Critical Line Item with Tom Ravlic
200 episodes - English - Latest episode: 17 days ago -Tom Ravlic FIPA has looked at complex issues in business, finance and politics for a range of publications over two decades. Critical Line Item takes you to the heart of the issues that matter in business and politics with guests who are experts in their field. His book on the Banking Royal Commission, Vulture City – how our bankers got rich on swindles, was released in October 2019 was positively received by prominent journalists, commentators and academics.
Vulture City was published by Wilkinson Publishing and is available for purchase from the publisher online or Booktopia.
Tom also co-edited and wrote an introduction to Warren Mundine's Speaking My Mind, which is a collection of articles and speeches from the prominent indigenous businessman and commentator.
You can join Tom's pod cast mailing list to ensure you are kept up to date with all current developments.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Episodes
An Australian Greens' perspective on the public service, government procurement and regulation
April 12, 2024 06:54 - 30 minutes - 41.6 MBSenator Barbara Pocock represents the Australian Greens in the Senate, and she is heavily involved in kicking the tyres of professional services firms as a member of two parliamentary committees. Pocock shares her perspectives on where the Greens think the public service should head as well as how the inquiries into professional services firms are going. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A cross bench perspective from the Senate with the ACT's David Pocock
March 13, 2024 23:35 - 28 minutes - 26.1 MBConsultants and procurement have been at the forefront of parliamentary scrutiny in Australia with and one of the participants in the process of looking at this is Senator David Pocock. He talks in this episode about the various issues the committees are concerned about as well as the issues underlying his concerns about lobbyists and their access to parliament house in Canberra. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A view on the Israel-Gaza conflict
January 09, 2024 02:43 - 17 minutes - 24.1 MBKenneth Katzman is a national security expert from the Soufan Center in the United States who has spent many decades studying the Middle East, its politics, and American foreign policy as it relates to the region. He shares his take in this podcast on the Israel-Gaza conflict and what he believes is necessary in order to bring some kind of return to negotiation in that region. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What factors contributed to the shootings in Wieambilla in December 2022?
January 08, 2024 22:52 - 25 minutes - 35.6 MBAuthor John Kerr has a suite of true crime publications to his hame and his most recent book, The Wieambilla Shootings, sets out his take on the death of two police officers and a Wieambilla local when they were gunned down by conspiracy theorists. Kerr talks about the book and some of the implications of the shootings for the broader communmity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2023 - the year of kicking consulting firm tyres
December 20, 2023 04:49 - 24 minutes - 34.3 MBAustralian Greens' upper house representative Abigail Boyd has cooked up a storm in the NSW parliament as the chair of a committee looking at the way in which consultants are used by the government. The committee is due to report in the new year with only a handful of hearings left. Boyd tells Tom Ravlic that there are a few things the committee will recommend, and some ideas she thinks have merit. What are they? No spoilers - listen up! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more infor...
The writer's craft and the state of contemporary discourse in the public square
October 22, 2023 03:44 - 32 minutes - 45.1 MBJournalist, author and broadcaster Justin Smith speaks about his three books written in recent years including his most recent yarn, called Good as Gold, and he touches on the things that inspire him as a writer. He gives us a unique perspective into his work as well as a broader chat about the troubles of discourse in the community. Can we actually speak freely and have a proper debate? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What the heck are these sustainability standards? And where do they come from?
October 17, 2023 06:07 - 35 minutes - 49.3 MBThere are corporations and other entities that will be doing their best to understand and implement new standards for narrative disclosure. Sue Lloyd is the deputy chair of the Interational Sustainability Standards Board, and she provides a helicopter view of what this process for setting standards is - and the various implications of the new things people will see when the leaf through corporate reports. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mute the noisy galahs in the Voice debate
September 24, 2023 09:23 - 24 minutes - 33.5 MBThe Hallway is a boutique advertising agency that had a great idea and its chief creative office Simon Lee tells Tom Ravlic how this idea - an ad to try to get respectful conversation happening on the Voice - came about. The ad features a kangaroo, an emu, and some noisy galahs. Listen ot the poddie and then watch the short video at https://www.noisygalahs.com/ , Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Boyd and the NSW edition of consultants behaving badly
August 31, 2023 02:35 - 35 minutes - 49 MBThe Commonwealth Parliament has been looking at consultants but it is not the only legislature in the country giving the public service and its outsourced brains a good look. Australian Greens' Abigail Boyd is a member of the NSW Upper House. She is the chair of a committee looking closely at how the NSW government engages and deals with consultants. She reveals the motivations behind the inquiry and talks about some of the things that surprised her even given her experience as a corporate la...
