James O’Loghlin will be in conversation with Alex Sloan on his new book The Missing Piece. How I became an accidental activist

Usually when a friend is dying, there’s not much you can do. But what if there was? James O’Loghlin’s best friend at university was Jum Wallner, but once careers and kids came along, they drifted apart. That was, until the day Jum felt a pain in his side and remembered he had grown up in a house filled with ‘Mr Fluffy’ asbestos insulation.

Nearly everyone who contracts an asbestos disease gets it from their work and is entitled to compensation or financial support. Jum discovered that if you got one from your home, tough luck. You were on your own. Before he died, Jum wanted to change that. James leapt at the chance to help him. But with zero lobbying experience, how were they going to persuade the ACT Labor Government and the Federal Liberal Government to work together to help the victims of the 1000 ‘Mr Fluffy’ houses? In the middle of Covid, how would they attract national media attention? Most importantly, as Jum’s illness worsened, could they get it done in time?

This is a story about amateurs figuring out how to influence government, how friendship can drift and then be found again, and how tragedy can make it clear what really matters.

‘Instructive, funny and intensely moving.’ Richard Glover ‘This is a human story, and also a story of activism against the odds.’ Greg Combet

James O’Loghlin is a television and radio broadcaster, author, speaker and MC, author of 14 books and a former comedian. He is best known as the host of over 300 episodes of the much loved The New Inventors on ABC TV, and for his witty and entertaining programs on ABC Local Radio. He currently hosts The Afternoon Show on ABC Local Radio in NSW, the asbestos based podcast Dust Disease Diaries for the Asbestos and Dust Diseases Research Institute and co-hosts the mental health podcast Minding Your Mind with Prof Ian Hickie.

Alex Sloan AM is an award-winning journalist, panellist, MC and commentator whose extensive media career spans 30 years, including 27 years with ABC Radio. Alex is a Director and Deputy Chair of Australia's think-tank, The Australia Institute . In 2017 Alex was named ACT Citizen of the Year .Alex is a regular conversationalist in the Meet the Author series.

Dr Mike Kelly AM , who began his distinguished career fighting for the rights of injured workers and campaigning for those suffering from asbestos related diseases in Sydney, will give the vote of thanks.

Books will be available for signing from 5.30pm and again after the event.

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A podcast will be made available after the event.

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