But what do these changes – the biggest in four decades – actually involve? Who stands to gain if they are legislated, and who will lose out? And why the rush to pass laws that won’t be in place until the election after next?

Democracy & Accountability Director Bill Browne will break down the Government’s proposed changes to election financing and campaigning, test them against the Australia Institute’s principles of fair political finance reform and discuss which reforms will ensure a level playing field and competitive elections.

The Australia Institute’s Policy School is a free webinar series designed to equip policymakers, campaigners, NGOs, and public servants with the tools to advocate for change. Learn from experts about key public policy issues, persuasive messaging, and effective communication strategies to help create a fairer, more sustainable society.

Each fortnight, you will hear from policy experts from the Australia Institute, who will take you through the key things you need to create change on critical public policy issues – like fair tax reform, electoral reform, the Australia/USA relationship, the housing crisis, or reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

You will learn about:

Key issues and the current policy landscape
What the evidence-based policy shows
Barriers to reform
The most persuasive arguments and key messages
How to communicate cut-through facts and data to help you change minds
At the end of policy school, you will be able to confidently advocate for what needs to be done, why it needs to be done and importantly how we can all work to achieve a more just, sustainable and peaceful society.

Hosted by Alice Grundy, Anne Kantor Fellow Research Manager, The Australia Institute

How do I sign up:

It’s FREE, but registration is essential.

You can sign up once on Zoom and choose any sessions you wish to attend.

Who should attend:

The Australia Institute’s Policy School is for anyone interested in how public policy is researched and developed, as well as how to advocate for policy change.
It is designed for policy makers, campaigners, NGOs, academics, and public servants.

Schedule:

• 30 January — Funding elections in a fair and transparent way — with Democracy & Accountability Director
• 13 February — Worker protections and industrial relations: the fight for better wages and conditions with Chief Economist, Greg Jericho
• 27 February — Climate change and the living standards crisis with Executive Director, Richard Denniss and Strategy Director, Leanne Minshull
• 13 March — No new coal mines – a policy not a slogan with Research Director, Rod Campbell
• 27 March — AUKUS: What are the prospects for Australia’s Nuclear-powered Submarine? With International and Security Affairs Director Emma Shortis and Advisor Allan Behm

The post Policy School – Funding elections in a fair and transparent way appeared first on The Australia Institute.

But although some of these lives were documented and their likenesses hang in places like the National Portrait Gallery, even their descendants are often unaware of their existence.

By uncovering lives whitewashed out of our history, in stories spanning Africa, the Americas and Europe, Black Convicts also traces Australia’s hidden links to slavery, which both powered the British Empire and inspired the convict system itself. Situating European settlement in its global context, Chingaipe shows that the injustice of dispossession was driven by the engine of labour exploitation. Black Convicts will change the way we think about who we are.

About the Author

Santilla Chingaipe is a filmmaker, historian and author, whose work explores settler colonialism, slavery, and postcolonial migration in Australia. Chingaipe’s critically acclaimed and award-winning documentary Our African Roots is streaming on SBS On Demand; Black Convicts builds on the research for that, taking it further. The recipient of several awards, she was also recognised at the United Nations as one of the most influential people of African descent in the world in 2019. She is a regular contributor to The Saturday Paper, and served as a member of the Federal Government’s Advisory Group on Australia-Africa Relations. Chingaipe is the founder of Behind The Screens, an annual program supported by VicScreen, aimed at increasing the representation of people historically excluded from the Australian film industry. She is based in Melbourne.

The post Black Convicts with Santilla Chingaipe appeared first on The Australia Institute.

– Hon. Chris Bowen, Climate Change and Energy Minister

At the 2023 United Nations Climate Conference (COP28), in Dubai, the Australian Government, along with the parties of the Paris Agreement, signed an international agreement to “transition away” from fossil fuels

As the world’s 13th largest economy and the world’s third largest fossil fuel exporter, Australia has a special responsibility to lead the effort in a global transition away from fossil fuels and to help our nation’s trading partners, regional neighbours and those most vulnerable to the climate crisis to respond accordingly.

Australia plays an outsized role in the international ecosystem. The integrity of Australia’s policies across all areas —climate, environment, tax, health, security, technology, human rights and foreign affairs— have significant and interrelated implications both here and abroad.

As ecosystem collapse compounds and exacerbates existing environmental, social and economic issues, it is also presenting entirely new threats to humanity, making Australia’s leadership, fortitude and genuine collaboration at home and on the international stage more important than ever.

Featuring a range of prominent international and local experts, the 2025 Climate Integrity Summit will show Australia’s domestic and international integrity influences the international context and how the 2025 federal election outcome will shape global climate action.

The Australia Institute is one of Australia’s most influential public policy think tanks, conducting independent research that drives the public debate and secures policy outcomes for a more equitable Australia.

The Climate Integrity Summit is a non-partisan event that convenes leading experts in economics, ecology, policy and governance to discuss a credible and achievable climate policy that serves the Australian people and broader global community.

Speakers to be announced soon

Please Note: this is an in-person event and will not be live streamed.

Dietary requirements: Please include any dietary requirements for catering on the day.

Questions Contact: events@australiainstitute.org.au

The post Climate Integrity Summit 2025 appeared first on The Australia Institute.

