Policy Forum Pod

Policy Forum Pod turns 50 this week! So, in this special pod we take a look back at some of the presenters’ favourite moments, and some moments they would probably like to forget. From Brexit to basic income, and from outer space policy to the very personal space of housing policy, Policy Forum Pod has covered a lot of ground over the last couple of years. And on this week’s special 50th episode, the podders take a look back at some of their favourite moments from the series, a look forward by introducing two new presenters, and a wry look at when things didn’t go entirely to plan! Listen to the podcast here: For this special episode, the presenters all pick some of their favourite podcasts and moments from the last 49 episodes and share some insights about those pods and the topics they cover. This episode also introduces two new presenters for the podcast, Sue Regan and Bob Cotton. Sue is a PhD scholar at Crawford School of Public Policy and Program Director at the Institute of Public Administration Austral

A lawyer, an economist, and a philosopher sit down at a table to discuss ethics. This might sound like the start to a joke, but the topic of this week’s podcast is no laughing matter. When it comes to public trust in leaders to tell the truth and do the right thing, Australia tends toward the bottom of the rankings. On this episode, Nicky Lovegrove and Sharon Bessell hear from legal expert Associate Professor Vivien Holmes, Economics Professor Ngo Van Long, and Philosophy Professor Christian Barry about how to improve the ethics of public policy, and how our leaders can help build a better moral landscape. Vivien Holmes is Associate Professor at the ANU College of Law. She teaches and researches in the fields of legal ethics, legal education and the legal profession. Ngo Van Long is James McGill Professor of economics at McGill University, Canada, and Honorary Professor at Crawford School. Recently he delivered the F.H. Gruen Public Lecture at the ANU Research School of Economics, where he spoke on the topic

On this week’s Policy Forum Pod, we take a look at the hopes and headwinds in Timor-Leste’s under new Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak – from personality politics and gender inequality, to an economy that’s on the brink of a 'fiscal cliff'. Despite being one of Australia’s closest neighbours, Timor-Leste doesn’t usually get too much attention from mainstream media. But you might see it in the news this week, and that’s because after months of political stalemate and election manoeuvring, it has a new Prime Minister – Taur Matan Ruak. On the latest podcast, hosts Martyn Pearce and Sharon Bessel ask experts Sue Ingram, Michael Leach and Sara Niner whether the new government can steer the country away from the turbulence of the past, or whether political, economic and social headwinds could once again blow it off course. Listen here: Dr Sue Ingram is an Honorary Senior Policy Fellow at the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific. She has wide experience in public policy, peacebuilding and international development, in

It’s the football and international relations podcast you’ve been waiting for. With the World Cup kicking off this weekend, we bring together three Russia experts to commentate on the world game, Putin and politics. Elizabeth Buchanan, Matthew Sussex, and Olga Krasnyak chat to Policy Forum’s Maya Bhandari about reputation and legitimacy, energy markets and football sponsorships, soft power and Asia-Pacific pivots, and what a post-Putin Russia might look like. Associate Professor Matthew Sussex is the Academic Director at the National Security College. His main research specialisation is on Russian foreign and security policy. Dr Elizabeth Buchanan is a Europa Visiting Fellow at the ANU Centre for European Studies, specialising in Russian foreign energy strategy, with a specific research interest in Russian polar strategy. Dr Olga Krasnyak is a lecturer in International Studies at Underwood International College, Yonsei Univesity, Republic of Korea. Shownotes The following pieces were referred to or informed t

More than two-thirds of Australia's Federal Parliament are men. More than 96 per cent are aged 35 and older. You shouldn't need an economics or law degree to work out whose voices are not being heard. On this episode of Policy Forum Pod, four young women discuss how to give youth a greater say in public policy. We hear from Nip Wijewickrema, Ashleigh Streeter-Jones and Caitlin Figueiredo about the pathways available to young people who want to enter politics, the obstacles facing young women trying to make a difference, and the challenges of measuring social impact. Nip Wijewickrema was named 2016 Young Australian of the Year. She established GG’s Flowers, which is a florestry business designed to create employment opportunities for people with special needs. She has also shown other local organisations how to create safe working environments for people with disabilities. Ashleigh Streeter-Jones was named 2018 ACT Woman of the Year in recognition of her work encouraging young people and women in international

