Centre for Independent Studies: Recent Episodes
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Let's share good ideas. 💡 The Centre for Independent Studies promotes free choice and individual liberty and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can prosper.
Michael Stutchbury interviews Dr Peter Tulip about new NSW data showing development applications and lodgements rising sharply, with building approvals expected to climb but still falling short of the federal housing target. The conversation explains recent NSW reforms like transport‑oriented development and low/mid‑rise housing, and why supply constraints from local councils matter for affordability.
The episode also reveals a ‘naughty list’ of lagging councils, outlines graduated remedies (naming, inspections, state intervention), and explores the debate between concentrating high‑rise near transport hubs versus spreading townhouses more widely across suburbs.
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👉 Further reading: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/will-nsw-meet-its-housing-target/
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Watch here: https://youtu.be/n_l-fl2w6Z0
From de Tocqueville to Lord Acton and beyond, the idea of Democracy has developed, not always ideally, and signs of its demise are evident in Australia, making its defence a priority.
Rachael Kohn AO FRSN is an author, commentator, and award-winning producer and broadcaster, best known for her long tenure at the ABC. She has written three books, edited a fourth, and holds a PhD in religious studies from a Canadian university.
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👉 Key points:
🔹Civic decline and identity-based education have fuelled the rise of antisemitism in Australia.
🔹Antisemitism grows when Australians stop seeing each other first as equal citizens with shared civic obligations.
🔹Rebuilding civic knowledge and a common national identity strengthens resistance to antisemitism and social division.
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👉 Further reading: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/a-nation-of-strangers-how-a-civic-vacuum-enabled-antisemitism/
👉 Watch Part 1: https://youtu.be/zhxJXyavYzI
Is Islam compatible with liberalism? In this episode of Liberalism in Question, Dr Mark Durie joins the Centre for Independent Studies to examine the fundamental tensions between Islamic theology, sharia, and core liberal principles such as individual freedom, equality, and freedom of religion.
Mark Durie is a pastor and academic. He writes and speaks on a wide range of topics which include the connection between faith and culture, freedom of religion, the persecution of religious minorities, particularly non-Muslims living under the Islamic sharia, the origin and history of Islam, and discipling new Christians.
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👉Watch part 2 here: https://youtu.be/rIWyypaLy5k
Is Islam Compatible with Classical Liberalism? | Dr. Samir Mahmoud
What is the relationship between Islam and Classical Liberalism? Is there an incompatibility, or just a misunderstanding between manifestations of Islam on the margins?
Dr. Samir Mahmoud is the Education Advisor to the Office of the Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia. He has a BA (Hons) in Anthropology & Politics with a focus on multicultural theory and comparative religion, and an MA in Architectural History, Theory & Urban Design with a focus on the traditional townscape from the University of New South Wales, Sydney Australia. He also holds an MPhil in Theology & Religious Studies with a focus on comparative philosophy and aesthetics. He completed a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Cambridge under the supervision of Dr. Timothy Winter (Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad).
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Watch here: https://youtu.be/zhxJXyavYzI
Banana Republic Redux: How Australia is surrendering gains of the reform era | Alex Sanchez
Read here: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/banana-republic-redux-how-australia-is-surrendering-gains-of-the-reform-era/
Key points
• Australia is losing the economic gains achieved during the Hawke-Keating reform era of the mid-1980s after the Banana Republic shock comment.
• High taxes and regulations are reducing Australia’s global competitiveness.
• Genuine reform requires reducing government size and fostering market-driven growth.
Also …• The policies of the past decade are reversing the cost-cutting and economic openness achieved during the reform era.
• Increased regulation and government intervention raise business costs, deterring investment and innovation.
• Higher taxes and expanded public spending fail to address stagnant productivity and economic growth.
• Restoring competitiveness requires deregulation, reducing costs for businesses, and limiting government intervention in the economy.
Read here: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/banana-republic-redux-how-australia-is-surrendering-gains-of-the-reform-era/
At the Centre for Independent Studies' annual Liberty and Society student conference, 38 students from Australia and New Zealand explored classical liberal philosophy, free markets and social cohesion through talks and debates led by leading scholars and former officials.
Speakers traced the historical shift from Keynesian to pro-market ideas, discussed free speech and the rule of law, and challenged students to lead a renewed classical liberal movement for their generation.
Watch here: https://youtu.be/pfX-nzrgFPM
"[Dahrendorf] had protected an idea: that intellectual work and practical engagement could combine without abandoning intellectual standards, that boundaries could be crossed with integrity intact."
Join Dr Oliver Hartwich for a conversation about Dahrendorf, Trump and the multitudes of intellectuals who have abandoned their principles. .
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👉 Further reading: https://oliverhartwich.com/2026/02/27/the-temptations-of-unfreedom-revisited/
In this Stutch Sessions episode Parnell Palm McGuinness, author of the CIS report Generation Trapped, explains how young Australians (18–34) split into six distinct 'tribes' all still aspire to homeownership, family, meaningful work and financial security, but feel blocked by high housing costs and limited agency.
The conversation covers the political fallout from recent tax changes (capital gains and negative gearing), young entrepreneurs' resentment at perceived penalties on risk-taking, rising distrust in government spending, and the broader implications for policy: boosting opportunity and agency rather than punitive measures.
What classical liberals get wrong about the rest of the World | Alexandre Lefebvre
Professor of Politics and Philosophy at the University of Sydney and author of Liberalism as a Way of Life, Alexandre Lefebvre explores how classical liberalism shapes not just politics, but our everyday values, ethics, and way of life.
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As Treasurer Jim Chalmers prepares to hand down his fifth federal budget on 12 May 2026, four of Australia's leading economists gather at the Centre for Independent Studies to ask: is this budget up to the challenge?
Hosted by CIS Executive Director Michael Stutchbury, this roundtable brings together Robert Carling (CIS Senior Fellow, former Treasury and IMF official), Professor Richard Holden (UNSW Business School), and Chris Richardson (Principal, Rich Insight and Australia's most cited budget economist) for a frank, wide-ranging conversation on the fiscal pressures facing Australia.
They discuss rising inflation, a productivity slowdown, a housing crisis, a federal debt approaching $1 trillion, and whether Chalmers' promises on savings, tax reform, and intergenerational equity stack up.
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CIS promotes free choice and individual liberty and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can prosper.
People have a lot of opinions and a lot of anecdotes that may not necessarily be true. Politicians deal with feelings. Economists and analysts should deal with facts. We have looked at the data and things are becoming cheaper, more affordable, more abundant in Australia...
👉 Read more:
🔹 Humankind and the infinite resource base: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/humankind-and-the-infinite-resource-base/
🔹 Hours, Not Dollars: Rethinking the cost-of-living debate: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/hours-not-dollars-rethinking-the-cost-of-living-debate/
🔹 Growth that Builds: Beyond the immigration blame game: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/growth-that-builds-beyond-the-immigration-blame-game/
🔹 In Conversation with Marian L. Tupy: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/in-conversation-with-marian-l-tupy/
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As much as anything, the Centre for Independent Studies’ first 50 years has been dedicated to restraining the growth in the size, reach and financing of government to provide room for private enterprise and individual choice.
Now, as in the mid-1970s, the size of government has been ratcheted up. And politicians are increasing taxes to pay for it.
This week, CIS senior fellow Robert Carling has delivered an important corrective to the mantra that taxes aren’t really much of a burden in Australia.
Read more here: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/high-taxing-australia-how-we-measure-up/
Grim reality of the NDIS leviathan
“It will start big and get bigger and grow to become the new leviathan of the Australian welfare state,” CIS scholar Andrew Baker further predicted of Labor’s National Disability Insurance Scheme in his 2012 policy monograph.
Even the Productivity Commission failed to pick the looming NDIS fiscal disaster from the worthy goal of providing support to permanently and significantly disabled Australians...
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The hard lesson of Australia’s protectionist past is that propping up uncompetitive and high cost industries invariably poses a burden on other sectors, including on the mining, gas and farm exporters that actually support our prosperity.
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Over the past several decades, Australian society has undergone profound economic, social, and cultural change. Education pathways have lengthened, housing costs have far outpaced wages, family formation has been delayed or disrupted, and government intervention has expanded across nearly every stage of life. Public policy has attempted to keep pace with these changes. But there is a growing mismatch between the aspirations young Australians hold and the reality they experience.
This CIS research (https://www.cis.org.au/publication/generation-trapped-housing-handouts-and-the-collapse-of-young-australians-life-satisfaction/) examines the lives, aspirations, values, and perceived barriers of Australians aged 18–34. Drawing on original qualitative interviews using conversational AI and quantitative research conducted by Spectre Strategy on behalf of the Centre for Independent Studies, it finds young Australians do not aspire to radically different lives than previous generations. Financial security, home ownership, meaningful work, family, and children remain core goals. What has changed is the degree to which these goals feel attainable.
👉 Read the research: https://www.cis.org.au/tribes
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Donald Trump’s threats to destroy the ‘whole civilisation’ of Iran this week jarringly contrasted with the out-of-this world American achievement of sending a four-member crew as far from Earth as any humans had gone.
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Australia’s new economic decline is colliding with the breakdown of the liberal rules-based orders for global trade and security. The post-pandemic and oil shock push for more sovereign capability and supply-chain self-reliance will eat into national income just as living standards are under pressure.
Resolving this tension will require more, not less, of the pro-market —or neo-liberal — policy agenda of the Hawke-Keating and Howard-Costello era to reboot productivity and economic growth.
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I was in Canberra this week, in part to hear International Energy Agency head Fatih Birol warn that today’s oil price shock will rival the twin Middle East energy shocks of the 1970s.
The 1973 and 1979 shocks promoted using smaller and more fuel-efficient vehicles. And it prompted a wave of nuclear energy development in Japan, Europe and North America. Today’s oil price shock will have comparable repercussions, Birol predicts.
Here’s the four take outs I picked up at a National Security College conference, where I was on a panel, and the annual Minerals Council of Australia Minerals Week Conference, where I moderated a session:
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The Bondi Beach attack of 14 December 2025 forced a reckoning that many Australians had been quietly avoiding. Antisemitism was not, it turned out, a relic of European history or a pathology confined to the political fringes. It was here, active and emboldened. The question that followed — “what must we do about it?” — has since animated parliamentary inquiries, legislative proposals, and now a Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion led by former High Court Justice Virginia Bell.
The Centre for Independent Studies has been engaged through the antisemitism research program led by the Culture, Prosperity and Civil Society program. The CIS’s work on antisemitism has been driven by the conviction that the health of a liberal democracy depends less on the architecture of its laws than on the vitality of its civil society.
This conviction runs through our most recent work on institutional resilience under conditions of moral and political stress, and it connects this project to the Centre’s civic pluralism series – Fractured Loyalties, The Ties That Bind, and Drawing the Line – each of which has explored the conditions under which pluralist societies hold together.
Antisemitism functions as a diagnostic. It is not merely an offence to be regulated or managed; rather, it is a signal of deeper institutional failure and a warning that the mediating structures once capable of transmitting civic norms across generations have been weakened, captured, or hollowed from within.
Dimitri Burshtein’s new report is a significant contribution to this ongoing work. Burshtein takes that diagnosis seriously and develops it with rigour and force. His argument is, at its core, Burkean: the informal sanctions of a healthy civil society are more powerful, and more durable, than any legislative remedy the state can devise. In making his case, Burshtein draws on comparative evidence from Germany, France, and the United Kingdom to demonstrate that the demand for more hate speech law is itself a symptom of institutional failure rather than a remedy for it. When communities lose the capacity to enforce shared norms, they reach for the state. But the state is ill-equipped to cultivate the virtues it has displaced.
This does not mean legal indifference. Violence, incitement and intimidation must be prosecuted firmly, a point about which Burshtein is clear. What his report resists, rightly, is the conceit that moral and cultural problems can be resolved by what Burshtein calls the ‘legislative fantasy’. The report also asks harder questions about institutional capture — in universities, the arts, the legal profession and the media — that deserve far greater scrutiny than they have received.
These are not peripheral concerns; they are central ones. If the commanding heights of Australian cultural life have been systematically oriented against our liberal democratic inheritance, then the challenge of antisemitism cannot be separated from the broader challenge of civic renewal. That renewal is the real work before us. In his new report, Dimitri Burshtein helps make the case for why.
To read the paper, go to www.cis.org.au
RBA governor Michele Bullock has jacked up her cash rate by 25 basis points for the second month in a row because of two words that can strike fear into the heart of central bankers: “inflation expectations”.
What does this mean for you?
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The criticisms and characterization of the 50% capital gains tax discount over many years have been full of misunderstandings, myths and distortions in the conventional narrative on how capital gains tax works, how it compares with the capital gains tax that it replaced in 1999, and the economic consequences of making the capital gains tax burden heavier. The myths and distortions are biasing the public discussion towards increased taxation.
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👉 Further reading:
Why We Should Not Increase Capital Gains Tax: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/why-we-should-not-increase-capital-gains-tax/
10 CGT Myths Busted: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/10-cgt-myths-busted/
Read the paper at www.cis.org.au
Executive Summary.
This paper is an expanded version of a submission to the Senate Select Committee on the Operation of the Capital Gains Tax Discount. The author gave evidence to the Committee at a hearing on 25 February, 2026.
Although there is much public discussion of the capital gains tax discount, there is no proposal from government on the table for us to respond to — only rumours and speculation — so our comments are broad-ranging and not confined to housing.
As well as the submission, there have been three relevant research publications on CGT issued by the CIS in 2009, 2015 and 2019. Perusal of those publications will show that we do not think much of proposals to reduce the CGT discount.
If three publications looks like an obsession, we have had a lot to say on the issue because calls for the discount to be cut or eliminated have been a persistent theme of tax policy debate ever since the defeat of the Howard government, which put the 50% discount in place in 1999. Along with superannuation concessions and negative gearing, the discount has been a favourite whipping boy.
Cutting the discount is variously seen as a key plank of tax reform, a revenue-raising measure, the key to lowering house prices, and a solution to intergenerational and vertical inequality. Our submission argues that it is none of those things, or at least not in significant measure, and that the 50% discount is justified.
In brief, we make the following points:
The principle of taxing nominal capital gains at lower rates than ordinary income is unexceptional and was recognised in Australia’s first model of CGT in 1985. The 50% discount in 1999 replaced what was essentially a different form of discount in the 1985 model based on indexing the cost base of assets to CPI inflation combined with an averaging scheme that limited the effect of lumpy capital gains pushing taxpayers into higher tax brackets.
The pre-1999 arrangements produced a variable discount, but for average rates of return on assets and inflation rates and various asset holding periods it can be demonstrated that the effective discount often fell in the 30–45% range — and that is leaving aside the additional benefit of averaging. The point is that the 50% discount is not much more generous than the average result of the policy it replaced.
To those who say the 50% discount over-compensates for inflation, in some cases it does and in some it compensates or even under-compensates, but the key point is that it was never intended solely to compensate for inflation. It was meant to be a general incentive for saving and investment, which is needed now more than ever in view of stagnant productivity.
On housing, several researchers have estimated that cutting the CGT discount would reduce house prices by a few per cent while increasing rents by a similar amount. These effects are tiny relative to other influences on prices and rents. CGT affects much more in the investment world than housing, so housing considerations should not drive CGT policy.
The claimed revenue costs of the discount vastly overstate the revenue that could be gained from any reasonable change. The claimed distribution of that revenue cost across income deciles is meaningless. Cutting the CGT discount would barely move the dial on income and wealth distribution.
Changing the CGT discount on its own is not tax reform, but it could have a place in broad tax reform that substantially reduces marginal rates and reduces the large disparities in the tax treatment of different forms of saving. However, nobody in government is talking about that.
The key conclusion is that there is a very strong case for some form of tax concession for capital gains relative to full marginal rates. This concession should go beyond simply allowing for inflation. While various structures are possible to satisfy this condition, the current 50% discount (and one-third discount for superannuation funds) has the advantage of being simple and well understood. It has been the basis for investment decisions over the past 26 years and is therefore entrenched in the accumulated stock of investments. There is no strong case for changing it.
Read the paper at www.cis.org.au
Immigration and housing affordability have become politically inseparable in contemporary Australia. With rents high, home ownership increasingly out of reach, and housing supply persistently undershooting official targets, it is tempting to conclude that fewer migrants would mean lower prices. That argument has intuitive appeal. More people require more homes. In tightly-constrained markets, additional demand pushes up rents and prices.
But intuition is not policy. The evidence suggests a more nuanced reality: migration increases housing demand, yet whether that demand translates into sustained price pressure depends fundamentally on the responsiveness of supply. Where planning systems restrict land use, delay approvals, and cap density, even modest demand shocks quickly become price shocks. Where supply is flexible and institutions allow building to respond, the long-term affordability effects are far smaller — and can even be offset by stronger economic and housing growth.
This paper argues that Australia’s housing crisis is primarily a supply failure, not simply a headcount problem.
It examines international and Australian evidence on migration and housing markets, including research on zoning restrictions, supply elasticity, and labour bottlenecks in construction. It also considers the role of skilled migration in strengthening the productive capacity of the economy — particularly in the very occupations needed to design, approve and build more homes.
The central point is straightforward. Australia does not face a binary choice between skilled migration and affordable housing. It faces a policy choice between maintaining restrictive land-use systems that convert growth into scarcity, or reforming those systems so that population growth can be absorbed through construction rather than capitalised into higher prices.
In short, the housing shortage is not an inevitable consequence of migration. It is the predictable result of constrained supply.
The choice is not ‘immigration or affordability’In Australia today, mass immigration is a political non-starter partly because many voters see the increased cost of housing as one of the country’s most urgent cost-of-living problems. A more plausible approach to immigration is narrower and more practical: a focused intake of skilled migrants who can help Australia innovate, raise productivity, and fill capability gaps without automatically worsening housing shortages.
True, a growing population raises housing demand, but the size of the cost effect depends on whether supply can respond. Skilled migrants can strengthen the supply side of the economy, including the people and systems needed to approve, design, and build more homes. In that sense, the real choice should not be ‘immigration or affordability’.
It should be whether Australia combines skilled immigration with faster homebuilding and better land-use rules.
Australia’s housing shortage and the concomitant affordability decline is real, as Sam Fox and I noted in a recent CIS report. But it does not follow that more skilled immigration must make matters worse. The key word is must. In a city where housing supply is fixed, adding more people pushes up rents and prices. In a city where supply can expand, the same population growth can be absorbed with much smaller price effects; especially over time. The research supports both parts of that claim. The argument is not that demand disappears. The argument is that policy and supply response decide whether demand becomes a lasting affordability problem.Start with the point that critics get right. Albert Saiz’s well-known U.S. study finds that immigration inflows raise local rents and housing values in destination cities, with an estimated effect of about 1% on rents and values for an inflow equal to 1% of a city’s population. That is a real demand effect that no serious account of the housing problem should deny.
But Saiz’s broader work shows that housing supply differs sharply across cities because of geography and regulation. In plain language, some places can build — but don’t. If a city’s house building program is constrained by planning rules, height limits, approval delays, and political veto points, then any demand shock, including migration, turns into a price shock faster. If supply is flexible, more of the shock turns into construction.
Read the whole paper at www.cis.org.au
Join us on Liberalism in Question for an enlightening discussion with Dr. Jennifer Buckingham, former Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies and a leading voice in Australian education policy. From critiquing barriers in public schooling to advocating for phonics-based reading instruction and greater parental choice, this episode examines the role of liberalism in fostering equitable opportunities and innovation in Australian education.
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👉 Further reading:
Why Jaydon Can’t Read: A Forum on Fixing Literacy: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/why-jaydon-cant-read-a-forum-on-fixing-literacy/
Knowledge is power: What do teachers believe about learning?: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/knowledge-is-power-what-do-teachers-believe-about-learning/
Childcare in Australia: A new approach: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/childcare-in-australia-a-new-approach/
In this thought-provoking episode of Liberalism in Question, we delve into the rich tapestry of Australia's liberal history with esteemed guest Dr Greg Melleuish, Associate Professor of History and Politics at the University of Wollongong. Explore how liberalism shaped Australia's political landscape, influenced key figures like Alfred Deakin and Robert Menzies, and continues to inform contemporary debates on freedom, modernity, and national identity.
👉Further Reading:
A Short History of Australian Liberalism: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/a-short-history-of-australian-liberalism/
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In this thought-provoking episode of Liberalism in Question, we welcome Emma Dawson, Executive Director of the progressive think tank Per Capita (and formerly of the Chifley Research Centre), to offer a contrasting social democratic perspective. Challenging classical liberal skepticism toward government overreach, Dawson argues that the state can—and should—play a constructive, helpful role in addressing inequality and building shared prosperity.
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Join us on Liberalism in Question as Senator Kerrynne Liddle shares her insights on why one-size-fits-all policies fall short in a diverse nation like Australia. Liddle critiques excessive bureaucracy, advocating for greater personal and community responsibility to drive real progress and prosperity.
This episode challenges conventional thinking on Indigenous affairs and explores how classical liberal principles can foster genuine equality and self-reliance.
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👉 Further reading:
Liberalism’s Universal Vision Better Than a Race-Based Voice: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/liberalisms-universal-vision-better-than-a-race-based-voice/
The Road Ahead for Indigenous Policy: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/where-to-now-the-road-ahead-for-indigenous-policy/
Joining the Real Economy: mapping the economic potential of remote Indigenous communities: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/joining-the-real-economy-mapping-the-economic-potential-of-remote-indigenous-communities/
Get your tickets to see Alexander Downer in Sydney: https://events.humanitix.com/alexander-downer-leadership-between-allies-and-the-region
In this episode of Liberalism in Question, former Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer joins us to dissect the ever-shifting landscape of political ideologies. From the rise of Trump's nationalist movement and its global ripple effects, to the enduring appeal of economic liberalism as a pathway to prosperity, Downer offers sharp insights into why ideologies evolve like fashion trends—and what it means for our future.
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In the second half of the twentieth century, Australia’s cheap, reliable electricity attracted heavy industry to our shores. By 1990, power-hungry copper, aluminium, lead, manganese and zinc smelters had popped up in each of the eastern states that would one day form the National Electricity Market (NEM). As Matthew Warren, former chief executive of the Australian Energy Council, the Energy Supply Association of Australia and the Clean Energy Council, describes the Australian grid:
In 2000, the coal and gas used were abundant and cheap, and the hydro was provided by rainfall. It was by international standards, about as cheap and reliable an electricity system as you could build. Its brutal simplicity, reliability and low cost had attracted global industries including aluminium and other processors. These were ‘the good old days’ of cheap and reliable electricity in Australia.
But trouble has been brewing in Australia’s smelting paradise over the last two decades, as rising energy prices, carbon charges and foreign competition have taken their toll. These forces have eroded the comparative advantage Australia once enjoyed, shuttering existing industries and dissuading investors from building new ones. Government promises of a ‘renewable energy superpower’ Future Made in Australia built on intermittent renewables, batteries and hydrogen are looking increasingly implausible.
Read the paper here: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/future-no-longer-made-in-australia-how-we-lost-our-low-cost-electricity-advantage/
In this episode of Liberalism in Question, we dive deep into the complex and often overlooked history of liberalism in the Middle East with renowned expert Joshua Landis. As a professor of Middle East history at the University of Oklahoma and director of the Center for Middle East Studies, Landis brings decades of insight from his work on Syria, sectarianism, and regional politics. Join us as we explore the challenges posed by secular and religious authoritarianism and modern conflicts in countries like Egypt, Syria, and Israel.
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From Donald Trump to the lockdowns, Dave Rubin sits down with Robert Forsyth to discuss classical liberalism in the American context.
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Senator James Paterson joins Liberalism in Question to discuss the core principles of classical liberalism — individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and the rule of law — and how they apply to Australia’s current political debates. The conversation explores where liberalism is being challenged, misunderstood, or defended, and what its future looks like in a changing political landscape.
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Senator James Paterson is a Liberal Senator for Victoria. First elected in March 2016 at age 28, Senator Paterson is the youngest Liberal ever elected to the Senate.
During his time in the Senate, he has fought for Australia’s prosperity, freedom, democracy and sovereignty.
Watch here: https://youtu.be/NVFhjvDxGX4
From surrogacy to free speech, Rob Forsyth and Gray Connolly discuss the differences between classical liberalism and conservatism in the Australian context.
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About the guest:
Gray Connolly is a Sydney-based Barrister and Writer, and he is a reservist serving as a Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Australian Navy. He writes about geopolitics, faith, history and war on his Strategy Counsel website. Gray’s writing has also appeared in an interesting range of Australian periodicals, including Meanjin and The Daily Telegraph. He regularly features on the ABC and Sky News as a commentator. He is a lifelong South Sydney and Richmond supporter. Twitter @GrayConnolly
Shortly before 7pm on Sunday, a Hanukah celebration on Sydney’s Bondi Beach was attacked by two alleged gunmen, believed to be a father and son. At the time of recording, 16 people aged between 10 and 87 are confirmed dead, including one of the alleged attackers, and at least 42 others are being treated in hospital for their injuries.
In this episode of The Stutchbury Sessions, Michael Stutchbury talks with Peter Kurti about the tragedy at Bondi, the politicial leadership failures and rising antisemitism in Australia.
👉Relevant writings:
🔹 Australia’s complacency and the Bondi beach shooting: https://www.cis.org.au/commentary/opinion/australias-complacency-and-the-bondi-beach-shooting/
🔹 Reframing an Ancient Hatred: the intersection of left-wing antisemitism and anti-Zionism: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/reframing-an-ancient-hatred-the-intersection-of-left-wing-antisemitism-and-anti-zionism/
🔹 The Darkest Path: The Puzzling Resilience of Antisemitism. Acton Lecture 2025: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/the-darkest-path-the-puzzling-resilience-of-antisemitism-acton-lecture-2025/
🔹 Fractured Loyalties. Australian citizenship and the crisis of civic virtue: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/fractured-loyalties-australian-citizenship-and-the-crisis-of-civic-virtue/
👉 Support our work to combat Antisemitism in Australia:
🔹 Become a member: https://www.cis.org.au/membership-2-step-1/
🔹 Make a donation: https://www.cis.org.au/support/donate/today/
🔹 Learn more: https://www.cis.org.au/
auspol #bondi
In this episode of The Stutchbury Sessions:
Michael Stutchbury examines Senator Andrew Bragg’s provocative event at CIS on the future of housing policy — a speech that openly challenged the Liberal Party’s long-standing comfort with rising house prices and called for an unapologetic YIMBY agenda to win back younger voters.
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In this episode of The Stutchbury Sessions:
Are the Liberals sabotaging their path back to government by walking away from net zero? Or are they facing reality about Australia’s costly clean-energy transition?
In this episode, we dissect whether the Coalition’s internal divisions on climate and energy policy are overshadowing Labor’s failure to retain Australia’s traditional cheap energy advantage. Net-zero targets remain popular in the urban seats the Liberals must win back, so why pick this fight now?
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👉 Watch here: https://youtu.be/bGv018CfXg8
In this episode of Liberalism in Question, we dive into Roger Partridge's provocative Quillette essay, "Classical Liberalism Without Strong Gods", where he challenges the rise of "strong gods" like religion and nationalism as antidotes to liberal society's spiritual void.
You can read the article here: https://quillette.com/2025/06/10/classical-liberalism-without-strong-gods-open-society-popper/
As Chairman and co-founder of The New Zealand Initiative, Roger defends Karl Popper's vision of the open society. He argues that epistemic humility, critical inquiry, and moral seriousness can foster cohesion without authoritarian risks, while proposing fixes like civic education reform, housing deregulation, welfare tweaks to support families, and local autonomy.
Join us as Roger unpacks liberalism's drift, the threats from identity politics and relativism, and a bold path forward.
👉 Support Sound Research:
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Watch here: https://youtu.be/ybqWLEwL28Y
From economic reform and rising government spending to cultural shifts and the decline of liberalism, Costello reflects on the ideas that shaped the Howard years and what’s needed to renew them today.
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Peter Costello was elected to seven terms as a Member of the Australian House of Representatives and was Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Australia from March 1996 to December 2007, the longest term of any Treasurer in Australian history. Mr Costello delivered twelve federal budgets, including ten surpluses. During this period, Australia’s Sovereign Credit Rating was updated twice to its current AAA rating. Mr Costello set up Australia’s system of financial regulation establishing the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). He also established the Takeovers Panel. In 2006, after the Government debt was eliminated in net terms, Mr Costello established the Australian Future Fund. From its original deposit, the Future Fund has grown to over $230 billion invested in diverse asset classes.
Mr Costello served as Chairman of the Future Fund from 2014-2024. Mr Costello has served on the IMF Committee and as Chairman of the Global Group of 20 Finance Ministers & Central Bankers (G-20).
After leaving politics in 2009, Mr Costello joined a number of international and domestic boards and was chair of the Independent Advisory Board to the World Bank.
Mr Costello was Chairman of the Nine Entertainment Corporation from 2016-2024. NEC is the largest Australian-owned media company with television, radio, publishing and streaming operations.
Is the 2020s an echo of the 1970s for classical liberalism? In this episode of The Stutchbury Sessions, Michael Stutchbury recaps the CIS Consilium, exploring how free enterprise, free trade, and limited government are under assault from both the left and the populist right. Featuring insights from Andrew Neil on the plight of mainstream conservatism and Dave Rubin on the liberal side of MAGA, Stutchbury discusses globalization, immigration, tariffs, big government deficits, and the future of western liberal values amid rising populism.
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Where is the line between risk and regulation? In this episode of The Stutchbury Sessions, Fred Roeder from the Consumer Choice Center dives into how consumers should stand against overregulation and embrace technological innovation for a more prosperous and free future. Michael Stutchbury and Fred Roeder discuss everything from ride sharing platforms to life and death medical innovations.
The Consumer Choice Center is an independent, non-partisan consumer advocacy group championing the benefits of freedom of choice, innovation, and abundance in everyday life.
Watch this content here: https://youtu.be/_2XkdpUSHGg
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In this episode of The Stutchbury Sessions, host Michael Stutchbury reflects on his recent conversation with Sir Frank Lowy — the 95-year-old founder of the Westfield shopping centre empire and one of Australia’s most successful 20th-century immigrants.
Speaking from his Sydney home ahead of returning to Israel, Sir Frank offered a rare and emotional perspective on the country that gave him refuge and opportunity — and the unease he now feels about the rise of antisemitism in Australia. “I am 95 years old and came here when I was 21, and I prospered, and people prospered with me,” he said. “Now I am at an absolute loss to describe what has happened to Australia.”
To learn more about our research in this area, please click here: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/the-new-intolerance-antisemitism-and-religious-hatred-in-a-fracturing-civic-compact/
Australia’s “renewables honeymoon” is ending and the energy bill is coming due.
In this episode of The Stutchbury Sessions, we unpack the myth that government planning can fix every problem, from the $52 billion NDIS blowout to Labor’s net zero ambitions. Drawing on Friedrich Hayek’s timeless warning against the “conceit of planners,” Michael Stutchbury explores how Australia’s big-spending policies, from the NBN to Gonski and now the renewables transition, have delivered diminishing returns, rising costs, and lost productivity.
Stutchbury also covers:
- Why Australia’s decarbonisation plan may never meet 2030 or 2050 targets
- The real reason power prices keep rising despite “free” solar and wind
- How subsidies and political conceit mask the true costs of energy policy
- Why a new political bargain — including nuclear and gas — may be inevitable
This is a must-listen for anyone interested in energy policy, economic reform, Hayekian economics, and the future of net zero in Australia.
Research mentioned:
The Renewable Energy Honeymoon: starting is easy, the rest is hard: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/the-renewable-energy-honeymoon-starting-is-easy-the-rest-is-hard/
The New Leviathan: A National Disability Insurance Scheme: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/the-new-leviathan-a-national-disability-insurance-scheme-3/
Gorillas In The Mist. How government obscures its spending: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/gorillas-in-the-mist-how-government-obscures-its-spending/
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Iron, Ideas, and Abundance: Supply Side Mistakes and Lessons.
This week on The Stutchbury Sessions, Michael reflects on his recent visit to Western Australia, the engine room of the nation’s prosperity.
From the billion tonnes of iron ore dug out of the Pilbara to the decades-long export ban that once kept Australia poor, this episode revisits how lifting restrictions unlocked one of the greatest booms in our history. It’s a lesson in abundance: when governments get out of the way, entrepreneurs and investors unleash prosperity.
Read our recent productivity research:
Addressing Australia’s Productivity Problem. CORE Blueprint to Unshackle Productivity: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/addressing-australias-productivity-problem-core-blueprint-to-unshackle-productivity/
The Productivity Problem. Australia’s Growth Slump Is Undermining Prosperity: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/the-productivity-problem-australias-growth-slump-is-undermining-prosperity/
👉 Help Solve Australia's Productivity Problem:
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🔹 Learn more: https://www.cis.org.au/
Why are Australians voting for bigger government? In this episode of The Stutchbury Sessions, we explore the paradox of a wealthy nation choosing more handouts, higher spending, and larger public debt. From cost-of-living subsidies to universal childcare, Australians are increasingly embracing policies that expand the welfare state, even as they fuel deficits and weaken productivity.
Drawing on CIS research from Robert Carling and recent remarks by Liberal leader Sussan Ley, we unpack the rise of “voting for a living,” where more than half of Australians now rely on government for most of their income. What does this mean for future taxpayers, younger workers, and Australia’s long-term prosperity?
Join us as we tackle the culture of dependency, the risks of a $1 trillion public debt, and the political challenge of saying no to endless handouts.
Read or listen to Robert Carling's Research: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/leviathan-on-the-rampage-how-the-growth-of-government-is-draining-australias-economic-vitality/
👉 Help Shrink the Government:
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Recent Australian laws risk undermining fundamental freedoms and weakening the principles that underpin a democratic society.
In The Rule of Law, Excessive Regulation and Free Speech, Dr Paul M Taylor argues that government responses to challenges such as misinformation, online harms, privacy and hate speech are increasingly disproportionate and, in some cases, ineffective.
“While governments are right and bound to protect citizens from genuine harm, measures that curtail political expression, encourage censorship, or prioritise one right over another threaten the very principles of accountability and fairness that the rule of law is designed to safeguard,” Dr Taylor says.
The paper highlights several recent developments, including:
- The proposed misinformation bills, which would have incentivised excessive censorship without adequate safeguards for free expression.
- The expansion of the eSafety Commissioner’s powers, raising concerns about transparency, accountability and overreach.
- The rushed passage of privacy and social media legislation, with inadequate parliamentary scrutiny.
- The introduction of criminal hate speech provisions that lower the threshold for liability and remove long-standing protections for legitimate public debate.
According to Dr Taylor, these examples suggest that governments may be adopting an increasingly protective stance that risks subordinating individual freedoms to collective interests.
He calls for a renewed commitment to rule of law principles: transparency, proportionality, accountability, and full respect for fundamental human rights.
“The rule of law is meant to be more than just theoretical,” Dr Taylor says. “It ensures that power is exercised fairly and responsibly, that laws are clear and predictable, and that rights are properly protected for all. If these principles are weakened, democracy itself is diminished.”
The paper concludes with a call to reassert the rule of law in Australian governance, warning that without vigilance and cultural commitment, recent trends may erode freedoms that citizens have long relied upon.
Dr Paul Taylor is an Honorary Senior Lecturer in the T. C. Beirne School of Law, and Fellow of the Centre for Public, International and Comparative Law; Adjunct Professor at the School of Law, The University of Notre Dame Australia; and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Feed your intelligence with policy research and commentary designed to enhance our liberal democracy. Join Michael Stutchbury and guests every Thursday for your 10 minute briefing.
In Australia, a growing sense of polarisation is erupting, evident in the recent 'March for Australia' rallies, where tens of thousands voiced concerns over mass migration's impact on housing, infrastructure, and wages, only to see their protests co-opted by far-right extremists and white nationalists. This mirrors the earlier pro-Palestinian marches, where genuine compassion for Gaza was tainted by support for Iran's theocratic regime. These divisions reflect a world grappling with identity, immigration, and geopolitical upheaval. Australia’s success as an immigrant nation is undeniable, yet mismanaged housing policies have fueled misdirected anger toward migrants. As global powers like Putin, Xi, and Kim Jong-un challenge the liberal order, Australia must counter these cultural rifts with honest, fact-based debate to preserve our cohesion and shared future.
Michael Stutchbury is the former Editor-in-Chief of The Australian Financial Review, a role he held from 2011 until 2024, when he became the masthead's Editor-at-Large. With a career in journalism spanning several decades, and including a stint as a Washington correspondent, he is widely respected for his expertise in economic and public policy issues and his engagement with business issues. Before leading the Financial Review, he served as Economics Editor and later as Editor of The Australian, where he played a key role in shaping national discourse on fiscal policy, industrial relations, and economic reform. His career has consistently demonstrated a strong grasp of the interplay between government policy and market dynamics, making him a prominent voice in debates over taxation, regulation, and productivity.
Relevant Research: The Future of Australian Multiculturalism: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/the-future-of-australian-multiculturalism/
Fractured Loyalties. Australian citizenship and the crisis of civic virtue: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/fractured-loyalties-australian-citizenship-and-the-crisis-of-civic-virtue/
Reconciling value pluralism and national identity: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/the-ties-that-bind-reconciling-value-pluralism-and-national-identity-in-australia/
👉 Help Australia:
🔹 Become a member: https://www.cis.org.au/membership-2-step-1/
🔹 Make a donation: https://www.cis.org.au/support/donate/today/
🔹 Learn more: https://www.cis.org.au/
Listen to our new show, The Stutchbury Sessions on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM or listen on your browser.
Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/sv9pXQxa9bo
In this episode of Liberalism in Question, host Robert Forsyth engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Mark Leach, co-founder and CEO of "Never Again Is Now", on the rise of anti-Semitism in Australia, the erosion of Western liberal values, and the need for cultural renewal. They explore how anti-Semitism is a broader threat to Australian society, rooted in declining confidence in Western civilisation's core principles like individualism, equality, and pluralism.
👉 Relevant Research:
The Future of Australian Multiculturalism: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/the-future-of-australian-multiculturalism/
Fractured Loyalties. Australian citizenship and the crisis of civic virtue: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/fractured-loyalties-australian-citizenship-and-the-crisis-of-civic-virtue/
Reconciling value pluralism and national identity: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/the-ties-that-bind-reconciling-value-pluralism-and-national-identity-in-australia/
👉 Help Australia:
🔹 Become a member: https://www.cis.org.au/membership-2-step-1/
🔹 Make a donation: https://www.cis.org.au/support/donate/today/
🔹 Learn more: https://www.cis.org.au/
In this inaugural edition, CIS Executive Director and former Editor-in-Chief of the Australian Financial Review, Michael Stutchbury, outlines how Australia once enjoyed extraordinary prosperity, built on bipartisan reforms of the 1980s and 1990s that liberalized markets, cut tariffs, and opened the economy to global competition.
Yet, since prosperity peaked in 2011–12, signs of decline have mounted: stagnant productivity, shrinking real incomes, persistent deficits, mounting debt, weak business investment, soaring energy costs, and a lower growth potential as estimated by the RBA.
The problem is not simply cyclical, Stutchbury says. As politics shifted from creating wealth to redistributing it, spending grew while reform stalled. New entitlements and universal programs have expanded government outlays, crowding out private investment.
To restore prosperity, Australia must pursue the four reforms outlined in this episode.
Australia has reinvented itself before; it must find the courage to do so again.
Subscribe to The Stutchbury Sessions on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM or listen on your browser.
In this episode, Rob sits down with Trisha Jha, a policy analyst at the Centre for Independent Studies, to explore the relationship between liberalism and education. They discuss how liberal principles, like individual freedom, pluralism, and limited government, may require an educated population to survive.
Trisha Jha is a Research Fellow in the Education program, where she leads a stream of work on the science of learning, as well as projects on school improvement and educational policy. Trisha has previously had roles as a secondary teacher, including through the Teach for Australia program, in state and independent schools in regional Victoria. She has also worked as a senior policy adviser to opposition leaders in Victoria.
She holds a Masters of Teaching with a specialisation in Research from Deakin University and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the Australian National University.
👉 More from Trisha Jha:
Free Trade vs Tariffs: https://youtu.be/n69-4wdl5b0
What is the Science of Learning? https://youtu.be/RjQ004yGsOo
Learning Lessons. The future of small-group tutoring: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/learning-lessons-the-future-of-small-group-tutoring/
Implementing the Science of Learning: teacher experiences: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/implementing-the-science-of-learning-teacher-experiences/
👉 Help Australia’s Educational Standards:
🔹 Become a member: https://www.cis.org.au/membership-2-step-1/
🔹 Make a donation: https://www.cis.org.au/support/donate/today/
🔹 Learn more: https://www.cis.org.au/
All our links: https://linktr.ee/centreforindependentstudies
Australia’s extraordinary modern prosperity, built on the supply-side economic liberalisation of the 1980s and 1990s and boosted by the China-fuelled resources boom, is being squandered.
In Our Prosperity is Slipping Away: Submission to Economic Reform Roundtable, Michael Stutchbury writes that urgent reform is needed to stop the slump.
