Barry Jones on a life of public service and the state of politics today

"Our politics is dumb and completely short-sighted and personally obsessed." At 93 Barry Jones, former ALP National President, writer and public intellectual, has a thing or two to say about politics and society. He sits down with David Marr for a long discussion on the nature of parliament, his frustrations about climate inaction, his relationship with Bob Hawke, his view on AUKUS and the numinous experience of hearing the music you love, performed exquisitely. Guest: Barry Jones, former ALP politician, writer and social activist.Producers: David Marr and Catherine Zengerer Barry's music list: Maria João Pires playing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No 4 with Herbert Blomstedt conducting the NHK Symphony Orchestra. Barry says: “It's like one of the great experiences. Your heart beat changes, your breathing changes, everything changes. It's such a wonderful work.”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_juGZePAxpQPires playing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No 3 with Frans Brüggen and the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century. Barry says: “A stunning recording.”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hR95EK9fEKo&list=RDhR95EK9fEKo&start_radio=1Alfred Della singing Esurientes implevit bonis from Bach’s Magnificat in D major with the Kalmar Orchestra conducted by Pierre Colombo. Barry says: “Esurientes is just extraordinary.”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Amko575QCEBach’s Fuge à la Gigue BWV 577. Tom Koopman on the organ of the Walloon Church of AmsterdamBarry says: “A sort of hustling thing. Get out, get out, get out, get out and do things.”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FHb4d8TwIE