Episodes
Wednesday May 27, 2020
Ep 65: Liberalising Australia: Then and Now.
Wednesday May 27, 2020
Wednesday May 27, 2020
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.
Drawing on compelling case studies from post-war German, Spain, Malaysia and indeed Australia, liberalisation is shown to deliver great benefits. But there is a whole new challenge to be faced, and not just from left, as free market reformers grapple with an intellectual landscape convinced deregulation somehow failed and that Governments are best placed to mobilise capital, and the exposure of reliance on China for key supplies has changed everything. The best responses draw on the greats, on Locke and Smith, and also the simple realities of trade where it impossible to untangle supply chains. Wolfgang joins regular co-hosts Scott Hargreaves and Chris Berg and guest panelist Andrew Bushnell to discuss needed reforms, reflect on the Prime Minister's National Press Club address, and question whether the language of reform in the 80's will cut through in 2020s.
Wednesday May 20, 2020
Ep 64: Can WHO Be Cured?
Wednesday May 20, 2020
Wednesday May 20, 2020
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
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
Wednesday May 13, 2020
Ep 63: A Return To Freedom?
Wednesday May 13, 2020
Wednesday May 13, 2020
The government has introduced a three-stage plan to return Australians to some form of normalcy. What are these decisions based off and is the uncertainty over the consequences small enough? (2:07-20:30) Sweden has been the most prominent and controversial example of an alternative lockdown model. How does their response shape the debate between social vs medical outcomes of pandemics? (20:30-40:42) Finally, the panel reflects on the systematic thoughts of the late Sir Roger Scruton, asking what will conservatism look like post COVID-19? (40:42-59:59) Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s Andrew Bushnell to answer these questions as well as share their culture picks. This week's picks include three new TV series: Normal People, The Last Dance and The English Game. (59:59-1:18:12)
Show Notes
Consummate Conservative; Andrew Bushnell
https://ipa.org.au/ipa-review-articles/consummate-conservative
Lockdowns in SIR Models; Benjamin Moll
https://benjaminmoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/SIR_notes.pdf
We Know Everything – And Nothing – About Covid; Matt Ridley
http://www.rationaloptimist.com/blog/we-know-everything-and-nothing/
How Pandemics End; Gina Kolata
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/10/health/coronavirus-plague-pandemic-history.html
No return to the policy status quo: Albanese; Phillip Coorey
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/no-return-to-the-policy-status-quo-albanese-20200510-p54rjj
Culture Picks
Normal People; TV series directed by Lenny Abrahamson and Hettie Macdonald
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9059760/
The Last Dance; TV series directed by Jason Hehir
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8420184/
The English Game; TV series directed by Julian Fellowes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_English_Game
Wednesday May 06, 2020
Ep 62: Let's Get Back to Work
Wednesday May 06, 2020
Wednesday May 06, 2020
This week the Government focus is finally on getting Australians back to work. But with coronavirus panic still a factor, will the public take the PM’s lead or vote with leaden feet? (1:34-21:42) Daniel Andrews has self-isolated in refusing to reopen Victorian schools, but do health risks really out-weigh social and economic impacts? (21:42-34:54) With negotiations for a trans-Tasman travel bubble underway, what’s the next stage in the long history of Australia and New Zealand’s relationship? (34:54-48:09) Co-hosts Scott Hargreaves and Chris Berg are joined by IPA Research Fellow, Dara Macdonald, to answer these questions as well as share their culture picks. This week’s picks include The Great Influenza, Oscar Wilde’s De Profundis and Randolph Churchill’s Young Statesman. (48:09-1:08:54)
Show Notes
Have a COVID-19 Plan; National COVID-19 Coordination Commission
https://pmc.gov.au/nccc/have-covid-19-plan
COVID-19 information for workplaces; Safe Work Australia
https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/covid-19-information-workplaces
This could be the start of a terrible friendship; Katrina Grace Kelly (Fair Work & JobsKeeper)
The Australian, May 2, 2020 ($)
Schools are reopening, so here’s a guide to the situation in each State and Territory; ABC
COVID-19 in schools – the experience in NSW
ncirs.org.au
New Zealand and Australian Federation; Ged Martin
https://www.gedmartin.net/australia-new-zealand-and-federation-1883-1901-c
Culture Picks
The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History; John M. Barry
https://www.amazon.com.au/Great-Influenza-Deadliest-Pandemic-History/dp/0143036491
De Profundis; Oscar Wilde
https://www.amazon.com/Profundis-Oscar-Wilde/dp/150582480X
Young Statesman: Winston S. Churchill 1901-1914; Randolph S. Churchill
https://www.amazon.com/Young-statesman-Winston-Churchill-1901/dp/B002KZQTG2