The Looking Forward Podcast

Intellectual inquiry at Universities is under threat after the Federal Court overturned Peter Ridd’s initial victory in the Federal Circuit Court. What influenced the court’s decision and what does it mean? (0:00-26:24)

Welcome reform of Australia’s model defamation laws has been accepted by all states. How has defamation law been blocking free speech and what change will reform bring for media giants? (26:24-39:21)

As the joy of working from home begins to wear off, what will be the long-term implications of remote work on office policy, culture and economics? (39:21-55:43)

Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s Gideon Rozner to discuss these questions and share their culture picks. This week’s picks include the classic TV series’ Kath and Kim, Anne Applebaum’s Twilight of Democracy and Rick Wilson’s Running Against the Devil. (55:43-1:20:50)

Show Notes

Defamation law reform a ‘generational change’; Michael Pelly https://www.afr.com/politics/defamation-law-reform-a-generational-change-20200727-p55fxe

Google staff to stay working from home until at least July 2021; Rob Copeland and Peter Grant https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/technology/google-staff-to-stay-working-from-home-until-at-least-july-2021/news-story/5e3c34c00b48649429caafdc59ce6a10

Working from home? You’ve just had a pay rise; Adam Creighton https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/coronavirus-recession-is-going-to-hit-poor-hardest/news-story/aa77f370a0f39282e8341d6a8209512b

Companies start to think remote work isn’t so great after all; Chip Cutter https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/the-wall-street-journal/companies-start-to-think-remote-work-isnt-so-great-after-all/news-story/2b73e90e38d39fe5479477d187520cd5

Mobility reform key to offset youth jobs pain: Treasury; John Kehoe https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/mobility-reform-key-to-offset-youth-jobs-pain-treasury-20200728-p55g3c

Culture Picks

Kath and Kim (TV Series)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0272397/

Twilight of Democracy; Anne Applebaum https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/621076/twilight-of-democracy-by-anne-applebaum/

Running Against the Devil; Rick Wilson https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/623822/running-against-the-devil-by-rick-wilson/

After months of contradictory communication about the efficacy of face masks, they’re now increasingly mandatory: in what ways do they work and should we be required to wear them? (1:43-17:00)

Federal Parliament has been punted once again after the PM cancelled the next two sitting weeks. With every other Australian business expected to adapt and function as COVIDSafe, why can’t Parliament? (17:00-27:48)

Legislative reform is on the cards for Australia’s unwieldy environmental regulations:  will green tape finally be cut to unleash economic recovery? (27:48-40:50).

Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s Evan Mulholland to address these questions and dive into their isolation culture picks. This week’s picks include the film Mr Jones, the TV Series’ McMillions as well as Sir Patricks Stewart’s A Sonnet A Day.

Show Notes

Face Coverings Mandatory for Melbourne and Mitchell Shire

https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/updates/coronavirus-covid-19/face-coverings-mandatory-melbourne-and-mitchell-shire

UK’s Virtual Parliament, Ranked; Annabelle Dickson

https://www.politico.eu/article/uks-virtual-parliament-ranked-prime-ministers-questions-coronavirus-videoconference-dominic-raab/

Independent Review of the EPBC Act; Professor Graeme Samuel AC

https://epbcactreview.environment.gov.au

EPBC Act Review: Jobs Win Over Litigious Green Activists

Culture Picks

Mr Jones (2019 Film)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr_Jones_(2019_film)

McMillions (TV Series)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9148598/

A Sonnet A Day; Sir Patrick Stewart

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLLiEya-Q4RQdTJb97i8gU6MXHZs_HUlB

https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/0743273281/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_KH3fFbDG4HQ56

Well may we say God save the Queen because nothing will save the conspiracy theories about the Whitlam Government’s Dismissal. The released palace letters do however reveal deeper truths about our democracy and the falsity of Republican claims (2:24-25:16) As the US election gets closer, Republican are wondering if Trumpism would survive a loss and what’s in it for them afterwards (25:16-41:07) The woke media wars flare again as New York Times Opinion Editor Bari Weiss resigns under pressure. Does this reflect the birth of a new media model how can economics and philosophy explain this media moment? (41:07-1:00:47)

Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s Andrew Bushnell to answer these questions and share their culture picks. This week’s picks include the film First Man, Kendrah Morgan and Lesley Harding’s Modern Love, as well as the TV series’ Upload.

