Represent

This episode of Represent National is a big one! History-making City of Maribyrnong Mayor Mohamed Semra joins the team for part one of an interview about leadership, local government, being elected as an independent, representing your communities and making tough decisions you can live with. Mohamed came to Australia as a refugee from Sudan as a child and was elected Mayor at just 27 years old, and talks us through his fresh perspectives on local politics.  And a new (Re)presenter has entered the ring: Fatima comes aboard to make this the biggest and best Represent National team yet.  We also chat about the government's most recent Intergenerational Report, looking at the state of ageing, birth rates, housing and affordability, with one key question in mind: are young people doomed?! Finally, we chat about the federal opposition's education policy announcements, which include encouraging ex-defence force members to become teachers to crack down on discipline and behavioural issues in schools... interesting.  Represent is a Syn Media podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 18th BRICS summit was held in New Delhi, India and again has raised questions about the balance of geopolitical powers. Is BRICS the G7 of the Global South? Is it just an symptom of an increasingly multi-polar world? Women in South-Africa have taken to the streets to rally against gender-based violence and fe micide (GBVF) after the bodies of nine women were found in Johannesburg over the past two months. GBVF was declared a national disaster in South Africa just under a year ago but how much has changed since? And should Australia also declare a similar disaster? And you may not have heard but legislative elections were held in Russia over the weekend. You probably didn't hear about it because it went exactly as you think it did. Sometimes no news is bad news.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Germany's far-right AfD (Alternative for Germany) has won a landslide election in the Saxony-Anhalt state election coming just short of forming government. If they do manage to form government, it will be the first time a far-right party governs a German state since... uhh... you know,,, the Nazis. And who said history doesn't repeat itself? Back home, Australia is being accused of foreign interference after texts were leaked between them and Solomon Islands leadership about a new treaty.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Represent National, Ashley, Benita and Zoe talk about the Liberal and National Parties' leaders comments about 'anti-boy' ideology being taught in schools (???) and Respectful Relationships education.  They also look at huge, high-voltage concrete power poles that have popped up in Melbourne's inner west to power data centres, which locals say they were not consulted over nor warned about. The team discusses issues around data centre location, whether Labor is neglecting the West as 'safe seats', and a whole lot of avoiding accountability.  Finally, the team has a chat about the government's proposed social media algorithm 'opt-out' measures, and how aggressive algorithm targeting has changed the user experience.  Represent is a Syn Media podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No way, Norway has royal family? And the king is dead? And his family's kind of weird? And the monarchy is desperately trying maintain relevance in the modern world? Oh, so a tale as old as time. Pacific leaders try to get literally any work done in Palau while external forces keep getting in the way. And New York makes their attempt at answering the whole AI in schools thing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.