Big Ideas

How has the fossil fuel industry wielded influence over Australian governments and their policies? What does it take to make ambitious change in the public interest, without vested interests getting in way? Join Natasha Mitchell and guests at Adelaide Writers Week.SpeakersDr Richard DennissEconomist and Executive Director of The Australia InstituteAuthor of BIG: The Role of the State in the Modern Economy (2022)Ross GarnautEconomistProfessor Emeritus in business and economics, University of MelbourneBoard director of renewable energy company ZEN ENERGYAuthor of Let's Tax Carbon: And other ideas for a better Australia (2024), Superpower: Australia's Low Carbon Opportunity (2019)Sarah Hanson-YoungSenator for South AustraliaGreens spokesperson for arts and communications, and environment and waterRoyce KurmelovsFreelance journalistAuthor of Slick: Australia's Toxic Relationship with Big Oil (2024)

The citizens of France have a notoriously conflicted relationship with the state. Their suspicion, if not resentfulness, of state power has played out in myriad revolts over the centuries and continues with repeated protests and riots to this day. It shapes the country's political and social fabric … from the set-up of their local sports clubs to their global foreign politics ambitions. The picture that emerges is one of a nation struggling to reconcile its core political values with the realities of a diverse society.Presented at FASStival, the University of Technology Sydney Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences FestivalSpeakerEmile ChabalProfessor of Contemporary European History at the University of Edinburgh, Author of France

The International Criminal Court has issued high-profile arrests warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over their conduct in the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. But although the court's role is to end impunity for war crimes, many are now questioning whether it has the power to perform that vital duty.This event was recorded at the University of Tasmania on 11 February 2025.SpeakersAlex WhitingProfessor of Practice, Harvard Law SchoolFormer Acting Specialist Prosecutor for the Kosovo Tribunal in The HagueFormer Investigation Coordinator and then Prosecution Coordinator in the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court in The HagueTrial Attorney and then a Senior Trial Attorney with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, 2002-2007Regina Weiss (host)Barrister, Tasmanian BarFormer war crimes prosecutor, International Criminal CourtCounsel to the ICC on victims, defense, sexual and gender-based violenceChair of the Australian Red Cross — Tasmania International Humanitarian Law CommitteeTim McCormack (host)Professor of International Law, University of TasmaniaFormer Special Adviser on War Crimes to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague (2010-2024)

Helen Garner, a celebrated Australian author known for impactful works like "Monkey Grip" and "The First Stone", shares her insights on life, family, and Australian Rules Football. She humorously reflects on the joys and challenges of being a footy fan while documenting her grandson's growth in the sport. Garner discusses the invisibility of older women in a male-dominated realm and explores the emotional lessons learned through football. Her anecdotes blend the dynamics of family, the complexities of masculinity, and the rich tapestry of community tied together by sport.

In a thought-provoking discussion, Dr. Emma Shortis, Dr. Nick Bryant, Allan Behm, and Dr. Prudence Flowers unpack America's potential political collapse under Trump's influence. They explore the shift from governance to authoritarianism, the implications for global order, and the future of U.S.-Australia relations. The guests analyze Trump's impact on the Republican Party’s values and the alarming dismantling of public institutions in America. They reflect on how Australia might navigate a world where the U.S. no longer guarantees its security.

In this engaging discussion, Hugh de Kretser, President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, and Lizzie O'Shea, founder of Digital Rights Watch, delve into the complex world of digital privacy. They humorously illustrate how our daily lives are ripe for data collection while emphasizing the urgent need for stronger privacy reforms. Topics include the biases in AI, the societal impacts of surveillance capitalism, and the pressing necessity for Australia to catch up with global privacy standards. Their insights call for a balance between individual responsibility and governmental action on privacy matters.

Europe needs to rethink its strategies and policies to protect the continent in the future. Russia's invasion of Ukraine, China's predatory mercantilism, and the rise of populist neoisolationism in the United States mean that depending on the status quo won't cut it anymore. But after decades of neglect, restoring Europe's military capacity, economic competitiveness, and strategic autonomy will be difficult. Can NATO evolve into a more balanced team, and may the time finally have come for a European pillar within it? Can increased trade and economic dynamism be squared with increased security and international competition?Presented by the American Academy in BerlinSpeakersGideon RoseFormer editor and managing editor of Foreign Affairs; 2025 Axel Springer Fellow at the American Academy in BerlinAdjunct senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations; adjunct professor of political science at Columbia UniversityDaniel BenjaminPresident of the American Academy in Berlin

Humans have a conflicted relationship with animals: We love our pets and admire our wildlife. But we continue the industrial production of dairy, meat and eggs, that often leaves animal suffering in dreadful conditions. We create a division between US and THEM, if it suits us. What does that say about how we value animals in our lives?Presented at the Byron Writers FestivalSpeakersPeter SingerBioethicist and author of Animal Liberation, Practical Ethics, and The Buddhist and the EthicistFounder of the charity The Life You Can Save and co-hosts of the Lives Well Lived podcastJames BradleyAward-winning author of Deep Water: The World in the OceanLaura Jean McKayAward-winning author of The Animals in That Country and GunflowerDr David RolandClinical psychologist and honorary associate with the School of Medicine, University of Sydney

Seeing a whale in the wild takes your breath away. But so much of what they do remains mysterious. Join Natasha Mitchell with two world leading whale researchers unearthing the secret world of cetaceans. You'll want to change jobs when you hear what they get up to!  Thousands of humpback whales will soon leave their Summer feeding grounds in Antarctica with full bellies to begin the world's longest mammalian migration. How do they live, breed, behave, survive, thrive?  Commercial whaling might have declined, but can we work out what these magnificent creatures make of what's happening in their home now — from offshore oil drilling and seismic testing to ship collisions and climate change?   This event was hosted by the Island Whale Festival Phillip Island. Find out more about the festival held annually in July. Listen to the rest of our special series Animals — Us and Them?SpeakersDr Barry McGovern Cetacean scientist Australian Research Associate, Pacific Whale FoundationDr Pete Gill Cetacean scientist Founder and CEO of The Blue Whale Study

Cherished companions, or cunning predators? Cats kill five million native animals in Australia every day — so how can we better manage our feline friends?Listen to the rest of our special series Animals — Us and Them?SpeakersAlex Patton Invasive species ecologist and PhD candidate, University of TasmaniaNoel Hunt CEO, Ten Lives Cat CentreDr Catherine "Cat" Young Biodiversity coordinator, NRM SouthDr Tiana Pirtle (host)Conservation officer, Invasive Species CouncilFurther information:Cats in Australia - Invasive Species CouncilCat Management Actions for Eastern Quoll on Bruny Island - NRM SouthThreat abatement plan for predation by feral cats - Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water