Centre for Independent Studies
421 episodes - English - Latest episode: 11 days ago - ★★★★★ - 1 ratingLet’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.
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Episodes
16. On Liberty | Janet Albrechtsen | Saving The Marketplace Of Ideas
July 24, 2020 04:59 - 42 minutes - 39 MBOn 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-prof...
We Must Defend Freedom Of Speech:Lionel Shriver & Brendan O’Neill
July 24, 2020 02:05 - 1 hour - 55.1 MBLionel 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 ...
We Must Defend Freedom Of Speech:Lionel Shriver & Brendan O'Neill
July 24, 2020 02:05 - 1 hour - 285 MBLionel 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 ...
15. On Liberty Glenn Fahey: JobKeeper Or RecoveryPreventer
July 15, 2020 05:07 - 37 minutes - 34.5 MBOn 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...
Gladys Berejiklian: NSW After the Pandemic
July 06, 2020 01:28 - 21 minutes - 19.6 MBIn 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. ...
14. On Liberty Scott Prasser- Trying Times, Federal Politics In An Age Of Political Outrage
July 03, 2020 01:11 - 42 minutes - 39 MBEarlier 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 ...
13. On Liberty James Allan: Cancel Culture Knows No Limits
June 29, 2020 02:57 - 47 minutes - 43.9 MB"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 themse...
On Liberty Ep.12 Jennifer Buckingham- Five From Five Update
June 26, 2020 00:47 - 48 minutes - 344 MBWe 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 tea...
12. On Liberty Jennifer Buckingham: Five From Five Update
June 26, 2020 00:47 - 48 minutes - 44.2 MBWe 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 tea...
NSW After The Pandemic
June 18, 2020 04:13 - 46 minutes - 272 MBNew 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 gener...
Dominic Perrottet: NSW After The Pandemic
June 18, 2020 04:13 - 46 minutes - 42.6 MBNew 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 gener...
11. On Liberty Lindsay Shepherd
June 11, 2020 23:24 - 43 minutes - 462 MBThis 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...
11. On Liberty Lindsay Shepherd: Let individuals assess their own covid risk
June 11, 2020 23:24 - 43 minutes - 39.6 MBThis 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...
Trump And America In Crisis
June 09, 2020 23:43 - 57 minutes - 52.4 MBA 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 P...
10. On Liberty Lessons To Prevent The Next Pandemic
June 09, 2020 04:10 - 49 minutes - 45.6 MBThis 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...
Bjorn Lomborg: The Skeptical Environmentalist
June 02, 2020 02:11 - 53 minutes - 49.3 MBThe 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 im...
9. On Liberty Forgotten Freedom No More
May 28, 2020 08:26 - 39 minutes - 36.6 MBThis 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 f...
7. On Liberty Learning From Home isn't Fair Or Sustainable
May 27, 2020 07:01 - 34 minutes - 31.6 MBOn 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 bette...
7. On Liberty Learning From Home isn’t Fair Or Sustainable
May 27, 2020 07:01 - 34 minutes - 31.6 MBOn 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 bette...
Alan Dupont: Mitigating The New Cold War
May 26, 2020 05:11 - 34 minutes - 31.6 MBThe 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 leadi...
Has China Won? Mahbubani Vs Mearsheimer
May 25, 2020 07:17 - 58 minutes - 53.6 MBAt 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 in...
8. On Liberty Importance Of The USA And Australia Relationship
May 25, 2020 07:02 - 45 minutes - 41.3 MBOn 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 des...
5. On Liberty Jacinta Price: Lockdown And Indigenous Communities
May 13, 2020 01:41 - 45 minutes - 41.6 MBSalvatore 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 remot...
4. On Liberty Australian Pharmaceutical CEO On Challenges During Covid-19
May 13, 2020 01:39 - 43 minutes - 40.2 MBOur 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...
3. On Liberty 'Social' Interactions During Lockdown
May 12, 2020 23:22 - 41 minutes - 38.3 MBOn 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...
3. On Liberty ’Social’ Interactions During Lockdown
May 12, 2020 23:22 - 41 minutes - 38.3 MBOn 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...
2. On Liberty Alexander Downer: Managing The Aftermath Of Coronavirus
May 12, 2020 23:19 - 47 minutes - 43.7 MBOn 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 soci...
1. On Liberty The Morality Of Australia's Response To Covid-19
May 12, 2020 22:59 - 45 minutes - 41.3 MBHost 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...
1. On Liberty The Morality Of Australia’s Response To Covid-19
May 12, 2020 22:59 - 45 minutes - 41.3 MBHost 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...
6. On Liberty Judith Sloan: How can we repair the economic damage that has been done?
May 08, 2020 23:47 - 44 minutes - 40.3 MBOn 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 o...
Doug Bandow: The End Of Pax Americana?
February 26, 2020 08:29 - 53 minutes - 49.2 MBFor 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 vi...
The Next Pandemic: China's COVID-19 coronavirus
February 20, 2020 10:48 - 1 hour - 69.3 MBAustralia 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 alrea...
The Next Pandemic: China’s COVID-19 coronavirus
February 20, 2020 10:48 - 1 hour - 69.3 MBAustralia 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 alrea...
Bjorn Lomborg: Climate Policy Without Wasting Trillions
February 14, 2020 06:58 - 1 hour - 64.1 MBThe 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 im...
2020 Iowa Caucus Elections, confusion and delays. Trump claims victory.
February 05, 2020 21:55 - 1 hour - 79.8 MBMany 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, de...
Restoring Hope: Practical Policies to Revitalise the Australian Economy
January 29, 2020 23:05 - 1 hour - 86.2 MBTo 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 mi...
Changing The Debate: Australia Day
January 24, 2020 00:38 - 1 hour - 69.3 MBChanging 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 ter...
The 2019 CIS Nanny Awards
December 11, 2019 22:39 - 18 minutes - 16.7 MBThe 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. Follow the CIS on ...
Howard & Alston: Is there more to life than politics?
December 09, 2019 21:00 - 1 hour - 73.6 MBOn 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, i...
Waking Up To the China Challenge
December 09, 2019 03:53 - 1 hour - 63.9 MBChina 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 jus...
Democracy is thin? Claire Fox on Brexit: "Democracy is thin."
November 26, 2019 05:40 - 37 minutes - 33.9 MBBrexit 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...
Democracy is thin? Claire Fox on Brexit: ”Democracy is thin.”
November 26, 2019 05:40 - 37 minutes - 33.9 MBBrexit 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...
Hong Kong will never be the same
November 26, 2019 05:37 - 35 minutes - 32.4 MBIn 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 th...
Is Hungary a free country?
November 26, 2019 05:36 - 18 minutes - 17.3 MBDirector 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 t...
Daniel Pipes: Antisemitism, Islam and leftists
November 26, 2019 05:31 - 33 minutes - 31 MBAmerican 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 s...
What lessons should we have learnt from the GFC?
November 26, 2019 05:29 - 29 minutes - 27.5 MBIn 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 th...
Book Launch: Ten Remarkable Australians
November 26, 2019 05:17 - 55 minutes - 51.2 MBIn 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 ...
Parental School Choice In Australia
November 26, 2019 05:17 - 1 hour - 73.1 MBParental 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 m...
Boris Johnson and British Conservatism
September 09, 2019 00:00 - 1 hour - 57.5 MBHear 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 th...
Lionel Shriver: Identity Politics, Political Correctness and #MeToo
September 03, 2019 00:00 - 39 minutes - 36.3 MBThe 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 write...