The Conditional Release Program

Jack the Insider and Joel Hill
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Politics
  • Updated Biweekly

Welcome to The Conditional Release Program, a podcast that delves into the netherworld of cults, crims and con artists. Who would have thought a spicy chest cough would turn everyone so completely mad? Our weekly show covers the conspiracy theorists that created a 'shadow pandemic' of political idiocy and violent ideation within the fringe of politics. From time to time we get our hands even dirtier with true crime deep dives. Jack is a seasoned expert in the true crime genre, having written and spoken extensively about Roger Rogerson, Stan 'the man' Smith and, of course, the Fine Cotton Fiasco. In various episodes he guides us through the dark underbelly of Australian crime in his trademark storytelling style. The world is getting weird and we are getting weird with it. Let's watch as democracy crumbles into a smouldering heap - and take note of the kids carrying the matches and the metho. Hosted by Jack the Insider and Joel Hill with an occasional rotation of guests that generally share our distaste toward the lunatic fringe.

  1. 13h ago

    The Two Jacks - Episode 169 - Bloods on the Brink, Political Cash Stashes, and Royal Commission Fatigue

    This using Google Gemini 3.7 Flash using extended mode. Got a free thing for uni so giving this a whirl. It's not that good. The Jacks dive into the ongoing debate surrounding the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, examining the limits of royal commissions in resolving complex social and security issues compared to criminal investigations. They scrutinise the announcement of Victoria's Big Build Royal Commission, the appointment of a special prosecutor, and Fiona Brown’s $2 million Commonwealth settlement. The conversation turns to explosive reports of Exclusive Brethren members funneling cash to far-right political agitators, before shifting overseas to assess Andy Burnham's opening month as UK Prime Minister, shifting European politics, and the tragic fallout of the Jason Arday media storm. Finally, the hosts dissect the massive fallout from the Sydney Swans hotel scandal on the eve of the AFL finals and examine the Australian cricket team's shock Test defeat against Bangladesh. 00:00:26 - Episode Introduction: Ghost Month in Hong Kong and local headlines. 00:01:57 - The Royal Commission into Antisemitism: High-profile critics, scope limitations, and the Bondi trial boundary. 00:07:15 - Broken systems: Australia's fragmented firearms registries and the limits of public inquiries. 00:13:34 - Free speech, social cohesion, and the ethics of doxxing. 00:21:35 - Victoria's Big Build Royal Commission: Dan Andrews, CFMEU costs, and the special prosecutor role. 00:27:18 - Fiona Brown's $2M Commonwealth settlement and John Howard's rebuke of political handling. 00:30:55 - Duffle bags of cash: Exclusive Brethren funding of political disruptions and the legal hurdles of regulating campaign conduct. 00:38:55 - The legal definition of a cult, Scientology High Court precedents, and Nick Xenophon’s Senate battles. 00:45:13 - International Brief: Mélenchon and the French Left, plus Andy Burnham's first month as UK Prime Minister. 00:49:55 - Populist dynamics: Nigel Farage’s Reform UK versus Pauline Hanson's One Nation. 00:53:25 - The lighter side: Andrew Tate supporters performing push-ups outside prison. 00:55:10 - Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's social media mastery and emerging US Democratic contenders. 01:00:32 - The Jason Arday tragedy: Media scrutiny, academic vetting, and press freedom debates. 01:07:05 - Sydney Swans hotel scandal: Player suspensions, finals derailment, and cultural damage at the Bloods. 01:23:25 - Cricket wrap: Bangladesh stuns Australia in Darwin, selection dilemmas ahead of Mackay, and Nathan Lyon's future. 01:32:03 - Update on Imran Khan’s hospitalisation and episode wrap-up.

    The Two Jacks - Episode 169 - Bloods on the Brink, Political Cash Stashes, and Royal Commission Fatigue

