Shows
Afternoon LightSantamaria and the DLP | Samuel ChamberlainThe son of a greengrocer who was an Italian immigrant, Santamaria became an incredibly influential figure in Australian politics. Yet for someone who had did not hold a formal position, was his influence overstated? And how did Santamaria color Menzies' own worldviews when the latter was in office?
Samuel Chamberlain talks to Georgina Downer about his chapter in the recently released book Finding Menzies, and how Menzies formed his opinion on the anti-communist journalist.
This episode of the Afternoon Light Podcast was recorded as part of our Menzies Early Career Network Series.
➡️ Support the Ro...2025-02-2616 minAfternoon LightHow to Create a Middle-Class Economy | Abby SmithHow did inflation targeting and child endowment change Australia’s trajectory? And specifically, how did this create the middle-class economy we are familiar with today?
Abby Smith talks to Georgina Downer about their chapter in the upcoming book Finding Menzies, how Menzies went about spearheading the Australian middle-class economy.
This episode of the Afternoon Light Podcast was recorded as part of our Menzies Early Career Network Series.
➡️ Support the Robert Menzies Institute: . 📱 Follow the Menzies Institute on Social Media: X: Facebook: / robertmenziesinstitute TikTok: / robert.menzies.in Instagram: / robertmenziesinstitute
2025-02-1715 minAfternoon LightThe Philosophy of Aspiration, The Australian Dream | Priscilla SpaldingWhat does it mean to be aspirational as a person? And how did Menzies encourage Australians to be aspirational?
Priscilla Spalding talks to Georgina Downer about their fascinating chapter in the book Finding Menzies: on how Menzies's political philosophy lifted a country after dark times, and let us all understand more about his character.
This episode of the Afternoon Light Podcast was recorded as part of our Menzies Early Career Network Series.
➡️ Support the Robert Menzies Institute: . 📱 Follow the Menzies Institute on Social Media: X: Facebook: / robertmenziesinstitute TikTok: / robert.menzies.in Instagram: / robertmen...2025-02-1717 minAfternoon LightEnemy of my enemy? Australia and the Sino-Soviet split | Jesse Seeberg-GordonWhere did our allegiances really lie between 1959-1964?
Jesse Seeberg-Gordon talks to Georgina Downer about his chapter in the upcoming book Finding Menzies, on how fissures in international relations brought catalyzed debates on what friendly relations with surrounding countries could also entail.
This episode of the Afternoon Light Podcast was recorded as part of our Menzies Early Career Network Series.
➡️ Support the Robert Menzies Institute: https://give-aus.keela.co/christmas-m... 📱 Follow the Menzies Institute on Social Media: X: https://x.com/rmenziesinst Facebook: / robertmenziesinstitute TikTok: / robert.menzies.in Instagram: / robertmenziesinstitute
2025-02-0515 minAfternoon LightOverprivileged: An Episode of High Political Drama | Patrick IrwinWhere was Menzies's limit when it came to free speech?
Patrick Irwin talks to Georgina Downer about his chapter in the upcoming book Finding Menzies, on how Menzies’s struggle with the limits of free speech came to a fore that shone him in a new light in the public consciousness.
This episode of the Afternoon Light Podcast was recorded as part of our Menzies Early Career Network Series.
➡️ Support the Robert Menzies Institute: https://give-aus.keela.co/christmas-m... 📱 Follow the Menzies Institute on Social Media: X: https://x.com/rmenziesinst Facebook: / robertmenziesinstitute TikTok: / r...2025-02-0516 minAfternoon LightThe Arts’ Last Advocate: Menzies and the Cause of Liberal Education | Jacob Carson What did Menzies have to do with the idea of Liberal Education?
Jacob Carson discusses with Georgina Downer how Menzies was at the centre of the push and pull between vocational and commercial understandings toward higher education, and how this debate still goes on today.
This episode of the Afternoon Light Podcast was recorded as part of our Menzies Early Career Network Series. ➡️ Support the Robert Menzies Institute: https://give-aus.keela.co/christmas-m... 📱 Follow the Menzies Institute on Social Media: X: https://x.com/rmenziesinst Facebook: / robertmenziesinstitute TikTok: / robert.menzies.in Instagram: / robertmenziesinstitute
2025-01-3115 minAfternoon LightFreedom, Empire, and the ‘Ordinary Australian’ | Josh WoodwardWhat does the 'ordinary Australian' actually mean?
Josh Woodward talks to Georgina Downer about how the idea of the 'Ordinary Australian' confronts notions of Empire, as well as the concept of individual freedoms.
This episode of the Afternoon Light Podcast was recorded as part of our Menzies Early Career Network Series.
➡️ Support the Robert Menzies Institute: https://give-aus.keela.co/christmas-m... 📱 Follow the Menzies Institute on Social Media: X: https://x.com/rmenziesinst Facebook: / robertmenziesinstitute TikTok: / robert.menzies.in Instagram: / robertmenziesinstitute
2025-01-3016 minAfternoon LightPopular Criticism of Menzies’ War Aims | Aaron Marston-PattisonWhat was the public willing to support in wartime during Menzies's era?
Aaron Marston-Pattison speaks to Georgina Downer about which aspects of Menzies's war aims the public was willing to support.
This episode of the Afternoon Light Podcast was recorded as part of our Menzies Early Career Network Series.
➡️ Support the Robert Menzies Institute: https://give-aus.keela.co/christmas-m... 📱 Follow the Menzies Institute on Social Media: X: https://x.com/rmenziesinst Facebook: / robertmenziesinstitute TikTok: / robert.menzies.in Instagram: / robertmenziesinstitute
2025-01-2915 minAfternoon LightRemembering the Anglo-Australian Relationship of the 20th Century | Scarlett WakelinHow do we look back on the Anglo-Australian relationship when we look at the history of Australia?
Scarlett Wakelin speaks with Georgina Downer on the nature of the Anglo-Australian relationship that persisted through the 20th century.
This episode of the Afternoon Light Podcast was recorded as part of our Menzies Early Career Network Series.
➡️ Support the Robert Menzies Institute: https://give-aus.keela.co/christmas-m... 📱 Follow the Menzies Institute on Social Media: X: https://x.com/rmenziesinst Facebook: / robertmenziesinstitute TikTok: / robert.menzies.in Instagram: / robertmenziesinstitute
2025-01-2914 minAfternoon LightMenzies the Student, Menzies the Statesman | Nick WarrenHow did Menzies' undergraduate career become reflected in the trials and accomplishments of his life as a statesman?
Nick Warren talks to Georgina Downer in this episode of the Afternoon Light Podcast, recorded as part of our Menzies Early Career Network Series.
➡️ Support the Robert Menzies Institute: https://give-aus.keela.co/christmas-m... 📱 Follow the Menzies Institute on Social Media:
X: https://x.com/rmenziesinst / Facebook: robertmenziesinstitute / Instagram: robertmenziesinstitute
2025-01-2915 minAfternoon LightSummer Series 2024-5 Part 6: Will Stoltz, Sean Jacobs, David Furse-Roberts & Christopher BeerIn this special summer series of the Afternoon Light podcast you can enjoy the presentations delivered at our November 2024 conference entitled ‘The Final Chapter: Purpose, Endurance and Legacy 1961-66 and Beyond’. This sixth episode features Will Stoltz on 'Managed Decolonisation', Sean Jacob's paper 'Relaxed and Comfortable: Menzies and the fall of Empire (1961-66)' (begins at 19:15), David Furse-Robert's paper 'Homes Material, Homes Human and Homes Spiritual: The Menzies Government and Housing Policy' (begins at 35:25), and Christoper Beer's paper 'The frontier of property-owning democracy: Housing, the reform of Australian liberal urbanism, and electoral politics in Western Sydney, 1961-1966' (begins 54:45).
