Open House Interviews

Bruce Baird, the former Liberal MP who has opened doors for Scott Morrison, chats about the new PM, his faith, and his tough stance on refugees.

Professor John Warhurst, Emeritus Professor of politics from ANU and regular commentator talks Open House through the change of federal leadership.

With a new Prime Minister in Canberra what sort of leadership values should we expect from a man who is so publicly and avowedly Christian? On Open House, author and theologian, Brian Harris, outlined the five 'S' qualities of Christian leadership.

Charlie Duke, 10th astronaut to walk on the Moon, speaks to Sheridan Voysey House about his experiences in space, and his Christian faith.

John Smith, legendary Australian minister, commentator, activist and founder of the God’s Squad Motorcycle Club has died after a long battle with cancer.

People are more likely to believe a true or false claim if it is paired with a photograph, a researcher from The Australian National University (ANU) has found. Dr Eryn Newman, from the ANU Research School of Psychology, has been finding out how people find truth in a fake-news era.

Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) are one of the busiest airlines in the world. A Christian registered charity they go where others, quite literally, fear to tread. Ian McDougall from MAF Australia Group told Open House about the incredible work the organisation do in remote an isolated locations in Australia and around the world.

Do you feel like you are barely holding on? Let the golden thread of God's presence be the calm on the other side of chaos. It could be that He is weaving a brilliant new beginning in the middle of your mess. Darlene Zschech spoke on Open House about her new book, 'The Golden Thread - Experiencing God's presence in every season of life."

Oxygen is expensive and a scarce resource for health facilities in the developing world. By training staff in identifying the sick children who need oxygen the most, a Melbourne doctor has helped Nigerian hospitals halve the number of children dying from pneumonia. Paediatrician Hamish Graham, spoke to Open House about the award he has been given for his work and his vision to see oxygen available to every child in the world who needs it.

120 of the world’s best soil, health and agricultural scientists met recently in Sydney at a Global Soil Security conference. The scientists looked at how we can secure our soil for the centuries ahead while still feeding the billions of people on the planet. Professor Cristine Morgan, Professor of Soil Science, Texas A&M University was our guest on Open House.

Professor Tormey, from the University of Sydney, is an expert on European politics and populism. On Open House, he took us through the troubles facing French President, Emmanuel Macron, the bitter EU - UK divorce and why voters believe the empty promises of populist politicians. We even managed to get his opinion on happenings in Canberra, confirming for Professor Tormey just why he doesn't follow Australian politics.

The songs of Blue Whales are changing and that is not good news. Scientists think the change is yet another sign of the impact of climate change on our environment. Researcher Dr Emmannelle Leroy explains why on Open House.

Adoption raises many sensitivities and concerns but it's time to talk about it. There are changes coming to adoption law in New South Wales and  moves to make state laws more consistent across Australia.  Two of Anglicare NSW's most experienced staff, Liz Byrne and Sue Madden, talked us through the current thinking on adoption and some touching personal insights into what it means for a child to have a family they know they will be with forever.

After getting hit by a huge dust storm Open House got to wondering where all that soil actually came from. Emeritus Academic in soil science from ANU, Dr Richard Green told us it is another sign the drought is very serious.

A national risk assessment has suggested platypus declines of up to 30% across its range since European settlement, with localised declines and extinctions increasingly reported. “We have great concerns about the future survival of this unique species,” says project leader Professor Richard Kingsford.

Professor Susan Rutland, Emeritus Professor of Religion from the University of Sydney spoke on Open House about her research on SRE. She says SRE is an import mechanism for children to find their identity and that to remove religion is to weaken multiculturalism in Australia.

Caritas Australia ended the year on a high note with a win for civil society and Australian democracy. They have proved that 'sometimes the good guys win' with the success of a campaign they spearheaded to change the provisions of a government bill.

Hold on to your hats! From next year there will be a metric makeover and the kilo will be defined by a number derived from Planck's Constant. So how can a number define mass? It is, as they say, complicated. Science communicator, Petr Lebedev ran Open House through the change.

Caritas Australia has released the State of the Environment for Oceania 2018 Report, Waters of life, Oceans of Mercy. The report contains dozens of first-person accounts and stories relating to the impact of climate change on communities from Papua New Guinea and Kiribati to Tonga, Samoa and the Carteret Islands.