Show Notes

Most surprising of the Palace letters shines new light on Whitlam; Anne Twomey

https://www.smh.com.au/national/most-surprising-of-the-palace-letters-shines-new-light-on-whitlam-20200713-p55bpw.html

The Palace letters are every bit the bombshell they promised to be; Jenny Hocking

https://www.theage.com.au/national/the-palace-letters-are-every-bit-the-bombshell-they-promised-to-be-20200713-p55bpx.html

Running Against the Devil: A Plot to Save America from Trump- and Democrats from Themselves; Rick Wilson

https://www.amazon.com.au/Running-Against-Devil-Trump-Themselves/dp/0593137582

The Death - and Rebirth - of the Newspaper?; Chris Berg

https://www.spectator.com.au/2020/07/the-death-and-rebirth-of-the-newspaper/

Resignation Letter; Bari Weiss

https://www.bariweiss.com/resignation-letter?fbclid=IwAR2hxFzKfLQ4D7tWWkzJOA-VlSFy8TPtiAlowEasB4toUx4G0u8M3cOt0tQ

Bari Weiss Resigns From New York Times Opinion Post; Edmund Lee

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/14/business/media/bari-weiss-resignation-new-york-times.html

Culture Picks

First Man; Damien Chazelle

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1213641/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

Modern Love: The Lives of John and Sunday Reed; Kendrah Morgan and Lesley Harding

https://www.mup.com.au/books/modern-love-paperback-softback

Upload (TV Series)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upload_(TV_series)

It's a double case of  Déjà vu in Victoria as it enters Stage 3 lockdown once again, just as the State's finances look like they're headed for a crisis reminiscent of the 1990s, meaning the rest of Australia might once again have to bail it out.

Show Notes

Déjà vu in Dan Andrewstan; Daniel Wild

https://www.spectator.com.au/2020/07/deja-vu-in-dan-andrewstan/

Tunnel Vision; Scott Hargreaves and Daniel Wild

https://ipa.org.au/ipa-review-articles/tunnel-vision

Acting on Climate Change and Health in Victoria; Brett Sutton et al.

https://www.mja.com.au/system/files/issues/212_08/mja250527.pdf

Remarks by President Trump at South Dakota’s 2020 Mount Rushmore Fireworks Celebration

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-south-dakotas-2020-mount-rushmore-fireworks-celebration-keystone-south-dakota/

Lin-Manuel Calls “Hamilton” Cancel Culture Criticisms “Valid”; Erika Marie

https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/lin-manuel-calls-hamilton-cancel-culture-criticisms-valid-news.113873.html

Culture Picks

Friedman Conference; Australian Taxpayers’ Alliance

https://www.alsfc.com.au/

The Coming of Neo-Feudalism; Joel Kotkin

https://www.amazon.com.au/Coming-Neo-Feudalism-Warning-Global-Middle-ebook/dp/B07VCG8RPF

Hamilton The Musical; Lin-Manuel Miranda

https://www.disneyplus.com/movies/hamilton/3uPmBHWlO6HJ

Will the increase in humanities course fees be effective driving job-ready graduates and incentivising academics to deliver meaningful degrees? (03:12-28:00). Modern day ‘witch hunts’ and cancel culture: what has our society come to when militant minorities can make your life hell? (28:01-43:49). The panel discusses the IPA’s new Podcast Five Favourite Books, kicking off with special guest Greg Sheridan as an exclusive to IPA members, and more generally the ideas and literature of our heritage. (47:01-53:19). Your co-hosts Scott Hargreaves and Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s Bella d’Abrera to answer these questions as well as share their culture picks.