Psychosocial hazards in the workplace
August 31, 2023 00:15 - 18 minutes - 25.8 MBRehab Management chief executive officer Renee Thronton spends her time looking at workplace issues and she joins Tom Ravlic to explain what the new WorkSafe rules are around the issues of making a workplace psycholofically as well as physically safe for employees. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More on consultants behaving badly .... a view from Senator Pocock
August 24, 2023 23:43 - 24 minutes - 33.5 MBConsulting and accounting firms have been under fire for much of 2023 thanks to the curiosity about their operations expressed by the individuals such as Senator Barbara Pocock, a member of a committee considering what to do with consulting practices that receive government contracts. She updates listeners on her thinking about the sector and the issues that continue to surprise. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What is a sustainability standard?
August 16, 2023 08:05 - 29 minutes - 41.1 MBEY sustainability expert Matt Nelson - also a member of the Australian Accounting Standards Board - explains what sustainability standards are and what you might be able to expect from companies that report sustainability information. This is an emerging area and anybody with investments in companies will see a change in company reports over time. Matt explains why the changes are important. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Secret State ... insight into a Four Corners report
August 06, 2023 14:01 - 21 minutes - 29.6 MBFour Corners joiurnalist Angus Grigg takes us on a deep dive into the Secret State report and what he and the team found when they went looking at the way in which consultants had embedded themselves in the ecosystem in Australia's national capital. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Investigating and reporting on war crimes ...
August 06, 2023 06:26 - 16 minutes - 22.3 MBJournalist Nick McKenzie has been responsible for breakking some of the biggest stories but none more so that the one that led to a marathon defamation case involving Victoria Cross winner, Ben Roberts Smith, and allegations of war crimes. Nick outlines some of the challenges that played out reporting this story and touches on a series of challenges faced by journalists taking on high profile cases. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Why does a Senator get interested in audit?
June 20, 2023 07:49 - 22 minutes - 31.3 MBSenator Deborah O'Neill represents the State of NSW in the Australian Senate but is also the chair of the powerful corporations and financial services committee in the Commonwealth Parliament. She got interested in audit a few years back and kick started an inquiry but she's now in the middle of an inquiry into consulting firms and how a government ensures that large global practices keep themselves nice when they take on government contracts. What is her thinking on the way consulting firms ...
Reporting entertainers, and being entertaining in a social media era
June 06, 2023 07:14 - 21 minutes - 30 MBEntertainment reporter Peter Ford has seen everything in entertainment over many years, and he has seen technology shape the way in which reporters work as well as how personalities and those that report on them get feedback from their audience. He talks candidly in this episode about the pros and cons of social media and the whereabouts of a very special watch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Consulting firms - why are politicians having a closer look?
May 18, 2023 08:23 - 21 minutes - 29 MBAustralian Greens Senator Barbara Pocock is up to her eyeballs in consulting firms. She and her committee colleagues are busy looking at how the consulting firms are used by the government, how conflicts of interest might be managed and what value the public sector gets from firms. Pocock gives some insight into her thinking on the current problems plaguing Big Four firm PwC as well as a unique perspective on what it was like to try and get funding from government for university research. ...
Taking a look at things Man-Made
May 18, 2023 08:13 - 24 minutes - 33.9 MBJournalist, broadcaster and author Tracey Spicer has been looking at the world of IT and the way in which technology has been shaped by men. Technology embeds all sorts of biases within it and Spicer explores what all of this means. She talks about the way smart technology can help people with disabilities, and how she gets cracking when she writes a book. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Every tool has its purpose - understanding diagnostic tools used to assess security threats
May 17, 2023 06:38 - 23 minutes - 32.9 MBPeta Lowe is the Principal Consultant with Phronesis Consulting and Training with extensive experience in dealing with juveniles and programs for countering violent extremism. She is concerned about how debate on the various diagnostic tools used in assessing the threat an individual may pose is being had and that it may not be understood that it is tools as well as practitioner skills and experience that need to be considered when reflecting on how people might be assessed as being dangerous...
