Centre for Independent Studies

Does Hong Kong Have a Future? | Salvatore Babones, Simon Littlewood & Daniel Del Re | Events at CIS

Australia seeks to attract “key businesses and global super talent to Australia”, in the words of population minister Alan Tudge. With a new Global Business and Talent Attraction Taskforce, will Hong Kong businesses even consider relocating to Australia?
Is China’s new security law the straw that will break Hong Kong’s back? Will Hong Kong survive as a global business centre when vague crimes like “collusion with foreign forces” are now punishable with life imprisonment? Can Hong Kong’s business community navigate between the Scylla of extradition to China and the Charybdis that is the long arm of US sanctions? And if businesses do flee Hong Kong, where will they go?
Joining us to answer these questions are two business people who have their fingers on the pulse of Asia: Simon Littlewood of management consultancy ACG Global and Daniel Del Re of strategic communications consultancy Kekst CNC.

29. On Liberty | Prof. Elizabeth Larus | Why The World Needs A Free Taiwan

This week we welcome Chinese politics expert Professor Elizabeth Larus of the University of Mary Washington to discuss the implications of the American presidential election for cross-strait relations and the future of Taiwan. Prof. Larus, author of Politics and Society in Contemporary China and Economic Reform in China 1979-2003, will join host Salvatore Babones live from Washington, DC.
In the four years since then-president-elect Donald Trump took an unprecedented congratulatory phone call from Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-wen, the Trump administration has shown unprecedented levels of support for the small but important island nation. A country of just 24 million people, the strength of Taiwan's economy and democracy are constantly tested by extreme levels of interference from China.
We'll be asking Prof. Larus how Taiwan is able to survive and even thrive in the shadow of Beijing's military threats and Chinese Communist Party infiltration. How long can Taiwan hold out against Chinese aggression? What lessons can Australia learn from Taiwan's battle against Chinese influence? And crucially: what do America's November 3 presidential elections mean for Taiwan?

The Fear Epidemic | Frank Furedi & Monica Wilkie | Conversations at CIS

Everyone seems to be cursing 2020. We have seen a coronavirus pandemic, mass unemployment, an impending recession or depression, Black Lives Matter riots, and the scourge of cancel culture continues at pace.
All these events have led to another epidemic — fear. We are told to fear the virus, fear economic collapse, and fear…each other. But have you ever wondered how fear works? To answer that question, we talked to Frank Furedi a sociologist, social commentator, and author of 26 books including How Fear Works.
Frank and CIS policy analyst Monica Wilkie discuss the shift from assuming people are resilient, to assuming they are vulnerable. What impact has how fear ridden culture had on individuals and society?

Australia’s 2020 Federal Budget | Simon Cowan, Emma Dawson, Stephen Kirchner & Danielle Wood | Events at CIS

The Most Consequential Budget of our Generation. Covid-19 has blown an unprecedented hole in the budget and rapidly changed policy debates in Australia. Our 30 year run of growth is gone. The recession has returned and predictions of surplus have been replaced by dire forecasts of debt and deficits.
The Australia that emerges post coronavirus will be very different and Australia’s think tanks are presenting contrasting visions for the future. We invited Emma Dawson, executive director of Per Capita, Stephen Kirchner, program director of trade and investment at the United States Studies Centre and Danielle Wood, chief executive of Grattan Institute to debate the outcome of the long-awaited 2020 Federal Budget.

28. On Liberty | Robert Carling | Federal Budget Review 2020

This week, we host a special Episode of On Liberty host by CIS Research Director Simon Cowan. Simon Will speak with Senior Fellow of the CIS Economics Program Robert Carling.
On April 16, Prime Minister Morrison signalled after the immediate pandemic-induced crisis, a market-oriented economic agenda is needed to help the economy rebound and drive investment for tomorrow’s prosperity. A growth agenda that is provided not by politicians throwing money at favoured sectors, but by the private sector being freed to invest by being taxed and regulated less.
Join us for a special On Liberty with host CIS Research Director Simon Cowan as he speaks Senior Research Fellow in the economics program, Robert Carling. Rob and Simon will analyse, comment, and digest the #Budget2020. You too can join the live conversation and ask questions by tuning in from 10 am (AEST) via YouTube or here on Facebook.

We need freedom to innovate | Matt Ridley & Tom Switzer | Conversations at CIS

"The argument that you need government funding to encourage innovation is not true", Matt Ridley.
Matt Ridley’s new book is called "How innovation works and why it flourishes in freedom". The main lesson of the book is: prosperity comes from innovation. Matt focuses on how certain deregulation would improve the rate in which we can innovate and therefore be prosperous. He tells us, "the worst thing government can do for innovation is to make decisions slowly."
CIS is focused on how best to revive the Australian economy and boost productivity. We are committed to promoting policies that allow people to be free to innovate, that shake up the culture of over-regulation that has shackled the entrepreneurial spirit of the economy for too long.
Join CIS Executive Director Tom Switzer as he asks what should governments do to encourage innovation? What deregulation will clear barriers for entrepreneurs? Why has innovation worked so well with technology but not vaccines or drug discovery? And given all the current doom and gloom, are you still a rational opportunist?

