Natasha Mitchell

2 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Natasha Mitchell |Claire Slattery |David Le May

It's been 60 years since then Australian Prime Minister Robert Menzies sent Australians to fight in the Vietnam War. Since that time, the defence force has been involved in many armed conflicts and peace keeping missions around the world — but with varying degrees of public support. So how have successive Australian governments managed public consensus around military engagements? And with war once again a threat to global security, might they have to do so again?

2 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Natasha Mitchell |Claire Slattery |Ross Richardson |David Le May

If democracy is the will of the people, what does this federal election result say about Australia? In his election night victory speech, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australians had voted for Australian values, claiming these were fairness, aspiration and opportunity for all. But is this right message we should take from the election result? This conversation was recorded live at the 2025 Melbourne Writers Festival in partnership with The Wheeler Centre.

3 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Natasha Mitchell |Claire Slattery |Timothy Jenkins |David Le May

When you hear politicians talk about a future made in Australia, or trade tariffs, or sovereign capability, you might picture steel or aluminium, or beef or beer, or even (since the pandemic) pharmaceuticals. But do you think about the clothes on your back? Australians are now the biggest consumers per capita of clothes in the world. But just three per cent of clothing is made here in Australia. So is it time for a fashion rethink?

3 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Natasha Mitchell |Ross Richardson |Richard Girvan |David Le May

Meta's Mark Zuckerberg has said “a lot of the corporate world has become culturally neutered” and that it needs more “masculine energy”? Has it and does it? At Meta, he recently shut down initiatives that promote equity and diversity in his workplace. In the USA, so has Ford, Mcdonalds, Walmart, and the Trump administration. But in Australia, less than 5% of CEOs in private companies are women and the gender pay gap is slow to budge.

3 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Natasha Mitchell |Claire Slattery |Simon Rose |David Le May

Democracies in retreat, attacks on science, border disputes, death and destruction. It can feel like we are living in unprecedented times - but here's the thing: world history has a habit of repeating itself. So what lessons does history teach us about this moment in which we find ourselves? Do we humans learn anything from the past, or are we destined to repeat the same mistakes? This event was recorded at Adelaide Writers' Week on 5 May 2025.