We think of globalisation as something that came about fairly recently but a new book argues that it has been going on for generations having first started with the great gold rushes of the 19th century that saw millions of people move around the world hoping to make their fortune as new gold fields were discovered around the world.

"Australians, and especially the Catholic community, are challenged to respond to domestic violence by reporting violence and not being a bystander, communicating zero tolerance for violence and full support for victims, promoting healthy relationships, developing the capacity to respond appropriately to individual disclosures and praying together for peace, justice, and true reconciliation" Dr Trish Madigan told Open House of the Catholic response to domestic violence on The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

We are all spending a lot of energy reaching for happiness, but never quite able to hang on to it. Real life happens, and our circumstances take us on an emotional rollercoaster ride. So when we hear the call to "be joyful always," it sounds crazy and out of reach. But author Stasi Eldredge says in her latest book, 'Defiant Joy', that it doesn't have to be.

A report on religious persecution finds many faiths are under threat around the globe. Even in a country like Australia the right to Religious Freedom can no longer be taken for granted. Catholic agency, Aid to the Church In Need (ACN) produced the biennial report and supports 5,000 projects worldwide. The issue of religious persecution is highlighted by Red Wednesday when significant religious buildings are floodlit red. Australia participated for the first time this year. Australian Director of ACN, Bernard Totounji, explained the findings on Open House.

The revelation that a Chinese researcher has edited the genes of twin girls shocked and stunned the world. Margo Somerville, Professor of Bioethics at the university of Notre Dame Australia discussed the ethical minefield this development opens.

If you are dealing with the suicide of a loved one, it is important to find support to make sense of what has happened, deal with your grief and learn how to live with your loss. On 'Open House' Colleen Fitzpatrick spoke with Stephen O'Doherty about the work of the Support After Suicide Group run by the NSW Coroner.

UK Prime Minister, Theresa  May has surprised many with her calm, clear and statesman like rhetoric on the exit of the UK from the European Union - the divisive 'Brexit'.

QIMR Berghofer scientists in Brisbane have helped map the genome of the potentially deadly Aedes aegypti mosquito. Dr Gordana Rasic delightfully calls the difficult parts "blah, blah, blah" when explaining to non-scientists how it is done.

The future is now - experts warn climate change impacts are here now and urgent action is needed to rapidly reduce greenhouse emissions. A new Climate Commission report has sobering news. Co-author, Professor Lesley Hughes, spoke to Open House about the impacts and increasing threats to Australia.

The Productivity Commission will investigate the impact of mental health on the Australian economy and identify the ways workplaces can better support people living with mental health conditions. Mental health advocate, Lucy Brogden, says it is about time workplaces recognised mental well being is about 'more than fruit bowls and yoga classes".

A vote this year is now unlikely on controversial changes to the Sex Discrimination Act that would remove the ability of faith-based schools to expel LGBTI students. It means no sudden changes but leaves both sides of the debate uncertain about the future.

Imagine if you had never read or heard the message of the Bible in your own language? That is the reality for Australia’s Indigenous community. Although more than half of Indigenous people are Christians, very few have read or heard the Bible in their ‘heart’ language.

Sometimes by accident, sometimes by design, professional and amateur shutterbugs vie each year for the honour of having their 'perfect storm' - or rainbow, cloud or wave - picked as a feature image on the annual Australian weather calendar.  Meteorologist, Grace Legge, from the Bureau of Meteorology's Extreme Weather Desk, talked to Open House about her favourite weather.

Humanitarian and civil society agencies working in Rakhine State in Myanmar and in the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh are deeply concerned about the planed repatriation of refugees back to Myanmar. Rohingya refugees have repeatedly expressed a great deal of fear about going back.

In April 1915, at a little-known beach in Turkey named Gallipoli, two legends were created. The first was the courage of the Australian soldier: the second was the wartime service of the Salvation Army. On Open House Major Brett Gallager, the head of The Salvation Army's Red Shield Defence Services remembered the role of The Salvation Army in conflicts past and present.

