Counterpoint (Radio National)

Counterpoint is an Australian podcast (and a former weekly broadcast) from the Radio National (RN) service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). The show examines social, economic and cultural issues from a politically right-wing view informed by the contemporary "conservative" movement, incorporating some of its radical elements including right-wing libertarian, contrarian, populist and reactionary thinking, all embracing the contrarian stance suggested by the show's name. Many of the more recent episodes are available online and for podcast despite the conclusion of the show's production and broadcast in January 2024.

The programme was first broadcast in May 2004 with Michael Duffy as solo initial host, soon joined by Paul Comrie-Thomson as co-host. Later stand-in hosts included prominent right-wing political identities, notably Tom Switzer and Brendan O'Neill, with guest hosts including notables of similar political allegiance such as former Liberal Party star and ex-Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Sallyanne Atkinson. For its last decade plus, the programme was hosted by former veteran Liberal Party senator and federal government cabinet minister in the "conservative" Howard government, Amanda Vanstone, who remained up until the show's final radio broadcast in mid-January 2024.

The creation of Counterpoint has been perceived as a partial sop to right-wing critics of the ABC who have conducted an ongoing campaign of smear against the organisation claiming that both it and its output were creatures of the political left. The show was supposedly to serve as a counterbalance to the alleged bias, with particular mention being made of Philip Adams' Late Night Live show, a long-running RN programme who's content has sometimes reflected Adam's progressive, left-leaning instincts.

Counterpoint describes its intention as introducing subjects and speakers that supposedly challenge widely held assumptions while allegedly exposing some new and seldom heard commentators. Many of these ideas and people are already heavily promoted by 'movement conservative' outlets and organs to the wider society, such as the output and speakers readily available from right-wing think tanks, as well as their acolytes and polemicists. This has notably included alumni of the Living Marxism (LM) Network (e.g. Frank Furidi and Brendan O'Neill, etc.) who have been commonly featured guests throughout the show's run, with O'Neill being made a stand-in host for multiple episodes, including some where the striking decision was made to feature his own partisan monologues in preference to new guests and views. The show also regularly picks up on threads and ideas from 'movement conservative' sources and materials coming out of the United States.

Counterpoint has been active in promoting various shades of climate change denial and skepticism throughout its full run, along with pushing the denialist's discredited theories and talking points, most particularly in the years during the tenure of Duffy and Comrie-Thomson. This has included criticisms and attacks on the scientific consensus on global warming, with the show regularly featuring guests who adopted this stance along with other varied positions on the climate change denial spectrum, including: Bob Carter, Ian Castles, Ray Evans, William Kininmonth, Jennifer Marohasy, David Henderson, Patrick J. Michaels, Bjørn Lomborg, Vincent Gray, and Garth Paltridge.

On 30 August 2023, Vanstone conducted a pre-recorded interview with the noted indigenous STEM education advocate and Kamilaroi man, Adjunct Associate Professor Corey Tutt OAM. At the interview's conclusion, Vansone spoke to her producer stating that Tutt sounded like a "fuckwit", apparently unaware that he was waiting to also speak to the producer and could hear Vanstone's every word. After Tutt spoke to the producer, Vanstone rang him and apologised. Tutt was later quoted as saying:

“And you know, even as a Young Australian of the Year, as an OAM, as an associate professor, I am still copping this shit. No matter what I do I am still copping it.”

Tutt told the ABC they do not have his permission to air the interview. The organisation also apologised to Tutt, as well as publicly stating that "Her [Vanstone's] conduct was not of a standard acceptable to the ABC." and that she had been counselled by her managers.

In December 2023, the ABC announced Counterpoint would not be returning for 2024. The show ceased production and its last episode was radio broadcast on RN on 15 January 2024, however many of the recent episodes continue to be available for podcast and online download via the ABC Listen app as well as the show's website. In addition, a surprisingly large number of the earlier shows, from the first one in May 2004 onwards, were published with transcripts that may continue to be accessible via archived older versions of the Counterpoint website.

External links

• Official website