Policy Forum Pod

On this Policy Forum Pod, our panel - education expert Lawrence Saha, ACT education union boss Glenn Fowler, and Indigenous education scholar Marnie O’Bryan - examine the impact of the coronavirus crisis on school students, parents, and teachers.The coronavirus pandemic has caused unprecedented disruption for school students the world over, with 1.5 billion pupils impacted by school closures at its height. So what impact will this have on students in the long-term? Is the gap between advantaged and disadvantaged students now widening? And with this pandemic far from over, how can policymakers ensure our school communities are safe and that students are getting the best possible education? On this episode of Policy Forum Pod, we discuss these issues with The Australian National University’s Professor Lawrence Saha and Dr Marnie O’Bryan, and Australian Education Union ACT Branch Secretary Glenn Fowler.Lawrence Saha is Emeritus Professor at ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences. His areas of expertise include

Why do people believe the falsehoods they read online, and what impact is this having on politics and policy? On this special Policy Forum Pod in the lead-up to the United States election, we look at misinformation and disinformation in the ‘land of the free’.The Internet and social media has revolutionised the way people access and share information. But unfortunately, not all information was created equal, and information revolution has also led to an explosion of rumours, half-truths and even straight-out lies that can spread at lightning speed, shared unknowingly (and sometimes knowingly) by users all around the world. But why do people believe so much of what they see online? What impact is misinformation and ‘fake news’ having on our political systems? And what can policymakers do to tackle it? On this special episode of Policy Forum Pod ahead of the United States presidential election, we’re joined by cognitive psychologist Dr Eryn Newman and national security expert Dr Jennifer Hunt to discuss these q

This week on Policy Forum Pod, we’re joined by politician and economist Andrew Leigh, workplace researcher Carys Chan, and consultant Ben Hamer to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the working lives of Australians.For many people their working patterns have changed dramatically in 2020, with more working from home, an increased reliance on internet and online communication, and some additional flexibility. But what will the world of work look like after the crisis passes? How can policymakers assist individuals and businesses adjust to these changes? And what do these changes mean for some of Australia’s most vulnerable citizens? On this episode of Policy Forum Pod, we discuss the COVID-19 crisis and the future of work with economist and Shadow Assistant Minister for Treasury and Charities Dr Andrew Leigh, lecturer at Griffith University’s School of Applied Psychology Dr Carys Chan, and Director and Future of Work Lead at PwC Australia Dr Ben Hamer.Ben Hamer is Director and Future of Work Lead at PwC Australi

On this Policy Forum Pod, top climate researcher Mark Howden, social scientist Bec Colvin, and science writer Ketan Joshi examine the past and present struggles of Australia’s climate policies, and how policymakers can put the country on the right track.Does this Federal Budget represent another missed opportunity for Australia to take meaningful action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions? Despite poll after poll showing Australians want to see action on climate change, why is there still such a gap between government policy and public opinion? And how can policymakers clear this blockage and ensure they are creating evidence-based policy? On this episode of Policy Forum Pod, ANU Climate Change Institute Director Professor Mark Howden, Crawford School of Public Policy’s Dr Bec Colvin, and science writer Ketan Joshi examine the Federal Budget, the so-called ‘gas-led recovery’, and the history of Australian climate policy.Mark Howden is Director of the ANU Climate Change Institute. Mark was a major contribu

In the final episode of our special Policy Forum Pod bonus mini-series, Professor Sharon Bessell examines the health and economic impacts of the coronavirus crisis on those already experiencing deprivation.While the impact of the COVID-19 crisis has been felt all around the world, people already experiencing poverty face some of the most severe challenges in the wake of the pandemic. From the health impacts of not having private access to clean water and sanitation, to the economic consequences of job losses during lockdowns - particularly in countries with limited social safety nets - the future is deeply uncertain for many of the world’s most vulnerable people. On the sixth and final episode in our Making the invisible, visible bonus mini-series on poverty, Individual Measure of Multidimensional Poverty (IMMP) project lead Professor Sharon Bessell joins us to examine the ramifications for those most in need, and why addressing poverty should be front-of-mind for policymakers in the context of the coronaviru

