This panel challenges the thinking that surround refugees and asylum seekers and highlights the circumstances which they face. Professor Raimond Gaita (University of Melbourne) Dr Savitri Taylor (La Trobe University), Yusuf Shiekh Omar (Poet and former refugee) and Professor Robert Manne (La Trobe University) on this critical issue.

Copyright 2012 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Contact for permissions.

Australian schools need an injection of at least an extra $5 billion, according to the Gonski report, the most far-reaching review of schools funding since 1973.

The review found the current education system is complex, confusing, failing disadvantaged students and contributing to falling performances compared to students in Asia.

Discussing the implications of the report and what should be done in education around Australia, are Carmen Lawrence (Former WA Premier and expert panelist, Gonski Report), Richard Teese (Education, La Trobe University), Dennis Altman (Politics, La Trobe University and (host) Lorraine Ling (Education, La Trobe University).

Copyright 2012 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Contact for permissions.

A political tsunami appears to be hitting the Australian Labor Party as it wrestles with the challenges of leadership and collapse in almost every state.

According to Barry Jones, Labor’s politics are worse today than when the ALP spilt in 1955, or when the governor-general John Kerr dismissed the Whitlam Labor government in 1975, or when Paul Keating lost to John Howard in 1996. What has led to this situation and what may happen next?

The discussion features Barry Jones (former President of the ALP and former Hawke Government Minister), Antony Green (ABC election analyst), and Robert Manne, (Professor of Politics at La Trobe University). The forum is chaired by Marilyn Lake, (Professor of History at La Trobe University).

Copyright 2012 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Contact for permissions.

The first National Report Card on mental health and suicide prevention is due to be released at the end of 2012. What will it say about Australia's mental health services now - and what more needs to be done?

Addressing the topic of mental health in Australia (and its treatment) are: Professor Allan Fels (Head of the newly established National Mental Health Commission), former Australian of the Year Professor Patrick McGorry (Head of Orygen Youth Health and one of the National Mental Health Commissioners), and Barbara Hocking (Executive Director of SANE Australia). Chaired by Professor Simon Crowe (Professor of Neuroscience and Clinical Neuropsychology at La Trobe University and President of the Australian Psychological Society).

Copyright 2012 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Contact for permissions.

Is Australia in the throes of a mass burial for its quality fourth estate? Financial results for Fairfax and News Limited would suggest so, fuelled further by the recent headlines that Hancock Prospecting has become the largest single shareholder of Fairfax Media causing concern about potential editorial interference. But are online publications a quality substitute for newspapers? Are online media, blogs and tweets able to do the job that the fourth estate has been doing?

Paul Ramadge (Editor in Chief of The Age) and Eric Beecher (Crikey Proprietor and former Editor of the Sydney Morning Herald) debate the future of quality newspapers in Australia. The discussion also features academic Mary Debrett and is chaired by Robert Manne.

Presented by La Trobe University Ideas and Society Program, March 2012

Paul Keating (former Prime Minister of Australia) speaks to Robert Manne (Professor of Politics, La Trobe University) about his life in and around politics; the ideas and reforms that animated his government; the way the country has changed and developed since; and Australia's (and the world's) economic outlook today.

Republished with permission from The Wheeler Centre.

Copyright 2011 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Contact for permissions.

The High Court has decided that the Gillard Government's 'Malaysia Solution' is unlawful. It has also called into question the legality of offshore processing in general. The question is, where to now?

Addressing the current situation are: David Marr (Senior journalist, Sydney Morning Herald, co-author of Dark Victory) David Manne (Director, Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre and leader of the recent successful High Court action) and Dr David Corlett, (Presenter of the SBS series, Go Back to Where You Came From). The event is chaired by Sandy Gifford.

Copyright 2011 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Contact for permissions.

Professor Hugh White (College of Asia and the Pacific, Australian National University) and Professor Robert Manne (Politics, La Trobe University) discuss how has the world changed since 9/11 and the implications for the future in terms of geopolitics, peace, human rights and stability.

Copyright 2011 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Contact for permissions.

Amidst the heated debate around the introduction of a carbon tax in Australia, leading environmentalist Tim Flannery shares his views with Robert Manne on the global warming debate. They discuss the political environment in Australia, global emissions reduction efforts and the issues around communicating the science of climate change.

Copyright 2011 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Contact for permissions.

Has the impact of WikiLeaks been as grave as we have been led to believe? Or is the need for WikiLeaks more acute than ever? Robert Manne, Eleanor Townsley, Guy Rundle and Peter Vale discuss WikiLeaks and its implications for the protection of high security information, the sanctity of freedom of speech and the future of technological innovation. The panel is chaired by Peter Beilharz.

Copyright 2011 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Contact for permissions.