Centre for Independent Studies

S3E6 | Claire Lehmann ’Against tribalism. Take an empirical not emotional approach’

Claire Lehmann, founding editor of Quillette sits down with Rob. Claire explains the philosophy of the Quillette project in promoting Enlightenment values of reason, the use of evidence, and free thought which first arose to confront unconscious left-wing bias in psychology. She believes ideological diversity is helpful in any search for truth because everyone has blind spots. Rob and Claire discuss the nature and dangers of tribalism in thought. She believes that while liberalism is not under threat in Australia there is the danger of importing populist movements of both left and right from the US.

S3E7 | Sabine Beppler-Spahl ’Challenges and opportunities for liberalism in Germany’

Speaking from Berlin, Sabine speaks with Rob about why she set up the Freiblickinstitut (Free Vision Institute) to promote open freedom of discussion and tolerance in public debate. They discuss some of the tragic moments of lost opportunity for liberalism in Germany history. Sabine explains why there is no German word for ‘Cancel Culture’ in German, even though the phenomenon exists in a country that has always had some form of censorship. She describes the unusual powers of the courts in Germany to decide matters of public debate as well as the unhelpful role of political consensus in stifling debate. Nonetheless she is hopeful for the future of liberalism in Germany.

On Liberty EP97 | Mark Latham | We Must Increase The Size And Skill Of Our Teacher Workforce

We welcomed Mark Latham, Member of the NSW Legislative Council and Chair of the NSW Parliament’s Education Committee.
There are important challenges facing teachers across Australia, resulting in significant attention from federal and state policymakers.
Mark argues that teacher shortages are a serious problem impacting on the learning of children in very real ways – resulting in merged classes, out-of-field teaching, and the scrapping of some school support programs.
He points to results of a recent survey of NSW teachers showing many are burnt out, overworked, and dissatisfied – leaving many to consider leaving the profession. The solution to address teacher shortages – according to the survey – is to reduce administrative burden, increase pay, and improve working conditions.
Where are our teacher shortages? How can teacher supply challenges be resolved? Are we doing enough to build up and sustain an effective teacher workforce?

On Liberty EP98 | Peter Gregory | The Territory Gap

We welcomed Mark Latham, Member of the NSW Legislative Council and Chair of the NSW Parliament’s Education Committee.
There are important challenges facing teachers across Australia, resulting in significant attention from federal and state policymakers.
Mark argues that teacher shortages are a serious problem impacting on the learning of children in very real ways – resulting in merged classes, out-of-field teaching, and the scrapping of some school support programs.
He points to results of a recent survey of NSW teachers showing many are burnt out, overworked, and dissatisfied – leaving many to consider leaving the profession. The solution to address teacher shortages – according to the survey – is to reduce administrative burden, increase pay, and improve working conditions.
Where are our teacher shortages? How can teacher supply challenges be resolved? Are we doing enough to build up and sustain an effective teacher workforce?

On Liberty EP96 | Eliza Owen | Is The Property Bubble Bursting?

On the show this week, Salvatore Babones returns to discuss the future of housing and rental prices with Eliza Owen of CoreLogic.
Many Australian homeowners and renters will be nervously waiting to see what effects the RBA's interest rate increases will have on their home loans and rent payments. While increases to the cash rate may help ease house price pressures, and stem inflation, many first home buyers know this represents an increase to their monthly repayments.
According to Eliza Owen's research these rate hikes have slowed the property market as property values in Sydney are down almost 5% since mid-February’s peak. In fact, Owen reports that monthly sales volumes across Australia have generally been trending lower since November 2021."

