Voices of Australia

Voices of Australia Podcast | Truth, Trust & Politics | Episode 4 | Building Trust in Political Communication

With the 2025 federal election approaching, trust in politics and the media is at an all-time low. Unchecked misinformation is spreading, political discourse is increasingly polarised, and voters struggle to separate fact from fiction. Can we rebuild trust before it’s too late?
In this episode, Mary Gearin speaks with Bill Browne, Director of the Democracy & Accountability Program at The Australia Institute, and Mark Kenny, journalist and Professor at ANU, to explore the crisis of trust in political communication.
They discuss the media’s role in shaping public perception, the impact of misinformation on elections, and the decline of trust in democratic institutions. With election campaigns becoming battlegrounds for misleading narratives, they examine whether stronger truth-in-political-advertising laws and greater media accountability could help restore public confidence.
How can politicians and the media rebuild credibility? Who should be held accountable for misinformation? And most importantly, how do we strengthen democracy before Australians head to the polls?
 
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Truth, Trust, and Politics
02:35 The Evolution of Facts and Mistruths
06:15 The Business of Misinformation
08:13 Democracy and Political Disengagement
11:00 The Role of Politicians in Society
15:43 Media's Accountability and the Fear Factor
20:35 The Existential Crisis of Journalism
23:44 The Evolving Landscape of Media Influence
26:14 Legacy Media vs. New Voices
28:14 Engaging the Vaccine Skeptics
32:01 Innovative Communication Strategies
36:49 Restoring Trust in Politics
41:24 The Future of Political Engagement

Voices of Australia Podcast | Truth, Trust & Politics | Episode 3 | Disconnected: Young Diverse Australians & Politics

In the third episode, we explore the Disengagement Dilemma: Why young Australians, particularly those from migrant backgrounds, are turning away from politics.
Mary Gearin leads a compelling conversation with Kos Samaras, Founder of RedBridge, and Nor Shanino, CEO of Ubuntu Project, as they unpack the impact of misinformation, political disengagement, and rising youth activism on social media.
They reflect on how misinformation shapes community perceptions and how disengagement grows when political conversations exclude real experiences.
With trust in traditional media at an all-time low, young people are finding new ways to organise and have their voices heard, but social media also brings new risks of misinformation.
Although many are sceptical, rebuilding trust starts with listening and engaging meaningfully.
 
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Truth, Trust, and Politics
02:04 Misinformation and Its Impact on Communities
05:46 Political Disengagement and Its Consequences
09:15 Activism and the Role of Social Media
12:27 Global Citizenship and Political Awareness
16:46 The Role of Traditional Media in Combating Disinformation
23:27 The Shift from Traditional Media to Streaming
24:46 Erosion of Trust in Institutions
25:41 Engaging Young People in Communication
28:39 Authenticity in Political Engagement
30:54 The Role of Representation in Politics
32:54 Trust and Scepticism in Information
36:18 Navigating Misinformation in the Digital Age
40:27 Personal Strategies Against Disinformation
40:47 Strategy for Fact-Checking
46:50 Mary’s Conclusion
47:10 End Credits

Voices of Australia Podcast | Truth, Trust & Politics | Episode 2 | Misinformation & Political Disengagement

In this thought-provoking episode, Zali Steggall MP joins seasoned political analyst Michael Maley to explore one of the most pressing issues of our time: truth in politics.
Together, they unpack the growing challenges of misinformation, the rise of "alternative facts," and the historical attempts to regulate truth in political advertising.
In this conversation led by Mary Gearin, they delve into why credible facts matter, how political debate often involves future predictions, and why voters need protection from misleading claims.
They also highlight the urgent need for modern "guardrails" to ensure trustworthy political messaging, especially as AI and deepfakes amplify the risks of disinformation.
Zali and Michael also reflect on how unchecked misinformation can erode public trust and disengage voters, threatening the very foundation of democracy.
They argue that while consequences for spreading falsehoods must be serious to deter bad actors, the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) should not bear the impossible burden of deciding what is true in the political arena.
 
Chapters
00:00 Defining Truth in Politics
06:09 The Challenge of Alternate Facts
10:31 Historical Context of Truth in Advertising Laws
14:53 The Need for Modern Guardrails
20:03 Legislating Voter Protection Laws
26:40 Consequences and Deterrents for Misinformation
31:49 The Fragility of Democracy and Trust
36:55 The Importance of Credible Facts
41:23 Propaganda & Misinformation
45:11 Mary Wrapping Up
45:31 End Credits
 

Voices of Australia Podcast | Truth, Trust & Politics | Episode 1 | Rebuilding Trust in Journalism

In this conversation, Mary Gearin and Kate Torney OAM discuss the declining trust in journalism and its interrelation with political discourse and other institutions.
Kate Torney emphasises the need for journalism to reflect on its role and constructively engage with audiences, particularly younger generations.
Kate Torney also advocates for a shift from traditional conflict journalism to constructive journalism, which focuses on solutions and civil discourse.
She highlights the importance of representation in media and the need for media literacy to combat misinformation and engage audiences effectively. The conversation also touches on the challenges of political discourse and the role of optimism in journalism.
 