Kerry O'Brien's voice on the Voice
May 17, 2023 06:09 - 34 minutes - 47.2 MBJournalist and broadcaster Kerry O'Brien has a history in reporting on and observing the way in which Australia has treated its Indigenous communities. O'Brien is as supporter of enshrining an indigenous Voice to Parliament into Australia's Constitution and he outlines why in this conversation. A new book. The Voice to Parliament Handbook, has been published by Hardie Grant and both O'Brien and Indigenous author, Thomas Mayo, explain why they believe a Voice to Parliament is essential. O'Brie...
What going down with the bankers?
May 13, 2023 06:49 - 12 minutes - 16.7 MBIt is that time of the year again. EY partner Doug Nixon takes us through some of the key results from and issues face by the banking sector in Australia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Surviving the coronavirus as an accounting practice - and then pulling off a merger!
May 08, 2023 05:59 - 33 minutes - 45.8 MBAccounting firms have done it tough like all kinds of businesses during the pandemic but Vito Interlandi, one of the joint managing partners of Nexia Melbourne, and his colleagues went one better. They added a merger with another firm, GAP Accountants, on the to do list. Vito talks about the challenges of COVID, the merger and also the kinds of things that he sees as improtant as the accounting profession moves to get itself ready for the future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for ...
How big a problem is radicalisation? And what sort of problem is it?
April 26, 2023 02:33 - 38 minutes - 53.2 MBProfessor Mia Bloom from Georgia State University has spent more than two decades looking at the area of terrorism and finds it irritating that some commentators overstate the threat of certain radical movements. She talks about the issues underlying the diagnosis and assessment of threat and she offers a perspective that helps people that do not think about terrorism on a daily basis understand the phenomenon better. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Life on the road for a Voice
April 25, 2023 04:18 - 29 minutes - 40.2 MBOne of the leading campaigners for the Voice to Parliament, Thomas Mayo, is midway through a marathon effort to try to win as many hearts and minds as possible to support a constitutionally enshrined Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice in Australia's foundation document. He talks about the experience of giving evidence to the parliamentary committee looking at the referendum, what Australians are telling him on the road, and he touches on some of the controversies. He is a co-author...
Ever wondered what happens when people donate their bodies to science?
April 22, 2023 04:58 - 24 minutes - 21.9 MBJournalist and author Jackie Dent has spent time looking at what happens when bodies are donated to science and how those bodies are used to improve medical knowledge and understanding. Her book 'The Great Dead Body Teachers' is her deep dive into a topic that ought to fascinate any reader that wants to understand a part of the world that is important but often hidden from view. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What the hell is radicalisation? And how do we better understand motivations for terrorism?
April 10, 2023 21:13 - 34 minutes - 47 MBThe Wieambilla shootings last December reminded Australians that terrorism might not be far away if people are sufficiently motivated to commit acts of extreme violence. Georgia State University's Professor John Horgan has spent decades looking at the psychology of terrorism and in this episode he talks about issues related to radilcalisation, problems of classifying terrorist activities, and what drives certain individuals to do bad things. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more i...
Hard to Bear - the conversation we need to have
April 04, 2023 20:00 - 26 minutes - 36.1 MBAutor and communications specialist Isabelle Oderberg tackles some of the toughest issues in her new book, Hard to Bear - a book that looks in depth at the issues surrounding the way our society deals with miscarriage. She tackles it with a touch of humour but remains focused on the main goal throughout: to raise awareness of the lack of proper care that women have when it comes to issues related to miscarriages. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Keating's AUKUS spray - interpreting its significance
March 29, 2023 03:39 - 34 minutes - 46.9 MBVictoria University Professor, tom Clark, is fascinated by political speech and in this conversation he explores the recent AUKUS debate with former Prime Minister Paul Keating at its center and what issues that raises from the point of view of political communication. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Getting the feet wet with maritme law ...
