The Silent Majority

The social media ban’s impact on youth media and activism with 6News founder Leo Puglisi and Dr Luigi DiMartino

At the end of last year, the Australian government implemented the social media ban for under 16s. Join us on this episode to hear from Leo Puglisi, the founder of 6News and Luigi DiMartino, an academic researching the use of social media in youth activism, about the impact of the ban on youth media and activism.

The role of the courts in achieving climate action with Dr Faith Gordon and Tom Webster

You may have noticed a few more instances of climate change emerging. This week, we chat to Tom Webster, one of the litigants in a world-first case - Sharma v Environment Minister. Then we’re joined by Dr Faith Gordon, who shares her expertise on the importance of climate litigation and what some of the recent developments mean for us. Find us on Instagram @silentmajoritypod Explore more here: https://home.crin.org/readlistenwatch/stories/recent-developments-on-childrens-rights-and-climate-litigation [https://home.crin.org/readlistenwatch/stories/recent-developments-on-childrens-rights-and-climate-litigation]https://issuu.com/unswlawsociety/docs/court_of_conscience_-_issue_18_2024/60 [ https://issuu.com/unswlawsociety/docs/court_of_conscience_-_issue_18_2024/60]

The rise and consequences of anti-protest laws (Pt 2) with Hannah Thomas

In this episode, part 2 of our two-part series on anti-protest laws, we are joined by Hannah Thomas, a lawyer, activist and writer, who was punched in the face by a police officer at a Palestine protest she attended. Thomas talks to us about her experience and recovery, the importance of protest and the impact of anti-protest laws. Resources: Human Rights Law Centre - ⁠The Protest in Peril report ⁠ [https://www.hrlc.org.au/reports/protest-peril/] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/10/uk-police-arrested-522-people-at-palestine-action-protests-in-london

The rise and consequences of anti-protest laws (Pt 1) with Professor Rob Watts and Violet Coco

In this episode, we are discussing the rise of anti-protest laws from the suppression of Palestine protests in the UK to Australia's own increasing arrests at climate protests. We are joined by Rob Watts, Professor of Social Policy at RMIT University, who has expertise in protest rights, and Violet CoCo, a frontline activist and organiser who works across the movement, specialising in direct action for peace, justice, and a liveable planet. Resources: Human Rights Law Centre - The Protest in Peril report [https://www.hrlc.org.au/reports/protest-peril/] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/10/uk-police-arrested-522-people-at-palestine-action-protests-in-london

The Polycrisis is here, so here’s what we can do with Professor Judith Bessant and Hannah Vardy

In this episode, we discuss the nuances of the polycrisis where we see the intersection between climate change and housing, student debt and several other issues disproportionately affecting young people. We are joined by Judith Bessant, Distinguished Professor in Social Policy at RMIT University, talks us through the intersection of issues affecting young people and what meaningful policy looks like. Hannah Vardy, Duty of Care Campaigner and Senator David Pocock’s Senate running mate in the 2025 election, talks about her experience using campaigns and institutional politics to make change. Shownotes Duty of care campaign: https://www.dutyofcare.org.au/ [https://www.dutyofcare.org.au/] https://adutyofcare.davidpocock.com.au/ [ https://adutyofcare.davidpocock.com.au/] Young people and the polycrisis [chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/13676261.2025.2468478] Australia just elected it's youngest ever Senator... [https://theconversation.com/australia-has-elected-its-youngest-senator-with-gen-z-wielding-more-political-power-is-it-a-sign-of-things-to-come-257711]