On this episode of Policy Forum Pod, our panel - Sharon Bessell, Arnagretta Hunter, and John Falzon - examine Australia’s first budget in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis and ask whether it lays the groundwork for a more prosperous and just nation.The Australian government may have spent big in this federal budget, but does it deliver the right outcomes for the country’s long-term future? Has the government missed a once-in-a-generation chance to address some of the structural challenges Australia faces, particularly in regards to climate and inequality? And what other options might Treasurer Josh Frydenberg have considered in perhaps the most important budget in the lifetimes of most Australians? On this Policy Forum Pod, we’re joined by pod regulars Professor Sharon Bessell, cardiologist and Clinical Senior Lecturer at ANU Medical School Dr Arnagretta Hunter, and sociologist Dr John Falzon to discuss the budget and whether this was a missed opportunity to create a more just nation.Sharon Bessell is Prof

On the penultimate episode in our Policy Forum Pod bonus mini-series on poverty, Helen Suich and Angie Bexley join us to discuss what their research shows about the intersection of poverty and disability, and why policymakers must recognise that people with disability have rights, not just needs.There is a growing understanding that the experiences of people with disability are nuanced and diverse, but there’s still a dearth of data in many countries. Research through the Individual Measure of Multidimensional Poverty (formerly known as the Individual Deprivation Measure) project has shone a light on deprivation and disability in Indonesia and South Africa. So what has it revealed about patterns of poverty, how these two countries are responding, and what policymakers can do better? In the fifth episode in our ‘Making the invisible, visible’ bonus mini-series, Dr Helen Suich and Dr Angie Bexley from the IMMP join host Aarti Betigeri to talk about poverty among people with disability.Dr Helen Suich led th

On this special Policy Forum Pod live event, we're joined by prominent TikToker Ricky Chainz, national security expert Dr James Mortensen, and digital anthropologist Dr Crystal Abidin to discuss TikTok culture and the national security concerns about the platform. It’s the latest social media craze to sweep the world, and has been the entertainment platform of choice for many during COVID-19 lockdown periods, but TikTok has become entangled in political controversy and debate about cybersecurity. So, what makes TikTok different to other social media platforms? What impact has it had on how young people around the world participate in social movements? And how concerned should policymakers be about the potential for data privacy and national security breaches coming through the platform? On this Policy Forum Pod live event, we’re joined by researchers Dr James Mortensen and Dr Crystal Abidin, and TikToker Ricky Chainz, to discuss one of the world’s most popular social media platforms.Dr Crystal Abidin is

In this episode in our special bonus series on poverty, Dr Angie Bexley joins us to discuss Indonesia’s recent progress on poverty reduction, and what the findings of the Individual Measure of Multidimensional Poverty reveal about deprivation in the country’s remote eastern provinces.Southeast Asia’s largest economy, Indonesia, has made major strides in poverty reduction in recent decades. But official measures, which rely on household income alone, can only tell policymakers part of the story. New research through the Individual Measure of Multidimensional Poverty (IMMP) project has provided a much more in-depth view of poverty in the country’s eastern regions. So what does this study tell us about patterns of poverty in Indonesia? And how can policymakers use this information to ensure no-one gets left behind? In the fourth episode in our ‘Making the invisible, visible’ bonus series, Dr Angie Bexley from the IMMP joins host Aarti Betigeri to talk about the dimensions of deprivation in the world’s fourth mos

On this episode, we look back on some of our favourite Policy Forum Pod moments ahead of this year’s Australian Podcast Awards.Over recent weeks, the Policy Forum Pod team has been busily preparing our submission for the Australian Podcast Awards. In this time, we’ve had the chance to listen back through some of our favourite moments on the pod since the beginning of 2019. We all know happiness grows when it’s shared, so in this episode we invite you to join us on a little trip down memory lane, re-visiting some of our most engaging, emotional, and insightful discussions. From this year’s bushfire crisis, to drug policy, to Indigenous health, to the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, we hope you enjoy this long-list of our favourite Policy Forum Pod moments from the last year and a half. Dr Siobhan McDonnell is a legal anthropologist with over 20 years of experience working with Indigenous people in Australia and the Pacific on land use, gender, and climate change. She is a Lecturer at Crawford Schoo

