Daniel Webb is the Director of Legal Advocacy at the Human Rights Law Centre. He is a passionate voice for human rights and for treating people seeking asylum with dignity and humanity.

In this chat Daniel is so crystal clear about why he does what he does, why what we’re doing to refugees is wrong, the alternatives that are out there for us and why it’s vital that we as a country need to rethink our entire approach here. He also describes what it’s actually like for the men being held on Manus Island at the moment and in particular tells me about Mehdi Savari, an Iranian refugee comedian who has been detained on that hellhole for more than three years.

Stand Up For Mehdi at MICF 2017 – this will sell out, book your tickets now!

Problematic begins at MICF 2017 this week

Boundless Plains To Share is at MICF for one show only on Saturday April 22nd

@DanielHRLC

@rightsagenda

The US refugee deal grows shakier by the day. Turnbull must find a humane way forward by Daniel Webb

Schoolgirl pleads with government to reunite her with refugee dad on Manus

Mehdi’s story on New Matilda, in The Saturday Paper

Cause of the Week: The Human Rights Law Centre (hrlc.org.au)

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Writer, feminist, sociologist, social commentator, activist and postage stamp honouree Eva Cox AO is a remarkable person. A Jewish refugee child, Eva has always been something of an outsider, agitating for change and asking tough questions her entire life.

In this wide-ranging, educational discussion, Eva sums up the philosophy of neoliberalism and argues the case for social capital. We discuss feminism, Islam, the shortcomings of the same-sex marriage movement, identity politics and the Universal Basic Income. I was inspired and educated by this chat; I hope you like it as much as I did.

Problematic is on at the Brisbane Comedy Festival this week

It’s also heading to Melbourne & Sydney

Boundless Plains To Share is on this weekend in Brisbane

It’s coming to Melbourne for 1 show only

Stand Up For Mehdi at MICF 2017

My piece on the abolition of QLD’s “gay panic” law

@evacox

evacox.com.au

Bring on the feminist revolution! by Eva on medium.com

Eva’s Wisdom of the Ages piece for The Guardian: Dare To Be Difficult

Article: It’s time to harness angry feminist energy and inject it into welfare policy

A profile on Eva in The Saturday Paper

Eva on The Conversation

Cause of the Week: FIND CAUSES AND IDEAS THAT ARE OPTIMISTIC OR THINK THEM UP YOURSELF

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Fin Taylor is a British comedian who’s making some fascinating politically-charged work at the moment. I saw his show Whitey McWhite Face at the Edinburgh Fringe last year and it lit a fire under my butt. He made me laugh and think and feel uncomfortable, and that’s all good stuff.

Here we discuss his disillusionment with the Left, his journey to progressive centrism, class, Corbyn, Blair, Clegg, Islamism, white white white privilege/invisibility and political correctness.

Problematic is coming to Hobart for ONE NIGHT ONLY on Wednesday March 15th

It’s also heading to Brisbane, Melbourne & Sydney

Boundless Plains To Share is coming to Brisbane (2 shows only) and Melbourne (1 show only)

Stand Up For Mehdi at MICF 2017

Monday night’s episode of Q&A

@fintaylorcomedy

fintaylor.com

Article: The Left Are The Right’s Best Friends by Nick Cohen

The Sydney Morning Herald’s profile on The Iraq Dossier

Cause of the Week: The Euston Manifesto (eustonmanifesto.org)

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Kate Ellis has been the Federal member for the seat of Adelaide since 2004. She was the youngest person ever appointed as a minister in the Australian government, holding a number of portfolios. She’s currently the Shadow Minister for both Early Childhood Education and Development and for TAFE and Vocational Education.

This is a frank, funny and insightful discussion about Kate’s career, the state of politics in this country right now and the changes she’s seen over her 13 years in the job. We talk about everything from Islamophobia and dealing with Neo-Nazis to how Tony Abbott changed the dynamics of politics to the disappointments of the Labor leadership turmoil years. Kate reflects on the purpose of factions, the fracturing of the right side of politics and tells an extraordinary story about the bizarre issue that prompted the most vehement feedback she’s ever received as a sitting member.

PLUS Kate helpfully sets out how she thinks we should talk about debt, early childcare and Labor’s approach to offshore detention of people seeking asylum.

Problematic is coming to Hobart for ONE NIGHT ONLY on Wednesday March 15th

It’s also heading to Brisbane, Melbourne & Sydney

Boundless Plains To Share is coming to Brisbane (2 shows only) and Melbourne (1 show only)

Huffington Post long read on “Gay Loneliness”

@KateEllisMP

kateellis.com.au

A 2008 profile on Kate – Her father’s daughter

Article: Tony Abbott takes aim at Turnbull and lays out conservative manifesto

Cause of the Week: The Zahra Foundation (zahrafoundation.org.au)

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Senator Skye Kakoschke-Moore was elected as part of the Nick Xenophon Team in the 2016 election.

Now that she’s 7 months in, she reflects on the job in all its glory and its frustrations. Skye talks about what it means to be in the “sensible centre”, why she moved from political staffer to candidate, working with the likes of Cory Bernardi and Pauline Hanson, gambling reform, her views on offshore detention and the government’s proposed visa lifetime ban for people seeking asylum and she even gives some tips about the best way to get your Senator’s attention.

Problematic is coming to Hobart for ONE NIGHT ONLY on Wednesday March 15th

It’s also heading to Brisbane, Melbourne & Sydney

Boundless Plains To Share is coming to Brisbane (2 shows only) and Melbourne (1 show only)

Please support Refugee Legal’s campaign against the new arbitrary deadline for asylum claim applications by donating here

Guardian long piece on Rachel Dolezal

@SenatorSkye

nxt.org.au

news.com.au article on Skye

Skye’s First Speech to Parliament

Cause of the Week: The Carly Ryan Foundation (carlyryanfoundation.com)

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Comedian and Daily Show correspondent Ronny Chieng is back in Australia at the moment and gave me some of his time to talk about a whole many things. We covered offence, racism, interviewing white supremacists, freedom of speech, outrage, satire in the age of Trump and his conservative upbringing and disposition.

Oh, and my Nazi haircut. Apparently.

Apologies for the slightly not great audio quality on this one. Persevere, please: it’s worth it. It’s Ronny Chieng, for God’s sake.

Stand Up For Mehdi at MICF 2017

Problematic is coming to Adelaide, Hobart, Brisbane, Melbourne & Sydney

Boundless Plains To Share is coming to Adelaide, Brisbane & Melbourne

@ronnychieng

The Daily Show on Comedy Central

Ronny dismantles Fox News’ stupidly racist “Chinatown” report

Make America Hate Again – Ronny’s undecided voters piece

Cause of the Week: The CNN Freedom Project (cnn.com/freedom) 

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