Insight (1995)
Season 2009
TV-G
Talk show with real everyday people with a story to tell. Hosted by Jenny Brockie. Variety of topics across a broad spectrum. Very thought provoking
Where to Watch Season 2009
28 Episodes
- ConfidenceE1
ConfidenceIs a crisis of confidence the biggest threat facing the Australian economy? Despite a raft of government stimulus policies, falling interest rates and a suite of measures still to come the economic crisis continues to deepen across the world. Parliament has just passed Australia’s most ambitious economic rescue package in history –but with business and consumer confidence dangerously low will it be enough to lift the mood? Join Insight for his intriguing look into the psychological forces driving the economy and the role confidence plays in shaping our future. - Danger ZoneE2
Danger ZoneWill the risk of extreme weather change how we live? Where will it be safe to live as Australia's temperatures rise? In the wake of the devastating Victorian bushfires, Insight asks whether extreme weather events will force us to change the way we live. Australian climate scientists are warning there could be more bushfires in the south and more intense cyclones in the north. Some of our major cities are at risk. As many Victorians wrestle with how to rebuild their communities, Insight asks how well prepared the rest of us are for extreme events like cyclones and bushfires, and which parts of Australia are most at risk. Join us live from Melbourne as we talk to survivors of the recent bushfires, as well as cyclone victims, local councils, weather experts and building advisors about what to do next. - BirthE3
BirthWhy are more Australian women having Caesarean sections? The rate is up 50% over the last decade. But why? Are women themselves opting for caesareans over a natural birth? A recent government review of maternity services found that women should have access to more choices as to how their babies are delivered. One recommendation is that there should be a bigger role for midwives. But this remains a contentious issue. Insight brings together a studio full of pregnant women to talk about their experiences and expectations together with the Federal Health Minister, Nicola Roxon, obstetricians, midwives and GP's. So what real choices do women have, from elective Caesareans to homebirth? What are the risks? And with the rising cost of healthcare, what can we really afford? Ted Weaver, Clare Bowditch, Karen Guilliland and Hannah Dahlen participated in an online chat after the show to answer your questions. - Keeping Your JobE4
Keeping Your JobIf you've got a job, how do you hang onto it?If you've lost your job, what are your long term prospects? Insight brings together workers, CEOs and the assistant Treasurer, Chris Bowen to debate survival strategies for employees and employers as the unemployment rate climbs to 5.2%, and as 54,000 full time jobs were lost in February - the largest such fall in almost 2 decades. To hang onto their jobs, many thousands of workers are taking the pragmatic option of a 4 day week. Many thousands of others wait each week for the precarious prospect of one or two shifts to sustain them. At the other end of the equation, employers are being heavily squeezed by the banks with credit increasingly difficult to access. - Blocking the NetE6
Blocking the NetInternet censorship is making headlines again. Find out what we discovered when we covered the issue last March. Debate has been raging over the Government’s plans to mandatory filter the internet with critics slamming the proposal as Chinese-style censorship. The Minister for Communications Stephen Conroy clearly outlined what content will make the blacklist and who will decide. Insight brings together the key players to thrash out the arguments for and against blocking the net. - Executive PayE7
Executive PayAre executive salaries justifiable? A top executive in Australia can earn over $30 million whereas in the US it can be as high as $180 million. Business leaders argue that to attract international talent to Australia we have to pay top dollars to make us globally competitive. But can anyone’s job be worth that much? What results should an executive bring to a company to justify these salaries? Are Australian shareholders getting value for money? Join us as we bring together the major players in this debate - business leaders, board members, shareholders and Nick Sherry, Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law, who recently launched an enquiry into this issue. - Kids on DivorceE8
Kids on DivorceRevisit one of our most talked about programs of this year. What do kids think about divorce and separation? Last year, over a quarter of Australia's children grew up in either a step or blended family or with just their mum or dad. Nearly one third of marriages now end in divorce and over a million kids grow up with their natural parent living elsewhere. While academics, psychologists, lawyers, and policy makers hotly debate the best way to care for kids after a relationship break-up - how often do we hear from the actual kids themselves? What's it like being a child of divorce? This special episode of Insight throws out the adults from this discussion and talks to the kids themselves. Incorporating a lively studio discussion with video diaries filmed with 12 - 20 year olds from around the country, we explore some of the myths surrounding the impact of divorce and separation on both young and old children. Does 50/50 parenting work for kids? Are kids as resilient as they can seem? Is there such a thing as a 'good' divorce? How long-term and far reaching can the impacts of divorce be on children? - ReinventionE9
