Interviews
Over decades Kerry O’Brien has recorded landmark long form interviews with an eclectic range of subjects including many of the great minds and outstanding leaders of his age, including Nelson Mandela, Barack Obama, Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair.
His four-part ABC interview series with former Prime Minister Paul Keating broke new ground on television for stand alone interviews. There’s been nothing else like it.
Although he has specialised in politics and regularly conducted agenda-setting interviews with senior Australian politicians for 7.30 and Lateline, Kerry has also interviewed many of the world’s best-loved authors, entertainers and sporting icons as well as eminent scientists and other influential thinkers.
Interview Videos
Search Interviews Archive:
7.30 ABC TV - Interview Archive
2010
- Kevin Rudd, Foreign Minister, on the rise of China.
- Robin Williams, American actor and comedian.
- Aaron Sorkin, US screenwriter and producer.
- Stephen Smith, Defence Minister, on troops in Afghanistan.
- Bob Brown, Greens leader, on Australia in Afghanistan.
- Ron Barassi, AFL legend, on his life.
- Tony Windsor, Independent, on rural backlash to the Murray River buy back scheme.
- Kevin Rudd, new Foreign Minister.
- Julia Gillard, Prime Minister, after visiting Afghanistan.
- Tim Flannery, environmentalist, on evolution and survival.
- Greg Combet, Climate Change Minister, on his new portfolio.
- Paul Kelly, musician.
- Chris Bowen, Immigration Minister, on overflowing refugee detention centres.
- Tony Blair, former British Prime Minister.
- Bob Brown, Greens leader, on the new minority government deal with Labor.
- Tony Windsor, Rob Oakeshott, Bob Katter - three Independents with balance of power.
- Opposition leader Tony Abbott, Liberal election campaign launch.
- PM Julia Gillard, ALP election campaign launch.
- Opposition leader Tony Abbott, "not a tech head" on Broadband Plan - Election Campaign.
- The "real" Julia Gillard - election campaign.
- Tony Windsor, Rob Oakeshott, Bob Katter - three Independents with balance of power.
- PM Julia Gillard's first interview 2010 election campaign.
- Opposition leader Tony Abott's first interview 2010 election campaign.
- Julia Gillard's first day in office as PM.
- Kevin Rudd last interview as PM.
- Education minister Julia Gillard defends Building the Education Revolution - BER.
- Nicola Roxon, Health Minister, answers critics on mental health.
- Professor John Mendoza on mental health crisis.
- Lindsay Tanner, Finance Minister, under attack over the mining tax
- Joe Hockey, Shadow Treasurer, on when he speaks the "gospel truth".
- Peter Temple, crime writer, author of Jack Irish series.
2009
- Penny Wong, Environment Minister, on Copenhagen climate summit failure.
- Joe Hockey, Shadow Treasurer on leadership loss and climate change.
- Wayne Swan, Treasurer, on slowing economy and rising interest rates.
- Frank Gehry, iconic architect.
- Martin Seligman, positive psychology in schools.
- David Kilcullen, global counter-insurgency expert, on latest troop surge in Afghanistan.
- Ricky Ponting, Australian cricket captain.
- Tony Abbott on his leadership victory over Malcolm Turnbull.
- Dr Tony Haymet, Australian oceanographer, on build up to Copenhagen summit.
- Penny Wong, Climate Change minister, on Opposition and Copenhagen summit.
- David Attenborough, BBC broadcaster, on the population debate and the personal.
- Therese Rein, Australia's First Lady, on disability and marriage to Kevin Rudd.
- Alan Ramsey, journalist, on 2000 Herald columns and 40 years of politics.
- Arundhati Roy, Indian author and political activist.
- PM Kevin Rudd on asylum seeker policy.
- Barry Humphries, writer and entertainer reflecting on his life and Dame Edna.
- Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton on the Sydney Theatre Company.
- Tony Abbott, Opposition backbencher, on why Malcolm Turnbull should stay leader.
- Malcolm Turnbull on the Liberal Party revolt against his leadership.
- Malcolm Turnbull discusses the Opposition's position on climate change
- Noel Pearson, Indigenous leader, on bi-cultural education and other school reform.
- Paul Keating, former PM, on why Australian banks have too much power.
- Rosemarie Vojakovic, asbestos diseases counsellor, on mesothelioma victims.