In episode three of our ‘Making the invisible, visible’ bonus series, Aarti Betigeri chats with Dr Helen Suich about what research through the Individual Measure of Multidimensional Poverty project has revealed about patterns of poverty in South Africa.Poverty in South Africa has historical roots, with the prospects of the majority of the population curtailed by Apartheid throughout much of the 20th century. So what impact has the country’s segregationist past had on contemporary patterns of poverty? And how does deprivation differ across the many dimensions of poverty? In the third episode in our ‘Making the invisible, visible’ bonus series, South Africa lead on the Individual Measure of Multidimensional Poverty project Dr Helen Suich discusses patterns of poverty in the Rainbow Nation with host Aarti Betigeri.Dr Helen Suich led the Individual Deprivation Measure South Africa country study, working as a Senior Research Fellow at the Crawford School of Public Policy at the time.Aarti Betigeri is a multi-

On this episode, we’re joined by Kim Cunio, Denise Ferris, and Clive Barstow to discuss the value of Australia’s arts sector and what policymakers can do to support artists in their time of need.They are the people society turns to in times of crisis to provide an entertaining distraction or salve, but the coronavirus crisis has left many in Australia’s already vulnerable arts sector on the brink. So what can policymakers do to ensure Australian artists are appropriately valued? How can the sector reorganise to give itself the most effective possible political voice? And does Australia need a Chief Artist as well as a Chief Scientist? On this episode of Policy Forum Pod, Professor Denise Ferris, Associate Professor Kim Cunio, and Professor Clive Barstow chat about arts policy in Australia and the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the sector.Associate Professor Kim Cunio researches composition and musicology in the School of Music of The Australian National University. He is an accomplished researching com

In episode two in our ‘Making the invisible, visible’ bonus mini-series, Janet Hunt and Sharon Bessell join us to get behind the data from the Individual Measure of Multidimensional Poverty project, and discuss what this tells us about the gendered dimensions of poverty.For 12 years, researchers from Crawford School of Public Policy have been working on an ambitious project to redefine how poverty is measured. Now known as the Individual Measure of Multidimensional Poverty (IMMP) project, this research has revealed some insightful information about patterns of poverty, particularly in regards to gender. So how do women experience poverty differently from men? And what does this mean for policymakers involved in the global mission to eradicate poverty? In the second episode of this ‘Making the invisible, visible’ bonus mini-series, IMMP researchers Associate Professor Janet Hunt and Professor Sharon Bessell join us to examine the gendered dimensions of poverty.Sharon Bessell is Professor of Public Policy

On this episode, guest host Kim Cunio speaks with writer and social activist Stephanie Dowrick and Northern Territory-based paediatrician Paul Bauert about fighting for social justice in Australia.What does it take to be an activist for policy change? How can governments and Australian society more broadly do more to advocate for social justice? And what role can professionals like artists and health specialists play in the policy space? In the second episode of Associate Professor Kim Cunio’s Policy Forum Pod takeover, he speaks with writer and social activist Stephanie Dowrick and Northern Territory-based paediatrician Paul Bauert about ethics and policymaking in an uncertain world.Associate Professor Kim Cunio researches composition and musicology in the School of Music of The Australian National University. He is an accomplished researching composer and performer and was awarded an ABC Golden Manuscript Award in recognition of his work with traditional music.Dr Paul Bauert OAM is a pediatrician

In the first episode in our ‘Making the invisible, visible’ bonus mini-series, Professor Sharon Bessell joins us to discuss the limitations of the international poverty line and what new research has revealed about the gendered, multidimensional nature of poverty.It has been 20 years since the Millennium Development Goals were first conceptualised, and in that time a significant number of people have been lifted out of poverty. But with poverty defined narrowly, using household income alone, does that provide a true picture of global poverty at the individual level? For over a decade, researchers from Crawford School of Public Policy have been working on an ambitious project to redefine how poverty is measured, taking an innovative, rights-based and people-centred approach. This research, now ongoing through the Individual Measure of Multidimensional Poverty project, didn’t just assess how many people are poor, but rather how they experience poverty. Regular Policy Forum Pod episodes will still be released ev

