy paper on The Future of Australia's Two Party System: Function, Flaws and Fixes. A wide ranging conversation exploring how and why Australia's party system first emerged, what are the causes of its current maladies, and how a

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48:54

David Lee on Prime Minister & Statesman Stanley...

Afternoon Light ·

2025/08/20

Who led Australia through the roaring 20s & was he responsible when they came to a crashing halt?On this week's Afternoon Light Georgina Downer speaks with David Lee about Australia's 8th Prime Minister Stanley Melbourne Bruce. A decorated Gallipoli veteran, architect of the Federal Coalition, and notable international diplomat, whose complexities have been obscured behind the caricature of a spats-wearing Anglophile who managed to lose his own seat at the 1929 election. David Lee is Associate

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43:48

William Coleman on 5-time NSW Premier John Robertson:...

Afternoon Light ·

2025/08/13

When did the widespread property ownership evoked in 'The Forgotten People' first become a cornerstone of the Australian liberal project?On this week's Afternoon Light Georgina Downer speaks with William Coleman to revive the name of one of Australia's most dominant and influential political figures, John Robertson. A fierce democrat, patriot and liberal, whose impact spread far beyond the 'Mother Colony' of New South Wales. William Coleman, currently Adjunct Professor at the University of Notre

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54:04

Zachary Gorman on the 800th anniversary of Magna...

Afternoon Light ·

2025/08/06

How did Magna Carta help lead to the birth of Australian democracy? On this week's Afternoon Light Georgina Downer speaks with Zachary Gorman to mark 800 years since King Henry III gave his consent to the most famous document in political and legal history. Rescuing Magna Carta from potential obscurity after the 1215 version had been annulled by the Pope on the grounds that it had been signed under duress. Dr Zachary Gorman is the author of Summoning Magna Carta: Freedom's Symbol Over A Millenium. A

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43:13

Kit Kowol on Chamberlain, Churchill & the British...

Afternoon Light ·

2025/07/29

How different would Britain have looked if the Conservative Party won the 1945 election? On this week's Afternoon Light Georgina Downer speaks with Kit Kowol to discuss the grand and unrealised Conservative vision for the post-war world. A fascinating tale of utopianism, factionalism, and historical what-ifs, that serve to highlight how Menzies's vision of Australian liberalism was quite distinct from its British equivalents. Kit Kowol received his PhD in Politics from Oxford University in 2014. He

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48:47

Wendy Michaels on NSW's first female MP Millicent...

Afternoon Light ·

2025/07/23

How did a play help to transform child custody laws?On this week's Afternoon Light Georgina Downer speaks with Wendy Michaels OAM to tell the story of conservative feminist trailblazer Millicent Preston Stanley MP. A tireless campaigner for both Australian liberalism and women's rights, who weaved a remarkable career as an activist, parliamentarian, journalist, performer and even playwright. Dr Wendy Michaels OAM has had a distinguished career as an academic, educator, consultant, writer, and

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45:12

Greg Melleuish on the Evolution of Political Terms:...

Afternoon Light ·

2025/07/16

Why does the term 'liberal' mean such vastly different things in Australia and America?On this week's Afternoon Light Georgina Downer speaks with Greg Melleuish to discuss the evolution of political terms. With phrases like 'progress' and 'social justice' meaning vastly different things to different people, and leaving us susceptible to imposing our modern values in misinterpreting texts from the past Greg Melleuish is a professorial fellow of the Robert Menzies Institute. Before his recent

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238 results

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