Menzies Research Centre

Why are Australians feeling poorer despite their wages increasing? Shadow Finance Minister Jane Hume sat down with the MRC's Centre for Youth Policy Director Freya Leach to discuss why Gen Z in particular are feeling the pain of Australia's cost of living crisis.Senator Hume also shuts down misconceptions that the Coalition's Super for Housing policy will rob potential home buyers of their retirement funding and explains why lifting labour productivity is critical to lifting the standard of living. Sign up to the Menzies Research Centre's weekly newsletter: https://www.menziesrc.org/email

One of the world's most recognisable former statesmen dropped by the offices of the Menzies Research Centre in December to record a bonus podcast with our very own Freya Leach.To mark the recent publication of his new memoir, Unleashed, Boris Johnson sat down with Freya to discuss the reasons behind some of his signature policy positions, from Brexit to his strident support for Ukraine.Boris Johnson also reveals the Australian influence behind his route to the UK prime ministership and explains why he's optimistic about a second Trump presidency.Unleashed is available to purchase here: https://www.menziesrc.org/book-shop/unleashedSign up to the Menzies Research Centre weekly newsletter here: https://www.menziesrc.org/email

Freya Leach, Director of the Centre for Youth Policy, is joined by Erica Komisar in this bonus episode of the Menzies Research Centre podcast, recorded on the sidelines of the ARC conference in Sydney. Erica is a psychoanalyst who brings fresh insights on how we can better raise our children. Her main work focuses on exposing the link between institutionalised childcare and the rising rates of mental health issues among young people like anxiety, depression, personality disorders, and ADHD. Read Freya's recent editorial on rethinking childcare and suggested policy proposals for strengthening the family unit: https://www.menziesrc.org/latest-research/rethinking-childcareSign up to the weekly newsletter: https://www.menziesrc.org/email

Freya Leach is joined by the MRC's new policy director and chief economist Nico Louw in this fascinating discussion covering the biggest public policy challenges of our time, from the Covid pandemic through to our current economic challenges. Nico, who was senior adviser to Scott Morrison and did several quarantine stints with the former PM, reflects on the challenges of making big policy decisions with little information during the Covid pandemic. He also shares why our inflation woes are homegrown, Australia's productivity problem and the drivers of the nation's housing crisis.Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter: https://www.menziesrc.org/email

Brendan Nelson's career path would confound any career counsellor.Over three decades he has been a general practitioner; President of the Australian Medical Association; a parliamentarian; Education and Defence Minister; Leader of the Opposition; Ambassador; and Director of the War Memorial. He is currently President of Boeing Global.Across all his fields of endeavour, Dr Nelson has been admired for his integrity and graciousness.In a special Watercooler Conversation with the MRC's David Hughes and Freya Leach, Dr Nelson reflects on the values that have shaped his public life. He discusses his political journey from former Labor voter to Liberal Party Leader and shares insights into some of the biggest geopolitical and social challenges of our time. A new publication of speeches delivered by Dr Nelson throughout his career is available for purchase from the MRC website: menziesrc.org/books

In this special edition of the Menzies Research Centre Watercooler podcast, Senator Jacinta Price joins Freya Leach to address the concerns of young Australians about enshrining an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice in the Constitution.Senator Price, known for her work on Indigenous issues, provides her insights as a Shadow Minister for Indigenous Affairs. The episode delves into the distinction between constitutional recognition for Indigenous Australians, which has had bipartisan support since 2007, and an institutionalised Voice. This informative conversation sheds light on the ongoing debate surrounding Indigenous representation.Presented by David Hughes, Executive Director of Menzies Research Centre.Timeline:[00:01:25] Constitutional recognition and the voice.[00:04:23] Racism in Australian society.[00:09:59] The voice being legally risky.[00:13:27] The voice and family diversity.[00:16:28] Migrant community concerns.[00:20:07] Racial heritage and Indigenous disadvantage.[00:24:09] Democracy and the Uluru Statement.[00:29:59] Concerns of Indigenous Australians.[00:34:02] Land Rights Act reform.[00:36:26] Guilt and responsibility of colonisation.[00:40:50] Everyone has a right.[00:45:17] Human stories and hardships.[00:49:29] The most divisive referendum.Subscribe to the Watercooler newsletter: https://www.menziesrc.org/mailing-listSupport these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber from just $10 a month: https://www.menziesrc.org/subscribe1Email David or Freya: watercooler@menziesrc.org

In this series of Watercooler podcasts, we're attempting something big: to define the virtues that unite Australian Liberals in the 21st century.Our starting point is the We Believe statement issued to mark the 10th anniversary of the Liberal Party in 1954.Each episode examines one of the 17 We Believe statements to discover the abiding Liberal virtues they contain.If a similar statement was to be written today, should the original statements be retained, revised or rejected?In this episode, Nick Cater is joined by former New South Wales premier Nick Greiner to discuss the role of the free individual and the free market.

