We speak with well respected Australian liberal academic, Dr William Coleman about Australian Federation in 1901 and Australian nationalism more generally.

Our discussion centres around Dr Coleman's book, "Their Fiery Cross of Union - A Retelling of the Creation of the Australian Federation, 1889-1914", which is critical of federation project and many of those involved.

Topics we cover include:

• Whether there were really any practical alternatives possible?
• Whether the Australian constitution is really as flawed as claimed and how it could have been better?
• Whether Dr Coleman is too hard on the Australian Founders (compared to the American Founders and other nationalist leaders)?
• Whether our national immigration and foreign trade policies implemented at Federation, which liberals bemoan, were necessary at the time and important for the development of Australia?
• The relevance of Australia's founding to today's discussions about nationalism and importance of nation-state, trade, and immigration policies, being conducted as part of the "national conservative" movement in US, Europe and elsewhere.

We interview former NSW Police Minister Carl Scully who together with Assistant Commissioner Mark Goodwin are the authors of an important new book "The Cronulla Riots - The Inside Story".

We discuss:

- What actually went on in December 2005 and how the true significance of these events has been misunderstood

- How the aftermath and revenge attacks were far more serious that what took place on Cronulla Beach and how the police responded

- How both the media and academics misunderstood and mischaracterised these events

- Some very positive elements that came out of the events in 2005 and how this reflects well on the Australian community

- What in his view it takes to make immigration a success

We interview Mark Krikorian, the executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) www.cis.org and a nationally recognised and influential expert on immigration issues in the United States

Among other things we discuss:

• What exactly is going on in Springfield, Ohio and why it matters more than whether cats and dogs are being eaten
• What problems the US has with illegal immigration that Australia has been able to avoid
• Why US centre-right has until recently talked very differently about immigration than in Australia
• Why legal immigration is the problem as well as illegal immigration
• Where we go from here.