“History shows such periods of relative affluence are rare and temporary, as seen in the 1850s–80s, early 1950s and late 1960s–early 1970s,” Stutchbury says. “Australia’s most recent peak in prosperity occurred in 2011–12 and has been in decline ever since.
“Rather than taking the policy decisions necessary to sustain growth, the political process has descended into a contest over redistributing shrinking wealth.
“The Reserve Bank’s downgrading of productivity forecasts confirms an unacceptable low-growth future.”
The paper urges the Economic Reform Roundtable to reject this trajectory and commit to making Australia “an aspirational and enterprise-driven high-growth nation bursting with investment opportunities”.
It argues that this means reinstating credible fiscal rules, restraining government spending, and undertaking genuine tax reform — beginning with indexing personal income tax scales to curb bracket creep
“The tax system is weighing on the economy but piecemeal 'tax reform' should not become a mechanism to validate the increase in the size of government that already has contributed to declining absolute productivity,” Stutchbury says.
Housing shortages, caused by restrictive zoning and planning laws, must be addressed alongside a broader removal of “thickets of regulation” that stifle business dynamism. Education reform is also critical to reverse declining literacy, numeracy, and lifetime earnings.
Finally, energy policy must restore Australia’s low-cost advantage, reversing trends that have driven up prices, undermined competitiveness, and fueled costly protectionism.
Michael Stutchbury is Executive Director of the Centre for Independent Studies.
auspol #economics
Watch here: https://youtu.be/DgqdELXU4BI
In this episode of Liberalism in Question from the Centre for Independent Studies, economist Robert Carling discusses the alarming rise in Australian government spending and its long-term consequences.
👉 More from Robert Carling:
🔹 Leviathan on the Rampage: Government spending growth a threat to Australia’s economic future: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/leviathan-on-the-rampage-how-the-growth-of-government-is-draining-australias-economic-vitality/
🔹Government spending and inflation: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/government-spending-and-inflation/
🔹The Truth About The Tax Burden: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/the-truth-about-the-tax-burden/
👉 Help Australia’s Economic Prosperity
🔹 Become a member: https://www.cis.org.au/membership-2-step-1/
🔹 Make a donation: https://www.cis.org.au/support/donate/today/
🔹 Learn more: https://www.cis.org.au/
For all references and graphs, read the paper here: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/the-productivity-problem-australias-growth-slump-is-undermining-prosperity/
Key Findings:
- Labour productivity growth has halved, sliding from 2.4% a year in the late 1990s to just 1.2% in recent years.
- Australia is falling further behind the United States, with the productivity gap now wider than it was in the early 2000s.
- Business investment – a driver of growth – is subdued, starving firms of the latest technology and techniques needed to compete globally.
Cox outlines that even small, sustained improvements in productivity compound into large gains. Conversely, persistently slow growth risks turning policy development by political parties into a zero-sum scramble for slices of a shrinking pie, undermining social cohesion and democratic norms.
The paper identifies a triple threat:
- Dwindling innovation diffusion, in which Australian firms are adopting new ideas more slowly than global leaders.
- Rising regulatory burden, with Commonwealth legislation now containing 356,198 restrictive provisions, up 80% since 2005.
- Cultural change, with surveys revealing fewer Australians now see work as “very important”, while support for environmental protection over economic growth has risen.
Cox calls for a new wave of micro-economic reform, smarter regulation that does not stifle experimentation, and a renewed national conversation about the values that underpin innovation.
“Prosperity is not automatic,” Cox concludes. “It requires deliberate choices: investment in skills, encouragement of risk-taking, and institutions that reward creativity rather than rent-seeking.”
“The prize is a richer, fairer and more resilient Australia.”
A subsequent paper by Cox, which proposes options — including a new initiative — to best boost productivity growth rates to promote greater prosperity, will be published by CIS on Thursday, August 14.
Jim Cox is a prominent economist and former Deputy Chair and board member of the Australian Energy Regulator, and former chief executive of the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal. He has held positions with the Reserve Bank of Australia, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Social Policy Secretariat of the Department of Social Security.
Watch here: https://youtu.be/9bFoGoxcuQY
When Peter Kurti published "The Ties That Bind: Reconciling Value Pluralism and National Identity in Australia", Jude felt compelled to disagree vehemently, though only in a rhetorical sense!
“Australia’s multicultural democracy is under increasing pressure, not only from economic uncertainty but from the moral and cultural disagreements that have intensified in recent years. Deep cultural and moral diversity presents both remarkable opportunities and profound challenges for our national identity,” writes Peter.
Jude’s response? When disagreements grow too intense, the state must eventually intervene and take sides. He warns of ‘the tyranny of the majority’, the danger that majority opinion in a democracy can suppress dissenting voices or infringe on the basic rights of minorities. So, what happens when illiberal opinions become the dominant norm?
This is not a merely theoretical concern. We live in a time of growing social division. The war in Gaza, for example, has exposed rising levels of antisemitism in Australia which is seen by some as disturbingly close to the new normal. The mainstream media may even help to fuel these opinions in the way they report on global conflicts.
Earlier this year, the BBC admitted to airing a prime-time documentary narrated by the son of a Hamas terrorist leader. Our colleague Tom Switzer recently interviewed BBC journalist Tim Franks about this incident, broader questions of editorial bias and how journalists with strong opinions can still strive to report fairly.
So, what’s the answer?
Democracies thrive on healthy debate and a shared commitment to truth. If you're interested in Peter Kurti’s work on civil society and antisemitism, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to CIS:
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Australia’s government expenditure has surged to a post-war high (except for the pandemic-era spike) of 38–39% of GDP, up from 34–35% before the 2008 global financial crisis, a new Centre for Independent Studies paper outlines.
In Leviathan on the Rampage: Government spending growth a threat to Australia’s economic future, economist Robert Carling warns that federal spending alone has climbed from 24–25% to 27.6% of GDP since 2012–13, fueled by a culture of entitlement and relentless program expansion in social services, defence and debt interest.
Key Findings
- Real per capita federal spending has risen 1.8% on average annually since 2012–13, far exceeding Australia’s 0.5% productivity growth and more than double real GDP growth.
- A dozen fast-growing programs — including the NDIS, aged care, defence, schools, Medicare and child care — account for 63% of the increase in federal own-purpose spending in that period and now represent around half of such spending.
- Public debt interest is projected to rise 9.5% a year for the next decade, as higher rates refinance pandemic-era borrowing and ongoing deficits push debt up further.
- Off-budget ‘investments’ — from student loans to energy transition funds — add a further $104 billion in hidden spending over five years.
Drawing on Bastiat’s warning that “the state is that great fiction by which everyone tries to live at the expense of everyone else”, Carling argues Australia has crossed a tipping point.
“More than half of voters now rely on government for most of their income — through wages, benefits or subsidies — creating a formidable bloc against restraint,” he says.
“The honeymoon of debt-funded largesse is over. Without a determined reset of expectations, Australia risks sliding into a European-style welfare state — slower growth, higher taxes and a culture where ‘voting for a living’ replaces ‘working for a living’.”
Carling urges immediate expenditure reform, not just tax tinkering. His reform menu includes: 1. Rolling reviews of major programs to cut waste and lift effectiveness. 2. Fiscal rules to cap per-capita spending growth below GDP growth. 3. Freeze public-service numbers and shift from consultants to permanent staff. 4. Shelve new spending ideas — including universal child care and expanded Medicare dental cover. 5. Return to structural surplus by 2029–30, echoing successful consolidations of the 1980s and 1990s.
*Robert Carling is a Senior Fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies and a former World Bank, IMF and federal and state Treasury economist.
auspol #economics #econ*
A new Centre for Independent Studies paper underlines the importance of developing early number sense in children, with advice for both parents and teachers, as well as invaluable exercises.
InEarly Numbers, Big Ideas. Fostering Number Sense in Young Children, authors Dr Nancy C. Jordan and Dr Nancy Dyson say children's trajectories in mathematics are shaped early. and the development of early number sense will reap benefits in later schooling and adult life.
“Foundational mathematical knowledge at school entry is a strong and consistent predictor of later achievement, with effects that persist through primary and even secondary schooling,” Dr Jordan says.
“Children who begin school with low numeracy skills are significantly more likely to continue struggling with mathematics across their schooling years, and early gaps in understanding tend to widen over time if left unaddressed,” she says.
“All the evidence reinforces the need to ensure all children get off to a strong start in developing key foundational skills — particularly number sense — during the early years of schooling.”
Number sense involves three key strands that work together — knowledge of numbers, understanding relationships between numbers, and grasping elements of number operations.
Research shows that teaching all three together helps make explicit the connections between these three strands, especially for children who struggle with number sense.
“Making connections between these three strands is essential for a firm foundation of number sense, starting with smaller numbers and visual representation,” Dr Jordan says. “Fluency rooted in number sense is the goal.
“Instruction for the development of number sense should also use linear representations of number whenever possible to emphasise the linear nature of numbers and prepare children to think about numbers on the number line.
“By the time children reach Foundation or Year One, many can see that numbers follow a linear pattern, with each number being exactly one more than the previous one. This understanding lays the foundation for using the visual number line, a critical tool for organising and comparing all real numbers.”
Dr Jordan and Dr Dyson’s paper is structured in three parts. The first section defines number sense and outlines its significance in early cognitive and mathematical development. The second section explores how difficulties with number sense arise, how they can be identified through effective early screening, and why timely identification is essential.
The final section presents practical, evidence-based instructional strategies and classroom routines that educators can use to support number sense development in all learners.
Dr Nancy C. Jordan the Dean Family Endowed Chair and Professor of Education at the University of Delaware. Her research centres on how children learn mathematics and why many struggle, particularly in early and middle childhood. Prof Jordan authored numerous highly cited articles, with recent work appearing in the Journal of Educational Psychology, Journal of Learning Disabilities, Developmental Psychology, and the Journal of Research on Mathematics Education, among others.
Dr Nancy Dyson is a research associate at the University of Delaware where she received her doctorate, studying under Dr Nancy Jordan and Dr James Hiebert. The focus of her research is developing and testing instructional approaches and curricula for students who struggle with mathematics. She has published several articles in peer-reviewed journals and has made numerous conference presentations on this topic.
Watch Here: https://youtu.be/29qPdsxMHss
“Freedom or death!” The rallying cry of revolutions, constitutions, and rights movements shaped the modern world — and liberalism was its architect. Built on the belief that individuals should be free to choose their paths, pursue their dreams, and speak their minds, liberalism became the moral and political foundation of the 20th century.
But in the 21st, the definition of freedom is expanding — and straining. We seek freedom not just from tyranny, but from discomfort, constraint, and even contradiction. Liberalism promised liberty, but has it delivered too much choice — or the wrong kind? Has the pursuit of personal freedom begun to erode shared values, social cohesion, or even the self? Thucydides said, “The secret to happiness is freedom.” But is that still true — was it ever?
Join Rob Forsyth and Priyan Max Jeganathan for this challenging discussion on the limits of freedom.
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The re-elected government faces a long list of economic challenges, some of them created or exacerbated in its first term. This CIS review discusses some of the major challenges: budget repair; fiscal reform; productivity growth; and housing.
Read the paper here: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/post-election-economic-challenges/
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auspol #news #economics
Watch here: https://youtu.be/-NaJolceTlI
Robert Forsyth interviews Dr. Michael Bird, who reflects on the relationship between liberalism and Christianity. Bird acknowledges the strengths of liberalism—its emphasis on individual liberty, pluralism, and democratic governance—but warns that when liberalism becomes detached from its Christian moral and philosophical roots, it risks undermining the very values it seeks to uphold.
He argues that a purely secular liberalism can drift into relativism or moral vacuity, leaving society vulnerable to fragmentation. For liberal democracy to thrive, Bird suggests, it must remain tethered to a deeper moral vision—one that Christianity has historically provided.
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Read the paper here: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/the-ties-that-bind-reconciling-value-pluralism-and-national-identity-in-australia/
Executive summary
Australia’s multicultural democracy is under increasing pressure, not only from economic uncertainty but from the moral and cultural disagreements that have intensified in recent years. Deep cultural and moral diversity presents both remarkable opportunities and profound challenges for our national identity.
This report explores whether value pluralism — the recognition that people will continue to hold fundamentally different moral, religious, and cultural beliefs — is compatible with a cohesive national identity in a liberal democracy. It argues that Australia’s future cohesion depends not on suppressing disagreement, but on managing it fairly through civic institutions, democratic procedures and mutual restraint. This entails rethinking national identity in light of enduring moral diversity so cultural differences do not threaten social harmony.
Drawing on the political theory of value pluralism developed by Isaiah Berlin, John Gray and others, the report argues that civic nationalism — not ethnic or cultural nationalism – offers the best foundation for Australian identity. This model does not require moral consensus, but depends on shared political commitments: to the rule of law, democratic accountability, and the peaceful resolution of disagreement. It is a model that offers a robust framework for managing disagreement in a pluralist society.
The report draws a careful distinction between non-negotiable limits (such as prohibitions on female genital mutilation, child marriage, and ritual violence) and morally contested ‘grey zones’ where rights and values may conflict. These include religious exemptions to anti-discrimination laws, parental refusal of child vaccinations, and ritual slaughter.
It argues that these contested areas require structured negotiation, not moral coercion, and that pluralism must be bounded by core liberal principles, including human dignity and equal protection under the law. Addressing these challenges demands more than rule-setting; it requires a civic culture capable of managing moral disagreement with fairness and refrainment. To strengthen national cohesion in a context of deep moral diversity, the report proposes five exploratory policy directions:
- Reform civic education to equip citizens for principled disagreement and deliberation.
- Revise the citizenship test to reflect shared civic institutions rather than narrow cultural values.
- Encourage voluntary intercultural dialogue, especially in communities under pressure.
- Design conflict-resolution mechanisms that defuse moral clashes before they escalate.
- Commission longitudinal research on public attitudes and pluralism’s institutional performance.
Rather than calling for renewed consensus around fixed national values, the report calls for a civic culture capable of managing deep diversity. It argues that Australia’s identity must be grounded not in sameness, but in the institutions and norms that allow citizens to live together amid enduring difference. Only by managing difference fairly can Australia protect its democracy, strengthen social trust and build a national identity embracing a new understanding of ‘patriotism’ fit for the challenges of the 21st century.
In "Rooftop Solar: Paradise Lost," Zoe Hilton, Michael Wu, and Aidan Morrison examine the unintended consequences of Australia's rooftop solar boom. They argue that while rooftop solar has been promoted as a means to lower electricity bills and support the environment, it has inadvertently led to increased costs for non-solar customers. The paper analyzes the financial dynamics of rooftop solar adoption, highlighting how current tariff structures result in cross-subsidies from non-solar to solar customers. It also discusses the implications for energy equity and suggests potential reforms to address these disparities.
Read the paper here: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/the-ties-that-bind-reconciling-value-pluralism-and-national-identity-in-australia/
Audio Produced by: Randall Evans
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Robert Forsyth interviews Glenn Fahey, director of the education program at the Centre for Independent Studies (CIS), who explores why a classical liberal think tank is deeply engaged in education policy. Fahey argues that education is the great enabler of freedom—central to the classical liberal vision of a society where individuals can shape their own lives. He explains that without access to high-quality education, people are denied the knowledge and skills necessary to participate in the economy, civic life, and democratic decision-making. Glenn Fahey also discusses the science of learning and how society is slowly getting back to evidence-based education approaches.
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The proposed tax on superannuation balances exceeding $3 million is poorly designed, economically damaging, and sets a dangerous precedent by taxing unrealised capital gains, a Centre for Independent Studies paper outlines.
In How to Vandalise Savings: the New Super Tax, economist Robert Carling delivers a scathing critique of the tax, calling for the scheme to be shelved or substantially revised and deferred to a later start date than 1 July 2025.
This analysis arrives at a critical juncture as the re-elected Labor government prepares to reintroduce legislation that had previously stalled before the May 2025 election.
While the tax is marketed as affecting only a small number of high-balance super accounts, the paper makes clear that its impact will widen rapidly and disproportionately affect those who have saved prudently under previous rules.
The new tax is often described as doubling the existing tax — which would be severe in itself — but in fact it is more than a doubling. The existing tax allows for a one-third discount of capital gains from longer held assets, which reduces the effective tax rate to 10%. This discount will not be available under the new tax. The treatment of dividend franking credits also means that tax payable will more than double on balances above $3 million.
“Far from being the ‘modest change’ described by the government, this tax represents a radical shift with long-term implications for retirement planning, capital markets, and the integrity of the tax system,” Carling warns. “Doubling a rate of tax is anything but modest.”
“The new tax being applied to unrealised gains will distort investment behaviour, increase compliance costs, and undermine confidence in superannuation as a long-term savings vehicle.”
Carling points out that the lack of indexation for the $3m threshold is a time bomb for workers.
“The threshold is not indexed to inflation or wages, meaning more Australians will be caught over time as balances naturally grow,” Carling says. “Even indexing to the CPI would not be enough, because average CPI-adjusted balances will grow as real incomes grow.”
“This design flaw echoes the bracket creep issue in income tax and suggests a stealthy revenue grab.”
The paper highlights the near-impossible task of applying “broadly equivalent” treatment to unfunded public sector pensions, arguing it could result in unfair double taxation and legal confusion.
Carling points out that the tax is also likely to drive investors away from growth and innovation-focused assets — such as small businesses and start-ups — towards more conservative, liquid holdings, “with long-term costs to economic productivity”.
“Further, despite the significance of the tax, the government has provided little in the way of theoretical justification, relying instead on administrative convenience and political rhetoric,” he says. “Making such a far-reaching change out of administrative convenience is like the tail wagging the dog.”
Recommendations
- Carling urges the government to delay the implementation date by at least 12 months and undertake a full review of the policy design – most importantly to resolve administrative obstacles to calculating earnings as they are now, including discounted realised gains rather than undiscounted unrealised gains.
- A temporary waiver of impediments should be granted to allow those affected to shift funds out of superannuation before the tax takes effect.
- Ultimately, the paper argues the tax should not proceed in any form, echoing the views of other leading economists, who have warned of its far-reaching consequences.
Robert Carling is a Senior Fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies and a former World Bank, IMF and federal and state Treasury economist.
auspol #supertax
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Robert Forsyth speaks with Rohan McHugh, who contends that the liberal tradition’s “contest of ideas” — though vital for intellectual refinement — does not conflict with the enduring boundaries that have sustained Western civilization for millennia. These boundaries have been upheld by long-standing institutions and validated by their outcomes. While the classical liberal model deserves affirmation, McHugh argues it should be recognized as incomplete, especially when treated as a rigid framework that excludes metaphysical foundations. As American founding father John Adams famously stated, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
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In this episode, we delve into the controversial world of the Intellectual Dark Web (IDW) with guest Jamie Q. Roberts, a political theorist and commentator on digital discourse and dissent. We unpack the origins of the IDW, a loose network of academics, commentators, and public intellectuals who challenge mainstream narratives on culture, politics, and identity. Roberts explores how the IDW gained traction online, its appeal to audiences disillusioned with traditional institutions, and the tensions it reveals within liberal democratic societies. From free speech debates to culture wars, Joe Rogan to Sam Harris, we examine the influence and contradictions of this online movement—and what its rise tells us about the state of public intellectual life in the digital age.
Roberts’ book: https://www.amazon.com.au/Intellectual-Dark-Web-History-Possible-ebook/dp/B0DYNPVKGJ
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In "Riches from Royalties: How Australia’s States and Territories Depend on Mining," Gene Tunny highlights how royalty payments from mining companies serve as a vital source of revenue for state and territory governments. These funds support essential public services such as health and education while helping reduce reliance on federal transfers. The paper reviews the value of royalties, explores alternative models like resource rent taxes and state-owned enterprises, and discusses the broader fiscal implications for federal-state financial relations in Australia.
Read the paper here: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/riches-from-royalties-how-australias-states-and-territories-depend-on-mining
Audio Produced by: Randall Evans
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mining #auspol #greenenergy
Watch here: https://youtu.be/m1-tzuQjbFc
In this episode, we explore the history of evangelical Christianity in Australia with guest Stuart Piggin, a leading historian and author on the subject. Drawing on his extensive research, Piggin unpacks the complex relationship between evangelicalism and liberalism throughout Australian history. We examine how evangelical movements have shaped, and been shaped by, Australia's evolving political, social, and cultural landscapes—particularly the liberal values of individual freedom, moral reform, and civic responsibility.
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In this episode of Liberalism in Question, we’re joined by Eamonn Butler, Director of the Adam Smith Institute, to discuss the economic philosophy of liberalism. From Adam Smith’s "invisible hand" to modern free-market principles, we explore how liberal economic thought has shaped prosperity, innovation, and policy.
How do Smith’s ideas on free markets, competition, and limited government remain relevant today? What lessons can we learn from classical liberal thinkers to tackle contemporary economic challenges? Join us for a fascinating conversation on the foundations of economic liberalism and its ongoing impact.
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👉 FURTHER READING: Super for Housing: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/super-for-housing/
NZ’s housing policy success and implications for Australia: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/less-crowded-houses-the-success-of-nzs-housing-policy-reforms-and-implications-for-australia/
How government obscures its spending: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/gorillas-in-the-mist-how-government-obscures-its-spending/
Government spending and inflation: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/government-spending-and-inflation/
The Truth About The Tax Burden: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/the-truth-about-the-tax-burden/
👉 CREDITS
🔹 Hosted by Robert Forsyth
🔹 Guest Eamonn Butler
🔹 Produced by Randall Evans
🔹 Music Licence Code: 4IBEVSEILUCGIHLX
🔹 All thanks to the Centre for Independent Studies.
Subscribe to all our shows: What You Need to Know About delivers concise insights from CIS experts, breaking down complex topics like policy, economics, and societal challenges. Subscribe here: https://whatyouneedtoknowabout.podbean.com/
The CIS Research Collection delivers our research papers in an audio format so you can listen to them on the go. Subscribe here: https://cisresearch.podbean.com/
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In "Rooftop Solar: Paradise Lost," Zoe Hilton, Michael Wu, and Aidan Morrison examine the unintended consequences of Australia's rooftop solar boom. They argue that while rooftop solar has been promoted as a means to lower electricity bills and support the environment, it has inadvertently led to increased costs for non-solar customers. The paper analyzes the financial dynamics of rooftop solar adoption, highlighting how current tariff structures result in cross-subsidies from non-solar to solar customers. It also discusses the implications for energy equity and suggests potential reforms to address these disparities.
Read the paper here: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/rooftop-solar-paradise-lost/
Audio Produced by: Randall Evans
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What You Need to Know About delivers concise insights from CIS experts, breaking down complex topics like policy, economics, and societal challenges. Subscribe here: https://whatyouneedtoknowabout.podbean.com/
The CIS Research Collection delivers our research papers in an audio format so that you can listen to them on the go. Subscribe here: https://cisresearch.podbean.com/
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SolarEnergy #auspol #greenenergy
Watch Here: https://youtu.be/K_OzhR8wSX0
Author and historian of ideas Johan Norberg dives into Donald Trump's tariffs, the ongoing challenges to liberty, and the future of free market capitalism.
From protectionism and populism to innovation and global trade, Norberg brings clarity, context, and compelling arguments about where we're headed—and why defending economic freedom matters more than ever.
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👉 FURTHER READING:
The only thing America liberated itself from was prosperity: https://www.cis.org.au/commentary/opinion/the-only-thing-america-liberated-itself-from-was-prosperity/
How government obscures its spending: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/gorillas-in-the-mist-how-government-obscures-its-spending/
Less Crowded Houses. NZ’s housing policy success and implications for Australia: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/less-crowded-houses-the-success-of-nzs-housing-policy-reforms-and-implications-for-australia/
Land Use Restrictions and the Australian Housing Policy Debate: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/land-use-restrictions-and-the-australian-housing-policy-debate/
Housing Affordability and Supply Restrictions: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/housing-affordability-and-supply-restrictions/
Housing is becoming a pipe dream for young Australians: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/housing-is-becoming-a-pipe-dream-for-young-australians/
👉 CREDITS
🔹 Hosted by Robert Forsyth
🔹 Special Guest Johan Norberg
🔹 Produced by Randall Evans
🔹 Music Licence Code: 6ZARZGZWZOTBB12H
🔹 All thanks to the Centre for Independent Studies.
Watch here: https://youtu.be/0jUZKIoyDPY
In this episode of Liberalism in Question, Rob sits down with historian and journalist Simon Heffer to explore the rich and complex history of liberalism. From the intellectual breakthroughs of the Scottish Enlightenment to the enduring influence of Adam Smith, we trace the evolution of liberal thought and its impact on modern society.
How did thinkers like David Hume, Adam Smith, and John Stuart Mill shape the principles of individual liberty, free markets, and limited government? What challenges has liberalism faced over the centuries, and how has it adapted? Join us for a deep dive into the historical roots of classical liberalism. 👉 Help Australia remember its history:
🔹 Become a member: https://www.cis.org.au/membership-2-step-1/
🔹 Make a donation: https://www.cis.org.au/support/donate/today/
🔹 Make a donation: Learn more: https://www.cis.org.au/ 👉
FURTHER READING: Fractured Loyalties. Australian citizenship and the crisis of civic virtue: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/fractured-loyalties-australian-citizenship-and-the-crisis-of-civic-virtue/
Interest, Usury and the Common Good: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/interest-usury-and-the-common-good/
The Argument For Debate: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/fortifying-a-healthy-democracy-why-young-australians-must-learn-the-art-of-debate/
The Future of Australian Multiculturalism: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/the-future-of-australian-multiculturalism/
👉 CREDITS
🔹 Hosted by Robert Forsyth
🔹 Guest Simon Heffer
🔹 Produced by Randall Evans
🔹 Music Licence Code: 4IBEVSEILUCGIHLX
🔹 All thanks to the Centre for Independent Studies.
Subscribe to all our shows: What You Need to Know About delivers concise insights from CIS experts, breaking down complex topics like policy, economics, and societal challenges. Subscribe here: https://whatyouneedtoknowabout.podbean.com/
The CIS Research Collection delivers our research papers in an audio format so you can listen to them on the go. Subscribe here: https://cisresearch.podbean.com/
Liberalism in Question features thought-provoking interviews with world experts in politics and culture from a Classical Liberal perspective. Subscribe here: https://liberalisminquestion.podbean.com/
CIS Events Experience: From the studios of CIS our events team brings you engaging discussions from our live events, featuring lectures, panel discussions, and conversations with leading experts: https://cisevents.podbean.com/
All our links: https://linktr.ee/centreforindependentstudies
Rooftop Solar: Paradise Lost | Zoe Hilton & Emilie DyeIn this episode, we delve into the findings of the Centre for Independent Studies' recent report, "Rooftop Solar: Paradise Lost," co-authored by Zoe Hilton, Michael Wu, and Aidan Morrison. The report challenges the prevailing narrative that rooftop solar benefits all consumers, revealing that while solar panel owners enjoy significant financial returns, these gains often come at the expense of non-solar households. We explore how current tariff structures lead to cross-subsidies, disproportionately affecting vulnerable consumers, and discuss the broader implications for Australia's energy market and policy landscape.
Today’s Guest: Zoe Hilton
Hosted by Emilie Dye.
Audio produced by Randall Evans.
Read the paper: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/rooftop-solar-paradise-lost/
Become a member: https://www.cis.org.au/membership-2-step-1/
Subscribe to all our shows:
Liberalism in Question features thought-provoking interviews with world experts in politics and culture from a Classical Liberal perspective. Subscribe here: https://liberalisminquestion.podbean.com/
The CIS Research Collection delivers our research papers in an audio format so that you can listen to them on the go. Subscribe here: https://cisresearch.podbean.com/
What You Need to Know About delivers concise insights from CIS experts, breaking down complex topics like policy, economics, and societal challenges. Subscribe here: https://whatyouneedtoknowabout.podbean.com/
CIS Events Experience: From the studios of CIS our events team brings you engaging discussions from our live events, featuring lectures, panel discussions, and conversations with leading experts: https://cisevents.podbean.com/
In "Super for Housing," Peter Tulip and Matthew Taylor explore allowing Australians to access their superannuation funds to purchase a home. He examines the rationale behind this idea, considering home equity and superannuation as alternative means of securing retirement. The paper analyzes potential impacts on housing demand and ownership rates, and discusses various approaches to implementing such a policy.
Read the paper here: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/super-for-housing/
Subscribe to all our shows:
What You Need to Know About delivers concise insights from CIS experts, breaking down complex topics like policy, economics, and societal challenges. Subscribe here: https://whatyouneedtoknowabout.podbean.com/
The CIS Research Collection delivers our research papers in an audio format so that you can listen to them on the go. Subscribe here: https://cisresearch.podbean.com/
Liberalism in Question features thought-provoking interviews with world experts in politics and culture from a Classical Liberal perspective. Subscribe here: https://liberalisminquestion.podbean.com/
CIS Events Experience: From the studios of CIS our events team brings you engaging discussions from our live events, featuring lectures, panel discussions, and conversations with leading experts: https://cisevents.podbean.com/
In this episode, we sit down with Peter Kurti to explore the ideas behind his latest work, Fractured Loyalties: Australian Citizenship and the Crisis of Civic Virtue. We discuss the fundamental role of tolerance in a diverse democracy, the rising threat of antisemitism in Australia, and how weakening civic virtues are impacting social cohesion.
Kurti unpacks the historical roots of citizenship, the principles that hold a nation together, and why fostering mutual respect is more crucial than ever. Join us for a thought-provoking conversation on democracy, identity, and the future of Australian civic life.
Read the paper: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/fractured-loyalties-australian-citizenship-and-the-crisis-of-civic-virtue/
Research by Peter Kurti
Hosted by Emilie Dye.
Audio produced by Randall Evans.
To become a member:https://www.cis.org.au/membership-2-step-1/
Subscribe to all our shows:
What You Need to Know About delivers concise insights from CIS experts, breaking down complex topics like policy, economics, and societal challenges. Subscribe here: https://whatyouneedtoknowabout.podbean.com/
The CIS Research Collection delivers our research papers in an audio format so that you can listen to them on the go. Subscribe here: https://cisresearch.podbean.com/
Liberalism in Question features thought-provoking interviews with world experts in politics and culture from a Classical Liberal perspective. Subscribe here: https://liberalisminquestion.podbean.com/
CIS Events Experience: From the studios of CIS our events team brings you engaging discussions from our live events, featuring lectures, panel discussions, and conversations with leading experts: https://cisevents.podbean.com/
Watch here: https://youtu.be/TgeMnPeo-Tc
In this episode of Liberalism in Question, Rob sits down with historian and journalist Simon Heffer to explore the rich and complex history of liberalism. From the intellectual breakthroughs of the Scottish Enlightenment to the enduring influence of Adam Smith, we trace the evolution of liberal thought and its impact on modern society.
How did thinkers like David Hume, Adam Smith, and John Stuart Mill shape the principles of individual liberty, free markets, and limited government? What challenges has liberalism faced over the centuries, and how has it adapted? Join us for a deep dive into the historical roots of classical liberalism. 👉 Help Australia remember its history:
🔹 Become a member: https://www.cis.org.au/membership-2-step-1/
🔹 Make a donation: https://www.cis.org.au/support/donate/today/
🔹 Make a donation: Learn more: https://www.cis.org.au/ 👉
FURTHER READING: Fractured Loyalties. Australian citizenship and the crisis of civic virtue: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/fractured-loyalties-australian-citizenship-and-the-crisis-of-civic-virtue/
Interest, Usury and the Common Good: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/interest-usury-and-the-common-good/
The Argument For Debate: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/fortifying-a-healthy-democracy-why-young-australians-must-learn-the-art-of-debate/
The Future of Australian Multiculturalism: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/the-future-of-australian-multiculturalism/
👉 CREDITS
🔹 Hosted by Robert Forsyth
🔹 Guest Simon Heffer
🔹 Produced by Randall Evans
🔹 Music Licence Code: 4IBEVSEILUCGIHLX
🔹 All thanks to the Centre for Independent Studies.
Subscribe to all our shows: What You Need to Know About delivers concise insights from CIS experts, breaking down complex topics like policy, economics, and societal challenges. Subscribe here: https://whatyouneedtoknowabout.podbean.com/
The CIS Research Collection delivers our research papers in an audio format so you can listen to them on the go. Subscribe here: https://cisresearch.podbean.com/
Liberalism in Question features thought-provoking interviews with world experts in politics and culture from a Classical Liberal perspective. Subscribe here: https://liberalisminquestion.podbean.com/
CIS Events Experience: From the studios of CIS our events team brings you engaging discussions from our live events, featuring lectures, panel discussions, and conversations with leading experts: https://cisevents.podbean.com/
All our links: https://linktr.ee/centreforindependentstudies
In this episode, we delve into the proposal of allowing homebuyers to access their superannuation funds for purchasing a home. We explore how building housing equity and accumulating superannuation serve as alternative methods for ensuring financial security in retirement. The discussion highlights that while the government aims to ensure individuals prepare for retirement, it doesn't necessarily have a stake in the specific method chosen. Therefore, if someone prefers to save by paying off a mortgage rather than accumulating superannuation, governmental obstruction of that choice seems unwarranted.
Read the paper: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/super-for-housing/
Research by: Matthew Taylor and Peter Tulip
Hosted by Emilie Dye.
Audio produced by Randall Evans
To become a member: https://www.cis.org.au/membership-2-step-1/
Subscribe to our other shows:
Liberalism in Question features thought-provoking interviews with world experts in politics and culture from a Classical Liberal perspective. Subscribe here: https://liberalisminquestion.podbean.com/
The CIS Research Collection delivers our research papers in an audio format so that you can listen to them on the go. Subscribe here: https://cisresearch.podbean.com/
What You Need to Know About delivers concise insights from CIS experts, breaking down complex topics like policy, economics, and societal challenges. Subscribe here: https://whatyouneedtoknowabout.podbean.com/
CIS Events Experience: From the studios of CIS our events team brings you engaging discussions from our live events, featuring lectures, panel discussions, and conversations with leading experts: https://cisevents.podbean.com/
In "Fractured Loyalties: Australian Citizenship and the Crisis of Civic Virtue," Peter Kurti examines the foundational role of tolerance in secular liberal democracies, particularly in embracing religious diversity. He explores how this principle, integral to the liberal conception of citizenship, is under threat due to a concerning rise in antisemitism within Australia. Kurti argues that such intolerance not only undermines social cohesion but also erodes the civic virtues essential for a healthy democracy. Through a historical lens, he underscores the necessity of mutual respect and equal concern among citizens to maintain the fabric of civil society.
This audiobook delves into the challenges posed by diminishing civic understanding and the imperative to uphold the principles that bind a diverse nation. Listeners are invited to reflect on the importance of reinforcing civic virtues to counteract divisive forces and ensure the resilience of Australia's democratic values.
Read the paper here: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/fractured-loyalties-australian-citizenship-and-the-crisis-of-civic-virtue/
Subscribe to all our shows:
What You Need to Know About delivers concise insights from CIS experts, breaking down complex topics like policy, economics, and societal challenges. Subscribe here: https://whatyouneedtoknowabout.podbean.com/
The CIS Research Collection delivers our research papers in an audio format so that you can listen to them on the go. Subscribe here: https://cisresearch.podbean.com/
Liberalism in Question features thought-provoking interviews with world experts in politics and culture from a Classical Liberal perspective. Subscribe here: https://liberalisminquestion.podbean.com/
CIS Events Experience: From the studios of CIS our events team brings you engaging discussions from our live events, featuring lectures, panel discussions, and conversations with leading experts: https://cisevents.podbean.com/
FracturedLoyalties #Citizenship #CivicVirtue #Democracy #Australia #Tolerance #SocialCohesion #Antisemitism #LiberalValues #PeterKurti #Audiobook #PoliticalPhilosophy #CivicEngagement #Freedom #Diversity #auspol
Interest, Usury and the Common Good by Ian Harper and Peter KurtiRead the paper here: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/interest-usury-and-the-common-good/
Listen to all our papers here: https://cisresearch.podbean.com/
Delve into the intricate history and ethical debates surrounding the practice of charging interest in "Interest, Usury, and the Common Good," authored by Ian Harper and Peter Kurti. As economies evolved, so did perspectives on interest, shifting from outright prohibition to discussions about fair rates. Harper and Kurti trace this transformation, examining how the term 'usury' became associated with excessively high interest rates deemed unjustifiable. They analyze the balance between facilitating economic growth through credit and maintaining ethical lending practices that serve the common good.
Audiobook #Economics #Finance #Ethics #Usury #InterestRates #CommonGood #History #Philosophy #Christianity #CIS
In this episode, we dive into New Zealand’s groundbreaking housing policy reforms and explore how they’ve successfully tackled the housing crisis. Join us as we unpack the findings of the Centre for Independent Studies’ report, Less Crowded Houses: The Success of NZ’s Housing Policy Reforms and Implications for Australia by Stuart Donovan. What lessons can Australia learn from these bold changes? How did New Zealand streamline housing regulations to deliver real results? Tune in for an insightful discussion on housing policy, urban planning, and the path forward for more affordable living.
Ideal for policymakers, urban planners, and anyone curious about fixing the housing crisis!
Research by: Stuart Donovan.
Hosted by Emilie Dye.
Audio produced by Randall Evans.
To read the paper: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/less-crowded-houses-the-success-of-nzs-housing-policy-reforms-and-implications-for-australia/
To become a member: https://www.cis.org.au/membership-2-step-1/
Subscribe to our other shows:
Liberalism in Question features thought-provoking interviews with world experts in politics and culture from a Classical Liberal perspective. Subscribe here: https://liberalisminquestion.podbean.com/
The CIS Research Collection delivers our research papers in an audio format so that you can listen to them on the go. Subscribe here: https://cisresearch.podbean.com/
What You Need to Know About delivers concise insights from CIS experts, breaking down complex topics like policy, economics, and societal challenges. Subscribe here: https://whatyouneedtoknowabout.podbean.com/
HousingCrisis #UrbanPlanning #AffordableHousing #NewZealand #PolicyReform #Australia #HousingSolutions #Podcast #RealEstate #EconomicPolicy
Less Crowded Houses. NZ’s housing policy success and implications for Australia by Stuart Donovan.
Audio produced by Randall Evans.
To read the paper: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/less-crowded-houses-the-success-of-nzs-housing-policy-reforms-and-implications-for-australia/
To become a member: https://www.cis.org.au/membership-2-step-1/
Introduction to the Paper:
Many Australians are increasingly concerned by deteriorating housing affordability and its implications for socio-economic outcomes. In a recent survey, 62% of respondents agreed that “continued increases in house prices is bad for the economy and is exacerbating wealth inequality”.[1] In another survey, around two-thirds of respondents agreed that the federal government was not doing enough to address Australia’s housing problems.[2] Analysis by the Australian Bureau of Statistics finds genuine cause for concern, with rates of home ownership for those aged 25-39 years falling from 66% to 55% in the period from 1991 to 2021.[3]
Such concerns are increasingly reflected in policy, with a recent federal government report observing that “rising housing costs” pose “challenges for many young Australians”.[4] The same report pointed to a need for housing supply to be “responsive to demand”, especially in locations that are accessible to jobs. There is indeed growing evidence that housing policy reforms can increase supply and support affordability. Perhaps most notably, rates of housing supply in New Zealand have — after a decade of reform — surged past Australia. For these reasons, this paper reviews New Zealand’s reforms and considers potential lessons for Australia.
First, the paper summarises the context to housing policy reforms in New Zealand, which have sought to streamline planning processes and enable housing in desirable locations, a process known as ‘upzoning’. The term is used here to describe changes to planning policies that enable more housing to be built, such as increased building height limits. A recurring theme in New Zealand’s housing policy reforms has been the potential distributional effects of upzoning — that is, who ‘wins’ and ‘loses’. Growing awareness of the distributional benefits of housing appears to have fostered broad-based support for reforms in New Zealand.
The paper then briefly reviews empirical evidence on the impacts of New Zealand’s housing reforms. These effects are apparent from even a cursory comparison of housing outcomes in councils that have upzoned versus those that have not. In 2023, for example, upzoned councils in Auckland, Canterbury, and Lower Hutt have accounted for around two-thirds of all the dwelling consents issued in New Zealand, which is much more than their share of the population. Several credible economic studies find upzoning supported large and rapid improvements in housing affordability as well as a rapid expansion in social housing.
Thirdly, the paper presents some preliminary analyses of New Zealand’s housing policy reforms. Whereas dwelling growth in Canterbury and Auckland initially lagged population growth, after each region was upzoned in 2011 and 2016, dwellings have grown faster than population. Moreover, analysis of data from Auckland shows the population of people aged 20-34 years grew most strongly in areas that experienced the most upzoning, and vice versa for those aged 65+ years. While more research is needed, these preliminary analyses suggest young people may have disproportionately benefited from these reforms, where benefits likely represent a ‘double dividend’ of more affordable housing and better access to jobs and amenities.
There have been several recent overviews of New Zealand’s housing reforms, including Maltman (2023), Greenaway-McGrevy (2024), Blick and Stewart (2024) and Politano (2024). These summaries focus on estimates of the effects of Auckland’s Unitary Plan. Like this paper, they agree that upzoning led to large increases in construction and improvements in affordability. This paper updates this earlier work, provides a broader context, and is targeted at a broad Australian audience.
