Tag: Politics
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Community Forum: Lucy Carter, Matt Martino, Maryanne Taouk, Michael Workman and Devi Mallal (ABC News Verify Team)
Lucy Carter leads ABC NEWS Verify, the ABC’s specialist team investigating misinformation, disinformation and questionable claims circulating online. An award-winning investigative journalist with more than 15 years of experience in television and digital journalism, she has worked on stories examining political propaganda, online extremism, social-media platforms and the rapidly evolving influence of artificial intelligence. In…
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Community Forum: Tom Tate, Mayor of the Gold Coast
Tom Tate is the 13th Mayor of the City of Gold Coast and the longest-serving mayor in the city’s history. First elected in 2012, he secured a fourth term in 2024 after more than a decade overseeing one of Australia’s fastest-growing cities. A qualified civil engineer and experienced businessman, Tom worked in construction, property, tourism…
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Community Forum: Rod Sims, Chair of the Superpower Institute and Former Chair of the ACCC
Professor Rod Sims AO is an Australian economist, public-policy expert and former Chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. He led the ACCC from 2011 until 2022, becoming the longest-serving chair in the regulator’s history. During his tenure, he became a prominent advocate for stronger competition, consumer protection and greater accountability from powerful companies,…
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Community Forum: Simon Kennedy MP, Federal Liberal Member for Cook (NSW)
Simon Kennedy MP is the Federal Member for Cook, representing communities across Sydney’s Sutherland Shire and southern suburbs. A member of the Liberal Party, he entered the House of Representatives after winning the Cook by-election in April 2024 and was re-elected at the 2025 federal election. Simon currently serves as Shadow Assistant Minister to the…
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Community Forum: Claire Clutterham MP, Federal Labor Member for Sturt (SA)
Claire Clutterham MP is the federal Labor Member for Sturt in South Australia. Elected in 2025, she became the first woman to represent the electorate in federal Parliament. She lives in Sturt with her husband and stepdaughter and brings experience from law, local government and community service to her role. Before entering Parliament, Claire worked…
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Community Forum: CK – Organiser of the Petition Against the Proposed Trump Tower on the Gold Coast
CK is an Australian resident and one of the organisers behind the petitions opposing the former proposed Trump Tower development on the Gold Coast. She is keeping her real identity private while speaking publicly about the campaign. She started her petition because she was concerned about the development’s potential social, environmental and economic impacts. For…
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Community Forum: Ged Kearney MP, Assistant Minister for Social Services and Prevention of Family Violence
Joining this Reddit AMA is Ged Kearney MP, the Labor Member for Cooper in Melbourne’s north. She is Assistant Minister for Social Services and Assistant Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence. Ged entered federal Parliament in 2018 after a career spent advocating for patients and workers. She worked as a nurse for 20 years,…
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Community Forum: Senator Charlotte Walker, Labor (SA)
Joining this Reddit AMA is Senator Charlotte Walker, a Labor senator for South Australia. Elected in 2025 on her 21st birthday, she became the youngest person ever elected to the Australian Senate. Charlotte grew up in Yankalilla on the Fleurieu Peninsula, where she played netball and worked at the local supermarket. That regional upbringing remains…
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Community Forum: Cheryl Kernot, Former Australian Democrats Senator and Labor MP (QLD)
Joining this Reddit AMA is Cheryl Kernot, a former leader of the Australian Democrats and former Labor Member for Dickson. She represented Queensland in the Senate from 1990 to 1997 and led the Democrats for four of those years. Before entering Parliament, Cheryl was a teacher and became involved in politics partly because she wanted…
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Community Forum: Michael West, Investigative Journalist
Joining this Reddit AMA is Michael West, an Australian investigative journalist and founder of Michael West Media. He began his journalism career as a cadet at The Australian Financial Review and later worked at The Australian and The Sydney Morning Herald, where he was a journalist and editor. A Walkley Award winner, Michael has spent…
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Community Forum: Antony Green, Former Election Analyst at the ABC
Joining this Reddit AMA is Antony Green AO, the former Chief Election Analyst at the ABC. For more than three decades, he helped Australians follow election nights as votes came in and seats changed hands. Antony joined the ABC as an election researcher in 1989 and retired from the broadcaster after the 2025 federal election.…
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Community Forum: Bill Shorten, Vice-Chancellor of University of Canberra and Former Labor Leader
Joining this Reddit AMA is Bill Shorten, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Canberra, former federal Labor leader and former Member for Maribyrnong. As at 2 February 2026, he has spent just over a year leading the university, having taken up the role on 20 January 2025. His move into higher education followed more…
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Community Forum: Senator David Shoebridge, Federal Greens For NSW
Senator David Shoebridge is an Australian Greens Senator for New South Wales, elected to the Federal Parliament in 2022 after serving in the NSW Legislative Council from 2010 to 2022. A former solicitor and barrister, he brings a legal background and experience in state and local government to his parliamentary work. As at 9 December…
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Community Forum: Senator Richard Dowling, Federal Labor For Tasmania
Senator Richard Dowling is a Labor Senator for Tasmania who began his term on 1 July 2025. As at 8 December 2025, he brings a background in economics, public policy and international business to his first year in Federal Parliament. Raised on Hobart’s eastern shore and educated in Tasmania’s public schools, he studied economics at…
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Community Forum: Michael Taylor, Editor of the Australian Independent Media Network
Michael Taylor is the co-founder and Managing Editor of The Australian Independent Media Network (AIMN), which he established with Carol Taylor in January 2013. As at 4 December 2025, he brings more than a decade of experience overseeing an independent platform for citizen writers and public-interest commentary. A retired public servant, he holds qualifications in…
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Community Forum: Senator Tammy Tyrrell, Federal Independent for Tasmania
Senator Tammy Tyrrell is an Independent Senator for Tasmania who entered Federal Parliament following the 2022 election. Originally elected with the Jacqui Lambie Network, she left the party in March 2024 and, as at 1 December 2025, serves on the Senate crossbench. Before entering politics, she worked in agriculture and employment services, helping people experiencing…
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Community Forum: Dr Andrew Leigh MP, Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury
Dr Andrew Leigh MP is the Federal Labor Member for Fenner in the ACT and, as at 11 November 2025, serves as Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury. First elected to Federal Parliament in 2010, he previously worked as a professor of economics at the Australian National University. He holds a PhD in…
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Community Forum: Senator Jane Hume, Liberal Party for Victoria
Senator Jane Hume is a Liberal Senator for Victoria, first elected to Federal Parliament in 2016. Born and raised in Melbourne, she studied commerce at the University of Melbourne before building a career in financial services with organisations including National Australia Bank, Rothschild Australia, Deutsche Bank and AustralianSuper. She also served on the boards of…
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Community Forum: Dr Gordon Reid MP, Federal Labor for Robertson (NSW)
Dr Gordon Reid MP is the Federal Labor Member for Robertson on the New South Wales Central Coast, first elected to Parliament in 2022. A proud Wiradjuri man who grew up at Umina Beach, he brings strong local connections and experience as an emergency department doctor to his parliamentary work. He completed his medical degree…
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Community Forum: Senator Leah Blyth, Federal Liberal Party for South Australia
Senator Leah Blyth is a Liberal Senator for South Australia, appointed on 6 February 2025 to fill the vacancy left by Simon Birmingham’s resignation. As at 22 October 2025, she serves as Shadow Assistant Minister for Stronger Families and Stronger Communities. Before entering Federal Parliament, she spent more than twenty years working in education administration…