In 2016, when Finland launched its Universal Basic Income (UBI) program, it was applauded for being at the forefront of social welfare. But even though the Finnish experiment received strong early praise, Finland’s government has decided not to continue the program past the end of this year. Nevertheless, this experiment has given researchers valuable insights which will shape the global conversation around the future of Universal Basic Income (UBI). Back in July 2016, Olli Kangas spoke on Policy Forum Pod about the beginnings of this experiment and in this latest podcast, we hear about what has happened in this space over the past two years. Professor Olli Kangas is the Head of the Research Department at the Social Insurance Institution of Finland. He was one of the leading designers for Finland’s experiment with its basic income.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Is it time to say farewell to the Asia-Pacific? In recent years the idea of an ‘Indo-Pacific’ has swept through foreign policy circles all throughout our region. Yet despite its growing popularity in Canberra, Washington, New Delhi and Tokyo, the new mental map is not without its critics. On this special Policy Forum Pod, we play you a public lecture by Rory Medcalf on Indo-Pacific strategy and what the concept means for Australia. We then take the discussion further with David Brewster and Denise Fisher, where we dive into the wheres, whys and what-ifs of the Indo-Pacific. Rory Medcalf is the head of the National Security College at The Australian National University. His professional background involves more than two decades of experience across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks and journalism. David Brewster is a Senior Research Fellow at the National Security College, Australian National University and a Distinguished Research Fellow with the Australia India Institute, University of Melbourne.

If you paid attention to Australia’s recent budget, you may have heard that the government has put aside $41 million towards launching a new national space agency. The aim is to kick-start a multi-billion dollar industry, putting Australia firmly on board the global space revolution as new technology takes off in the decades ahead. Sound out of this world? Don’t miss this stellar latest podcast with Anna Moore and Brad Tucker, two leading experts in this space. Professor Anna Moore is Director of the Advanced Instrumental Technology Centre at the Australian National University. She was also a member of the Expert Reference Group which contributed to the recent government review of Australia’s space sector. Dr Brad Tucker is an astrophysicist at the ANU Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics. Among other things, his research looks at cosmology, supernova, dark energy, and asteroid mining.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Anyone engaged in policymaking knows that it’s a complex business. But how often do policymakers take the time to think about the number of complex systems that have a bearing on their work? On the latest podcast, Helen Sullivan chats with Deborah Blackman, Claudia Pahl-Wostl, and Datu Buyung Agusdinata about how thinking about the science of systems can lead to better policymaking.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

At the end of 2017, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced a significant restructuring of Australia’s intelligence and security agencies: the creation of a new super-department of Home Affairs. What will the change mean for Australia’s national security? Will the country see a much-needed centralisation of intelligence, or is the change trying to fix a system that’s not broken? On the latest podcast, experts John Blaxland, Jacinta Carroll and Andrew Davies help us put together the pieces of Australia’s new mega-ministry. To read the transcript of this podcast, click here.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Of the world’s population of more than 7.3 billion people, almost 900 million go to bed hungry. By 2050, there will be at least 2 billion extra mouths to feed. How can we step up our efforts to end world hunger, while also ensuring we’re ready for the food challenges of the 21st century? On this week’s podcast, we hear from Asit K Biswas, one of the world's leading experts on water and environmental management, about why we must look outside the box on food security. Professor Asit Biswas is one of the world’s leading authorities on water and environmental management, and currently the Distinguished Visiting Professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School for Public Policy in Singapore.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A recent survey has found that the overwhelming majority of Australians believe the dream of home ownership will be out of reach for future generations. But just how big a problem is housing affordability in Australia? Does the country really face a housing shortage, or are there other factors at play? On this week’s podcast, we ask experts Ben Phillips and Cukkoo Joseph all our burning questions about housing affordability, as well as a few of yours.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The first industrial revolution saw the rise of the steam engine. The second saw electricity and mass production, while the third led us to computers, the Internet, and the arrival of the Digital Age. Many say we’re now entering the fourth industrial revolution, where robotics, big data, and artificial intelligence will fundamentally change the nature of work in the 21st century. What will this change mean for the Asian region – currently the world’s most dynamic economy? In this week’s podcast, we chat with two economists from the Asian Development Bank about the 2018 Development Outlook report, and hear forecasts for growth for Asia and the Pacific as technology starts to change the future of work. Our two guests from the Asian Development Bank are Valerie Mercer-Blackman, Senior Economist at the Economics Research and Regional Cooperation department, and Ananya Basu - Principal Economist from the Asian Development Bank’s Pacific Department. We also talk to Dr Liz Allen about the new Citizen Social Scientis