To conclude, this paper argues that Australia can learn from New Zealand’s experience: enabling more housing can quickly lead to more supply and improved affordability.
Read more: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/less-crowded-houses-the-success-of-nzs-housing-policy-reforms-and-implications-for-australia/
auspol #nswpol #nz #nzhousing #realestate #property #propertyinvesting
Watch here: https://youtu.be/0FS0cL7nqUk
All our links: https://linktr.ee/centreforindependentstudies
In this episode of Liberalism in Question, David Kinley, Chair of Human Rights Law at the University of Sydney, joins us to explore the relationship between freedom, liberty, and responsibility. As the author of The Liberty Paradox, David delves into the distinctions between these core concepts of liberalism and the responsibilities that come with exercising freedom. Tune in for a thoughtful discussion on how liberalism can navigate these tensions in today's world.
Liberalism #HumanRights #DavidKinley #FreedomVsLiberty #Responsibility #Philosophy #PoliticalTheory #TheLibertyParadox #LiberalismInQuestion #Liberty #Freedom #Ethics #CivilRights #LawAndSociety
In Gorillas in the Mist: How Government Obscures Its Spending, Gene Tunny examines how Australian governments increasingly rely on off-budget mechanisms—such as loans, equity injections, and special investment funds—to finance major policy initiatives without those costs appearing in the core budget balance. These tactics allow governments to maintain the appearance of fiscal discipline while accumulating hidden financial risks. The paper details the rapid growth of off-budget measures, evaluates their impact on transparency, accountability, and inflation, and calls for greater scrutiny to ensure public money is managed responsibly.
Read the paper here: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/gorillas-in-the-mist-how-government-obscures-its-spending/
Audio Produced by: Randall Evans
Subscribe to all our shows:
What You Need to Know About delivers concise insights from CIS experts, breaking down complex topics like policy, economics, and societal challenges. Subscribe here: https://whatyouneedtoknowabout.podbean.com/
The CIS Research Collection delivers our research papers in an audio format so that you can listen to them on the go. Subscribe here: https://cisresearch.podbean.com/
Liberalism in Question features thought-provoking interviews with world experts in politics and culture from a Classical Liberal perspective. Subscribe here: https://liberalisminquestion.podbean.com/
CIS Events Experience: From the studios of CIS our events team brings you engaging discussions from our live events, featuring lectures, panel discussions, and conversations with leading experts: https://cisevents.podbean.com/
Watch here: https://youtu.be/EVmqHRwsooY
All our links: https://linktr.ee/centreforindependentstudies
In this episode of Liberalism in Question, we are joined by Australian businessman, entrepreneur, and free-market advocate Ron Manners. As the founder of the Mannkal Economic Education Foundation and a vocal proponent of individual liberty, Manners shares his perspective on the evolution of classical liberalism, the role of free markets in society, and the current challenges facing economic freedom globally. Tune in as we explore the intersection of personal responsibility, limited government, and the path forward for liberal values in a rapidly changing world.
auspol #libertarian #mining
Watch here: https://youtu.be/T6Ga9mjdFhs
All our links: https://linktr.ee/centreforindependentstudies
In this compelling interview, Robert Forsyth engages in a deep conversation with Mary Eberstadt, acclaimed author and social commentator, on the profound effects of the sexual revolution and the critical importance of families in sustaining a healthy liberal democracy. Together, they explore how the cultural shifts of the 20th century have transformed societal norms, personal identity, and the political landscape, while discussing why the family remains a cornerstone of freedom and civic life.
What impact has the sexual revolution had on modern society? How do strong family structures contribute to the success of democratic systems? Robert and Mary unpack these questions, offering thought-provoking insights on the intersections of culture, politics, and the future of Western civilization.
auspol #reproductiverights #thepill #womensrights #christianity
All our Links: https://linktr.ee/centreforindependentstudies
Listen to this recording of our thought-provoking CIS event that explored the complexities of Australian identity, politics, and social cohesion. The event featured engaging discussions with special guests Nyunggai Warren Mundine, Dr. Tanveer Ahmed and Damien Freeman.
Held after the historic 2023 referendum, which saw a 60/40 rejection of the Voice, the conversation examines the deepening divisions in Australian society. As public opinion shifted before the vote, broader concerns about cultural and political fractures came to the forefront. The speakers tackled important questions about the accusations of racism, the rise of populism and identity politics, and whether Australia’s social fabric is fraying in an era of diminishing trust and growing polarization.
What does it mean to be Australian in the 21st century? What unites us as a nation, and how do we nurture the social cohesion for which Australia has been known?
The discussion featured:
- Damien Freeman, writer, lawyer, philosopher, and author of The End of Settlement.
- Nyunggai Warren Mundine, Director of the Indigenous Forum at CIS and co-editor of Beneath the Southern Cross.
- Dr. Tanveer Ahmed, psychiatrist, author, and columnist for the Australian Financial Review.
- Peter Kurti, Director of the Culture, Prosperity & Civil Society program at CIS and co-editor of Beneath the Southern Cross.
This recording captures their insights and reflections on the key issues shaping Australia's future.
Australia #AustralianPolitics #VoiceReferendum #IdentityPolitics #SocialCohesion #AusPol #WarrenMundine #CulturalDebate #Populism #Unity #IndigenousVoice #Referendum2023 #NationalIdentity #BreakingNews #TrendingNow #PoliticalDebate #CurrentAffairs
The Rise of Activist Corporations: How activism agendas subsumed shareholder primacy
by Peter Swan AO
September 26, 2024
Australian companies have been shifting from a purely shareholder focus to a much vaguer, less accountable, and damaging stakeholder focus for many years. One important byproduct of this decline in shareholder focus has been former shareholder resources moving into ‘social responsibility’, corporate activism, and promotion of political and popular causes that are often antithetical to the interests of corporations’ own shareholders. This has resulted in many corporations becoming ‘woke’.
Read the paper here: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/the-rise-of-activist-corporations-how-activism-agendas-subsumed-shareholder-primacy/
auspol #woke
Watch here: https://youtu.be/C45cbnu3Q1k
All our links: https://linktr.ee/centreforindependentstudies
In this eye-opening interview, Robert Forsyth sits down with Nicholas Eberstadt, a leading expert on North Korea and a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, to dissect the origins and implications of North Korea's unique family dictatorship. The conversation delves into how the Kim dynasty has maintained an iron grip on the country through a blend of political strategy and cult of personality.
What are the roots of North Korea's dynastic rule? How has the regime's approach influenced its domestic and international policies? Robert and Nicholas explore these questions and provide an in-depth analysis of how the Kim family's authoritarian control has shaped North Korean society and its interactions with the world.
northkorea #libertarian #democracy #history
The Rise of Activist Corporations with Peter Swan - Interviewed by Emilie Dye.
Australian companies have been shifting from a purely shareholder focus to a much vaguer, less accountable, and damaging stakeholder focus for many years. One important byproduct of this decline in shareholder focus has been former shareholder resources moving into ‘social responsibility’, corporate activism, and promotion of political and popular causes that are often antithetical to the interests of corporations’ own shareholders. This has resulted in many corporations becoming ‘woke’.
Read the paper here: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/the-rise-of-activist-corporations-how-activism-agendas-subsumed-shareholder-primacy/
Watch here: https://youtu.be/vr3lSCpaK2o
All our links: https://linktr.ee/centreforindependentstudies
Join Robert Forsyth in this enlightening interview with Dr. Jonathan Cole, a distinguished scholar and passionate advocate of classical liberalism. Dr. Cole shares his personal journey of conversion to classical liberalism, tracing the profound impact Ludwig von Mises had on his intellectual transformation and understanding of economic and political philosophy.
In this engaging discussion, Dr. Cole reflects on his intellectual evolution, the key principles of classical liberalism, and how Mises' ideas continue to shape contemporary debates on freedom, markets, and individual rights. Robert and Dr. Cole delve into the relevance of Mises' theories in today’s political climate and explore how classical liberalism offers solutions to modern challenges.
auspol #mises #libertarian
Read the paper here: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/government-spending-and-inflation/
That government expenditure in Australia has grown apace in recent years is well-known. The growth became gargantuan during the coronavirus pandemic. However, to a less dramatic extent, it was happening before the pandemic — and has continued since it ended.
Some observers welcome this growth to the extent it is a reflection of new spending programs and expansion of existing programs perceived to meet legitimate needs. But it is also a matter of serious concern for reasons that include the implications for higher taxation and public debt, the effect on incentives and the diversion of scarce resources away from alternative and higher productivity activities.
Recently, attention has turned to the impact of higher public spending on inflation as monetary policy struggles to restore inflation to its target. Specifically, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has spoken of the high level of aggregate demand relative to the economy’s potential output. The RBA has drawn attention to the relatively rapid growth of public final demand as a contributor to excessive aggregate demand — although the Governor has also stated that public sector demand “is not the main game” in the policy response to persistent inflation.
This policy paper presents the key facts about public expenditure growth in recent years and discusses its contribution to inflation.
All our links: https://linktr.ee/centreforindependentstudies
All Things Considered. Making Moral Sense of the Wars in Ukraine and Gaza by Nigel Biggar.
Read the paper here: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/all-things-considered-making-moral-sense-of-the-wars-in-ukraine-and-gaza/
The pacifist answer to the problem of #war is straightforward. Any use of violent force by anybody in any circumstances is immoral and should cease. War is always worse than its alternatives; peace is always preferable. This is not a view to which I subscribe. We all want peace, but at what cost and to whom? If those who believe in the possibility of morally justified war have to reckon with the dreadful consequences of their position, so do pacifists. Not going to war in 1994 was good for Britons and Australians, but not so good for the Tutsi in Rwanda: our staying at peace left the Hutu at peace to slaughter 800,000 of them. Peace, like war, is morally complicated.
The war in #Ukraine has resulted in the widespread devastation of the country. Russian president Vladimir Putin’s threat to use nuclear weapons hangs over it, and it seems unlikely that the Ukrainians can triumph over Russia. So, surely it would have been better, if Kyiv had not resisted in the first place. And would it not be best, if it were to stop resisting now?
Meanwhile in #Gaza the civilian casualties of the war between Israel and Hamas continue to mount. South Africa has accused Israel of genocide, and the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has applied for a warrant to arrest the Israeli Prime Minister. And yet, it was Hamas that began the current phase of the conflict with the horrendously deliberate and indiscriminate massacre of #Israeli civilians on October 7 last year. And it is Hamas that planned to make a battlefield out of a dense urban environment, building tunnels for its gunmen but no shelters for non-combatants. And it is Hamas that is constitutionally committed to eradicating #Israel. So how are we to make coherent moral sense of the situation?
Government spending and inflation with Robert Carling - Interviewed by Emilie Dye.
That government expenditure in Australia has grown apace in recent years is well-known. The growth became gargantuan during the coronavirus pandemic. However, to a less dramatic extent, it was happening before the pandemic — and has continued since it ended.
Some observers welcome this growth to the extent it is a reflection of new spending programs and expansion of existing programs perceived to meet legitimate needs. But it is also a matter of serious concern for reasons that include the implications for higher taxation and public debt, the effect on incentives and the diversion of scarce resources away from alternative and higher productivity activities.
Recently, attention has turned to the impact of higher public spending on inflation as monetary policy struggles to restore inflation to its target. Specifically, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has spoken of the high level of aggregate demand relative to the economy’s potential output. The RBA has drawn attention to the relatively rapid growth of public final demand as a contributor to excessive aggregate demand — although the Governor has also stated that public sector demand “is not the main game” in the policy response to persistent inflation.
Here we talk about the key facts about public expenditure growth in recent years and discuss its contribution to inflation.
You can also read the policy paper here:https://www.cis.org.au/publication/government-spending-and-inflation/
Watch Here: https://youtu.be/vNHk5nBeEbM
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In this thought-provoking interview, Robert Forsyth sits down with Behnam Ben Taleblu, a renowned Iran expert and senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), to discuss the evolving landscape of liberalism in Iran. Together, they explore the complexities of Iran's political culture, the rise of reformist and liberal movements, and the challenges posed by the ruling regime.
What is the future of liberalism in Iran? Can the country embrace democratic values in the face of internal and external pressures? How do the people of Iran view their role in shaping the future? Robert and Behnam delve into these questions and more, offering unique insights on the current socio-political climate and potential pathways forward for Iran.
Watch Here: https://youtu.be/ybXvmRJ2nO0
The Australian nation began as one of the world's first social democracies. Today its political axis has shifted to make it one of the world's leading liberal countries, enjoying unparalleled prosperity - According to today's guest Bob Catley.
Are you looking for sound, thought-provoking conversations on current affairs, politics, and culture from a Classical Liberal perspective? If yes, you are in the right place. Liberalism in Question engages some of our society’s most prominent researchers, political figures, and free speech advocates --finding out their views on the state of Classical Liberalism.
All our links: https://linktr.ee/centreforindependentstudies
Watch here: https://youtu.be/UtF9I1H2bNE
Jimmy Lai, a British citizen, owner of the independent newspaper Apple Daily and pro-democracy and human rights defender, has been detained and subjected to multiple Kafkaesque trials for fighting for freedom of speech and democracy in Hong Kong. His son, Sebastien Lai, and human rights lawyer Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, sit down to talk about the trail and the diminishing freedom in Hong Kong.
Are you looking for sound, thought-provoking conversations on current affairs, politics, and culture from a Classical Liberal perspective? If yes, you are in the right place. Liberalism in Question engages some of our society’s most prominent researchers, political figures, and free speech advocates --finding out their views on the state of Classical Liberalism.
All our links: https://linktr.ee/centreforindependentstudies
Watch here: https://youtu.be/Xzk6zYXxvQ4
Reflecting on his pivotal role in the development of a proposal to recognise Australia’s Indigenous peoples in the Constitution, Damien Freeman explains how something that started off as an exercise in settlement politics ended in a failed referendum.
Damien Freeman is a visiting scholar at the PM Glynn Institute. He founded and directs the Governor-General's Prize for the Constitution Education Fund Australia. Together with Julian Leeser MP, he established Uphold and Recognise, a non-profit organisation committed to upholding the Australian Constitution and recognising Indigenous Australians. In 2015, Noel Pearson launched The Australian Declaration of Recognition, a pamphlet written by Freeman and Leeser.
Damien lectures on ethics and aesthetics at Pembroke College, Cambridge, and convenes a public conversation series with Dr Simon Longstaff AO at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. He is currently working on a project investigating the conservative cast of mind in contemporary Australia, with particular reference to Tony Abbott.
Watch here: https://youtu.be/y9v7xJQCfow
What would have happened if Israel did nothing on October 8th? Can the "war" in Gaza be called a "moral war"? Bret Stephens argues on this week's episode of Liberalism in Question that the "war" in Gaza is an "existential war" for the survival of Israel of the safety of Jewish people internationally. Bret Stephens is an Opinion columnist for The New York Times, writing about foreign policy, domestic politics and cultural issues. Dive in as we explore the idea of liberalism in America and the greater conflicts in the Middle East.
International data have repeatedly shown many Australian school students struggle with mathematics. Around 10% of students achieve at a level that requires additional support (NAPLAN) or are below the international benchmark Trends in International Maths and Science Study (TIMSS) — which is the equivalent of around 400,000 Australian students per year. More than a quarter of 15-year-olds are low performers in the subject. Learn what you need to know about Why Australia Needs Universal Early Numeracy Screening.
Kelly Norris is a Senior Research Associate at CIS working on evidence-based identification and intervention processes for students with or at risk of maths difficulties. Prior to joining CIS in 2024, she has worked as a university lecturer, educational consultant, product developer, consultant teacher and classroom teacher with a particular focus on effective intervention within a multitiered system of support (MTSS). She holds a Bachelor of Education, Graduate Certificate of Education (learning difficulties) and Master of Education. In the latter research she investigated strategies and tools to improve identification and support for students with mathematical difficulties.
auspol
Counting the Cost: Subsidies For Renewable Energy By Michael Wu.
For all references and graphs, please download the publication at the centre for independent studies website where you can also become a member of CIS. As this paper is graph and data-heavy, it’s a good idea to have the paper open as you listen along. Download here: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/counting-the-cost-subsidies-for-renewable-energy/
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auspol #nuclear #australiannuclear #energymarket
The federal, state and territory Energy Ministers have introduced a shadow carbon price for the national electricity market. This ‘value of emissions reduction’ (VER) sets the value of carbon abatement at $66 per tonne in 2023, rising six-fold to $420 by 2050. Costs will be passed onto consumers through electricity network projects because the regulatory investment framework will now include the interim VER as a benefit in their cost benefit analyses. This change is likely to increase the assessed benefits of projects that claim to reduce emissions, projects which might otherwise have been deemed uneconomic.
Read the rest of this research here: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/the-impact-of-a-shadow-carbon-price-on-our-electricity-bills/
Hosted by Karla Pincott, What You Need to Know About is the podcast that covers exactly that. Hear from CIS' experts on the key points of their research, providing you with concise and insightful overviews of complex topics. In each episode, we break down intricate policy issues, economic trends, social challenges, and more, delivering the essential information you need to stay informed in today's fast-paced world. Join us as we cut through the noise and dive straight into the heart of matters that shape our society. Whether you're a policy enthusiast, a curious mind, or just someone looking to grasp the essentials without getting lost in the details, What You Need to Know About is your go-to source for bite-sized yet comprehensive insights.
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auspol #nuclear #nuclearaustralia #australia #energymarket #energy #netzero #net0 #cis
Oppositions hold governments to account, raise issues of public concern, represent aggrieved citizens, propose alternative policies. Having a viable and energetic opposition is an essential for the health of any democracy.
The Art of Opposition is the first detailed published research study of Australian oppositions across all federal and state jurisdictions and with an additional international coverage of the United Kingdom, Canada, United States and European nations.
With senior academic contributors from across Australian and international universities along with practitioners who, like John Howard, have led oppositions, former chiefs of staff of opposition leaders and other senior support staff, The Art of Opposition provides an up-to-date account of what oppositions do and how they do it. Other contributors include David Clune OAM, Rodney Tiffen, Brendan McCaffrie and Rodney Smith.
Scott Prasser is currently a Senior Fellow at CIS. Scott has worked in federal and state governments in senior policy and research positions. He has published and commented widely on state and federal politics and has focused his work on royal commissions and public inquires. His recent publications include Royal Commissions and Public Inquiries in Australia released in 2021 and The Whitlam Era released in 2022.
John Howard OM AC was Prime Minister of Australia from 1996-2007 and Member of the Australian Parliament for Bennelong from 1974-2007.
Andrew Blyth is the John Howard Fellow at CIS. His prior roles include managing the John Howard Prime Ministerial Library and as a senior adviser and chief of staff. Andrew is author of recent CIS research paper; From ANZUS to AUKUS: Howard’s Legacy in Shaping Australia’s Defence Strategy.
Tom Switzer is the Executive Director at the Centre for Independent Studies, and formerly hosted Between the Lines on the ABC’s Radio National. He is also a regular contributor to The Australian and the Australian Financial Review.
Watch the podcast here: https://youtu.be/lYls1XLQG7s
auspol #freemarket #economics
Robert Carling is a Senior Fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies. Robert is researching and writing about fiscal policy, taxation and federalism. Prior to joining the CIS, Robert was Executive Director, Economic and Fiscal at the New South Wales Treasury from 1998 to 2006.
Previous positions have been with Commonwealth Treasury, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. He holds academic qualifications in economics and finance from the London School of Economics and Political Science, Georgetown University and the University of Queensland.
Are you looking for sound, thought-provoking conversations on current affairs, politics, and culture from a Classical Liberal perspective? If yes, you are in the right place. Liberalism in Question engages some of our society’s most prominent researchers, political figures, and free speech advocates --finding out their views on the state of Classical Liberalism.
The Australian Government wants to transition our electricity system to net zero carbon emissions by relying on wind and solar power – excluding alternatives such as small nuclear reactors. Its justification for this switch rests on the claim that a renewables-dominated system is environmentally beneficial and economically superior to using fossil fuels and nuclear energy.
But its premise is based on a flawed argument which has left out key elements which portray a different picture.
Dive in with Karla Pincott and Aidan Morrison, the Director of Energy Research, to learn what you need to know about the six fundamental flaws underpinning the energy transition. You can also read the whole paper here: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/the-six-fundamental-flaws-underpinning-the-energy-transition/
Hosted by Karla Pincott, What You Need to Know About is the podcast that covers exactly that. Hear from CIS experts on the key points in their research, providing you with concise and insightful overviews of complex topics. In each episode, Karla breaks down intricate policy issues, economic trends, social challenges, and more, delivering the essential information you need to stay informed in today's fast-paced world.
Join us as we cut through the noise and dive straight into the heart of matters that shape our society. Whether you're a policy enthusiast, a curious mind, or just someone looking to grasp the essentials without getting lost in the details, What You Need to Know About is your go-to source for bite-sized yet comprehensive insights.
auspol #nuclear #energytransition
Watch Here: https://youtu.be/pNLmQbvdnJc
Matthew Ridley is a British science writer, journalist and businessman. He is known for his writings on science, the environment, and economics, and has been a regular contributor to The Times newspaper. Ridley was chairman of the UK bank Northern Rock from 2004 to 2007. Ridley is a libertarian, and a staunch supporter of Brexit. He inherited the viscountcy in February 2012 and was a Conservative hereditary peer from February 2013, with an elected seat in the House of Lords, until his retirement in December 2021.
How to Build Low-Cost Nuclear: Lessons from the world by Aidan Morrision. First published on April 11, 2024.
For all references and graphs, please download the publication at the centre for independent studies website where you can also become a member of CIS. As this paper is graph and data-heavy, it’s a good idea to have the paper open as you listen along. The paper can be downloaded from here:
https://www.cis.org.au/publication/how-to-build-low-cost-nuclear-lessons-from-the-world/
In this episode, we delve into the concerning decline of proficiency in mathematics among Australian students over the past two decades. Join host Glenn Fahey, along with special guests Sarah Powell and Toni Hatten-Roberts, as they unravel the complexities behind this trend.
Sarah Powell is Associate Professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Texas, Austin. She is a leading advocate within the US Science of Math movement, advancing evidence-informed teaching practice. She is co-author of the CIS publications: Myths that interfere with mathematics teaching and Evidence-based teaching in maths.
Toni Hatten-Roberts is an award winning educator and is the director of COGlearn and Executive Director of Education at Mastery Schools Australia. She is also the author of the CIS publication “The Need For Speed: why fluency counts for maths learning.”
Glenn Fahey is Director of Education at the Centre for Independent Studies. He is the author of several CIS publications, including: Starting off on the wrong foot: How to improve Initial Teacher Education in Australia and Failing to teach the teacher: An analysis of mathematics Initial Teacher Education. He provides regular commentary across major newspapers across Australia.
All our links: https://linktr.ee/centreforindependentstudies
The science of learning represents an opportunity to design instruction in a way that is likely to lead to most students’ success with learning. The evidence suggests explicit instruction of a well-sequenced knowledge-focused curriculum will lead to that success.
But, what is the science of learning?
Let's dive in with Trisha Jha to find out.
All our links: https://linktr.ee/centreforindependentstudies
auspol #scienceoflearning #teaching
Leading economists Robert Carling and Warren Hogan discuss our true tax burden, which is higher than most people believe. They outline how it has grown, why the federal and state governments are not interested in relieving the burden on Australians — and what needs to be done to prevent us sliding into a very grim future.
auspol
All our links: https://linktr.ee/centreforindependentstudies
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Watch here: https://youtu.be/6uiMn9hRqQA
In this episode, Rob chats with Marian Tupy, the editor of HumanProgress.org, a senior fellow the Cato Institute’s Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity, and co-author of The Simon Abundance Index. Marian argues that humanity has accomplished a great deal and can continue to do so if we continue to adhere to the values of classical liberalism. According to Marian, the argument that resources can’t keep up with human growth is simply not true. A cold, dispassionate look at the big picture shows that, all things considered, the world continues to improve along many different dimensions. #auspol #humanprogress #cato
All our links: https://linktr.ee/centreforindependentstudies
Watch here: https://youtu.be/DHfbzSOM7Fw
On this episode, Rob engages in a compelling conversation with Sherelle Jacobs, a columnist for the UK's Daily Telegraph newspaper. Sherelle contends that the Western world is at a tipping point, experiencing a decline marked by limitations on economic freedom, intellectual pursuits, and the freedom to demonstrate in the new millennium.
The core question explored is whether the West is currently facing a decline that demands significant changes for its survival, and the prospects of liberalism in this evolving landscape. Sherelle highlights a prevailing sense of malaise that grips the national psyches of Western societies.
auspol #west #democracy
Warren Hogan is an eminent economist, and the founder of EQ Economics, a Sydney-based micro advisory firm, with a focus on providing economic and strategic advice to businesses in Australia. Warren is a regular in Australian and international media, and a columnist for The Australian Financial Review. He has also published extensively in The Conversation.
In this episode, Warren debunks to notion of greedflation and explains what you need to know about inflation in Australia.
"What will determine whether inflation sustains a lift above the target band will come down to what happens in Australian labour markets, and how businesses respond to rising nominal wage growth." - Warren Hogan.
Watch here: https://youtu.be/-n7GJom-KEE
Dr. Larry Marshall is a scientist, technology innovator and business leader with more than 25 years’ experience in creating new value and impact with science.
Dr. Larry Marshall dismantles the myth of AI's destructive potential, highlighting its exponential growth and role in fostering prosperity. He advocates for essential regulation and unbiased education to address AI-driven cybercrimes and ensure responsible use. Dr. Marshall emphasizes that AI, currently grounded in algorithms, lacks consciousness. in as he calls for increased investment in AI expertise, both from the government and industry, to create new jobs in the era of automation. #auspol #AI #openai
Watch here: https://youtu.be/cJ11MmRAGbg
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On this episode, Rob chats with Joanna Williams, author and former academic now running her platform Cieo, delve into the catastrophic impacts of wokism on society. Joanna defines wokism and discusses how it has prevailed, emphasising the widespread emphasis on victimhood in our culture. She addresses the core issue, asserting that the focus of woke anti-racism is on 'structural' racism ingrained in laws, policies, systems, and institutions. This phenomenon has permeated various aspects of Western society, from education and workplaces to sports, politics, and justice administration. Joanna highlights the defenders of wokism who claim to protect vulnerable freedoms but argues that opponents must recognize this and brace for a prolonged battle to reverse its influence. She underscores the and emphasises the need to vigorously safeguard our liberties against the pervasive influence of wokism.
woke #auspol
What is the Science of Learning? By Trisha Jha.
Listen to all our research here: https://cisresearch.podbean.com/
Despite billions of additional experts and concerted efforts at reforming several pillars of the Australian education ecosystem, students’ results continue to plateau. While the focus on teaching quality and effective, evidence-based practices is welcome, it is incomplete. Australian education needs to position the science of learning as the foundation for policy and practice.
The establishment of the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) — in particular its recent work How students learn best — and the Strong Beginnings report into initial teacher education reforms are important because they create space for shifting focus towards the science of learning.
Unfortunately, key pillars of Australian education policy do not reflect the science of learning, due to the far-reaching impacts of progressive educational beliefs dating back to the 18th century.
These beliefs include that:
- Students learn best when they themselves guide their learning and it aligns with their interest;
- Rote learning is harmful;
- Learning should be based on projects or experiences, and that doing this will result in critical and creative thinkers.
But these beliefs are contradicted by the science of learning, which is the connection between: 1) insights from cognitive science and educational psychology; and 2) the teaching practices supported (and not supported) by those insights. Key concepts include:
- Biologically primary knowledge (BPK) and biologically secondary knowledge (BSK): These concepts are not about stages of schooling. Rather, BPK includes things like basic social relations and problem-solving skills we have evolved to learn and do not need to be taught. In contrast, BSK includes foundational skills — like reading, writing, maths as well as coding, Cubism and how to kick a football (what schools are for) — we can only learn through instruction;
- Domain-specific and domain-general skills: domain-general skills overlap with biologically-primary knowledge but critical thinking and analysis are specific to domains such as maths, history etc;
- Working memory and long-term memory: working memory is severely limited and can only handle small amounts of new information; making it a funnel to long-term memory. A strong long-term memory can help strengthen working memory; and
- Cognitive load theory: given these models of human cognition, teachers should design instruction to optimise the burden on working memory in a way that best helps learning.
The teaching approach best supported by the evidence is explicit instruction of a well-sequenced, knowledge-focused curriculum. Some key features of explicit instruction include:
- Careful ordering of curriculum content so that new information and concepts are built sequentially;
- Explanation of new information in small steps, taught through modelling and worked examples, with student practice after each step;
- Asking questions and checking for all students’ understanding of what has been taught before gradual release of students for independent work and more complex tasks; and
- Regular review of previous content to ensure retention.
There are many implications for the science of learning:
- For teachers, it is an opportunity to design instruction in a way that is likely to lead to most students’ success with learning;
- Parents can become more informed about how their child will learn best and more empowered when selecting or having conversations with their child’s school; and
- For policymakers, it provides a foundation for future reform of policy at all levels.
Read the paper here: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/what-is-the-science-of-learning/
Watch here: https://youtu.be/lgExhylzqG4?si=Ile66rcGVQls_5ek
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David de Carvalho is the Executive Dean, Faculty of Education, Philosophy and Theology at The University of Notre Dame Australia. Prior to this role, David was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA). He has extensive experience in leading major reforms at both national and state level and a deep personal passion for, and understanding of, education.
In the episode, he chats with Rob about his article, Modern Western malaise 500 years in the making .
Watch here: https://youtu.be/5ELTO4fBpRw?si=WU3AHp99wWZszSLP
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In this enthralling episode of Liberalism in Question, host Rob Forsyth engages in a deep dialogue about Indigenous affairs in Australia with influential Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price. Distinguished as one of Australia's most notable figures in 2023, Price imparts a fresh perspective on her experiences and shares her critical views on the prevailing policies affecting Indigenous Australians.
Through this riveting conversation, Price unearths the damaging effects of the 'groupthink' mentality and the policy of self-determination that has not met its promised outcomes over the past fifty years. She further discusses the debilitating narrative that portrays Aboriginal Australians as victims and demythologizes beliefs surrounding colonialism and modernization. This conversation serves as an open revelation on the realities of Indigenous Australians and a call for a liberal visionary approach for their future.
In delving profounder into these intricacies, Price presents a confounding analysis of socio-cultural allusions and stereotypes prevalent in the Indigenous community. From the Indigenous feminist movement to violence in remote communities and the intersections of traditional culture with modern norms - this expansive discussion scrutinizes dominant narratives and accentuates the need for honest recognition of traditional society's strengths and vulnerabilities. Furthermore, the dialogue hones in on the individual complexities within the Indigenous community, shifting focus from race-based policies to ones centered around need and personal specifics.
The worthy culmination of this spirited chat lies in a heartfelt sharing of Price's Grandfather's life story - a man who defied societal norms and inspired resilience in his lineage. This episode guarantees to be a deep contemplation of the past, a critique of the present, and an optimistic projection for Australia's future from an Indigenous viewpoint. It is a must-listen for all interested in gaining a deeper understanding of Indigenous affairs in Australia.
auspol
Watch here: https://youtu.be/lSEJBQyf2D0?si=XyDBRAr_PqsgXvjL
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In this engaging episode of "Liberalism in Question", host Rob Forsyth dialogues with Fraser Nelson, renowned UK journalist and editor of The Spectator. The conversation plunges deep into the dynamics of liberalism, the wrestle for "social justice", and the influence of government on societal transformation.
Nelson, an avowed liberal, articulates his understanding of social cohesion's significance and the hazards of an overpowering government. The discourse broadly encompasses the transforming descriptions of liberalism and conservatism, the repercussion of net zero climate objectives, and inspirations from historic figures such as Robert Menzies and Margaret Thatcher. The episode also brings to light the considerable challenges encountered by conservatives in acknowledging emerging societal issues like climate change.
Nelson underscores the necessity of adhering to liberal principles and sidestepping impulsive policy decisions influenced by popular clamor. Reflecting on the Queen's address to the United Nations, Nelson indicates that profound societal alterations often spawn from the aspirations of millions as opposed to the resolutions of prime ministers.
The discussion culminates with an introspection into the intellectual tradition of liberal thinkers in the UK and the present status of liberalism under a Conservative government. This episode offers an in-depth discourse on UK's political ethos and the future trajectory of liberalism from an esteemed political commentator's perspective. The conversation covers the intricacies of current political parties, their stances, and the potential repercussions of future elections.
From the prospect of a Labour Party victory in the ensuing UK general election to apprehensions surrounding press freedom; from the American political scenario's impact on UK politics to the Brexit's national implications - this episode leaves no stone unturned. Substantive discussions orbit the well-being of liberalism post-Brexit, the allure of Scottish nationalism amid political uncertainties, and the convoluted status of Northern Ireland post-Brexit.
Nelson imparts his vision of the future, predicting a backlash against identity politics and a resurgence of fundamental ideals like unity, freedom of speech, and equality. This episode serves as a comprehensive examination of UK's political landscape and a contemplative dialogue on the vitality of liberalism and the imperative for convincing, argumentative politicians in the future.
Watch here: https://youtu.be/pwVfRn3fSfU?si=rx-jiGt-S_0Q4Ih5
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In this episode, Rob chats with John Mearsheimer, the R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago. Mearsheimer presents a nuanced perspective on liberalism, emphasising a crucial distinction between its positive impact domestically and its potential pitfalls when applied as a foreign policy approach. He delves into his views on modern-day liberalism, exploring the concept's "crusader impulse" and its role in intervening in other states' perceived rights. Mearsheimer critically examines instances where the U.S., driven by a belief in the universality of liberalism, has sought to impose its values on other nations, resulting in interventions like Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, and Syria.
He highlights the unintended consequences of such interventions, often leading to the rise of nationalism in the affected regions. Mearsheimer explores the intricate bond between liberalism and nationalism, expressing his disagreement with prevailing foreign policy stances that tend to fuel nationalist sentiments. Mearsheimer provides insightful perspectives on the complexities of liberalism and its intersection with nationalism in the realm of foreign policy.
auspol
Watch here: https://youtu.be/vkvBUo1TJSM?si=WNA2dyU95DGG38zE
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On this episode Rob chats with 17-year-old founder of Australia’s first youth-lead campaign for nuclear energy: Nuclear for Australia, William Shackel. William is actively pushing for the reconsideration of Australia's unique ban on nuclear energy, positioning himself at the forefront of this crucial debate in the Australian landscape. Motivated by his youthful perspective, he is dedicated to addressing the pressing issues surrounding the current and future climate and energy crisis. As Australia grapples with discussions on renewables and strives to achieve its 2050 Net Zero target, William contends that lifting the ban on nuclear energy is a pivotal step towards securing a sustainable future for Australia and subsequent generations.
auspol
Watch this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mLxvbHp3eU&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=CentreforIndependentStudies
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Andrew Blyth was manager of the John Howard Prime Ministerial Library and Exhibition located at Old Parliament House, 2016-2023. He was chief of staff and a senior adviser in the Howard Government. He lectures in ideals and power to cadets and midshipmen at UNSW Canberra at the Australian Defence Force Academy and is undertaking a doctorate in public leadership at UNSW Canberra. He also hosts a podcast series, Advancing AUKUS for the Security & Defence PLuS initiative of UNSW, King’s College London and Arizona State University.
Are you looking for sound, thought-provoking conversations on current affairs, politics, and culture from a Classical Liberal perspective? If yes, you are in the right place. Liberalism in Question engages some of our society’s most prominent researchers, political figures, and free speech advocates --finding out their views on the state of Classical Liberalism.
About the host: The Right Reverend Robert Forsyth was the Anglican Bishop of South Sydney, a region of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, from 2000 to 2015. Before this he was the rector of St. Barnabas, Broadway and chaplain to the University of Sydney. Robert gave the 2001 Acton Lecture Dangerous Protections: How some ways of protecting the freedom of religion may actually diminish religious freedom and was awarded the Alan McGregor Fellowship at Consilium in 2010. Robert has been extensively involved in the areas of religious freedom and public policy.
auspol
Watch this episode:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMKe4R2M74E&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=CentreforIndependentStudies
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David Hart is the Online Library director at the Liberty Fund and academic editor of the Collected Works of Frédéric Bastiat. Dr. Hart is an historian and a libertarian with interests in the history of the classical liberal tradition (especially the French), war and culture, libertarian class theory, and film. He has a PhD from King's College, Cambridge, a masters from Stanford University, and a BA Honours degree from Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. He taught in the Department of History at the University of Adelaide in South Australia for 15 years.
Are you looking for sound, thought-provoking conversations on current affairs, politics, and culture from a Classical Liberal perspective? If yes, you are in the right place. Liberalism in Question engages some of our society’s most prominent researchers, political figures, and free speech advocates --finding out their views on the state of Classical Liberalism.
About the host: The Right Reverend Robert Forsyth was the Anglican Bishop of South Sydney, a region of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, from 2000 to 2015. Before this he was the rector of St. Barnabas, Broadway and chaplain to the University of Sydney. Robert gave the 2001 Acton Lecture Dangerous Protections: How some ways of protecting the freedom of religion may actually diminish religious freedom and was awarded the Alan McGregor Fellowship at Consilium in 2010. Robert has been extensively involved in the areas of religious freedom and public policy.
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In this new special episode of 'Liberalism in Question,' Robert Forsyth and his guest Jason Riley, a member of The Wall Street Journal's editorial board and distinguished conservative commentator, delve into the dynamics of liberalism, the Trump presidency, and the African-American legacy in the United States. 'Liberalism in Question' offers rich perspectives on crucial issues, encouraging reflection and discussion. Don't miss this stimulating conversation. Subscribe and join us for an in-depth exploration of political and social affairs.
LiberalismInQuestion #CIS #TrumpPresidency
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What is "Post Liberalism"?
Do you have to be a Christian to understand it? Can the free market give us ethics? What happens when individual rights class with collect rights?Do collectives like churches, schools and other institutions even have rights? Join Dr. Joel Harrison, an expert in constitutional law and religious freedom, and CIS's Robert Forsyth, for an in depth discussion of these questions and more.
Dr. Joel Harrison, an expert in constitutional and religious law, senior lecturer in law at Macquarie University and Sydney University, is a recognised specialist in constitutionalism and religious freedom. Robert Forsyth, an eminent scholar in religious freedom and public policy, has held distinguished positions in academia. He is known for his expertise in the intersection of religious liberty and public affairs In each episode, delve into the intricate realm of modern politics with enlightening debates and unique insights. 'Liberalism in Question' offers you a captivating journey into the issues shaping our society
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Mr. Nicholas Sampson, the eighth headmaster of Cranbrook School, has been dedicated to preserving the school's values and forging a vision for the future since the outset of his tenure. He emphasises the uniqueness of each headmaster's role in maintaining Cranbrook's diverse ethos.
Sampson's educational journey, from attending a selective school to studying English literature at Cambridge University, instilled in him a deep appreciation for reading and learning through conversation.
After briefly venturing into the public service, he discovered his passion for teaching and embarked on a fulfilling career in education. Sampson's leadership extended to Geelong Grammar School and Marlborough College in Australia and the UK, where he introduced innovative educational initiatives and formed partnerships. Integrity and a commitment to civilised living have been central to his philosophy at Cranbrook, fostering renewal and development while staying true to the school's founding principles.
His innovative leadership is evident in the numerous advancements and events, including the school's centenary celebrations in 2018. Moreover, Sampson has a unique connection to Marlborough College, sharing ties with other headmasters and individuals associated with Cranbrook.
auspol
Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/MTdzzonBhPM?si=LUaCWJTk7xOSsETs
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In a wide ranging and nuanced discussion Rob Forsyth questions Duncan Ivison, Professor of Political Philosophy at the University of Sydney, on his claim that the granting of indigenous rights is compatible with liberalism rather than its repudiation. They agree that the constitutional Voice cannot be justified simply on terms of closing the gap and explore how and if this particular form of recognition could be justified in liberal democratic values.
CIS promotes free choice and individual liberty and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can prosper. Follow CIS on our Socials.
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Should Michael Jordan mow his own lawn?
What is the role of the Reserve Bank?
Is liberalism "right-wing"? Robert Forsyth interviews CIS Chief Economist, Peter Tulip, a "classical liberal" thinker otherwise known as a "mainstream economist".
Throughout the conversation Peter distinguishes liberalism from conservatism and argues that is it usually better to have the government out of the way. He points out that good intentions have nothing to do with good outcomes (just ask North Korea), and laments that the general public does not think like economists.
auspol
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Patrick Parkinson is a Professor of Law at the University of Sydney and an internationally renowned expert on family law. He has played a major role in shaping family law in Australia. His proposal for the establishment of a national network of family relationship centers, made to the prime minister in 2004, became the centerpiece of the Australian government's family law reforms. He was also instrumental in reforming the child support system and has had extensive involvement in law reform issues concerning child protection. He was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his services to law, legal education, policy reform, and the community. Parkinson has published widely on family law and child protection, as well as other areas of law.
