Sellout crowd turns out for political conversation
The event featured Konrad Benjamin and Carrick Ryan.
More than 160 people gathered at Slipstream Brewing, Birtinya, for a sold-out Voices of Fisher forum bringing nationally recognised political commentators to the Sunshine Coast for an informal discussion on democracy, political influence and disinformation.
Titled Fair Go or Fake News?, the event featured Carrick Ryan, a former AFP federal agent and commentator on global threats to democracy, and Konrad Benjamin, the creator of Punter’s Politics, appearing together for the first time in Australia.
Mr Benjamin recently appeared before a Senate inquiry into the gas export tax, raising concerns about the amount paid by multinational gas companies for Australian resources. His message — that ordinary Australians paid tax on everyday purchases, including their morning coffee or evening beer, while major gas companies paid next to nothing for resources owned by Australians — was among the issues brought to the local forum.
Mr Ryan joined the discussion to examine broader pressures facing democratic institutions, including vested interests in political decision-making and the challenge of recognising and guarding against disinformation.
Voices of Fisher events team member Sarah Wright said the main point of the forum was “getting these nationally recognised political commentators here to the Coast and hosting them in an informal way to encourage meaningful discussions with our community”.
The response suggested a strong local appetite for that discussion, with the event selling out weeks in advance and a further 40 people on a waitlist unable to secure a seat.
A smaller breakfast event at Coffee@4551 in Caloundra the following morning also attracted more than 30 people, giving community members another opportunity to meet the speakers and continue the conversation.