2025-01-291h 15Afternoon LightMaya Khurana Redefines Australian Middle Class IdentityWas Menzies for class segregation, or was he a vehement opponent of the entire system?
Maya Khurana talks to Georgina Downer about the Australian middle-class, and how Menzies drove significant change whilst challenging the notion of class at the same time.
This episode of the Afternoon Light Podcast was recorded as part of our Menzies Early Career Network Series. ➡️ Support the Robert Menzies Institute by visiting our website.
📱 Follow the Menzies Institute on Social Media: X: https://x.com/rmenziesinst / Facebook: robertmenziesinstitute / Instagram: robertmenziesinstitute
2025-01-2616 minAfternoon LightGeorgia Lowden on Policy Settings and Housing Booms | Lessons from MenziesHow much has the value of Australian home ownership changed between Menzies' era and our own?
On a special edition of Afternoon Light, Georgina Downer talks to Georgia Lowden This episode of the Afternoon Light Podcast was recorded as part of our Menzies Early Career Network Series.
2025-01-2416 minAfternoon LightSummer Series 2024-5 Part 5: Anne Henderson, Jennifer Clark, James Waghorne, Gwilym Croucher & Lyndon MegarrityIn this special summer series of the Afternoon Light podcast you can enjoy the presentations delivered at our November 2024 conference entitled ‘The Final Chapter: Purpose, Endurance and Legacy 1961-66 and Beyond’. This fifth episode features Anne Henderson on 'The Menzies Government, B A Santamaria and the Beginning of State Aid', Jennifer Clark's paper on 'Science and Science Education' (begins at 15:00), James Waghorne & Gwilym Croucher's paper 'University unlimited: Commonwealth Scholarships in Australian universities, 1951-1974' (begins at 40:40), and Lyndon Megarrity's paper 'Menzies and Liberal Education' (begins 59:45).
Anne Henderson is the Deputy Director of the Sydney Institute. She is a pr...2025-01-221h 22Afternoon LightSummer Series 2024-5 Part 2: Jim Walter, John Hawkins & Nicholas BrownIn this special summer series of the Afternoon Light podcast you can enjoy the presentations delivered at our November 2024 conference entitled ‘The Final Chapter: Purpose, Endurance and Legacy 1961-66 and Beyond’. This second episode features Jim Walter's paper on 'Robert Menzies and Allen Brown: The odd couple?', John Hawkin's paper on 'Menzies and the Vernon Report' (begins at 22:52), and Nicholas Brown's paper ‘"A risky enterprise": Menzies, Sir John Crawford and the Vernon Committee' (begins at 42:42).
Jim Walter is Emeritus Professor of Political Science in the School of Social Sciences at Monash University. Walter has published widely on Aus...2025-01-0150 minAfternoon LightTeesta Prakash on Australia-India Relations | "There was a war of words between Nehru and Menzies"Dive into the personalities and politics that shaped Australia-India relations during the Menzies era!
On Afternoon Light #150 Georgina Downer meets with Teesta Prakash to explore the structural and personal factors that complicated Robert Menzies’s diplomatic relationship with Jawaharlal Nehru.
The two question the extent to which the complexities of India’s independce possibly contributed to perceived neglect of this crucial partnership, and proceed to discuss Menzies' efforts to find solutions to the Kashmir issue and his interest in a robust Australia-India bond.
They also explore the Cold Wa...2024-06-1236 minAfternoon LightSummer Series 2023-4 Part 6: Stephen Wilks, Lyndon Megarrity & Gregory MelleuishIn this special summer series of the Afternoon Light podcast you can enjoy the presentations delivered at our November 2023 conference entitled ‘The Menzies Ascendency: Implementing a Liberal Agenda and Consolidating Gains 1954-1961’. This sixth episode features Stephen Wilks’s paper ‘Falling Dully On His Ears: Menzies, Bolte, and the Travails of Australian Federalism’, Lyndon Megarrity’s paper ‘Menzies, Queensland and the 1961 Election’ (begins 23:26), and Greg Melleuish’s paper ‘Was Menzies Lucky?’ (begins 44:25).
Dr Stephen Wilks studied economic history at Monash University before embarking on a mixed career in government based in Canberra and overseas. This was leavened by a shadow career wri...2024-01-311h 02Afternoon LightSummer Series 2023-4 Part 5: David Furse-Roberts, Damien Freeman, Andrew Bragg & Julian LeeserIn this special summer series of the Afternoon Light podcast you can enjoy the presentations delivered at our November 2023 conference entitled ‘The Menzies Ascendency: Implementing a Liberal Agenda and Consolidating Gains 1954-1961’. This fifth episode features David Furse-Roberts’ paper ‘Standing for the ‘most ample provision in respect of old age and sickness’: The Menzies Government and health reform’, Damien Freeman & Andrew Bragg’s paper ‘Menzies, Hasluck, Wentworth and Indigenous Peoples’ (begins 19:35), and Julian Leeser’s address ‘Menzies on Presbyterians, Catholics and Jews. Lessons on religious freedom for today’ (begins 40:19).
Dr David Furse-Roberts is a Research Fellow at the Menzies Research Centr...2024-01-241h 01Afternoon LightSummer Series 2023-4 Part 4: Andrew Norton, Ted Ling & Michael de PercyIn this special summer series of the Afternoon Light podcast you can enjoy the presentations delivered at our November 2023 conference entitled ‘The Menzies Ascendency: Implementing a Liberal Agenda and Consolidating Gains 1954-1961’. This fourth episode features Andrew Norton’s paper ‘Menzies and Higher Education’, Ted Ling’s paper ‘Robert Menzies, Canberra’s Apostle’ (begins 23:35), and Michael de Percy’s paper ‘Australia in the Atomic Age: Menzies’s legacy and nuclear’s unrealised potential’ (begins 46:05).
Professor Andrew Norton is Professor in the Practice of Higher Education Policy at the Centre for Social Research and Methods at the Australian National University. He was...2024-01-171h 07Afternoon LightSummer Series 2023-4 Part 3: Bob Bowker, Sean Jacobs & Elizabeth BuchananIn this special summer series of the Afternoon Light podcast you can enjoy the presentations delivered at our November 2023 conference entitled ‘The Menzies Ascendency: Implementing a Liberal Agenda and Consolidating Gains 1954-1961’. This third episode features Bob Bowker’s paper ‘Menzies, Eisenhower and Suez’, Sean Jacob’s paper ‘Skilful handling: Menzies and the West New Guinea dispute’ (begins 29:25), and Elizabeth Buchanan’s paper ‘Menzies and the Antarctic Treaty’ (begins 42:44).
Dr Bob Bowker is the author of Australia, Menzies and Suez: Australian Policymaking on the Middle East Before, During and After the Suez Crisis. He is also the co-editor, with Matthe...2024-01-1058 minAfternoon LightSummer Series 2023-4 Part 1: Paul Kelly, Anne Henderson, & Paul StrangioIn this special summer series of the Afternoon Light podcast you can enjoy the presentations delivered at our November 2023 conference entitled ‘The Menzies Ascendency: Implementing a Liberal Agenda and Consolidating Gains 1954-1961’. This first episode features the keynote address delivered by Paul Kelly, Anne Henderson’s paper on ‘Menzies, Evatt, and the Labor Split’ (begins at 21:55), and Paul Strangio’s paper on ‘The Labor split in Victoria: The bedrock of Menzies’s ascendancy’ (begins at 38:47).