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In this special episode, Dr Scott Prasser and Prof John McMillan debate over the politicisation of the public sector.
Dr Scott Prasser is a Senior Fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies and a former senior advisor to federal cabinet ministers.
Prof John McMillan is an Emeritus Professor at the Australian National University. He has held former statutory positions of Commonwealth Ombudsman, Australian Information Commissioner, Integrity Commissioner for the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity (Acting) and NSW Ombudsman (Acting). He was Strategic Adviser to the Victorian Ombudsman for its inquiry into allegations of politicisation in the Victorian public sector.
Are you a student who believes in free markets, smaller government, and individual liberty? Perhaps you’ve studied the works of Freidrich Hayek, Adam Smith, or Jonathan Haidt. If this sounds like you, the CIS has an exciting opportunity for you to meet and network with other like-minded people from Australia and New Zealand. Click here to learn more.
Essays on the relevance of Smith after 300 years.
Adam Smith, the Scottish philosopher and economist, is one of the most significant figures to have emerged from what came to be known as ‘the Scottish Enlightenment’. His work across a number of disciplines changed the way people thought about economic theory and the field of what is now known as ‘political science’.
Smith was superbly educated in moral philosophy, ancient philosophy, jurisprudence and natural theology — at a time when science and religion were regarded as complementary rather than antagonistic.
In developing a moral philosophy that informed a deeper understanding of human interaction, Smith laid the foundation for a thorough exposition of the human practices of commerce and government. By encouraging use of our capacity for imagination, Smith argued that every member of a civil society needed to put themselves in the shoes of others and to see matters as others see them. For Smith, imagination — and the fostering of sympathy — was the key to our ability to engage in social and commercial exchange.
Adam Smith is one of the intellectual pillars of the Centre for Independent Studies. Informed by the breadth of Smith’s vision, the CIS has always been committed to investigating the nature of society and has argued that the exercise of civic responsibility by individual citizens is every bit as important to the health of society as the policies delivered by government.
This year marks the 300th anniversary of Smith’s birth, but his ideas and critical insights retain their importance today for contemporary Australia. In this Occasional Paper, Professor Paul Oslington and Dr David Hart, two distinguished Australian scholars, reflect both on the work of Smith and on the lessons he can teach us today.
Paul Oslington introduces Adam Smith and sets his work in the context of the intellectual world in which Smith formulated his ideas; he then looks at the thorny issue of rent seeking in modern Australia through the prism of Smith’s thought. At time when many are disillusioned with the processes of government, David Hart’s evaluation of Smith’s thought concerning the business of politics is especially timely.
I am delighted that Professor Oslington and Dr Hart have contributed these essays to mark the anniversary. In doing so, they allow the CIS to honour the vast intellectual contribution that Smith continues to make to the very fabric of contemporary Western society.
Peter Kurti, Director – Culture, Prosperity & Civil Society program.
Read the essays here.
Read the paper here.
A large amount of taxpayers’ money, state and federal, is expended on large scale infrastructure that is intended to play a crucial part in Australia’s growth and prosperity — although some of it is arguably wasteful or perhaps even pork-barrelling. And as the recent federal government Infrastructure Investment Review found in axing around 50 planned projects, some “do not demonstrate merit, lack any national strategic rationale and do not meet the Australian Government’s national investment priorities. In many cases these projects are also at high risk of further cost pressures and/or delays.”
But major infrastructure projects in Australia are often also more expensive than comparable projects in other countries, even after even after adjusting for differences in currencies and purchasing power.
While a 2014 Productivity Commission Inquiry report on public infrastructure argued that there were examples where Australia was competitive internationally, and that the systematic evidence was missing or incomplete, it noted that several commentators argued Australia performed worse than other countries. The PC, while arguing for substantial reform to our infrastructure processes, also noted there was “considerable uncertainty about many facets of construction costs. There are sometimes large and inexplicable variations in the construction costs for what appear to be similar activities, such as the cost per kilometre of rail projects.”
It is unlikely that much has improved since 2014, especially given the findings of the recent review and estimates that construction costs increased more than 25% over the five years to mid-2022.
There are several factors that contribute to the higher costs of major infrastructure in Australia. The available evidence on major infrastructure construction costs shows that there have been some recent significant increases in input costs. This particularly applies to labour and project management costs, plus contract design, complexity and poor management leading to risk offloading, cost over-runs and costly schedule over-runs. However, it is important to note that the cost of projects can also vary based on specific circumstances, project scope, and other factors.
As listed below, and explained in more detail in the subsequent sections related to costs, factors that can contribute to higher costs for Australian infrastructure projects include:
Labour and Industrial Relations: Australia generally has higher labour costs compared with many other countries. Wages, benefits, and labour regulations can contribute to higher project costs.
Lower Productivity: Productivity is hampered by the lack of a sufficiently educated, skilled and engaged workforce, an efficient work environment, innovation, efficient procurement models and ultimately trust between industry stakeholders.
Regulations and Standards: Australia has strict regulations and standards when it comes to construction, safety, and environmental considerations. Compliance with these regulations often adds to the complexity and cost of infrastructure projects.
Design Complexity: Infrastructure projects in Australia often involve complex engineering and design requirements. This can include considerations such as environmental impact, sustainability, and resilience, which may contribute to increased costs.
Project Management: Effective project management is crucial for successful infrastructure projects. Factors like inefficient planning, delays, and changes in scope can contribute to cost overruns.
Risk Offloading: Project cost is often inflated in Australia by a misguided focus on unloading risk in the early stages of a project’s development. This is often driven by the type of contract that is presented to the industry by lawyers, with the objective of minimising up-front costs and putting most of the risks on the contractors. This practice is not generally followed in other countries, which look at ‘whole of Life’ costs and benefits, resulting in a more cooperative and cheaper outcome.
Hosted by Karla Pincott, What You Need to Know About is the podcast that covers exactly that. Hear from CIS’ experts on the key points of their research, providing you with concise and insightful overviews of complex topics. In each episode, we break down intricate policy issues, economic trends, social challenges, and more, delivering the essential information you need to stay informed in today’s fast-paced world. Join us as we cut through the noise and dive straight into the heart of matters that shape our society. Whether you’re a policy enthusiast, a curious mind, or just someone looking to grasp the essentials without getting lost in the details, What You Need to Know About is your go-to source for bite-sized yet comprehensive insights.
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Bracket creep chips away at living standards, especially those of younger generations, a new Issue Analysis by Centre for Independent Studies outlines.
The paper’s authors, Matthew Taylor and Emilie Dye, point out that Australia’s younger workers have the most to lose from bracket creep because bracket creep is regressive and hits harder for those earlier in their careers and making less money.
Read the paper here: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/bracket-creep-hits-young-australians-hardest/
Hosted by Karla Pincott, What You Need to Know About is the podcast that covers exactly that. Hear from CIS’ experts on the key points of their research, providing you with concise and insightful overviews of complex topics. In each episode, we break down intricate policy issues, economic trends, social challenges, and more, delivering the essential information you need to stay informed in today’s fast-paced world. Join us as we cut through the noise and dive straight into the heart of matters that shape our society. Whether you’re a policy enthusiast, a curious mind, or just someone looking to grasp the essentials without getting lost in the details, What You Need to Know About is your go-to source for bite-sized yet comprehensive insights.
Increasingly there are calls for degrowth, not just to abandon the pursuit of economic growth, but to shrink economies. The call for degrowth comes from environmentalists, including activists in groups such as Extinction Rebellion, and some economists, particularly in the field of ecological economics. It is related to concerns about climate change, pollution, species extinction, and resource exhaustion. Economic growth is to blame, proponents say, and the proposed solution is degrowth, an aggressive contraction of economic activity that requires an acceptance of significantly lower living standards.
Listen as Gene Tunny and Karla Pincott discuss six things you need to know about degrowth.
There is growing evidence across the Anglosphere that Millennials and Generation Z are not showing the same propensity as earlier generations to vote centre-right as they age. Centre for Independent Studies research, drawing on data from the Australian Election Studies, suggests this is increasingly true in Australia.
Learn what you need to know about this issues with Karla Pincott and Matt Taylor.
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IntroductionIn Australia, and in education settings across the world, student behaviour and levels of student engagement are significant issues for teachers, school leaders, system administrators and the public. Student behaviour affects community perception, teacher efficacy and wellbeing, and the academic achievement of all students. When students are engaged, they learn more.
This paper uses the current attention on student disruptive behaviour in Australian classrooms to offer policy makers, and educational jurisdiction and school leaders an insight into how to shift the paradigm, policy and practice towards student behaviour in Australian schools.
The solution to disruptive behaviour in Australian classrooms will be achieved if three key ideas gain mainstream recognition. These will be discussed in full later in the paper, but they are:
- Managing student behaviour is about learning. Learning is the result of good management. To maximise learning in the classroom, it is necessary to teach the students how to behave.
- Behaviour needs to be taught explicitly to all students. Instruction in behaviour is central to effective classroom management. The teaching of behaviour needs to be planned, resourced and rehearsed just like any academic content.
- Behaviour as a curriculum needs to be the norm across Australian schools. If behaviour is incorporated in the national curriculum, it would lift standards of behaviour and learning productivity in classrooms. The teaching of behaviour to students would also to help lessen the disadvantage gap in Australian schools.
Read the paper at www.cis.org.au
Hosted by Karla Pincott, What You Need to Know About is the podcast that covers exactly that. Hear from CIS' experts on the key points of their research, providing you with concise and insightful overviews of complex topics. In each episode, we break down intricate policy issues, economic trends, social challenges, and more, delivering the essential information you need to stay informed in today's fast-paced world.
Join us as we cut through the noise and dive straight into the heart of matters that shape our society. Whether you're a policy enthusiast, a curious mind, or just someone looking to grasp the essentials without getting lost in the details, What You Need to Know About is your go-to source for bite-sized yet comprehensive insights.
Karla Pincott
Karla Pincott is the Director of Communications at the Centre for Independent Studies, and the Managing Editor at BusinessWoman Media.
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In a wide ranging and nuanced discussion Rob Forsyth questions Duncan Ivison, Professor of Political Philosophy at the University of Sydney, on his claim that the granting of indigenous rights is compatible with liberalism rather than its repudiation. They agree that the constitutional Voice cannot be justified simply on terms of closing the gap and explore how and if this particular form of recognition could be justified in liberal democratic values.
https://linktr.ee/centreforindependentstudies
Published on 3rd of September 2023.
Increasingly there are calls for de-growth, not just to abandon the pursuit of economic growth, but to shrink economies. The call for de-growth comes from environmentalists, including activists in groups such as Extinction Rebellion, and some economists, particularly in the field of ecological economics. It is related to concerns about climate change, pollution, species extinction, and resource exhaustion. Economic growth is to blame, proponents say, and the proposed solution is de-growth, an aggressive contraction of economic activity that requires an acceptance of significantly lower living standards.
The de-growth movement is not just a fringe movement. It is gaining attention worldwide, has international conferences dedicated to it, and tenured academics are supporting or contemplating de-growth. For example, the University of Sydney’s Professor Manfred Lenzen has modelled de-growth as a climate change mitigation strategy, and, along with co-author Lorenz T. Keyßer has concluded “de-growth pathways should be thoroughly considered.” Furthermore, books preaching de-growth are gaining widespread attention. The Financial Times’ Martin Wolf selected Jason Hickel’s Less is More: How Degrowth Will Save the World as one of the newspaper’s “Best Books of 2020: Economics” — although Wolf at least observed “this programme is neither a plausible nor an effective way to respond to the imminent climate crisis.” More recently, in August 2023, the New York Times profiled so-called ‘de-growth communism’ proponent Kohei Saito, a University of Tokyo philosophy professor and author of Capital in the Anthropocene.
While its origins may have been altruistic, its impact on society would be devastating. It would require restrictions on personal freedoms, as well as the aforementioned lower living standards. These could only be enforced by an authoritarian government — a serious curtailment of the principles of capitalism, free markets, and a liberal democracy.
This paper first reviews the arguments for de-growth and then dissects them, addressing several myths which appear to drive this call. The paper then considers what would likely happen if a de-growth agenda were adopted. Finally, the paper considers how policy advisers and policy makers should think about economic growth and whether the calls for de-growth should be heeded.
Hosted by Karla Pincott, What You Need to Know About is the podcast that covers exactly that. Hear from CIS' experts on the key points of their research, providing you with concise and insightful overviews of complex topics. In each episode, we break down intricate policy issues, economic trends, social challenges, and more, delivering the essential information you need to stay informed in today's fast-paced world.
Join us as we cut through the noise and dive straight into the heart of matters that shape our society. Whether you're a policy enthusiast, a curious mind, or just someone looking to grasp the essentials without getting lost in the details, What You Need to Know About is your go-to source for bite-sized yet comprehensive insights.
Karla Pincott
Karla Pincott is the Director of Communications at the Centre for Independent Studies, and the Managing Editor at BusinessWoman Media.
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Below is an excerpt fromScott Prasser paper, which can be readhere. Types of politicisation in government1. Making senior appointments based on partisanship, personal relationships, loyalty; 2. Political patronage — rewarding personal and political loyalty in appointments to government advisory boards and committees; 3. Allocating public finds for political advantage; 4. Public servants’ direct political involvement in campaigning and party activity; 5. Appointments of those politically aligned but based on merit selection criteria (“meritorious mates”); 6. Appointments on grounds of equity or ‘representativeness’ in addition to/or even instead of narrow position ‘merit’ criteria; 7. Public servants serving in ‘political’ roles in developing policy (as distinct from sharing work with ministers); 8. Development of a ‘responsive’ public service through contractual employment (giving ministers what they want as distinct from what they need); 9. Expansion of ministerial roles and offices into more and more areas of administration through expansion of ministers’ offices and powers to oversee and supplant public service functions (giving directions, preparation of cabinet submissions, co-ordination).
What you are about to hear is a CIS research paper. If you’re somebody who loves audiobooks, you can find all our research papers on audible, spotify, apple and every other podcasting app by clicking here: https://cisresearch.podbean.com/
Authority, Expertise And Democracy. Should those who know best rule the rest of us? By Peter Kurti. Published on July 27, 2023.
Read the paper here: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/authority-expertise-and-democracy-should-we-trust-the-experts/
For all references and graphs, please download the publication at the centre for independent studies website where you can also become a member of the CIS. You’ll be part of Australia’s growing movement towards free markets, individual liberty, cultural freedom, and a limited government. Join today at www.cis.org.au/membership.
On Heeding Expert Advice. During the Covid-19 pandemic, state and territory leaders afforded great responsibility for decisions about managing both the impact of the virus and the expectations of a fearful public to unelected public health experts. Severe restrictions imposed on movement and association at the behest of these experts — Chief Medical Officers — lasted for many months.
The exceptional circumstances of the pandemic hardly formed part of the regular routine of government. Indeed, so exceptional was the pandemic that dependence on advisors with medical and public health expertise might well have been unavoidable if government was to be effective.
Faced with the need to assuage public fears, there was also a need for the public to hear what medical experts made of the pandemic and the dangers it posed. Most Australians readily complied with state-imposed edicts, apparently confident that governments were acting only in the best interests of citizens.
However, many expressed concern that as the pandemic ran its course, political leaders appeared to be doing one of two things. Either they followed the advice of medical experts blindly and without regard to the social, economic and community impact of the imposed measures; or they ignored expert medical advice because of concerns about its likely impact would fuel worries that they were not doing enough to keep citizens ‘safe’.
These concerns only compounded as, during the course of the pandemic, medical experts began to fall out with one another, thereby dissolving any notion of universal medical consensus about how best to manage contagion. As the pandemic ran its course, populations bowed to the dictates of chief medical officers. The will and wishes of the demos were subordinated to the opinions and directions of the knowledgeable few.
While the Covid-19 pandemic provides a rare, if egregious, example, of their doing so, the ceding by elected representatives of decision-making to health bureaucrats is just one example of the problem that Adrian Pabst, a political scientist, has described as double delegation — “whereby representatives elected by citizens delegate power to unelected officials who are part of a professional political class.”
Read the whole paper here: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/authority-expertise-and-democracy-should-we-trust-the-experts/
We need to relax zoning restrictions to allow more housing. At a society level, this requires more acceptance of higher density and less opposition to new development. We need to put more weight on the interests of renters and future home buyers and less weight on the interests of nearby residents. This rebalancing will shift the incentives for elected governments to act.
Societal pressure over the issue of housing affordability is growing, but needs to be encouraged. Were the Victorian government inclined to do something to improve housing affordability, there are several measures it could take.
One increasingly popular and effective approach is for the state government to set conditions that apply across local plans. For example, NSW removed limits on the construction of granny flats. New Zealand’s ‘Medium Density Residential Standard’ requires large cities to permit up to three storeys and three dwellings on all existing residential parcels of land. California’s AB 2011 allowed medium-density residential development to proceed by right in commercial zones. American research lists dozens of similar reforms.
Minimum standards can prevent the worst restrictions. However, their uniformity is a limitation: different levels and forms of density are appropriate in different areas.
Granny flats are not efficient in the inner suburbs, while high-rises are not efficient on the outskirts. In practice, blanket over-rides such as Auckland’s Unitary Plan have tended to increase density most on the outskirts; whereas Melbourne arguably most needs development in inner suburbs.
A more flexible approach is for the state government to set and enforce construction targets for local councils, allowing each council to decide how the target should be met. Councils could choose a small number of high-density developments or a larger number of medium density developments.
Either choice improves housing affordability. The important thing is that councils need to allow more housing. The quantity should be decided centrally; the type can be decentralised. An approach like this is followed in NSW and many foreign jurisdictions, including England, California and some Canadian provinces. However, most of those targets are too low and inadequately enforced.
The rationale for the state government over-riding local councils is that the councils are biased against development. They represent nearby residents, not the direct beneficiaries — the newcomers moving into the area – nor the indirect beneficiaries, the renters and future home buyers who pay lower housing costs. Local governments will act like a cartel, restricting supply and driving up the price of housing. That benefits local property owners, but this is more than outweighed by the harm done to potential residents from outside the area and future generations.
- Peter Tulip
Read the rest of the paper here:
https://www.cis.org.au/publication/rental-and-housing-affordability-submission-to-the-victorian-legislative-councils-legal-and-social-issues-committee/
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During the Covid-19 pandemic, state and territory leaders afforded great responsibility for decisions about managing both the impact of the virus and the expectations of a fearful public to unelected public health experts. Severe restrictions imposed on movement and association at the behest of these experts — Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) — lasted for many months.
The exceptional circumstances of the pandemic hardly formed part of the regular routine of government. Indeed, so exceptional was the pandemic that dependence on advisors with medical and public health expertise might well have been unavoidable if government was to be effective.
Faced with the need to assuage public fears, there was also a need for the public to hear what medical experts made of the pandemic and the dangers it posed. Most Australians readily complied with state-imposed edicts, apparently confident that governments were acting only in the best interests of citizens.
However, many expressed concern that as the pandemic ran its course, political leaders appeared to be doing one of two things. Either they followed the advice of medical experts blindly and without regard to the social, economic and community impact of the imposed measures; or they ignored expert medical advice because of concerns about its likely impact would fuel worries that they were not doing enough to keep citizens ‘safe’.[1]
These concerns only compounded as, during the course of the pandemic, medical experts began to fall out with one another, thereby dissolving any notion of universal medical consensus about how best to manage contagion.[2] As the pandemic ran its course, populations bowed to the dictates of chief medical officers. The will and wishes of the demos were subordinated to the opinions and directions of the knowledgeable few.
While the Covid-19 pandemic provides a rare, if egregious, example, of their doing so, the ceding by elected representatives of decision-making to health bureaucrats is just one example of the problem that Adrian Pabst, a political scientist, has described as double delegation — “whereby representatives elected by citizens delegate power to unelected officials who are part of a professional political class.”
Read the rest of the paper here: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/authority-expertise-and-democracy-should-we-trust-the-experts/
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At the time of recording, the details of the proposal are still not known in full. However, enough was revealed at the time of the government’s original March 1 announcement and in subsequent elaboration, that we are able to sketch an outline of the new tax.
The proposal is that beginning with fiscal year 2025-26, every individual’s total superannuation balance aggregated across as many super fund interests as they may have will be tested against a $3 million threshold.
If the government perseveres with this, the proposal needs substantial modification to remove its more draconian features.
Read our research here: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/superannuation-tax-why-the-total-balance-threshold-should-be-shelved/
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/ Follow CIS on Socials Twitter - https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndependentStudies/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/
In this TARGET 30 Research Report CIS modelling shows that reforming the pension could deliver income gains of more than $5,900 a year to almost 98% of pensioners. These reforms would also reduce the cost of the pension by $14.5 billion a year.
“With four out of every five retirees on the pension, and pensioners with over a million dollars in assets getting the same payment as those with almost nothing, the pension clearly needs reform,” says Simon Cowan, research fellow and co-author of the report,The Age Old Problem of Old Age: Fixing the Pension.
Read more here: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/the-age-old-problem-of-old-age-fixing-the-pension-2/
Join our telegram channel here: https://t.me/centreforindependentstudies
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Why we must learn lessons about how we learn? CIS welcomed world-leading education researcher, cognitive psychologist and Ask a Cognitive Scientist columnist Dan Willingham to discuss how we learn and why this matters. While researchers have learned vastly more about how we learn, this isn’t always reflected in teaching within schools or in how students study. Many practices for teaching and self-study are based on outdated theories, misconceptions, neuro-myths, anecdotes, and trial-and-error. But increasingly scientifically-informed practice can optimize teaching and study time – ultimately helping students to be more effective, efficient, and engaged learners. What are the key lessons from how we learn? How should cognitive science inform teaching and learning practice? Can we train our brains to be better learners? Why do so many teaching and learning fads not work in practice? Why are misconceptions about learning so persistent and hard to shake? Daniel T. Willingham is Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia, with expertise in cognitive psychology and neuroscience as it applies to school education. He is author of the Ask a Cognitive Scientist column of the American Educator journal, as well as several books, including Why Don't Students Like School?, When Can You Trust the Experts?, and Outsmart Your Brain: Why Learning is Hard and How You Can Make It Easy. This discussion is convened by CIS program director in education policy, Glenn Fahey. Glenn is co-author of the report, Failing to teach the teacher: An analysis of mathematics Initial Teacher Education (CIS, 2021).
On April 4, CIS hosted and broadcasted an Oxford-style debate on the motion “The Voice to Parliament is needed to address Indigenous matters.”This year Australia will hold a referendum on whether to change the constitution and ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders’ views are better represented in Parliament. Is the Voice about giving Indigenous Australians a right to express their views on policy through representatives elected by their communities? Or would the Voice provide cover for an activist government to legislate radical policy with no genuine democratic consent?On the affirmative side were Australia’s first Indigenous Senior Counsel, Anthony McAvoy, and constitutional lawyer Shireen Morris. Against the proposition were Northern Territory Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and head of CIS Indigenous Forum Nyunggai Warren Mundine.Referendum question: The question to be put to the Australian people at the 2023 referendum will be: “A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration?”Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price is a Country Liberal Senator for The Northern Territory and former Deputy-Mayor of Alice Springs.Dr Shireen Morris is a constitutional lawyer and teaches constitutional law, constitutional reform and Indigenous constitutional recognition at Macquarie University. She is co-author of the book A Rightful Place: A Road Map to Recognition (Black Inc.).Nyunggai Warren Mundine is director of the Indigenous Forum at CIS. He is an author of several books including Warren Mundine in Black and White: Race, Politics and Changing Australia (Pantera Press) and editor of Beyond Belief – Rethinking the Voice to Parliament (Connor Court).Anthony McAvoy is Australia’s first Indigenous Senior Counsel and between 2011 and 2013, Tony was an Acting Part-Time Commissioner of the NSW Land and Environment Court. He was also Acting Northern Territory Treaty Commissioner from the period of Dec 2021 to June 2022.
Andrew Neil joins Tom Switzer for a conversation about political and public-policy subjects — from British politics and the travails of the Royal family to the energy transition and the changing media industry to the Ukraine crisis and the rise of China.Andrew Neil is one of the world’s most prominent print and broadcast journalists, having been a long-time editor of the Sunday Times and chief political interviewer on the BBC. He is chairman of Press Holdings Media Group, which publishes The Spectator and Spectator Australia magazines.
Salvatore Babones returns to discuss the new CIS Intergenerational research program with Program Director Matt Taylor.Despite the 30-year economic boom that preceded the Covid pandemic, there is growing evidence that younger Australians have not shared in the benefits to the same extent as generations before them. These younger generations will bear the brunt of paying back the $617 billion of government debt incurred in the wake of the government response to Covid, debt that is set to peak at an eyewatering $1.2 trillion in 2025-26. As the cost of financing government debt and expenditures arising from an ageing Australia climb to historic levels, there will be fewer and fewer working age Australians per retiree. Since younger Australian will face far greater fiscal challenges compared to earlier generations, it is imperative that the Australian electorate — especially younger voters — make informed decisions at the ballot box. The CIS Intergeneration program will focus on policy reform that will ensure an equitable distribution of the burden of budget repair. Matt and Salvatore discuss the research the Intergenerational program will undertake, the challenges facing younger Australians and the extent of intergenerational income mobility in Australia.
Rob chats to Lorraine Finlay, Human Rights Commissioner with the Australian Human Rights Commission, about the importance and nature of human rights. A convinced believer is liberalism, Lorraine understands human rights as absolutely important which give is our humanity. She is also aware that they are not inevitable. Nor do they come from government but are only expressed through government.
Guest host Glenn Fahey returns to discuss challenges facing new immigrants to Australia with Melissa Monteiro, CEO of the Community Migrant Resource Centre.
As a community practitioner, Melissa has worked to ensure peoples from worn-torn nations are able to find community and start life new, particularly those immigrants from less-developed countries who settle in Western Sydney.
In a report from 2016 from the Forum on the Settlement of Syrian and Iraqi Refugees, it showed that over 30 agencies representing government, local services, schools, religious and civil society organisations were brought together to focus on the key settlement issues that will confront this particular cohort of Syrian and Iraqi humanitarian entrants. Focusing on areas such as education, employment training, health and short- and long-term housing. It takes an incredible amount of community resources manpower to set up resettlements for newly arriving migrants.
Are we seeing a greater influx of migrants then previously before? What is the most efficient and effective way to resettle humanitarian migrant entrants? What resources are available for those seeking asylum in Australia? Are local communities having to pick the slack for Government failures on immigration?
Guest host Simon Cowan reenters the budget bunker to discuss the second federal budget in 2022 with Australian Financial Review Economics editor in Parliament House, Canberra John Kehoe. Simon and John break down the budget and cover what the mainstream media has missed.
It's Labor's turn. After a victory in the Federal Election in part due to the former Liberal Government's mishandling of the economy, the new Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers is set to deliver his 'wellness' budget. Are we set for more big government spending? Can Labor turn around Australia's deficit woes? Will Labor keep their promise of additional funding to health and defence?
Salvatore Babones returns to discuss the rise of nationalism amongst China's youth with Yun Jiang, inaugural China Matters Fellow at the Australian Institute of International Affairs.
China’s youths have become more nationalistic, especially compared to the previous generation. Many outside China attribute the increasing nationalism to the Communist Party of China (CPC)’s patriotic education campaign as well as its control of information in China.
According to Yun Jiang, it would be wrong to see this rising nationalism as purely a result of brainwashing, instead, that is just one of many factors. The current generation of middle-class millennials have grown up during an era in which China has become more prosperous and powerful. Therefore, for them, especially those living in big cities of Shanghai or Shenzhen, they feel greater pride in China’s achievements.
Does the growing nationalism bolster Xi Jinping's power? What does this mean for the future of China's Communist political system? Are younger Chinese men and women willing to embrace western ideals?
Katharine is a leading figure in education practice and policy and founder as well as principal of London's Michaela Community School.
It’s no secret that Australian schools’ performance has been in decline for many years. That’s not for a lack of funding, nor a lack of commitment from countless dedicated educators. But more can be done to advance the learning of all students, no matter their background.
It’s a culture of high expectations, consistently well-managed classes, high behavioural standards, and commitment to explicit teaching that are the not-so-secret sauce behind educational success. There is no better example of this in the world than the London-based, Michaela Community School.
Despite serving mostly disadvantaged students, they’ve delivered exceptional outcomes. More than half of their school leavers have achieved the equivalent of an A grade — more than 2.5 times better than the national average — helping to earn Michaela international praise.
To celebrate 100 Episodes of On Liberty we flip the script and CIS executive director Tom Switzer interviews regular On Liberty host Salvatore Babones.
Over 100 episodes, Salvatore has interviewed a wide range of guests on an incredible range of topics. We hear from Salvatore on what he has learnt about Classical Liberalism and political orthodoxy in Australia and around the world from his many interviews. As well as how On Liberty has shaped Salvatore's views, his new position as Director of China and Free Societies at CIS and what's next for the international affairs portfolio at CIS.
We welcome Red Union Managing Director, Jack McGuire. Jack argues there are not enough options available to workers to seek representation – ultimately restricting freedom of association. Instead, workers have little choice but to engage with legacy monopoly unions – regardless of whether or not they share the union’s political motivations or policy advocacy.
The only way to ensure constructive representation of members, according to Jack, is to have professional associations governed by practicing teachers and nurses, not professional union officials.
Under the current anti-competitive settings, teachers and nurses are little more than cash cows for political purposes. But the interests of members must come before politics.
Without more dynamic representation, workers will continue to face inflexible and impractical working conditions. The status quo entrenches big unions and big business and marginalizes small business and workers that require flexibility.
Are monopoly unions failing to advance the interests and status of key members, like teachers and nurses? Why do traditional unions oppose competition? Why is membership demand so high for alternatives to traditional unions?
We welcomed Peter Gregory, author of the CIS paper The Territory Gap: Comparing Australia's remote Indigenous communities.
The absolute and relative deprivation experienced by Indigenous people in remote and very remote Australia is well known. However, Indigenous people in remote areas are often lumped together as a single national category. There is little understanding of how the different states and territories perform in terms of the economic wellbeing of Indigenous people in remote and very remote areas.
The major finding of this research is that the Northern Territory has the worst economic outcomes for Indigenous people in remote or very remote locations of any state or territory in Australia by some margin, while South Australia has the best.
Why are remote Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory struggling? What is being done to help remote communities to ensure they thrive? Why are seeing the gaps in economic wellbeing across remote communities?
A fierce reformer for liberalism, Ruth Richardson is asked whether the ship of reforming liberalism has sailed in the light of the many setbacks it has experienced in the last decades. They discuss how the restoration liberalism to its dynamic rightful place will depend on three things, the ideas of freedom, the institutions that buttress that freedom, and the individuals who champion that freedom—all of which have been missing of late.
We welcomed Mark Latham, Member of the NSW Legislative Council and Chair of the NSW Parliament’s Education Committee.
There are important challenges facing teachers across Australia, resulting in significant attention from federal and state policymakers.
Mark argues that teacher shortages are a serious problem impacting on the learning of children in very real ways – resulting in merged classes, out-of-field teaching, and the scrapping of some school support programs.
He points to results of a recent survey of NSW teachers showing many are burnt out, overworked, and dissatisfied – leaving many to consider leaving the profession. The solution to address teacher shortages – according to the survey – is to reduce administrative burden, increase pay, and improve working conditions.
Where are our teacher shortages? How can teacher supply challenges be resolved? Are we doing enough to build up and sustain an effective teacher workforce?
We welcomed Mark Latham, Member of the NSW Legislative Council and Chair of the NSW Parliament’s Education Committee.
There are important challenges facing teachers across Australia, resulting in significant attention from federal and state policymakers.
Mark argues that teacher shortages are a serious problem impacting on the learning of children in very real ways – resulting in merged classes, out-of-field teaching, and the scrapping of some school support programs.
He points to results of a recent survey of NSW teachers showing many are burnt out, overworked, and dissatisfied – leaving many to consider leaving the profession. The solution to address teacher shortages – according to the survey – is to reduce administrative burden, increase pay, and improve working conditions.
Where are our teacher shortages? How can teacher supply challenges be resolved? Are we doing enough to build up and sustain an effective teacher workforce?
On the show this week, Salvatore Babones returns to discuss the future of housing and rental prices with Eliza Owen of CoreLogic.
Many Australian homeowners and renters will be nervously waiting to see what effects the RBA's interest rate increases will have on their home loans and rent payments. While increases to the cash rate may help ease house price pressures, and stem inflation, many first home buyers know this represents an increase to their monthly repayments.
According to Eliza Owen's research these rate hikes have slowed the property market as property values in Sydney are down almost 5% since mid-February’s peak. In fact, Owen reports that monthly sales volumes across Australia have generally been trending lower since November 2021."
We welcome Simon Breheny, Public Policy Manager at Philip Morris International and former Policy Director at the Institute of Public Affairs.
Simon argues that it’s more humane, less costly, and more effective to focus on reducing harm caused from consumption of lifestyle products, like tobacco and drugs, rather than only seeking to prevent use entirely.
Choking supply of potentially harmful drugs doesn’t prevent access to, or use of, drugs. But it can unnecessarily result in riskier conditions for users.
The goal should be to reduce potential harm, not prevent drug use itself. Harm reduction is not pro- or anti-drug use, but it is pro-user – meaning that it directs unconditional support to individuals without judgment or persecution.
Has the ‘war on drugs’ failed? Are we too heavy-handed in regulating use of drugs? How can policymakers reduce harm for users? ______________________________________________________________________________________________ CIS promotes free choice and individual liberty and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can prosper. Follow CIS on our Socials;
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Glenn Fahey speaks with Professor Pamela Snow to discuss the correlation between poor literacy education and later disadvantage in life. Professor Snow has undertaken extensive research into how people end up in the youth justice, out-of-home care systems and factors leading to non-participation in mainstream education.
Currently, 30-40% of students aren’t meeting minimum literacy benchmarks, the task is to ensure every teacher in every classroom in the country teaching K-2 has access to the best knowledge and practice on how to teach literacy. Disadvantaged young people who don’t get good early literacy opportunities fall out early from mainstream education because they are not coping. Her research uncovered alarmingly high levels of unidentified oral language difficulties and high rates of very low literacy in these prisons and out-of-home.
Guest host Tom Switzer speaks to journalist Chris Uhlmann on the likelihood of a clean energy transition and the increasing energy crisis affecting not only Australia but the world. Have politicians been too focused reaching "energy goals" that they have neglected to think about the short term? Can Australia realistically move away from coal and gas-powered energy sources in a cost-effective manner? Is all this energy transition talk just spin by politicians to get elected?
In August 2016 Premier Daniel Andrews trumped a permanent ban on the exploration and development of all onshore unconventional gas. Now, with the energy crisis biting, Andrews has demanded gas from “our ground” be delivered cheaply to his state. As Chris recently wrote in The Sydney Morning Herald "The energy transition is inevitable, but it will be a lot harder than politicians, activists, service sector chief executives and billionaire energy hobbyists would have you believe. In trying to solve the current crisis, the political class should keep one thing in mind, no one ever won an election by promising to make voters colder, poorer and hungrier".
We speak to Emma Hurst MLC, member of the NSW Upper House, on what role the government should play in animal welfare. Australia has the fourth fastest growing vegan market in the world and plant-based vegan options have become common and widely available in many of our favourite restaurants. With the increased ethical implications of sustainable and responsible farming, does it make sense for people to turn to these new options? Emma argues that better outcomes for animals, as well as farmers are not mutually exclusive.
Increasingly over the last few years we've seen animal welfare protests block off major streets, confront patrons in restaurants and trespasses onto farms to create disruptions. But do these types of protests help or hinder the cause for animal welfare and ethical farming? Can we realistically shift our dairy and meat-based farming to plant-based farming alternatives and remain viable?
President of the NSW Young Liberals, Deyi Wu joined Salvatore Babones to discuss whether our younger generations have lost interest in politics, and if there is a bright future for either party. The recent federal election has shown us that independent grassroots campaigns threaten both major parties and could permanently change establishment politics.
Issues, such as housing affordability, inflation, interest rates and climate are important to younger voters, but have the major parties lost touch with them? Can our politicians deliver good policy outcomes over the long term? After all, the future generations will have to live with the consequences of the actions (or inaction) of current governments at all levels.
Deyi was elected president on the Young Liberals in March 2021 and is the first woman of Asian descent, and only the fifth ever woman to lead the organisation after Catherine Cusack, Marise Payne, Gladys Berejiklian and Natasha Maclaren-Jones. Deyi has written for The Financial Review and has a combined five years' experience working in federal and state politics.
This week we speak to Janet Albrechtsen, columnist for The Australian to discuss the 2022 federal election results. Last weekend's election was not so much a big Labor victory, but a massive backlash against the Liberals, especially in Western Australia and metropolitan inner-urban electorates across the nation. The 2022 federal election has not only brought about a change of government but has been one of the most interesting results in Australia's political history.
In the days, weeks, and years ahead PM Albanese will need to navigate through a very different parliament. Labor’s new minority/majority government faces daunting challenges including climate policy, inflation, rising interest rates, as well as the China threat, and intensifying geopolitical challenges. Will Labor be pushed further by Greens and Independents? Have these results shown that Australia is fed up with our major parties? Why was there such a significant swing against both major parties?
Pacific countries often say they do not want to be drawn into geopolitics. All have adopted a “friends to all and enemies to none” foreign policy. However, the proposed security agreement between China and the Solomon Islands shows that geopolitics is well and truly thriving.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has said the Solomon Islands, a nation of about 700,000 people, was not taking sides. But the agreement has an immediate effect on every country in the region and it is very much connected, at least on the Chinese side, to geostrategic ambitions.
In Australia, security analysts watched the story unfold with a mixture of dread because of the potential blow to Canberra’s strategic interests, and vindication that years of assessments about China’s military intent in the Pacific had seemingly been confirmed overnight. In the political arena, accusations came thick and fast that the federal government had “dropped the ball” in the Pacific and that diplomacy in the region had failed.
This week's guest Mihai Sora joins us to discuss China's expending presence in the pacific and what effect it has on Australia. From trade, to new security measures and aid given to the Solomon Islands.
Mihai Sora is a Research Fellow in the Pacific Islands Program and Project Director of the Aus-PNG Network. Mihai has more than a decade’s experience as an Australian diplomat with postings to Solomon Islands and Indonesia, and was a Pacific Analyst at the Office of National Assessments.
Cancel culture, virtue signaling, pronouns in bios—"wokeness" is often compared to a virus, and one that is spreading with no signs of an emerging herd immunity.
This week's guest Bob Catley was there at the creation, teaching political science at universities in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s before entering Parliament for Labor in 1990. Catley argues that today's woke thinking is nothing new, but is the heir to 1960s radical activism. And he owns up to having unleashed it on Australia.
Join us as we revisit the major battlefields of the culture wars with a culture warrior who has fought on both sides.
Prof Bob Catley earned his PhD from the Australian National University and has held academic positions at the Universities of Adelaide, Delaware, Otago, the Northern Territory, and the Sunshine Coast. He was the federal Member for Adelaide from 1990-93. An expert on US foreign policy, he is also the author of The (Strange, Recent But Understandable) Triumph of Liberalism in Australia (2005, Macleay Press).
On the show this week, we welcome Executive Director of the Samuel Griffith Society, Xavier Boffa, as he recaps developments in Australia’s constitutional arrangements.
State border closures and mandates have tested the limits of the federation in responding to the pandemic. International sports stars have been at odds with federal-state divides. Political figures have been pronounced guilty by courts of public opinion rather than the rule of law. What are we to make of Australia’s many constitutional developments of recent years? Is Australia’s constitution and federation safeguarded? What are the risks and benefits of a national integrity commission?
Writing at The Spectator, Xavier argues that we mustn’t let the law be used as a political weapon. He warns this would only further debase public discourse and erode our democratic and constitutional foundations.
Xavier convenes the annual conference of the Samuel Griffith Society and coordinates its activities to promote discussion of constitutional matters. He is former national president of the Australian Liberal Students’ Federation and former advisor to the Victorian Shadow Attorney-General.
Check out Xavier's work and more about Samuel Griffith Society here: https://www.samuelgriffith.org/
Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping will soon be appointed to a third term as President of China. A third term only made possible by his change to China's constitution, back in 2018, to eliminate term limits. Is this determination to retain the formal reins of power a sign of strength, or a sign of weakness? We talk to Chinese politics expert Professor Elizabeth Larus of Mary Washington University about the state of play in China's Politburo.
We'll be asking Professor Larus about Xi's agenda and the legacy he is creating for China's future. And whether China's draconian coronavirus lockdowns are really only about public health, or perhaps have a political purpose as well? Professor Larus has close connections in Taiwan, and will offer insights into its defence against a potential Chinese invasion.
This week On Liberty talks to Prof James Allan of the University of Queensland. In his latest column for Australian Spectator, James explains why the acolytes of irrationality so often turn to accusations of 'hate speech'. As opposing hate is "one of the few remaining first principles that virtually all of us sort of accept". That's why so many activists "throw around the charge of hate with gay abandon".
