Saxon Davidson is a research fellow at the IPA, regular media commentator, and contributor to multiple newspapers across Australia. From discussing environmental lawfare and publicly funded green activists to debating Australia's energy crisis and the systemic failures of our political class, Saxon brings sharp analysis and unfiltered opinions to The JBH Show. Join us as we explore how Section 487 of the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act allows Melbourne-based green activists to challenge regional mining and agriculture projects they've never visited, why the Environmental Defenders Office receives government funding to stop job-creating industries, and the shocking reality that China replaces Australia's entire annual emissions in just twelve days. We dive deep into Saxon's journey from IPA admin assistant to research fellow, how he survived university by writing like a leftist while working for a free market think tank, his first-year essay arguing the Iraq War wouldn't have happened if the Shah hadn't been deposed in Iran, and why he questions Ben Shapiro's debate skills despite following his university survival strategy. Saxon opens up about the importance of media training, how the IPA taught him to articulate complex policy positions, the difference between writing research reports versus newspaper commentary, and why he believes discussing trade-offs is more important than debating climate change itself. The conversation takes a deep policy turn as we explore why Australia's Future Made in Australia policy is fundamentally flawed, the energy trilemma of reliability, affordability, and environmental considerations, how the government has sacrificed the first two for the third, and why manufacturing based on intermittent renewables is impossible. Saxon explains why Anthony Albanese is the only Prime Minister in recorded history to oversee an overall reduction in GDP per capita from start to finish, how ten out of thirteen quarters under this government have seen living standards decline, why Jim Chalmers is the most fortunate treasurer ever because Liberal Party turmoil has distracted from his horrific budgetary record, and the critical difference between real surpluses and accounting tricks that ignore rising gross debt. We tackle government spending approaching $1 trillion in gross debt, why you have to slay the beast before you starve it, the myth that cutting taxes forces spending reductions, bracket creep in superannuation taxes, how Albanese's untouched parliamentary pension contrasts with his changes to super for farmers and self-managed funds, the case for bringing back parliamentary pensions to attract quality people to politics, and why regional industries like agriculture and mining suffer when public servants and politicians regulate from hundreds of kilometres away. Saxon shares his thoughts on new states and regional exit movements, why he's not opposed to breaking up Australia's vast states, the Free State of Riverina concept, North Queensland independence dreams, and why he thinks it would take a generation but could bring government closer to the people. The episode takes a lighter turn as we discuss Essendon Football Club, why Saxon went from confident to pessimistic between seasons, his prediction of finishing 17th, the spectacular Bristol Beaufighter Anzac Day guernsey that briefly restored his hope, why Nic Martin as captain concerns him despite being a good bloke, the Zach Merrett trade saga and why Saxon is completely off him after requesting to play under Sam Mitchell who stole Joe Daniher's Brownlow, and the Essendon Messiah complex that prevents the club from addressing systemic institutional failure. We explore whether Christian Petracca rumors could save the club, why bringing back James Hird would be a mistake despite Saxon's love for him, the baby bombers hope for the future, and why both Essendon and Australia share a tendency to look for saviors instead of fixing structural problems. Whether you're interested in environmental law reform, energy policy, the mechanics of how green activism stops regional development, government spending and taxation, the decline in Australian living standards, footy club dysfunction, or just want to hear someone who can articulate conservative policy positions with clarity and passion, this episode delivers compelling insights, brutal honesty about both national politics and Essendon's prospects, and a roadmap for reversing Australia's decline before we cross the Rubicon or as Saxon calls it, the Nullarbor.
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