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WGaV Podcasts

Who Gives a Vote

Life is politics. Politics is life! Fresh look at Australian regional politics.

Who Gives a Vote
In this episode of Who Gives a Vote, Stuart and Carly sit down with Fraser Coast Councillor and Deputy Mayor Lachlan Cosgrove for a detailed conversation about his first two years on Council. We go beyond the headlines and social media soundbites to unpack what’s worked, what hasn’t, where progress has been made, and the challenges that continue to face the Fraser Coast region. Lachlan speaks openly about: • His time on Council so far • Lessons learned and decisions under pressure • His appointment as Deputy Mayor and how the role is selected • Different opinions on rotating the Deputy Mayor position • Growth, infrastructure and the future direction of the Fraser Coast • The Sheraton appeal Planning & Environment Court decision • Key issues currently facing the region Recorded the weekend following the Sheraton court decision, this conversation provides a candid and longer-form look at local government, leadership, and the realities of decision-making inside Council. As always with Who Gives a Vote, the goal is to create space for real conversations that give the community more context, more detail, and a chance to hear directly from the people shaping the region.
Who Gives a Chat with Cr Lachlan Cosgrove - Deputy Mayor of the Fraser Coast Regional Council
George, Sotera, Carly and Stuart chat about the proposed Castle Law Private Member's Bill; and the Wide Bay Hospital Culture.
Who Gives a Vote Podcast - Castle Law Bill - Wide Bay Hospital and Health.
In this episode we talk about the Queensland Government E-Bike laws. Is it progressive or regressive? We also talk about the South Australian elections and the rise of the One Nation Party.
Who Gives a Vote Podcast - Qld E-Bike Laws - SA Elections
Who Gives a Vote is live tonight at 5:30pm with another full hour of politics. This week we talk about the Royal formerly known as Prince, the republic and the South Australian Election. Join the conversation live. Add your questions and views in the chat. Who Gives a Vote — real conversations about politics, power, and the people who live with the results. Live at 5:30pm.
WGaV - The Former Prince - Republic - SA Election
This Saturday at 10:00am on Who Gives a Chat, Stuart Taylor sits down live with Fraser Coast Regional Councillor Denis Chapman. Cr Denis Chapman has represented Division 8 since first being elected in 2016, and was re-elected in both the 2020 and 2024 local government elections. Over nearly a decade on Council, he has been involved in a number of significant decisions shaping the Fraser Coast, including the Fraser Coast Sports Precinct, the Fraser Coast Council Chambers development, the Scarness Caravan Park redevelopment, and approvals relating to the controversial multi-storey high-rise development in Hervey Bay. Councillor Chapman currently serves on the Traffic Advisory Committee, the Wide Bay Burnett Regional Roads and Transport Group, the Hinkler Regional Deal Community Consultation Group, the Roads and Transport Alliance, and the Wide Bay Burnett Regional Organisation of Councils. His background includes work as a project manager, building designer, mechanical engineer and boilermaker, bringing a technical and infrastructure-focused perspective to local government. In addition to his local government role, Denis is a member of the Liberal National Party and was the LNP candidate for Maryborough in the 2020 Queensland State Election. Join the discussion and add your questions in the live chat. Who Gives a Vote – real conversations about the issues that shape our region.
Who Gives a Chat - Councillor Denis Chapman
Who Gives a Vote is live tonight at 5:30pm for a full hour of politics, policy and pointed questions. This week we take a deeper dive into the Queensland Government’s “Fighting Antisemitism and Keeping Guns out of the Hands of Terrorists and Criminals Amendment Bill 2026”, with a specific focus on the proposed new offence targeting “prohibited expressions”. We’re picking up a topic we touched on last week — but with sharper focus on what changes if certain slogans are banned by regulation, including phrases the Government has publicly flagged such as “From the river to the sea” and “Globalise the intifada”. The Bill proposes penalties of up to two years’ imprisonment, not for violence or threats, but for publicly reciting, publishing, distributing or displaying prescribed expressions in circumstances that might reasonably cause someone to feel menaced, harassed or offended — with debate continuing about scope, clarity, enforcement, and impacts on protest and political speech. Who Gives a Vote — real conversations about politics, power, and the people who live with the results. Live at 5:30pm.
WGaV - Queensland's Ban on Words
Who Gives a Vote is live tonight at 5:30pm with another full hour of politics, policy and pointed questions. This week Stuart, Carly and Robert take on the Queensland Antisemitism Bill. Is it the right balance between protecting communities and preserving free speech, or are we edging closer to a police state where fundamental freedoms are slowly eroded? We also examine the Sydney protests and the police response. Was it proportionate and reasonable, or mishandled from the outset? What precedent does it set for future demonstrations? And the Liberal leadership spill continues, with Taylor and Ley locked in a saga that leaves many Australians asking when the focus will return to governing rather than internal power plays. Join the conversation live. Add your questions and views in the chat. Who Gives a Vote — real conversations about politics, power, and the people who live with the results. Live at 5:30pm.