In the True Believers podcast series, Nick Cater revisits the 1954 We Believe statement which attempted to articulate the key Liberal Party virtues.In this episode, he is joined by Australia's 28th Prime Minister, The Hon Tony Abbott, AC, to discuss the influence of government policy on character, individual freedom and the confidence needed to resist the accepted wisdom of our day.Nick Cater is Senior Fellow at Menzies Research Centre. Email us: watercooler@menziesrc.orgSupport these podcasts by subscribing to the Menzies Research Centre from $10 a month: www.menziesrc.org/subscribe1Make a tax-deductible donation today: www.menziesrc.org/donate[00:02:33] Liberalism and Australian values.[00:04:35] Climate change and leadership.[00:09:00] Elections and climate change.[00:14:38] Welfare and Indigenous communities.[00:19:34] Fundamental virtues and dystopian dysfunction.[00:25:41] The millennial bug.[00:28:56] Censorship and Free Speech.[00:34:39] Renewable energy and unintended consequences.[00:37:09] Peak insanity and cultural self-loathing.[00:41:06] Australian citizenship and equal rights.Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott delves into the essence of Australian Liberalism and identifies two key elements: a preference for freedom and a deep pride in the country. He emphasises that these aspects form the foundation of the Liberal Party's values and beliefs.Abbott explains that the preference for freedom is a fundamental principle of Australian Liberalism, encompassing individual liberty, limited government intervention, and personal responsibility. This freedom extends to both economic aspects, such as free markets and minimal regulation, and personal aspects, including individual rights and civil liberties.Abbott underscores the significance of a deep pride in the country as a defining characteristic of Australian Liberalism. This pride stems from a genuine love and appreciation for Australia's history, culture, and achievements. It reflects a sense of patriotism and a desire to safeguard and promote the nation's interests.For Abbott, these two elements of Australian Liberalism work in harmony. The preference for freedom allows individuals to pursue their own goals and aspirations, while the deep pride in the country fosters a sense of unity and collective identity. He suggests that this combination of freedom and pride forms the basis for a successful society and should be embraced by the Liberal Party.

In this episode of the Watercooler podcast, David Hughes welcomes Scott Yung, an education entrepreneur and advocate for Robert Menzies' vision for Australia. Scott shares his inspiring story of starting from humble beginnings in Sydney's Waterloo, growing up in a Housing Commission, and attending a public selective school.He worked his way up the corporate ladder before challenging now Premier Chris Minns for the state seat of Kogarah. Despite limited resources, Scott's campaign made the seat the most marginal in the state. Today, Scott runs a primary school coaching college called the Primary Way, focusing on STEM education and practical skills for children. Join Dave as he delves into Scott's upbringing, his parents, and life in Waterloo.Timeline:[00:01:26] Scott's upbringing and parents. [00:04:05] Falling in love with politics. [00:08:55] Birthplace of Clive James. [00:12:23] Working at Yellowbrick Road. [00:16:28] Equipping students for the future. [00:19:14] Education system decline. [00:23:00] Valuing teaching as a profession. [00:28:24] Starting a business in Australia. [00:33:22] Peter Dutton's genuine listening. [00:35:51] Financial stability and family.

In the True Believers podcast series, Nick Cater and Freya Leach revisit the 1954 We Believe statement which attempted to articulate the key Liberal Party virtues.In this episode, they are joined by Keith Wolahan, MP, a former military veteran, the consider the importance of patriotism and a belief in the capability of Australia.Nick Cater is Senior Fellow at Menzies Research Centre. Freya Leech is a research fellow who heads the MRC's youth policy engagement programme.Email us: watercooler@menziesrc.orgSupport these podcasts by subscribing to the Menzies Research Centre from $10 a month: www.menziesrc.org/subscribeMake a tax-deductible donation today: www.menziesrc.org/donate

