The editor of The Mercury newspaper, Jenna Cairney, joins the FontCast team to unpack budget estimates and all the excitement that goes with it. It wasn't so much the Government's performance in delivering the estimates that got the conversation flowing but the opposition's reply. Jenna's assessment of the opposition, on the whole, is that it was a "shocking state of affairs". She says the opposition has been so severely affected by the demise of David O'Byrne and the internal politics continuing to dived the Labor party that it hasn't been able to get back to being an opposition, let alone an alternative government. Stansfield agrees with most of that.

FontCast

Estimates wrap-up with Jenna Cairney

Becher calls it the hay-out-of-the-barn budget. The Gutwein Government has handed down a surprise-free state budget. The first since the Liberals held power in the election. The numbers were better than expected. While other states are foundering, Tasmania is sailing strong through the COVID storm. Fresh out of budget lockdown, the editor of the Tasmanian Business Reporter, Amanda Lovell, joined the FontCast will all the juicy budget details. Most importantly, she said the journalists were fed extremely well while they were cut off from the outside world. That's usually a sign that there there is a healthy budget on the way... and there was. Tens of thousands of new jobs. Dwelling approvals up by almost 50 per cent on last year. Retail trade and exports are also forecast to surge. But it's come at a cost. The return to surplus has been pushed back to keep the state running so strongly. That's where Becher's metaphor comes in. All the hay that had been stockpiled in the barn in preparation for a long, cold winter is being hauled out now winter is here. It reeks of sound economic management. Now that the hay is being distributed and the barn is emptying out, what could possibly go wrong?Jump into this special episode of the FontCast with Brad Stansfield, Brad Nowland, Becher Townshend and Amanda Lovell to find out.

Bringing out the hay - budget analysis with Amanda Lovell

Great Scott! We're going back to the future in an action-packed episode. Rebecca White has reclaimed the opposition leader's throne just weeks after losing a state election. In the words of Doc Emmet Brown "If you're going to build a time machine... why not do it with some style?" And nobody can accuse Ms White of lacking style. But was she the best choice the Labor Party had? Rejoining the FontCast team newshound and former Labor Party senior advisor Alex Johnston says yes and Becher agrees although not quite as enthusiastically. Stansfield, however, does not. It's a spirited discussion between some of the state's top political minds and, at times, Nowland struggles to keep the show on course. We also see one of the greatest bungled cliche's since Kevin Rudd's "fair shake of the sauce bottle". This is not an episode to be missed.

The Cheshire cat that got the cheese

As David O'Byrne emerges from the shadow ministries to lead the Labor party after its third election defeat in a row, the FontCast team emerge from the halls of Font PR to analyse the situation in a special episode of the FontCast. While Labor gets used to its new-look front bench the Government has made a veritable cascade of announcements with a "renewed vigour" as Brad Stansfield describes it. "The Government's has achieved more in the last six weeks than it did in six months prior to the election," he said. Becher Townshend says, with effectively four sitting weeks left in the second half of the year the Government simply doesn't have time to get its agenda through. He says they'll have to add an extra week or two to get the job done. Hosted by Brad Nowland this is essential listening for anyone who follows Tasmanian politics. 

Out of the shadows

Stansfield is quite keen to point that he predicted friend-of-the-FontCast Madeleine Ogilvie would be the 13th Liberal elected to the house, handing the party another four years in government. The team was recording this episode as the sun was rising over Government House where Peter Gutwein was arriving to be sworn in as Premier. But what is in store for this unprecedented third Liberal Government in the Labor state that is Tasmania? Nowland says the election of former Glenorchy Mayor Kristy Johnston in the seat of Clarke will be a thorn in the side of the rebuilding Labor opposition that desperately needs that seat if they want to return to government in 2025. Becher says the Liberal's win didn't come without its share of controversy; Adam Brooks' election and prompt resignation is the one that stands out the most. Join the FontCast for expert analysis from Tasmania's finest commentary team, Brad Nowland, Becher Townshend and Brad Stansfield as they cover these stories and more. What they don't know isn't worth knowing. 

Sunrise on a new government

The votes have been cast and Brad Stansfield returns to the FontCast to analyse the events of the past six weeks. Brad Nowland, Becher Townshend and regular guest Alex Johnston are joined by Luke Martin from the Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania as the Liberal Party solidifies its majority government for the third time. Fresh from working on the Liberal campaign Stansfield declares it a resounding success. Alex, however, points out that it's pretty much the same government except they've swapped minister Roger Jaensch for Adam Brooks who brings more baggage with him than a flight from Hobart International Airport. Luke points out that it was a very "presidential-style campaign" and some ministers may be disgruntled about their lack of presence during the campaign. The big question remaining is whether or not Rebecca White will survive as Labor Leader. 

FontCast Your Vote - the wash up

This is the final pre-election FontCast Your Vote and the team are beginning to doubt almost every prediction they've made so far. The past week was a strong week for Labor but what do the team think the outcome is going to be. Brad Nowland and Becher Townshend are joined by senior state political journalists David Killick and Alex Johnston to analyse the campaign and make some wild predictions of what could happen. Make sure you have a listen before you head to the polls to FontCast Your Vote. 