  2. Aug 17

    The Two Jacks - Episode 168 - Melons, Migrants and Meandering Polls

    This one is Claude Sonnet 5 - did a decent job. Got Gemini to do it at the same time and it was SHIT. -------------------------- Jack the Insider and Hong Kong Jack open with an air-conditioner instalation story that would give any WHS officer a heart attack, before diving into the immigration debate consuming the Western world, Albo's cringeworthy podcast melon gag and the diplomatic fallout with Japan, Angus Taylor's Twitter misfire, a grim Newspoll for Labor, the conviction of former Bishop Christopher Saunders, the unravelling Mahmoud Fazal/Four Corners scandal, an AI Royal Commission, Israel's rejection of the Gaza peace plan, Ukraine's drone edge, a spot of Marxism 101, and a bumper sports wrap covering the Ashes build-up, Geelong's concussion waiver scandal and the NRL's new PNG and Perth franchises. 00:00:26 — Cold open: Hong Kong air-con drama. Hong Kong Jack recounts tradesmen scaling the building exterior, tying off to a sewer pipe and rigging a platform in under an hour — a workplace safety non-starter back home. 00:01:20 — Immigration policy in limbo. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke pulls his National Press Club address after Cabinet gets cold feet on migration numbers; One Nation capitalises on the vacuum. 00:02:17 — Paul Kelly on the West's immigration reckoning. The hosts unpack Kelly's column on multiculturalism's failures in Europe versus its comparative success in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US, and why a clear pathway to national identity matters. 00:04:23 — The politician/public disconnect. A Financial Times study (John Burn-Murdoch) showing big gaps between public and political opinion on migrant assimilation across Britain, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden. 00:06:10 — Is the far right the cause or the symptom? A robust back-and-forth on whether One Nation, AfD, Reform UK and Le Pen's party are driving the backlash or simply capitalising on governments that lost control of migration systems. 00:08:50 — Albo's podcast melon gag fallout. The PM's crass "melons" line about the Japanese Prime Minister on a comedy podcast draws a diplomatic complaint from Tokyo and calls for an apology he still hasn't given. 00:10:39 — Why politicians chase the "youth" podcast circuit. Discussion of Albo's ties to Sandilands-style FM radio and whether the audience numbers justify the reputational risk. 00:12:32 — Latika Bourke's double standard question. Would a corporate CEO survive the same scrutiny as a Prime Minister? The Jacks disagree on how novel the standard really is. 00:14:14 — Angus Taylor's Twitter misfire. A dissected, over-written tweet accusing the "socialist" Albanese government lands badly — "people might think they're bumbling fools, but they don't think they're socialist." 00:15:53 — Angus Taylor and the ICAC donation question. A circular exchange over an unresolved email regarding a potential donation tied to a group under ICAC scrutiny. 00:17:52 — Coalition social media strategy. Jane Hume's five-a-day Instagram habit and whether the Coalition's messaging is landing with anyone at this point in the electoral cycle. 00:18:52 — Productivity and work-from-home. Westpac CEO Anthony Miller warns rates could stay elevated into 2028 without a productivity fix; Victoria shelves its work-from-home legislation ahead of the planned 1 September start. 00:21:36 — Red tape and the housing/business regulation debate. Building approval bottlenecks, the Coalition's building-standards rollback proposal, and why company/tax reporting (not ABN registration) is the real handicap for small business. 00:24:14 — Newspoll: Labor's primary vote "plunges." Labor down to 29 percent (from 31), described by the Jacks as more "meandering" than plunging — with a look at how far off Labor is from its 34.5 percent election benchmark. 00:25:31 — Kos Samaras/RedBridge on the new voter blocs. A breakdown of Labor's inner-city, under-45, migrant-heavy base; One Nation's mortgage-stressed, outer-suburban trades vote; and the Coalition's shrinking, wealthy, over-55 remnant — plus where the Jacks think the analysis oversimplifies. 00:28:42 — How the Coalition lost its heartland. Reflections on 19 years of Coalition government since Howard, the failure to read demographic warning signs, and the loss of both the "asset rich" and "asset poor" ends of its old coalition. 00:31:49 — Content warning: child sexual abuse. Former Bishop of Broome Christopher Saunders, 76, found guilty of one count of sexual penetration and multiple indecent assault charges against a young Indigenous man; sentencing yet to be scheduled. 00:32:50 — Saunders' pattern of behaviour. Allegations of financial mismanagement, smuggling alcohol into dry Indigenous communities, a 2019 police raid uncovering exploitation material, and a Vatican finding he likely abused Indigenous youth. 00:34:59 — The Bishop Ronald Mulkearns parallel. The Ballarat bishop's Royal Commission appearance and mysterious final holiday hosted by Saunders in Broome shortly before his death. 00:37:06 — The Four Corners/Mahmoud Fazal scandal. Fazal's background as a self-described former Mongols bike gang sergeant-at-arms turned journalist; his Cocaine Nation and Meth Highway reports pulled from air, along with a Background Briefing program. 00:38:33 — Media Watch's verdict. Linton Besser's assessment that Fazal was "embellishing his journalism," and how ABC's editorial oversight failed across two flagship programs. 00:39:39 — The Jordan Shanks (Friendly Jordies) threat allegations. Fazal's alleged role relaying threats from the Alameddine crime family after Shanks' house was firebombed twice; Fazal disputes the death-threat characterisation. 00:41:36 — Where journalism crosses into participation. Jack the Insider's personal rule against interviewing active criminals, and a wider discussion of when reporters become "players" rather than observers — including a detour to the "Poison Dwarf," Clayton Milne. 00:46:20 — A 2006 ice epidemic documentary as the gold standard. A comparison piece where public health officials and police saw the crystal meth wave coming years before government — done properly, without masked, unverifiable sources. 00:48:21 — South Australia's $3 million AI Royal Commission. Premier Peter Malinauskas announces the inquiry; the Jacks are sceptical it will produce much, suspecting it's more about attracting AI investment. 00:49:27 — The AI investment bubble risk. Massive capital flowing into Anthropic, Meta and Google versus cheaper, competitive Chinese models — and what that imbalance could mean for the S&P 500's AI-heavy weighting. 00:51:00 — Israel rejects Trump's 15-point Gaza plan. Distrust that Hamas will disarm, and why the stakes feel existential rather than abstract for Israelis. 00:52:32 — Israel's 27 October election. Netanyahu's fragile coalition, Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Smotrich's collapsing poll numbers, and the growing backlash over ultra-Orthodox exemptions from IDF service. 00:57:09 — Ukraine: Starlink access and drone warfare. Elon Musk restricting Ukrainian Starlink use against Russia, a declined meeting with Trump, and Ukraine's drone successes — including a joint exercise with US forces in Germany. 01:00:29 — Reports of distress aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. Unconfirmed accounts of sailors going overboard after roughly ten months of continuous deployment. 01:01:52 — Stephen Kotkin on Marxism's enduring appeal. Why intellectuals keep returning to Marxist ideas despite the historical body count — and a tangent on campus recruitment, ASIO and the "special role" intellectuals imagine for themselves. 01:05:15 — Iran, Cambodia and the fate of the intellectual class. Historical examples of revolutions turning on the intelligentsia that helped bring them about. 01:06:06 — Sport check: the Ashes build-up begins. Australia's shaky start against Bangladesh, Steve Smith's lucky reprieve, and questions over Alex Carey's batting position and the middle order. 01:08:24 — Selection headaches: Labuschagne and Nathan Lyon. Marnus Labuschagne's technical struggles and whether Lyon plays out the year, with the World Test Championship and next year's Ashes on the horizon. 01:11:03 — Geelong's concussion contract waiver scandal. A player reportedly signing away his right to sue over concussion management; questions over why the club didn't submit the waiver to the AFL or AFLPA, and calls for points deductions rather than fines. 01:16:04 — Jake Kelly's likely retirement and player consent. Whether it matters who initiated the waiver, and why players will "sign anything" to keep playing despite long-term brain injury risks. 01:18:30 — NRL expansion: PNG Chiefs and Perth Bears. Tax-free salaries giving PNG Chiefs an effective cap advantage, players relocating to a purpose-built village in Port Moresby, and Perth's 2027 entry into the competition. 01:22:36 — Poaching rugby fans, AFL's expansion and wildcard finals. The Perth Bears' leadership, Tasmania Devils' draft concessions, Nigel Lappin's coaching move, and early impressions of the AFL's new wildcard finals round.