The charitable organisation Dignity is making a huge difference in preventing long term homeless for at risk individuals and families. Now 50 inspiring stories are told in a new book.

Has the world changed a lot since WWI? Well, yes and no. Society, culture and technology have all advanced but some of the political issues that drove the world to the Great War are still apparent in global political tensions. Professor Simon Tomey from the University of Sydney took Open House on a whirlwind tour of one hundred years of politics and populism.

Nothing short of principled leadership can now end the debacle that has become the debate over religious freedom rights in Australia, writes Open House host Stephen O'Doherty.

George Francis enlisted for WWII at the age of nineteen and spent his twenty first birthday in New Guinea on the Owen Stanley Ranges. He talked on Open House about faith under fire and the importance of a positive approach to life.

Philippa Lowe and Susan Sohn think we need to talk about sex. Christian sex. They have developed a website called Ministry of Sex to challenge preconceptions about Christians and sex and to educate, inform and counsel people of all ages.

Flanders poppies have a special connection with World War One. Imagine the surprise art restoration expert, Professor Robyn Sloggett, got when she opened a letter from a soldier on the Western Front and out fell dried and pressed poppies from that battle field. On Open House she discussed the stories that are embodied in such simple objects and issues of culture, ownership and identity that arise in times of conflict.

The heroism of William Cooper, a Yorta Yorta elder who protested Nazism, will be honoured as part of a massive multi-media commemoration on the 80th anniversary of Kristallnacht at the Australian Catholic University (ACU) in Fitzroy. Artistic and musical director for the performance, Warren Wills shared the story on 'Open House'.

AB Bishop has written a beautiful and practical guide to turning your garden into a habitat to attract native animals. She shares a wealth of advice and information in 'Habitat' including how to build places for all sorts of animals to congregate. There are even step by step guides to building an insect hotel and a bee apartment block.

Catholic theologian, Rev Dr Michael Trainor, warns Christians should understand the context of New Testament writings and that the anti semitic "Jews killed Jesus" tone arose from tensions between the Church and Synagogue when the stories were written down generations after the time of Jesus.

Arseny Tarasevich-Nikolaev made his public debut at nine and is an inspiring musical communicator. He is the grandson of famous Russian pianist Tatiana Nikolaeva who was a contemporary of Dmitri Shostakovich.

Brazil has just elected an extreme hardline conservative President who will take office on the 1st of January 2019. Dubbed the "Trump of the Tropics" Jair Bolsonaro is an ex-army captain who admires dictators, despises political correctness and has been described as one of the most extreme figures in global electoral politics. Melbourne University Latin American specialist Michelle Carmody spoke on Open House about his win.

How did Australia decide to join what started as a far way European conflict?  And why did they declare war on Germany 40 hours before Britain? Historian, Douglas Newton, told Open House that the offer of an expeditionary force on Monday 3 August 1914 far exceeded the measures agreed between Australia and Britain as necessary.

The Australian War Memorial has launched a new special exhibition, 'After the war', which explores the personal and societal impact and legacy of war. Assistant curator of the exhibition Dr Kerry Neale gave Open House some insights into the objects that have special meaning.

Director of the Australian War Memorial Dr Brendan Nelson spoke on Open House about the importance of Remembrance Day.

Australia’s leading humanitarian agency World Vision has backed UNICEF Australia's call for a national policy and implementation agenda for Australia’s children and young people. “It’s not enough to want to do good for children, we must ensure any changes we want to bring about are the right ones and are sustainable,” World Vision’s Senior Policy Advisor for Child Rights, Mercy Jumo, told Open House.

Unbreakable Threads is the remarkable true story of an Australian mother's fight to free an unaccompanied Hazara boy from detention and include him in her family. It is an extraordinary story of courage and kindness and the ultimate triumph of family over what, at times, seem like insurmountable odds. Dr Emma Adams shared the story on Open House.

The US midterm elections are on and being seen by many as a test of the Trump Presidency. The result may critically alter the balance of power in both the House and the Senate. All 435 seats in the House and 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate will be contested. In addition, 39 state and territorial governorships as well as numerous other state and local elections will be contested.

Urban overheating threatens the lives of people in Darwin, but researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Faculty of Built Environment have calculated how many lives could be saved by changing the city.

