Perth Dialogues | Honest Conversations on Australian Life

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Are they elected — or selected for us?

Metin Pekin — Episode 48 — Author, Breaking Democracy’s Chains

What is Perth Dialogues?

Perth Dialogues is a long-form conversation about the issues shaping life in Western Australia — housing, healthcare, the economy, and the policy decisions that touch everyone. Politicians, community leaders, entrepreneurs and change-makers, each given the space for a real conversation instead of a soundbite.

Hosted by Nirmal Singh, a Perth-based procurement professional whose own journey as a migrant to Australia brings an added lens to these conversations — one flavour among many, never the whole story. Nirmal is the host, not an advocate: every episode is neutral ground, not a platform for one side.

Full bio → nirmalsingh.au

New episodes every Monday at 7pm AWST.

New conversations every week

Episode 48:

Metin Pekin

Author Metin Pekin, of Breaking Democracy’s Chains, argues it isn’t any one party failing voters — it’s the party system itself. He proposes a “No-Party” model of independent MPs, and faces tough pushback on whether independents can really govern without the same problems returning.

Episode 47:

Prof. Matthew Ogilvie

Returning guest Prof. Matthew Ogilvie makes the case for keeping WA Parliament’s 98-year tradition of opening with the Lord’s Prayer, as a Labor MP moves to replace it with a moment of silent reflection — covering the roots of human rights, the Acknowledgement of Country as a parallel debate, and Australia’s changing religious makeup.

Episode 46:

David Maywald

David Maywald, author of The Relentless War on Masculinity, points to a UN calendar with fifteen days for women and girls and none for men and boys — and to gaps in medical research funding, fatherlessness and teacher representation that follow the same pattern. He and Nirmal work through his audit of these disparities, one by one. This episode discusses male suicide; support is available from Lifeline (13 11 14), Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) and MensLine Australia (1300 78 99 78).

Episode 45:

Wasif Ali

Wasif Ali co-founded Men Welfare Trust after his own marriage broke down, and now runs a helpline fielding thousands of calls a month. He and Nirmal discuss India’s dowry-abuse laws and the cases that cross into Australia’s NRI community. This episode touches on domestic violence and suicide; support is available from Lifeline (13 11 14) and MensLine Australia (1300 78 99 78).

Episode 44:

Mihir Bhatt

Mihir Bhatt, founder of Perth-based Artha Academy, argues Australians — migrant families especially — put almost everything into property and rarely diversify. He and Nirmal talk through why that happens, the difference between investing and speculating, and what a more balanced approach could look like. General discussion only, not personal financial advice.

Keep the conversations going

Perth Dialogues is independent and self-funded. If a conversation has ever changed how you see something, a cup of coffee helps keep the next one on the calendar.