    The Two Jacks - Episode 168 - Melons, Migrants and Meandering Polls

  3. Aug 17

    Episode 216 - Census - Antivax Lawsuit - Paedo Priest - ABSOLUTE PROOF - RFK Jr.

    It's back to back news finishing up with a bit of heroin and a bit of crack. First up we look at the census. This segment could have gone for about 3 days but we highlight some dumb shit surrounding the entirely uncontroversial 2026 census. Yeah, you really made albo upset by not filling it in. Nice work champion Dr Daniel alerts us to an antivax lawsuit being run by a legal professional. But not a lawyer? Hmmm. Jack discusses the guilty verdict of Bishop Chris Saunders who is a terrible piece of paedo shit who will hopefully die in gaol. AND Mike Lindell loses his primary only to suggest - to everyone's surprise - that there were irregularities. Does he have ABSOLUTE PROOF of election fraud? Probably not, but there's enough crack left in this baggie to get us through to the next conspiracy theory in the midterms. Lastly, instead of Babet or Pete we just smack RFK Jr on the end, the only man in the administration that makes Trump look healthy by comparison. Maybe ease up on the peptides there mate.

    Episode 216 - Census - Antivax Lawsuit - Paedo Priest - ABSOLUTE PROOF - RFK Jr.

  4. Aug 10

    Two Jacks 167: From Pettingill to Perrottet — Corruption, Concussion, and Carlton’s Revival