We'll be asking James about hate, humour, the definition of 'gender', and the lack of viewpoint diversity on university campuses and its implications for teaching and research. We will be taking your questions about cancel culture, the weaponisation of hate, and the future of education, so we hope you can tune in.
Prof James Allan is the Garrick Professor in Law at the University of Queensland and a weekly columnist for Australian Spectator magazine. His academic research centres on legal philosophy and constitutional law, with a particular focus on bills of rights. He is author of the soon to be released book The Age of Foolishness: A Doubter’s Guide to Constitutionalism in a Modern Democracy (2022, Academica Press).
We welcome Murdoch University mathematician Prof Gerd Schröder-Turk, a specialist in nano-geometry and member of the university's board of directors, the Murdoch University Senate. In 2019, Gerd appeared as a key interviewee on the ABC Four Corners investigation "Cash Cows", speaking out about his university's over-reliance on international students. The university's ensuing attempt to remove him from Senate landed them in the Federal Court.
We'll be asking Gerd who really runs Australia's universities: their Senates or their Vice Chancellors? How are university Senates even appointed in the first place, and how should they be? Is there any effective government oversight? How much say should ordinary academics have in deciding how universities should be governed? And we can't resist asking him a question or two about the nano-geometry of advanced materials.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has caused huge amounts of human suffering and has disturbed any complacency about the stability of the ‘international rules-based order’. This has implications not only for Russia’s immediate neighbours and Western European countries. It also has implications for countries such as Israel with whom Russia has had a significant relationship.
What impact is the war in Ukraine likely to have on Israel security strategy, a country which also faces instability in its region – most notably from Iran? What are the impacts on Jewish Ukrainians who have been confronted with devastation and displacement in their homeland?
To the eternal shame of Vladimir Putin and his Kremlin cronies, Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine has opened a new era in global politics. As a consequence, it has seriously undermined the post-Cold War international system. What can the West do about it beyond fulminating on the sidelines?
Russia has developed an outsized ability to exercise considerable influence abroad. And despite having an economy smaller than Italy’s, Russia has managed to spread its tentacles around the world. The strategy is reminiscent of that pursued by the Soviet Union, which was locked for decades after the Second World War in a global battle for influence with America, but with one crucial difference: it’s not about ideology, just money and mutual convenience.
This week's episode of On Liberty on Wednesday, 12:30pm CIS executive director Tom Switzer questions Russia expert Kathryn Stoner, professor of political science at Stanford University and author of Russia Resurrected: Its Power and Purpose in a New Global Order.
On the show this week, we welcome CIS contributor and University of NSW academic, Emeritus Professor John Sweller. Author of the recent CIS papers: Why Inquiry-based Approaches Harm Students’ Learning and Some Critical Thoughts about Critical and Creative Thinking. In his recent paper, he writes that the science on learning is settled and that schools must reflect this.
Professor Sweller argues, those who write curriculum, train teachers, and make policy often don’t know or follow the educational science. Resulting in evidence-free teaching practices being widely used, curriculums teaching things that are non-teachable, and students assessed on skills that can’t be properly measured. For decades, Sweller’s research has focused on understanding the process of how we learn, with wide implications for education policy and practice.
Join us, when host, Glenn Fahey asks how schools and teachers can better follow the educational science.
What does human evolution have to do with classroom learning? Why are there some things we learn easily and others that are much harder to learn? Do we learn better when we teach ourselves or when we have someone teach us? How can we promote creativity and critical thinking? What are the common misconceptions that dominate the educational establishment?
Join us for the return of On Liberty for 2022 as we talk to senior fellow at the University of Sydney’s United States Studies Centre Stephen Loosley to find out what film can teach us about the possible cold wars to come. As Russia masses troops on the Ukrainian border and China ramps up its military presence in the South China Sea and South East Asia, the development of new Pacific and global alliances such as the quad and AUKUS creates tensions amongst the world superpowers, it seems like a new cold war is on the horizon.
But do rising tensions really mean that the West faces "New Cold Wars"? Maybe the movies can tell us. We discuss what films like Wolf Warrior, Viking, and of course Dr. Strangelove mean for the state of international affairs. Does Xi Jinping's weaponisation of Wolf Warrior II presage a more global Chinese military adventurism? Does Vladimir Putin's endorsement of Viking telegraph his intention to invade Ukraine? And what do our own Cold War movies tell us about ourselves? Join us on YouTube at 12.30pm, Wednesday 23 February, as we find out.
Stephen Loosley is a senior fellow at the University of Sydney’s United States Studies Centre and a former NSW Labor senator from 1990 to 1995 and ALP national president from 1991-1992.He is a regular commentator on US elections in Australian media outlets.
Rob and Nick discuss the liberalism of Robert Menzies for whom the independence of the individual was paramount and whether liberalism is somehow in tune with the human soul and, if so, why is it not widespread in today’s connected world? Nick explains to us that liberalism has a strong moral vision that works in practice.
Good policy leads to great outcomes. CIS promotes free choice and individual liberty and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public.
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Gordon's book is available on Amazon now; https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0817QK9KR
Rob and Gordon discuss issues arising from Gordon’s 2020 book Western Fundamentalism in which he critiques the unquestioning, and therefore ‘fundamentalist,’ adoption of democracy, free marked economic liberalism and sexual freedom as basic.
Rob and Gordon discuss why liberalism has been so effective in producing economic prosperity but why it is ineffective if spread to other areas of human life. They discuss the nature of freedom and whether liberalism itself may be naive about evils – especially in relation to issues of aggressive woke politics.
Good policy leads to great outcomes. CIS promotes free choice and individual liberty and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public.
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Rob and Simon discuss how important liberalism is as philosophy of freedom and equality, despite concerns it is not applied uniformly across the board. Simon is particularly concerned about what he sees as a widening divide between haves and have-nots. Although there are limits to liberalism, larger government is not the solution.
Business leaders and the community need to have a stronger voice in terms of some of the policy settings that are required to create a better society. Long-term strategic vision is essential.
Good policy leads to great outcomes. CIS promotes free choice and individual liberty and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public.
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Rob and Warren discuss at length why Warren believes liberalism is good for indigenous Australians, why the voice to parliament proposal is not a good idea, and why the unjust deprivation of the lands of the First Australians, as regrettable as it is, does not delegitimise our nation.
Good policy leads to great outcomes. CIS promotes free choice and individual liberty and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public.
Follow CIS on our Socials
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Rob and Andrew discuss some of the provocative ideas in his recent book Buraadja; The liberal case for national reconciliation (Connor Court 2021). Andrew is concerned that it is an anomaly that there are a number of special laws for a particular people in Australia but no proper way that they can have a say in them. He believes that a voice to parliament can be consistent with liberal principles and answers criticisms of his position.
Good policy leads to great outcomes. CIS promotes free choice and individual liberty and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public.
Follow CIS on our Socials
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Rob and Chandran discuss Chandran's journey from a young socialist to a thoughtful liberal. Chandran understands the essence of liberalism as a commitment to individual freedom but also a commitment to equal freedom. Chandran and Rob discuss how differently liberalism expresses itself in different cultures and how liberal institutions and ideas are all over the world, even in countries like Singapore, which explicitly disavows liberalism.
Good policy leads to great outcomes. CIS promotes free choice and individual liberty and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public.
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Rob and Hannes discuss everything from the pirate radio station he once ran to important thinkers like medieval theologian Thomas Aquinas and Friedrich von Hayek.
Hannes believes that the best kind of liberalism is what he calls conservative liberalism, which is a long tradition, which combines the price mechanism with the decentralisation of knowledge on one hand and traditional morality on the other. Much of the discussion arises from Hannes’ recent book Twenty-Four Conservative-Liberal Thinkers (New Directions 2020).
Good policy leads to great outcomes. CIS promotes free choice and individual liberty and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public.
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Rob and David discuss the remarkable story of ‘the liberal project’ in Australia. David has written a five-volume history of the liberal project from the days of the arrival of Governor Philip in 1788 to the end of the Menzies prime ministership in 1966.
Good policy leads to great outcomes. CIS promotes free choice and individual liberty and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public.
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South Korea’s president Moon Jae-in has called for a final settlement of the 1950-52 Korean War, but North Korea's Kim Jong-un is having none of it. Or is it his little sister, the increasingly outspoken Kim Yo-jong, who is the real power in Pyongyang? She seemingly left the possibility open -- if the United States is willing to meet her price.
Rob and Simon discuss why, despite the unparalleled success of international liberalism in lifting people out of extreme poverty, we are now in danger of abandoning the very policies that made this possible. Simon describes the move away from liberalism as a worldwide phenomenon affecting both the left and right of politics. As Simon puts it, is “Liberalism is losing its ground support and also it political and financial might.”
Good policy lead to great outcomes. CIS promotes free choice and individual liberty and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public.
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In a wide-ranging discussion, Rob and Henry explore the heart of the liberal project. Liberalism emerged as a philosophy and ideology that afforded people freedoms and an alternative to civil war. Yet, it is the balance between order and freedom, which requires both tolerance and responsibility. Liberalism does not bring a single overarching purpose to society but rather ways of proceeding together.
Good policy leads to great outcomes. CIS promotes free choice and individual liberty and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public.
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Australian student achievement has declined more steeply and more consistently than almost any other country, most notably in mathematics. At the same time, it’s clear that maths is now more critical than ever, to the success of students – both at school and beyond.
Recent CIS research identifies that Australian teachers often have an unbalanced approach to how maths is taught in classrooms. This appears to be because teachers are victims of poor preparation from university-based Initial Teacher Education. In a concerning echo to the “reading wars” that CIS has been engaged in for many years, it’s clear there is also a great divide in maths education too.
we welcome Dr Michael Johnston from the Victoria University of Wellington. He will discuss how education systems can better promotive active and informed democratic citizens.
Michael argues that doing so requires more than drumming a curated narrative about nationhood and nationalistic ideals into school curricula. Rather than recourse to “history wars” and the like, he recommends that education systems help young people to revere the cultural values that underpin liberal democracy – political equality, free speech and free expression. This requires promoting the contestability of ideas and ensuring that civic ideas are “culturally esteemed”, not just legally protected, so that future generations share enthusiasm for a flourishing liberal democracy.
The Chinese Communist Party is at the peak of its power as it enters its second century and Xi Jinping’s ‘New Era’ policy is a high-stakes revolution that is triggering alarms. These are gloriously red days for Chinese communism. But are they marking dawn or dusk, as this dangerous narrative unfurls?
In the Great Panic of early 2020, nearly every government in the world restricted the movement of its population, disrupted the education of its children, suspended normal individual liberties, and hijacked its healthcare system, to assert control of people’s lives in the name of fighting Covid.
We talk to Paul Fletcher MP, Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts. We'll discuss Paul's recent book Governing in the Internet Age (Monash University Publishing).
Over the past thirty years, the internet has transformed virtually every area of human activity, presenting enormous boosts to economic activity. For ordinary Australians, the internet provides an unprecedented opportunity to shop, work, and communicate online. It has become fundamental for daily life. Yet, digital platforms can also be forums for the wide circulation of abusive, defamatory material, for scammers to access sensitive data, and they disrupt many traditional forms of economic activity and business models.
All this presents a rich set of policy challenges for governments. So, should we be concerned about the many unproductive hours spent scrolling through social media? What has been the impact of the internet on our sovereignty? Moreover, how to do we ultimately protect our citizens?
This week as we talk to classicist Dr James Kierstead about the pasts and futures of ancient Athenian democracy. The Western world likes to trade its democratic institutions to ancient Greece, but the Greek model of citizenship was very different from our own, and Athens was far from the only democracy in the Greek world. We'll be asking Dr Kierstead about the Athenian constitution, how it operated in practice in the era of high democracy, the meaning of ancient Greek citizenship, and what it meant to be ostracised in a world without refugee conventions.
We talk to Natasha Kassam, director (Public Opinion and Foreign Policy Program) at the Lowy Institute, about China's military pressure, economic coercion, diplomatic isolation on Taiwan in recent years. In most international fora, China’s participation is a given, and Beijing has the upper hand. Australia and other countries advocate Taiwan’s inclusion on the margins. Yet this time Taiwan may actually be a better candidate for the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) than China.
We talk to Peter Jennings, executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), about submarines, China, and the future of the Australia-UK-US security partnership.
Hot on the heels of the AUKUS announcement and the nuclear-powered submarines deal, Scott Morrison hitched a ride with Marise Payne and Peter Dutton to attend the Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) in Washington, DC last week. While the foreign and defence ministers met their US counterparts Antony Blinken and Lloyd Austin, Morrison was in close conference with Joe Biden, discussing the future of US-Australia relations. What was on their agenda? What decisions were made? And what does AUKUS really mean for Australia?
This month marks 50 years since the first Indigenous Australian delivered a maiden address to federal parliament. This was a great achievement for Neville Bonner, who served as a Liberal senator from 1971 to 1983.
Bonner, according to a new biography, understood the tension, even chasm, between protest and compromise. “If you want to beat the system, you do it in a sensible, quiet way,” he argued. At a time when we are becoming accustomed to outbreaks of acute racial sensitivity – trigger warnings, micro-aggressions, the need for safe spaces – what would Neville Bonner make of identity politics today?
We welcome Richard Alston former Liberal Senator for Victoria and senior cabinet minister in the Howard Coalition government. He is also author of recent CIS paper Reflections on the EU Project and its Flaws: A fatal conceit about markets and the real world. With worthwhile intentions, The EU, and its predecessor bodies, were set up with the aim of ending the long history of frequent and bloody wars between European neighbours. Its fundamental purpose was to promote greater social, political and economic harmony among the nations of Western Europe. Yet nowadays, nothing in its founding documents is advocated or even aspired to. Indeed, The European Union shows all the signs of worsening economic, social and political decline — from tepid economic growth and chronically high unemployment to social unrest and rising political extremism.
We welcome Jordan Williams, executive director and co-founder of the New Zealand Tax Payer's Alliance. Buoyed by the support of the vast majority of voters, New Zealand had managed to shield itself from Covid-19, but what lies ahead for an isolated New Zealand? With a housing crisis playing out, an imminent interest rate rise and excessive government spending on vanity projects, how is the Ardern Government faring?
We welcome William Coleman, Reader at the Research School of Economics at ANU. He is the prize-winning author, or co-author, of eight books including recently, Their Firery Cross of Union; A Retelling of the Creation of the Australian Federation (Connor Court). Recently writing in The Sydney Morning Herald, Chris Uhlmann wrote 'Scott Morrison now cannot travel through the country he governs. The Prime Minister is a prisoner in Canberra and his political fortunes in the run-up to the next election will rise and fall on the whims of premiers and chief ministers.' Until recently, Australians were seemingly indifferent or even unaware of some of the powers that states hold. COVID has changed that. With domestic borders closed, restrictions and avail of our liberties, are we seeing the fracture of the Federation?
We welcome Scott Prasser, senior policy advisor and CIS scholar. In his recent book, Scott argues hardly a day passes in Australia without a public inquiry or royal commission being appointed, a report being released, or someone calling for an inquiry to be appointed. Since federation, the Commonwealth alone has appointed nearly 140 royal commissions and some 500 other public inquiries. Some inquiries last for years and cost over $300million – others are more focused and economical. So what do all these commissions really do? What are their powers, and importantly what are their impacts?.
Scott's recent book, Royal Commissions and Public Inquiries in Australia (LexisNexis) can be purchased here: https://store.lexisnexis.com.au/categories/practice-area/jurisdiction-827/royal-commissions-and-public-inquiries-in-australia-2nd-edition-skuroyal_commissions_and_public_inquiries_in_australia_2nd_edition
We welcome Bridget McKenzie, Nationals Senator for Victoria since 2011. Senator McKenzie has held ministerial office in the Turnbull and Morrison Governments and has served as her party's Senate leader since 2019. In late 2020, McKenzie authored 'John McEwen: right man, right place, right time' (Connor Court), in this book she argues that his policies, known as ‘McEwenism,’ forged the nation’s post Second World War economic boom ushering in an era of unprecedented full employment and prosperity for all Australians. Does McEwenism, derided by the Right and dismantled by the Left have any relevance today.
Afghanistan's president Ashraf Ghani fled the country over the weekend, leading to a complete collapse in government administration and a rapid Taliban takeover of the entire country. A one-time Abu Dhabi based correspondent for CNN and former anchor for Al Jazeera in Doha, Australia's own Stan Grant brings a depth of in-region experience to the analysis of Afghan affairs. Today we ask Grant how the Taliban were able to sweep to power so rapidly, who was responsible for the collapse of American influence in Kabul, what the return of the Taliban means for Afghanistan -- and the world. We'll also be asking Grant how identity has shaped politics in Afghanistan, seeking to learn lessons from Afghanistan that might teach us about Australian society and our own senses of belonging
On the show this Wednesday, we welcome Ehud Yaari visiting expert at the Australia Israel & Jewish Affairs Council and one of Israel's leading public affairs commentators. This episode will focus on the recently sworn in Bennett–Lapid Israeli Government, the Biden Administration's actions in the Middle East six months on from his inauguration, as well as a geopolitical overview of the region. Israel’s status as the only liberal, democratic nation amidst a vast expanse of autocratic and illiberal states is remarkable. So, after Benjamin Netanyahu's 12 years as Prime Minister, what will the new coalition government bring? Can they really hold together with such a slim majority? and how will geopolitical pressures including the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action impact the State?
Ehud Yaari a Middle East commentator for Israeli television since 1975 and won awards for his coverage of the peace process with Egypt, the Lebanon War, and the First Gulf War. Yaari's articles have appeared in respected newspapers and journals such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Foreign Affairs, and Atlantic Monthly.
This episode focuses on Afghanistan’s future prospects given Australia’s recent closure of its embassy in Kabul, and the withdrawal of all US forces from Afghanistan after 20 years. We'll discuss the implications of the US withdrawal, the ‘peace process’ that was supposed to flow from the US-Taliban agreement, and what scenarios could play out should the Taliban regain control.
We welcome podcast host, Bitcoin maximalist and co-founder of Ministry of Nodes, Stephan Liveria. This episode will focus on cryptocurrency and decentralised finance. Bitcoin started the year at an all-time high. Then, there was controversy after Elon Musk criticised the cryptocurrency for its allegedly damaging impact on the environment. Now, El Salvador has made Bitcoin one of its official currencies.
We welcome French Consul (Commercial), Armelle Rebuffet. We'll discuss how BusinessFrance works to strengthen Franco-Australian relations, how covid-19 has impacted the way French companies view and engage with Australia and the main barriers and obstacles for Australian businesses looking to move. BusinessFrance works connecting French and Australian companies and how they assist Australian companies to settle and invest in France.
As Sydney starts another round of lockdown, we are pleased to say we will still be able to produce the weekly On Liberty -- fitting, considering it is the reason we started the show in the first place!
This week we ask, if liberalism falls will that usher in a 'new dark age'? If so, what, exactly, will go dark? Freedom of speech and the press, democratic elections, and independent judiciaries are the foundation of the contemporary civilization, not only of the West but of the whole world. But they are threatened by identity politics, which sees little of value in our post-Enlightenment civilization, to the point of disputing whether such a civilization even exists.
We talk to former ALP federal minister and serial social entrepreneur Peter Baldwin about his new online magazine: Politics & Civilization. An outgrowth of the Blackheath Philosophy Forum, Politics & Civilization publishes articles and videos that address long-term developments that are reshaping Western societies and transforming their politics. We'll be asking Peter what the suppression of speech means for the future of civilization -- and what we can do to preserve the future from the depredations of the past.
On the show this Wednesday, we welcome CIS contributor and Australian Catholic University academic, Dr Anthony Dillon. Writing in The Herald Sun recently, Anthony says proponents for truth-telling of Australia’s past selectively advance a sanitised version and are disinterested in inconvenient truths facing Indigenous Australians today.
Anthony argues that truth-telling hasn’t extended to sensitive contemporary issues, such as the tragic rates of child abuse, violence, and suicide inflicting Indigenous communities. Instead, he warns that a loud minority seek to silence debate and distract from persistent and pervasive dysfunction faced by marginalised Australians. He cites the confected outrage generated against the late cartoonist, Bill Leak, empty charges of racism hurled where none is found to exist, and the harmful groupthink that has swallowed false narratives about Australia’s Indigenous history.
Join us, when guest host, Glenn Fahey asks how we can promote genuine truth-telling on Indigenous affairs?
Does political correctness and cancel culture silence genuine truth-tellers? How can Australia purport to be a free and open society when civil debate is unwelcome? Can evidence trump emotion in tackling policy challenges facing Indigenous Australians? Is there cause for optimism following the recent rebuke of false claims about Indigenous histories?
Australia does a lot of great science, but has a poor record of translating that science into benefits for society. At least, that's what the education minister has been telling us. This week we talk to an eminent Australian scientist to hear about a home-grown translational medicine success story -- and to find out what barriers still stand between basic research and commercial applications.
This week we talk to Prof Bob Graham of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, a specialist in molecular cardiology and cardiac regeneration. He and his team have discovered a way to convert the venom of the Australian funnel-web spider into a drug that can reduce brain damage after strokes and improve heart recovery after heart attacks. An amino acid peptide derived from this venom may one day be injected into stroke and heart attack victims in the ambulance before they even reach the hospital.
How important is basic science for medical research? Why does basic science have to be done here, in Australia? Why can't we just rely on science done overseas for applications in Australia? What's the difference between commercialisation and translational medicine? Our regular host Salvatore Babones will be asking Prof Graham these questions and more as we hear the story of an incredible medical discovery and learn why basic science in the public interest.
Bob Graham is the Des Renford Professor of Medicine at UNSW and was the inaugural director of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute. He spent a substantial portion of his career in the United States, where he rose to become the Robert C. Tarazi Chairman of the Department of Molecular Cardiology at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and a Foreign Member of the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters.
With the Australian and Chinese governments arguing in increasingly shrill tones, has Australia really "hurt the feelings of the Chinese people"? In China's official view of the world, the Party and the people are one. But is that really true? And how is the Party's role in society changing in the 21st century?
Since last month’s federal budget, the Centre for Independent Studies has lamented that the Coalition government of Prime Minister Scott Morrison has embraced the political left’s economic credentials as interventionists and big spenders.
Will Canberra’s historic spending blowout lead to an inflation surge, prompting higher interest rates? Will it just steal economic growth from the future in return for a temporary surge in the next year to 18 months?
Will the spending blowout in aged care, child care, NDIS rule out a balanced budget for another decade? Where are the pro-growth reforms, which seek to create the circumstances for long-term prosperity? Where are the productivity enhancing policies that would create permanent incentives to work and invest?
With their sensationalist public questioning of Premier Gladys Berejiklian's private life the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has attracted renewed attention.
Some may argue that ICAC must break a few eggs in order to obtain the proverbial, corruption-busting omelet. But has ICAC gone too far? Is the rule of law being undermined in NSW?
Join us with Chris Merritt. Chris is vice-president of the Rule of Law Institute of Australia and commentator, who writes regularly for The Australian and appears on Sky News. Chris has been one of the loudest critics of ICAC's show trials and a brilliant defender for the rule of law in Australia.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
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On the show this Wednesday, we welcome Institute of Public Affairs’ Dr Bella d’Abrera. Speaking with The Australian recently, Bella reveals that new polling proves parents are concerned schooling has become overly politicised and out of step with mainstream values.
Bella argues that, as a fundamentally egalitarian society, divisive ideologies like critical race theory, have no place in Australian schools. She cites proposed changes to the national curriculum as evidence of a radical turn toward politically correct, and educationally flawed, schooling. Beyond the curriculum, she also warns that education bureaucracies are increasingly stepping on the toes of parents when it comes to values on which children are raised.
Join us on YouTube at 12.30pm Wednesday 2 June, when guest host, Glenn Fahey asks how our schools have become hostage to harmful ideology. Have curriculum writers gone too far in encouraging political correctness at the expense of historical facts? Has academic rigour been displaced by virtue signalling? Have parents been asleep at the wheel while schools have supplanted their role in shaping their children's values? How can schooling better reflect the values and aspirations of mainstream Australians?
Dr Bella d’Abrera is Director of the Foundations of Western Civilisation Program at the Institute of Public Affairs. She is author of multiple reports investigating the role of identity politics and politicisation of Australian education.
Did the fall of the Soviet Union usher in the end of history for everyone, or only for a small class of comfortably well-off professionals in a few rich countries? How did big ideas replace practical politics, and what does it mean for our future now that politics have come roaring back? Was the presidency of Donald Trump an aberration, or a sign of things to come? And perhaps most importantly: is sin really such a bad thing, after all?
This week, Wednesday 26 May 2021, we talk to Prof David Martin Jones about his new book History's Fools: The Pursuit of Idealism and the Revenge of Politics. It explores the consequences of what he calls the "liberal hubris" of the progressive professional class. We'll be asking him what effective diplomacy really means, how politics should work in our post-political age, and whether the "West" really stands a chance in the brave new multicultural world of the twenty-first century?
David Martin Jones is Visiting Professor in War Studies at King’s College, London. He emerged from a British post-war grammar school the first child in his family to go to university, earning a PhD at the London School of Economics under the supervision of the Australian-British philosopher Kenneth Minogue. Jones' book History's Fools: The Pursuit of Idealism and the Revenge of Politics was published by Hurst in 2020.
From childcare subsidies to jobseeker increases and big infrastructure spending this years' 2021 Federal Budget is being touted as one of the largest in our nation's history. While elevated iron ore prices will help to offset its impact we are staring down multiyear deficits and debt. Join guest host, Simon Cowan and CIS research associate, John Humphreys as they cover what the mainstream media has missed.
As Myanmar's military takeover risks spinning into civil war, what can Australia do to help? Do "middle powers" matter? How secure is our region, and what can we do to improve it? If democracy really is threatened in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific, what can Australia do to help preserve it?
Join us for our 50th episode this week as we ask Mr Peter Khalil MP what Australia can do to promote democracy in an increasingly benighted region. Khalil is the Member for Wills in Victoria and Deputy Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties. He has a background in international law and has been a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington DC. He was awarded the Australian Overseas Humanitarian Services Medal for his service in Iraq.
Khalil worries that authoritarianism is on the rise globally, and argues that liberal democracies can and should defend their ways of life. He has called for Australia to take a stand on China's persecution of Uyghurs and pushed for the country to pursue a more moral foreign policy. But can a mid-sized country like Australia really make a difference in international affairs? And do the generals in Myanmar really care what we think?
Science fiction is often seen as the domain of - the nerds. But, the genre has a long and inextricable link with libertarianism. This is the argument made by podcaster, writer, and teacher, Jordan Alexander Hill in his brilliant Quillette essay, "The Libertarian History of Science Fiction."
Jordan joins us to discuss his essay and we voyage from the early days of science fiction; the impact of the pulps; the influence of John Campbell; the Prometheus awards, and beyond.
May the force be with you.
How can students be expected to develop into intellectual adults if they are never exposed to the best reading that the English language has to offer?
The New South Wales curriculum acknowledges that English is the national language of Australia, but what is it actually doing to educate the state's children in its use?
Join us this week as we "talk English" with educationalist Dr Fiona Mueller, author of "From Education to Enstupidation -- Teaching English Language and Literature in Australia." Our regular host Salvatore Babones will be asking Dr Mueller about the proper role of English in school and university education, how reading improves writing, and the importance of great literature in the formation of young people's very identities.
Dr Mueller writes that "in Australia, the globalists and quackademics now advocate unsubstantiated approaches to teaching and learning that have no grounding in national identity, intellectual rigor, and a strong moral and ethical sense of character based on disciplined, wide reading." Is that just the age-old yearning for a lost golden age? Or are we really witnessing the hollowing-out of education, and with it the betrayal of our own children?
Fiona Mueller has a comprehensive background in schools, universities, and government bodies as well as a longstanding commitment to research and writing. Most recently, Fiona co-authored a policy paper on school education for the Page Research Centre. Fiona is an Adjunct Scholar with the CIS and previously held a national role as Director of Curriculum at the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA).
The Magna Carta has become an enduring symbol of freedom, a triumph over power and tyranny. But would you be surprised to learn that, not only did the great charter have many lives it, "was completely misrepresented?"
This is the story, beautifully and methodical told, in historian Dr Zachary Gorman's latest book: Summoning Magna Carta: Freedom's Symbol over a Millennium.
Through impeccable research that takes the reader from Runnymede; through England's 17th century civil war and the Crusades; and everywhere in between, Gorman incisively depicts the many lives and impact of the Magna Carta.
India is on everyone's agenda here in Australia, but do we really understand the country -- and the opportunities it offers? We're joined this week by Natasha Jha Bhaskar, general manager of Newland Global Group (NGG) and a frequent commentator on Australia-India relations. With 12 years of experience working in the Indian Parliament, Natasha now helps Australian organizations understand the Indian business environment and build partnerships in India.
What are the opportunities for Australian exports to India? And for investment in India? What can the Australian government do to better facilitate Indian investment here in Australia? And what is India looking for from Australia?
Cross-cultural understanding can go a long way toward answering these questions. That gives Australia a massive (but largely untapped) strategic resource in its the 660,000 Indian-born citizens and residents. Australia's governments and businesses must be proactive and sincerely committed in order to leverage this resource to its full potential. As Natasha herself has written: "Curiosity and continuity are key."
Many cultural forces continue to weed out books, tear down statues and shame celebrities, who buck fashionable opinion. As a result, the cultural putsch in many western institutions strikes at liberal values. We are told these purges are necessary to “prevent harm.” In any case, society has “moved on” from the past.
But is cancel culture simply about fending off “harm”? Is it just about redressing past western sins? Or is what the critics say is a ferocious campaign of political conformity threatening the fabric of our liberal public discourse and civil society? Is it a proxy war on the Western liberal democratic tradition? Is anyone or anything safe from cancellation?
What do Australians really think about social media?
We're joined this week by CIS policy analyst Monica Wilkie, who will share the results of her new CIS survey on the subject.
Does social media connect or isolate? Is its impact on society mostly positive or negative? Which generation relies on social media the most, and for what purposes? And at a time when two-thirds of Australians want Facebook and Twitter to maintain political neutrality, are the networking giants delivering?
Monica Wilkie is the CIS media analyst behind "The Woke Wars" and "If I Ran the Woke Zoo." Her new policy paper Australians’ Attitudes to Social Media: Connection or Curse? is available for free download from the CIS website. Conducted in February 2021, it reports the results of a survey of 1024 Australian adults just before the Commonwealth passed the News Media Bargaining Code. The findings may surprise you!
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____________________ The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
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The dry continent is home to massive groundwater resources, but we don't even know how much freshwater rests right under our feet. Grahame Campbell FRSN is a tireless advocate for data-driven resource management, but when it comes to groundwater, we just don't have the data. Despite spending billions on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, Australia's governments still don't understand how the surface water ecosystems of the Murray and Darling rivers interact with the environment they flow on, though, and under.
Grahame Campbell, a long-time CIS friend, author, engineer and musician, joins us this week to discuss his current passion for properly managing Australia's groundwater. We will also discuss his recent memoir Clarinets, Pipelines and Unforeseen Places: The Evolution of an Engineer. With backdrops including Australia, Iraq, USA, Trinidad, Indonesia and Bangladesh, Grahame journeyed through his career as a pipeline engineer meeting characters from Dizzy Gillespie and Mick Jagger to Rex ‘The Strangler’ Connor and Andrew Forrest.
Grahame Campbell studied engineering at the University of New South Wales while also fostering a love of music and went on to work for the NSW Railways before joining CMPS, a consultancy where he would eventually rise to become CEO. His later career has involved directorships at CMPS&F, Anaconda Nickel, ACEA, SWR, USC and Iluka Resources.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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“The goal should be to shrink, focus and improve the state.”
On the show this Wednesday, we welcome Adam Smith Institute’s Matthew Lesh. Recently, writing in the IPA Review and The Australian, Matt says assessing public policy responses to covid comes down to the competence, rather than size, of government. Despite countless alternative explanations — such as differences in population size, style of government, and even the gender of political leaders — he argues covid outcomes crucially depend on the quality of governance.
Pointing to a stark contrast between NSW and Victoria, government competence has been the difference between life and death, freedom and tyranny. Matt challenges tired debates that pit big government against small government, and state intervention against market forces. Instead, he says, we must question how well government meets the needs of service-users and delivers bang-for-the-buck for taxpayers.
Join us on YouTube at 12.30pm Wednesday 17 March, when guest host, Glenn Fahey asks how we should assess the competence of the state? Should limited government enthusiasts be concerned about an ever-expansive government? How big is big enough government?
Matt Lesh is Head of Research at the UK’s Adam Smith Institute and is an adjunct fellow at the Institute of Public Affairs. He is a past CIS guest and author of the 2019 book, Democracy in a Divided Australia.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/ Follow CIS on Socials Twitter - https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndependentStudies/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3fFQPpcQrDXrtrE7Zk4fgs
March, 4th 2021 marked the 25th anniversary of the Howard Coalition government’s election. In honour of the occasion, former prime minister John Howard and CIS executive director Tom Switzer sat down for a conversation about the policy successes (and failures) of his government as well as the current economic, cultural and foreign policy challenges facing Australia.
In 1995, Mr. Howard had inherited a party that had chalked up its fifth election defeat, only to lead it to win four elections on the trot. From March 1996 to November 2007, his government fundamentally transformed the political landscape. It cut taxes, reformed welfare, balanced the national books, wiped out government debt, loosened the trade unions’ grip on business, and presided over the longest economic boom since the gold rushes of the 19th century.
Under John Howard’s leadership, Australia led the 1999 peacekeeping effort in East Timor and was deeply involved in countering terrorism in Australia’s local neighbourhood and in farther flung areas, like the Middle East and Afghanistan.
Donald Trump turned America on its head and shocked the world, taking an isolationist approach to foreign policy, shaking up global institutions and fomenting the rise of ‘fake news’. How did the reality TV star win over the hearts and minds of so many regular Americans from Ohio to Florida? And how, after four years, does he have more supporters than ever?
This week, three-time foreign correspondent and former ABC News US Bureau Chief, Zoe Daniel joins us to discuss her recent book Greetings from Trumpland explores how an unprecedented presidency changed everything. Through interviews with regular Americans who backed the mercurial president in mid-west America, to those who felt the wrath of his no-holds-barred presidency, this book is an inside look at the historic one-term presidency that changed the world and an insightful examination into how America, and the world, can move forward.
Join us as Salvatore Babones speaks to Zoe Daniel about this new book and her experience witnessing the unlikely rise of Donald Trump to the presidency, reporting week in and week out on this renegade 'anti-politician'. From historic summits on the world stage with Kim Jong Un, to the rusted steel mills of Pennsylvania, Zoe and co-author Roscoe Whalan were ringside as Donald Trump navigated his way through four years in the Oval Office.
Zoe Daniel is a three-time foreign correspondent and former ABC News United States Bureau Chief. She was based in Washington DC from late 2015 until the end of 2019. Zoe was ABC’s Southeast Asia correspondent from 2009 to 2013. Zoe has written two other books including her 2014 memoir, Storyteller.
Read Zoe's book here: https://www.harpercollins.com.au/9780733341519/greetings-from-trumpland/
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
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Does prosperity depend on discipline, rational planning, and strict adherence to scientific principles? Or is it more about having an "ambidextrous frame of mind"?
Professor Peter Murphy joins us this week to discuss his book The Political Economy of Prosperity: Successful Societies and Productive Cultures. Prof. Murphy talks to us about the paradoxes that shape our daily lives. Anyone who has ever been asked to "do more with less" or engage in "creative destruction" has had to embrace paradox to promote productivity. But is it really that easy?
On Liberty host, Salvatore Babones will be asking Prof. Murphy about his uniquely metaphysical understanding of the modern economy. Why isn't the Western Enlightenment heritage good enough to drive growth? Is irony really an important economic asset? How rare is real creativity, and where does it come from? And most importantly of all: where are we going from here?
Peter Murphy is Adjunct Professor in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at La Trobe University and Adjunct Professor at the Cairns Institute at James Cook University.
His book The Political Economy of Prosperity: Successful Societies and Productive Cultures is available at: https://www.routledge.com/The-Political-Economy-of-Prosperity-Successful-Societies-and-Productive/Murphy/p/book/9781138581258
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⏲️ Missed last week? Watch and listen to Episode 39, with Joshua Forrester: https://youtu.be/IFu-XfLrkaE
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/
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On the show this Wednesday, we welcome former CIS scholar John Lee. Recently writing in The Australian, John highlighted the new US administration has not removed Trump’s tariffs and other economic measures against China. Instead it has reaffirmed a previous assessment by then secretary of state Mike Pompeo that genocide is being committed in Xinjiang and the US Navy recently sailed a guided-missile destroyer through the Taiwan Straits.
Despite former national security advisor, John Bolton's 2019 speculations that a Biden administration would behave in much the same way as the second-term Obama administration (Which was not a compliment), Biden is going out of his way to dispel fears about a lack of resolve.
Join us on YouTube at 12:30 pm Wednesday 24 February, we explore Biden's commitment to reinvigorate US alliances and partnerships, about the importance of domestic renewal and protecting oneself from external threats and advancing sovereign capabilities, in the face of rising global competition.
John Lee is an adjunct professor and non-resident senior fellow at the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney and the Hudson Institute in Washington, DC. From 2016 to 2018 he was senior adviser to the Australian foreign minister, Julie Bishop.
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Tune in live On Liberty, every Wednesday at 12:30 pm.
____________________
The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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📩 Download the new report now: https://www.cis.org.au/publications/occasional-papers/the-new-president-what-bidens-foreign-policy-agenda-means-for-australia/
Joe Biden comes to the presidency amid great expectations for a return to normalcy in American foreign policy, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a more benign international environment for Australia. The United States has global priorities and responsibilities, but there are three areas in particular where the Biden administration’s policy choices are most likely to affect Australia: China policy; climate policy; and digital platforms.
About the author: Salvatore Babones is an Adjunct Scholar at the Centre for Independent Studies and an Associate Professor at the University of Sydney. An expert on globalisation and China, he is an elected member of the National Committee on US-China Relations and writes a column on Indo-Pacific affairs for Foreign Policy magazine. He has authored four previous CIS Analysis Papers, including most recently A House Divided: The AFRB and China’s Subnational Diplomacy in Australia (November 2020).
This week, legal scholar Joshua Forrester joins us to discuss how words like harm and safety have been redefined by political activists to attack fundamental freedoms. Citing no less authorities than Plato and Confucius, he argues that 'concept creep' has undermined not only our language, but our politics. Emblematic of the dangers of redefinition is the warping of John Stewart Mill's classically liberal 'harm principle' to cover hurt feelings and justify the creation of 'safe spaces'.
Join us as we explore the importance of language for practical politics. Should words be as elastic as the concepts they cover? Was Humpty Dumpty in Through the Looking Glass right? Do words mean just what we choose them to mean? How did the 'harm principle' lead us to the creation of 'safe spaces'? Is the activists' commitment to preventing harm any more than 'skin' deep? And what would Mill make of all this?
Joshua Forrester is a PhD candidate in law who has published academic work on freedom of expression and the implied constitutional freedom of political communication. He is the lead author of No Offence Intended: Why 18C is Wrong and co-editor of Fundamental Rights in the Age of COVID-19, published by Connor Court.
Indigenous educational disadvantage has persisted despite countless initiatives, programmes, and spending from governments and communities. For solutions to help truly close the gap, CIS hosts a stellar panel in our latest webinar: Dr Lorraine Hammond AM, Nyunggai Warren Mundine AO, and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.
The educational plight of indigenous students has endured despite countless initiatives and programs from governments and communities. Despite the best intentions of policymakers, we haven't produced a fundamental shift to policy or to the narrative needed to overcome indigenous educational disadvantage. Truly closing the gap will only be achievable with new policy directions, renewed community leadership, and capacity development of educators.
We are delighted to host Lorraine, Warren, and Jacinta to discuss the challenges of educational disadvantage within majority indigenous schools and communities. What are the big issues faced by teachers, schools, and parents in majority-indigenous communities? What can educators, communities, and policymakers do to better meet the educational needs of students?
The conversation is moderated by CIS education research fellow, Glenn Fahey.
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Dr Lorraine Hammond AM, leads professional learning and coaching for literacy instruction for teachers and school leaders in some of Australia’s most disadvantaged indigenous communities in the Kimberley region.
Nyunggai Warren Mundine AO, is Chair of the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation and formerly chaired the Australian Government’s Indigenous Advisory Council.
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, is Director of the CIS’ Indigenous Affairs research programme, serves as Deputy Mayor of Alice Springs City Council, and is an experienced cross-cultural consultant.
_________________________________________
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China has responded to the coronavirus by turbocharging its surveillance state -- and it has successfully sold its new brand of 'digital authoritarianism' as a best practice model to the rest of the world.
Governance and security expert Lydia Khalil will join us for Season 3 of On Liberty, this Wednesday, 3 February 12:30 pm. Lydia will discuss how the coronavirus gave China the opportunity to put "tech-enabled authoritarianism" into practice on a large scale. She warns that those who praise China's coronavirus response risk promoting "a growing acceptance of mass surveillance, habituation to restrictions on liberties and fewer checks on the collection and use of personal data by the state, even after the public health crisis subsides."