ReinventionHow do youreinvent yourself in a time of recession? If you've been laid off or made redundant do you take this as an opportunity to do the job you’ve always wanted to do? And does what we do, chiefly define us as individuals? More and more people are being forced into questioning how they spend their working lives as the global recession bites. There are fundamentals like bills, mortgages and school fees to be paid, but even with these pressing issues, some people seize the opportunity to make dramatic changes in their working lives, no matter what the cost to their families. Tune in as we bring together writer and philosopher Alain de Botton author of new book 'The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work'; people who've reinvented themselves with all the consequences and those who dream of doing it. - SleepE10
SleepHow much sleep do we really need? Australians are sleeping less than they used to. But how much do we really need? And what's the impact on life and work when we're sleep deprived? One recent NSW study showed that almost 1 in 5 working adults are chronically sleep deprived. And apart from feeling sleepy and grumpy the next day, these people are running a bigger risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes. With a third of our workforce now working between the hours of 7pm and 7am, it's now emerging that night shift workers are putting themselves at risk of developing similar health problems to those who are sleep deprived. The Danish Government has recently compensated 39 nurses and flight attendants who developed breast cancer after careers of working night shifts. They are currently the only government in the world who have formally recognised a link between working night shift and the onset of cancer. Up to 1.2 million Australians suffer from a range of sleep disorders from insomnia to sleep apnoea. Join Insight and a cast of insomniacs, shift workers, teenagers, emergency workers, new mums and sleep scientists for a fascinating discussion on Sleep. You can talk to our guests Ron Grunstein, Russell Foster and Chris Seton after the show on our Live Chat. You can also follow Insight on Twitter. Find out more about sleep disorders with these information sheets prepared by the Australasian Sleep Association on behalf of Sleep Disorders Australia, a support group for sleep disorder sufferers and their families. - RubbishE11
RubbishWhat’s in your recycling bin and where does it go? Glass bottles, DVD players, milk cartons, banana skins, nappies, newspapers, pizza boxes, mobile phones, toothpaste tubes. Do you know what can and can't be recycled? Do you really know what happens when you put the wrong thing in the wrong bin? Each year we recycle more and more but do we recycle the right things and do we know what it costs? Who is responsible for clearing up your rubbish? Is recycling a waste of time and could it be better to just send everything to the tip? Join Insight with rubbish producers, throwers, collectors and recyclers as we talk garbage. Guests Gerard Van Rijswijk, Dave West and Kane Hardingham will be available for you to talk to after the show on our Live Chat. - SixteenE12
SixteenIn April 2006, Insight talked to 54 raucous 13 year olds about what matters to them. Three years later, at the sweet age of 16, we bring those kids back to see how life’s changed. Does Zabelle still think "30 would be a good age" to start having sex? Is Lionel in the running to be the next star player for the Parramatta Eels? Has Shane succumbed to peer pressure? And is Alex still being taunted by the boys for being a ballet dancer? Thirteen was remarkable for bringing together kids from the country and the city to talk openly about terrorism, peer pressure and the role of technology in their lives. It was the winner of a United Nations Media Peace Prize for Children’s Rights and Issues in 2006. - Seeking AsylumE13
Seeking AsylumWhat's behind the recent increase in asylum seekers? More people are arriving in Australia by boat seeking asylum. 19 boats carrying asylum seekers have arrived in Australia since the Rudd Government abolished the previous government’s Temporary Protection Visas and Pacific Solution scheme. What’s behind the recent increase? The Opposition says the Government’s gone soft. But the Government says its policies are firm and international conflicts are to blame. How do we strike a balance between humanitarian responsibility and border protection? - Doctors and DrugsE14
Doctors and DrugsJust how close are doctors and drug companies? Doctors and specialists are regularly offered gifts from drug companies. These range from pens and coffee mugs, to stethoscopes through to free trips to international conferences. Just last year, drug companies in Australia spent more than $62 million on educational events for doctors, and half of that amount was spent on hospitality such as meals. Do these handouts buy influence? Critics say they do; that gifts, sponsorships and hospitality affect the independence of the medical profession. Drug companies say that the educational events they sponsor are vital in keeping doctors up to date with new drugs and developments in medical research. Doctors and drug companies - just how close are they and what does that mean for you the patient? - Swine fluE15