    This week it's NVIDIA Nemotron Ultra through Perplexity - my sub is running out soon. It made some pretty amazing mistakes and totally made up the references list at the end. I dunno, stick to making chips fellas cause this is a bit shit. Still, it's better than nothing. The clankers are still doing okay at the shownotes thing. Enjoy! --------SummaryMr. Insider and Hong Kong Jack open with the passing of Melbourne matriarch Kath Pettingill (91) and the grim, darkly comic history of the Pettingill–Allen clan — Dennis “Dr Death” Allen, the Stevenson Street fortress, and the Wall Street executions. They pivot to Victoria’s suppression-order addiction (half the national total) and the Ralph Carr rape conviction that took 48 hours to un-suppress, then dissect IBAC’s Operation Richmond into the UFU/CFA/FRV stitch-up — six years, no corruption findings, just “serious and concerning conduct.” Cross the border to NSW: ICAC’s Operation Rosne is live, Jean‑Claude Perrottet is squirming in the box as Nassif’s $2M bribe tapes play, and Jeremy Greenwood is ghosting from London. A detour through minority-government history (Gillard–Greens–Oakeshott–Windsor) segues into a housing-market stoush: banks forecasting −10%, the Budget saying +2%, and Tanya Plibersek claiming “best time ever for first‑home buyers.” The Cambridge sociologist Jason Arday unravels — non-verbal till 11, 600 miles in six days, 30 marathons in 35 days, a brain tumour, 7‑Up kid, £5.5M raised, AI‑written resignation letter — and the ABC’s Four Corners hiring ex‑Mongol Mahmoud Fazal is flagged for next week. Fauci’s diaries, RFK Jr.’s peptide purge, and COVID revisionism draw a furious rant. Ukraine’s drone supremacy, PLA drone investment, and why NATO spending metrics miss the point. Sport: Trump’s “club champ” grift, Geelong’s secret concussion waiver (chaired by AFL Commission boss Craig Drummond), the wildcard-round tanking farce driven by betting partners, Tasmania signing Nigel Lappin, and Carlton’s miraculous turnaround under Josh Fraser — Harry DeMattia, Jagga Smith, Wade Derksen, and a game plan now built on turnover footy. Matthew Stokes on club culture and troubled players. The Hundred’s kid‑focused gimmickry, AFLW Ireland’s skill explosion at North Sydney Oval, and a teaser on NRL/AFL media capture for next week. Timeline Time Segment 0:25 Intro & Housekeeping – 7 Aug 2026, Hong Kong weather (“it’s called summer”), Melbourne heat. 1:18 Kath Pettingill & the Pettingill–Allen Dynasty – “Granny Evil” dies at 91; Dennis Allen (Mr Death), Peter Allen, Victor Pierce, Wall Street murders, Stevenson Street Richmond/Cremorne, Brian Murphy’s $1,400/week payoff, chainsaws & 44‑gallon drums. 7:03 Victoria’s Suppression‑Order Addiction – >50% of national total; Ralph Carr (Dusty Martin’s ex‑manager) convicted of raping employee; 48‑hour delay lifting suppression; “if you’ve got money you get away with it.” 12:29 IBAC Operation Richmond (UFU/CFA/FRV) – Six‑year inquiry; “serious & concerning conduct” but no corrupt conduct; political fix for metropolitan/country fire boundary; “vanilla ICAC” vs NSW theatre; Dan Andrews’ golf clubs. 20:39 NSW ICAC Operation Rosne – Young Liberal operatives (Assaf, Ellis, Greenwood, Perrottet brothers); Jean Nassif ($2M bribe allegation, now in Lebanon), Michael O’Hara, Catholic Schools NSW (Dallas McInerney); targeting David Elliott & Building Commissioner David Chandler; Jean‑Claude Perrottet in the box, audio ambush. 32:41 Minority Government & Coalitions of Convenience – Gillard–Greens–Oakeshott–Windsor “wedding ceremony”; Paul Kelly’s verdict; “you don’t need formal agreements”; Jim Cairns 1970s parallel; all the 2010 plotters now in gaming. 40:52 Housing Market: Crash or Soft Landing? – Banks: −10% / $230B wiped; Budget: +2%; Tanya Plibersek’s “best time ever” claim; negative equity, bank forbearance, 1990s commercial‑property playbook. 46:30 Cambridge Professor Jason Arday: Fantasist or Fraud? – Youngest Black professor; didn’t speak till 11, illiterate till 18, 600 miles/6 days, 30 marathons/35 days (last 9 with hairline fracture), 7‑Up claim, £5.5M raised (walked back), brain tumour during PhD; Cambridge defends, then folds; AI‑written resignation letter; Guardian pile‑on; “sociology standards are fuzzy.” 51:23 ABC Four Corners & Mahmoud Fazal – Ex‑Mongols sergeant‑at‑arms hired; journalistic ethics vs “great life story”; teed up for next episode. 56:34 Fauci, RFK Jr & COVID Revisionism – Fauci takes the Fifth; HHS servers now under Kennedy; “ICUs were empty” lie; double‑blind placebo ethics (Salk polio regret); FDA pulls six peptides off ban list with zero human data; “grifters at 4,000% markup”; healthcare workers threatened. 