Each fortnight, you will hear from policy experts from the Australia Institute, who will take you through the key things you need to create change on critical public policy issues – like fair tax reform, electoral reform, the Australia/USA relationship, the housing crisis, or reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

You will learn about:

Key issues and the current policy landscape
What the evidence-based policy shows
Barriers to reform
The most persuasive arguments and key messages
How to communicate cut-through facts and data to help you change minds
At the end of policy school, you will be able to confidently advocate for what needs to be done, why it needs to be done and importantly how we can all work to achieve a more just, sustainable and peaceful society.

Hosted by Alice Grundy, Anne Kantor Fellow Research Manager, The Australia Institute

How do I sign up:

It’s FREE, but registration is essential.

You can sign up once on Zoom and choose any sessions you wish to attend.

Who should attend:

The Australia Institute’s Policy School is for anyone interested in how public policy is researched and developed, as well as how to advocate for policy change.
It is designed for policy makers, campaigners, NGOs, academics, and public servants.

Schedule:

13 February — Worker protections and industrial relations: the fight for better wages and conditions with Chief Economist, Greg Jericho
27 February — Climate change and the living standards crisis with Executive Director, Richard Denniss and Strategy Director, Leanne Minshull
13 March — No new coal mines – a policy not a slogan with Research Director, Rod Campbell
27 March — AUKUS: What are the prospects for Australia’s Nuclear-powered Submarine? With International and Security Affairs Director Emma Shortis and Advisor Allan Behm

The post Policy School – Worker protections and industrial relations: the fight for better wages and conditions appeared first on The Australia Institute.

Each fortnight, you will hear from policy experts from the Australia Institute, who will take you through the key things you need to create change on critical public policy issues – like fair tax reform, electoral reform, the Australia/USA relationship, the housing crisis, or reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

You will learn about:

Key issues and the current policy landscape
What the evidence-based policy shows
Barriers to reform
The most persuasive arguments and key messages
How to communicate cut-through facts and data to help you change minds
At the end of policy school, you will be able to confidently advocate for what needs to be done, why it needs to be done and importantly how we can all work to achieve a more just, sustainable and peaceful society.

Hosted by Alice Grundy, Anne Kantor Fellow Research Manager, The Australia Institute

How do I sign up:

It’s FREE, but registration is essential.

You can sign up once on Zoom and choose any sessions you wish to attend.

Who should attend:

The Australia Institute’s Policy School is for anyone interested in how public policy is researched and developed, as well as how to advocate for policy change.
It is designed for policy makers, campaigners, NGOs, academics, and public servants.

Schedule:

27 February — Climate change and the living standards crisis with Executive Director, Richard Denniss and Strategy Director, Leanne Minshull
13 March — No new coal mines – a policy not a slogan with Research Director, Rod Campbell
27 March — AUKUS: What are the prospects for Australia’s Nuclear-powered Submarine? With International and Security Affairs Director Emma Shortis and Advisor Allan Behm

The post Policy School – Climate change and the living standards crisis appeared first on The Australia Institute.

Problem is, they’re not alone.

So begins a searing, propulsive journey through a life whose central challenge is not simply a matter of survival, but of how to maintain human decency as everyone around you falls ever further into barbarism.

About the author

Tim Winton is the author of 30 books. His work has been widely translated and adapted for film, television, stage and radio. He lives in Western Australia.

The post Juice with Tim Winton appeared first on The Australia Institute.

Each fortnight, you will hear from policy experts from the Australia Institute, who will take you through the key things you need to create change on critical public policy issues – like fair tax reform, electoral reform, the Australia/USA relationship, the housing crisis, or reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

You will learn about:

Key issues and the current policy landscape
What the evidence-based policy shows
Barriers to reform
The most persuasive arguments and key messages
How to communicate cut-through facts and data to help you change minds
At the end of policy school, you will be able to confidently advocate for what needs to be done, why it needs to be done and importantly how we can all work to achieve a more just, sustainable and peaceful society.

Hosted by Alice Grundy, Anne Kantor Fellow Research Manager, The Australia Institute

How do I sign up:

It’s FREE, but registration is essential.

You can sign up once on Zoom and choose any sessions you wish to attend.

Who should attend:

The Australia Institute’s Policy School is for anyone interested in how public policy is researched and developed, as well as how to advocate for policy change.
It is designed for policy makers, campaigners, NGOs, academics, and public servants.

Schedule:

27 March — AUKUS: What are the prospects for Australia’s Nuclear-powered Submarine? With International and Security Affairs Director Emma Shortis and Advisor Allan Behm

The post No new coal mines – a policy not a slogan appeared first on The Australia Institute.

Each fortnight, you will hear from policy experts from the Australia Institute, who will take you through the key things you need to create change on critical public policy issues – like fair tax reform, electoral reform, the Australia/USA relationship, the housing crisis, or reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

You will learn about:

Key issues and the current policy landscape
What the evidence-based policy shows
Barriers to reform
The most persuasive arguments and key messages
How to communicate cut-through facts and data to help you change minds
At the end of policy school, you will be able to confidently advocate for what needs to be done, why it needs to be done and importantly how we can all work to achieve a more just, sustainable and peaceful society.

Hosted by Alice Grundy, Anne Kantor Fellow Research Manager, The Australia Institute

How do I sign up:

It’s FREE, but registration is essential.

You can sign up once on Zoom and choose any sessions you wish to attend.

Who should attend:

The Australia Institute’s Policy School is for anyone interested in how public policy is researched and developed, as well as how to advocate for policy change.
It is designed for policy makers, campaigners, NGOs, academics, and public servants.

The post Policy School – AUKUS: What are the prospects for Australia’s Nuclear-powered Submarine? appeared first on The Australia Institute.