I’m back! And the election is upon us! Before the big day, I sat down with Jason Ball, the Greens candidate for the seat of Higgins. Some polling suggests the Liberal Party’s primary vote has fallen sharply and the blue ribbon seat could change hands on Saturday, which would be, to put it mildly, fucking remarkable.

Here Jason explains why he thinks he could be in with a shot, what it’s like to be involved in such a campaign, how progressive Australia really is, homophobia in the AFL and in wider society, some of his run-ins with potential voters and whether he’d actually be ready to be an MP if he actually wins.

The World Keeps Happening at the Sydney Comedy Store, July 9th

You can catch me at the Splendour In The Grass Comedy Club

The World Keeps Happening at the 2016 Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Stand Up 4 Orlando at the Comedy Theatre, Melbourne

jasonball.com.au

@greensjason

Article: The Battle for the Electorate of Higgins by Vice magazine

Article: Greens candidate Jason Ball hits back at homophobic graffiti

Please vote good and proper! Head to aec.gov.au for all the info about the election

Cause of the Week: beyondblue (beyondblue.org.au)

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Sami Shah is a comedian who just so happens to be an ex-Muslim atheist “militant leftist”. Raised in conservative Karachi, Pakistan, and now living in Melbourne (after 5 years living in regional WA), Sami has appeared on QI and Australian Story and regularly performs stand-up all across the country.

Here Sami explains how a book made him a revolutionary and discusses Pakistani politics, the difficulties in criticising Islam and the failures of the refugee rights movement in Australia.

The World Keeps Happening at the Sydney Comedy Store, July 9th

The World Keeps Happening at the 2016 Edinburgh Fringe Festival

samishah.com

@samishah

Sami Shah on Facebook

Sami’s podcast Sami Says on iTunes 

Sami’s YouTube channel

Sami’s episode of QI

“Northern Exposure”, Sami’s Australian Story

How to fail at being brown by Sami Shah

Dan Carlin’s Hardcore Histories

Sami Shah’s second life as a comedian  

Article: Asylum Seeker Resource Centre in turmoil amid toxic culture claims

Cause of the Week: Edhi Foundation (edhi.org)

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Eva Orner is an Academy Award-winning documentarian who is exposing Australia’s shameful offshore detention regime with her new film Chasing Asylum. The documentary features never-before-seen footage from inside the camps on Nauru and Manus Island and brave whistleblowers speaking out about the horrific things they’ve witnessed.

I’ve seen it and (unsurprisingly) it made me cry and it made me even more furious.

Here Eva details her motivation to make work that speaks to power, torture, her frustrations with the refugee debate in Australia, the parallels between the persecution of Jews under Nazi Germany and Australia’s detention system today, government secrecy and what might just help change the conversation.

The World Keeps Happening at the Sydney Comedy Store, July 9th

The World Keeps Happening at the 2016 Edinburgh Fringe Festival

@evaorner

@chasingasylum

chasingasylum.com.au

Chasing Asylum screenings

Take Action

GetUp petition – Bring Them Here

It’s Okay To Compare Australia In 2016 With Nazi Germany, And Here’s Why by David Berger

Trailer for Taxi To The Dark Side

Cause of the Week: Go see “Chasing Asylum”!!! 

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Edward Bourke is a 15-year-old right-wing conservative who loves the monarchy, Margaret Thatcher and Donald Trump.

In fact, he loves Trump so much he’s launched The Trump Campaign to support the billionaire’s presidential bid and has been interviewed by Vice, Sunrise and news.com.au – and now me. In this lively discussion, Edward and I cover class, immigration, the importance of morals, Indigenous Australians and why he finds The Donald so appealing.

Despite all our disagreements, I really couldn’t help but find myself quite liking the guy. See what you reckon.

I’m at the Sydney Comedy Store this week

The World Keeps Happening at the Sydney Comedy Store, July 9th

The World Keeps Happening at the 2016 Edinburgh Fringe Festival

SBS’s The Feed’s video on Peter Dutton: The douche that keeps on giving

Outstanding claims – The Saturday Paper’s editorial

@edwardbourke

edwardbourke.com

thetrumpcampaign.com

remembermaggie.com

bourkecapital.com

Cause of the Week: Saving the Lion (savingthelion.org) 

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