1:04:05 Ukraine–Russia: Drone Wars & Asymmetric Shift – Ukrainians lead in AI‑guided, radar‑invisible drones; defender’s advantage today ≠ tomorrow; PLA investing heavily; US big‑bureaucracy lag; Taiwan lesson — boots still needed. 1:08:56 Golf: Trump’s “Club Championship” – 80‑yo, 180‑yard drive, four‑handicap in prime; member confirms nudging, caddy collusion, card‑swapping; “four or five handicap? I’d never play again.” 1:10:48 AFL: Geelong’s Secret Concussion Deal – Undisclosed player, multiple concussions, waiver signed, cleared by board (chair Craig Drummond → AFL Commission chair); rival clubs furious; enforceability doubtful; “Geelong get umpired different.” 1:14:41 Wildcard Round Tanking & Betting Partners – Greg Swan memo: “pick on merit or scrutiny”; Fremantle 2023 precedent; clubs 6–10 resting stars to keep week off; bookies complain → “don’t bet that week.” 1:17:13 Tasmania Devils: Nigel Lappin as Head of Development – “Best development coach in the comp”; development = sustained success (cf. Geelong under Lappin). 1:18:45 Carlton’s Blues Revival – Josh Fraser interim; Voss “coached like everyone was Michael Voss”; Fraser: “back yourselves”; turnover footy now elite (1st/2nd in every stat vs Brisbane); Harry DeMattia, Jagga Smith, Taylor Byrne; Wade Derksen’s Darwin-to-rookie fairytale; Curnow→Sydney, Florent/Hayward win‑win; Jacob Weitering return looms. 1:27:41 Matthew Stokes on Club Culture & Troubled Players – Ex‑Cat’s own history; secrecy enables; consequences (pay cuts) needed; “don’t let it fester inside the four walls.” 1:29:25 Cricket: The Hundred (UK) – 100 balls, 5/10‑ball blocks, 20‑ball max per bowler; ECB: “engage 7–10 year olds”; dominates July/August; “poor man’s T20,” wallpaper cricket; IPL money > Hundred money. 1:34:21 AFLW: Ireland v Australia at North Sydney Oval – Sell‑out, Irish diaspora everywhere; skills unrecognisable from Year 1; Gaelic football base; “terrific spectacle.” 1:36:09 NRL/AFL Media Capture Teaser – Gus Gould fined $20K for “game’s stupid”; concussion denialism; AFL.com/ NRL.com in‑house content; “incestuous relationship” — deep dive next week. 1:38:43 Wrap – Episode 167 recorded 7 Aug; thanks to Hong Kong Jack; see you next week. People & Entities Mentioned Category Names Category Names Melbourne Underworld Kath Pettingill, Dennis Allen, Peter Allen, Victor Pierce, Vicki Pierce, Brian Murphy, Jack (Murphy’s sidekick), Dennis “Dr Death” Allen Victorian Politics/Law Ralph Carr, IBAC, Operation Richmond, UFU, CFA, MFB, FRV, Dan Andrews, Craig Drummond (AFL Commission), Premier Ben Carroll NSW Politics/ICAC Jean‑Claude & Charles Perrottet, Robert Assaf, Christian Ellis, Jeremy Greenwood, Jean Nassif, Michael O’Hara, Dallas McInerney, Damien Tudehope, ICAC Operation Rosne Federal/Historical Julia Gillard, Bob Brown, Adam Bandt, Wayne Swan, Tony Windsor, Rob Oakeshott, Jim Cairns, Gough Whitlam, Kevin Rudd, Stephen Conroy Housing/Economy Tanya Plibersek, RBA, major banks Academia/Media Jason Arday (Cambridge), The Guardian, Mahmoud Fazal (Four Corners), ABC COVID/Health Anthony Fauci, RFK Jr, FDA, NIH, HHS Geopolitics/Defence Ukraine, Russia, PLA, Taiwan, NATO GDP metrics Sport — Golf Donald Trump AFL Geelong Cats, Craig Drummond, Greg Swan, Fremantle, Ross Lyon, Tasmania Devils, Nigel Lappin, Carlton, Michael Voss, Josh Fraser, Harry DeMattia, Jagga Smith, Taylor Byrne, Wade Derksen, Charlie Curnow, Ollie Florent, Jack Hayward, Jacob Weitering, Matthew Stokes Cricket ECB, The Hundred, Mitchell Marsh, Marcus Stoinis, IPL AFLW Ireland women’s team, North Sydney Oval Media Gus Gould, Phil Gould, AFL Media, NRL Media Links & References (for show notes) IBAC Operation Richmond Report — https://www.ibac.vic.gov.au/investigations/operation-richmond NSW ICAC Operation Rosne Hearings (live) — https://www.icac.nsw.gov.au/operation-rosne Ralph Carr Conviction & Suppression Order Lift — The Age / Herald Sun (early Aug 2026) Cambridge / Jason Arday Coverage — The Guardian “Grotesque racism” piece; Times Higher Education investigation FDA Peptide Decision (6 peptides delisted) — Federal Register / FDA press release, late July 2026 AFL Wildcard Round & Tanking Memo — AFL.com.au / The Age (Greg Swan memo leak) Tasmania Devils Announce Nigel Lappin — AFL.com.au / The Mercury (early Aug 2026) The Hundred 2026 Schedule & Rules — ECB / Sky Sports AFLW Ireland v Australia Highlights — Kayo / Fox Footy / AFLW YouTube

