Amy Remeikis - Screw Nice

Name: Amy Remeikis - Screw Nice
Start: 2026-07-28T18:00:00+10:00
End: 2026-07-28T18:00:00+10:00
Location: Upstairs at Gleebooks

About

6pm for 6.30pm Tuesday 28 July

Amy Remeikis in conversation with Tina Quinn

The imbalance between those in power and those who oppose injustice is growing. And yet, to stifle argument, those who hold all the power use demands for civility as weapons, to control discussion and negate the legitimacy of differing opinions.

We are told we have to 'keep things nice', 'be polite' and 'keep our voices down'. Using the wrong language? You're too volatile to be heard. Angry over inequities? You're too emotional, too immature. Blowing a whistle to protest? You are dangerous. Marching in the street? You are incendiary. Daring to not smile sweetly? You are childish. And worse, say the wrong thing and you can be targeted through financial, legal and reputational consequences that can affect your livelihood and personal safety.

To be heard, you must be polite and follow the rules. But those rules are different, depending on your income, religion, social status or gender. At a time when wars are killing civilians in obscene numbers; when women are being murdered every week by someone close to them; when politicians are reinventing history to suit their agendas; and when science is telling us we have to do something to protect the planet, the politics of civility is a tool used by those in power to suppress marginalised voices. It discredits those whose perspectives we need to hear. It is stifling important information.

When lies are treated as truth, the only thing we can do is speak up and screw nice.

Amy Remeikis is the Chief Political Analyst at The Australia Institute and a contributing editor for The New Daily. Amy is renowned for her incisive political commentary and extensive experience as a journalist, author and former political reporter for The Guardian Australia. Amy regularly appears in national media and is celebrated for her powerful writing on gender, politics and social justice. Her work continues to influence public debate and policy discussions across Australia. She is the author of On Reckoning, Where it All Went Wrong and Screw Nice.

Tina Quinn is a journalist with ABC News and host of Fourth Estate, a weekly podcast and radio program on 2SER 107.3 covering journalism, media and politics. She is also a newsreader with Southern Cross Austereo.