March 13, 2023 03:19 - 29 minutes - 40 MBLawyer Alison Cusack spends her time playing in the niche space of maritime law. Her work involves thinking through the legal consequences of getting stuff on and off ships and where in the world any dispute over cargo might have to be heard. Her work is fascinating and how she fell into it equally so. What are some of the issues she faces in dealing with things that float on wet stuff? Listen in. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Scammers will look smarter with AI
March 13, 2023 01:30 - 21 minutes - 29.7 MBMark Gorrie has spent 10 years in technology and works with Symantec (also known as Gem). as their managing director in the Asia-Pacific region Gorrie talks during this podcast about the various problems users of technology are going to face as scammers and slimeballs trawling the internet for ways of stealing funds use artificial intelligence to make their communications look flawless. You thought you were good at picking a scam e-mail? It is about to get a tad harder .... Hosted on Acast...
how the hell are tax practitioners regulated?
March 05, 2023 22:00 - 26 minutes - 36.3 MBTax agents and ethical codes have been in the news in recent times. Tax practitioner Lisa Greig tells Tom Ravlic how the regulatory regime works and what implications there are for tax agents that are sent to the naughty corner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Understanding money laundering and how bad actors can - and do - get caught
March 03, 2023 23:40 - 21 minutes - 29.9 MBFirst AML chief executive officer Milan Cooper takes listeners through some of the issues he sees on a daily basis with clients grappling with attempts to launder funds. Cooper highlights certain gaps in Australia money laundering regulation that still need to be plugged in order to ensure further obstacles are placed in the way of crooks and swindlers seeking to transfer ill-gotten gains through the financial system. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Understanding the Voice to Parliament
March 03, 2023 22:56 - 31 minutes - 43.8 MBAustralians will be asked to vote on whether a Voice to Parliament that would speak for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities should be incorporated into the Australia constitution. Dr Shireen Morris, a supporter of the Voice and a constitutional law expert, takes us through the various elements of The Uluru Statement from the Heart as well as a look at a how the referendum campaign is going. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Budget planning under way - what are the wishes from the CPAs?
February 09, 2023 23:59 - 21 minutes - 29.5 MBCPA Australia is one of Australia's most prominent accounting bodies and its small business policy spokesperson, Gavan Ord, joints Tom Ravlic to talk about small business measures as well as the challenges of consulting with government. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How the heck do we label the things we see as extremism?
January 16, 2023 03:53 - 34 minutes - 47.5 MBLowy Institute research fellow Lydia Khalil spends her work hours contemplating the nasty things bad actors do to others, and how we can better understand the phenomenon of extremism that is unfolding before us. Khalil's book, Rise of the Extreme Right, was published in August last year and the issues it raises are even more relevant now given the Federal Government is gearing up refresh the terms of reference to an inquiry into extremism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more in...
Casinos, gaming, and the spaghetti junction of regulation
January 16, 2023 03:32 - 40 minutes - 56.3 MBVictorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission chair Fran Thorn has her hands full. She heads the regulator responsible for casinos, gaming and lotteries, but the most high profile of the organisations over which the VGCCC has oversight is casino behemoth, Crown. Thorn and her colleagues face a range of challenges in regulating casinos. Hear her explain some of the things she does oversee, the things she doesn't, and some of the issues that the regulator is preparing to deal with as the clo...
Assange latest, presumption of innocence and the need for a human rights act
December 10, 2022 06:05 - 16 minutes - 22.9 MBBarrister Greg Barns SC is a human rights advocate and a member of the team monitoring and providing advice on case of Wikileaks founder, Julian Assange. This chat with Barns covers a bundle of issues including the importance of the presumption of innocence as well as what is needed to stand in the way of government using its power to stop whistle blowers telling their stories in court. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It's Christmas, interest rates are up: what should small business be thinking about?
December 06, 2022 23:53 - 22 minutes - 30.8 MBCPA Australia policy adviser Gavan Ord looks at small business issues and has done for several decades. The post-pandemic environment is tough with some small businesses struggling to stay afloat. High interest rates are only one challenge facing small businesses and Australian households. Ord canvasses a range of options small businesses should reflect on during the Christmas break and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The 'why' behind the Afghan Files story - the whistle blower speaks
November 22, 2022 00:46 - 40 minutes - 56 MBPeople who tell stories governments don't want to hear about their internal workings tend to not be popular and also are pursued if they part with information deemed confidential to the media. David McBride, a military lawyer, raised concerns about the conduct of Australian troops in Afghanistan through appropriate channels in the Department of Defence. Had they been dealt with satisfactorily McBride would not have become a household name. He took his story to the media as a last resort. He t...
