politics

The Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting is held every two years. And this time it hit our shores with dignitaries, ministers and The Queen gathering in Perth.

 
Ben Westcott discusses what the Heads of Government meeting is and whether it has been a success.

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CHOGM Final.mp3

This week we decide to boil our spuds, and in an exhausted state we deliver the sad lack of news of the week. The most straight-shooting show on SYN returns, and again one man down we persevere because someone must control the hipster virus infecting Melbourne.
 

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Podcast S01E07.mp3

You might have noticed that over in America candidates are already lining up to be the Republican candidate for president. But the election isn’t until the 6th of November 2012.
And as Emma Buckley Lennox reports, getting in early can pay off for potential nominees.

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ACTUAL FINAL US politics mixdown.mp3

"In old days men had the rack. Now they have the press" Oscar Wilde
 
The Media has held an interesting position between the people and the state across time. Today its a mixed mess of being the reporters of news and the creators of news. From breaking new policy and leaking budget details on QandA to blowing up Tony Abbot's "Sh*t Happens" quote above and beyond the call of duty the media is constantly shaping the political landscape, just as much as the landscape shapes it.
 

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Rash politics episode 15.mp3

Earlier in the week Michael and our Producer Tim took to the streets to find out just how strong the support for Mac Stratus' political campaign is!

Armed with a microphone and a framed black and white glamour shot of Mac we set out to discover the truth.

Mac 2010 He Needs You

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STRATS 2010..mp3

How much closer are we to setting a price on carbon? In one of its first moves, the Gillard government is set to appoint a climate change committee to ask the big question: what's better? a carbon tax or a market-based approach?

Hayley Crane reports.

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Price on carbon - SYNcast.mp3

The result of the election for the two major parties still hangs in the balance. What's clearer, though, is a huge swing to the Greens - the Greenslide!

New Greens' MP for Melbourne, Adam Bandt, was quick to throw his support behind the Labor Party to help them keep government. But what changes are we going to see on the big issues like asylum seekers, climate change and gay marraige?

Beau Donelly reports.

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Greens - SYNcast.mp3

What happens when no one wins an election?

The contest between Labor and the Coalition over the weekend seems a dead heat, with both parties tipped to win 73 seats.

Reporters Robert Baird and Hsin-Yi Lo speak to political analyst Paul Strangio.

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Hung - SYNcast.mp3

Julia Gillard doesn't believe in God. Unlike Howard, Rudd and Abbott, she's distanced herself from religion altogether.

Do you care whether or not our PM believes in God? Will it lose her votes on August 21?

Panorama's Nick Toscano talks to a young aetheist, a priest-in-training and Marion Maddox, author of 'God under Howard: The rise of the religious right in Australia'.

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Godless PM - SYNcast.mp3

Who'll be better at managing our economy? Did your $900 handout keep Australia afloat? Is our government debt a real problem?

The election campaign is in full swing, and both sides of the political divide are talking up their economic credentials.

Nick Toscano reports.

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Gov debt - SYNcast.mp3