On Liberty EP95 | Simon Breheny | No Harm Done From Harm Reduction

We welcome Simon Breheny, Public Policy Manager at Philip Morris International and former Policy Director at the Institute of Public Affairs.
Simon argues that it’s more humane, less costly, and more effective to focus on reducing harm caused from consumption of lifestyle products, like tobacco and drugs, rather than only seeking to prevent use entirely.
Choking supply of potentially harmful drugs doesn’t prevent access to, or use of, drugs. But it can unnecessarily result in riskier conditions for users.
The goal should be to reduce potential harm, not prevent drug use itself. Harm reduction is not pro- or anti-drug use, but it is pro-user – meaning that it directs unconditional support to individuals without judgment or persecution.
Has the ‘war on drugs’ failed? Are we too heavy-handed in regulating use of drugs? How can policymakers reduce harm for users?
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On Liberty EP94 | Pamela Snow | Early Literacy Important For Later Success

Glenn Fahey speaks with Professor Pamela Snow to discuss the correlation between poor literacy education and later disadvantage in life. Professor Snow has undertaken extensive research into how people end up in the youth justice, out-of-home care systems and factors leading to non-participation in mainstream education.
Currently, 30-40% of students aren’t meeting minimum literacy benchmarks, the task is to ensure every teacher in every classroom in the country teaching K-2 has access to the best knowledge and practice on how to teach literacy. Disadvantaged young people who don’t get good early literacy opportunities fall out early from mainstream education because they are not coping. Her research uncovered alarmingly high levels of unidentified oral language difficulties and high rates of very low literacy in these prisons and out-of-home.

On Liberty EP93 | Chris Uhlmann | Energy Can’t Be Spun

Guest host Tom Switzer speaks to journalist Chris Uhlmann on the likelihood of a clean energy transition and the increasing energy crisis affecting not only Australia but the world. Have politicians been too focused reaching "energy goals" that they have neglected to think about the short term? Can Australia realistically move away from coal and gas-powered energy sources in a cost-effective manner? Is all this energy transition talk just spin by politicians to get elected?
In August 2016 Premier Daniel Andrews trumped a permanent ban on the exploration and development of all onshore unconventional gas. Now, with the energy crisis biting, Andrews has demanded gas from “our ground” be delivered cheaply to his state. As Chris recently wrote in The Sydney Morning Herald "The energy transition is inevitable, but it will be a lot harder than politicians, activists, service sector chief executives and billionaire energy hobbyists would have you believe. In trying to solve the current crisis, the political class should keep one thing in mind, no one ever won an election by promising to make voters colder, poorer and hungrier".

On Liberty EP92 | Emma Hurst | Ethical farming: Fad or Future?

We speak to Emma Hurst MLC, member of the NSW Upper House, on what role the government should play in animal welfare. Australia has the fourth fastest growing vegan market in the world and plant-based vegan options have become common and widely available in many of our favourite restaurants. With the increased ethical implications of sustainable and responsible farming, does it make sense for people to turn to these new options? Emma argues that better outcomes for animals, as well as farmers are not mutually exclusive.
Increasingly over the last few years we've seen animal welfare protests block off major streets, confront patrons in restaurants and trespasses onto farms to create disruptions. But do these types of protests help or hinder the cause for animal welfare and ethical farming? Can we realistically shift our dairy and meat-based farming to plant-based farming alternatives and remain viable?

On Liberty EP91 | Deyi Wu | Have The Next Generation Lost Interest In Politics

President of the NSW Young Liberals, Deyi Wu joined Salvatore Babones to discuss whether our younger generations have lost interest in politics, and if there is a bright future for either party. The recent federal election has shown us that independent grassroots campaigns threaten both major parties and could permanently change establishment politics.
Issues, such as housing affordability, inflation, interest rates and climate are important to younger voters, but have the major parties lost touch with them? Can our politicians deliver good policy outcomes over the long term? After all, the future generations will have to live with the consequences of the actions (or inaction) of current governments at all levels.
Deyi was elected president on the Young Liberals in March 2021 and is the first woman of Asian descent, and only the fifth ever woman to lead the organisation after Catherine Cusack, Marise Payne, Gladys Berejiklian and Natasha Maclaren-Jones. Deyi has written for The Financial Review and has a combined five years' experience working in federal and state politics.