    Two Jacks 167: From Pettingill to Perrottet — Corruption, Concussion, and Carlton’s Revival

  5. Aug 7

    Episode 215 - Rod Culleton and Grubisa Update with Chris Baker and Jack

    We had a bit of an echo issue with the sound so I had to do a manual edit and at times for the sake of your sanity, Chris' audio was cut out. But I did my best to keep it all in cause this is interesting stuff. Hopefully it works. Due to the slog of the edit I am resigning to AI shownotes. I am tired! These ones are brought to you by GPT-5.6 Terra with Thinking enabled. It's fine - my free year of perplexity is about to run out so I am making hay while the clankers are on my side. Enjoy! ------------------------ Episode descriptionJack the Insider is joined by former lawyer and consumer advocate Chris Baker for an update on the Dominic Grubisa saga, before turning to the continuing legal adventures of former senator Rod Culleton and the broader risks of pseudolaw and sovereign-citizen-style claims. Chris discusses developments following the earlier Grubisa episode: bankruptcy and liquidation matters, concerns around company records and client data, the alleged continuation of property-training operations through new entities, and what affected consumers may face. The conversation then shifts to Rod Culleton’s ongoing litigation, electoral-law issues, bankruptcy disputes, and the danger of vulnerable people relying on misinformation when facing repossession or court action. Detailed show notes00:00 — Chris Baker returns. Jack welcomes back Chris Baker, who recaps Episode 209’s discussion of Dominic Grubisa, the asset-protection scheme, and the regulatory and court processes that followed.C-Rogers-What-s-Sov-Cit-Rod-been-up-to-feat-Grubisa-update-transcript.txt01:40 — Bankruptcy, liquidation and CoreLogic. Chris discusses Grubisa’s bankruptcy and the liquidation of the principal trading company, including a judgment connected to the use of CoreLogic/RP Data property information.C-Rogers-What-s-Sov-Cit-Rod-been-up-to-feat-Grubisa-update-transcript.txt03:45 — Missing records and client data. The pair examine claims that company books, records, computers and databases cannot be accounted for, alongside concerns that a client database may still be used to contact former customers.C-Rogers-What-s-Sov-Cit-Rod-been-up-to-feat-Grubisa-update-transcript.txt06:10 — Asset transfers and bankruptcy scrutiny. Chris discusses the reported transfer of assets before bankruptcy and the potential for a bankruptcy trustee to investigate or seek recovery of transfers under the Bankruptcy Act.C-Rogers-What-s-Sov-Cit-Rod-been-up-to-feat-Grubisa-update-transcript.txt07:25 — Property Lovers and PropTix.ai. The discussion moves to the alleged continuation of similar property-program marketing through subsequent entities, including the Hong Kong-registered PropTix.ai, which Chris says was advertising to Australian consumers.C-Rogers-What-s-Sov-Cit-Rod-been-up-to-feat-Grubisa-update-transcript.txt14:50 — Regulators and unresolved questions. Jack and Chris question the pace and effectiveness of regulatory action, including the role of the NSW Law Society, the Legal Services Commissioner and other authorities. Chris reflects on the impact on people who engaged with the scheme and later participated in complaints or proceedings.C-Rogers-What-s-Sov-Cit-Rod-been-up-to-feat-Grubisa-update-transcript.txt21:45 — Enter “SovCit Rod.” The conversation pivots to Rod Culleton—former senator, recurring litigant and prominent pseudolaw figure—and the legal actions he has pursued in several courts.C-Rogers-What-s-Sov-Cit-Rod-been-up-to-feat-Grubisa-update-transcript.txt22:35 — Border closures and High Court litigation. Chris outlines Culleton’s efforts to challenge Western Australian border-closure laws, attempts to revive matters in the High Court, and subsequent proceedings in the Federal Court and NSW Supreme Court.C-Rogers-What-s-Sov-Cit-Rod-been-up-to-feat-Grubisa-update-transcript.txt27:10 — Habeas corpus for a court case? A discussion of Culleton’s attempt to invoke habeas corpus in relation to a matter remitted from the High Court to the Federal Court—and why the argument did not succeed.C-Rogers-What-s-Sov-Cit-Rod-been-up-to-feat-Grubisa-update-transcript.txt28:15 — Electoral declarations and bankruptcy. Jack and Chris revisit Culleton’s election candidacies, convictions connected with candidate declarations, appeals, and the implications of an undischarged bankruptcy.C-Rogers-What-s-Sov-Cit-Rod-been-up-to-feat-Grubisa-update-transcript.txt31:05 — The long-running Lester dispute. The pair trace a dispute originating in commercial arrangements from around 2009, Culleton’s bankruptcy, and the succession of court proceedings that followed.C-Rogers-What-s-Sov-Cit-Rod-been-up-to-feat-Grubisa-update-transcript.txt34:35 — Possible vexatious-litigant proceedings. Chris discusses an application seeking a vexatious-litigant order, what such an order may mean in practice, and why any restriction may be limited to particular litigation rather than a blanket ban.C-Rogers-What-s-Sov-Cit-Rod-been-up-to-feat-Grubisa-update-transcript.txt39:35 — The danger of repossession misinformation. Chris warns against claims that banks must obtain a particular type of order before enforcing a mortgage, distinguishing between judgment-creditor enforcement and a mortgagee’s powers. He argues that people in financial distress should not be encouraged to ignore lawful court orders or evade service.C-Rogers-What-s-Sov-Cit-Rod-been-up-to-feat-Grubisa-update-transcript.txt47:40 — Pseudolaw, “paper terrorism” and legal consequences. Jack and Chris discuss the recurring arguments deployed by pseudolaw adherents: claims about invalid constitutions, royal assent, the Crown, bills of exchange, and other theories repeatedly rejected by courts.C-Rogers-What-s-Sov-Cit-Rod-been-up-to-feat-Grubisa-update-transcript.txt54:20 — Why the movement persists. The episode considers how sovereign-citizen and pseudolaw narratives spread, why they appeal to people under pressure, and the cost—financial, legal and personal—when those arguments fail.C-Rogers-What-s-Sov-Cit-Rod-been-up-to-feat-Grubisa-update-transcript.txt1:01:25 — From online claims to real-world harm. The pair discuss the escalation from internet theories to courtroom disruption and risky conduct in real disputes involving debt, property, police and court processes.