In this special series of Watercooler podcasts, we're attempting something big: to define the virtues that unite Australian Liberals in the 21st century.The True Believers podcasts are the start of what we hope will become a wider conversation about the ideas that bind members of the Liberal Party as it approaches its 80th birthday.Our starting point is the We Believe statement issued by Robert Menzies in 1954 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Liberal Party of Australia. The 17 points express inspiring values and principles, but in language that may sound strange to some Australians today.In this episode Nick Cater, Freya Leach and Louise Clegg discuss the Crown, national unity and the Commonwealth beginning with the first of the We Believe statements:We believe in the Crown as the enduring embodiment of our national unity and as the symbol of that unity and as the symbol of that other unity that exists between all nations of the British Commonwealth.Read the 1954 We Believe Statement in full: https://www.menziesrc.org/we-believeSubscribe to the Menzies Research Centre from $10 a month https://www.menziesrc.org/subscribe1Nick Cater is senior fellow at the Menzies Research Centre and a former executive director. He is a columnist with The Australian and the presenter of Battleground on ADH TV.Freya Leach is a research fellow at Menzies Research CentreLouise Clegg is a lawyer with a special interest in constitutional law.

With Nick Cater, Freya Leach and Georgina Downer.In this special series of Watercooler podcasts, we're attempting something big: to define the values that unite Australian Liberals in the 21st century.The True Believers podcasts are a forum for free-ranging discussion that we hope will promote a wider conversation about the things we really believe in - the ties that bind us as a political movement - and the principles from which we can develop policy.Our starting point is the We Believe statement issued by Robert Menzies in 1954 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Liberal Party of Australia. The 17 points express inspiring values and principles, but in language that may sound strange to some Australians today.Each podcast will focus on a different point as we attempt to delve below the surface to identify the Liberal values that underpin it. And we'll be asking if it is possible to compose a similar statement today, one expressing the beliefs to which every Liberal can subscribe.Read the 1954 We Believe Statement: https://www.menziesrc.org/we-believeSubscribe to the Menzies Research Centre from $10 a month https://www.menziesrc.org/subscribe1Nick Cater is senior fellow at the Menzies Research Centre and a former executive director. He is a columnist with The Australian and the presenter of Battleground on ADH TV.Frey Leach is a research fellow at Menzies Research CentreGeorgina Downer is executive director of the Robert Menzies Institute, a joint venture between the Menzies Research Centre and the University of Melbourne.

Liberalism does not have a use-by date. Its principles are tuned to the abiding human condition, rather than the particular circumstances of the day.But the telling of the Liberal story has to evolve to suit the language and temperament of the new millennium.The Liberal agenda must be constantly refreshed to address contemporary policy challenges.The verdict at recent elections is that Liberalism is failing to connect with the millennial generation and subsequent generations.Menzies Research Centre Senior Fellow Nick Cater and Executive Director David Hughes discuss the challenge of relevancy with Young Liberal Freya Leach.Support these podcasts by subscribing to the Menzies Research Centre from just $10 a month: www.menziesrc.org/subscribeEmail Nick Cater: watercooler@menziesrc.orgWatch Nick Cater's Battleground on ADH TV https://watch.adh.tv/nick-cater-s-battleground

Australians face the prospect of a referendum here in Australia in as little as six months time where they'll be asked to decide there should be a new institution to represent the views of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander people in the corridors of power.It will be known as the Voice, its members will be unelected, and its existence will be enshrined in the constitution making it difficult to abolish.If I sound a little hazy about the detail it's because I am, along with almost every other Australian I suspect, up to and including the Prime Minister.The process of forming this proposal has been chaotic, the timetable rushed, the debate has been driven almost by emotion and legitimate questions have been brushed aside by those supposedly in the know.To add to that, advocates of the voice are split along multiple lines. It is, to say the least, confusing. In a bid to make sense of the Voice, Nick Cater is joined by Amanda Stoker, a constitutional lawyer, former federal assistant attorney general and now a distinguished fellow at the Menzies Research Centre.Nick Cater is Senior Fellow at the Menzies Research CentreSupport these podcasts by subscribing to the Menzies Research Centre from just $10 a month: www.menziesrc.org/subscribeEmail Nick Cater: watercooler@menziesrc.orgWatch Nick Cater's Battleground on ADH TV https://watch.adh.tv/nick-cater-s-battleground

