There is nothing like cheering on your favourite sport team; or seeing our Aussie athletes on the top podium at the Olympic Games. A whole nation celebrates. Strangers are falling into each other's arms. Sport can truly unite us. But then… there are racist smirks, fans getting violent. Even in high school can you get a hard time if you're wearing the wrong club colours. So, does sport in fact divide us?

Does sport unite or divide us?

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It's often said that democracies can't function well without a strong opposition to hold the government of the day to account. But what does it take to be an effective opposition?

This event was recorded at the Centre for Independent Studies on Thursday 16 May 2024.

Speakers

Scott Prasser 
Co-author with David Clune, The Art of Opposition (Connor Court publishing)
Senior Fellow, Centre for Independent Studies

John Howard
Former Prime Minister 1996 – 2007

Tom Switzer 
Director, Centre for Independent Studies

Andrew Blythe (host)
Fellow, Centre for Independent Studies

The Art of Opposition

From stopping the boats to building a wall, countries have gone to great lengths to stop the flow of people migrating across borders in search of a better life. But are these efforts realistic – let alone humane — when there are an estimated 110 million people forcibly displaced by war, persecution, hunger and climate change worldwide?

This event was recorded at the University of Tasmania on May 8, 2024.

Speakers

Dr Tamara Wood Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Tasmania

Sanushka Mudaliar Director, Global Migration Lab, Red Cross and Red Crescent

Arad Nik Iranian refugee, human rights activist and business owner

Uprooted and unprotected — 110 million displaced lives

Humanity faces two existential threats: catastrophic climate change and nuclear annihilation, according to former US Deputy Secretary of Energy turned nuclear industry player Daniel Poneman.Yet, he argues nuclear energy is an essential part of the mix of carbon zero power sources as we transition away from coal. He discusses global developments in nuclear power generation, including new generations of reactor design, and critical issues like cost, safety, and proliferation risks.

Presented at the American Academy in Berlin.

Speakers

Daniel Poneman
Former US Deputy Secretary of Energy; distinguished fellow Atlantic Council's Global Energy Centre
Former President and Chief Executive Officer of Centrus Energy Corp (a nuclear fuel company), 2015-2023

Daniel Benjamin (host)
President of the American Academy in Berlin

Is nuclear power the fastest way to decarbonise the planet?

Laura Tingle delivers the 2024 John Button Oration at the Melbourne Writers Festival, looking at how our public discourse has changed over her 40-year career – and throughout history. She explores what is to blame for the demise in civility in our public debate, and the seeming inability of our media and the political class to solve the intractable problems we face. 

This event was recorded on Saturday 11 May 2024, at the Melbourne Writers Festival, in partnership with University of Melbourne School of Government and the Faculty of Arts, and the Button family.

Speakers

Laura Tingle
Chief Political Correspondent, 730 (ABC)
President, National Press Club
Staff-elected director, ABC board

Laura Tingle — Off course discourse

Australians love a drink, or at least, that's a perception that's deeply ingrained in our national identity... but how true is it, these days? This Big Ideas explores the politics, problems, and pleasures of Australia's long and chequered relationship with alcohol.

This event was recorded at Clunes Booktown Festival on Saturday March 23 2024.

Speakers

Alex Ettling Author, Knocking the Top off: A People's History of Alcohol in Australia

Sarah MacLean Professor of Social Work and Social Policy at La Trobe University

Richard Gilbert Author, Thirst for Gold

Bill Garner (host) Writer, actor, academic, author Born in a Tent

Does sport unite or divide us?

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