Join us as we ask what is digital authoritarianism? How has China used artificial intelligence to monitor its citizens? And what lessons can Australia take for its brewing battle with Google and Facebook?
Lydia is Research Fellow in the West Asia Program at the Lowy Institute and manages the Institute's core partnership with the Global Network on Extremism & Technology. Read her recent Lowy Institute research paper here: Digital Authoritarianism, China and COVID.
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⏲️ Missed last week? Watch and listen to Episode 37, with Gad Saad: https://youtu.be/AC3fscF_nA4
Tune in live On Liberty, every Wednesday at 12:30 pm.
The Guest this week is Peter Kurti. Peter Kurti is the Director of Culture, Prosperity & Civil Society program. He has written extensively about issues of religion, liberty, and civil society in Australia, and is here today to assist Rob in his questioning of liberalism in today's society.
Today, we are more aware than ever about what's happening in the world, with 24-7 news cycles and the advent of social media we have everything at our fingertips. Yet, do we ever stop to reflect on the principles of our society, values, and beliefs? on this program, Rob seeks to explore the state of Classical Liberalism here in Australia, and abroad and asks do Classical Liberal views still fit in with our hyperconnected modern world?
Are you looking for sound, thought-provoking conversations on current affairs, politics, and culture from a Classical Liberal perspective? If yes, you are in the right place. Liberalism in Question engages some of our society’s most prominent researchers, political figures, and free speech advocates --finding out their views on the state Classical Liberalism. Listen to the playlist here:
https://soundcloud.com/liberalisminquestion
🔔 Never miss an episode of Liberalism in Question, click here to subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5c-JkKHb0YxFZ81XBtFCmw?sub_confirmation=1 Find out more about Rob here: https://www.cis.org.au/experts/research-scholars/robert-forsyth/ 📖 See more from CIS here: https://www.cis.org.au/ 💬 New episodes released every Tuesday, on YouTube and Podcasts. 👍 Like this, if you enjoyed it and want to see more, it really helps us out
The Centre for Independent Studies promotes free choice and individual liberty and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can prosper.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/ Follow CIS on Socials Twitter - https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndependentStudies/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/
Professor Simon Haines is a distinguished scholar, teacher and author, and a passionate advocate for the humanities. CEO of The Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation, Simon joins Rob to discuss the genesis and origins of liberalism.
Today, we are more aware than ever about what's happening in the world, with 24-7 news cycles and the advent of social media we have everything at our fingertips. Yet, do we ever stop to reflect on the principles of our society, values, and beliefs? on this program, Rob seeks to explore the state of Classical Liberalism here in Australia, and abroad and asks do Classical Liberal views still fit in with our hyperconnected modern world?
Are you looking for sound, thought-provoking conversations on current affairs, politics, and culture from a Classical Liberal perspective? If yes, you are in the right place. Liberalism in Question engages some of our society’s most prominent researchers, political figures, and free speech advocates --finding out their views on the state Classical Liberalism. Listen to the playlist here:
https://soundcloud.com/liberalisminquestion
🔔 Never miss an episode of Liberalism in Question, click here to subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5c-JkKHb0YxFZ81XBtFCmw?sub_confirmation=1 Find out more about Rob here: https://www.cis.org.au/experts/research-scholars/robert-forsyth/ 📖 See more from CIS here: https://www.cis.org.au/ 💬 New episodes released every Tuesday, on YouTube and Podcasts. 👍 Like this, if you enjoyed it and want to see more, it really helps us out
The Centre for Independent Studies promotes free choice and individual liberty and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can prosper.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/ Follow CIS on Socials Twitter - https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndependentStudies/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/
Michael Spence is the Vice Chancellor of the University of Sydney, soon to become the President and Provost of University College London. Rob and Michael discuss the challenges and opportunities of the university as an important liberal institution in society.
Today, we are more aware than ever about what's happening in the world, with 24-7 news cycles and the advent of social media we have everything at our fingertips. Yet, do we ever stop to reflect on the principles of our society, values, and beliefs? on this program, Rob seeks to explore the state of Classical Liberalism here in Australia, and abroad and asks do Classical Liberal views still fit in with our hyperconnected modern world?
Are you looking for sound, thought-provoking conversations on current affairs, politics, and culture from a Classical Liberal perspective? If yes, you are in the right place. Liberalism in Question engages some of our society’s most prominent researchers, political figures, and free speech advocates --finding out their views on the state Classical Liberalism. Listen to the playlist here:
https://soundcloud.com/liberalisminquestion
🔔 Never miss an episode of Liberalism in Question, click here to subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5c-JkKHb0YxFZ81XBtFCmw?sub_confirmation=1 Find out more about Rob here: https://www.cis.org.au/experts/research-scholars/robert-forsyth/ 📖 See more from CIS here: https://www.cis.org.au/ 💬 New episodes released every Tuesday, on YouTube and Podcasts. 👍 Like this, if you enjoyed it and want to see more, it really helps us out
The Centre for Independent Studies promotes free choice and individual liberty and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can prosper.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/ Follow CIS on Socials Twitter - https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndependentStudies/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/
Today's guest Parnell McGuinness is a columnist at the Sydney Morning Herald, Australian Financial Review, and is Managing Director at Agenda C. Parnell's family, especially her late father P.P. (Padraic Pearse) 'Paddy' McGuinness, an anti-authoritarian, non-conformist individualist, have spent most of their lives fighting for classical liberalism.
Today, we are more aware than ever about what's happening in the world, with 24-7 news cycles and the advent of social media we have everything at our fingertips. Yet, do we ever stop to reflect on the principles of our society, values, and beliefs? on this program, Rob seeks to explore the state of Classical Liberalism here in Australia, and abroad and asks do Classical Liberal views still fit in with our hyperconnected modern world?
Are you looking for sound, thought-provoking conversations on current affairs, politics, and culture from a Classical Liberal perspective? If yes, you are in the right place. Liberalism in Question engages some of our society’s most prominent researchers, political figures, and free speech advocates --finding out their views on the state Classical Liberalism.
🔔 Never miss an episode of Liberalism in Question, click here to subscribe:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/liberalism-in-question-cis/id1542678769 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6HyxvvIk6n8uGH6iLxVd30 Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/liberalisminquestion YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5c-JkKHb0YxFZ81XBtFCmw?sub_confirmation=1
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____________________
The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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Glenn Fahey is a Research Fellow in Education Policy at the CIS. Previously Glenn has held a series of both policy and research intensive positions in the field of education and economics, as well as being a pizza shop manager. In conversation, Glenn's pizza shop job turned out to be one important reason why he is committed to Liberalism.
Today, we are more aware than ever about what's happening in the world, with 24-7 news cycles and the advent of social media we have everything at our fingertips. Yet, do we ever stop to reflect on the principles of our society, values, and beliefs? on this program, Rob seeks to explore the state of Classical Liberalism here in Australia, and abroad and asks do Classical Liberal views still fit in with our hyperconnected modern world?
Are you looking for sound, thought-provoking conversations on current affairs, politics, and culture from a Classical Liberal perspective? If yes, you are in the right place. Liberalism in Question engages some of our society’s most prominent researchers, political figures, and free speech advocates --finding out their views on the state Classical Liberalism.
🔔 Never miss an episode of Liberalism in Question, click here to subscribe:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/liberalism-in-question-cis/id1542678769 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6HyxvvIk6n8uGH6iLxVd30 Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/liberalisminquestion YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5c-JkKHb0YxFZ81XBtFCmw?sub_confirmation=1
📖 Read more from CIS here: https://www.cis.org.au/
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____________________
The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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Tim Wilson is the Member for Goldstein in the Australian Parliament and previously served as Australia’s Human Rights Commissioner. Tim joins host Rob Forsyth to discuss his project to reimagine Liberalism for today’s society, as set out in his recent book The New Social Contract. Tim is convinced that Liberalism’s purpose is to empower individuals through responsibility but is missing in action today. Only with a renewed liberal outlook that leaves neo-liberalism behind can we address contemporary challenges and rebuild liberalism’s social licence.
Today, we are more aware than ever about what's happening in the world, with 24-7 news cycles and the advent of social media we have everything at our fingertips. Yet, do we ever stop to reflect on the principles of our society, values, and beliefs? on this program, Rob seeks to explore the state of Classical Liberalism here in Australia, and abroad and asks do Classical Liberal views still fit in with our hyperconnected modern world?
Are you looking for sound, thought-provoking conversations on current affairs, politics, and culture from a Classical Liberal perspective? If yes, you are in the right place. Liberalism in Question engages some of our society’s most prominent researchers, political figures, and free speech advocates --finding out their views on the state Classical Liberalism.
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Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/liberalism-in-question-cis/id1542678769 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6HyxvvIk6n8uGH6iLxVd30 Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/liberalisminquestion YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5c-JkKHb0YxFZ81XBtFCmw?sub_confirmation=1
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____________________
The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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We live alongside people that historically we did not live alongside. To make space for our new found differences, faiths, beliefs, and our politics - without killing each other - means we need some form of guiding principle. Liberalism, in its capacity to create shared rights and the willingness to surrender other rights to live in without harm, offers us the road map to living peacefully.
This week host Robert Forsyth is joined by Stan Grant. Currently, with the ABC, Stan is one of Australia's most respected and awarded journalists, with more than 30 years' experience in radio and television news and current affairs. Stan has a strong reputation for independence and integrity and has interviewed international political and business leaders, as well as countless government ministers, former Prime Ministers, and prominent Australians.
Today, we are more aware than ever about what's happening in the world, with 24-7 news cycles and the advent of social media we have everything at our fingertips. Yet, do we ever stop to reflect on the principles of our society, values, and beliefs? on this program, Rob seeks to explore the state of Classical Liberalism here in Australia, and abroad and asks do Classical Liberal views still fit in with our hyperconnected modern world?
Are you looking for sound, thought-provoking conversations on current affairs, politics, and culture from a Classical Liberal perspective? If yes, you are in the right place. Liberalism in Question engages some of our society’s most prominent researchers, political figures, and free speech advocates --finding out their views on the state Classical Liberalism.
🔔 Never miss an episode of Liberalism in Question, click here to subscribe:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/liberalism-in-question-cis/id1542678769 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6HyxvvIk6n8uGH6iLxVd30 Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/liberalisminquestion YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5c-JkKHb0YxFZ81XBtFCmw?sub_confirmation=1
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____________________
The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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Salvatore Babones is an American sociologist, associate professor at the University of Sydney and an Adjunct Scholar with the CIS. Although he is well aware of the limits and deficiencies in Liberalism, he is very bullish about its future—an unashamed self-described proponent of the Whig view of history.
Today, we are more aware than ever about what's happening in the world, with 24-7 news cycles and the advent of social media we have everything at our fingertips. Yet, do we ever stop to reflect on the principles of our society, values, and beliefs? on this program, Rob seeks to explore the state of Classical Liberalism here in Australia, and abroad and asks do Classical Liberal views still fit in with our hyperconnected modern world?
Are you looking for sound, thought-provoking conversations on current affairs, politics, and culture from a Classical Liberal perspective? If yes, you are in the right place. Liberalism in Question engages some of our society’s most prominent researchers, political figures, and free speech advocates --finding out their views on the state Classical Liberalism.
🔔 Never miss an episode of Liberalism in Question, click here to subscribe:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/liberalism-in-question-cis/id1542678769 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6HyxvvIk6n8uGH6iLxVd30 Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/liberalisminquestion YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5c-JkKHb0YxFZ81XBtFCmw?sub_confirmation=1
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____________________
The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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Identity politics and political correctness continue to fuel the culture wars. To understand how these ideas have taken over, CIS will be hosting Dr Gad Saad for a special On Liberty Extra.
Gad’s latest book, The Parasitic Mind: How Infectious Ideas are Killing Common Sense eviscerates the nonsense and logical fallacies that riddle politically correct ideology. Gad details how, what he calls, “Dangerous Idea Pathogens” have taken hold of the west and provides us the the tools we need to find our way back to reason. Gad is a professor of marketing at Concordia University, author, and host of the incredibly popular YouTube show The Saad Truth.
Join us at 10 am Thursday, 10 December (AEST) with host CIS Policy Analyst Monica Wilkie and Gad for your inoculation against destructive idea pathogens.
This is our last episode before a well-deserved Christmas break, so from Salvatore and the On Liberty team, happy holidays! Watch this space to find out how you can join us for Season 3 in the New Year. Catch-up on our previous episodes on YouTube, Facebook, SoundCloud or Itunes anywhere, anytime!
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⏲️ Missed last week? Watch and listen to Episode 36, with Robert Forsyth: https://youtu.be/puobaWHXQGo
Tune in live On Liberty, every Thursday at 10am.
____________________
The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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The 2020 CIS Nanny Awards take a look back at the year's best and most absurd attempts of the state to try to meddle and infringe on our daily lives. Presented by CIS Executive Director, Tom Switzer and Emeritus Professor Steven Schwartz.
1st; All Governments - All Covid-19 related measures, laws, lockdowns and restrictions! 2nd; NSW Police - For fining a man $1000 for eating a kebab on a bench in Newcastle. Equal 3rd; U.S Federal Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee & The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons - For pushing for Men to only consume 1 alcoholic drink per day, and respectively, to introduce a zero blood alcohol level for all drivers in Australia.
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____________________
The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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For Christians the world over, Christmas is primarily a religious celebration. Yet Protestant dissenters outlawed the celebration of Christmas in seventeenth century Britain. In Scotland, Christmas Day only became a public holiday in 1958.
Meanwhile for many non-practicing Christians (and even for non-Christians), the real Christmas is the Consumer Christmas celebrated in shopping malls, while for many Australians it is merely the beginning of the summer holidays.
And there is yet another, very important Christmas: the Christmas of Community Good Will. Join us with CIS Senior Fellow, Robert Forsyth. Rob was the Anglican Bishop of South Sydney from 2000 to 2015. Before this he was the rector of St. Barnabas, Broadway and chaplain to the University of Sydney.
📖 See more from CIS here: https://www.cis.org.au/
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⏲️ Missed last week? Watch and listen to Episode 35, with Sanushka Seomangal: https://youtu.be/2C-xrtwQAHc
Tune in live On Liberty, every Thursday at 10am.
____________________
The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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Welcome to our new podcast Liberalism in Question with host Rob Forsyth. This will also be available on it's own new channel - just search "Liberalism in Question", or check out the links at the bottom of this description.
John Howard joins Rob Forsyth for Liberalism in Question. John is former Prime Minister of Australia, serving from 96-07. Rob and John begin by unpacking his famous statement about the Liberal Party being a 'broad church' of liberal and conservative elements.
Today, we are more aware than ever about what's happening in the world, with 24-7 news cycles and the advent of social media we have everything at our fingertips. Yet, do we ever stop to reflect on the principles of our society, values, and beliefs? on this program, Rob seeks to explore the state of Classical Liberalism here in Australia, and abroad and asks do Classical Liberal views still fit in with our hyperconnected modern world?
Are you looking for sound, thought-provoking conversations on current affairs, politics, and culture from a Classical Liberal perspective? If yes, you are in the right place. Liberalism in Question engages some of our society’s most prominent researchers, political figures, and free speech advocates --finding out their views on the state Classical Liberalism.
🔔 Never miss an episode of Liberalism in Question, click here to subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5c-JkKHb0YxFZ81XBtFCmw?sub_confirmation=1
Find out more about Rob here: https://www.cis.org.au/experts/research-scholars/robert-forsyth/
📖 See more from CIS here: https://www.cis.org.au/
💬 New episodes released every Tuesday, on YouTube and Podcasts.
👍 Like this video, if you enjoyed it and want to see more, it really helps us out
____________________
The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
Follow CIS on Socials Twitter - https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndependentStudies/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/
Listen on Podcast LIQ SoundCloud - https://soundcloud.com/liberalisminquestion LIQ Itunes - LIQ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6HyxvvIk6n8uGH6iLxVd30 CIS SoundCloud - https://soundcloud.com/cisaus CIS Itunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/centre-for-independent-studies/id1380589558 CIS Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3fFQPpcQrDXrtrE7Zk4fgs?si=I4tauay7ThyBnEwqP5bTgg
Welcome to our new podcast Liberalism in Question with host Rob Forsyth. This will also be available on it's own new channel - just search "Liberalism in Question", or check out the links at the bottom of this description.
John Howard joins Rob Forsyth for Liberalism in Question. John is former Prime Minister of Australia, serving from 96-07. Rob and John begin by unpacking his famous statement about the Liberal Party being a 'broad church' of liberal and conservative elements.
Today, we are more aware than ever about what's happening in the world, with 24-7 news cycles and the advent of social media we have everything at our fingertips. Yet, do we ever stop to reflect on the principles of our society, values, and beliefs? on this program, Rob seeks to explore the state of Classical Liberalism here in Australia, and abroad and asks do Classical Liberal views still fit in with our hyperconnected modern world?
Are you looking for sound, thought-provoking conversations on current affairs, politics, and culture from a Classical Liberal perspective? If yes, you are in the right place. Liberalism in Question engages some of our society’s most prominent researchers, political figures, and free speech advocates --finding out their views on the state Classical Liberalism.
🔔 Never miss an episode of Liberalism in Question, click here to subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5c-JkKHb0YxFZ81XBtFCmw?sub_confirmation=1
Find out more about Rob here: https://www.cis.org.au/experts/research-scholars/robert-forsyth/
📖 See more from CIS here: https://www.cis.org.au/
💬 New episodes released every Tuesday, on YouTube and Podcasts.
👍 Like this video, if you enjoyed it and want to see more, it really helps us out
____________________
The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
Follow CIS on Socials Twitter - https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndependentStudies/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/
Listen on Podcast LIQ SoundCloud - https://soundcloud.com/liberalisminquestion LIQ Itunes - LIQ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6HyxvvIk6n8uGH6iLxVd30 CIS SoundCloud - https://soundcloud.com/cisaus CIS Itunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/centre-for-independent-studies/id1380589558 CIS Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3fFQPpcQrDXrtrE7Zk4fgs?si=I4tauay7ThyBnEwqP5bTgg
With the coming of the "Quad" and the successful completion of Australia's participation in the Indian-led Malabar naval exercises, Australians are increasingly looking to India for the future. Indian-Australians are playing a leading role in building that future with their creation of the School of Policy and Governance (SPG), a new institution dedicated to "creating India's leading graduate institution to prepare leaders in the developing world to govern better."
SPG co-founder Sanushka Seomangal joins us to discuss the need for top-level public policy education in India and the role Australia can play in helping meet it. What lessons can Australia offer to India? What can Australia learn from India? How do you build an international education program from scratch? And perhaps more importantly: can individuals really make a difference?
Sanushka Seomangal is a member of the board of the Australia India Council, the National Vice Chair of the Australia India Business Council, and co-founder of the Australia India Youth Dialogue.
📖 See more from CIS here: https://www.cis.org.au/
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⏲️ Missed last week? Watch and listen to Episode 34, with David Kelly: https://youtu.be/i4X7HOqcfUA
Tune in live On Liberty, every Thursday at 10am.
____________________
The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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While the rest of the world was obsessing over the U.S. elections, China-watchers were digesting the Fifth Plenum communique released October 29, the official guidance to the thinking of the CCP Central Committee. Chairman Xi assured the public that imports stimulate domestic demand, exports reinforce global reliance on China, and FDI contributes to industry upgrading. That's Xi's "dual circulation" theory in a nutshell.
Does dual circulation actually mean anything? Does it represent change, or is it just the same old policy under a new slogan? Does it mean that Beijing will weaponise supply chains? And perhaps most importantly: will it work?
Sinologist and social scientist David Kelly joins us to discuss Xi Jinping, his grip on power, his undeclared war on Australian exports, and what an incoming Biden administration may mean for US-China relations.
David Kelly has researched and taught Chinese studies at ANU, Australian Defence Force Academy, the East Asia Institute (Singapore), Peking University, and the University of Technology, Sydney. He is now a principal with China Policy, a Beijing-based information and advisory firm.
📖 See more from CIS here: https://www.cis.org.au/
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⏲️ Missed last week? Watch and listen to Episode 33, Extra, with Emilie Dye: https://youtu.be/8a3_xwjLfV0
Tune in live On Liberty, every Thursday at 10am.
____________________
The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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Superannuation has failed in its original goal: helping Australians to achieve financial independence in retirement. Many Australians still rely heavily on the means-tested age-pension because they don’t have enough money to comfortably retire.
Superannuation may increase overall savings, but it also reduces the diversity of savings vehicles. The best example is housing: many Australians take longer to save for a deposit on a home and as result are still paying off their mortgage or renting when they want to retire. Because people don’t have options many end up worse off in retirement than they would otherwise.
This week for On Liberty, Thursday, 12 November 2020 at 10 am AEST, we welcome Emilie Dye, policy director with the Australian Taxpayers' Alliance (ATA). Emilie will discuss her recent paper which focuses on how taxes on super undermine Australia’s ability to retire on a living wage independent of the pension.
This week, On Liberty, we host James Morrow, opinion editor at The Daily Telegraph and co-host Sky's Outsiders program.
Salvatore Babones hosts Morrow for an On Liberty episode not to be missed: Four more years or a Democratic landslide? As the dust settles on the US Presidential Election, will it be President Trump for four more years? President Biden with a radical agenda or will a result be held up by the postal system?
Join us for On Liberty this Thursday, November 5th from 10 am (AEST). Salvatore Babones will host James Morrow for an election debrief live from New York. Morrow is opinion editor at The Daily Telegraph and co-host Sky's Outsiders program.
This week we welcome Tom Switzer, CIS Executive Director. Salvatore Babones hosts seasoned US political commentator Tom Switzer for an On Liberty episode not to be missed: Down to the line | US Elections 2020.
The pandemic has killed more than 225k Americans and abruptly ended Trump's economic boom that saw low unemployment and rising wages among broad swathes of workers. Since the death of George Floyd in May, tensions have led to more political polarisation and disorder across the US.
Global markets and seasoned observers have all but ushered in a Joe Biden victory on November 3. With less than a week until the election, we’ll be asking, who’s on the clearer path to victory? Will we see a clean result on the day? What would a Biden win mean for the US and could Democrats gain the Senate?
This week we welcome Sophie York, barrister, law lecturer, and board director. Sophie believes, "religious freedom is a basic, natural human right", and will discuss the importance of religious freedom as the foundation for all our freedoms.
We'll ask Sophie is religious freedom cherished in Australia the same way it is longed for in many of our neighbouring countries? Does the Chinese Communist Party fear religious freedom more than economic freedom, or freedom of speech? Do Muslim-majority countries repress non-Muslim religions?
Australia seeks to attract “key businesses and global super talent to Australia”, in the words of population minister Alan Tudge. With a new Global Business and Talent Attraction Taskforce, will Hong Kong businesses even consider relocating to Australia?
Is China’s new security law the straw that will break Hong Kong’s back? Will Hong Kong survive as a global business centre when vague crimes like “collusion with foreign forces” are now punishable with life imprisonment? Can Hong Kong’s business community navigate between the Scylla of extradition to China and the Charybdis that is the long arm of US sanctions? And if businesses do flee Hong Kong, where will they go?
Joining us to answer these questions are two business people who have their fingers on the pulse of Asia: Simon Littlewood of management consultancy ACG Global and Daniel Del Re of strategic communications consultancy Kekst CNC.
This week we welcome Chinese politics expert Professor Elizabeth Larus of the University of Mary Washington to discuss the implications of the American presidential election for cross-strait relations and the future of Taiwan. Prof. Larus, author of Politics and Society in Contemporary China and Economic Reform in China 1979-2003, will join host Salvatore Babones live from Washington, DC.
In the four years since then-president-elect Donald Trump took an unprecedented congratulatory phone call from Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-wen, the Trump administration has shown unprecedented levels of support for the small but important island nation. A country of just 24 million people, the strength of Taiwan's economy and democracy are constantly tested by extreme levels of interference from China.
We'll be asking Prof. Larus how Taiwan is able to survive and even thrive in the shadow of Beijing's military threats and Chinese Communist Party infiltration. How long can Taiwan hold out against Chinese aggression? What lessons can Australia learn from Taiwan's battle against Chinese influence? And crucially: what do America's November 3 presidential elections mean for Taiwan?
Everyone seems to be cursing 2020. We have seen a coronavirus pandemic, mass unemployment, an impending recession or depression, Black Lives Matter riots, and the scourge of cancel culture continues at pace.
All these events have led to another epidemic — fear. We are told to fear the virus, fear economic collapse, and fear…each other. But have you ever wondered how fear works? To answer that question, we talked to Frank Furedi a sociologist, social commentator, and author of 26 books including How Fear Works.
Frank and CIS policy analyst Monica Wilkie discuss the shift from assuming people are resilient, to assuming they are vulnerable. What impact has how fear ridden culture had on individuals and society?
The Most Consequential Budget of our Generation. Covid-19 has blown an unprecedented hole in the budget and rapidly changed policy debates in Australia. Our 30 year run of growth is gone. The recession has returned and predictions of surplus have been replaced by dire forecasts of debt and deficits.
The Australia that emerges post coronavirus will be very different and Australia’s think tanks are presenting contrasting visions for the future. We invited Emma Dawson, executive director of Per Capita, Stephen Kirchner, program director of trade and investment at the United States Studies Centre and Danielle Wood, chief executive of Grattan Institute to debate the outcome of the long-awaited 2020 Federal Budget.
This week, we host a special Episode of On Liberty host by CIS Research Director Simon Cowan. Simon Will speak with Senior Fellow of the CIS Economics Program Robert Carling.
On April 16, Prime Minister Morrison signalled after the immediate pandemic-induced crisis, a market-oriented economic agenda is needed to help the economy rebound and drive investment for tomorrow’s prosperity. A growth agenda that is provided not by politicians throwing money at favoured sectors, but by the private sector being freed to invest by being taxed and regulated less.
Join us for a special On Liberty with host CIS Research Director Simon Cowan as he speaks Senior Research Fellow in the economics program, Robert Carling. Rob and Simon will analyse, comment, and digest the #Budget2020. You too can join the live conversation and ask questions by tuning in from 10 am (AEST) via YouTube or here on Facebook.
"The argument that you need government funding to encourage innovation is not true", Matt Ridley.
Matt Ridley’s new book is called "How innovation works and why it flourishes in freedom". The main lesson of the book is: prosperity comes from innovation. Matt focuses on how certain deregulation would improve the rate in which we can innovate and therefore be prosperous. He tells us, "the worst thing government can do for innovation is to make decisions slowly."
CIS is focused on how best to revive the Australian economy and boost productivity. We are committed to promoting policies that allow people to be free to innovate, that shake up the culture of over-regulation that has shackled the entrepreneurial spirit of the economy for too long.
Join CIS Executive Director Tom Switzer as he asks what should governments do to encourage innovation? What deregulation will clear barriers for entrepreneurs? Why has innovation worked so well with technology but not vaccines or drug discovery? And given all the current doom and gloom, are you still a rational opportunist?
We welcomed psychiatrist Dr Carlos d'Abrera, a regular contributor to CIS. Carlos has worked in public hospital and community mental health services across Australia and the UK, alongside his written work. He is author of a 2018 CIS paper, Dying with Their Rights On: The myths and realities of ending homelessness in Australia.
Since the onset of the covid-19 pandemic, Australia’s health system has overnight transformed from a bureaucracy into an autocracy. With such uncertainty, the public has, for the most part, have behaved obediently and with good grace in the face of indefinite lockdowns, restrictions and under health orders -- though, how long can this last?
Join in the conversation live as host Salvatore Babones talks to Carlos about some of the unintended consequences that have arisen from this crisis. How have lockdowns impacted on rates of homelessness and the delivery of homelessness services? What is the long-term impact of abruptly mandating social isolation, particularly on the mental health outcomes and suicide rates? and, how are the different jurisdictions across Australia responding to these issues?
All eyes are on America in the lead up to November 3. When the presidential race comes to an end one thing is certain, the US will be fractured.
If Donald Trump is re-elected, outrage by left-wing political and media sophisticates will further alienate tens of millions of Americans who do not share their values. Yet, if Joe Biden wins, a display of anything other than humility would be equally alienating and would divide even more deeply a crisis-ridden nation.
How has it come to this? What is the likely path the US will take, both at home and abroad, once the pandemic passes? Are these two old men really the best America has to offer?
On Thursday, 1 October at 9 am we hosted a US Election election special with PJ O’Rourke & Conrad Black to hear two strikingly different views of how the September 30 Presidential debate went down and which candidate they thought would, or should, win the 2020 US Presidential Election.
We are pleased to welcome John Anderson, former Leader of the National Party and Deputy Prime Minister to On Liberty, this Thursday, 24 September. John has published many recent articles on topics including: civic freedoms, global food security, modern slavery and the economy. On top of this he runs johnanderson.net.au, where he hosts regular interviews with prominent Australian and international guests.
The 20th century’s failed experimentation with socialism serve as a strong lesson that, despite its idealistic promises of equality, it has led to nothing but oppression and poverty. John will discuss the importance of civic institutions in forming cohesive societies and what can be done to ensure young people learn about socialism’s shortcomings.
Join in the conversation live as host Salvatore Babones asks John whether ‘Scandinavian Socialism’ is false dichotomy, can the impending US Presidential election usher a Democratic government in favour of socialist tendencies and why Australian youth are lurching to the left?
📖 See more from CIS here: https://www.cis.org.au/
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⏲️ Missed last week? Watch and listen to Episode 25, Extra, with Glen Fahey and Peter Achterstraat: https://youtu.be/lr4m8RD-1P4
Tune in live On Liberty, every Thursday at 10am.
Join us for On Liberty Extra, a one-off live webinar hosted by CIS Research Fellow, Glenn Fahey. In this webinar, Glenn will speak with Peter Achterstraat AM, the inaugural NSW Commissioner for Productivity. Peter has recently launched a Green Paper, titled Continuing the productivity discussion.
In these especially challenging economic times, productivity-enhancing reforms are needed more than ever. In Peter’s Green Paper, he highlights why investing in the knowledge and capabilities of individuals is foundational to sustaining economic prosperity. Reforms to all sectors of education have the potential to more efficiently and effectively deliver outcomes and prepare individuals for the demands of the modern workforce.
Watch online and join the conversation with Glenn as he asks Peter how education reforms can drive productivity growth, how schools and training providers can better prepare individuals amidst current headwinds, and what would more effective and efficient education look like in NSW?
📖 See more from CIS here: https://www.cis.org.au/
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⏲️ Missed last week? Watch and listen to Episode 24, with Gene Tunny: https://youtu.be/lr4m8RD-1P4
Tune in live On Liberty, every Thursday at 10am.
On Liberty this week, Thursday, 17 September, we welcome Gene Tunny, Founder and Director of Adept Economics. Tunny, with co-author Ben Scott, has a forthcoming CIS paper: Rationalising Regulation: Helping the economy recover from the corona crisis.
Regulatory constraints are impeding business growth and their removal or adjustment would yield large economic benefits. The relaxation of a range of restrictions to respond to the pandemic—e.g. around supermarket delivery times and the availability of liquor for takeaway—suggests governments can move quickly to eliminate or improve regulations.
Join in the conversation live as host Salvatore Babones asks Gene what regulation is necessary to protect public health? What regulations should be lifted to assist the many struggling business owners? And what regulation amendments would have the biggest impact to the Australian economy?
📖 See more from CIS here: https://www.cis.org.au/
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⏲️ Missed last week? Watch and listen to Episode 23, with Greg Lindsay: https://youtu.be/yGAAqcNwLK0
Tune in live On Liberty, every Thursday at 10am.
On the show this week, Thursday, 10 September, we welcome founder of CIS Greg Lindsay AO.
From a backyard shed in Pennant Hills to shop-top above Uncle Pete’s Toys in St Leonards and now Macquarie Street in Sydney's CBD, Greg built the CIS from a one-man operation into the self-sustaining institute it is today. His goal throughout was to "make the philosophic foundations of a free society once more a living intellectual issue," as Friedrich Hayek said we must.
Join us live, to hear Greg's story and ask your own questions about how he turned a timeless idea into one of Australia's leading think tanks.
📖 See more from CIS here: https://www.cis.org.au/
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⏲️ Missed last week? Watch and listen to Episode 22, with Chin Jin: https://youtu.be/cENayWZnD8g
Tune in live On Liberty, every Thursday at 10am.
On the show this week, Thursday, 3 September, we are joined by Dr Chin Jin, president of the Federation for a Democratic China. Dr Jin will discuss the prospects for democracy in China today.
Chin is a member of the "1989 generation" of Tiananmen refugees in Australia and a longtime activist in the China democracy movement. He will explain how the tianshi, dili, and renhe of social change are all lining up for a transformation of China.
Is Xi Jinping's repression working? Or is it only bringing closer the day when the Chinese people will stand up to demand a voice in their own government? Join us live tomorrow at 10 am AEST to hear what Dr Chin Jin has to say.
📖 See more from CIS here: https://www.cis.org.au/
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⏲️ Missed last week? Watch and listen to Episode 21, with Peter Kurti: https://youtu.be/9dPDYq5NiT0
Tune in live On Liberty, every Thursday at 10am.
On Liberty, host Salvatore Babones speaks with Peter Kurti. Peter is Director of Culture, Prosperity & Civil Society program at the Centre for Independent Studies. In his recent paper, he warns that the drive to eradicate offensive words, images, and opinions from the public square is rapidly displacing liberal commitments to freedom of speech.
‘Cancel culture’ campaigns in Australia are intended to erase elements of our history and to deny the record of those who helped found this country. The impulse to impose a revised interpretation of the past poses a danger that threatens to corrode civility, destroy civic trust, and fuel community discord.
Join us as we discuss Australia's cancel culture.
📖 Read Peter's paper here: https://www.cis.org.au/publications/analysis-papers/cancelled-how-ideological-cleansing-threatens-australia/
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⏲️ Missed last week? Watch and listen to Episode 20, with Claire Lehmann: https://youtu.be/fCTHo-vkmTM
Tune in live On Liberty, every Thursday at 10am.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
On the On Liberty show this week, host Salvatore Babones will speak with Claire Lehmann. Claire is Australian journalist and the founding editor of Quillette.
Covid-19 has vastly accelerated the electronic communication trends that were already occurring. The adoption of digital business, away from bricks and mortar is becoming second nature. Claire will discuss how these changes may, and already have, impacted schools and online businesses.
As the world pivots to this new reality, we'll discuss what these online interactions means for education, for people's social lives (and events). Claire and Salvatore will discuss how all of these trends have wider implications for culture, politics and liberty.
"Although I don’t support the Tehan plan to steer student demand to ‘national priority’ fields, from day one I have supported increasing the number of student places." Andrew Norton
On episode.19, host Salvatore Babones will speak with Andrew Norton, co-founder of CIS Liberty & Society and Professor of Higher Education at the ANU Centre for Social Research and Methods.
New fee reforms are sending mixed signals to students and the universities that are supposed to educate them. Although the government has set clear teaching priorities, universities may be incentivised to forgo government funding altogether for some fields and offer places based solely on students' contributions. While the coronavirus recession will certainly create more demand for university places, will universities have the right incentives to offer the supply?
Host Salvatore Babones will ask Andrew to give an overview of his recent articles on the government's proposed university fee reforms.
On the show, host Salvatore Babones will speak with Dr Oliver Hartwich, Executive Director of fellow free-market think tank The New Zealand Initiative in Wellington.
New Zealand is envied for its zero community cases of Covid-19, but the economy is hurting and the current hard border closure is controversial. Right now, all focus is on the present. The upcoming election obscures the political horizon, while, beating the virus has become the hallmark of the Prime Minister’s reputation.
Join us for episode.18 of On Liberty as we ask how did NZ got through Covid? What kind of leader Jacinda Ardern is? How their economy is faring? and where the challenges lay for NZ in the coming years?
Join us for On Liberty Extra a one-off live webinar hosted by CIS Indigenous program director, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price. In this webinar, Jacinta will speak with Nyunggai Warren Mundine, Chairman and Managing Director of Nyungga Black Group, political strategist and author of recent CIS paper ‘It’s the economy, Stupid; economic participation is the only way to close the gap’.
Last week the federal government announced sweeping changes in relation to Closing the gap. In doing so, they have committed to setting unrealistic targets, while also omitting to address any targets for the reduction of violence against Indigenous women and children. In his recent paper: Warren addresses the clear gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. He writes, the gap exists for one reason, and one reason only - many indigenous people do not participate in the economy. The key areas of economic participation are having a job and setting up a business. Both depend on commerce and private enterprise.
Watch online and join the conversation with Jacinta as she raises the question how can we develop an indigenous policy toward economic participation? What is required from governments to lessen the gap? And why we have failed time and time again in the protection of our indigenous and most vulnerable?
A discussion between leading experts on the future of Australian education. Pasi Sahlberg and Greg Ashman, two of Australia’s leading voices in education, to be moderated by respected journalist Jordan Baker, Education Editor of The Sydney Morning Herald.
In 2020 Covid-19 has rocked education systems in Australia and around the world. Rather than attend schools in-person, many students were learning from home — placing new pressures on teachers and schools. Along with these new challenges are competing visions about priorities and practices of schooling in a rapidly changing world.
Does a business-as-usual approach risk fail to learn from the experience? What’s important in schooling for the future? Do we have to rethink teaching, curriculum, and assessment for the 21st century?
Security trumps prosperity. China, Australia, the US and the Asia-Pacific region. Many people think Canberra can still finesse the US-China dilemma and sit on the sidelines and enjoy the best of both worlds: unconstrained trade with China under the US security umbrella. Are those days over?
Has China’s persistent cyber-espionage, its growing intimidation of Hong Kong and Taiwan, its aggressive build-up of military outposts beyond its border in the South China Sea – has all this forced Australia into Washington’s anti-China coalition? How do we respond to Beijing’s threat to economically bully Australia?
Or are doubts about American staying power in Asia real? Why would a powerful China accept US-led military forces operating in its backyard? If Beijing tries to dominate Asia, are we confident that the Americans have our back? What are the risks involved in further antagonising our largest trade partner?
📖 Read more from CIS here: https://www.cis.org.au/
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____________________
The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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If there is one thing that almost everyone agrees on, it is that not everything is super with Superannuation.
Some call for greater flexibility in the super system, and others say that the system is being rorted by the rich and the rules need to be tightened. Yet the problems and solutions on each side of the debate seem radically different. One side says that we need more super, the other side says we need to abandon the proposed increase in the compulsory super rate. One side says that super governance is dominated by vested interests, particularly the unions, while the other points out that industry super has massively outperformed retail funds.
Should the super guarantee continue to increase to 12%? Is super fit for purpose? Well, it all depends on who you ask. Former CIS researcher Dr Stephen Kirchner called superannuation “Libertarianism Paternalism without the libertarianism”, while CIS Research Director Simon Cowan argues super that super is a bad deal for millennials.
This webinar, How to fix super, involved speakers James Pawluk, Executive Director, Superannuation & Universal Ownership at the McKell Institute and Andrew Bragg, Liberal Senator for New South Wales gave their firm views of the problems with Super and its future direction. CIS Director of Research Simon Cowan, moderated the conversation and raised the question, how will super affect the rise and fall of Australian taxes?
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Andrew Bragg is a Liberal Senator for New South Wales. Prior to his election to Federal Parliament in 2019, Andrew was an author and accountant. Andrew started his career as an accountant at Ernst & Young and went on to work in senior roles at the Financial Services Council and the Business Council of Australia. Pick up Andrew's new book Bad Egg: How to fix super (Connor Court) here.
James Pawluk is Executive Director, Superannuation & Universal Ownership at the McKell Institute, having previously been its founding Victorian Executive Director. Prior to joining the Institute, James was Manager of Business Development for Australia Post. James has also served as Senior Advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff to various Federal Cabinet Ministers with experience across areas such as government service delivery, digital transformation, budget processes, policing and customs.
Simon Cowan is Research Director at the CIS. Simon is also Director of the CIS TARGET30 program that aims to reduce government spending to less than 30% of GDP over the next 10 years. He is a leading media commentator on policy and politics, frequently appearing on the Sky network, ABC television and commercial radio. Simon is a regular columnist for The Canberra Times.
📖 Read more from Simon here: https://www.cis.org.au/experts/research-scholars/simon-cowan/
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____________________
The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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The debate over cancel culture and the culture wars continues to rage. CIS welcomes back former guest Dave Rubin. Policy analyst, Monica Wilkie, turned the microphone on Dave to get his take on cancel culture, liberalism, free speech and, of course, the upcoming US presidential election.
Dave is the host of the incredibly popular YouTube show The Rubin Report. A self-described classical liberal, Dave's first book entitled Don't Burn this Book: Thinking for Yourself in an Age of Unreason (McClelland & Stewart) was released in April 2020. He has been a consistent voice in the fight for freedom of speech and has interviewed some of the most influential and erudite thinkers on topics ranging from history to politics and culture.
__________________
The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
Follow CIS on Socials Twitter - https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndependentstudies/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/
On Liberty returns, for season 2, with Janet Albrechtsen.