Sydney’s housing is the second least affordable in the world. In NSW, more than 60,000 people are on the social and affordable housing waiting lists. Magnus Linder of Sydney Alliance and Churches Housing spoke on Open House about some of the concerns.

Emily’s Voice was started by a group of friends concerned about the very high number of abortions in Australia. They approached the issue as a challenge to help Australians fall in love with the unborn, and encourage and support women with an unplanned or crisis pregnancy.

Faith communities in Australia and around the world are not waiting for reluctant politicians to take decisive action on climate change. They taking personal action as part of the global multi-faith campaign, “Living the Change".

Can Christian schools maintain their beliefs and approach the issue of gay students and teachers with compassion, tolerance and understanding? Open House took a timely, deep dive into the important questions of religious freedom, anti-discrimination law and human rights that faith-based schools are negotiating their way through.

New research led by the University of Sydney, has revealed the life expectancy of chocolate Labradors is significantly lower than their black and yellow counterparts. Professor Paul McGreevy says it was a surprise finding and warrants further investigation as Labradors are the most popular pet dog in Australia.

For the first time, scientists are reporting evidence that people around the world are ingesting microplastics. Will it be enough to shock us into action? Boomerang Alliance Deputy Director, Jane Paramor talks to Stephen O'Doherty about the world's rubbish crisis.

What does it mean to be spiritual? Can you also be religious? Just how do Australians see themselves and their connection to faith, community and church? New research released at an important summitt sheds light on those questions about our inner life. The research also examined the reality of our world and how we would like it to be.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutes serious international crimes, including genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. What should we make of US National Security Advisor John Bolton's condemnation of the ICC? Dr Carrie McDougall, has first-hand experience of dealing with the ICC and believes it is important to have an independent international body to deal such serious issues.

Dr Peter White from the University of New South Wales reasoned that the DNA of the hardy pest just might provide a weapon to halt their destructive impact on the environment. Dr White was shocked to discover that no one has ever mapped the DNA of the cane toad - so he decided to fix that.

President Ronald Reagan chose Peggy Grande to work at his side for 10 years, and together they created a powerful partnership. Serving as his post-presidency Executive Assistant, Peggy had a front row seat to history and got to know Ronald Reagan the man, not just the president.

Around the world scientists and ordinary citizens are mourning the destruction of millions of priceless scientific and cultural items in the catastrophic fire at the 200 year old National Museum of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro. Expert Australian conservator, Professor Robyn Sloggett (AM), says the deep sadness we feel about the loss of this enormous collection is because humans have intense affection for the past as it is such a part of how we make sense of who we are.

Women leaders from across the denominations of Australia’s churches and Christian organisations came together late last month for an historic visit to Canberra. They were advocating for policies of justice and care for the world’s poor. Sue Irwin, Senior Pastor, The Grainery Church, spoke with Stephen O'Doherty on Open House.

A report by ACOSS and Jobs Australia has found that getting a job while on Newstart is harder than people think. ACOSS CEO, Dr Cassandra Goldie, says the jobseekers on Newstart are often victims of serious and long standing policy failures. ACOSS and Jobs Australia are calling for government to invest in quality employment assistance for the long-term unemployed and for a safety net the supports rather than punishes people.

Dr Denis Alexander from Cambridge University, is a neuroscientist who believes passionately in both the biblical doctrine of creation and the coherence of evolutionary theory. He was recently in Australia to deliver the 2018 New College Lectures, "Genetics: God and the Future of Humanity.”

How to find meaning and purpose in work, paid or unpaid. Clear thinking about work is a key to flourishing as a Christian in the workplace. Our conversation with Kara Martin, author of Workship.

On the second anniversary if the death of her brother, Latoya Hohepa and Common Grace's Brooke Prentis join Open House to call on people to pray over aboriginal deaths in custody.

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has used its 2018-19 Social Justice Statement to express deep concern about Australia’s alarming growth in homelessness and insecure housing. On Open House Executive officer of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, John Ferguson, laid out some of the issues.

Professor Simon Tormey told Open House that populist political movements of both the right and left are changing politics around the world. The latest example is the Swedish election where the right-wing, anti-immigration, Swedish Democrats (SD) enjoyed a growing popularity - despite their neo-Nazi origins.

