Barry Jones, AC FAA FAHA FTSE FASSA FACE FRSA, is an Australian polymath, writer, teacher, lawyer, social activist, quiz champion and former politician. He campaigned against the death penalty throughout the 1960s, particularly against the execution of Ronald Ryan. He is on the National Trust's list of Australian Living Treasures. He was educated at the University of Melbourne and worked as a public servant and high school teacher before rising to fame as Australia’s quiz champion from 1960 to 1968. He became the country’s first talkback radio host, then lectured in history at La Trobe University before becoming a Victorian State Labor MP in 1972. Throughout the 1970s, he took a leading role in reviving the Australian film industry. He entered federal parliament in 1977 as the member for Lalor. Between 1983 and 1990, he held the portfolios of Science, Prices and Consumer Affairs, Small Business, and Customs. He was a member of the Executive Board of UNESCO in Paris from 1991 to 1995, National President of the Australian Labor Party from 1992 to 2000, and Deputy Chairman of the Constitutional Convention in 1998. He has written many influential books and his most recent book is What is to be Done: Political Engagement and Saving the Planet (Scribe, 2020).
Producer: Patrick Telfer. Line Producer: Samuel Curkpatrick. Music composed and performed by: Cameron Deyell and Reuben Lewis. Image credit: Celeste de Clario. Director: Aaron Corn. Executive Producer: Marcia Langton.
Barry Jones, AC FAA FAHA FTSE FASSA FACE FRSA, is an Australian polymath, writer, teacher, lawyer, social activist, quiz champion and former politician. He campaigned against the death penalty throughout the 1960s, particularly against the execution of Ronald Ryan. He is on the National Trust's list of Australian Living Treasures. He was educated at the University of Melbourne and worked as a public servant and high school teacher before rising to fame as Australia’s quiz champion from 1960 to 1968. He became the country’s first talkback radio host, then lectured in history at La Trobe University before becoming a Victorian State Labor MP in 1972. Throughout the 1970s, he took a leading role in reviving the Australian film industry. He entered federal parliament in 1977 as the member for Lalor. Between 1983 and 1990, he held the portfolios of Science, Prices and Consumer Affairs, Small Business, and Customs. He was a member of the Executive Board of UNESCO in Paris from 1991 to 1995, National President of the Australian Labor Party from 1992 to 2000, and Deputy Chairman of the Constitutional Convention in 1998. He has written many influential books and his most recent book is What is to be Done: Political Engagement and Saving the Planet (Scribe, 2020).
Producer: Patrick Telfer. Line Producer: Samuel Curkpatrick. Music composed and performed by: Cameron Deyell and Reuben Lewis. Image credit: Celeste de Clario. Director: Aaron Corn. Executive Producer: Marcia Langton.