FontCast Your Vote - Episode 5

There's only one week to go until election day. Just as Labor starts to pull itself back together and shed the chaos of disunity that's plagued it for the first few weeks of the campaign, both parties appear to be getting a bit tired, showing signs of fatigue. Brad Nowland and Becher Townshend are again joined by Win news director and proud beard owner Alex Johnston. Alex says the Premier seems to be getting more and more confident as the campaign wears on, continuing to push his line that if you don't vote for him he will go away. Brad notes that there hasn't been an education policy announced by the Liberal's yet. Maybe one will fall out of the trusty policy piata in the final week of the campaign. The team also tries to unpack the unpredictable seat of Clark where almost anything could happen.

FontCast Your Vote - Episode 4

The opposition has had a shemozzle of a week, according to Brad. There was so much to talk about the team had to bring in The Mercury's political editor David Killick in addition to Becher Townshend and regular guest Alex Johnston from Win News. The past week has been described as a turducken or political incompetence, the highlight of which would have to be Labor's state president considering suing Labor leader Rebecca White. The team also noted that the Liberals have plenty of money to spend on infrastructure because they've saved so much not building infrastructure promised in the previous election... and the one before that. 

FontCast Your Vote - Episode 3

After one of the most chaotic election weeks in living memory, the FontCast team will not let anything go through to the keeper. Again in the studio with Brad Nowland and Becher Townshend is Win news director and seasoned political newshound Alex Johnston to shovel through the past seven days of steaming chaos. In what Brad describes as the "Tasmanian politics version of Tiger King", both major parties appear to have dealt themselves more damage than their opposition. As a journalist, Alex says he "almost" feels guilty for continually reporting on the drama rather than the actual political substance of the campaign; unfortunately, the drama is so in your face "it's impossible to ignore." Looking back at the elections covered, Becher says the 2002 election was "a complete train wreck", but this year, so far at least, appears to be outpacing it. Jump in with the team to indulge in the undeniable schadenfreude that is the 2021 Tasmanian election campaign.

FontCast Your Vote - Episode 2

Tasmania is headed for an early election and the Font team are ramping up their coverage. This is the first episode of their weekly coverage of election thrills, spills and shenanigans. This week the part of Brad Stansfield is played by Win News Director and veteran state politics newshound Alex AJ Johnston. The biggest slip up in the first week of the campaign was Labor's inexplicable refusal to nominate popular Kingbrough Mayor Dean Winter in the seat of Franklin. The Liberals weren't without their own controversy with the very public anti-lockdown stance of candidate Dean Ewington (one of three Deans in the news this week) going completely unnoticed by anyone in the party. The team also unpack the week's policy announcements and the Green's uncharacteristically organised start to the campaign.

FontCast Your Vote - Episode 1

Is Tasmania heading for an early election as the Premier rides high after his handling of the pandemic? That's exactly what Nowland is predicting in this firey episode. The team at Font rarely blow their own trumpet but sometimes it just can't be avoided. In episode one of season three, they made some massive predictions, all of which have turned out to be true. It's almost as if they have some inside information into Tasmanian politics. In episode two they warn the Tasmanian Labor party that they only need look at what just happened to the Western Australian Liberals as to where they are headed if they don't make some massive changes. They also tear into the Government's recent budget as "a budget without numbers". Stansfield evokes the words of Yes Minister's Sir Humphery Appleby "never commission an inquiry unless you know the outcome" while Becher suggests the current crop of politicians have not learned the mistakes of the past. 

The Sir Humphrey Appleby principle

Back for a third season, the FontCast team are backed up with opinions, analysis and breaking news. The Tasmanian Premier seems to be in an almost unbeatable position but Brad Stansfield is scathing of some of the Government's recent decisions. Brad Nowland has some breaking news about upcoming Legislative Council races and Becher Townshend throws some shade at the AFL.

Hook, line and sinker.

Can Peter Gutwein make it two from two? 2020 has been an extraordinary and challenging year. Brad, Becher and Brad are joined by FontCast stalwart and WIN TV’s news director Alex Johnston. In a year where half of the FontCast episodes had to be recorded remotely, the impact of the COVID pandemic has dominated and the Premier has been in the spotlight more than usual. But, is it enough for him to take out the coveted Golden Font for the second year in a row?

The 2020 Golden Font with Alex Johnson

Fresh from the state budget lockup, Tasmanian Business Reporter editor at large Amanda Lovell, joins Becher and the Brads to unpack the state budget. Anyone who was expecting a surprise, suspense or excitement will be sorely disappointed. Becher described it as "cautious and conservative", Amanda wraps it up as "racking up a lot of debt" and Brad Stansfield reveals how he would advise the opposition to prepare its budget reply. Join the team to find out how it's likely to affect you.

Cautious, conservative, unremarkable. The state budget with Amanda Lovell

A podcast dedicated to Tasmanian news, politics and business from Font PR. Join Brad Stansfield, Becher Townshend and Brad Nowland to get up to date on everything that's happening in Tassie, and take an in-depth look at the biggest issues of the day.

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