What comes to mind when you think of Iceland? Maybe you think of a tiny population, sub-zero temperatures, and dramatic Arctic landscapes. Maybe, if you cast your mind back a few years, you think of Icelandic banks collapsing amidst the Global Financial Crisis, or mass protests following the Panama Papers scandal. But what might not come to mind is the role Iceland is playing in some very big global debates. These are debates on the turn away from establishment politics, on impending environmental crises, on global inequality, and on the need for new economic models for the 21st Century. In this episode, we talk to Kristin Vala Ragnarsdottir, Professor of Sustainability Science at the University of Iceland, and member of Iceland's Pirate Party.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Fears of artificial intelligence taking over the world may still be the stuff of science fiction. However, advances in automation are already having an effect on people and causing unemployment. Could taxing robots be the key to helping workers replaced by robots? On this Policy Forum Pod, we chat to Professor Roberta Mann about the benefits and challenges of automation taxation.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The world has just celebrated International Women's Day for 2018. This week we're taking a look at an important part of the movement for gender equality – the issue of violence against women. We're talking with Professor Sally Engle Merry about international efforts to measure violence against women, whether the Sustainable Development Goals are giving momentum to the issue or complicating it still further, and whether the #MeToo movement marks a turning point in tackling gender-based violence. Listen to the podcast here: Professor Sally Engle Merry is Silver Professor of Anthropology at New York University and is also a Faculty Director of the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice at the New York University School of Law. She is the author of 16 books and special journal issues looking at issues of international law, human rights, and gender violence.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Terry Waite is the co-founder of Hostage UK, an organisation that provides support to those taken hostage and their families. But Waite is perhaps better known for his own, terrible, experience being taken hostage. In 1987, while working as a hostage negotiator for the Archbishop of Canterbury, Waite travelled to Lebanon to negotiate the release of hostages there. While in Beirut, he was captured himself and spent almost five years in captivity, four of which were in solitary confinement. In the new Policy Forum Pod, he talks about his experience and how being held captive has freed him to see the world in a new way. To find out more about Hostage UK visit: http://hostageuk.org/ To read Helen Sullivan’s piece on empathy in public policy discussed in this podcast, go to: https://www.policyforum.net/world-needs-now-empathy-integrity-expertise/  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this Policy Forum Pod, we chat with Jeni Klugman, a lead author of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Index, and discuss what insights this new global ranking can provide to policymakers in building a more just, inclusive and secure world for women. Dr Jeni Klugman is a Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government’s Women in Public Policy program at Harvard University, and Managing Director at the Georgetown Institute for Women Peace and Security. Her previous positions include Director of Gender and Development at the World Bank, and director and lead author of three global Human Development Reports published by the United Nations Development Programme. The full report of the 2017-18 Women, Peace and Security Index can be found here: https://giwps.georgetown.edu/the-index/chapters/  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Grand corruption costs the global economy countless billions every year, but is the world doing enough to tackle the issue? On the new Policy Forum Pod, we talk to the senior US judge leading the charge for an international anti-corruption court. Mark L Wolf is a judge of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, and someone with a long track record of tackling corruption. In a distinguished career, he has served as the Special Assistant to the Attorney General of the US after the Watergate scandal, and in 1984 won the Attorney General's Distinguished Service Award for exceptional success in prosecuting public corruption in Massachusetts.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The words 'politics' and 'ethics' might be a bit jarring to read together in the same sentence. And yet, many politicians are in fact guided by a desire to make a positive impact in the world. So for those in the business of politics and policy, how can we best focus our efforts so we can be most effective in ‘doing good’? And what of the ethics of individuals in positions of immense political power, like the US President? On this week’s Policy Forum Pod, world-famous philosopher and ethicist Peter Singer discusses political ethics, Trump’s America, and the obligations of nation-states.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.