On this episode, guest host Kim Cunio is joined by Kathleen Harriden and Jessica Weir to talk about the importance of Indigenous knowledge, the deep connection of Indigenous people to Country, and how to decolonise Australian institutions.Are the disciplinary boundaries used by universities and the policymaking apparatus to understand challenges and distribute resources actually preventing society from effectively tackling complex issues like water policy? Does the desire to learn about Indigenous fire management practices in the wake of Australia’s terrible bushfire season represent a turning point in non-Indigenous understanding of Indigenous knowledge? And how can key national institutions place greater value on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander practices and knowledge that have maintained environmental balance across the continent for tens of thousands of years? On this episode of Policy Forum Pod, Associate Professor Kim Cunio is joined by multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary researcher and ad

On this episode, our panel - Dr Jenny Davis, Dr Jennifer Hunt, and Yun Jiang - join us to discuss online hate, anti-social behaviour on digital platforms, and what policymakers can do about it. There’s little doubt social media can, at times, become very unpleasant. From run of the mill rudeness all the way to hate speech, there is no shortage of social media horror stories from users. Women and people from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds - especially those in the public eye - are often subject to vile abuse online. But does it have to be this way? Can policymakers and the social media platforms do more to encourage greater civility and ensure people’s safety? And what can governments do to tackle hate speech and coordinated disinformation campaigns? On this episode of Policy Forum Pod, our expert panel - Dr Jenny Davis, Dr Jennifer Hunt, and Yun Jiang - join us to discuss what we can do to make social media platforms safer, more respectful spaces. Dr Jennifer Hunt is a Lecturer at the

Some 13.9 per cent of Australians aged 20-24 are unemployed, and that’s likely to get worse the longer the coronavirus crisis continues. How will the crisis and the recession to come impact their future careers and prospects? On this week’s Policy Forum Pod we take a look at economic scarring – what it is, how it impacts people, and what policymakers can do about it.While we’re still learning much about COVID-19, one thing has become increasingly clear – it’s impact will be with us all for years to come, and could disproportionately impact young people. This week on Policy Forum Pod a superb panel of experts – labour economist Professor Bob Gregory, social policy expert Professor Matthew Gray, and Professor of political sociology Ariadne Vromen – take a look at the issue of economic scarring, and whether the wounds being inflicted on young people through the coronavirus crisis will heal or leave a long-term mark on their futures. Professor Ariadne Vromen is Sir John Bunting Chair of Public Administr

On this week’s Policy Forum Pod we lift the lid on one of the most hotly-contested policy areas – taxes – and speak to the authors of a new report on how we can create a tax system that eases the unfair burden on younger Australians. Despite repeated calls for reform – including Ken Henry’s Tax Review of 2008 – Australia’s tax system remains complex. But according to the authors of a new report, it’s not just complicated and hard to understand, but also a system that unfairly penalises younger people while giving older, wealthier Australians concessions. So, what’s going wrong in Australia’s tax system, why have we found it so politically problematic to get substantial change, and what would a fairer tax system for all look like? This week on Policy Forum Pod we speak to two of the report’s authors, Professor Robert Breunig and Kristen Sobeck.The report, The taxation of savings in Australia: theory, current practice and future policy directions is written by Peter Varela, Kristen Sobeck, and Professor Ro

On this episode, we hear from leading Indonesia experts about the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on jobs, particularly on vulnerable workers in the country’s massive informal sector.As elsewhere in the world, Indonesia’s devastating COVID-19 health crisis is having a major impact on the country’s economy. The Indonesian government projects that five and a half million of its citizens could lose their jobs as a result of reduced economic activity, with many of these being workers from the country’s massive informal sector. With limited access to social security or healthcare, this crisis will leave many of Indonesia’s most vulnerable people on the brink. But with reported infections recently exceeding 100,000 and some of the lowest testing rates in the world, the future remains deeply uncertain for many in the Southeast Asian nation. On this episode, we hear from leading Indonesia experts - special adviser to the Indonesian Minister of Finance Dr Titik Anas, Dr Chris Manning, and Joanna Octavia - who d