In her latest column for The Australian, she warns us to be on our guard against "a new generation of self-appointed cultural dietitians" who are determined to tell us what cultural fare we can and can't consume.
Albrechtsen writes that "intolerance delivers a triple whammy. First, it hinders our ability to sift the good ideas from the bad ones. Second, by shutting down robust debates, cancel culture will create unhinged, self-professed martyrs who thrive in online echo chambers, nurturing their hatred and bigotry far away from logical argument. And finally, the practitioners of cancel culture will stoke deep resentments that can easily be exploited by leaders who may not be defenders of a truly liberal democracy."
Join us, to discuss cancel culture at home and abroad. We'll ask Janet Albrechtsen about cancel culture from the days of Aesop's Fables to the aftermath of Harry Potter, with a stop-over in Manhattan to talk about Harper's, New York magazine and the New York Times. Can the modern liberal democratic project succeed?
Read Janet's column here- https://www.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/how-to-cancel-cancel-culture/news-story/817b19fb7fe28f0dd6c88f20d5941399 ____________________
The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
Follow CIS on Socials Twitter - https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndepe... Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/
Lionel Shriver and Brendan O'Neill sit down with CIS fellow Monica Wilkie for The Woke Inquisition, an online discussion on the recent race crisis, protests in the UK, the BLM movement and cancel culture.
Everything from The Golden Girls to brown rice is now ‘problematic’ as activists seek to erase anything ‘offensive.’ Is this akin to past censorious movements when books were burnt, and statues toppled or is this something different?
We now see shows like The Simpsons announcing they will not allow white voice actors to voice non-white characters. Is the end of fiction rapidly approaching? With statues, beloved children’s authors, and beer in the firing line will there be anything left after this latest round of cancellations?
Brendan O’Neill is the editor of Spiked Online and a former CIS scholar in residence. He is author of A Duty to Offend (2015) and Anti-Woke (2018).
Lionel Shriver is author of numerous international bestseller novels and a columnist with The Spectator in London. Lionel was recently in Australia for CIS as our 2019 Annual Lecture & Dinner. ____________________
The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
Follow CIS on Socials Twitter - https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndepe... Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/
On Liberty, host Salvatore Babones speaks with Glenn Fahey. Glenn is Research Fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies, working across economics and education programs. In his recent article at The Spectator Australia, he warns that the government’s centrepiece JobSeeker and JobKeeper packages risk becoming RecoveryPreventers.
Government can’t prop up the country indefinitely nor can it spend Australia into prosperity. As lockdown restrictions unwind, so too must the associated emergency measures. The defining challenge facing policymakers is how to taper off unsustainable income support without sinking the economy.
Join us as we discuss Australia's welfare policy response to the pandemic. We will ask Glenn: what options are government now faced with? What are the immediate threats to Australia emerging from the pandemic? And, most importantly, what will aid Australia to move from pandemic to prosperity?
In the battle of ideas, the Centre for Independent Studies is like a munitions factory, churning out the material to push the trench line a few kilometres forward. The spiritual reward for researchers, analysts and scholars is a chance to see their policy ideas put into policy practice. Another payoff for producing successful ideas is often access and influence.
At the beginning of the year, we invited the NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian to address a CIS lunch at our Macquarie Street office. However, the coronavirus crisis derailed plans.
Earlier this year, Prime Minister Scott Morrison was under fire for his handling of the bushfires, floods and sports funding scandals. Yet, on the eve of the federal Eden-Monaro by-election, he enjoys high approval ratings while the Coalition edges narrowly ahead in national approval. So the question is, how has the Morrison Government managed this pandemic-endued crisis and will it lead us back to prosperity? What lessons from history can we learn? Indeed, is Morrison the clever leader like Menzies who by his principles, political skills, and unrelenting effort, resisted some of the unwise popular orthodoxies of his time, promoted considerable change and founded modern Australia? Or is Morrison a sheep in sheep’s clothing, leading a government of least resistance to the incessant demands now being made on modern government every day?
Join us for Episode 14 of On Liberty this morning at 10 am AEST. Host Salvatore Babones will welcome Scott Prasser, author of forthcoming title Robert Menzies: Man or Myth (Connor Court). We'll take a look back in history to Australia’s longest-serving prime minister, Sir Robert Menzies, who led the party that he founded, the Liberal Party into Government, from 1949 to 1966 winning seven successful elections in a row.
Scott has worked in senior policy and advisory roles in state and federal government public service. From 2013 to 2019 he was Senior Adviser to three federal cabinet ministers covering portfolios of education and training, and regional health, sport and decentralisation and has published on the Howard Government, Liberal-National party politics and royal commissions.
"It is becoming clear that cancel culture knows no limits. Old, incredibly valuable pieties at the heart of liberalism are being eroded."James Allan
On the show this week Salvatore Babones hosts James Allan, Garrick professor of law at the University of Queensland. In his recent article in The Australian, Allan notes how online twitter mobs don't argue against an opinion or view, rather argue against your view being able to exist at all.
The offence-givers and offence-takers imagine themselves as enemies. Cancellation culture is a false hope that we can erase those we don’t like. We'll discuss the dangerous ramifications of being caught up in this culture, the capture of universities and whether it's all about populism vs democracy.
We are pleased to have Dr Jennifer Buckingham to On Liberty. Jennifer is director of strategy and senior research fellow at MultiLit, and the founder and director of the Five from Five project. As a former senior research fellow, now CIS board member, Jennifer has been a integral part of the CIS Education program.
Launched five years ago, the Five from Five project was developed with the objective of promoting effective, evidence-based reading instruction, by providing free resources to teachers, principals and parents and advocating for evidence-based policy with politicians and policy makers.
Host Salvatore Babones will ask, what has been achieved in the five years of Five from Five reading project. What still needs improvement? And, most importantly, we'll ask what the impact of pandemic induced school closures means for students learning, especially for kids from disadvantaged backgrounds?
New South Wales Treasurer Dominic Perrottet joins CIS research director Simon Cowan to discuss the aftermath of the global Covid-19 pandemic.
The treasurer discusses the New South Wales response to the pandemic, particularly from an economic perspective. Most importantly he details the plan for recovery, emphasising the need for businesses to lead the growth and the importance of generating jobs.
We question the post-pandemic debt and deficit, and the effect this will have on future generations. Perrottet looks towards the future and the New South Wales budget, discussing his plan for fiscal and economic reforms to the state and the Federation. _____________________
The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/
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This week, On Liberty, host Salvatore Babones speaks with Lindsay Shepherd. Lindsay has been covering the anti-lockdown protests and is an Investigative Journalism Fellow with True North News in Canada.
As the pandemic started to grip the western world in March, governments of all persuasions around the world didn’t take long to embrace their newfound powers. Suppressing our liberties and freedoms with vast and sweeping lockdowns.
While there is certainly a role for government to manage the unfolding health and economic crises, we ask Lindsay Shepherd, to what end? Join us for a discussion about the lockdowns, the protests and what parallels can be drawn between Canada in Australia.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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A leading intellectual figure in the conservative movement for the best part of half a century, George F. Will is an optimist about America’s capacity to change and renew itself. But he remains a fierce critic of Donald Trump. Presidents seeking re-election bask in chants of “Four more years!” However, as George points out, in November most Americans might flinch: “Four more years of this? The taste of ashes, metaphorical and now literal, dampens enthusiasm.”
George F. Will is the Pulitzer Prize award-winning columnist for the Washington Post and a regular contributor to MSNBC. He is also author of several influential books, most recently The Conservative Sensibility. It was a great pleasure and high honour to spend quality time with one of the great political thinkers of the modern era.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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This week, Salvatore Babones is joined by Professor Matt Trau, Professor of Chemistry at The University of Queensland and Deputy Director and co-founder of the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology. Trau and his team at the Australian Institute for Bio-engineering and Nanotechnology are at the forefront of The University of Queensland's research into Covid.
Having flattened the curve of infections, we need to get on with the task of restoring faith in our society. We can argue back and forth why we weren't better prepared, why we didn't act sooner and why testing was initially slow. However, the question remains: what will it take to get us back to work and back to normal?
Just as the September 11 terror attacks led to dramatic upheavals, so will covid change our way of life. It may take a long time to find vaccines and therapeutic solutions. That means diagnostics tools are our best resource. Why then are we swabbing and testing in the same way we were three decades ago?
Trau will tell how portable nanotechnologies offer solutions that will allow Australians to function again. These next-generation technologies allow medical professionals to screen and test at the point of care, they give more accurate and quicker results and importantly, will propel us into prosperity in this new world.
The world's governments have picked 169 well-meaning targets, promising everything to everyone. But too many targets mean no priorities. The Copenhagen Consensus Centre has looked into the data and found the targets that would do the most good.
While participants at the World Economic Forum just voted the top global risk to be extreme weather, most of the rest of the world wants us to concentrate on the many other problems that cause much more damage than global warming. They point to the immense challenges within health, education, nutrition and corruption - issues, that are much less costly and easier to fix. Dr Lomborg worked with fifty teams of the world’s top economists and several Nobel Laureates to look at where the world can do the most good for every dollar spent.
Bjorn Lomborg presents some of the best investment options for humanity — and discuss how we can avoid some of the worst.
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This week, Salvatore Babones is joined by Robert Forsyth, Senior Fellow at CIS and previous Anglican Bishop of South Sydney. Rob is co-editor of the new book for CIS on religious liberty: Forgotten Freedom No More.
Rob will talk to Salvatore about the vulnerability of freedom of religion in Australia and why it is now the freedom that is forgotten no more. We'll take a look at the importance of religious practice and community in Australia and why now, more than ever, there is some cause for concern.
What is at stake if religious liberty is not protected? Why has it been so difficult to reach a consensus on a way forward?
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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On the show this week, Salvatore Babones will be joined by Blaise Joseph, Research Fellow in education and a former secondary school teacher. Blaise has written research papers on school funding, evidence-based education policy, and national testing in Australia.
The current haphazard school arrangements are harming children’s education, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Given the massive previous taxpayer investments in technology, why weren't the States and Territories better prepared for remote learning? There is light at the end of the tunnel. Parents and policymakers have generally had enough, and schools are now on the path to completely re-open in most states and territories with the notable exception of Victoria.
Blaise will give us an overview of the current status of school closures in Australia highlighting inconsistencies and mixed messaging between states. We'll ask what the impact of school closures mean for students learning, especially for kids from disadvantaged backgrounds? What does the medical evidence say? Isn't it possible that there are some benefits of students learning from home?
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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The downhill slide in relations between China and the US is a dangerous development. The friction does not just reflect a bullying Communist regime’s opacity concerning the outbreak of Covid-19. Nor is it the result of a chaotic Trump administration trying to distract attention from its own failures in curbing the virus.
Something much deeper and much worse is at stake: a potential clash between what two great powers perceive to be their vital interests. According to one of Australia’s leading strategic thinkers Alan Dupont, the US-China standoff over trade, technology and strategy “has precipitated a new cold war.”
Alans says, “In an epoch-defining clash for global leadership, the world’s two major powers are wrestling for strategic advantage in an increasingly bitter contest to determine which of them will be the pre-eminent state of the 21st century. No matter how cleverly spun, a trade deal is not going to get the relationship back on track because both countries have moved from a framework of cooperation to one of open rivalry and strategic competition.”
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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At a time when tensions are running high, CIS Executive Director Tom Switzer asked Has China Won? Our debate between John Mearsheimer and Kishore Mahbubani, two of the world’s leading foreign policy intellectuals. Covid-19 has greatly raised tensions between China and the West. Washington and its allies express outrage at the Communist regime’s opacity concerning the outbreak of the coronavirus. Meanwhile, fears are growing that a pandemic that began in the Chinese city of Wuhan may end by increasing Beijing’s international influence and power.
Kishore Mahbubani is author of Has China Won? The Chinese Challenge to American Primacy (just out, PublicAffairs) A former Singaporean ambassador to the United Nations (twice), he was the founding dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. He was a guest of CIS in September 2018.
John Mearsheimer is author of The Great Delusion: Liberal Dreams and International Realities (Yale University Press, 2019) and The Tragedy of Great Power Politics (Norton, 2014.) He is professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago. He was a guest of CIS in August 2019.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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On the show this week, Salvatore Babones was joined by April Palmerlee, CEO of the AmCham, the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia. AmCham includes around 500 company members representing hundreds of thousands of employees operating throughout Australia.
The United States is the biggest investor in Australia, full stop. No one else comes close, not even China. More than 100,000 people in Australia today were born in the United States, with many more claiming American citizenship by descent. American companies employ 420,000 people in Australia on a median salary of $115,000 per year. They spend a billion dollars a year locally on research and development.
April talked to us about the many roles played by American companies in Australia and the importance of the US-Australian relationship for both countries.
Salvatore Babones speaks with Jacinta Price, Director of the Indigenous Program at the Centre for Independent Studies. Jacinta joins us live from Alice Springs, where she serves as a Town Councillor, to discuss how lockdown compares in remote communities.
They discussed what 'social distancing' means in the wide-open spaces of remote Australia, where local quarantines and 'biosecurity zones' are a way of life. Jacinta will explain the government's efforts to keep the coronavirus out of remote settlements with rudimentary medical facilities, and how the pandemic has affected the daily lives of people living in some of Australia's most challenging environments.
Are aboriginal communities complying with restrictions? How do we get the indigenous economy moving again after such a set back?
Our weekly live-stream hosted by Salvatore Babones, featuring discussions on how Australian society has been impacted by Covid-19. For your chance to question CIS researchers and other guests join us live on YouTube and Facebook each week.
On the show this week, Salvatore Babones speaks with James McBrayer, CEO of the listed medical technology company Cyclopharm and CIS Member. James's company is rare in that it still manufactures here in Australia. The local production line manufactures and distributes the components to several of its products including Technegas, a radio-pharmaceutical used in lung ventilation imaging.
We'll be asking James about how his company's products may help fight the coronavirus, the regulatory complexities in operating across jurisdictions and the impact of the variations among healthcare systems. James and Salvatore will also address the current challenges posed for medical supply chains with increased demand across the sector.
Watch to find out what it is like to run a multinational pharmaceutical company in the face of such global uncertainty
On the show this week, Salvatore Babones speaks with CIS Policy Analyst Monica Wilkie. Monica writes on free speech, freedom of religion and identity politics. She is passionate about defending the principles of individual liberty and small government to ensure all Australians can live their lives as they see fit.
This pandemic has forced the majority of our society into self isolation, and we are now working and 'socialising' from home at an unprecedented level. Technological advancements such as teleconferencing have been praised for helping keep us all connected during this lock down. But is it possible to substitute face-to-face interaction? And are there long-term implications of depriving people of our fundamental need to socialise - in person?
On the show this week, Salvatore Babones spoke with Alexander Downer, Australia's longest-serving foreign minister and chairman of The UK Policy Exchange In London, about how to "manage the aftermath" of the coronavirus pandemic.
Writing in the Australian Financial Review, Alexander Downer recently argued "The federal government now has to start thinking about its exit plan and sell this through the national cabinet to the states. It has to develop acceptable criteria for winding back social isolation and, at some point, end the substantial subsidies to business and the offer of free childcare."
Host Salvatore Babones spoke with Peter Kurti, who directs the Culture, Prosperity & Civil Society program at the Centre for Independent Studies (CIS). Peter discussed the morality of Australia’s response to coronavirus pandemic: hoarding, profiteering, and toilet paper. Beginning the series with a discussion and Q&A session, we’ll look at the community and societal responses to the crisis.
"In the rush to save ourselves [from COVID-19], we are in danger of losing sight of the needs of our neighbours, many of whom are more vulnerable and less able to fend for themselves." Peter Kurti
In his CIS Ideas article, he went on to suggest that: Whilst not being complacent about the virus, and being sure to observe public health guidelines, we also need to check the fear that arises from speculation and rumour. We need to cultivate the capacity to live calmly in the face of what we do not know. It’s one of our national traits that makes Australia the envy of so many other countries. Admired for our egalitarian spirit of optimism and a reluctance to take ourselves too seriously, now is the time – like no other – for us to hold fast to our sense of mateship.
Read Peter's CIS Ideas article at - https://www.cis.org.au/commentary/articles/taking-toll-on-society/
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On the show this week, Salvatore Babones speaks with Judith Sloan, contributing economics editor at The Australian. They'll focus on repairing the economic damage that has been done and what strategic economic policies should be pursued by the government.
Could we have had lower economic costs and still managed the virus well? Does the situation in other countries attest to the health and economic damage wrought if the virus is not well managed? How do we spur a revival of manufacturing to offset disrupted supply chains and ensure security and prosperity?
On Liberty is our weekly live-stream hosted by Salvatore Babones. The show focuses on wide-ranging discussion with the great and the good on how Covid-19 affects Australian society. Please join our CIS researchers and other guests live on YouTube and Facebook each week, or watch past episodes here.
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Tune in live On Liberty, every Thursday at 10am.
For the past seventy or so years, the United States of America has been the bastion of freedom and democracy, shining the light of its noble ideals around the world and championing those ideals whenever they came under threat. Since the end of the Cold War, American political leaders and policymakers have unashamedly championed U.S. global leadership – from Asia and Europe to the Persian Gulf. However, a few libertarians and classical liberals warned an ambitious foreign policy inspired by vision and sense of mission was fraught with the danger of unintended consequences. It would also represent the kind of foreign policy that has been instrumental in building up the power of states throughout history.
CIS’s scholar in residence for 2020, Doug Bandow, is one of those critics — opposing various U.S. ventures, most notably the US-led wars on terror after September 11, 2001. But the circumstances are changing. In the Trump and Bernie Sanders era, calls for abandoning America’s ambitions of global pre-eminence are growing. If these views prevail, what are the consequences for long-standing U.S. treaty allies, such as Australia?
Doug Bandow is CIS scholar in residence in 2020, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute in Washington and a former special assistant to president Ronald Reagan.
Australia isn’t the only country exposed to a novel coronavirus recession in China. The COVID-19 epidemic is first and foremost a human tragedy, but it also has raised fears about the performance of the Chinese economy and everyone who supplies it. According to some scholars, such as Minxin Pei, the outbreak of the new and deadly epidemic is exposing the vulnerabilities of China’s top-down regime. He calls it a disease of Chinese autocracy. Coronavirus, the argument goes, highlights the already low levels of trust in party-state media reporting.
Others disagree, arguing that Beijing has handled the crisis better than anyone had expected compared with two decades ago. After all, Beijing has been more transparent than it was with the SARS epidemic of 2002-03. And in response to the crisis, the regime has locked down cities, cut transport links and is rapidly building new hospitals and medical facilities.
But what happens if the virus can’t be suppressed? How significant will the economic loss and severe travel restrictions be for China? Has coronavirus changed the political calculus on Australia-China relations? Or are these concerns overblown?
Speakers; Doug Bandow is CIS scholar in residence in 2020, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute in Washington and a former special assistant to president Ronald Reagan. Natasha Kassam is research fellow in the diplomacy and public opinion program at the Lowy Institute. Sue Windybank is the director of the CIS project on China and free societies. Vicky Xu is a journalist, a comedian and a researcher for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s Cyber Policy Centre. Salvatore Babones is an adjunct scholar at CIS and professor of sociology at the University of Sydney.
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The world's governments have picked 169 well-meaning targets, promising everything to everyone. But too many targets mean no priorities. The Copenhagen Consensus Centre has looked into the data and found the targets that would do the most good.
While participants at the World Economic Forum just voted the top global risk to be extreme weather, most of the rest of the world wants us to concentrate on the many other problems that cause much more damage than global warming. They point to the immense challenges within health, education, nutrition and corruption - issues, that are much less costly and easier to fix. Dr Lomborg worked with fifty teams of the world’s top economists and several Nobel Laureates to look at where the world can do the most good for every dollar spent.
Bjorn Lomborg presents some of the best investment options for humanity — and discuss how we can avoid some of the worst.
Many seasoned experts of American politics believe Donald Trump is the most vulnerable first-term president since Jimmy Carter four decades ago. After all, his refusal to abide by familiar presidential decorum, especially in his public statements and attacks on individuals, turns off a majority of voters.
However, the Democrats are moving to the ideological Left so rapidly that they may let Trump turn this year’s presidential election into a choice between Trump’s policy record (tax cuts, deregulation) that has led to a more prosperous America and the most extreme US left-wing agenda in living memory.
In the immediate aftermath of the Iowa Caucuses, CIS executive director, Tom Switzer convened our panel on the state of US politics in 2020. The result, which was marred by delays, technical mishaps and confusion came in a week as Donald Trump delivered the State of the Union and survived impeachment.
Who’s the most likely Democrat contender? Why is the party of Kennedy and Clinton becoming more interventionist on economic issues? What might a Democratic victory of the White House and both houses of Congress in November mean for America and the world? Doug Bandow is senior fellow at the Cato Institute in Washington and the CIS scholar-in-residence for 2020. He was special assistant to president Ronald Reagan.
April Palmerlee is chief executive of the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia and a former assistant secretary in the US State Department in the George W. Bush administration.
Stephen Loosley is senior fellow at the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney and a former Labor senator and ALP national president.
Gorana Grgic is lecturer in US politics and foreign policy at the University of Sydney and visiting scholar at the Harvard Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies.
Subscribe to the CIS Newsletter: https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Follow the CIS on: http://www.cis.org.au Twitter: https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndependentStudies LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/
To launch Restoring Hope: Practical Policies to Revitalise the Australian Economy by Andrew Stone, CIS welcomed former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, editor-at-large for the Australian, Paul Kelly and CIS executive director, Tom Switzer. Andrew, Tony, Paul and Tom sat down to have a conversation on Australia’s economic outlook for 2020, climate policy and immigration, the panel also took questions from the audience.
It was also at this forum which former Prime Minister Tony Abbott called for middle-class women to have more children, saying current rates of childbirth among this group were a "real problem". https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/abbott-calls-for-middle-class-women-to-have-more-children-20200128-p53vkx.html
Since the Howard government, Australia’s per capita growth rate has slumped and wage growth has been anaemic, while housing prices have skyrocketed relative to household incomes. Commonwealth net debt has surged and Australia has become much more vulnerable to an economic shock than prior to the Global Financial Crisis. This volume prescribes practical policy remedies covering immigration, the housing market, higher education reform, federal-State relations, energy policy, workforce participation, welfare reform, budget repair, monetary policy and financial system regulation.
Subscribe to the CIS Newsletter: https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Follow the CIS on: http://www.cis.org.au Twitter: https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndependentStudies LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/
For all of the CIS Economic Policy research click here: https://www.cis.org.au/research/economic-policy/
Changing the Debate; Our expert panel comprised of CIS’s Indigenous Program director, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, Nyunggai Warren Mundine AO, Dr Anthony Dillon and Chris Kenny of Sky News joined us at the Centre for Independent Studies for a conversation on how best to change the debate surrounding indigenous issues.
When the nation debates whether we should change the date of Australia Day, we should ask; How is any of this going to improve the lives of Indigenous Australians in practical terms? How is this going to generate economic development and employment opportunities, reduce rates of domestic violence, reduce rates of incarceration, produce better health outcomes or help Indigenous Australians empower themselves away from the victim mentality? Will the “Voice” help or hinder indigenous prosperity?
In recent years, symbolic acts and gestures have distracted and deferred attention from the real issues that Indigenous Australians face. However, since the 1970s, governments and NGOs have been motivated by good intentions to overcome Indigenous disadvantage. Yet the billions of tax dollars spent have not appeared to close any measurable gap.
Check out Jacinta's recent article from January 22, 2020 in The Australian: https://www.cis.org.au/commentary/articles/culture-to-blame-for-much-of-indigenous-family-violence/
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For all of the CIS research on Indigenous Affairs click here: https://www.cis.org.au/research/indigenous-affairs/
The 2019 CIS Nanny Awards take a look back at the year's best and most absurd attempts of the state to try to meddle and infringe on our daily lives. Presented by CIS Executive Director, Tom Switzer and Emeritus Professor Steven Schwartz.
1st; The Australian Federal Government's bash ban. 2nd; New South Wales Police ban dancing at Sydney’s Fringe Festival. Equal 3rd; Nanny state risking our right to cheese and the City of Bunbury bans mermaids from public swimming pools.
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On Thursday, 5 December we launched Richard Alston’s new book, More to Life than Politics (Connor Court). Alston, a renowned former cabinet minister of the Howard Government and high commissioner in London was joined by former Prime Minister John Howard, they sat down to conversation led by Tom Switzer.
In his book, the former diplomat, barrister, cabinet minister and veteran Liberal senator details among other things his role in the major national debates about privatisation, innovation, information technology, the Arts and the ABC.
“A brilliant politician in exactly the right place when the Internet arrived.” Ziggy Switkowski, CEO, Telstra (1999-05)
“His obvious intellect and his love of the Arts laid the foundations for today’s successes.” David Gonski, Chancellor, UNSW (2005 – Present)
“An outstanding communications minister, who really understood the industry.” John Howard, Prime Minister (1996-07)
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China has become a key nation for Australia’s future – for our security, economy and identity. But what are China’s intentions when it comes to Australia? In the Xi Jinping era, Beijing has stepped up its campaign for influence, over hearts and minds, mineral and agricultural resources, media outlets and sea lanes. Yet the Communist regime wants more — as much power and influence over Australia as it can possibly get, using fair means or foul.
However, what Beijing can get is limited not just by China’s abilities, but also by Australia’s will. In each case, where Chinese officials or agents attempted to intrude, they met Australian resistance. And they failed. For all its power, China is neither all-powerful nor irresistible. Australia can shape its engagement with Beijing.
Peter Hartcher is political editor of the Sydney Morning Herald and author of Quarterly Essay’s “Red Flag, Waking up to the China Challenge”
Julie Bishop was foreign minister of Australia from 2013 to 2018 and federal Liberal Member for Curtin from 1998 to 2019. Bishop was also the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party from 2007 to 2018.
Brexit Party MEP and Director of the Academy of Ideas Claire Fox discusses how the Remainer elite have delegitimised the Brexit vote. Ever since the British people voted to leave the European Union in 2016, Remainers have actively tried to thwart the will of the people. They constantly spin a narrative, that Brexit voters were stupid and gullible to know what they voted for. If this process has shown one thing, it is how thin democracy is, and how easily same and willing to throw it away when they don't win.
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In conversation with Sue Windybank, Geoff Raby discusses the internal and external problems plaguing China. Unrest in Hong Kong threatens Beijing's authority. Whereas, economic challenges and a trade war with the US risk future economic growth. Raby has been a vocal critic of Australia's approach to the PRC and believes inflamed rhetoric risks this important bilateral relationship. What does the future of China/Australia relations look like? And, can Australia reset their foreign policy in the Asia region?
Australian economist and diplomat Geoff Raby discusses the potential fallout from the Hong Kong protests. After more than four months, it appears there is no solution to the Hong Kong crisis. The longer the protests continue the more Beijing will see Hong Kong as a threat to their authority. At home, Beijing needs to ensure its economic growth continues. What will the next stage of Chinese development look like?
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Director of the Free Market Foundation Mate Hajba, has been a strong critic of Hungarian Prime Minster Viktor Orban. Hajba says, under Orban, there has been an undeniable erosion in the rule of law in Hungary. But Orban still has political opponents, and it is not impossible to win elections.
When Hungary is discussed in Australia, it usually involves Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Mate Hajba says Orban is one of the most divisive figures in Hungary, since the fall of Communism. Hajba argues that what Orban has built is an illiberal democracy - modelled after China and Russia. Although there has been an erosion of freedoms - and Hajba is very critical of Orban - it is not impossible to win elections. Prosperity doesn't come in you don't work for it - so what does the future of Hungary look like?
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American historian Daniel Pipes discusses antisemitism. Islamic antisemitism remains the greatest threat. But many western countries are witnessing a rise in left-wing antisemitism. Pipes attributes this to a certain sympathy many western leftists have towards various Islamic causes. Pipes also believes non-Muslims need to help reformers and moderates to modernise Islam.
Islamic terrorism has meant that we in the west now openly talk about Islam. Daniel Pipes, suggests that this discussion should focus on the Muslim reformers and how the west can help them to fight the fundamentalists.
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In this interview with Simon Cowan, economics professor, John Taylor argues that countries should focus on cutting taxes and regulation if they want to boost growth. Taylor also suggests that central banks need to become better strategists and explain their decisions.
It has been an interesting decade in monetary policy. Professor of economics John Taylor discusses the warning signs we ignored, and what can be done to avoid a crash in the future. In an attempt to stimulate economic growth the US has focussed on reducing tax rates and regulation. Taylor suggests other countries should follow suit. Taylor also warns of the potential dangers of economists becoming too partisan and insists we need to continue to have good economic discussions.
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Parental school choice in Australia. Led by Fiona Mueller, the CIS education program focuses on School Choice and School Funding among its key areas of research.
School choice continues to be a policy area that attracts considerable public attention, particularly concerning funding strategies. Choosing a school is important to parents, but new CIS research shows that many experience buyer’s remorse.
To coincide with the release of our upcoming report on school choice, we held a discussion moderated by Fiona Mueller CIS education program director. The panel featured Glenn Fahey CIS research fellow, Dallas McInerney, CEO of Catholic Schools NSW, Michael Nuttall, Executive Officer of Australian Primary Principals Association and Dianne Giblin, CEO of Australian Council of State School Organisations.
Dallas McInerney was appointed CEO of Catholic Schools NSW in August 2017. CSNSW is the representative body of almost 600 Catholic schools. It is also the system authority for the approximately 550 NSW Catholic diocesan schools, with responsibility for their funding, distribution, compliance and governance. Previously, Dallas spent two decades in financial regulation and public policy across the government and private sectors.
Michael Nuttall was appointed Executive Officer of the Australian Primary Principals Association (APPA) in late 2010. With over 30 years in primary school education, he has taught in government, Catholic and Independent schools and was principal of two primary schools over twelve years. Michael oversees the operations of APPA’s Canberra-based national office and provides executive-level support to its elected President, 28-member National Advisory Council and 8-member Board.
Dianne Giblin is CEO of the Australian Council of State School Organisations (ACSSO), Di leads the secretariat of a national organisation whose motto is ‘One voice for every child in public education’. Over the past 35 years, her passion for education has seen her in roles such as founding Director of the Public Education Foundation, the Primary Ethics Board, the Parenthood Board. Di has also worked for the NSW Department of Education.
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In his book, Ten Remarkable Australians, Ian Macfarlane pens biographical essays about ten Australians, who were once prominent and well known for their achievements on the world stage, but whose images have faded from the national memory. Written in the tradition of the eminent historian Geoffrey Blainey, Macfarlane salutes the Australia of this period and its talented expatriates.
Ian Macfarlane and Tom Switzer – host a discussion on this fascinating new book. Macfarlane hopes to rekindle interest in our history among the broader community and aims to give the modern reader an opportunity to discover these individuals.
Tom Switzer is executive director of the Centre for Independent Studies and a former editor of the Spectator Australia.
Ian Macfarlane was governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia from 1996 to 2006. His book is Ten Remarkable Australians: They made their mark on the world but were forgotten (Connor Court).
“This is a journey into Australia’s forgotten past, a series of compelling portraits of astonishing figures whose lives deserve to be recalled and celebrated.” – Paul Kelly
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Hear from Simon Heffer, a leading conservative commentator who has known Boris Johnson for three decades, as we discuss the UK’s newest and most enigmatic leader.
The British Conservative grassroots have voted Boris Johnson for leader in large numbers because they believe he has the charisma, showmanship and, incidentally, views on Brexit to ensure Britain leaves the European Union successfully on October 31. As a result, the Tory rank-and-file members believe their re-born party will win the next general election handsomely.
However, Simon Heffer has serious doubts. Boris is not a lovable rogue, nor is he likely to unite the Conservative party. No one, according to Professor Heffer, should bet on the new Prime Minister shaping the destiny of Britain and her people for much more than a brief, and possibly deeply troubling, interlude.
Simon Heffer is a columnist for The Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph, London, and professor of modern British history at the University of Buckingham. He is author of, among other influential books, High Minds: The Victorians and the Birth of Modern Britain and The Age of Decadence: Britain 1880 to 1914.
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The arts are battered and boxed in by the proliferating dos and don’ts of political correctness, the predations of gotcha identity politics and the hypersensitivities of the #MeToo movement.
The John Bonython Lecture is the annual Gala event for the Centre for Independent Studies. Designed to advance the principles of free choice, individual liberty, defend cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas – this year’s lecture was no different.
Award winning American author and opinion writer Lionel Shriver delivered this year’s lecture. She eviscerated the modern-day obsession with identity politics, political correctness and the hypersensitivities of the #MeToo movement that are threatening creativity.
Shriver’s breakout novel We Need to Talk About Kevin has sold over 1 million copies and was made into a feature film starring Tilda Swinton.
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The arts are battered and boxed in by the proliferating dos and don’ts of political correctness, the predations of gotcha identity politics and the hypersensitivities of the #MeToo movement.
The John Bonython Lecture is the annual Gala event for the Centre for Independent Studies. Designed to advance the principles of free choice, individual liberty, defend cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas – this year’s lecture was no different.
Award winning American author and opinion writer Lionel Shriver delivered this year’s lecture. She eviscerated the modern-day obsession with identity politics, political correctness and the hypersensitivities of the #MeToo movement that are threatening creativity.
Shriver’s breakout novel We Need to Talk About Kevin has sold over 1 million copies and was made into a feature film starring Tilda Swinton.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping’s increasingly hardline rule at home and growing assertiveness abroad show few signs of moderating despite recent pushback. If anything, Beijing is becoming more uncompromising — whether it be over the Uighurs in Xinjiang and protests in Hong Kong, or in the South China Sea as its military power grows.
Meanwhile, Australian attitudes towards the PRC are hardening. Protests have broken out over Confucius Institutes on university campuses, and there have even been calls to nationalise the Darwin port leased to a Chinese company a few years ago.
But can Australia afford to get tougher with China? One in three of our export dollars are earned in Chinese markets and further economic opportunities beckon. Or should the question be: can we afford not to get tougher with the PRC, as the divergence between our values and security interests grows starker?
Join human rights advocate and CIS scholar-in-residence Anastasia Lin, chairman of Vantage Asia Holdings and China Matters advisory board member Jason Yat-sen Li, and CIS adjunct scholar and Sydney University political sociologist Salvatore Babones for a discussion of these issues and more. The discussion will be moderated by Sue Windybank, convenor of the CIS China and Free Societies program.
Anastasia Lin is a human rights advocate and the 2019 scholar-in-residence at The Centre for Independent Studies. She is also the Macdonald-Laurier Institute’s ambassador for China policy and a senior fellow at the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights.
Jason Yat-sen Li is Chairman of Vantage Asia Holdings, a Senate Fellow at the University of Sydney, and an advisory board member of China Matters.
Salvatore Babones is a political sociologist at the University of Sydney and an Adjunct Scholar at The Centre for Independent Studies. He is author of the CIS report, The China Student Boom and the Risks It Poses to Australian Universities.
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China uses its trade power as leverage to infiltrate institutions and bully virtually every Western nation. Anastasia Lin knows this firsthand, having grown up in Communist China and faced down the regime as an international human-rights activist. Even after Chinese rights advocates immigrate to the West, the Communist Party uses their family members in China as leverage to silence and intimidate them. The free world should unite to counter Beijing’s abuse.
Anastasia Lin, an actress and Miss World Canada 2015, is the Centre for Independent Studies scholar-in-residence in 2019. She is the Macdonald-Laurier Institute’s ambassador for China policy and a senior fellow at the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights.
In 2015, Lin was denied a Chinese visa to attend the 65th annual Miss World contest on the southern Chinese island of Hainan, because of her outspoken advocacy for human rights and religious freedom in China.
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For years, Australian policymakers have balanced China’s desire for an enhanced regional role with our desire for U.S. protection. However, contrary to the Canberra consensus, there is going to be an intense strategic rivalry between our major trading partner and our major strategic ally.
According to John Mearsheimer, one of America’s leading foreign-policy thinkers, Washington will not let China become the dominant military power in the region without putting up a serious fight. In these circumstances, it’s naïve to think that Australia can sit on the sidelines and get the best of both worlds: unconstrained trade with China while keeping the U.S. security umbrella over its head. Canberra must support Uncle Sam.
However, Australia’s future will be dominated by China, says one of Australia’s leading strategic thinkers Hugh White. Treasury forecasts show that the Chinese economy will be about 80 per cent bigger than America’s within a dozen years. In this environment, Canberra must prepare for the new strategic terrain in the wake of America’s declining leadership, and we would be unwise to support Washington in a confrontation with China that America probably cannot win.
John Mearsheimer is professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago and author of "The Great Delusion: Liberal Dreams and International Realities" (Yale University Press).
Hugh White is professor of Strategic Studies at the Australian National University in Canberra and author of Quarterly Essay “Without America: Australia in the new Asia” (November 2017).
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As China converts its growing economic power into military power, it will seek to dominate Asia the way the U.S. has dominated the western hemisphere since the 19th century.
Washington will go to great lengths to prevent China from seeking regional hegemony. The tensions over tariffs, Taiwan and Hong Kong are just the beginning of a deteriorating Sino-American relationship.
Australian foreign-policy elites seem to think that they can either wish away the intense security competition or that, if the conflict materialises, Canberra can sit on the sidelines: China and the US can duke it out while Australia is safe, secure and prosperous. Perhaps, but this is not how international politics works.
John Mearsheimer is professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago and author of The Tragedy of Great Power Politics (W.W. Norton, 2001).
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As our 2019 Helen Hughes lecturer, Michael Ondaatje surveys the increasingly tribal political landscape of modern America. Paying special attention to the toxic racial politics of the Trump era, explain why the dream of a “post-racial” society has died, and how it might be revived.
The United States is more divided today than at any time since the Vietnam War era. Society is fracturing along crude identity lines. Anger and grievance are ascendant. Obsession with common enemies overrides concern for the common good. According to some experts, America is at the crossroads.
Professor Michael Ondaatje is Pro Vice-Chancellor (Arts and Academic Culture), and Professor of American History, at Australian Catholic University and Dr Jeremy Sammut, is a senior research fellow and the director of the Culture, Prosperity and Civil Society Program at the Centre for Independent Studies.
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Dr Jeremy Sammut and Maurice Newman – former chairman of the Australian Stock Exchange and columnist with The Australian newspaper – had a conversation about what can be done to stop corporate political meddling and to ensure that business keeps out of politics.
Major Australian companies are increasingly involved in contentious political debates – such as Indigenous Recognition – that are not the business of business, and are all in the name of what is known as “Corporate Social Responsibility”.
In his new book Corporate Virtue Signaling: How to Stop Big Business from Meddling in Politics, CIS Senior Research Fellow Dr Jeremy Sammut, argues that if the CSR activists operating inside Australia businesses get their way, companies will become political players campaigning for ‘systemic change’ behind ‘progressive’ social, environmental, and economic causes.
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How do policymakers and regulators balance restoring trust in our financial system with maintaining the flow of credit? Australia’s banking industry had long had a reputation for being among the world’s safest for investors. Its reputation has been tarnished in recent times after the explosion of scrutiny from the Hayne Royal Commission.
Hear from Anna Bligh, Chief Executive Officer at the Australian Banking Association, and Simon Cowan, Research Director at the Centre for Independent Studies.
For sound analysis of the state of conservative politics, please join Sir Bill English (former New Zealand prime minister), Sir Craig Oliver (former director of politics and communications to British prime minister David Cameron and currently a Principal with global CEO advisory firm Teneo) and Jennifer Hewett (national affairs columnist with the Australian Financial Review).
Plus, as Britain makes a chaotic exit from the European Union, the Tories are in dire straits, having copped a drubbing in the recent local elections and preparing for the worst in the upcoming European Parliament elections. In New Zealand, meanwhile, the centre-right National Party is in Jacinda Ardern’s shadows.
What’s the state of conservatism in Australia, Britain and New Zealand? Where to now? Can the Liberals, Conservatives and National party remain broad churches? And what will be the likely impact of Brexit on Australian/NZ/UK relations?
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With Britain’s ruling Conservative Party in disarray, and against the backdrop of a chaotic British exit from the EU, there is a real danger that Britain is lurching to the left. Join us to get an in-depth analysis of the British Conservative crisis and the rise of millennial socialism.
Forty years ago, Margaret Thatcher led her Conservative Party to victory and set the scene for a wave of privatisation and deregulation across the Anglosphere. From the Keynesian mindset that delivered economic stagflation and the “winter of discontent” in the 1970s, the UK, as well as the US, Australia and New Zealand, moved to an era of sounder policy and more durable prosperity.
Today, as the cause for competitive markets and free enterprise appears quixotic, it is easy to forget how depressing things looked four decades ago and how the economic reforms unleashed by the Thatcher Revolution led to a golden age.
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Pundits all too often call political fiascos “circuses.” But rarely does a political class oblige by providing several rings of entertainment at once. Such has been the British Conservative government’s attempts to leave the European Union by April 12.
Meanwhile, the Tories under Prime Minister Theresa May plunge into one melodrama after another. The British Labour Party under socialist Jeremy Corbyn has vacillated and equivocated over Brexit. As for the British public, their trust in Westminster has dissipated dramatically since the 52%-48% referendum to leave nearly three years ago.
