Live recording of The Protagonists and The World Today on January 30, 2026.

Описание: How to Break Up Australian Monopolies.

We talk to Dr Alan Moran today about a problem most people know exists but few believe can be rectified. We pay extraordinary prices for fresh produce grown in Australia in peak season. It's not easy to take your business banking to a smaller player that might value your custom more. As for airlines, electricity providers and telecommunications, there appears to be competition but strangely we end up paying the same prices and receiving poor customer service no matter where we go. 

So what can be done to alleviate the cost of monopolies and why is it too hard for Government to fix?

Dr Alan Moran is Principal of Regulation Economics. He is a noted economist who has analysed and written extensively from a free market perspective. Alan was the Director of the Deregulation Unit at the Institute of Public Affairs from 1996 until 2014. He was previously a senior official in Australia's Productivity Commission and Director of the Commonwealth's Office of Regulation Review. 

US Under Secretary of States' Warning to UK and OFCOM.

Under Secretary of State Sarah Rogers said this week  with respect to speech, the  UK has "telegraphed authoritarian intentions" She has announced the US is drafting a bill to prevent enforcement of Ofcom decisions that clash with the First Amendment, building on the UK's 2023 Online Safety Act which targets illegal and harmful content on platforms serving UK users. Free speech supporters celebrated the move as a win against foreign regulatory overreach but where is this heading?

Kate Jones is a White House Correspondent, Journalist, Author and Historian. Kate is North America Editor World Media-UK/USA, CYQ6 Corp and covers Geopolitics, Economics, Technology, Defence issues.

The Protagonists.

During his first visit by a UK leader in eight years, Starmer met President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang making it an important event for the UK. A visa waiver that aligns Britain with nations like France and Germany has been announced. A deal also covers joint action against people smuggling via Chinese boat engines and progress on lowering whisky tariffs. But is this enough and what more could Starmer be seeking from the Chinese. Does China have more to offer the UK?We will ask our panel soon.

Meanwhile when asked what he thought about the U.K. getting into business with China? President Trump said  "Well, it's very dangerous for them to do that, and it's even more dangerous I think for Canada to get into business with China." Is this another threat being made by President Trump?

Kate Jones is a White House Correspondent, Journalist, Author and Historian. Kate is North America Editor World Media-UK/USA, CYQ6 Corp and covers Geopolitics, Economics, Technology, Defence.

Catherine McBride is an economist who worked in derivatives in the City of London for 19 years before working at the Legatum Institute, the Institute for Economic Affairs and the Centre for Brexit Policy.

Bondi's Political Impact.

Jordan Dittloff is a law graduate and works in civil litigation. Formerly Federal Secretary of the Libertarian Party, Jordan worked to help guide the party through the challenges of constitutional and structural reform, and the adoption of its new party name. Jordan maintains a keen interest in policy and in legislation before the parliament. We talk to Jordan about the impact the Bondi murders had on our country but also the longer term impact of this event on Australian politics. We've seen Anthony Albanese get off lightly despite an appalling lack of leadership and Susan Ley, The Opposition Leader becoming a victim of her own actions in supporting bad and rushed legislation. How much went on behind the scenes in crafting the legislation and who's ends does it ultimately serve? And above it all is Pauline Hanson, sitting pretty, but what exactly has she done but play what constitute safe politics.

Child Crime Out of Control In Australia

Shane Healey is a terrorism and youth justice expert. He's a former Australian Defence Force Special Operations Command intelligence operator, and private military contractor. We talk to Shane today about Child crime in Australia and what we are doing wrong.

About: The Protagonists is a panel of three or four, which presents hot-topic discussions on politics, business, newsmakers, global trends, present-day conflicts, and dangers and challenges facing our world.

About: The World Today is a current affairs program which delivers national and international news and analysis to audiences globally. The World Today airs on weekdays and brings the best of the global journalism to audiences around the world.

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