Paul Kelly is The Australian newspaper’s Editor at Large. He is the author of nine books on Australian politics and history including the influe...2023-12-261h 01
No Straight PathReflections on Life & Career with Ashley Menzies Babatunde (Part 2)On this episode of No Straight Path, Ashley shares her reflections on life and career to celebrate her 34th birthday! She shares some of the important lessons she's learned on her journey thus far. She covers mindset, envy, purpose, authenticity, and kindness. Her hope is that these lessons help you as you work to achieve your version of success. This is the second part of a two-part conversation. Thanks for listening! Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Ashley Menzies BabatundeAshley Menzies Babatunde on InstagramHubSpot Podcast Network2023-11-1526 minNo Straight PathReflections on Life & Career with Ashley Menzies Babatunde (Part 1)On this episode of No Straight Path, Ashley shares her reflections on life and career to celebrate her 34th birthday! She shares some of the important lessons she's learned on her journey thus far. She covers mindset, envy, purpose, authenticity, and kindness. Her hope is that these lessons help you as you work to achieve your version of success. Don’t forget to tune in to part two next week. Thanks for listening! Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Ashley Menzies BabatundeAshley Menzies Babatunde on InstagramHubSpot Podcas...2023-11-0925 minAfternoon LightAnne Henderson, ‘A Shakespearean play’ Menzies vs EvattThere has never been a political rivalry in Australia quite like that between Robert Menzies and Herbert Evatt. Born in the same year, these two brilliant lawyers were on opposite sides of the Engineers’ Case and ended up on opposite sides of the House of Representatives. Evatt bested Menzies in the battle over the 1951 referendum, but there followed a political and arguably phycological implosion on Evatt’s part which would shape Australian politics for decades. Joining us to discuss their epic clashes is Anne Henderson, author of the new book Menzies Versus Evatt.
Want to hear more? List...2023-11-0845 minAfternoon LightMichael Wesley, ‘An extraordinary amount of passion’ The Place of Universities in Australian LifeAustralia has often viewed its universities as utilitarian enterprises whose primary function is to train professionals and boost the economy. However, Robert Menzies had a far grander vision for tertiary education, one which saw the university as essential to the health of a democracy. Menzies believed that a liberal education equipped people for a full life and the eternal search for truth that such a life involves. But is the current university sector living up to his dream? Are Australians happy with their university experience? And is the sector plagued by competing priorities? Hear University of Melbourne Deputy Vice-Chancellor...2023-10-1144 minAfternoon LightTroy Bramston, ‘Continues to loom large’ Menzies’s Art of PoliticsRobert Menzies is a towering figure in Australian history, and one who has come to define his side of politics. Yet, despite this, he has only received one full length biography in the last twenty years. How did Menzies come to reach his preeminent position? What can modern politicians learn from our longest serving leader, and how he mastered the arts of persuasion and leadership? And is he often misrepresented by people who want to enlist his authority? Award winning author Troy Bramston unpacks these issues.
Purchase Robert Menzies: The Art of Politics here
Want...2023-10-0445 minAfternoon LightNyunggai Warren Mundine, ‘Only part of their story’ The Journey of Indigenous Australians from Menzies to the VoiceAustralians will soon vote on whether to constitutionally enshrine an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, but do we even accurately recall when Indigenous Australians received the vote? Many incorrectly assume this was a product of the 1967 referendum, but Warren Mundine points out that as a New South Welshman his grandfather was on the electoral roll in 1913. Learn more about the long, often tragic and turbulent road that led us here. Hear the personal story of one of the faces of the ‘no’ campaign. And discover what has led him to believe in a different ‘next step’ in the journey of Indigeno...2023-08-2348 minAfternoon LightTed Ling, ‘I Became An Apostle’ Menzies’s Mission to Develop CanberraWhen Robert Menzies was first induced to switch to Federal politics in 1934, he hesitated because he had significant reservations about spending a large amount of time in the national capital. He observed that ‘Canberra is not attractive, either personally or professionally, for obvious reasons, but I feel that the Commonwealth Parliament must still attract the services of men who are interested in public affairs if the Federal system is to continue effectively’. However, over years spent in the Lodge with his family, Menzies grew to appreciate the place, and resolved to make it a truly worthwhile monument to the nati...2023-08-1640 minNo Straight PathHow to Have a Healthy Relationship with Achievement with Ashley Menzies BabatundeIn the fast-paced society we live in, it’s easy to get caught up in the pressure to succeed. While there is nothing wrong with wanting to achieve success, the way you approach it can either have a very positive or very negative impact on your health and happiness. As someone who knows all too well what it feels like to overwork, I’ve come up with five strategies that have helped me find more joy, inner peace, and excitement about all aspects of my life, all of which I share with you in this episode. If you’re listen...2023-08-0923 minAfternoon LightJohn Hawkins, ‘Prepared in a time of peace’ Menzies as TreasurerThe Treasury portfolio is generally considered the second most important ministerial position, behind only that of Prime Minister. However, despite the onerous nature and great responsibility of the posting, on several occasions the Prime Minister of the day has allocated themselves as Treasurer. This occurred with Joseph Lyons, whose government focused on combatting the devastating effects of the Great Depression, and it was also the case with Ben Chifley. However, it is often forgotten that when a Menzies Government was first sworn-in in April 1939, he too had taken on this double role. Though Menzies’s time as Treasurer was co...2023-08-0938 minAfternoon LightTony Abbott, ‘Above All Else Patriots’ Battling for Australian LiberalismSince the record-breaking run of Robert Menzies, there have been 14 leaders of the Liberal Party of Australia. Each of them has been influenced in various ways by the party’s founder, as they try to take up the essential task of upholding the principles of Australian liberalism (which indeed is a political tradition which long predates Menzies himself). In this special series of the Afternoon Light podcast, we intend to speak to each of the surviving leaders of the party about their connection to Menzies, philosophical beliefs, and time spent heading the centre-right of Australian politics.
In thi...2023-07-1937 minAfternoon LightMalcolm Turnbull, ‘You’ve got to recognise some political realities’ Liberal LeadershipSince the record-breaking run of Robert Menzies, there have been 14 leaders of the Liberal Party of Australia. Each of them has been influenced in various ways by the party’s founder, as they try to take up the essential task of upholding the principles of Australian liberalism (which indeed is a political tradition which long predates Menzies himself). In this special series of the Afternoon Light podcast, we intend to speak to each of the surviving leaders of the party about their connection to Menzies, philosophical beliefs, and time spent heading the centre-right of Australian politics.
