In this edition of The Conversation Hour Arthur Sinodinos, chair of the United States study centre and former Australian ambassador to the US and liberal minister reflects on the intricate balance of a more self-reliant Australia while also maintaining a solid US alliance, off the back of his opinion piece for The Guardian.

Also in this edition, how to better support people retiring with housing debt, concerns of wildlife poaching in the Darebin Parklands plus Harry and Meghan are in Melbourne.