Boyer Lectures
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2025 ABC Boyer Lecture Series: Australia: A Radical Experiment in Democracy
Curated and hosted by respected journalist, author and broadcaster, Dr Julia Baird, this year's Boyer Lecture Series explores the theme Australia: A Radical Experiment in Democracy, through five distinct orations examining the strengths and challenges of our democracy as we navigate unprecedented global changes in politics, society and technology.
The speakers—drawn from academia, literature, and policy— reflect on the paradox of Australians' declining trust in politicians alongside their continued faith in the integrity of electoral processes.
This year's keynote is Justin Wolfers, Professor of Economics and Public Policy from the University of Michigan and visiting professor at the University of NSW, whose lecture "Australia is Freaking Amazing", is enthusiastic about our strong institutions and asks whether Australia needs a form of conservative radicalism?
The second lecturer is the Hon John Anderson, AO, farmer, grazier and former deputy prime minister, whose talk, 'Our Civilisational Moment' argues that Australia lacks the spirit, not the machinery of democracy.
Our third lecturer is Larissa Behrendt, a Euahleyai/Gamillaroi woman, Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of Technology, Sydney, and host of the ABC Radio National's Speaking Out program. Her lecture, 'Justice, Ideas and Inclusion' outlines the strengths and pitfalls of our country's legal system, and how our democracy might be enriched by our First Nations' peoples' wisdom of interdependence.
Amelia Lester, a deputy editor at Foreign Policy magazine, our fourth lecturer, examines how Artificial Intelligence could potentially undermine democracy here, in her lecture entitled 'AI, On Australia's Terms'.
And in the final lecture, James Curran, author and professor of modern history at the University of Sydney, will argue that the US Presidency holds advantages for Australia, if we are brave enough to take them, and to confront possible changes in our historic alliance, in his speech, 'Trump's Gift'.
The keynote lecture will be broadcast on October 18 on ABC-TV and on consecutive Sundays starting October 19 on ABC Radio National's Sunday Extra program, at 8.05am.
Sunday 26th October at 8.05am you can hear Hon John Anderson's lecture
Sunday 2nd November at 8.05am tune in to hear Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt
Sunday 9th November at 8.05am on Radio National Amelia Lester will give her lecture
Sunday 16th November at 8.05am on Radio National you can hear Professor James Curran's lecture 'Trump's Gift'
All lectures can also be watched via ABC iview and heard at any time on the ABC ListenApp.
Curated and hosted by respected journalist, author and broadcaster, Dr Julia Baird, this year's Boyer Lecture Series explores the theme Australia: A Radical Experiment in Democracy, through five distinct orations examining the strengths and challenges of our democracy as we navigate unprecedented global changes in politics, society and technology.
The speakers—drawn from academia, literature, and policy— reflect on the paradox of Australians' declining trust in politicians alongside their continued faith in the integrity of electoral processes.
This year's keynote is Justin Wolfers, Professor of Economics and Public Policy from the University of Michigan and visiting professor at the University of NSW, whose lecture "Australia is Freaking Amazing", is enthusiastic about our strong institutions and asks whether Australia needs a form of conservative radicalism?
The second lecturer is the Hon John Anderson, AO, farmer, grazier and former deputy prime minister, whose talk, 'Our Civilisational Moment' argues that Australia lacks the spirit, not the machinery of democracy.
Our third lecturer is Larissa Behrendt, a Euahleyai/Gamillaroi woman, Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of Technology, Sydney, and host of the ABC Radio National's Speaking Out program. Her lecture, 'Justice, Ideas and Inclusion' outlines the strengths and pitfalls of our country's legal system, and how our democracy might be enriched by our First Nations' peoples' wisdom of interdependence.
Amelia Lester, a deputy editor at Foreign Policy magazine, our fourth lecturer, examines how Artificial Intelligence could potentially undermine democracy here, in her lecture entitled 'AI, On Australia's Terms'.
