There are hard borders with no sign of let up across Australia, as State Premiers spuriously justify all decisions as being on the basis of medical advice while enjoying the populist support for supposedly keeping out the virus. But they can only do so because in our crazy fiscally frazzled federation the Feds pick up the bill for the economic costs. And why can actors and footballers cross borders when ordinary people can't?
What will be the effects on our economy and indeed our nation; as we revert to self-contained colonies and the ties of family and work across borders are severed?
And for that matter, what of the tens of thousands of Australias stranded overseas because State Government failures mean they cannot be safely returned, as Australia joins North Korea in banning travel from Australia without a permit?
Evan Mulholland joins Chris Berg and Scott Hargreaves to discuss problems and possible solutions, and also look at the battle being waged by tech giants Google and Facebook as they fight moves by Australia's relative media minnows to grab a share of revenue, egged on by the ACCC (33:38-46:06). Just one part of a global war in which Australian consumers could be the loser.
In the regular Books and Culture segment (46:07-58:33) they look a Tim Wilson’s new book on Australia's social contract, the Netflix series Away, and the latest surrealist escapade form Charlie Kaufman, I'm Thinking of Ending Things.
Show Notes:
A big decision is due today in the Clive Palmer vs WA border row — here's why it matters
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-25/how-clive-palmers-wa-border-challenge-affected-by-court-decision/12589552
This is why it is so difficult for Australians to get home
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-17/why-is-it-so-hard-for-australians-to-get-home/12669902
Culture Picks
The New Social Contract; Tim Wilson
https://www.connorcourtpublishing.com.au/THE-NEW-SOCIAL-CONTRACT-Renewing-the-liberal-vision-for-Australia--Tim-Wilson_p_377.html
Away; Andrew Hinderaker
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Away_(TV_series)
I’m Thinking of Ending Things; Charlie Kaufman
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7939766/
The Looking Forward Podcast Episode 73: High Court Next Step For Ridd
The Looking Forward Podcast Episode 72 "Parliament Must Do Its Job"
The Looking Forward Podcast Episode 71 "Conspiracy Theories Dismissed (Again)"
Looking Forward Episode 70 "Double Déjà vu in Dan's Victoria"
Looking Forward Episode 69 “Would You Like Fries With That?”
Ep 68: Falling Statues & Falling Elites
Ep 67: Policing Under Pressure
Ep 66: Where to Now?
Ep 65: Liberalising Australia: Then and Now.
Ep 64: Can WHO Be Cured?
Ep 63: A Return To Freedom?
Ep 62: Let's Get Back to Work
Ep 61: Download Or Else
Ep 60: Restoring Dynamism After Deep Freeze
Ep 59: Only the First to Bail Out?
Ep 58: Government Models Can't Guide Us Back
Ep 57: Of Moral Panics and Spendathons
Ep 56: Our Values will Sustain Us
Ep 55: The Patient Needs to Survive the Cure
Ep 54: The Cracks in Our Ivory Towers
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