This week’s picks include The Room Where It Happened: A White House; John Bolton, The Spy and the Traitor; Ben Macintyre, and War for Eternity; Benjamin Teitelbaum. (55:46-1:15:05)

Show Notes

Special IPA Membership Offer: Five Favourite Book

https://ipa.org.au/bookoffer

Lead Headline and Sub-Header for The New York Times; Tyler Cowen https://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2020/06/lead-headline-and-sub-header-for-the-new-york-times.html

Culture Picks

 The Room Where It Happened: A White House; John Bolton https://www.amazon.com/Room-Where-Happened-White-Memoir/dp/1982148039

The Spy and the Traitor; Ben Macintyre

https://www.amazon.com/Spy-Traitor-Greatest-Espionage-Story/dp/1101904194

War for Eternity; Benjamin Teitelbaum

https://www.penguin.com.au/books/war-for-eternity-9780241431078

The movement to tear down statues of historical figures and the past they represent has swept across continents. What do these statues represent and what is their place in the collective history of the nation? (1:57-25:24)

Former Minister, Adem Somyurek, resigned from the ALP after allegations of branch stacking. What light does this shed on the business model of political parties and what does it reveal about the nature of politics? (25:24-39:37)

The NRL has used the power of the people to fight to get out from under the COVID-19 government restrictions. Should other organisations follow suit and what does this tell us about how to get industries back up and running? (39:37-51:34)

Your co-hosts Scott Hargreaves and Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s Zachary Gorman to answer these questions as well as share their culture picks. This week’s picks include Delta Blues: The Life and Times of the Mississippi Masters Who Revolutionised American Music, Hilary Mantel’s The Mirror and The Light as well as the popular YouTube channel PewdiePie. (51:34-1:06:16)

This week saw thousands of Australians breaking social distancing laws protesting racism. As more people vote with their feet and ignore lockdown laws, is the pandemic effectively over and what does this mean for lockdown laws? (2:15-16:29) The protestors in the United States are now advocating for the police force to be defunded. What is the place for the police in our society and what would reasonable reform entail? (16:29-30:45) At the New York Times a staff revolt forced an editor to resign just for publishing an opinion piece by a Republican Senator. Has campus woke culture taken over newspapers and is there still a place for legitimate debate in news outlets? (30:45-46:40) Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s Director of Policy, Gideon Rozner, to answer these questions as well as share their culture picks. This week’s picks include the Netflix series Space Force, Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson’s Narrow Corridor and Ian Kershaw’s To Hell and Back. (46:40-1:02:41)

Show Notes

How Pandemics End; Gina Kolata

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/10/health/coronavirus-plague-pandemic-history.html

NSW Police Minister Says Protests Larger than 10 People will be Deemed Illegal; Lisa Visentin and Dana McCauley

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/nsw-police-minister-says-protests-larger-than-10-people-will-be-deemed-illegal-20200608-p550kr.html

Calls to Cut Funding for Police Grow in Wake of Protests; Eliza Collins

https://www.wsj.com/articles/calls-for-defunding-police-grow-in-wake-of-protests-11591663621?emailToken=4a15ee00fe662b2e33fb3cb14cc28622XAYX0AVtf0LjeZOVLBxGjGm8Jhg6o9i2JLxm42WdLJtzg4nn+t6M1Gpi2DoEKeGROWFeiUbm8vgwc8cq1oSk5VE99vuQfsWgpGzVplwEumg%3D&reflink=article_copyURL_share

Why Are the Police in Charge of Road Safety?; Alex Tabarrok

https://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2020/06/why-are-the-police-in-charge-of-road-safety.html 

When Journalists Stop Believing in Debate; Damon Linker  

https://theweek.com/articles/918140/when-journalists-stop-believing-debate

Culture Picks

Space Force (TV Series)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Force_(TV_series)

The Narrow Corridor: States, Societies, and the Fate of Liberty; Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson

https://www.amazon.com.au/Narrow-Corridor-States-Societies-Liberty-ebook/dp/B07MCRLV2K