And in the final lecture, James Curran, author and professor of modern history at the University of Sydney, will argue that the US Presidency holds advantages for Australia, if we are brave enough to take them, and to confront possible changes in our historic alliance, in his speech, 'Trump's Gift'.
The keynote lecture will be broadcast on October 18 on ABC-TV and on consecutive Sundays starting October 19 on ABC Radio National's Sunday Extra program, at 8.05am.
Sunday 26th October at 8.05am you can hear Hon John Anderson's lecture
Sunday 2nd November at 8.05am tune in to hear Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt
Sunday 9th November at 8.05am on Radio National Amelia Lester will give her lecture
Sunday 16th November at 8.05am on Radio National you can hear Professor James Curran's lecture 'Trump's Gift'
All lectures can also be watched via ABC iview and heard at any time on the ABC ListenApp.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Nov 25, 2012 • 29min
02 | From Protectionism to Economic Advancement
In her second lecture, Professor Langton examines the confluence of historical, political and social factors which have created entrenched barriers against the economic advancement of Aboriginal people in Australia.
Nov 18, 2012 • 54min
01 | Changing the paradigm: Mining Companies, Native Title and Aboriginal Australians
In this first lecture Professor Langton explores the changing relationship between Aboriginal communities and mining companies since the 1993 Mabo agreement and native title legislation, and asks whether this could offer a model for the economic empowerment of all Indigenous people in Australia.
Dec 11, 2011 • 35min
Lecture 4: A Home in Fiction
It is my great good luck that the words I use are English words, which means I live in a very old nation of open borders; a rich, deep, multi-layered, promiscuous universe, infused with Latin, German, French, Greek, Arabic and countless other tongues. I would not be able to swim so far, dive so deep, in a linguistically isolated language such as Hungarian, or even a protectively elitist one such as French.
Dec 4, 2011 • 37min
Lecture 3: At Home in the World
If one definition of the word 'home' is a goal or objective, then I have to be clear that becoming the kind of journalist who covered war was never my goal or intention.
Nov 27, 2011 • 35min
Lecture 2: A Home on Bland Street
The idea of home is bigger than the floorplan of any given four walls or the mass of any roof line. It cannot be compassed by rote recitations of suburb or postcode, nation or state. In last week's lecture, I mentioned the various definitions that dictionaries give for that small, heavily laden word, home. Tonight I would like to explore some of them: home as 'a place of origin, a native habitat', home as 'an environment offering security and happiness' and home as 'the place where something is discovered, founded, developed or promoted. A source.'
Nov 20, 2011 • 54min
Lecture 1: Our Only Home
In dictionaries, definitions of home are various. It is both 'a place of origin, a starting position' and 'a goal or destination.' It may also be 'an environment offering security and happiness' or 'the place where something is discovered, founded, developed or promoted. A source.'
Dec 19, 2010 • 38min
Lecture 6: The Republic of Learning
Universities may appear unchanged and enduring, yet the world of the mind is shifting quickly. This is a moment of unparalleled growth, but also of new challenges — the web, on-line learning, and international competition. Australian higher education must think about its role in the republic of learning, so there is a place for every citizen, for every community.
Dec 12, 2010 • 32min
Lecture 5: Fired with Enthusiasm
In the modern university, the new sits awkwardly alongside the ancient — medieval gowns and corporate branding, academic board and a chief financial officer. Yet despite its many contradictions, campus remains a place of vitality and imagination, as each new generation seeks its place in the world.
Dec 5, 2010 • 34min
Lecture 4: Becoming a Citizen
Who gets to university will set the pattern for the life to follow — not just in income and profession, but across almost every dimension of health and happiness. So access to higher learning is a profound matter of social justice. Ensuring equality of opportunity to higher learning must start at the very beginning of education.
Nov 28, 2010 • 34min
Lecture 3: Research! A Mere Excuse for Idleness
Research is not an ancient feature of the university, yet has become central to their identity. To tackle the really big questions, such as containing malaria, requires networks of researchers across many institutions. It is the republic at its most inspirational as it discovers and communicates the excitement of new knowledge.