    Episode 215 - Rod Culleton and Grubisa Update with Chris Baker and Jack

  6. Jul 27

    The Two Jacks - Episode 165 - From Crimea to Canberra: Putin Cornered, One Nation Rising, and an Economy Out of Ideas

    This weeks ai slop is served up by DeepSeek v4 Pro. I tried to use Kimi but it got stuck generating the notes. So now you get this. Could be worse. Episode SummaryJack the Insider and Hong Kong Jack return for a wide-ranging conversation that spans the turbulent state of Australian politics and the precarious state of global affairs. The episode opens with striking Redbridge polling data suggesting One Nation could pick up as many as 19 seats in the upcoming Victorian state election -- a result that would leave neither major party able to form government in its own right. The Jacks explore the mechanics of minority government, the prospect of a marriage of convenience between the Liberals and One Nation, and whether Labor voters in protest mode could deliver One Nation unexpected inroads into heartland seats. The domestic focus then shifts to the Australian economy. Drawing on former ACTU Secretary Bill Kelty's recent analysis, the hosts dissect a bureaucracy more concerned with treating symptoms than causes, lamenting squandered billions on unused quarantine centres, infrastructure costs among the highest in the world, and a housing crisis driven by a failure to train enough workers. The conversation turns to political courage -- or the lack of it -- comparing today's risk-averse governing class with the Hawke-Keating reform era, when fringe benefits tax was meant to kill the long lunch but somehow did not. A spirited defence of Emerge Australia -- an advocacy group training GPs to diagnose and treat myalgic encephalomyelitis (chronic fatigue syndrome) -- highlights the government's decision to cut a mere $400,000 in funding, a move Jack the Insider brands disgraceful for an organisation serving an estimated 250,000 Australians. Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme reform also gets a hearing, with pharmaceutical companies increasingly bypassing Australia for clinical trials. Internationally, the Jacks confront the escalating dangers of the Russia-Ukraine war. With Ukraine making Crimea increasingly uninhabitable and Vladimir Putin backed into a corner, the prospect of an attack on a NATO or NATO-aligned state looms. The conversation covers Russia's cancelled bond sale, the shifting power dynamic between Putin and Xi Jinping, and thousands of Russian passports arriving in Moldova -- a familiar prelude to intervention. On Iran, the hosts reflect on the Trump administration's military strikes, oil climbing past USD 100 a barrel, and the political consequences for the upcoming US midterm elections. The episode closes with sport: the FIFA World Cup (and Argentina's remarkable ability to unify the football world in mutual disdain), the AFL's handling of the Nicky Winmar domestic violence case and questions of consistency, the end of the Bazball era in English Test cricket, a warm tribute to the late Sir Garfield Sobers, and rugby union's new Nations Championship format. Timestamped Highlights(All timestamps adjusted +25 seconds to account for theme music.) 00:00:26 -- Introduction and Banter Jack the Insider and Hong Kong Jack open the show trading observations on air conditioning, long lunches, and the perils of sitting directly beneath the vent. 00:01:32 -- One Nation's Victorian Polling Surge Redbridge polling data indicates One Nation could win as many as 19 seats in the Victorian state election. In an 88-seat legislature, that would make a majority for either major party almost impossible. 00:02:52 -- Minority Government Mechanics Hong Kong Jack explains the constitutional pathway: if no party wins a majority, the sitting Premier gets the first conversation with the Governor and may be recommissioned to form government. 00:04:20 -- A Three-Cornered Contest Jack the Insider argues the Allan government is at the end of the road, but the Liberal alternative inspires little confidence. One Nation may poll well in Labor heartland seats as protest voters look for an outlet that is not the Liberal Party. 00:06:33 -- The Polling vs. the Pencil Hong Kong Jack predicts One Nation's polling numbers will soften once voters are alone in the booth with an HB pencil hovering over the ballot paper. 00:08:32 -- Commonwealth Games Land in Glasgow The hosts acknowledge the Commonwealth Games have begun -- in Glasgow, not Victoria. The opening ceremony featured King Charles and Queen Camilla emerging from a Doctor Who TARDIS. 00:10:50 -- Pauline Hanson and the Tommy Robinson Interview The Jacks dissect Hanson's decision to interview the controversial British figure, with Hong Kong Jack arguing the motivation is straightforward: publicity, good or bad. 00:12:12 -- Factions Within One Nation Barnaby Joyce's visible discomfort with the Robinson interview signals internal tensions. Jack the Insider warns One Nation risks veering further towards the "lunar right." 00:13:30 -- Two Australias: The Great Dog Divide A detour into the changing culture of pet ownership. Jack the Insider contrasts the utilitarian farm dogs of his Reservoir childhood with the multi-billion-dollar industry of designer dog beds, pushchairs, and booties. 00:15:59 -- Bill Kelty's Economic Diagnosis Former ACTU Secretary Bill Kelty delivers a blunt assessment: Australian governments have spent decades treating symptoms rather than causes -- quarantine centres never used, infrastructure costs at world-record levels, a housing crisis born of under-investment in skills. 00:17:59 -- The Courage Deficit Hong Kong Jack argues the current government, like its recent predecessors, lacks political boldness. The Prime Minister's Labor conference speech seemed "spooked by One Nation" rather than offering a growth narrative. 00:19:22 -- The Keating Comparison Jack the Insider revisits the Hawke-Keating reform era, noting the howls of outrage that greeted early reforms -- including fringe benefits tax, which was meant to "kill lunch" but somehow did not. The difference today: social media amplifies every backlash. 00:23:02 -- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Funding Cut An urgent segment on the defunding of Emerge Australia, an advocacy group that has trained roughly 10% of the nation's GPs in diagnosing and treating ME/CFS. The cut amounts to approximately $400,000 -- a sum Jack the Insider describes as negligible in public expenditure but catastrophic for the 250,000 Australians living with the condition. 00:26:37 -- The PBS and Australia's Clinical Trial Problem Pharmaceutical companies are increasingly bypassing Australia for clinical trials, leaving patients with rare conditions to raise extraordinary sums for overseas treatment. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme's pricing structure may require root-and-branch reform, particularly for newly developed drugs. 00:29:50 -- What Should Labor Do About One Nation? Hong Kong Jack's prescription is simple: fix the economy and stop saying silly things. One Nation will wither on the vine if economic growth returns. 00:30:17 -- Derryn Hinch: The Human Headline Remembered The former broadcaster, senator, and Justice Party founder has died aged 82. The Jacks reflect on a complicated legacy -- a man who transformed Melbourne talkback radio and tabloid television, was twice married to Jacki Weaver, and whose profound impact on the media is tempered by a deeply troubling intervention in the justice system. 00:32:00 -- The Glennon Case: When a Headline Cost Children Their Safety Jack the Insider recounts in detail how Hinch's decision to publicly name convicted paedophile priest Michael Glennon during an active trial led to the suspension of proceedings, an eventual overturned conviction, and a four-year window in which Glennon continued operating camps and abusing children -- as many as 20 additional victims. 00:38:14 -- Hinch's Media Legacy Despite the Glennon tragedy, Hong Kong Jack credits Hinch with changing the sound of Melbourne radio. The talkback format he pioneered arguably saved stations like 3AW. 00:40:32 -- Ukraine and the Battle for Crimea The Ukrainians cannot hold Crimea, but they are making it unliveable. Water, electricity, and supplies have been cut. Crimeans are fleeing en masse. The Russian Black Sea Fleet has effectively ceased to exist. 00:42:13 -- Putin Backed Into a Corner Jack the Insider warns that Vladimir Putin, when cornered, does not act rationally. The spectre of an attack on a NATO country -- perhaps a Baltic state -- or on Moldova is real. Putin cannot sue for peace; it would mean the end of him. 00:44:21 -- Russia's Economic Pressure Points Hong Kong Jack notes that Russia cancelled a regular bond sale last week after failing to find buyers. The economic squeeze is mounting. Putin and his deeply unpopular party are now being fused together ahead of elections. 00:47:13 -- Russian Passports Arrive in Moldova Thousands of Russian passports have been shipped to Moldova -- the same playbook used in Crimea and eastern Ukraine before intervention. 00:49:32 -- Iran, the Houthis, and Oil Above USD 100 US strikes on Iran continue. Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have struck oil tankers. The price of crude has pushed past USD 100 a barrel -- a politically dangerous number for Donald Trump four months out from the midterms. 00:50:33 -- The Netanyahu Pitch for Regime Change Jack the Insider recounts the scene from Swan and Haberman's book: Benjamin Netanyahu presenting a case for US-Israeli combined bombing to achieve regime change in Iran. Trump was impressed; Marco Rubio and the CIA director were not. 00:52:56 -- US Midterms: The Democratic Candidate Problem The Democrats' prospects are muddied by candidate issues including the withdrawal of Graham Plattner over sexual assault allegations and the party's persistent inability to select candidates who genuinely connect with the white working class. 00:54:40 -- Tim Waltz, John Kerry, and Authenticity Hong Kong Jack contrasts the Democrats' clumsy attempts to project authenticity -- Tim Waltz hunting, John Kerry windsurfing -- with the reality that Kerry was an ice hockey player

    The Two Jacks - Episode 165 - From Crimea to Canberra: Putin Cornered, One Nation Rising, and an Economy Out of Ideas

  7. Jul 24

    Episode 214 - NEWS - AusAlert - Barky Barnaby and Teeny Weeny

    We are back! And this week we are keeping it simple and silly. While I am looking into Karl Stefanovic's main sponsor Ringers Western - I have got square eyes and research fatigue. Reading judgements is BORING! So this week we are having some fun. AusAlert is going to make our phones scream FIRE in a building and you can't turn it off. But is it going to make you explode? Will the unvaccinated be spared? The answers will shock and astonish - but don't worry you can buy a solution. We look at Barnaby Joyce and Teeny Weeny having a rubbish week. Barnaby yelled at his dog on the ABC making people wonder what he's like at home. Teeny Weeny is copping shit because a few journos have finally noticed that he is barking mad. Babet went to England and hated it because Twitter has ruined him. He really is an idiot. Enjoy!