Swine fluShould we be worried? Tens of thousands of people across the globe have been infected with swine flu but with most people getting no more than a few sniffles what is all the fuss about? Business and tourism operators feel there has been an overreaction while public health officials and virus experts believe they had no other choice than to handle the situation the way they did. But what if the disease had been worse? Does this outbreak actually expose flaws in our preparedness? Would our hospitals cope if the illness was worse? Are our frontline medics safe? Join us on Insight with Chief Health Officers, virus experts, emergency doctors and swine flu patients as we discuss what did happen, what could have happened and what it means for our safety. - At RiskE16
At RiskWhat’s behind the attacks on Indian students? Recent attacks on Indian students in particular has focused attention on the broader experiences of international students who have enrolled in Australian universities, TAFE's and private colleges. Stories of exploitation, poor accommodation and sub-standard colleges reveal a disturbing picture of what life is like for some of our international students. Some students are reluctant to register complaints for fear that they may jeopardise completion of their study and any chance of gaining permanent residency in Australia. Join us as we bring together international students, community leaders and the education sector and examine what's behind the attacks, why they're drawn to Australia for study and whether they're getting what they are paying for. - The BattlersE17
The BattlersWhat's the mood on the ground where jobs are most at risk? Unemployment's on the rise. But what's the mood on the ground where jobs are most at risk? This week, Insight tests the waters in Logan in South east Queensland. Here, locals work mainly in the vulnerable industries, construction, manufacturing and retail. The federal government has already committed $42 billion in an economic stimulus package that they say will save some of these jobs. The big spending in areas such as infrastructure, schools and home insulation they predict will blunt the downturn. Has this government stimulus created jobs? Has it saved any? Join Insight as they take the temperature on the ground about jobs and job security among Logan locals. Insight asks what are the national implications for Prime Minister Rudd, as we take the temperature on the ground among the Logan locals about jobs. - Sexual ConsentE18
Sexual ConsentIs it as simple as yes or no? Sexual consent – it’s a contentious issue yet one that remains at the core of all sexual encounters. But what exactly is consent? And who should be responsible for getting it? Don’t miss Insight as we bring together men and women to talk about sex and consent and what happens when it goes wrong. - The Trouble With GirlsE19
The Trouble With GirlsWhy are some girls so mean to each other, especially when they're friends? Girls and women live in a highly complex friend world that is foreign territory to men and boys. So how do girl friendships work? And what happens when you're on the outer? Join us as we explore the girl world. - EmergencyE20
EmergencyCan we fix our ailing hospital emergency departments? Doctors and nurses say they're struggling to cope and this can sometimes lead to tragic consequences. According to one study, overcrowded emergency departments are responsible for up to 1,500 deaths a year, as high as the nation's road toll. Join us as we hear from doctors and nurses who work in emergency and the patients who turn up there. What every patient should know when an emergency arises. - Somali AustraliansE21
Somali AustraliansVictoria's Somali community is in shock after the arrests of three of its own last month. The three Somali-Australian men have been charged over terror related offenses involving an alleged plan to attack a Sydney army base. Two of the men are also facing additional charges over alleged links to a foreign army -believed to be the Somali militant group al-Shabaab. The government has since proscribed al-Shabaab as a terrorist organisation with links to al- Qa'ida. Insight travels to Victoria to bring the local Somali community together to discuss recent events and to explore the challenges they face growing up in Australia. - Coping with BabyE22
Coping with BabyWhy does having a baby push some couples to the brink? The risk of depression and anxiety are heightened for women after birth – and can have devastating results. But what is less known is that about one in ten men also suffer from mental illness directly after the birth. Hormones don’t play as much of a part in peri natal depression (PND) as previously thought. Men can feel overwhelmed by new fatherhood – a world that is completely unfamiliar. They are often unprepared for the demands of supporting their partners, being the sole economic provider, combined with sleeplessness and coping with a new born. There aren’t any services for new fathers, should there be? The federal government is injecting $85 million into screening and treatments for depression in pregnant women and new mothers. But will it fix the problem? And are women who suffer severe PND helped by this injection? Are we doing enough to support men and women in the first year after a baby is born? What affect does depression have on the newborn? - Going ShoppingE23
