Centre for Independent Studies

"People are just sick of it" | Alexander Downer | Liberalism in Question

Get your tickets to see Alexander Downer in Sydney: https://events.humanitix.com/alexander-downer-leadership-between-allies-and-the-region 
In this episode of Liberalism in Question, former Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer joins us to dissect the ever-shifting landscape of political ideologies. From the rise of Trump's nationalist movement and its global ripple effects, to the enduring appeal of economic liberalism as a pathway to prosperity, Downer offers sharp insights into why ideologies evolve like fashion trends—and what it means for our future.
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Future No Longer Made in Australia: How we lost our low-cost electricity advantage by Zoe Hilton and Michael Stutchbury | Research Collection

In the second half of the twentieth century, Australia’s cheap, reliable electricity attracted heavy industry to our shores. By 1990, power-hungry copper, aluminium, lead, manganese and zinc smelters had popped up in each of the eastern states that would one day form the National Electricity Market (NEM). As Matthew Warren, former chief executive of the Australian Energy Council, the Energy Supply Association of Australia and the Clean Energy Council, describes the Australian grid:
In 2000, the coal and gas used were abundant and cheap, and the hydro was provided by rainfall. It was by international standards, about as cheap and reliable an electricity system as you could build. Its brutal simplicity, reliability and low cost had attracted global industries including aluminium and other processors. These were ‘the good old days’ of cheap and reliable electricity in Australia.
But trouble has been brewing in Australia’s smelting paradise over the last two decades, as rising energy prices, carbon charges and foreign competition have taken their toll. These forces have eroded the comparative advantage Australia once enjoyed, shuttering existing industries and dissuading investors from building new ones. Government promises of a ‘renewable energy superpower’ Future Made in Australia built on intermittent renewables, batteries and hydrogen are looking increasingly implausible.Read the paper here:  https://www.cis.org.au/publication/future-no-longer-made-in-australia-how-we-lost-our-low-cost-electricity-advantage/ 

A Short History of Liberalism in the Middle East | Joshua Landis | Liberalism in Question

In this episode of Liberalism in Question, we dive deep into the complex and often overlooked history of liberalism in the Middle East with renowned expert Joshua Landis. As a professor of Middle East history at the University of Oklahoma and director of the Center for Middle East Studies, Landis brings decades of insight from his work on Syria, sectarianism, and regional politics. Join us as we explore the challenges posed by secular and religious  authoritarianism and modern conflicts in countries like Egypt, Syria, and Israel.
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Trump and the red wave | Dave Rubin | Liberalism in Question

From Donald Trump to the lockdowns, Dave Rubin sits down with Robert Forsyth to discuss classical liberalism in the American context. 
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The Tradition of Liberty | Senator James Paterson | Liberalism in Question

Senator James Paterson joins Liberalism in Question to discuss the core principles of classical liberalism — individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and the rule of law — and how they apply to Australia’s current political debates. The conversation explores where liberalism is being challenged, misunderstood, or defended, and what its future looks like in a changing political landscape.
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Senator James Paterson is a Liberal Senator for Victoria. First elected in March 2016 at age 28, Senator Paterson is the youngest Liberal ever elected to the Senate.
During his time in the Senate, he has fought for Australia’s prosperity, freedom, democracy and sovereignty.

The Tension Between Classical Liberalism and Conservatism | Gray Connolly | Liberalism in Question

Watch here: https://youtu.be/NVFhjvDxGX4
From surrogacy to free speech, Rob Forsyth and Gray Connolly discuss the differences between classical liberalism and conservatism in the Australian context. 
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About the guest: 
Gray Connolly is a Sydney-based Barrister and Writer, and he is a reservist serving as a Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Australian Navy. He writes about geopolitics, faith, history and war on his Strategy Counsel website. Gray’s writing has also appeared in an interesting range of Australian periodicals, including Meanjin and The Daily Telegraph. He regularly features on the ABC and Sky News as a commentator. He is a lifelong South Sydney and Richmond supporter. Twitter @GrayConnolly 

Leadership Failure and the Bondi Terror Attack | The Stutchbury Sessions

Shortly before 7pm on Sunday, a Hanukah celebration on Sydney’s Bondi Beach was attacked by two alleged gunmen, believed to be a father and son. At the time of recording, 16 people aged between 10 and 87 are confirmed dead, including one of the alleged attackers, and at least 42 others are being treated in hospital for their injuries.
In this episode of The Stutchbury Sessions, Michael Stutchbury talks with Peter Kurti about the tragedy at Bondi, the politicial leadership failures and rising antisemitism in Australia. 
👉Relevant writings: 🔹 Australia’s complacency and the Bondi beach shooting: https://www.cis.org.au/commentary/opinion/australias-complacency-and-the-bondi-beach-shooting/ 🔹 Reframing an Ancient Hatred: the intersection of left-wing antisemitism and anti-Zionism: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/reframing-an-ancient-hatred-the-intersection-of-left-wing-antisemitism-and-anti-zionism/ 🔹 The Darkest Path: The Puzzling Resilience of Antisemitism. Acton Lecture 2025: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/the-darkest-path-the-puzzling-resilience-of-antisemitism-acton-lecture-2025/ 🔹 Fractured Loyalties. Australian citizenship and the crisis of civic virtue: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/fractured-loyalties-australian-citizenship-and-the-crisis-of-civic-virtue/ 
👉 Support our work to combat Antisemitism in Australia:🔹 Become a member:  https://www.cis.org.au/membership-2-step-1/  🔹 Make a donation: https://www.cis.org.au/support/donate/today/  🔹 Learn more: https://www.cis.org.au/  
#auspol #bondi

Rebuilding the Property-Owning Democracy | The Stutchbury Sessions

In this episode of The Stutchbury Sessions:Michael Stutchbury examines Senator Andrew Bragg’s provocative event at CIS on the future of housing policy — a speech that openly challenged the Liberal Party’s long-standing comfort with rising house prices and called for an unapologetic YIMBY agenda to win back younger voters. 
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How loss of cheap energy pressures wage system | The Stutchbury Sessions

In this episode of The Stutchbury Sessions:Are the Liberals sabotaging their path back to government by walking away from net zero? Or are they facing reality about Australia’s costly clean-energy transition?
In this episode, we dissect whether the Coalition’s internal divisions on climate and energy policy are overshadowing Labor’s failure to retain Australia’s traditional cheap energy advantage. Net-zero targets remain popular in the urban seats the Liberals must win back, so why pick this fight now?👉 Join CIS:
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Rebuilding the Open Society | Roger Partridge | Liberalism in Question

👉 Watch here: https://youtu.be/bGv018CfXg8 
In this episode of Liberalism in Question, we dive into Roger Partridge's provocative Quillette essay, "Classical Liberalism Without Strong Gods", where he challenges the rise of "strong gods" like religion and nationalism as antidotes to liberal society's spiritual void.
You can read the article here: https://quillette.com/2025/06/10/classical-liberalism-without-strong-gods-open-society-popper/ 
As Chairman and co-founder of The New Zealand Initiative, Roger defends Karl Popper's vision of the open society. He argues that epistemic humility, critical inquiry, and moral seriousness can foster cohesion without authoritarian risks, while proposing fixes like civic education reform, housing deregulation, welfare tweaks to support families, and  local autonomy.
Join us as Roger unpacks liberalism's drift, the threats from identity politics and relativism, and a bold path forward.
👉 Support Sound Research:🔹 Become a member:  https://www.cis.org.au/membership-2-step-1/  🔹 Make a donation: https://www.cis.org.au/support/donate/today/  🔹 Learn more: https://www.cis.org.au/