Critical Line Item with Tom Ravlic

Accounting 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 more information.

Professor 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.

One 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 of The Voice to Parliament Handbook with former ABC broadcaster, Kerry O'Brien. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Journalist 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.

The 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 information.

Autor 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.

Victoria 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.

Lawyer 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.

Mark 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. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tax 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.

First 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.

Australians 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.

CPA 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.

Lowy 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 information.

Victorian 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 close monitoring of Crown Casino continues. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Barrister 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.

CPA 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.

People 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 talks through the challenges of revealing unpleasant truths in this episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Doug 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.

Doctoral 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.

Getting 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 necessary national conversation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Investigative 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.

Filmmaker 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 understand why First Nations peoples have asked for a Voice to Parliament. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There 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.

Paul 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.

The 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.

Steve 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 the quality of the public sector. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author 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.

Greens 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.

Journalist and author Troy Bramston has spent a significant amount of time diving into lives of politicians and the biography recently released by Penguin Books on Bob Hawke, one of Australia's most popular political leaders, is no exception. Bramston talks about the journey of writing a biography, what made Hawke so effective as a politician and the personal flaws that dogged the former PM for much of his life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It is difficult for people to assemble data on a politician in one place without looking at multiple sources and some folks might just give up. A new service called Polipedia is being developed by a team of three enterprising women - Su Darmapala, Ebony McKenna, and Sally Stockbridge - that will consolidate key data on Australia's politicians in one handy site that will help Aussies track their local member. Co-founder Emily McKenna talks about Polipedia and what its founders hope it will do to help shape the understanding of voters in Australia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author, columnist and speaker Jane Caro has had a varied career but she has set her mind on a run for the Senate for the Reason party in New South Wales. She talks about the things she wants to see changed and some of the policy priorities that are a motivation for her Senate tilt. Caro's latest book, The Mother, is a cracking tale and she takes us through the key themes of the book and how the ideas for her first adult novel came together. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jo Dyer is the author and independent candidate for Boothby in South Australia for the Federal Election in 2022. Her book 'Burning Down The House: Reconstructing Modern Politics" looks at how politics is broken. She talks about the areas of policy she believes will be important as well as touching on the impact of the intense media attention during the year in which the aftermath of the Four Corner story 'The Canberra Bubble' played out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former corporate litigator Georgia Steele has had a gutful of what she sees as 'politics as usual' and she has chosen to put her hand up for the Seat of Hughes current held by Craig Kelly, the former Liberal Party member now running as the chief standard bearer for Clive Palmer's United Australia Party. Who is she? What does she stand for? Steele addresses the policies and the funding issues that have made the news as well as how her campaign headquarters got christened the 'Steele Works'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Australian Electoral Commission has started engaging more with Twitter and other social media platforms in the lead up to the 2022 Federal Election. It is busy trying to put out brush fires of conspiracies online that have been imported from the United States. Evan Ekin is a member of the communications team at the AEC and he takes us through how the AEC is handling the social media space. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Australian media outlets are increasing publishing the names and affiliations of people in fringe extremist movements. What happens when names and organisations are published? How do extremists act? Does it cause them to pull back or stick with the ideology that has brought them attention? Jeff Schoep is the founder of Beyond Barriers, a group that has the mission to help people disengage from extremism. Schoep led the National Socialist Movement for 25 years in the United States. Does exposure - or doxxing - stop people from believing in their ideology? Jeff gives you the answers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former member of parliament Kate Ellis chronicled her experiences in the national parliament of Australia. The sexist and ageist views to which she was subjected might have been something women acclimatised to but those behaviors should never have been acceptable. Ellis and other former female parliamentarians have shared their experiences since leaving that place on the hill. Eliis reflect on the behavior of politicians, the media and a range of other players and suggests that the bear pit of question time could do with more than a little tweaking. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amy Remeikis is a gifted writer and a political journalist with the Guardian in Australia. Remeikis and other survivors of psychological and sexual abuse have seen a seismic shift in community attitudes. Women marched in Canberra and the 2021 Australian of the Year, Grace Tame, ensured that the issues of sexual abuse and the right of a woman to speak about her experience openly and frankly were never far away . The focus on violence against women was intense. Remeikis' new book 'On Reckoning' deals powerfully and personally with the issues that prompt difficult discussions that are necessary if our society is to be a better place. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Political journalist, author and academic Dr Peter Van Onselen is used to getting predictions wrong. He even admits to this being a habit that started with his honors thesis on the Australian Democrats! He reflects on controversies and whether there are times he regrets writing certain columns at particular way or writing them at all. How does he deal with blow back? What does he think about the column he wrote on the photo should with the Prime Mniister and Grace Tame four days on? There was much to discuss - listen up, Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A consultant and trainer in the area of violent extremism, Shane Healey, has seen the results of extremism. He has spoken to people involved in movements and is concerned that people do not necessarily understand what drives people to become extremists and how to approach friends and loved ones who are looking as if they are buying into an extreme ideology. Healey offers tops on how parents and others can try to have a conversation with people as well as touching on what might help to minimise the growth of extremism in our communities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Periodic debate about Australia becoming a republic happens and it is healthy. The Australian Republic Movement has launched a model that has already attracted some opponents and supporters. What the heck does it propose? Their chief advocate on this model is Sandy Biar and Sandy explains why the ARM wants to happen and why certain suggestions were made. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Politics has been changing for eternity and Kosmos Samaras, a director at research firm Redbridge Group, is at the coal face conducting research on the attitudes of individuals on the political climate. Samaras is an experienced campaign director with the Victorian division of the Australian Labor Party. What are the factors causing people to shift from mainstream parties to minor parties? What role might the pandemic play in shaping electoral attitudes? Listen up! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Writer and activist Van Badham took a deep dive into extremism and the result of that research is QAnoin and On - a book on the impact of QAnon on individuals, their families, and the community of which they are part. What are the things she learned along the way? How should families respond when a loved one is caught up in a cultlike climate? What are the lessons for our politicians in grappling with extremism when it ceases becoming a niche past time for people in the darker corners of the internet and it pops out on the streets? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Crikey political editor Bernard Keane has been focused intensely on politicians, government departments and their accountability. His new book. Lies and Falsehoods, is derived from a focus on the Morrison government - and Prime Minister Scott Morrison in particular - and what Keane sees as a growing willingness of politicians to lie and rewrite history in Australia. What does Bernard think about the responsibility borne by the media and the average voter in the a challenging climate? Listen up .... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EY is one of several accounting firms that have reviewed the financial services sector and Tim Dring, a specialist financial services partner at the firm, joins Tom Ravlic to provide an overview of where the financial services sector is at as it moves out of COVID paralysis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author and journalist Sean Kelly has taken a deep dive into the background, personality and government of Prime Minister Scott Morrison. His book, The Game, dissects the way in which Scott Morrison plays the game of politics and during this podcast he offers perspectives on leadership, the role of the media and the propensity for people to view politics as a perpetual contest without diving into the substance of national affairs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Increasing numbers of companies are coming to terms with the fact that they need to tell the story about how they impact the environment in their various statutory and other reports/ Stakeholders are demanding the information and over time will demand more of it. PricewaterhouseCoopers partner Matthew Lunn talks through the challenges and realities for companies that are dealing with new disclosures as well as touching on how governments, global regulators, and stakeholders create a climate in which companies cannot ignore the demand for better information about non-financial issues. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Professional regulation and self-regulation is an area that is filled with debate and controversy and the accounting profession is not exempt from this often vibrant discourse. The CEO of the Institute of Certified Management Accountants, Janek Ratnatunga, has some concerns and would like a royal commission into the role of audit in out legal regime. He also talks about the deficiencies he believes exist in the accounting framework .... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Senator James Patterson is the chairman of the powerful committee that looks at intelligence and security matters in the Federal Parliament. He looks at the work of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security over the past year and points to a series of challenges confronting legislators when it comes to balancing security priorities and the right to privacy of citizens. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Investors and other stakeholders read financial statements when they are issued but not a lot of time is spent looking at the process by which the underlying documents that set reporting principles known as accounting standards are developed. Andreas Barckow is the new chairman of the International Accounting Standards Board and in a very special and extremely enlightening discussion he talks about the way international accounting standards - used by more than 140 countries across the globe including Australia - are developed. He also tackles challenging issues such as how newly created things like cryptocurrencies ought to be accounted for. Listen up! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.