In th...2023-07-1243 minNo Straight PathLessons Learned from Accidental Entrepreneurship with Ashley Menzies BabatundeEvery entrepreneur has a different origin story. For some, it’s a natural progression within their career, where they were always going to set out on their own, while others have dreamed of doing it their entire life and just needed the right opportunity. And for another set of people, it happens almost as if by accident. I never set out to become an entrepreneur, and in the beginning, it felt a bit odd calling myself that. My goal had simply been to make people feel seen and heard. But somewhere along the way, I found myself embarking upon my...2023-06-2828 min
Menzies Research CentreTrue Believers: King and Country with Nick Cater, Freya Leach and Louise CleggIn this special series of Watercooler podcasts, we’re attempting something big: to define the virtues that unite Australian Liberals in the 21st century.The True Believers podcasts are the start of what we hope will become a wider conversation about the ideas that bind members of the Liberal Party as it approaches its 80th birthday.Our starting point is the We Believe statement issued by Robert Menzies in 1954 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Liberal Party of Australia. The 17 points express inspiring values and principles, but in language that may sound strange to so...2023-06-0849 minMenzies Research CentreTrue Believers: Nick Cater, Freya Leach, Georgina DownerWith Nick Cater, Freya Leach and Georgina Downer.In this special series of Watercooler podcasts, we’re attempting something big: to define the values that unite Australian Liberals in the 21st century.The True Believers podcasts are a forum for free-ranging discussion that we hope will promote a wider conversation about the things we really believe in - the ties that bind us as a political movement - and the principles from which we can develop policy.Our starting point is the We Believe statement issued by Robert Menzies in 1954 to mark the 10th...2023-06-0153 minNo Straight PathQuick Tips for Podcasting with Ashley Menzies BabatundeIf you have a business and you want to reach a wider audience, or if you are looking for a creative outlet, or if you want to connect with like-minded people on a topic you feel passionately about, I highly recommend starting a podcast! Podcasting has changed my life for the better in so many ways, but it comes with its fair share of challenges. In this episode, I share the tools and resources that will help make your experience of starting a podcast as smooth as possible! Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:2023-05-3108 minAfternoon LightGerard Henderson, ‘Bob was a bit like that’ B.A. SantamariaBob Santamaria is a key figure in the Menzies era. Despite being little known until the mid 1950s, Santamaria’s role as the driving force behind ‘the Movement’ helped to thwart communist influence in the Australian trade unions and precipitate the great Labor split. Though he became a highly visible public commentator in his later years, the man himself remains something of a mystery, having provided contradictory autobiographies and propounding eccentric political ideas. While Santamaria proudly boasted that he never voted Liberal, in Menzies’s retirement, the two Bob’s would often share a drink and a warm chat in Menzies...2023-05-3050 minAfternoon LightBrendan Nelson, ‘You have to give people incentives’ A journey to liberalismSince the record-breaking run of Robert Menzies, there have been 14 leaders of the Liberal Party of Australia. Each of them has been influenced in various ways by the party’s founder, as they try to take up the essential task of upholding the principles of Australian liberalism (which indeed is a political tradition which long predates Menzies himself). In this special series of the Afternoon Light podcast, we intend to speak to each of the surviving leaders of the party about their connection to Menzies, philosophical beliefs, and time spent heading the centre-right of Australian politics.
In th...2023-05-2450 minNo Straight PathFive Tips for Career & Life Throwback with Ashley Menzies BabatundeDrawing on insights from a handful of past guests, this throwback episode outlines five powerful tips for career and life as your host, Ashley Menzies Babatunde shared. Tune in to get inspired by advice rooted in real-life experience. Hear how understanding that things are often grey can help you adopt a growth mindset and even find more success in your career. Learn why freedom and work simply don’t co-exist and how making that distinction can enrich your life. This episode also explores the need to fundraise and appeal to donors and why you should accomplish the goals you wa...2023-05-1716 min
Afternoon LightScott Morrison, ‘We are political tradies… we fix the stuff that needs fixing’ Liberal GovernanceSince the record-breaking run of Robert Menzies, there have been 14 leaders of the Liberal Party of Australia. Each of them has been influenced in various ways by the party’s founder, as they try to take up the essential task of upholding the principles of Australian liberalism (which indeed is a political tradition which long predates Menzies himself). In this special series of the Afternoon Light podcast, we intend to speak to each of the surviving leaders of the party about their connection to Menzies, philosophical beliefs, and time spent heading the centre-right of Australian politics.
In th...2023-05-1749 min
Afternoon LightAlexander Downer, ‘A Progressive Conservative’ Being a Liberal LeaderSince the record-breaking run of Robert Menzies, there have been 14 leaders of the Liberal Party of Australia. Each of them has been influenced in various ways by the party’s founder, as they try to take up the essential task of upholding the principles of Australian liberalism (which indeed is a political tradition which long predates Menzies himself). In this special series of the Afternoon Light podcast, we intend to speak to each of the surviving leaders of the party about their connection to Menzies, philosophical beliefs, and time spent heading the centre-right of Australian politics.
In th...2023-04-2647 min
Afternoon LightBridget Griffen-Foley, ‘The Names are Familiar’ Menzies and the MediaRobert Menzies’s relationship with the Australian media was complex. He had an intense dislike for journalists, for a long time struggled to gain traction in Sydney, and a media narrative played a key role in his downfall as prime minister in 1941. Nevertheless, no-one who had Menzies’s longevity in politics could succeed without having a certain degree of media savvy and important connections in the press. At the end of the day, Menzies was a master of political communication and exploring his relationship with powerful media entities is highly revealing of their role in Australian democratic life.
In...2023-04-1242 minNo Straight PathAnother Setback, Another Comeback with Ashley Menzies BabatundeAt one point or another in all of our no-straight-path journeys, we are bound to face setbacks, but that doesn’t mean we should give up on our dreams! To continue our celebration of the one-year anniversary of No Straight Path, I share some personal anecdotes from my journey thus far and tell the story of how one setback set me up for success. After encountering a major stumbling block in the Hubspot Creators Accelerator Program, I had to take my own advice: honor your feelings, put things in perspective, normalize the setback, and move forward. To take stock of...2023-04-0333 min
Adapt with Danette F-MAdapt with Danette Fenton-Menzies - Podcast TrailerDanette Fenton-Menzies has been an expert in adapting for over 10 years. Join her to discover how you can keep you and your business thriving while the world changes around you.
Each season Danette brings her charm and knowledge to the table as she interviews people around a theme, and breaks down how they navigated the ever-changing world.
Plus Danette will be breaking down some of your listener problems and helping all of us adapt.
Season 1 coming soon wherever you get your podcasts.2023-03-2701 minNo Straight PathLessons Learned After One Year of Podcasting with Ashley Menzies BabatundeWhen you reach an important milestone, it’s natural to take a moment to reflect on what came before. It’s an opportunity to take stock of what you’ve experienced, how you’ve changed, and what lessons you have come away with after everything you’ve been through. Today’s episode is one such milestone, and marks the one-year anniversary of the No Straight Path podcast! It has been a year of wonderful interviews with truly incredible human beings, and I couldn’t be more grateful to everyone who’s been on this journey with me. Since starting this podcast I h...2023-03-2224 min
Afternoon LightJohn Howard, ‘The Greatest Political Contributor to Modern Australia’ Howard on MenziesIn the 122 years that have passed since federation, only two of our nation’s leaders have surpassed a decade serving as Prime Minister. It is notable that the second, John Howard, had a great admiration for and partly modelled his conduct on the first and still unsurpassed record holder Sir Robert Menzies. When Howard was Opposition Leader, Paul Keating would taunt him in Parliament for his connection to Menzies – but Howard not only had the last laugh at the 1996 election, but since leaving office he has spearheaded a new awareness of and appreciation for his predecessor, starting with his high...2023-03-0840 min
Afternoon LightFrank Yuan, ‘Haunted with the statues of mediocrities’ Menzies’s views on AmericaRobert Menzies’s relationship with the United States was complex. While he respected their vital role as Australia’s ‘great and powerful friend’ and protector, and grew to appreciate their shared values, he was acutely aware that they were different to Britain and his first visit to America provoked quite hostile views. Menzies knew that with great power comes great responsibility, and he had some skepticism about whether the United States could live up to its role of global leader as the British Commonwealth receded. Nevertheless, by the time he retired in 1966 his views had warmed such that he decided...2023-02-1536 minNo Straight PathRedefining Success with Ashley Menzies BabatundeThere are so many societal markers of success that it can be challenging to figure out what your definition of success is. When I was asked by the host of another podcast to unpack the word ‘success', I realized that my version of success is living a fulfilling life while doing impactful work. As we enter the new year, today I unpack my definition of success, what it means to me, and how I reached it. You’ll hear a bit more about my journey; how my over-achieving hustle approach to life made me exhausted and less interesting and how...2023-01-0432 minNo Straight PathReflections from my Grandmother with Ashley Menzies BabatundeThey say love rules the world. Today’s episode is dedicated to our host’s grandmother, who’s birthday is on December 10. This episode honors Grandma Eula’s legacy, who was truly a woman ahead of her time. She questioned societal norms. She traveled. She went to church and marched in the streets for LGBTQ rights. She was disheartened by societal inequality, and she founded an organization to fight it. She shared her reflections with Ashley in 2019, and we are honoring her memory by sharing some of her words of wisdom. We kick off our conversation with Grandma Eula’s ‘Double...2022-12-0821 min