Going ShoppingWhere do you do your shopping? Do you have any choice? Twenty five cents out of every retail dollar that Australians spend will go into the coffers of Woolworths and Wesfarmers. The two retail giants have the largest market share of any retailer across the developed world. Woolworths’ announcement that they are going into the hardware sector has led many to ask when will their dominance stop, while others understand that this is the nature of large business. Independent retailers are worried that they simply can’t compete. While consumer advocates are concerned what that will mean for choice and price. The Government claims that by relaxing competition laws and planning regulations it will be easier for new players to enter our supermarket sector giving consumers more choice. Australian food producers and manufacturers maintain that focusing so much on reducing prices for consumers is just another nail in the coffin for choice as it will force them out of business. Join us as we delve into the shopping basket to find out what choice we really have, and if consumers are the only ones with the power to take on Goliath. - The New AddictsE24
The New AddictsCan the internet, food and sex be as addictive as drugs and alcohol? The internet, food and sex are part of everyday life, but can they be addictive too? Some say they can be. Those who have lost control over their online gaming, eating and sexual habits say these addictions are just as devastating as drugs and alcohol. And as scientists begin to learn more about addiction, they are beginning to agree. Amid reports of online gamers in China and South Korea dying at the keyboard, some psychologists and psychiatrists now believe that internet addiction should be classed as a mental disorder. But others argue that society has become addicted to being addicted. What is addiction? When does passion or obsession become addiction and how do we treat it? Join us as we talk to addicts of all kinds and from all walks of life for a fascinating discussion on the science of addiction. - In Your GenesE25
In Your GenesWould you want to know if you were carrying a gene that could kill you? Genetic testing may be able to give you the answer. In Australia, we can now be tested for more than 400 different diseases including hereditary breast and bowel cancer and some forms of Alzheimers. But some conditions like early onset Alzheimers and Huntingtons disease, there is no cure. Many Australians who potentially carry these genes choose not to be tested, because they can’t bear to know what awaits them. But would you want to pass these diseases on to your children? With IVF advances in the screening of embryos, couples can make sure they don’t pass on these genes. But where do we draw the line? Should we screen out all known genetic diseases or just those that dramatically affect lifespan and quality of life? Join us as we talk to genetic experts, ethicists and families who’ve had to face some difficult decisions about how they live their lives and whether they have kids. - Not In My NeighbourhoodE26
Not In My NeighbourhoodHow does the criminal justice system deal with pedophiles? While most crimes of child sex abuse never make it near the criminal justice system, how does the system work for the offenders that do get reported? Most child sex offence cases get heard in the local court where the maximum sentence is two years. Are sentences too low? When child sex offenders do get to prison, what treatments are there available to help stop them re-offending? And what is the likelihood of the re-offending when released? And should communities be given the right to know if a pedophile is living in their neighbourhood? Insight will also look at the Serious Sex Offender legislation that allows some states to detain offenders after their sentence is served. Should some sex offenders never be released or be forced to undergo chemical castration and constant electronic tagging? Join us with judges, public defenders, criminologists, victims and an offender. - Fixing Indigenous HousingE27
Fixing Indigenous HousingWill the Government deliver? This week we travel to Alice Springs to explore the issues surrounding Indigenous housing. Fixing Indigenous Housing was at the heart of the Labor Government’s promise to close the gap in Indigenous disadvantage. In what is the biggest project on remote housing ever, the Federal and Northern Territory Government dedicated $672 million to building 750 news homes, refurbishing 2,500 existing houses and rebuilding 230. But the project has come under scrutiny - a recent Government report into the project found delays, a gross underestimate of costs and excessive red tape. The Government has since announced it will take greater oversight of the program and has stuck to its commitments to deliver 750 new houses. But there are concerns the houses built under the program will be smaller and refurbishments will not be as robust as first planned. Meanwhile, Indigenous communities are growing more skeptical - they’re worried the program won’t tackle core health issues such as overcrowding or improve sub-standard conditions. For the first time ever we bring together all the key players to find out if the Government can deliver on its promise to fix Indigenous housing and close the gap in Indigenous disadvantage. - BrainiacE28
BrainiacCan we make ourselves smarter? What is your IQ? New scientific research has unlocked the secrets of the adult brain. It is not hard wired but plastic. You can teach an old dog new tricks. Brain training is one of the fastest growing new industries. Some organisations claim they can make you more intelligent or unleash your genius. But can they and do they really work? If you could, would you make yourself smarter? And do we really know what intelligence is? Scientists, psychologists, Rhode scholars, millionaire’s and brain trainers join us as we journey along the neural pathways and dive into our brain.