Chapters
00:00 The Crisis of Trust in Journalism
01:54 Kate Turney Introduction
02:50 Reframing Journalism's Role
06:05 Engaging Younger Audiences
08:52 Constructive Journalism: A New Approach
12:03 The Importance of Representation in Media
14:53 Navigating News Fatigue
18:14 The Challenge of Political Discourse
21:09 The Role of Optimism in Journalism
24:00 Media Literacy and Engagement
27:08 Avoiding Advocacy in Journalism
29:57 Constructive Journalism in Political Campaigns
33:00 End Credits

S3 E10 | Health and social cohesion: A symbiotic relationship

In Episode 10 of Voices of Australia, Scanlon Institute's CEO Anthea Hancocks unpacks the interdependency of health and social cohesion with two highly respected public health physicians.Healthcare leader and infectious disease expert Associate Professor Kudzai Kanhutu from the University of Melbourne and Royal Australasian College of Physicians, together with Professor Benjamin Cowie Professorial Fellow at the University of Melbourne and Infectious Diseases Physician at Doherty Institute, discuss the critical nature of access to primary healthcare and learnings gained from the healthcare response during Covid-19 through the lens of social cohesion.With an insightful discussion, A/Prof Kanhutu and Professor Cowie analyse aspects of the current healthcare system and where there is room for improvement as it relates to building a cohesive community.
Catchup on all our episodes: https://scanloninstitute.org.au/podcast

S3 E9 | The impact of inequality on Australian society

This episode features Anthea Hancocks, CEO of the Scanlon Foundation Research Institute interviewing journalist Peter Mares and Dr Cressida Gaukroger on the escalating issue of inequality in Australia, and its multifaceted impact on society, democracy, and social cohesion. The conversation explores the ways in which inequality is manifesting, particularly through the housing market, and the implications this has on Australian society.

S3 E8 | Building social capital and active citizenship

In this episode, Anthea Hancocks, CEO of the Scanlon Foundation Research Institute chats to Grace Williams, founder of Citizen Tasmania about the organisation's work and its efforts to support migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers in resettling in Tasmania. The conversation delves into the challenges these individuals face, the role of education and social capital in their integration, and the importance of fostering a sense of belonging in a new environment. Citizen Tasmania's mission is to empower these communities to gain social capital, express themselves, and feel part of Australian culture, addressing the gaps in resettlement that hinder their ability to thrive.
Grace shares that her strong belief in the power of education, ingrained during her upbringing in West Africa, played a crucial role in her resettlement experience in Tasmania. She explained that being literate allowed her to better understand and engage with her new environment, making her transition easier compared to others who might lack such skills. This experience fuelled her passion for advocating education as the foundation for successful resettlement, as it provides the necessary tools to reflect, ask questions, and make informed choices. As a law graduate and winner of a social justice bursary, Grace worked to amplify the voices of those less literate in human rights, further deepening her commitment to supporting educational attainment for others.

S3 E7 | The role of businesses and industry in fostering community cohesion

Episode 7 of the Voices of Australia podcast looks at the impact of businesses and industry on creating a socially cohesive community. Join Scanlon Institute's CEO Anthea Hancocks, as she discusses the topic in depth with Prisma Legal founder and Chair of the Hellenic Australian Chamber of Commerce, Fotini Kypraios, and Deakin University Industry Professor Robin Scott (former Minister of Victorian Parliament). Together they unpack how businesses can contribute to social cohesion, who should be responsible and why its important businesses consider social cohesion, and how Government can partner with industry to create tangible outcomes. Fotini and Robin provide also provides insightful discussion about the importance of embedding diversity, equity and inclusion in organisational culture which in turn drives a more cohesive society.  

S3 E6 | Preparing for the future: Education, social cohesion and the power of social enterprise for young people

In this episode, Anthea Hancocks, CEO of the Scanlon Foundation Research Institute talks to Nathaniel Diong, founder and CEO of Future Minds Network on the transformative power of education and social enterprise in preparing young people for an uncertain future.
Nathaniel shares his personal journey of overcoming a sense of helplessness after high school and discusses the pivotal role of education in fostering social cohesion. He discusses the need for young people to develop empathy, communication, and conflict resolution skills to thrive in a rapidly changing world where many future jobs don't yet exist. He also highlights the impact of his Malaysian Australian heritage on his sense of belonging and connection within society. We hear how at only 16 Nathaniel founded and became CEO of Future Minds Network (FMN), an award-winning youth engagement and training organisation.
Listen now to explore how we can equip the next generation to thrive in a world where many future jobs don’t yet exist. 
 
 

S3 E5 | Social cohesion begins in neighbourhoods

In episode 5, Anthea Hancocks, CEO of the Scanlon Foundation Research Institute talks to Em James (Australian Neighbourhood Houses and Centres Association) and Rosita Vincent (Neighbourhood Collective Australia) about the important role neighbourhood houses play in building social cohesion.  
You will hear from two different perspectives on how neighbourhoods activate to respond to community needs - one being through the lens of regional town Bendigo, Victoria and the other, more broadly sharing unique insights into how its down across Queensland neighbourhood house. 
During a cost of living crisis, does your neighbourhood play a role in helping those most in need? Who's responsibility is it to maintain levels of social cohesion within neighbourhoods?
Tune in to hear our guests' thoughts!