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On the Bench

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If you want a friend in Washington, the famous saying goes, get a dog. Is the same true of Canberra? With a sometimes cynical electorate and a particularly hostile parliament, is it hard to hold onto one’s belief in politics as public service? What keeps long-time politicians in the game?

Sally Warhaft is joined by Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science Christopher Pyne (who was, until a recent reshuffle, Minister for Education) and Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen to discuss life on the front bench. In a wide-reaching conversation, the two Christophers will reveal their motivations, their views on Australian political culture today and their personal political heroes in their respective portfolios: education, industry, innovation, science and treasury.

Featuring

Sally Warhaft

Sally Warhaft is a Melbourne broadcaster, anthropologist and writer. She is the host of The Fifth Estate, the Wheeler Centre’s live series focusing on journalism, politics, media, and international relations, and The Leap Year, a Wheeler Centre podcast about Australians’ lives in the fog of ... Read more

Christopher Pyne

Christopher Pyne is the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science and Leader of the House of Representatives in the Turnbull Government. Under Tony Abbott’s leadership, he served as Minister for Education. Christopher was elected to the House of Representatives for the seat of Sturt aged t... Read more

Chris Bowen

Chris Bowen was elected to federal parliament as Member for Prospect in 2004 and McMahon in 2010. He was appointed to the federal Labor Party’s frontbench as the Shadow Assistant Treasurer and Shadow Minister for Revenue and Competition Policy in 2006, and appointed Treasurer by Prime Minister Kev... Read more

Location

The Wheeler Centre

176 Little Lonsdale Street Melbourne Victoria 3000

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