Afternoon LightWilliam Cook, ‘The sheer size of it’ Menzies’s Marvelous Book CollectionOne of the main reasons that the Robert Menzies Institute has been set up at the University of Melbourne, beyond the fact that Menzies was both a student and chancellor of the institution, is that he bequeathed the university his personal library of over 4000 books. Housed in the Leigh Scott Room in the Baillieu Library, the collection is a cultural artefact that reveals insights into who Menzies knew, what he read, and what engaged his mind. A remarkable time capsule of twentieth century Australia, it is a great resource for historians and its treasures serve as the basis for...2022-12-0735 minNo Straight PathFive Tips for Navigating Career and Life with Ashley Menzies BabatundeI like to use my birthday month as a time for gathering, celebration, and reflection, and this year I wrote a blog post about some of my reflections over the past 33 years of life. Today on the podcast, I want to share some of these insights with you because I believe they will help you navigate your no-straight-path journeys. As I discuss these five tips, I give examples of how they have played out in my life and in the lives of many of the guests we’ve had on this show. Tuning in you’ll hear about what I lea...2022-11-0915 min
Afternoon LightJames Curran, ‘A certain amount of forgetting’ The Australia-China Relationship from Menzies OnwardAustralia’s relationship with China has always been fraught with both difficulty and opportunity. It was Menzies who established Australia’s first diplomatic mission to China during World War Two, and he had a lot of sympathy for the beleaguered ally that was the Chinese Nationalist Government. It was subsequently quite disheartening to see them defeated in the Chinese Civil War, but the Menzies Government’s attitude towards recognising the victorious Communist regime was far more nuanced than is generally assumed and he was actively conciliatory over the Taiwan Straight Crisis. Such nuance, combined with caution, is a necessary part o...2022-11-0251 min
Afternoon LightJonathan Pincus, ‘Two Very Different Visions’ Menzies’s Long BoomOne of the defining features of the Menzies era was a long economic boom where, apart from the occasional short hiccup, growth remained high while inflation and unemployment remained low. The eternal debate is to what extent did the Menzies Government facilitate this prosperity? While Menzies maintained a significant role for the state and the levers of Keynesian economic control that were already in place, there is no doubt that his anti-socialist vision contrasted with his predecessor who not only tried to nationalise the banks but also tried to expand the Commonwealth’s constitutional powers to organise marketing, dictate in...2022-10-2640 min
Afternoon LightClement Macintyre, ‘First, Second, Third Priority was South Australia’ Thomas Playford & South Australian ExceptionalismRobert Menzies holds the record as Australia's longest serving prime minister, but he is certainly not Australia's longest serving ‘democratically’ elected political leader. That record is held by Thomas Playford, who was Premier of South Australia for an astonishing period from 1938 until 1965. This period corresponded with both of Menzies’s stints as prime minister, and the Federal leader had a complicated relationship with the State’s unconventional non-Labor government. Playford was always determined to extract whatever he could out of the Commonwealth, and Menzies was often forced to oblige. South Australia serves as a fascinating case study into how Australi...2022-10-1248 minNo Straight PathFrom Setback to Comeback with Ashley Menzies BabatundeIn this solo episode, I do a deep dive into how to bounce back from a setback. At some point in our no-straight-path journeys, we all face setbacks and I believe that by sharing our stories and the lessons learned we can help others struggle less and soften the blows. Given the fact that many big companies have recently announced staff reductions and lots of people are facing job losses, in this episode, I use job loss to contextualize the issue, but it is relevant to other setbacks. Having failed the bar exam to become a lawyer, I have...2022-09-2816 min
Afternoon LightJeff Wilson, ‘A period of radical change and bravery on behalf of Australia’ Analysing today’s dilemmas through the lens of the Menzies EraIt is no secret that Australia currently faces a troubled geopolitical environment, indeed one of the most difficult that we have faced in recent memory. In these novel circumstances it is worthwhile looking back on past periods of disturbance to draw lessons for the present. While people tend to be quick to jump to comparisons to the 1930s and its catastrophic descent towards global conflict, there are significant and perhaps more profitable parallels to be drawn between the 1950s and now, particularly when it comes to a shake-up in global trade and the international economic order.
In...2022-08-3143 minNo Straight PathThe Pivot with Ashley Menzies Babatunde (Part 2)In the second installation of The Pivot, I unpack five of the most important lessons (there were many more, but I’ll get into those in future episodes) that I learned during the period of imbalance that preceded my decision to take a one-year sabbatical from my law firm job and pursue podcasting full-time. From asking for what you want to embracing your childhood qualities and giving yourself grace, tune in today as I share some of the lessons that helped me gain the courage and the confidence to change the course of my life. Thanks for being a pa...2022-08-2413 min
Afternoon LightAndrew Carr, ‘A certain amount of public work’ Menzies as a Civic RepublicanIn the ‘Forgotten People’ broadcast Menzies presaged JFK by suggesting that ‘The great question is, "How can I qualify my son to help society?" Not, as we have so frequently thought, "How can I qualify society to help my son?"’. Following this, a close examination of Menzies’s political speeches demonstrates that he talked about the individual’s duties and obligations almost as much as he talked about their freedom and their liberty. In this vein, Menzies fitted into a long tradition of civic republicanism which stretched back to Ancient Rome and included such figures as Oliver Cromwell. These republicans...2022-08-2443 minNo Straight PathThe Pivot with Ashley Menzies Babatunde (Part 1)Today is the first official day of my year-long sabbatical from law. I am going to focus my energy on being a full-time podcast creator! So, I thought this would be a good time to share how No Straight Path came to be. The combination of my passion for storytelling, my desire to help other people overcome their feelings of failure, and my mom’s encouragement all led me to the point I’m at today and I couldn’t be more grateful. I know how it feels to have the weight of a community on your shoulders, how it fee...2022-08-1720 minNo Straight PathFatherhood & Career with the Menzies Brothers (Part 2)As we bring you part two of our Father’s Day series, today our host Ashley Menzies Babatunde continues her interview with her dad Sydney and his three brothers Patrick, Marvin, and Eric, by delving deeper into their individual fatherhood stories. In this episode, we learn more about how they balanced fatherhood with their careers. Patrick talks about the good and bad decisions that he made, Marvin shares what he wishes he had done differently, and Sydney chats about the gratitude he had for Ashley’s mom Belinda. We hear about the support these fathers received from the mothers of t...2022-06-2217 minNo Straight PathFatherhood & Career with the Menzies Brothers (Part 1)In honor of Father’s Day, our host Ashley Menzies Babatunde brings you the first part of a two-part series on career and fatherhood where she interviews her dad and her uncles. Tuning in, you’ll meet the four brothers: Patrick, Sidney (Ashley's dad), Marvin, and Eric. Ashley gives us a brief introduction to each of the brothers, their careers, and the roles that they play in the family. You’ll hear about their childhood in the LA mid-city area where they were raised by Guyanese emigrants in the same home that Ashley grew up in. Although each of the br...2022-06-1533 minMenzies Research CentrePaul Kelly: The next chapterThe Liberal Party has been ejected from government in Canberra on only four occasions. Paul Kelly has reported on all four, starting with the It's Time election of 1972 through to the defeat of Scott Morrison's government at the May 2022 federal election.In this Watercooler conversation with Nick Cater he draws from the lessons of history to assess the latest defeat and warns of the mistakes the party must avoid in opposition.Paul Kelly is The Australian's Editor at Large.Nick Cater is Executive Director of the Menzies Research Centre and a columnist with...2022-06-0931 minNo Straight PathNavigating Periods of Imbalance with Ashley Menzies BabatundeWe all experience periods in our lives that are imbalanced. And when we try to do everything at once, it often leads to burnout. In this episode, we hear more about our host Ashley Menzies Babatunde’s personal journey. With her wedding two months away, her cases blowing up, and her passion to continue producing this amazing podcast, Ashley is entering a period of imbalance. Tuning in you will hear how, even though she is grateful for everything that is going on in her life, she is overwhelmed. She also talks about how when you are doing something you lo...2022-06-0811 min
Afternoon LightTroy Bramston: ‘That Sense of Stature About Them’ Comparing Menzies and HawkeIn this week’s episode of the Afternoon Light podcast, Robert Menzies Institute CEO Georgina Downer talks to best-selling biographer Troy Bramston about the comparisons to be made between Robert Menzies and Bob Hawke, the longest serving prime ministers for each side of Australian politics.