WGaV - Police State of QLD? - Sydney Protests - Liberal Leadership
Who Gives a Vote is back this week with a packed agenda and plenty to argue about. We break down the Sports Facility and Other Legislation Bill 2025, including proposed changes to Queensland’s concert noise curfews and new restrictions aimed at ticket scalping. We also talk about Tones And I coming to Maryborough and what major events mean for regional communities. And we finish with Barnaby Joyce’s decision to accept free travel from mining magnate Gina Rinehart, and what that says about politics, influence, and accountability. Have a question or a strong view? Drop it in the comments and join the conversation live. Who Gives a Vote — real conversations about politics, power, and the people who live with the results. Live on YouTube.
WGaV - Tones & I - Live Concert Bill - Barnaby Joyce
Who Gives a Vote is back this week, unpacking the growing instability in federal politics. With leadership spills, challenges, and quiet ambitions bubbling away, the Coalition looks increasingly unsettled. But is the turmoil confined to one side of politics? What about the other federal parties — are they truly secure, or just better at hiding the cracks? In this episode, we break down what’s happening, what could happen next, and why it matters beyond the party room. Have a question or a strong view? Drop it in the comments and join the conversation live. Who Gives a Vote — real conversations about politics, power, and the people who live with the results.
Who Gives a Vote - Federal Leadership
This week on Who Gives a Vote, we discussed whether it’s acceptable for a Federal Member of Parliament to abstain from a vote, especially on major legislation. The Antisemitism Bills passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate. But some of the members chose to abstain rather than voting YES or NO. How did the members for Wide Bay, Hinkler, Maranoa and Flynn vote on the Antisemitism Bills? Should we expect a greater level of accountability? Full Episode: https://youtube.com/live/plEg2iuVfA8?feature=share
How members for Wide Bay, Hinkler, Maranoa and Flynn voted on the Antisemitism Bills.
A Canadian tourist has died while visiting k’Gari (Fraser Island), reigniting debate about dingo safety and how families camp. On Who Gives a Vote, Fraser Coast Mayor, George Seymour discussed the tragic loss and shares his thoughts on children camping on the Island.
k’Gari (Fraser Island) Tragedy: Should kids be allowed to camp outside fenced camping areas?
Who Gives a Vote is back this week for a straight talk on the Hate Speech Bill and the Weapons Bill, and what they could mean in practice. We’ll break down what’s actually in the legislation, then track how our local federal members voted and what their votes (or lack of one) say about priorities and accountability. Is it ever acceptable to abstain when big calls are on the table, or is that dodging responsibility? Then we turn to the Coalition break-up: what’s happened, why it matters, and what it could change in Canberra and in our region. Have a question or a view? Drop it in the comments and join the conversation live. Who Gives a Vote — real conversations about politics, power, and the people who live with the results.
Who Gives a Vote - Hate Speech - Weapons - Coalition Bust Up
Who Gives a Vote is back this week with a frank discussion on three of the most contentious political issues dominating headlines right now. We’re taking a first look at the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026 and asking the questions critics are raising: is it rushed, is it bloated, and what could it mean in the real world once it’s law? This isn’t about party lines. It’s about accountability, consequences, and outcomes for everyday Australians. Have a question or a view? Drop it in the comments and join the conversation live. Who Gives a Vote — real conversations about politics, power, and the people who live with the results.
Who Gives a Vote - Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026
Who Gives a Vote is back this week with a frank discussion on three of the most contentious political issues dominating headlines right now. We’ll unpack Daniel’s Law and Queensland’s child sex offender register, examine the ongoing debate around puberty blockers and government intervention in medical decisions, and look at the call for a potential royal commission after the Bondi terror attacks. As always, we’ll cut through the slogans to focus on what these decisions mean in practice — for regional communities, for families, and for places like the Fraser Coast that often feel the impact long after the headlines move on. This is not about party lines. It’s about accountability, consequences, and real-world outcomes. Have a question or a view? Drop it in the comments and join the conversation live. Who Gives a Vote — real conversations about politics, power, and the people who live with the results.
Who Gives a Vote - Daniel's Law - Puberty Blockers - Royal Commission
Who Gives a Vote is back this week with Stuart Taylor sitting down with Councillor Paul Truscott following the Fraser Coast Regional Council meeting. They dive into two big topics: the future of Torquay Caravan Park and the recent LGAQ decision requiring councillors nominated for Queensland State Parliament to resign their local office. Join us for real conversations about regional politics, community impact, and how national decisions shape life on the Fraser Coast. Got questions? Drop them in the comments and be part of the discussion that matters most—right here at home.
Who Gives a Chat - Cr Paul Truscott
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