To get an up-to-date analysis of Brexit, Alexander Downer, former foreign minister (1996-07) and high commissioner in Britain (2013-18) and Tim Montgomerie, founder of ConservativeHome, a centre-right political blog in the UK, and former editorial page editor of The Times joined us at the CIS for a conversation with our director Tom Switzer.
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Managing Partner of McKinsey, Robert McLean AM and Belinda Hutchinson AM, Chancellor of the University of Sydney were at the CIS for the launch of Bulletproof Problem Solving: The One Skill That Changes Everything (Wiley). Co-authored by CIS director Robert McLean AM and Charles Conn.
"Navigating ambiguity and solving complex problems creatively is the truth test for humans to complement rather than substitute the artificial intelligence of computers. Without much better approaches to teach those skills, our schools risk preparing second class robots rather than first class humans. Rob McLean and Charles Conn show that this can be done and provide an intuitive roadmap for how to do this, with lots of real-world examples that make it fun" – Andreas Schleicher, Director for the Directorate of Education and Skills, OECD
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Join John Lee, former senior advisor to foreign minister Julie Bishop and senior fellow at the Hudson Institute in Washington alongside James Laurenceson, acting director of the Australia China Relations Institute for a wide-ranging discussion. Moderated by Sue Windybank, convenor of a new CIS project on China and free societies.
For decades, it was widely held that China’s economic progress would create the internal conditions for a more democratic regime that would be more stable and less of a potential global threat. But Beijing has not followed the “end of history” script.
So have we been naive about China? Is Australia’s longstanding pragmatism—putting differences aside to focus on shared interests—still tenable? To what extent does Beijing threaten our national sovereignty? And how can we best preserve political autonomy in a regional order that increasingly revolves around China?
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One of the major battlegrounds in the upcoming NSW state election will be for the Upper House. After March 23, centre-right minor parties are likely to hold the balance of power.
It raises the issue of why third parties matter. As the broader Liberal-National coalition shows increasing signs of splintering, what third party best represents the path to a sound governing and legislative agenda at both state and federal levels?
Mark Latham, former federal Labor leader and One Nation candidate, Senator David Leyonhjelm, outgoing Liberal Democratic Party senator and LDP candidate along with Dr Greg Walsh, Australian Conservatives candidate are all vying for seats in the NSW Upper House this election and formed our panel.
Miranda Devine Columnist for the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph moderated the panel and delved into that question of why third parties matter.
Who best represents the path to a sound governing and legislative agenda at both state and federal levels?
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Queensland LNP Senator Amanda Stoker visited the CIS for our first Leadership Lunch of 2019.
With a strong desire to see Australia return to a country of opportunity based on centre-right beliefs, Senator Stoker hopes to actively engage with Australian’s on social issues and not just on its traditional economic strengths, suggesting that Australia’s current cultural trends reflect the centre-right’s abdication of this responsibility over the last two decades. Senator Stoker represents the young, fresh face of free speech and traditional values in a party she says has ‘vacated the field’ out of shame.
Amanda Stoker has been a LNP senator for Queensland since March 2018.
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As NSW prepares for the March 23 election, the “premier state” is in reasonably good condition. Retail spending and business investment are up, the budget is at $1.1 billion surplus and unemployment is at 4.3 per cent. Meanwhile, Sydney’s major public projects — from the new Sydney Metro to the WestConnex underground motorway scheme and Sydney Light Rail — are well underway.
And yet opinion polls show that the Coalition and Labor are neck and neck. Why? Are federal factors at play? What distinguishes Liberal premier Gladys Berejiklian from the Labor Opposition leader Michael Daley? Is either party committed to productivity-enhancing economic reform?
Nick Greiner, former NSW Liberal premier from 1988 to 1992, Bob Carr, former NSW Labor premier from 1995 to 2005 and host Brigid Glanville, ABC’s NSW political reporter, were at the CIS to discuss the state of the state.
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Join former High Court justice Michael Kirby and Geoffrey Lehmann for the launch of Leeward: A Memoir (NewSouth) at the CIS.
Geoffrey Lehmann has been one of Australia’s leading poets and tax lawyers for several decades. A partner of PwC and chairman of the Australian Tax Research Foundation, he was involved in the design of Australia’s GST and other tax legislation. He was also short-listed for the T S Eliot Prize. His poetry has appeared in the New Yorker and in 2015 his Poems 1957-2013 won the Prime Minister’s Literary Award (Poetry). His Australian Poetry Since 1788, co-edited with Robert Gray, was one of The Economist’s best books of 2011.
In his frank memoir, Geoffrey describes how he was the late child of a bookish mother and a working-class father. Much to his mother’s surprise, his father, who was a launch driver, bought three houses on the waterfront at McMahons Point and became a slum landlord in the era of rent control. As a 10-year-old child, reading the begging letters from dozens of would-be tenants, Geoffrey became an economic rationalist and an atheist.
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On Thursday, 31 January our panel of speakers thrashed out the issues surrounding women in politics.
Are setting affirmative-action quotas the answer to boosting female representation? Or is a merit-based system of choosing candidates a better option? Are claims of a bullying culture inside the Liberal Party true? Is Labor playing the gender card and identity politics? Who’s had better policies on improving the lives of women? Labor or the Coalition?
Ticky Fullerton (moderator), formerly with the ABC and Sky News, anchors Ticky, weeknights on Your Money.
Karina Okotel is a senior civil lawyer at Victoria Legal Aid and a federal vice president of the Liberal Party.
Eugenie Joseph is a senior policy analyst at The Centre for Independent Studies.
Kristina Keneally, a former NSW premier, is a Labor senator for NSW.
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Join Brendan O’Neill, one of Britain’s quirkiest, wittiest and liveliest commentators, in conversation with Jeremy Sammut, head of research at the CIS.
The PC brigade continues to entrench itself in the western body politic. Waging war on the past is all the rage. Along with its various campus manifestations such as “safe spaces,” political correctness has become a kind of pathology that damages the capacity to argue and reason. How should we challenge PC?
Brendan O’Neill is the editor of Spiked Online and a former CIS scholar in residence. He is author of A Duty to Offend: Selected Essays by Brendan O’Neill.
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For generations, we just assumed democracy is fixed and given. However, all across the world, democracies are sick and suffering from a crisis of confidence. Polls show just a third of Australians are satisfied with the way our democracy is working. Public trust in our politicians is at record lows.
So, how do we restore faith in democracy? Is there too much corporate and foreign money involved in the electoral process? Is the noisy and relentless media cycle the cause of the problem or the symptom? Is political polarization likely to get worse? How do we attract better elected representatives? How do we do democracy better?
Join us for a lively conversation with Luca Belgiorno-Nettis, of newDemocracy, and Glenn Barnes, Company director, as well as Janet Albrechtsen, columnist with The Australian and Matthew Lesh, a research fellow with the IPA and author of Democracy in a Divided Australia (Connor Court).
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William McMahon was a significant, if widely derided and disliked, figure in Australian politics. Was he our worst prime minister? How did he get to the Lodge? Was he the first free-market “dry” politician to take on the orthodoxies of protectionism and economic interventionism?
The first biography of our 20th prime minister tells the story of his life and his role in the great debates over Australia’s economic direction in the 1960s and 1970s. A man whose life was coloured by tragedy, comedy, persistence, courage, farce and failure. McMahon’s story has never been told at length – until now.
Join Patrick Mullins, author of Tiberius with a Telephone: the Life and Stories of William McMahon (Scribe) with The Australian’s Editor-at-Large Paul Kelly for a conversation about one of our most intriguing prime ministers and his place in Australian political and economic history.
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US midterm elections are usually bad for the President’s party, but amid a booming economy this year’s congressional races are more difficult to predict.
The jobless rate recently fell to 3.7 per cent (the lowest since 1969) and the stock market (shrugging off the Trump tariffs) keeps surging to new highs. Meanwhile, both Republicans and Democrats will use Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court to fuel enthusiasm and turnout for the midterms.
Watch Tom Switzer alongside panelists: Greg Sheridan is foreign editor of The Australian; Bob Carr, a former foreign minister, is director of the Australia-China Relations Institute; and April Palmerlee is chief executive officer of the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia - discussing on elections' night the results of the midterms and what they mean for American politics and foreign policy.
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The NSW Opposition leader visited the CIS to set out an overview of Labor’s vision ahead of the March 2019 state election and how his values of a fair go affect public policy.
In 2010 Luke was elected to the Legislative Council of NSW. Since 2015 he has been leader of the NSW Labor Party and Shadow Minister for Western Sydney.
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The vision of the John Bonython Lecture is to inspire Australians to advance principles that constitute a Free Society -- to promote free choice, individual liberty, defend cultural freedom, and the open exchange of ideas. This year's lecture was no different, as we welcomed Daniel Hannan to take the stage which has previously showcased Francis Fukuyama, Rupert Murdoch and Ayaan Hirsi Ali.
Daniel Hannan is a leading British writer and journalist. After 17 years as a Member of the European Parliament, campaigning for British withdrawal from the EU, he succeeded in abolishing his job in the Brexit referendum on 23 June 2016. Author of nine books, including New York Times bestseller Inventing Freedom: How the English-Speaking Peoples Made the Western World and Sunday Times bestseller Vote Leave. His latest is What Next: How to get the best from Brexit.
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The vision of the John Bonython Lecture is to inspire Australians to advance principles that constitute a Free Society -- to promote free choice, individual liberty, defend cultural freedom, and the open exchange of ideas. This year's lecture was no different, as we welcomed Daniel Hannan to take the stage which has previously showcased Francis Fukuyama, Rupert Murdoch and Ayaan Hirsi Ali.
Daniel Hannan is a leading British writer and journalist. After 17 years as a Member of the European Parliament, campaigning for British withdrawal from the EU, he succeeded in abolishing his job in the Brexit referendum on 23 June 2016. Author of nine books, including New York Times bestseller Inventing Freedom: How the English-Speaking Peoples Made the Western World and Sunday Times bestseller Vote Leave. His latest is What Next: How to get the best from Brexit.
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Amidst the debate about Chinese influence in Australia, NSW Minister for Education, the Hon. Rob Stokes MP, sat down with CIS Executive Director, Tom Switzer to discuss a range of issues that are crucial to the future of free speech in Australian universities.
Most discussion of threats to free speech in Australian universities focuses on the impact of identity politics and political correctness. Yet a bigger threat to free speech on Australian campuses may be the heavy reliance of the multi-billion-dollar higher education sector on fee-paying international students — especially from China.
How do universities pursue their commercial objectives without compromising academic freedom? How do we deal with an increasingly assertive Chinese Government willing to flex its economic power and international muscle?
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There is a natural impulse in people to bring the rich and powerful down - to create equality and a better, more decent society. The impulse was drowned out for the latter part of the 20th century by knowledge in the West of how horribly wrong the Communist experiments had gone. However, new generations are growing up knowing little or nothing about what happened. They have no intellectual defence against the apparent idealism of Marxist thought and are increasingly tempted to accept it.
James Bartholomew is columnist and former editorial writer for the Daily Telegraph in London. He also worked for the Financial Times and the Far Eastern Economic Review, in Hong Kong and Tokyo. He is author of The Welfare of Nations. He coined the term “virtue signalling” in The Spectator in 2015.
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A recent Productivity Commission report, Rising Inequality? A stocktake of the evidence, shows that although inequality has risen, Australia retains a high degree of economic mobility. With that, our panel - Jonathan Coppel, Melinda Cilento, Simon Cowan and Robert Carling - thrashed out the issues and sought to answer the question: Does inequality matter?
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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Andrew Neil is the presenter of Daily Politics, This Week (the BBC’s leading political television shows), and is recognised as one of Britain’s most distinguished broadcasters and political journalists.
Join Andrew Neil in conversation with CIS executive director Tom Switzer, about the state of politics in Australia, where political instability isn't really that bad, about the political landscape in Britain and how the prospect of a no deal Brexit is looming closer.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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Tumultuous events in Canberra during the course of the last week, led to a change of Prime Ministers.
Join Tony Abbott as he delivers his views on the current state of the Liberal Party, the potential of the new government announced and a broader discussion on the state of Australia’s political landscape.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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University campuses throughout the West are in the grip of a troubling social phenomenon, now in danger of spreading beyond the ivy walls. Once bastions of intellectual rigour and freedom of thought, universities have become closed-minded and self-censoring, pandering to what appear from the outside to be ridiculously heightened sensitivities and undeserved entitlement.
Safe spaces, trigger warnings and counselling on demand have become commonplace. Teaching staff who speak out are being intimidated, silenced and vilified. Students who choose to think against the mainstream are harassed and ostracised. Has normal teenage angst been institutionally mollycoddled and even pathologised?
Join Dr Tiffany Jenkins author, Keeping their Marbles, Claire Lehmann Founder & Editor of Quillette, Professor Steven Schwartz AM Senior Fellow, The Centre for Independent Studies and Lindsay Shepherd Graduate, Wilfrid Laurier University, for a robust debate.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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Conversation with The Australian’s Foreign Editor Greg Sheridan and CIS senior research fellow Peter Kurti on the intellectual, historical and cultural case for belief in God.
Australia and many parts of the West are losing faith in God. And yet the Judeo-Christian tradition has created and underpinned the moral and legal fabric of Western Civilisation.
Where the moral certainties that underpin Australia’s institutions and laws are no longer held by the majority, we – both the believers and non-believers – find ourselves in a fraught situation.
In his new book, God Is Good For You (Allen & Unwin), Greg Sheridan sets out how modern Christians have never worked so hard to make the world a better place at a time when their faith has never been less valued.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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Conversation with former Prime Minister John Howard and CIS executive director Tom Switzer on the threats to Australia’s core cultural institutions and beliefs.
Australia is still a free country, but our politically correct times are such that many serious subjects cannot be discussed openly without inspiring condemnation from what John Howard once called “self-appointed cultural dieticians.”
Some of the most enthusiastic proponents of suppressing dissenting opinions come from a younger demographic that has little understanding of history and its lessons.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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Michael Stutchbury, editor-in-chief of the Australian Financial Review, launched at the CIS Peter Hendy’s Why Australia Slept: How the Australian community sleep-walked across the decades jeopardising its abundant natural blessings.
Australia is in danger of sleepwalking into the future. For decades, Australia “slept” through a period of high tariff protection and heavily regulated industries. As a result, by the 1970s its relative living standards were in decline. The situation was saved by significant free-market reforms instituted from the 1980s through to the early 2000s. Since the later-2000s, however, the country has been resting on its laurels with only minimal reform. There are danger signals everywhere, from the domestic economy to our international relations and the rise of China. Canberra needs a wake-up call.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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As Treasurer, Dominic Perrottet is focused on financial discipline and making better use of the resources government has, enabling it to improve services and invest in critical infrastructure, while at the same time lowering the tax and regulatory burden.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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Dr Jeremy Sammut, Senior Research Fellow at the centre, gives his submission during the second public hearing of the House of representatives standing committee on the social policy and legal affairs in Canberra for the enquiry into local adoption.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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Short intervention of Jennifer Buckingham from the CIS in the Education Card of A Current Affair about Gonski 2.0 and NAPLAN.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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Simon Cowan's participation to a discussion panel with Elaine Pearson, Erin Watson-Lynn, Katharine Murphy and Merriden Varrall on the ABC show The Drum.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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Xi Jinping seeks to entrench his legitimacy as unchallengeable ruler for the next decade or more, by leading the People’s Republic into international leadership, with its governance becoming a global model.
Tom Switzer is joined by Rowan Callick, one of Australia’s leading China watchers, in conversation at The Centre for Independent Studies.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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Peter Costello delivered 12 budgets — 10 of them surpluses — and when he left office, Australia’s economic position was the envy of the world: large surpluses, no debt, high growth and low unemployment. With his wealth of experience and expertise, Costello tells us what we really need to know about the 2018/19 Budget and Australia’s fiscal direction.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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ABC Nightlife host Philip Clark breakdown the budget with guests Simon Cowan from the Centre for Independent Studies, Peter Martin, Economics Editor for the Age and Cassandra Goldie, Chief Executive of the Australian Council of Social Services.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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The Treasurer Scott Morrison will hand down the 2018 Federal Budget next week. What will it tell us about the state of our economy and political environment? Tom Switzer asks two experts from the left and right of the political spectrum.
Ben Oquist, Executive Director - The Australia Institute Simon Cowan, research fellow in the economics program - Centre for Independent Studies
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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Is this Gonski 2.0? Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham and Jennifer Buckingham from The Centre For Independent Studies answer all your questions about changes to the education system.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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Senate Economics References Committee Sydney 24/04/2018. Comments by CIS economic researchers Simon Cowan and Mathew O'Donnell.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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Member of Parliament Ken Wyatt visited the CIS to give a speech on Indigenous Health and explain his view that simply “more funding” is not the solution.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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Former prime minister Tony Abbott has recently called for slashing immigration to deal with Australia’s housing and infrastructure challenges. As a result, he has sparked a debate that goes beyond ideology.
Meanwhile, opinion polls indicate growing opposition to high levels of migration that have helped shape public policy in recent decades. Has Australia’s long economic expansion been dependent on immigration? Take out population growth, would our miracle economy have gone into recession? Is a Big Australia feasible these days?
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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March 13 marked the 25th anniversary of the 1993 federal election contest between the incumbent Paul Keating and John Hewson. In the lead up to the recession ‘we had to have’, John Hewson emerged as the leader of the opposition Liberal party. He set out early and launched his Fightback policy in late 1991 representing the Coalition’s new future policy direction.
Join our panelists for a discussion that delved into the past and asked: How consequential was the race? Did Keating’s demolition of the Coalition’s free-market manifesto herald the demise of the reform agenda in Australia? And, did the “unlosable election” spell the end of political transparency?
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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The CIS had the pleasure to welcome Sadanand Dhume, a resident fellow at the Washington-based American Enterprise Institute and distinguished commentator on Indian politics.
Narendra Modi is India’s most powerful prime minister in the past three decades. He is also the most dominant leader in the combined 67-year-old history of his right-of-centre Bharatiya Janata Party and its predecessor party. Has he met the high expectations that so many people raised in 2014 when he won a landslide election? Is he truly a transformative figure? Will he challenge the shopworn ideas in economics and foreign policy that have shaped India since independence in 1947?
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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After nine years of centre-right governments under Prime Ministers John Key and Bill English, New Zealand has new leadership. Led by Labour Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, and supported by New Zealand First and the left-wing Greens, the new coalition has pledged to take the country in a different direction.
Changes to industrial relations, housing and even monetary policy are on the cards. So, how interventionist is this new New Zealand Government? To what extent does it mark a radical departure from its predecessor’s policies?
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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Leigh Sales at the CIS discussed the growth of social media and its implications on the public policy landscape.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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Britain’s ruling Conservative Party is falling deeper into disarray. With Brexit negotiations faltering, and against the backdrop of last year’s election disaster, there is a real danger that Prime Minister Theresa May’s days are numbered.
Meanwhile, Britain’s Labour Opposition – which may be the next governing party at Westminster – is extending its march to the left.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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The Australian economy is in its 27th year of continuous economic growth. Unemployment rate is 5.4 percent. The global economic outlook is bullish yet real wages remain flat. What is Labor's economic agenda?
Shadow Treasurer, The Hon Chris Bowen MP, outlines the economic reforms the Labor Party intends to implement should they win the next election.
Elected to the House of Reps in 2004, Chris Bowen has been a familiar face in politics for some time. He has served as Treasurer and Immigration Minister in the Rudd and Gillard Governments and as acting Federal Labor leader in the aftermath of the 2013 federal election. He is author of Money Men: Australia's Twelve Most Notable Treasurers (MUP).
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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Join our full lineup of panellists Jacinta Price, Peter Fitzsimons, Anthony Dillon, Geoffrey Winters, Norma Ingram & Jeremy Sammut for a debate on Australia Day.
Calls are growing to move Australia Day away from January 26. But is having the national day on the anniversary of the First Fleet’s arrival in 1788 really insensitive to Indigenous people? How would changing the date help the plight of Aboriginal Australians? And if we change Australia Day, what date should we choose?
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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Urgent action is needed to address the epidemic of violence in Indigenous communities. Aboriginal women are between 37 and 80 times more likely to experience family violence than non-Indigenous women. For too long, the voices of the victims of domestic violence have been oppressed and silenced.
As part of the ongoing advocacy to address this issue, The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) Indigenous Research Program was pleased to present the voices of three outspoken and fearless Aboriginal women, Professor Marcia Langton AM, Councillor Jacinta Price and Lawyer and businesswomen, Josephine Cashman who spoke about their personal experiences with family violence, and the policy and community levers that could rapidly decelerate high rates of violence.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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People have lost faith in both the free market and in government. Capitalism and investing are now pejorative terms, while the government is increasingly seen as unable to balance its budget — and as wasting taxpayer money on poorly-judged strategies.
However, there is increasing interest in social impact investing: a strategy that could restore faith in market strategies, prevent excessive government waste on social programs and infrastructure — and deliver results to Australia’s most disadvantaged people.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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Whistleblower Edward Snowden revealed that the NSA hacked the internet as a key part of the ‘Five Eyes’ intelligence program. Since these revelations in 2013, legislation has largely served to give a secure legal backing to what was previously an undisclosed, covert and sometimes informal national surveillance program.
In the private sphere, we are now on the brink of an AI revolution, where machine learning combined with big data will yield unprecedented efficiencies and capabilities.
Privacy and security are both areas of major importance to civil society, so we must ask when does national security surveillance go too far and erode our civil liberties?
This talk argued that the key issue with both public and private sector surveillance is not a trade-off between privacy and security or privacy and consumer satisfaction rather, the key issue is the centralisation of power that big data enables, and the effects that this has on our freedom. This talk also explored ways to make sense of this politically and outlined what policy options are available.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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Minister for Social Services Christian Porter outlined the rationale and benefits for welfare policy changes, including the Basics Card and drug testing of welfare recipients.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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The Australian taxpayer pays considerable support for people in need, but the problems of poverty seem intractable. So, what other issues should we be thinking through?
Family breakdown, drug and alcohol abuse, indigenous disadvantage, poor educational outcomes all feed into the current culture of poverty that seems impossible to resolve.
New and creative intellectual policy ideas need to be considered and the Minister outlined some of these.
The primary approach to tackling child poverty over the last 30 years – higher income support payments and more community services – will not provide the solution to significantly reducing entrenched impoverishment over the next 30 years. Rather, we will have to collectively address what I call the ‘pathways to poverty’ more systemically. These include welfare and other dependencies, poor education standards and family breakdown. This is the focus of much of the government’s efforts.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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Poor behaviour in schools is a significant factor undermining student achievement. International data suggests behaviour in Australian schools is among the worst in the world, and reviews have found many teachers are not given practical, evidence-based classroom management strategies in initial teacher education courses. Strong, supportive school leadership is crucial. Schools with high standards of behaviour have common practices that can help all schools maintain the orderly, safe culture necessary for quality teaching to take place, optimal learning to occur — and for children to flourish.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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Mr Abbott says that the biggest regret of his prime ministership was the government's failure to consider acquiring nuclear-powered submarines and, even now, ponders whether this is a debate we need to have.
In his time as Prime Minister, the carbon tax and the mining tax were repealed; free trade agreements were finalised with China, Japan and Korea; and the people smuggling trade from Indonesia to Australia was halted. Australia became the second largest military contributor to the US-led campaign against ISIL in Iraq and hosted the G20 meeting of global leaders in Brisbane in November 2014.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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Today almost everyone affirms the importance of ‘values’ but few would insist these are shared moral essentials. How is it that the most common term of our political and even private moralities became so relativistic and what, if anything, could be offered as an alternative?
Law Professor, cultural observer and theorist on religion and pluralism, Professor Iain Benson, offers us some insights and guidance on steps he argues are essential for education, justice and politics in our time.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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Before his retirement from politics, Andrew Robb was Australia’s Minister for Trade and Investment in the Abbott and Turnbull Government. In this role Mr Robb negotiated Free Trade Agreements, investment roundtables and created Strategic Partnerships in our region and abroad. As we approach the first 100 day mark of the Trump administration, it is timely to remember that the biggest impact of President Trump on Australia probably remains his first executive order scrapping the Trans Pacific Free Trade Agreement. As a small trading nation, Australia’s prosperity is threatened by the rise of neo-Protectionism both abroad and locally. Drawing on his vast experience of free trade agreements with South Korea, Japan and China, as well as the 12 country of the Trans Pacific Free Trade Agreement on Australia’s behalf, the Hon. Andrew Robb, explains why freer trade is in our national interest – and why America’s turn towards protectionism under Trump is bad news for the Australian economy.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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England’s schools have undergone substantial changes in the last decade, including: introducing systematic phonics teaching and the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check; implementation of the Shanghai model of maths education in thousands of schools; and the expansion of free schools and academies. These reforms and others were driven by evidence of how children learn and policies that maximise opportunities for children to attend high quality schools. What does an evidence-based education look like and why is it so important? What can England and Australia learn from each other?
Follow the CIS on Twitter @CISOZ or find us on Facebook 'The Centre for ____________________
The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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England’s schools have undergone substantial changes in the last decade, including: introducing systematic phonics teaching and the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check; implementation of the Shanghai model of maths education in thousands of schools; and the expansion of free schools and academies. These reforms and others were driven by evidence of how children learn and policies that maximise opportunities for children to attend high quality schools. What does an evidence-based education look like and why is it so important? What can England and Australia learn from each other?
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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England’s schools have undergone substantial changes in the last decade, including: introducing systematic phonics teaching and the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check; implementation of the Shanghai model of maths education in thousands of schools; and the expansion of free schools and academies. These reforms and others were driven by evidence of how children learn and policies that maximise opportunities for children to attend high quality schools. What does an evidence-based education look like and why is it so important? What can England and Australia learn from each other?
____________________
The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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How does the recent tsunami of populism differ from the past waves? Why are traditional political parties of the centre-right and the centre-left struggling to hold on to their constituencies? At the heart of the challenges they face is the rise of populist movements — ones that straddle the left/right divide, combining elements of nationalism and social conservatism with the defence of entitlement programs, public ownership and protectionism. Professor Ergas’ presentation, which was intended to provoke discussion, focused on some of the causes and consequences of these trends.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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The contemporary western feminist movement has lost its way. Over the past century the feminist movement has achieved remarkable advances in securing equal rights for women in the West, but in other regions around the world women are still treated as second class citizens, the recent push for gender-equal traffic lights in Melbourne has trivialised the important issue of gender equality. Rather than fake feminist causes, how should we address the real obstacles to women’s freedom and opportunities in Australia and around the world?
Visiting US expert Kay Hymowitz from New York’s Manhattan Institute and Judith Sloane, economist and contributing economics editor at The Australian discussed why the sisterhood is failing women on many vital political, social and cultural issues.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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In his first speech since retiring, and in light of the Fair Work Commission’s ruling to reform Sunday penalty rates in the retail and hospitality sectors, Graeme Watson spoke on his more than 10 years’ experience as Vice President of the Commission.
Recently described as ‘one of the most brilliant industrial lawyers of his time’, his letter of resignation to Employment Minister Michaelia Cash outlined that in his view the operation of the Workplace Relations system was undermining the objects of the Fair Work Act of promoting national economic prosperity and social inclusion. His letter led Peter Costello to liken him to Samson in the Bible — ‘shaking the pillars of the system to bring it down on the heads of the Philistines’.
Overt capture of independent courts and tribunals is a feature of undemocratic societies, dictatorships and autocracies. It undermines a key element of democracy, the rule of law.
Alarmingly, there is clear evidence of this undermining of some of our pillars of western democracy. But capture is even more damaging when it is covert, hiding behind an air of legitimacy and independence. Society needs to be ever vigilant to this threat. Interference and capture needs to be exposed and eliminated — not avoided for fear of committing the same vice of interference. Scrutiny and holding our institutions to account based on the fundamental principles of democracy are obligations we all share.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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Most explanations offered for Donald Trump’s ‘inexplicable’ victory in the American Presidential election have resorted to crude stereotypes about the opinions and attitudes of the ‘Deplorables’ – the AKA ‘low information’ voters’ who voted #1 for Trump. These explanations – which are offered by the same kinds of ‘insiders’ who probably thought the NSW Greyhound Racing Ban was a great idea (until it helped end the political career of a hitherto popular Premier) – simply serve to widen gap of mutual disdain and misunderstanding between the political class and ordinary citizens.
Warren Mundine was invited to the CIS to share his insights on these matters.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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Most explanations offered for Donald Trump’s ‘inexplicable’ victory in the American Presidential election have resorted to crude stereotypes about the opinions and attitudes of the ‘Deplorables’ – the AKA ‘low information voters’ who voted #1 for Trump. These explanations – which are offered by the same kinds of ‘insiders’ who probably thought the NSW Greyhound Racing Ban was a great idea (until it helped end the political career of a hitherto popular Premier) – simply serve to widen gap of mutual disdain and misunderstanding between the political class and ordinary citizens.
Kay Hymowitz gave a speech at CIS to share her insights on this matter.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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US President Donald Trump is proposing sweeping tax cuts that will affect every other country. Australia is not well placed to respond, with a lack of major tax reform since 2001. By contrast, Canada has been a successful tax reformer, with the federal-provincial corporate tax rate falling from 43% in 2001 to 27% in 2016 and the virtual elimination of capital taxes, amongst other policies.
How will tax changes proposed by Donald Trump affect both countries? Is Canada better placed because of the recent Canadian tax reforms?
The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) and the Canadian Australian Chamber of Commerce (CACC) hosted a joint event discussing these and other questions. This event welcomed Canadian tax expert, Dr Jack Mintz, President’s Fellow, School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary and former chair of the Canada’s business tax panel that led to Canada’s reform, and Michael Potter, Research Fellow at CIS.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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The CIS hosted the book launch of Bill Leak's book 'Trigger Warning' just 3 days before he died, with special guest Sir Les Patterson.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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The CIS hosted the book launch of Bill Leak's book 'Trigger Warning' just 3 days before he died, with special guest Sir Les Patterson.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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With monetary and fiscal policy instruments overextended, reforms to enhance our economy’s supply-side performance have become more necessary than ever if economic stagnation and declining living standards are to be averted.
On leaving the Productivity Commission in 2012, Gary assembled a ‘to do list’ of pro-productivity reforms drawn from Commission reviews. Have many been ticked off by now? Alas no ... indeed, new items have been added. Worse, there is a growing sense of resignation that such reforms are too hard today.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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Federal Member for Higgins, Minister for Revenue and Financial Services, Hon Kelly O'Dwyer talks at the CIS about the urgent need for company tax cuts and a focus on income tax reform.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
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They said he could never win – but from January 20, 2017, Donald J. Trump officially became the President of the United States. As the experts scramble to explain why the American people elected the most unlikely candidate in American history, the political reverberations continue to be felt around the world including in Australia.
This special CIS panel event examined the crisis in ‘Establishment politics' that brought “The Donald” to power, and discussed whether a Trump-style political revolution could happen in Australia.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
Follow CIS on Socials Twitter - https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndependentStudies/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/?viewAsMember=true
They said he could never win – but since January 20, 2017, Donald J. Trump has been the President of the United States. As the experts scramble to explain why the American people elected the most unlikely candidate in American history, the political reverberations continue to be felt around the world including in Australia.
The CIS panel event - including experts Louise Clegg, Ross Cameron & Tom Switzer - examined the crisis in ‘Establishment politics’ that brought “The Donald” to power, and discussed whether a Trump-style political revolution could happen in Australia.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
Follow CIS on Socials Twitter - https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndependentStudies/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/?viewAsMember=true
They said he could never win – but since January 20, 2017, Donald J. Trump has been the President of the United States. As the experts scramble to explain why the American people elected the most unlikely candidate in American history, the political reverberations continue to be felt around the world including in Australia.
The CIS panel event - including Louise Clegg - examined the crisis in ‘Establishment politics’ that brought “The Donald” to power, and discussed whether a Trump-style political revolution could happen in Australia.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
Follow CIS on Socials Twitter - https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndependentStudies/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/?viewAsMember=true
They said he could never win – but since January 20, 2017, Donald J. Trump has been the President of the United States. As the experts scramble to explain why the American people elected the most unlikely candidate in American history, the political reverberations continue to be felt around the world including in Australia.
The CIS panel event - including Tom Switzer - examined the crisis in ‘Establishment politics’ that brought “The Donald” to power, and discussed whether a Trump-style political revolution could happen in Australia.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
Follow CIS on Socials Twitter - https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndependentStudies/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/?viewAsMember=true
They said he could never win – but since January 20, 2017, Donald J. Trump has been the President of the United States. As the experts scramble to explain why the American people elected the most unlikely candidate in American history, the political reverberations continue to be felt around the world including in Australia.
The CIS panel event - including Ross Cameron - examined the crisis in ‘Establishment politics’ that brought “The Donald” to power, and discussed whether a Trump-style political revolution could happen in Australia.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
Follow CIS on Socials Twitter - https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndependentStudies/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/?viewAsMember=true
Despite the ever-escalating cost of health posing severe fiscal sustainability challenges, health reform has been dumped even more firmly in the politically too-hard basket since the ‘Mediscare’ federal election. A politically-feasible reform strategy is required to catalyse much-needed innovation in the health sector and deliver more cost-effective healthcare. Jeremy Sammut, fellow researcher at the CIS discussed what it will take to achieve meaningful change in the $155 billion health sector, and the issues raised in the CIS’ Health Innovation Program’s 2016 report 'Medi-Vation: Health Innovation Communities’.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
Follow CIS on Socials Twitter - https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndependentStudies/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/?viewAsMember=true
Despite the ever-escalating cost of health posing severe fiscal sustainability challenges, health reform has been dumped even more firmly in the politically too-hard basket since the ‘Mediscare’ federal election. A politically-feasible reform strategy is required to catalyse much-needed innovation in the health sector and deliver more cost-effective healthcare. Gerald Thomas, health entrepreneur, discussed what it will take to achieve meaningful change in the $155 billion health sector.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
Follow CIS on Socials Twitter - https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndependentStudies/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/?viewAsMember=true
Despite the ever-escalating cost of health posing severe fiscal sustainability challenges, health reform has been dumped even more firmly in the politically too-hard basket since the ‘Mediscare’ federal election. A politically-feasible reform strategy is required to catalyse much-needed innovation in the health sector and deliver more cost-effective healthcare.
Terry Barnes, health consultant and commentator, discussed what it will take to achieve meaningful change in the $155 billion health sector.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
Follow CIS on Socials Twitter - https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndependentStudies/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/?viewAsMember=true
Despite the ever-escalating cost of health posing severe fiscal sustainability challenges, health reform has been dumped even more firmly in the politically too-hard basket since the ‘Mediscare’ federal election. A politically-feasible reform strategy is required to catalyse much-needed innovation in the health sector and deliver more cost-effective healthcare. Dr Peta Seaton, health consultant and commentator, discussed what it will take to achieve meaningful change in the $155 billion health sector.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
Follow CIS on Socials Twitter - https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndependentStudies/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/?viewAsMember=true
Tim Wilson MP is the Federal Liberal Member for Goldstein in Victoria. He is well known as Australia’s former "Freedom Commissioner" and is a proud defender of universal, individual human rights. He has worked with government to reform laws to stop and prevent terrorism, improve economic opportunities for Indigenous Australians, and support marginalised communities. He is a passionate advocate for protecting free speech and religious freedom.
Religious liberty is central to the Australian way of life. It is enshrined in the Australian Constitution. But it is not the only freedom that matters. There is a rising tension between accommodating differing freedoms in 21st century Australia. The changing face of Australia continues to raise challenges about the limits of secularism while creating a society that celebrates diversity. It also creates challenges for the place of religion in the public square. The challenge facing people of faith is how they should react and respond to the increasing diversification of society and the place of faith in contemporary Australia.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
Follow CIS on Socials Twitter - https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndependentStudies/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/?viewAsMember=true
Dr David Kilcullen and Tom Switzer in conversation following the CIS Lighthouse Lecture 'Terror Challenges in the 21st Century'. David Kilcullen is a world renowned terror expert and also took questions from the floor.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
Follow CIS on Socials Twitter - https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndependentStudies/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/?viewAsMember=true
Dr David Kilcullen delivers a timely Centre for Independent Studies Lighthouse Lecture on the alarming topic of increasing global terror, and provides both global and local comments on how we can adapt to the ‘new normal’.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
Follow CIS on Socials Twitter - https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndependentStudies/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/?viewAsMember=true
Jennifer Buckingham (fellow researcher at the CIS, Paul McDermott, Glenn & Kiriana White, and Noel Pearson (Founder and Co-chair of Good to Great Schools Australia) all outlined the success of Direct Instruction teaching method in lifting the education levels of school children.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
Follow CIS on Socials Twitter - https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndependentStudies/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/?viewAsMember=true
Noel Pearson (Founder and Co-chair of Good to Great Schools Australia) and Phyllis Yunkaporta both outline the success of Direct Instruction teaching method in lifting the education levels of school children in Indigenous communities.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
Follow CIS on Socials Twitter - https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndependentStudies/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/?viewAsMember=true
Glenn & Kiriana White outlined the success of Direct Instruction teaching method in lifting the education levels of school children.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
Follow CIS on Socials Twitter - https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndependentStudies/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/?viewAsMember=true
Dr Jennifer Buckingham, fellow researcher at the CIS, outlined the success of Direct Instruction teaching method in lifting the education levels of school children.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
Follow CIS on Socials Twitter - https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndependentStudies/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/?viewAsMember=true
The current GST carve-up does not reward political reform, The Hon. Dominic Perrottet MP, NSW Minister for Finance, Services and Property said at the CIS. Speaking at the Centre for Independent Studies, Mr Perrottet said that under the principle of horizontal fiscal equalisation - where all citizens can expect to have access to equal standards of government services - non-reforming states are being rewarded for their inaction. He referred to the states that receive more money being those that have pursued anti-growth policies and have bloated public services.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
Follow CIS on Socials Twitter - https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndependentStudies/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/?viewAsMember=true
Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Rod Sims speaks about why privatisation should be done for efficiency, not for money windfalls.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
Follow CIS on Socials Twitter - https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndependentStudies/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/?viewAsMember=true
Qantas boss Alan Joyce talks about market freedom, innovation and how we will soon have direct flights from Sydney to London.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
Follow CIS on Socials Twitter - https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndependentStudies/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/?viewAsMember=true
In partnership with the Menzies Research Centre, Henry Olsen joined us to speak on Trump, Brexit and the Forgotten People. He explained how this constituency drove Donald Trump to become the Republican Party Presidential nominee, pushed Britain out of Europe and are disrupting the status quo around the globe.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
Follow CIS on Socials Twitter - https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndependentStudies/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/?viewAsMember=true
Hot off the US convention and campaign trail, America’s favourite living wit and best-selling author PJ O’Rourke headed to Sydney to deliver his Dangerous State of the Nation talk at the Sydney Opera House in collaboration with CIS.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
Follow CIS on Socials Twitter - https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndependentStudies/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/?viewAsMember=true
The first Helen Hughes Talk for Emerging Thinkers allowed a prominent emerging thinker to discuss a pertinent social or economic policy issue of national importance. Jacinta Nampijinpa Price is a Walpiri/Celtic woman who grew up in Alice Springs. In 2015, Jacinta was elected into Alice Springs’ Town Council and is deeply involved within her community as well as remote communities of the Northern Territory. Jacinta advocates against violence against women and the need for positive cultural change. Through the platforms of music, women’s AFL, and local government Jacinta has worked to empower young Indigenous girls and women while campaigning for the need for Indigenous people to take back responsibility to resolve entrenched issues.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
Follow CIS on Socials Twitter - https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndependentStudies/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/?viewAsMember=true
Ian Narev, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Commonwealth Bank Group, delivers a Leadership Lunch address at the CIS outlining that if banks do not innovate, they "will be toast".
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
Follow CIS on Socials Twitter - https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndependentStudies/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/?viewAsMember=true
From the rise and fall of the British and American Empires, to the killer apps that Western cultures have used to create prosperity, to a financial history of the world, Niall Ferguson writes and broadcasts about enormous topics, and brings them to life for contemporary audiences. A distinguished historian, prolific commentator on current politics and economics who readily engages with controversial issues. Join him for a wide ranging discussion of the most important economic and geo-political questions of our day, and the historical perspectives that should illuminate our answers.
The Centre for Independent Studies partnered with the Sydney Opera House to host this special event as part of our 40th anniversary Lighthouse Lecture Series in May 2016.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
Follow CIS on Socials Twitter - https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndependentStudies/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/?viewAsMember=true
Internationally renowned activist Ayaan Hirsi Ali spoke at the Centre for Independent Studies about her book, Heretic.
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The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - https://www.cis.org.au/ Subscribe to CIS mailing list- https://www.cis.org.au/subscribe/ Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - https://www.cis.org.au/support/ Join the CIS as a member at - https://www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
Follow CIS on Socials Twitter - https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndependentStudies/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/?viewAsMember=true