When it comes to political longevity, Robert Menzies and Bob Hawke are record-breakers who are frequently held up as leadership models for successors to emulate. But despite their competing political philosophies, Menzies and Hawke have far more in common than simply winning elections. Both were born in remote townships on either side of...2022-06-0147 minMenzies Research CentreMick Mulvaney: Fail of the CenturyMick Mulvaney describes the sledgehammer approach to Covid-19 that shut down global economies for months as one of the biggest mistakes of the 21st Century.Mulvaney was President Donald Trump’s acting chief of staff when the pandemic hit. He says the withholding of information by China and the poor advice Trump was receiving from key advisors including Dr Anthony Fauchi led the US to over-react with economic intervention which set the pattern for other countries around the world.“I think it will go down as one of the worst mistakes of the 21st century,” Mulvan...2022-05-1735 minNo Straight PathThe Wrong Kind of Hard Work with Ashley Menzies BabatundeSometimes a job is hard because it’s hard and sometimes a job is hard because it’s wrong for you. In this solo episode, our host, Ashley Menzies Babatunde, revisits some of the pearls of wisdom dropped by guests in previous episodes in relation to this subject. Past guest Sabreena Merchant explains how figuring out this distinction took her longer than she would have liked, while a voice clip from Spencer Paysinger’s interview explains how he realized he was in the wrong job. Ashley also opens up about how this revelation has impacted her own career before breaki...2022-05-1118 minMenzies Research CentreThe courage of Malcolm Fraser: Denis WhiteMalcolm Fraser led a Liberal Party Government for seven years and 122 days. When he lost to Bob Hawke at 1983 election, no prime minister except Robert Menzies had occupied the job for longer.Yet his reputation has been overshadowed by the controversy about the way he came power and quarrels with his own party after leaving it. Six years after his death, a fresh appraisal is long overdue, one unclouded or the dismissal of Gough Whitlam that put in into government by the political arguments in his post-parliamentary years. Dennis White worked for Fraser...2022-05-0641 min
Afternoon LightPeter Edwards: ‘One of the Greatest Examples of Australian Statecraft’ Australia’s Military Commitments Under MenziesThe Robert Menzies Institute recently hosted renowned military and diplomatic historian Peter Edwards for a talk entitled ‘From Korea to Vietnam: Menzies’s Cold War military commitments’. Prior to the event, Peter sat down with the Institute’s CEO Georgina Downer to talk through the complex issues involved in the defence of Australia during the Menzies era.
It is natural and just that Australians should be drawn towards remembering and commemorating the Vietnam War, in which 521 Australian combat personnel lost their lives, as a defining moment in our history. However, this conflict has tended to overshadow the otherwis...2022-05-0449 min
Afternoon LightIan McAllister: ‘What Hasn’t Changed?’ The Evolution of Australian Elections since the Menzies EraIn this week’s episode of the Afternoon Light podcast, Robert Menzies Institute CEO Georgina Downer talks to Distinguished Professor Ian McAllister about the evolution of Australian elections since the Menzies era.
Australian elections have long been characterised by the rather uncommon tradition of compulsory voting, but outside of this and other mainstays like a pencil and paper, much of the way elections are now conducted would have been unrecognisable in Menzies’s day. While Menzies fought for the ‘Forgotten People’, the middle class, the days of traditional class-based voting are largely gone – with asset holdings being more impor...2022-04-1342 minNo Straight PathStory Time with Ashley Menzies BabatundeWe’re back for another episode of No Straight Path, where there are highs, lows, and lessons learned. Today’s is a solo episode where Ashley unpacks the highlights and lessons learned so far, from historic moments regarding the Supreme Court to changing the mindsets that prove detrimental to the well-being of Black women. Ashley shares her personal experiences in the academic world and some of the micro-aggressions that, in hindsight, broke down her confidence and negatively affected her overall wellbeing, a lesson we should all take note of. We end off the podcast with why it’s important for yo...2022-04-0616 min
Afternoon LightPaul Morrissey: ‘Educating the Whole Person’ The Enduring Importance of a Liberal Approach to EducationOn this week’s episode of the Afternoon Light podcast, Robert Menzies Institute CEO Georgina Downer speaks to Paul Morrissey, President of Campion College about a liberal education.
Robert Menzies was a firm believer in the value of a broad liberal education. The Menzies Government reinvigorated and greatly expanded Australia’s university system through both the implementation of the Murray Report into Higher Education and the introduction of merit-based Commonwealth Scholarships, but Menzies insisted that this ground-breaking investment was not based on the mere utilitarianism of boosting the economy by training people for jobs. He wanted universities to c...2022-04-0646 min
Afternoon LightDavid Kemp and Nick Cater: ‘Liberalism and the belief of the individual person as the way to civil politics’ The Robert Menzies Institute ExhibitionOn this week’s episode of the Afternoon Light podcast of the Robert Menzies Institute, CEO Georgina Downer talks to co-curators of the RMI’s permanent exhibition David Kemp and Nick Cater.
David and Nick explain that their curatorial purpose was to create an image of Menzies that Menzies himself would recognise, as opposed to the various projections which detractors and even supporters have attached to Menzies over the years. The exhibition covers eight key themes, including Menzies as a Liberal, Political Architect, Leader, Parliamentarian, Family Man, Nation Builder, Patriot, and his Legacy. Taken together they form a co...2022-03-3045 min
Afternoon LightSybil Nolan: ‘His Whole Prospects were Formed Out of Study’ Discovery in the Menzies CollectionThis week on the Afternoon Light podcast, Robert Menzies Institute CEO Georgina Downer speaks to Sybil Nolan about the Menzies Collection.
In 1976 Sir Robert Menzies bequeathed his library and archive of approximately 4000 items to the University of Melbourne. The collection is a unique historical and cultural artefact, showcasing the breadth of Menzies’s intellectual influences and acting as a sociological time capsule of 20th century Australia. For historians, the collection is a treasure trove of unique items, each having the potential to unlock fascinating secrets about their previous owner.
Sybil Nolan is a historian who ha...2022-03-0244 min
Afternoon LightWilliam Sanders: ‘A Progressive Inclusive & a Group Conservative’ Indigenous Policy Under the Menzies GovernmentThis week on the Afternoon Light podcast, Robert Menzies Institute CEO Georgina Downer talks to Associate Professor William Sanders about Indigenous policy under the Menzies Government.