To Hell and Back: Europe 1914 - 1945; Ian Kershaw

https://www.amazon.com.au/Hell-Back-Europe-1914-1949/dp/0143109928

As protests and riots break out across America the important issues of policing and police immunities are getting lost, but will feature at election time. But when civil order is challenged by rioters, what options do Governments have but law and order? Is it Trump or the Democrat-controlled cities who have most to do? (2:12-40:02) The Federal Court made a landmark decision to hold a company liable for defamatory comments made by third parties on its Facebook page, putting the fear of god into all sorts of users of the platform? (40:02-46:54) The Liberal government has reached out to Big Business and Big Unions expecting industrial relations reform, but what hopes do we have when the process lacks both vision and involvement by the forgotten people? (46:54-56:24) Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by IPA Adjunct Fellow Aaron Lane to answer these questions as well as share their culture picks. This week's picks include the movie The Leopard, the hit tv-series The Great and John Grisham's The Guardians. (56:24-1:05:57)

Show Notes

ACTU Rump in Morrison's Tent But Quiet Aussies Are Left Out; Daniel Wild

https://ipa.org.au/publications-ipa/opinion/actu-rump-in-morrisons-tent-but-quiet-aussies-are-left-out

Monopoly on Violence; Max Weber

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monopoly_on_violence#Max_Weber's_theory

Our leaders have dithered and lied about the riots as the nation goes up in flames; Tucker Carlson

https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/tucker-carlson-nation-flames-leaders-dithered

Culture Picks

The Great (TV Series); Tony McNamara

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_(miniseries)

The Leopard (Movie); Luchino Visconti

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057091/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

The Guardians; John Grisham

https://www.amazon.com.au/Guardians-John-Grisham/dp/0385544189

As Australia is once again faced with the desperate need to liberalise and our reinvigorate our economy post-lockdown, we're joined by an intellectual warrior of the last great era of reform in 80's and 90's, Professor Emeritus Wolfgang Kasper, to explore what's similar and what's different between then and now, and what are the eternal truths about how to mobilise labour, capital and entrepreneurship by cutting red and green tape and getting government out of the way.

Just as Trump throws a grenade at the WHO it agrees to a bodged up review into the coronavirus pandemic. Is there a place for a global health organisation that has underperformed and who is possibly doing more harm than good? (2:20-16:10) Peter Ridd, featured on the IPA’s new Heretic Podcast, was sacked by James Cook University for speaking out against its climate change studies. The Heretic’s auteur Gideon Rozner tells how the Podcast came to be (16:10-30:56) The ACCC is drafting a code which will force technology giants to pay media companies for their news. Is this just evening up the bargaining power or a catastrophically dumb and outrageous example of government sanctioned theft (thanks Chris)? (30:56-50:40) Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s Gideon Rozner to answer these questions as well as share their culture picks. This week’s picks include the hit Australian TV series Lego Masters, Peter Coleman’s The Liberal Conspiracy and the Netflix film Have a Good Trip. (50:40-1:08:24)

Show Notes

The Heretic Membership Offer

https://ipa.org.au/hereticoffer

Donald Trump’s letter to Dr. Tedros of the World Health Organisation

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1262577580718395393

ACCC calls for consultation to set news bargain between Google, Facebook and media; Lilly Vitorovich and Leo Shanahan

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/accc-calls-for-consultation-to-set-new-bargain-between-google-facebook-and-media/news-story/c939c778bb7d72aa3dd2cb717c816b83

Lego Can Avoid Ai WeiWei, But It Can’t Avoid Politics; Chris Berg

https://chrisberg.org/2015/10/lego-can-avoid-ai-weiwei-but-it-cant-avoid-politics/

Did Lego Really Block Ai WeiWei?; Scott Hargreaves

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/did-lego-really-block-ai-weiwei-scott-hargreaves/

Culture Picks 

Lego Masters

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego_Masters_(Australian_TV_series)

The Liberal Conspiracy: The Congress for Culture Freedom and the Struggle for the Mind of Postwar Europe; Peter Coleman

https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/0029064813/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_9JZWEbGWJZ2QM

Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/have_a_good_trip_adventures_in_psychedelics