John Ruddick MLC - Defending Liberty, Property Rights, and Free Speech in Australia | Ep. 73

My guest today is John Ruddick, a member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales (Australia) and the first representative of the Libertarian Party elected to Parliament. John is a fierce advocate for civil liberties, a staunch defender of free speech, and an unapologetic voice against government overreach. His journey from mortgage broker to politician is marked by his unwavering commitment to individual rights, decentralization, and liberty-first governance.
From challenging Australia’s authoritarian COVID response to pushing for bold pro-Bitcoin legislation, John brings a radical yet refreshing perspective to modern politics. We dive into his banned maiden speech, his views on free speech and state power, and the philosophical roots of libertarianism. He breaks down why he believes government should shrink dramatically, how welfare could be radically reimagined through competition and compassion, and why Murray Rothbard’s anarcho-capitalism is the north star.

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John’s Twitter: https://x.com/JohnRuddick2
John’s inaugural speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hw1zPTDEVxA
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-- CHAPTERS –

00:00 Coming Up…
01:30 Introduction to John
02:24 Covid-19 and the Response in Australia
07:09 John's Maiden Speech in Parliament - Why Was It Censored?
12:15 Free Speech, Government Overreach & Libertarianism
25:45 C19 Plandemic Aftermath & Jab Damages in Australia
36:45 Foundations & History of Libertarianism, inc. Ayn Rand, Murray Rothbard, Milton Fridman
47:40 The Role of Government: A Debate on Anarcho-Capitalism
53:50 Private Free Cities: A New Approach to Governance
55:15 Libertarianism & Bitcoin: A Natural Alliance
57:40 Libertarianism & Bitcoin in Australia - Separation of Money & State
1:05:45 Macro View on the Australian Economy
1:14:20 Australia's Political History: Lessons for the Future (from 1788 to 1898 to today)
1:21:40 A Message of Hope from John