The Honorable Brett Mason on being a senator, being an ambassador, and being an author.

How to academia: a School of Justice Podcast

A politician walks into a bar... well it was my office but here was still laughter and good times. I thoroughly enjoyed recording this episode with Brett. I think this is an excellent testament to Brett's intelligence, good humour, and ability to engage with people across all walks of life. Brett has had a really interesting career and is wonderfully reflective and enthusiastic about his achievements and all the challenges that have come along the way. I am really grateful to Brett for allowing me such free range and not flinching from my questioning.

Brett Mason

Jodi Death (it rhymes with “teeth”): @jodi_death

Kelsey Adams: @Kelsey_L_Adams

QUT Centre for Justice: @CrimeJusticeQUT

Mentions and Show Notes

Brett’s book: Wizards of Oz: How Oliphant and Florey helped win the war and shape the modern world (2022)

Inquiries and commissions:

• Costigan Commission (i.e. the Royal Commission on the Activities of the Federated Ship Painters and Dockers Union) - 1980-84
• The Fitzgerald Inquiry (i.e. the Commission of Inquiry into Possible Illegal Activities and Associated Police Misconduct) - 1987-89
• Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody - 1987-91
• The Bringing Them Home Report, about the Stolen Generations (i.e. the Report of the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families) - 1995-97

Terms and parties:

• Parliament of Australia, which has two houses, the House of Representatives and the Senate
• Glossary of State Parliament terms - minister, shadow minister, backbenchers, oh my
• Liberal party - their website and more info
• Labor party - their website and more info
• Crossing the floor - what it is and why Labor party members can’t do it - in short:

“...Labor MPs are bound by a formal party pledge to support the collective decisions of their parliamentary caucus. To flout the pledge is to risk expulsion from the party. The last MP to ignore such warnings was Western Australia's Graeme Campbell. He lost his ALP endorsement in 1995, and his seat, as an independent, in the House of Representatives in 1998.” Sydney Morning Herald, 2006

• Communism
• Democratic Labour Party
• Westminster system

Cast of characters in Aussie politics:

• Kevin Rudd (and his statement containing a mention of Queensland potentially becoming the Alabama of Australia)

• Sir Joh (and his political downfall)

• Peter Coaldrake

• Trevor Evans

• John Howard
• Tony Abbott
• George Brandis
• Malcolm Turnbull
• Julie Bishop
• Bob Hawke (did you know that before becoming prime minister of Australia, he set a world record by drinking 1.4 litres of beer in 11 seconds?)
• Penny Wong

Who’s your favourite prime minister?

• John Howard
• Robert Menzies
• John Curtin
• Bob Hawke
• Paul Keating