When Robert Menzies was Prime Minister Indigenous policy was exclusively a matter for State Governments as set out in the Australian Constitution. This would change after the 1967 referendum, which Menzies was instrumental in planning, but until then the primary area in which the Federal Government could legislate, manage, and reform Indigenous policy was in the administration of Commonwealth Territories and particularly the Northern Territory. So it was under the direction of...2022-02-2341 minNo Straight PathWelcome to the No Straight Path Podcast!Hello and welcome to the first taste of the No Straight Path podcast! This is the show in which Ashley Menzies Babatunde will be exploring the idea of success with special attention given to the areas that we so often gloss over. You can expect to hear interviews with an array of fascinating guests from many different fields and backgrounds, all with the unifying theme of honesty, process, and the hurdles that are common in all of our journeys. We hope that through these conversations, success and achievement can be humanized and that the myths of success can be...2022-02-1503 min
Afternoon LightMartyn Lyons: ‘They Certainly Felt Empowered’ Writing Letters to MenziesIn this week’s episode of the Afternoon Light Podcast, Robert Menzies Institute CEO Georgina Downer talks to Emeritus Professor Martyn Lyons about letters written to Robert Menzies.
During his time as Prime Minister, Robert Menzies received thousands of letters from ordinary Australians. Many wrote asking for help, others wrote to congratulate him on various achievements, and still others wrote angrily to scold him for some misdeed like daring to increase the salaries of MPs. These letters can provide a unique social history which offers a marvellous insight into the everyday concerns of Australians of the Menzies er...2022-02-0941 min
Afternoon LightScott Prasser ‘The Learning Leader’ and Nick Cater ‘Forgotten People to Quiet Australians’In this sixth and final episode of the Afternoon Light Summer Series you will hear from Scott Prasser on ‘The Learning Leader’ and Nick Cater on ‘Forgotten People to Quiet Australians’.
Dr Scott Prasser gives a detailed analysis of the qualities which underpinned Menzies’s leadership, drawing on his own expertise in public policy and the workings of government.
Prasser is an expert on public policy and the author of Royal Commissions and Public Inquiries in Australia. He has worked in Federal and State governments in senior research and policy roles and was the inaugural Executive...2022-01-2654 min
The Swamp - The ECC Eels PodcastEpisode 8 - Joely Joins w Joel MenziesEpisode 8 of the Swamp is here, and it is a ripper. Joel Menzies joins the show to discuss his transition to the club, as well as the usual segments that everyone loves.2022-01-2626 min
Afternoon LightAnne Henderson: ‘Preparation for War, the Trade Union Movement and Appeasement’ and Frank Bongiorno: ‘Curtin and Menzies’In this fifth episode of the Afternoon Light Summer Series you will hear from Anne Henderson on ‘Preparation for War, the Trade Union Movement and Appeasement’ and Frank Bongiorno on ‘Curtin and Menzies’.
Anne Henderson AM takes aim at writers who have criticised Menzies for being an ‘appeaser’ in the face of the rising threat of fascism in the late 1930s, contextualising his views so as to defeat historical anachronisms.
Henderson is the Deputy Director of the Sydney Institute. She is a prolific and respected author, having published books on Enid Lyons, Joseph Lyons, Mary Mackillop, P...2022-01-1939 min
Afternoon LightDavid Furse-Roberts ‘A Simple Presbyterian in Politics: Robert Menzies, Liberalism and Anti-Sectarianism’In this fourth episode of the Afternoon Light Summer Series you will hear from Dr David Furse-Roberts on ‘A Simple Presbyterian in Politics: Robert Menzies, Liberalism and Anti-Sectarianism’.
Dr David Furse-Roberts examines how Menzies’s profound but somewhat enigmatic religious beliefs shaped his political views, and also how, remarkably for the time, Menzies was whole-heartedly opposed to sectarian bitterness, even clashing with his family over the issue.
Furse-Roberts is a Research Fellow at the Menzies Research Centre. He holds a PhD in history from the University of NSW and is the editor of Howard: The Art of...2022-01-1220 min
Afternoon LightGregory Melleuish: ‘The Idea of Education According to the Young Menzies, 1916-1945’ and Judith Brett: ‘Menzies’s Debt to Deakinite Liberalism’In this third episode of the Afternoon Light Summer Series you can hear Professor Gregory Melleuish on ‘The Idea of Education According to the Young Menzies, 1916-1945’ followed by Emeritus Professor Judith Brett on ‘Menzies's Debt to Deakinite Liberalism’.
Professor Gregory Melleuish delivers a paper prepared with the help of Dr Stephen Chavura, which argues that Menzies saw the pivotal role of universities as the new ‘church’ which could promote higher principles and goals, overcoming the fundamental threat posed by materialism.
Melleuish is a Professor in the School of Humanities and Social Inquiry at the University o...2022-01-0538 min
Afternoon LightJustice James Edelman: ‘Menzies and the Law’In this second episode of the Afternoon Light Summer Series you can hear The Hon Justice James Edelman’s presentation on ‘Menzies and the Law’.
Justice James Edelman examines Menzies’s brilliant legal career and relationship with the High Court, particularly his involvement in the Engineers Case and the overturning of legislation which attempted to ban the Communist Party
Edelman was appointed to the High Court of Australia in January 2017. Prior to that he was a judge of the Federal Court of Australia and a judge of the Supreme Court of Western Australia. He previously practise...2021-12-2924 min
Menzies Transaction Services LLPMVLs: How can they work for you?Jonathan Bass, Business Recovery Partner, alongside Business Recovery Manager Jess Le and Tax Partner, Stephen Hemmings, discuss the process and benefits of Members Voluntary Liquidations. They explain numerous areas such as when an MVL is suitable for a business and what you should consider before going down the route of an MVL.
Contact Details:
Jonathan Bass, Business Recovery Partner – jbass@menzies,co.uk +44 20 7465 1928
Stephen Hemmings, Tax Partner – shemmings@menzies.co.uk +44 207 4651968
Jessica Le, Business Recovery Manger – jle@menzies.co.uk +44 20 7465 19052021-12-2220 min
Afternoon LightDavid Kemp ‘Menzies: Time for a Reappraisal?’ and Troy Bramston ‘Young Robert’In this first episode of the Afternoon Light Summer Series you can hear The Hon Dr David Kemp’s presentation on ‘Menzies: Time for a Reappraisal?’, followed by Troy Bramston’s presentation on ‘Young Robert’.
The Hon Dr David Kemp AC examines how the historiography surrounding Menzies has developed over the years, and argues that Menzies fought for a ‘politics of principle’ in which convictions would trump sectional and short term interests.
Kemp is a former Federal Member and Minister in the Howard Government. Before entering Parliament he was Professor of Politics at Monash University, and after leavin...2021-12-2239 min
Afternoon LightGideon Haigh: ‘The Brilliant Boy’ Remembering the Achievements of Dr H.V. EvattIn this week’s episode of the Afternoon Light podcast, Robert Menzies Institute CEO Georgina Downer talks to author and journalist Gideon Haigh about Doc Evatt and Robert Menzies.
Herbert Vere Evatt and Robert Gordon Menzies led parallel and overlapping lives. Both were: born in 1894, from modest backgrounds, had brilliant minds, able to receive educational opportunities thanks to winning academic prizes, presidents of university student councils, passionate about art and cricket, remarkably successful lawyers who shaped future jurisprudence, served as Attorney General, earned international repute, and led political causes which they firmly believed in. However, because Menzies be...2021-12-1545 min
Afternoon LightBarry Jones: ‘A Strong Acquaintance’ Personal Reflections on Menzies and the Menzies EraIn this week’s episode of Afternoon Light, Robert Menzies Institute CEO Georgina Downer talks to former Hawke Government Minister The Hon Barry Jones AC about his friend, Robert Gordon Menzies. Barry visited Menzies many time in his retirement after having sparked the interest of Dame Pattie for his appearances on the ‘Pick A Box’ gameshow. A strong supporter of the Labor Party who served that party in both State and Federal Parliaments, Jones disagrees with many of the decisions that Menzies made throughout his career, and his insights help to reveal some of Menzies’s limitations while also demonstr...2021-12-081h 04
Afternoon LightJames Waghorne: ‘A Light on the Hill & A Place of Truth’ Menzies’s University DaysThis week on the Afternoon Light podcast Robert Menzies Institute CEO Georgina Downer is joined by Dr James Waghorne to discuss the intricacies and eccentricities of the University of Melbourne at the turn of the century. James is a Senior Research Fellow at the Melbourne Centre for Higher Education and the University of Melbourne’s de facto historian.
