The Emerson Hour: Recent Episodes
Thomas Emerson
Listen in as I ask my father to explain politics to me. My name is Thomas Emerson and my father is the Hon Dr Craig Emerson — former Member of Parliament, Australian Minister for Trade and senior advisor to Prime Minister Bob Hawke.
Craig and Tom discuss what politicians do when they first get elected, how voting on bills actually works, the hierarchy of positions in Parliament and how to get promoted.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Intro
00:30 What do you do when you first get elected?
10:52 The job of a new MP
15:00 Voting on bills in Parliament
22:16 What else does a backbencher do?
30:28 The hierarchy of positions in Parliament
33:35 Becoming a frontbencher
41:10 Parliamentary committees
42:35 The responsibilities of a frontbencher
48:25 Getting promoted to Cabinet
51:04 Breaking down the Ministry
53:13 Becoming Prime Minister
56:40 My enemy's enemy is my friend
59:39 What's it like being a public figure?
LINKS
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxFcHTNprJVcGkIupzP3ALw
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-emerson-hour/id1619743298
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ANAFMjEebq9pS4wO4oj61
RSS Feed: http://emersonhour.squarespace.com/podcast?format=rss
Follow Craig on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrCraigEmerson
Follow Tom on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thomashughemerson
Craig and Tom discuss the roots of the left-right political divide and the competing perspectives of left- and right-wingers on political issues including the role of government, free markets, negative externalities, climate change, industrial relations, taxation, international trade, immigration and gender.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Intro
01:24 How is the seating in Australian Parliament arranged?
05:14 What determines who is 'in government'?
06:18 The balance of power
07:52 50/50 left-right
10:51 Left/right temperamental differences
14:32 Marriage equality
16:52 Who typically votes for whom?
20:52 Articulating the left-right spread of parties in Australian politics
21:47 What's the role of government according to each side?
24:22 Libertarianism
25:24 Communism
26:16 Adam Smith
27:18 The sensible centre
30:16 What does it mean to believe in free markets?
34:48 Ethical consumers & activism
38:39 Negative externalities & climate change
43:35 Cherry picking
46:50 Echo chambers
48:40 Centralised planning
51:14 Industrial relations
53:59 Taxation
58:00 International trade
1:02:14 Immigration
1:03:15 Identity politics
1:07:40 Gender roles
1:13:12 Wrap up
LINKS
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxFcHTNprJVcGkIupzP3ALw
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-emerson-hour/id1619743298
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ANAFMjEebq9pS4wO4oj61
RSS Feed: http://emersonhour.squarespace.com/podcast?format=rss
Follow Craig on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrCraigEmerson
Follow Tom on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thomashughemerson
Craig and Tom discuss the differences between running as an independent and as a party member, who funds political campaigns, campaign strategies, Craig’s experience campaigning with Bob Hawke, why Craig joined the Labor Party, and the difference between an MP and a senator.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Intro
00:37 Why would someone run as an independent?
04:25 Why would someone run as a party member?
05:34 Conservatives vs progressives
08:22 Shouldn’t everyone be an independent?
11:58 How do party members balance their personal views with the policy positions of the party and the interests of their constituents?
14:31 Is there more internal disagreement within either of the two major parties?
16:08 How do candidates fund their campaigns?
20:10 Where do political parties’ funds come from?
23:22 Campaign strategies
28:29 Do people base their voting predominately on the party or on the individual candidate?
30:21 What determines who wins an election?
33:03 Is it necessary to discredit your opponent?
34:26 Political gaffes & campaign momentum
37:45 How important is charisma?
39:17 Campaigning with Bob Hawke
45:20 Why did you join the Labor Party?
50:33 Writing & delivering speeches
52:01 Why not the Liberal Party or National Party?
56:36 Campaigning with a roof-mounted megaphone
58:31 The difference between an MP and a Senator
LINKS
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxFcHTNprJVcGkIupzP3ALw
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-emerson-hour/id1619743298
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ANAFMjEebq9pS4wO4oj61
RSS Feed: http://emersonhour.squarespace.com/podcast?format=rss
Follow Craig on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrCraigEmerson
Follow Tom on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thomashughemerson
Welcome to The Emerson Hour, a podcast in which I ask my father to explain politics to me. My name is Thomas Emerson and my father is the Hon Dr Craig Emerson — former Member of Parliament, Australian Minister for Trade and senior advisor to Prime Minister Bob Hawke. In this episode, we discuss why we should care about politics; what motives, traits and qualifications are shared by people who run for parliament; and how to become a politician.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Why are we doing this podcast?
04:30 Why should we care about politics?
08:45 The pandemic & apathy toward politics
11:15 Why you should vote
15:25 What motivates people to join politics?
16:32 Why self-confidence is key for prospective politicians
20:00 Do all politicians want to become Prime Minister?
21:12 Political manoeuvring
26:16 Why Malcolm Turnbull lost the Prime Ministership
28:30 What qualifications are most common among politicians?
29:42 The problem with career politicians
33:15 Political gaffes
34:45 Unique pre-politics occupations
37:50 How does someone become a politician?
44:27 How Craig got elected
47:25 How does preselection work?
50:04 What is an electorate?
52:05 Campaigning for election
53:05 Losing your party’s support & Ivan Milat
55:52 What happens if you lose?
57:35 What happens if you win?
1:01:01 Day one as a Member of Parliament
LINKS
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxFcHTNprJVcGkIupzP3ALw
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-emerson-hour/id1619743298
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ANAFMjEebq9pS4wO4oj61
RSS Feed: http://emersonhour.squarespace.com/podcast?format=rss
Follow Craig on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrCraigEmerson
Follow Tom on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thomashughemerson