How should Christians approach their calling? As image-bearers of a creative and loving God our role is to give the world a better name. That's according to author, pastor and theologian Brian Harris. Listen to his conversation with Stephen O'Doherty.

Aboriginal Elder Aunty Jean Phillips ,Common Grace aboriginal spokesperson Brooke Prentice and Common Grace CEO, Scott Sanders, join Stephen O'Doherty for an extended conversation about what justice for Australia's first peoples might look like and the role of churches in that long journey.

President of the Queensland Dairyfarmers Organisation, Brian Tessman,told Open House that the retail giants are profiting from milk production to the detriment of dairy farmers, leaving many farmers struggling to feed their stock and keep their farms profitable. He says a ten cent per litre Drought Levy the organisation is proposing is an important way to help dairy farmers suffering drought and low farmgate prices.

The future truly is right now. University of Newcastle Physics Professor, Paul Dastoor, spoke to Open House about the super lightweight, printable, recyclable solar cells his team have invented. 300 times lighter than ordinary solar cells they have been 15 years in the making but represent a huge energy revolution.

The death of US Senator John McCain from brain cancer marked the end of life of public service for a man whose faith helped him endure five and a half years as a Prisoner of War in Vietnam. He was eulogised by all the living US Presidents, most of whom attended his funeral service. He had many long term friendships, many with political opponents. However, there was one person he never got along with, current President Donald Trump. The animosity was mutual which was made clear by the funeral arrangements and the official White house response to Senator McCain's passing.

In a world where illness seems to be everywhere, where does failing biology stop and personal responsibility begin? On Open House author of Unwell, Mike McRae, explored the nature of illness and disease.

Christian  movement Common Grace is inviting Australians to share in the wonder of creation with a series of reflections and other resources from their climate justice team. On Open House, Common Grace CEO, Scott Sanders talked about the 'Overview Effect'. It is the name given to the experience astronauts have when they leave the Earth and look back to see the planet hanging in space.

An expert explains how good - or bad - coffee really is. And why the coffee dependents among us get a headache if we miss our morning cuppa.

Weedkiller glyphosate, better know by the trade name Roundup, has been in use globally for about 40 years. What will be the impact of a multi-million dollar judgement in favour of a man claiming the chemical caused his cancer. Is the chemical dangerous or is fake news at work? Professor Jim Pratley told Open House the chemical is safe when used correctly and that banning glyphosate would severely impact world food supply.

Catholic leaders have published a report responding to the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. They have vowed that the Church’s shameful history will never be repeated. Father Frank Brennan is a Jesuit Priest, outspoken social justice advocate and also a lawyer. He told Open House that calls to end the secrecy of confession misunderstand the nature of Catholic confession.

Scott Morrison's former pastor says Christians are perfectly entitled to comment on the actions of Australia's new PM, but they should first pray for him. his office and his colleagues.

A new study led by The Australian National University (ANU) has found government policies around the world that aim to reduce water consumption through improved irrigation efficiency in agriculture may actually be having the opposite effect. Professor Quentin Grafton told Open House the irrigation paradox means governments must act now or face a global water tragedy.

In Australia, children in state care leave care when they turn eighteen. Legally they are adults, but are we expecting too much of them and setting them up for a life of failure and disadvantage? On Open House, Paul McDonald of Anglicare Victoria and chair of The Home Stretch explained that within a year, half of care leavers will be homeless, in trouble with the law or a new parent.

The Catholic church is facing sexual abuse crises in several countries, Pope Francis has issued an unprecedented letter to all Catholics about sexual abuse. The Pope asked "the People of God" to help root out "this culture of death" and vowed there would be no more cover ups. "We showed no care for the little ones; we abandoned them,” the Pope said. Open House talked to Fr Brian Lucas about the impact of abuse scandals in Australia and globally.

Photographs of children who have spent their entire life on Nauru were released at the launch of the #KidsOffNauru Coalition. CEO of World Vision, Claire Rogers told Open House the coalition of humanitarian, refugee, church and human rights organisations want to see the 119 children currently on Nauru released by Universal Children’s Day, November 20, at the latest.