When Robert Menzies came to the University of Melbourne to study Law in 1913, it had only around 1000 students. Even that was a great increase from when it opened in the 1850s to teach the sons of pastoralists and to ci...2021-12-0148 min
Afternoon LightBen Wilkie: ‘A Scottish Chauvinist’ The Scots Influence on Robert Menzies’s WorldviewThis week on Afternoon Light Robert Menzies Institute CEO Georgina Downer is joined by Dr Ben Wilkie to discuss Sir Robert Menzies’s Scottish influences.
While Menzies is often derided for being ‘British to the bootstraps’, there was a distinctively Scottish identity that was vitally important within his broader ‘Britishness’. Menzies was an admirer of Robert Burns, and celebrated Burns Night with a quasi-religious devotion. He was heavily involved in Scottish associations, including the Melbourne Scots and the Royal Caledonian Society of Melbourne. Notably Menzies was the only Australian ever knighted in the ‘Order of the Thistle’, an order of ch...2021-11-1735 min
Afternoon LightWarren Mundine: ‘An Enormous Foundation for Things to Happen’ Indigenous Policy under the Menzies GovernmentThis week on Afternoon Light Robert Menzies Institute CEO Georgina Downer is joined by Nyunggai Warren Mundine AO to discuss Indigenous policy under the Menzies Government. From the forming of the Australian Institute for Aboriginal Studies, the 1962 legislative change to give Indigenous people the right to vote in Federal elections and the 1967 referendum, the Menzies legacy is significant.
Warren is a highly respected and influential businessman, political strategist and advocate for empowering Australia’s First People. He serves as the Director of the Indigenous Forum with the Centre for Independent Studies, the Executive Chairman Nyungga Black Group Pt...2021-11-1037 min
Afternoon LightScott Prasser: ‘The Institution of Last Resort’ Royal Commissions and Public Inquiries Under MenziesIn this week’s episode of Afternoon Light, academic and government adviser Dr Scott Prasser joins us to discuss his book ‘Royal Commissions and Public Inquiries in Australia’. Scott elaborates on some of the most important public inquiries from the Menzies era, how they directly shaped Menzies’s policymaking, and why Menzies was more selective in his use of them than many modern prime ministers. Key inquiries from the era include the Murray Report on Universities which was pivotal in informing Menzies’s sweeping reforms to tertiary education, the Royal Commission on Espionage which was formed in response to the Petrov...2021-11-0348 min
Afternoon LightBob Bowker: ‘The Decline of an Empire to which Australians Largely Wished Still to Belong’ Menzies and the Suez Crisis29 October marks the 65th anniversary of the start of the Suez Conflict, during which Israeli, French and British troops attacked Egypt in an attempt to regain control of the Suez Canal which had been nationalised by Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser. It was in this complex and tense situation that Robert Menzies took on a central role on the global stage, acting as the leader of an international committee which sought to convince Nasser to allow an international body to operate the canal.
Joining us to discuss the Suez Crisis is former Australian Ambassador and author of...2021-10-2742 min
Afternoon LightTim Costello: ‘You are Blessed to be a Blessing’ Menzies’s Sense of Duty to Australia’s NeighboursDuring the Menzies era Australian foreign aid spending achieved its highest ever average as a percentage of our GDP, while in 1959 Prime Minister Robert Menzies was able to boast that Australia had taken in more refugees per head of population than any other country in the world, a fact of which he was tremendously proud. Joining us to discuss these issues is the Reverend Tim Costello AO. Tim is one of Australia’s most respected community leaders and a sought after voice on social justice issues, leadership and ethics.
2021-10-2038 min
Afternoon LightStephen Chavura: ‘Britishness Meant… a Love of Liberty Tempered by an Emphasis on Duty’, Examining Menzies’s Political Beliefs in ContextJoining us this week on Afternoon Light to discuss Menzies’s political beliefs is Dr Stephen Chavura, lecturer in history at Campion College. Steve has written a new book, with Professor Greg Melleuish from the University of Wollongong, The Forgotten Menzies. Steve and Greg unpack Menzies’s political philosophy in its own context and on its own terms, not as a liberal nor a conservative.
2021-10-1342 min
Afternoon LightDavid Furse-Roberts: ‘Divine Order in a Distracted Human World’, The Religious Underpinnings of Menzies’s PoliticsJoining us this week on Afternoon Light to discuss his new book God and Menzies: The Faith that Shaped a Prime Minister and His Nation is Dr David-Furse Roberts. David is a Research Fellow at the Menzies Research Centre.
2021-10-0644 minMenzies Research CentreDavid Furse-Roberts: Beyond the MaterialDavid Furse-Robert's book God and Menzies is a timely reminder of the importance of Australia's Judeo-Christian heritage. The message for today's political class is clear: religious freedom is the foundation of a culture of respect.In conversation with Nick CaterBuy God and Menzies: https://www.menziesrc.org/book-shop/pre-order-only-god-menzies-the-faith-that-shaped-a-prime-minister-and-his-nation-hardbackSign up for Watercooler News delivered to your inbox every Saturday: https://www.menziesrc.org/mailing-listShow your support by subscribing to the Menzies Research Centre from just $10 a month https://www.menziesrc.org/suscribe1Email Nick Cater watercooler...2021-09-1653 min
Afternoon LightHenry Ergas: ‘The Wealth of the Nation’, Menzies’s Economic LegacyProminent Australian economist, Henry Ergas AO, joins Afternoon Light to discuss the economic legacy of the Menzies era, a period of sustained economic growth where unemployment was virtually zero, home ownership expanded rapidly, and the middle class, the backbone of Menzies’s forgotten people, made up an ever-increasing proportion of Australian society.
2021-09-1550 minMenzies Research CentreCensored Offering: Chris MerrittThe Australian Law Reform Commission has rejected a Menzies Research Centre submission to its inquiry on Judicial Impartiality, claiming it is defamatory. Nick Cater and James Mathias from the Menzies Research Centre are joined by Chris Merritt, Vice President Chris Merritt to try to make sense of this extraordinary decision. Download the censored report: https://www.menziesrc.org/report-store/submission-to-judicial-impartiality-inquiryShow your support by subscribing to the Menzies Research Centre from just $10 a month: www.menziesrc.org/subscribeEmail Nick Cater: watercooler@menziesrc.org2021-08-2652 min
Menzies Research Centre#51 David Furse-Roberts: Menzies in His Own WordsDavid Furse-Roberts joins Nick Cater to discuss his new book oratorical highlights from the speeches of the great Sir Robert Menzies.
Menzies in His Own Words is published by Jeparit Press. Order at menziesrc.org/books2021-01-2140 min
Menzies Research Centre#34 David Furse-Roberts: Menzies and GodRobert Menzies believed that humans became more virtuous the closer they came to God, says David Furse-Roberts, whose book Menzies And God, will be published soon.2020-05-1836 min
Menzies Research CentreWas Menzies the Jordan Peterson of his time?Sean Jacobs, a security expert and part-time author, has just published a self-help book called Winners Don't Cheat, and a related story in Spectator Australia about the importance of rediscovering Menzies.2018-08-2813 min