    Episode 214 - NEWS - AusAlert - Barky Barnaby and Teeny Weeny

  8. Jul 14

    The Two Jacks - Episode 164 - Housing, Hormuz and the PM’s Podcast Problem

    This weeks shownotes are brought to you by Microsoft CoPilot - and I think that's funny. Why? Because nobody really uses this outside of work. But here I am - using it. But I can all hear you say - "but Joel, producing the Two Jacks is essentially work" and I would agree. But let's not get carried away on such things. But I do get to compare and contrast AI models. And I do like the podcast (when the audio isn't f****d) so I guess I'm breaking even. Right? Highlights: copilot refuses to acknowledge my prompt that clearly states Jack is not me (he's just using the login) and also the F*****G NERVE at the end to say it's produced by Two Jacks. Copilot suuuuucks. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jack the Insider (Joel Hill) and Hong Kong Jack cover the week’s biggest stories: a downgraded Australian growth forecast, renewed Middle East tensions and oil-price risk, the cost of housing regulation, a controversial podcast appearance by the Prime Minister, new Pacific security ties, UK political drama, and a full sports roundup. The conversation mixes policy analysis, local anecdotes and sharp takes on political judgement. From the transcript: “The firm expects headline, inflation to remain elevated above 4% and unemployment to peak at 5%.” Shownotes with timestamps (All timestamps advanced by 25 seconds to allow for theme music) 00:00:25 — Welcome and housekeeping   Hosts: Jack the Insider (speaking as Joel Hill) and Hong Kong Jack open the show and trade personal updates (dental woes, home repairs). 00:02:12 — Australian economy update   Topic: Deloitte downgrades growth to 1.3% this financial year; inflation and unemployment outlook; RBA commentary on Commonwealth spending. Key takeaway: growth is slowing and inflation remains a problem. “Australia’s growth outlook has deteriorated over the past six months. The economy is still expanding, but growth has slowed and the outlook has become more fragile.” 00:06:05 — Middle East and oil risk   Topic: Iran, Strait of Hormuz disruptions, US options and the long-term economic impact of sustained higher oil prices. Discussion of the limits of military options and the political timing pressures in the US. 00:11:36 — Housing, regulation and planning delays   Topic: RBA 2018 study on Sydney housing regulation costs; local DA delays, heritage listings and the cost of permits. Practical points on streamlining approvals and supply-side fixes. 00:20:54 — Political gaffe: Prime Minister on a podcast   Topic: Reaction to the PM’s Nova-style podcast appearance and awkward answers; media-advice failures; debate over whether senior politicians should accept small‑reach podcast interviews. 00:31:40 — Pacific security and Fiji treaty   Topic: New treaty with Fiji makes it Australia’s fourth alliance partner; strategic context and China’s regional activity; soft-power vs bidding-war approaches. 00:35:40 — UK politics and Nigel Farage   Topic: Farage resigns his seat and triggers a by-election amid funding questions; Andy Burnham’s expected rise to Prime Minister and the legitimacy challenge for leaders chosen without a general election. 00:46:58 — Europe and Germany’s budget push   Topic: Germany pushes back on EU spending plans and flags competitiveness concerns; energy and industrial cost pressures. 00:55:50 — Russia, Ukraine and military developments   Topic: Ukrainian strikes, Crimea pressure, and the risks of escalation; discussion of cruise-missile production and defensive needs. 01:12:30 — Sport roundup   Topics covered: Women’s cricket dominance; World Cup highlights (Argentina, Norway, Mbappé); State of Origin; AFL/NRL broadcast deals and coaching moves; track standout Cameron Myers. Key quotes from the episode On the economy: “Inflation has re-accelerated, interest rates have moved higher and the oil price shock triggered by conflict in the Middle East is not yet fully resolved.” On housing regulation: Hong Kong Jack: “If you could have that $380,000 that it was seven years ago that comes onto the cost of building a house in Sydney, just think how much better off people in Sydney would be.” What we liked and what to watch Worth following: developments in the Strait of Hormuz and any new RBA/Treasury commentary on growth and inflation. Local watch: NSW planning reforms and ICAC inquiries into property development. Politics: the fallout from the PM’s podcast appearance and the UK by-election dynamics around Nigel Farage. How to listen and get involved Subscribe on your favourite podcast app. Send us feedback or story tips — Jack the Insider and Hong Kong Jack read listener mail each week. Share this episode if you found the housing or geopolitics segments useful. Produced by Two Jacks — Episode 164. Thanks for listening; we’ll be back next week.

    The Two Jacks - Episode 164 - Housing, Hormuz and the PM’s Podcast Problem
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About

Welcome to The Conditional Release Program, a podcast that delves into the netherworld of cults, crims and con artists. Who would have thought a spicy chest cough would turn everyone so completely mad? Our weekly show covers the conspiracy theorists that created a 'shadow pandemic' of political idiocy and violent ideation within the fringe of politics. From time to time we get our hands even dirtier with true crime deep dives. Jack is a seasoned expert in the true crime genre, having written and spoken extensively about Roger Rogerson, Stan 'the man' Smith and, of course, the Fine Cotton Fiasco. In various episodes he guides us through the dark underbelly of Australian crime in his trademark storytelling style. The world is getting weird and we are getting weird with it. Let's watch as democracy crumbles into a smouldering heap - and take note of the kids carrying the matches and the metho. Hosted by Jack the Insider and Joel Hill with an occasional rotation of guests that generally share our distaste toward the lunatic fringe.

Information

  • Creator
    Jack the Insider and Joel Hill
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    480
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Conditional Release Program