- Bernard Schlink, author "The Reader" on guilt, redemption and the Holocaust.
- Malcolm Turnbull, Opposition leader, on the Godwin Grech scandal and climate change
- Tony Abbott, Opposition strategist, defending Malcolm Turnbull on Godwin Grech.
- Tony Abbott, author of his new book "Battlelines".
- Malcolm Turnbull, Opposition leader, on Godwin Grech saga.
- Former PM Paul Keating discusses the G20 summit and global financial crisis.
- American playwright Edward Albee
- British economist Sir Nicholas Stern on Copenhagen climate change summit.
- Lindsay Tanner, Finance Minister, as Rudd Government struggles to sell its 2009 Budget.
- PM Kevin Rudd defends Budget drive back to surplus.
- Penny Wong, Climate Change Minister, on ETS backdown.
- Warwick McKibbin, Reserve Bank Board, urges politicians not to play games with GFC.
- Paul Keating, former PM, critiques Wall Street's influence on global financial crisis.
- Dylan Moran, "Black Books" comedian.
- PM Kevin Rudd on G20 summit as Australia faces recession
- Stella Rimington, former MI5 boss talks about the world of espionage
- Malcolm Turnbull, Opposition leader, on Liberal climate change confusion.
- Penny Wong, Climate Change minister, backflips on emission trading scheme.
- Malcolm Turnbull on Opposition's plan to block the economic stimulus package in the Senate.
- PM Kevin Rudd unveils the government's $42 billion economic stimulus package
2008
- Woody Allen, film maker, actor and comedian.
- PM Kevin Rudd on ETS and Treasury modelling.
- Quentin Bryce, exclusive interview with the Governor General.
- Kate Grenville, author of "Secret River" and "The Lieutenant"
- PM Kevin Rudd on GFC and "greatest crisis since the Depression".
- Malcolm Turnbull, on becoming Leader of the Opposition
- Nicola Roxon, Health Minister, on Government's plans for Indigenous health equality.
- Ian McEwan, British novelist and author of "Atonement".
- Malcolm Turnbull, Shadow Treasurer, on economy.
- Peter Carey, author, on his latest novel "His Illegal Self".
- PM Kevin Rudd marks 100 days in office.
- Geraldine Brooks, author, on her latest novel "People of the Book".
2007
- Wayne Swan, first interview as Treasurer
- Brendan Nelson, new Federal Opposition leader.
- Alexander Downer, outgoing Foreign Minister, on election defeat.
- Kevin Rudd, Federal Opposition leader, 3rd i/v of the campaign.
- PM John Howard, 3rd interview of the campaign.
- Kevin Rudd, Federal Opposition leader, 2nd i/v of the campaign.
- PM John Howard, 2nd interview of the campaign.
- Peter Costello, Treasurer, on tax.
- PM John Howard, 1st i/v of the election campaign
- Kevin Rudd, Opposition leader, 1st i/v of the election campaign.
- Kevin Rudd, Opposition leader, on pre-election Cabinet
- PM John Howard, leadership under pressure.
- Alexander Downer, Foreign Affairs Minister, backs Howard leadership.
- Kevin Rudd, Opposition leader, on George Bush, and war.
- Joe Hockey and Julia Gillard, debate industrial relations.
- Tony Abbott, Health Minister, on Federal takeover of Tasmanian hospital.
- Phillip Ruddock, Attorney-General, on Dr Haneef case (audio available).
- Malcolm Turnbull, Environment Minister, on new Murray-Darling plan.
- PM John Howard, on Peter Costello.
- Kevin Andrews, Immigration Minister, on Gold Coast doctor Mohammed Haneef.
- Andrew Podger, former Health bureaucrat, on the public service (audio available)
- Mal Bough, Aboriginal Affairs Minister, on NT intervention
- Alexis Wright, winner of the Miles Franklin Award.
- Don Winslow, crime writer.
- Antony Beevor, military historian, on Iraq ( audio available)
- Julia Gillard, Industrial Relations Minister, on IR.
- PM John Howard post-Budget drop in polls.
- Treasurer Peter Costello's 12th (and last) Budget
- Greg Combet, ACTU nat sec, on industrial relations
- Herbie Hancock, jazz legend.
- PM John Howard, on Ken Henry's in-house Treasury leak.