27. On Liberty | Dr Carlos D’Abrera | The Reality- Mental Health, Suicide And The Pandemic

We welcomed psychiatrist Dr Carlos d'Abrera, a regular contributor to CIS. Carlos has worked in public hospital and community mental health services across Australia and the UK, alongside his written work. He is author of a 2018 CIS paper, Dying with Their Rights On: The myths and realities of ending homelessness in Australia.
Since the onset of the covid-19 pandemic, Australia’s health system has overnight transformed from a bureaucracy into an autocracy. With such uncertainty, the public has, for the most part, have behaved obediently and with good grace in the face of indefinite lockdowns, restrictions and under health orders -- though, how long can this last?
Join in the conversation live as host Salvatore Babones talks to Carlos about some of the unintended consequences that have arisen from this crisis. How have lockdowns impacted on rates of homelessness and the delivery of homelessness services? What is the long-term impact of abruptly mandating social isolation, particularly on the mental health outcomes and suicide rates? and, how are the different jurisdictions across Australia responding to these issues?

US Election: PJ O’Rourke | Conrad Black & Tom Switzer | Events at CIS

All eyes are on America in the lead up to November 3. When the presidential race comes to an end one thing is certain, the US will be fractured.
If Donald Trump is re-elected, outrage by left-wing political and media sophisticates will further alienate tens of millions of Americans who do not share their values. Yet, if Joe Biden wins, a display of anything other than humility would be equally alienating and would divide even more deeply a crisis-ridden nation.
How has it come to this? What is the likely path the US will take, both at home and abroad, once the pandemic passes? Are these two old men really the best America has to offer? 
On Thursday, 1 October at 9 am we hosted a US Election election special with PJ O’Rourke & Conrad Black to hear two strikingly different views of how the September 30 Presidential debate went down and which candidate they thought would, or should, win the 2020 US Presidential Election.

26. On Liberty | John Anderson | I worry for my grandchildren’s future

We are pleased to welcome John Anderson, former Leader of the National Party and Deputy Prime Minister to On Liberty, this Thursday, 24 September. John has published many recent articles on topics including: civic freedoms, global food security, modern slavery and the economy. On top of this he runs johnanderson.net.au, where he hosts regular interviews with prominent Australian and international guests.
The 20th century’s failed experimentation with socialism serve as a strong lesson that, despite its idealistic promises of equality, it has led to nothing but oppression and poverty. John will discuss the importance of civic institutions in forming cohesive societies and what can be done to ensure young people learn about socialism’s shortcomings.
Join in the conversation live as host Salvatore Babones asks John whether ‘Scandinavian Socialism’ is false dichotomy, can the impending US Presidential election usher a Democratic government in favour of socialist tendencies and why Australian youth are lurching to the left?
📖 See more from CIS here: https://www.cis.org.au/
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⏲️ Missed last week? Watch and listen to Episode 25, Extra, with Glen Fahey and Peter Achterstraat: https://youtu.be/lr4m8RD-1P4
Tune in live On Liberty, every Thursday at 10am.

25. On Liberty Extra | Peter Achterstraat | Education Reforms To Boost Productivity

Join us for On Liberty Extra, a one-off live webinar hosted by CIS Research Fellow, Glenn Fahey. In this webinar, Glenn will speak with Peter Achterstraat AM, the inaugural NSW Commissioner for Productivity. Peter has recently launched a Green Paper, titled Continuing the productivity discussion.
In these especially challenging economic times, productivity-enhancing reforms are needed more than ever. In Peter’s Green Paper, he highlights why investing in the knowledge and capabilities of individuals is foundational to sustaining economic prosperity. Reforms to all sectors of education have the potential to more efficiently and effectively deliver outcomes and prepare individuals for the demands of the modern workforce.
Watch online and join the conversation with Glenn as he asks Peter how education reforms can drive productivity growth, how schools and training providers can better prepare individuals amidst current headwinds, and what would more effective and efficient education look like in NSW?
📖 See more from CIS here: https://www.cis.org.au/
💬 Join in the conversation live every Thursday at 10 am AEST, on YouTube or Facebook.
👍 Like this video if you enjoyed it and want to see more, it really helps us out
🔔 Subscribe to our channel and click the bell to watch our videos first: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5c-JkKHb0YxFZ81XBtFCmw?sub_confirmation=1
⏲️ Missed last week? Watch and listen to Episode 24, with Gene Tunny: https://youtu.be/lr4m8RD-1P4
Tune in live On Liberty, every Thursday at 10am.