Welcome to La Trobe University's Clever Conversations.

In this episode from our Ideas and Society program, two giants of human rights, Gillian Triggs and Julian Burnside, discuss human rights in Australia as part of the 2018 'A Better Australia?' series.

Gillian Triggs is a distinguished international lawyer and former president of Australia’s Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. Gillian is currently the Chair of Justice Connect, an organisation which provides free legal help to people locked out of the justice system.

You will also hear from Julian Burnside, a Melbourne based Barrister and a well-known advocate for asylum seekers. He is former president of Liberty Victoria, and the recipient of several awards including the Sydney Peace Prize and the Order of Australia.

Welcome to La Trobe University's Clever Conversations.

In this episode from our Ideas and Society program we hear from a former Prime Minister, and the most senior public servant who worked with him, as they discuss the challenges and rewards of political life and public policy.

Eight years after he was deposed as Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd speaks with Terry Moran the then-Secretary of the powerful Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

It is the first time both leaders publicly discuss their challenges in government, and reflect on the obstacles to bold policy reform from the complementary - but contrasting - perspectives of mandarin and politician.

Welcome to the La Trobe University's Clever Conversations.

In this episode from our Ideas and Society program, Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Leader of the Federal Liberal Party, Julie Bishop. She’ll speak on the challenges, nuances and goals of diplomacy in the Asia-Pacific region and her commitment to the international rule of law.

Following her address, there’s a panel discussion with award-winning journalist and La Trobe University Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow Tony Walker, also the Director of the Bachelor of International Relations and the Lecturer in Politics and Philosophy at La Trobe Dr Bec Strating and the Head of La Trobe Asia and the School of Humanities and Sciences Professor Nick Bisley.

Welcome to the La Trobe University's Clever Conversations.

In this episode from our Ideas and Society program our panellists take you back to the Russian Revolution.

Speaking on the centenary of one of the most significant moments in history is Professor Sheila Fitzpatrick, one of the world’s leading historians of the Soviet Union, and based at the University of Sydney.

Leading the discussion is Mark Edele – one of Professor Fitzpatrick’s most distinguished former students and now Hansen Chair in History at the University of Melbourne.

Together they reflect on the Soviet experience and the momentous global impact of the events of 1917.

Welcome to La Trobe University's Clever Conversations.

In this episode from our Ideas and Society program, we explore recent events in Western politics and question whether they establish a type of anti-establishment populism. We’ll look at the election of Donald Trump, the Brexit vote, the rise of right-wing regimes in Hungary and Poland, and in Australia the re-birth of the One Nation Party.

You will hear from:

- Judith Brett, Emeritus Professor of Politics at La Trobe and author of several books on the history of the liberal-conservative tradition in Australia.

- Katharine Murphy, a senior journalist with The Guardian, known as a perceptive and respected observer of local political culture.

- Guy Rundle, reporter at large for online news site Crikey.

Welcome to La Trobe University's Clever Conversations.

In this episode from our Ideas and Society program, Former Prime Minister Paul Keating discusses where Australia stands in its relationship with China, within the post Trump and Brexit era. Mr Keating has long argued for greater independence in Australian foreign policy and for more focus on the country’s immediate neighbours to the north.

You will also hear from Professor Allan Gyngell, an Adjunct Professor in the Crawford School of Public Policy at the ANU. Professor Gyngell has published and spoken extensively on Australian foreign policy, Asian regional relations, and the development of global and regional institutions.

The conversation is facilitated by La Trobe University International Relations expert, Professor Nick Bisley.

Welcome to La Trobe University's Clever Conversations.

In this episode from our Ideas and Society program, Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd headlines a panel discussion on China’s emergence as a global power in the Asian region and the world.

Furthering the discussion is:

- Professor Nick Bisley, Executive Director of La Trobe Asia and Professor of International Relations. His teaching and research expertise is in Asia’s international relations, great power politics and Australian foreign and defence policy

- Linda Jakobsen, the Director and CEO of China Matters. Linda lived and worked in China for 22 years and published six books on Chinese and East Asian society.

Welcome to La Trobe University's Clever Conversations.

In this episode from our Ideas and Society program, our panel covers the issues surrounding care and the increasing importance of care as the Australian population ages and people with disability live longer.

This discussion took place as part of the Bendigo Writers’ Festival. You’ll hear from:

- Rachel Robertson, a writer and Senior Lecturer at Curtain University. She is the mother of a disabled child. 'Reaching 1000' – her memoir about caring for her autistic son – was shortlisted for the National Biography Award.

- Anne Mann, a journalist and social philosopher with works published in The Australian, The Age and The Monthly. As well as caring for her mother, Anne also cares for her husband and fellow panellist Robert Manne.

- Robert Manne, an Emeritus Professor and Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow at La Trobe University. He was the Professor of Politics at La Trobe for many years and is the founder of the Ideas and Society program. Robert had a laryngectomy in 2016 and will speak about his experience as a giver and receiver of care.