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

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 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