Unparliamentary is the Australia Institute’s fortnightly show that gives you the scoop on what’s happening in federal politics.

Speakers

Rachel Withers — Freelance journalist and commentator

Rachel Withers is a Melbourne-based writer and commentator who spends an unfortunate amount of her time thinking about politics and how it is reported on.

Rachel has freelanced for Slate, Vox, Crikey, The Saturday Paper and The Monthly, and previously spent three years writing the latter’s daily newsletter, The Politics, offering in-depth analysis of the day’s events. In 2021 she was awarded Mumbrella’s “Columnist of the Year” award for providing bold new perspectives on the assault and harassment allegations that rocked federal parliament.

Greg Jericho — Chief Economist at the Australia Institute

Dr Greg Jericho is the Chief Economist at the Australia Institute and the Centre for Future Work.

He holds an Honours Degree in Economics from Flinders University. Greg also writes a weekly column on economics and politics for Guardian Australia – a position he has held since 2013. In 2016 he won the Walkley Award for Commentary, Analysis, Opinion & Critique, and in 2018 he was a Walkley Award finalist with Gareth Hutchens for their report on the crisis of wages in Australia in the Best Industrial Reporting category.

He has also written for ABC, SBS and Meanjin with a focus on policy and journalism coverage of Australian politics. Prior to working at the Australia Institute, Greg lectured in journalism and political communication at the University of Canberra and from 2006 to 2011 he worked in the Australian Public Service predominantly in the arts and film portfolios.

In 2012, his book The Rise of the Fifth Estate: Social Media and Blogging in Australian Politics was published by Scribe.