Banks and their profits, and other challenges
November 14, 2022 03:31 - 20 minutes - 28 MBDoug Nixon is a partner at EY leading their Oceania practice and he talks to Tom about the current state of play in the banking sector, COVID impacts and the perennial concerns about cyber security in big companies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Disinformation and its impact on politics and society
November 02, 2022 04:28 - 25 minutes - 35.1 MBDoctoral researcher Jean Linis-Dinco has been examining how various players use disinformation for political purposes. This conversation explores disinformation, the technology that makes is easy for its publication and its consequences. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
At the heart of getting a Voice to Parliament
November 02, 2022 04:02 - 32 minutes - 44.7 MBGetting an Indigenous Voice to Parliament as envisioned in the Uluru Statement from the Heart embedded in the Australian Constitution is an objective of the Albanese Goverment but what will it take to swing the majority of Australians in a majority of States to vote for it in the referendum? Dean Parking is a director of From The Heart - an organisation working for constitutional recognition - and he talks about the rationale for The Voice and the challenges in embarking on what is a necessa...
Wage theft: its origins and possible solutions
October 20, 2022 01:00 - 26 minutes - 35.7 MBInvestigative journalist Ben Schneiders has spent almost a decade looking at the exploitation of workers where their pay and conditions are concerned. His new book, Hard Labour, is out and it explores the industrial landscape in Australia and highlights how wage theft become a major problem. Ben also talks about possible regulatory solutions and how the book came together. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How history helps set the context for discussions on a Voice to Parliament
October 05, 2022 02:52 - 17 minutes - 24.7 MBFilmmaker Rachel Perkins is the creative mind behind The Australian Wars, a three-part documentary that looks at the conflicts that took place between First Nations peoples and the various groups of settlers that set up colonies. It is a tough but fair telling of that period with a stellar cast of historians that help shed light on a history many people have not been taught. Perkins talks about the series and the way in which it came together as well as her hope that it helps people better un...
What is the strategy of the E-Safety Commissioner for keeping people safe online?
August 23, 2022 06:50 - 21 minutes - 29.2 MBThere are many varieties of online nasties and the Officer of the E-Safety Commissioner has to deal with them all in partnership with other arms of the Australian Government. E-Safety Commissioner Julie Inman-Grant outlines some of the challenges she faces in her role as she takes Tom Ravlic through aspects of the new strategy for her agency. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Politics through the eyes of a veteran observer
August 16, 2022 02:00 - 52 minutes - 71.6 MBPaul Bongiorno has been in journalism for 48 years and he's seen just about everything. He speaks to Tom Ravlic about the skill of reportage, the search for Truth, and a what drives him to keep going. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Seeing parliament through a new set of eyes
August 15, 2022 05:32 - 22 minutes - 31.4 MBThe new Member for Goldstein, Zoe Daniel, recently finished her first couple of weeks in her new job. The former ABC journalist shares her observations about the new gig, reflects a bit on her old one, and also puts the challenge out to journalists to resist telling the narrative of the powerful. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fixing the public sector - a retired public servants perspective
July 11, 2022 06:58 - 31 minutes - 43.4 MBSteve Davies is a former public servant with deep experience on change management and organisational behavior with a concern about how people that raise concerns in organisations get treated. The Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus has discontinued the prosecution of Bernard Colleary, the lawyer at the heart of a long-running case related to revelations that Australia engaged in intelligence skullduggery with its neighbor. Davies offers a range of observations and solutions targeted at improving th...
Steve Tolz's 'Here Goes Nothing' - exploring the writer's craft
May 10, 2022 04:05 - 29 minutes - 40.4 MBAuthor Steve Tolz has a new novel out called Here Goes Nothing but it really isn't about nothing. Tolz explores a range of issues about the craft of writing and his influences that shape the way he writes today and what readers don't get to see when the writer begins pulling together the ideas. Here Goes Nothing is published by Penguin Books. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Education, welfare and standing as a First Nations candidate for the Greens
April 22, 2022 07:02 - 47 minutes - 65.2 MBGreens candidate Celeste Liddle is standing for the seat of Cooper in the Federal Election on May 21. The unionist, writer and activist has spent a lifetime in the education sector and this time is running for the lower house seat. She talks about her concerns about the state of education, her hopes for First Nations peoples, and other issues that are driving her candidacy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.