Talking to Tim Fischer

Tim Fischer, AC, has served Australia as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and the chairman of Tourism Australia. He’s authored books on a variety of topics from East Timor to trains.

In July 2008 Tim Fischer was nominated by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd as the first resident Australian Ambassador to the Holy See since 1973, when diplomatic relations with the Vatican and Australia was first established.

He’s currently back in Australia and yesterday he visited the Benedictine Community at New Norcia in Western Australia to deliver an address which touched on a variety of issues including the forthcoming canonisation of Mary MacKillop.

I spoke to Tim Fischer on the phone this morning during my radio programme on 98.5 Sonshine FM. You can hear out conversation by clicking the play button on the audio player at the bottom of this post.

I asked him about his address at New Norcia titled, “Representing ‘Australia Unlimited’ at the Holy See: From Religious Freedom to Food Security” as well as the connection between faith and politics and whether he was missing politics during the current federal election campaign. I also asked about his love of trains and what train journey’s he had taken in Europe.

Tim Fischer has a fascinating mix of interests so it’s always interesting to hear from him.

[audio:http://mpegmedia.sonshinefm.ws/feeds/MOR080210_0943.mp3]

Do you think some of your friends would enjoy reading Talking to Tim Fischer? Please use the buttons below to share the post. Thanks.

Remembering Christmas with Colin Barnett

ColinBarnett.jpgColin Barnett is the leader of the Western Australian Liberal Party, Member for Cottesloe and Premier of Western Australia. In the past he has been head of the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a lecturer in economics at Curtin University.

Since entering parliament in 1990 he has held a number of positions including Minister for Resources Development and Energy, Minister for Education and Minister for Tourism. He also served as the Leader of the House in the Legislative Assembly during the Court government.

It was my pleasure to have Colin Barnett as my guest during my Morning Programme on 98.5 Sonshine FM this morning.

We talked about Colin’s early Christmas memories and discussed his hopes for Christmas 2008.

Colin Barnett has been a great supporter of 98.5 Sonshine FM over the years so it was good to be able to show him around our new studios.

You can hear what the Premier had to say along with his Christmas message for Western Australians by clicking the play button on the audio player at the bottom of this post.



Do you think some of your friends would enjoy reading Remembering Christmas with Colin Barnett? Please use the buttons below to share the post. Thanks.

Eric Ripper wishes WA a happy Christmas

EricRipper.jpgEric Ripper is the Leader of the Opposition in Western Australia, Australia’s biggest state. He’s the member for the local area of Belmont and has served in the WA Parliament for over twenty years.

Mr Ripper entered Cabinet as part of the Labor Government following the 2001 Western Australian election. He became Minister for Energy in 2001. He had previously served as Deputy Premier, Treasurer, Minister for Government Enterprises and Minister Assisting the Minister for Public Sector Management in Geoff Gallop’s cabinet. Before the 2008 election, he was the Deputy Premier and Treasurer, in the Carpenter government.

He was my special guest during my Morning Programme on 98.5 Sonshine FM yesterday.

While we’re very used to seeing Eric Ripper in the political spotlight I took the opportunity to find out a bit more about the man behind the politics.

We spoke about his early years growing up in Western Australia, his decision to enter public life and his hopes for Western Australians this Christmas.

You can listen to our conversation by clicking play on the audio player at the bottom of this post.



Do you think some of your friends would enjoy reading Eric Ripper wishes WA a happy Christmas? Please use the buttons below to share the post. Thanks.