Episode 167: Brethren, Robes, and Ballot Box Shenanigans

Van Badham and Ben Davison launch into analysis of the Australian
election campaign so far, with Ben barely emerged from a
three-day strategy lockdown at his job but happily reunited with
faithful hound, Germanicus. 


Van has been keeping an eye on the election, and a couple of
perturbing recent twists: parents from Catholic schools in key
marginal seats received thinly-veiled “We’re not saying vote
Liberal, but…” letters from the Catholic education
authorities and publishing them on the internet, with horror.
Van, a Catholic herself, delivers a righteous takedown:


Just when you thought it couldn’t get weirder—enter the Plymouth
Brethren Christian Church (aka Exclusive Brethren). Members of
this secretive sect are popping up en masse at pre-poll booths as
Liberal volunteers, particularly in teal and Labor marginals.
Uniformly dressed, slogan-repeating, and cagey about their
affiliations, Van explains their ultra-conservative, anti-worldly
ethos: “No pets, no pop music, no pants for women—but apparently,
private jets are fine.” The vibes, friends - are sus.


Ben gives a summary of the polling data this far, and what it’s
telling us - but we end with liquid gold. Companies Peequal
and NPK Recovery collected 1,000 litres of female runners’ pee at
the London Marathon and turned it into fertiliser for
wheat—enough for 3,000 loaves of bread. Quote of the day: “It’s
brilliant to think that the nervous wees of thousands of women
are helping a good cause.”


Enjoy the show!