For the Liberal Party of Australia, the loss of government in May after nine years was dispiriting, but hardly a novel experience. It was the nature of the loss that shocked - the loss of seats not just to their old rival, the Labor Party, but the loss of once-safe conservative seats in wealthy inner metropolitan districts to a new socially progressive movement known as the teal independents. Henry Olsen joins Menzies Research Centre Executive Director Nick Cater to discuss the great realignment in democratic politics. He draws comparisons between the political dynamics in Australia, Europe and the United States. Profound changes to the political topography like this are happening across the world in almost every democracy. Henry Olsen is a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Centre and a columnist for the Washington Post. He visited Australia as a guest of the Centre for Independent Studies. Support these podcasts by subscribing to the Menzies Research Centre from just $10 a month: www.menziesrc.org/subscribe Email Nick Cater: watercooler@menziesrc.org Watch Nick Cater's Battleground on ADH TV https://watch.adh.tv/nick-cater-s-battleground

The modern world's dependence on hydrocarbons won't be ending any time soon, says Mark P. Mills. He says it is physically impossible to switch from coal, oil and gas to solar, wind and batteries in any meaningful time frame. “It is a dangerous delusion to base policies on the idea that such a transition is possible,” he says. “A different understanding of ‘transition' is required, one that recognises that new energy sources should be considered additives, not outright replacements.” Mills joins Nick Cater for this conversation that was originally conducted for Nick Cater's Battleground on ADH TV. Nick Cater is executive director of the Menzies Research Centre, a columnist with The Australian and the presenter of Battleground on ADH TV where this conversation was first broadcast. Support these podcasts by subscribing to the Menzies Research Centre from just $10 a month: www.menziesrc.org/subscribe Email Nick Cater: www.watercooler@menziesrc.org Watch Nick Cater's Battleground on ADH TV https://watch.adh.tv/nick-cater-s-battleground Mark P. Mills is a Manhattan Institute senior fellow, a faculty fellow at Northwestern University's engineering school, and a partner in Montrose Lane, an energy-tech venture fund. He is author of the book The Cloud Revolution: How the Convergence of New Technologies Will Unleash the Next Economic Boom and a Roaring 2020s (2021), and previously: Digital Cathedrals (2020), Work in The Age of Robots (2018), and The Bottomless Well (2006). He served as chairman and CTO of ICx Technologies, helping to take it public in 2007. Mills served in the Reagan White House Science Office, and before that he was an experimental physicist and development engineer in microprocessors and fibre optics. Download Mark P. Mills's Paper, The Energy Transition ‘Delusion': A Reality Reset https://media4.manhattan-institute.org/sites/default/files/the-energy-transition-delusion_a-reality-reset.pdf

The election of a Labor government in Australia has dramatically raised the stakes in the energy debate. Labor's 2030 target requires the closure of 60% of our coal generation capacity over the next eight years, according to the Australian Energy Market Operator. If we cannot replace this with reliable and affordable fuel sources, the consequences for this country will be dire. Wind and solar have their place to be sure, and batteries can assist at the margins, but the engineering challenge of replacing a dependable source of dispatchable energy, like coal or gas, with weather dependent generation and storage is so enormous that we have to find another way. Michael Shellenberger is a California based thinker and author who writes about the intersection of climate change, the environment, nuclear power and politics. He visited Australia earlier this month to address the Conservative Political Active Conference in Sydney. Shellenberger's arguments are clear, logical and incisive. We replay his session in this special Watercooler podcast in cooperation with CPAC and the official broadcasters, ADH TV. Watch the video of Michael Shellenberger's presentation: https://watch.adh.tv/cpac-2022/season:2/videos/cpac-2022-michael-shellenberger Support our podcasts! Subscribe to the Menzies Research Centre from just $10 a month: https://www.menziesrc.org/subscribe1

Fifty years ago in December, a Labor government led by Gough Whitlam signed an historic agreement with Communist China establishing diplomatic relations between Canberra and Beijing. The price China demanded was that Australia agreed to the One China policy, which demoted the independent nation of Taiwan to the status of a renegade Chinese province. Half a century later, the Communist government demanding that Australia sticks to that agreement, recognising the right of the People's Republic of China to bring Taiwan under its control. But is Australia bound by the terms of its 1972 agreement? Or should we follow our conscience by standing by Taiwan in the face of potential aggression from the mainland? Kevin Andrews served in Federal Parliament for 31 years serving as a minister in the governments of John Howard and Tony Abbott, before retiring at the May Federal Election. He is a frequent visitor to Taiwan from where he recently returned from a fact-finding trip. He joins Menzies Research Centre Executive Director Nick Cater for this podcast conversation.

The intergenerational wealth gap, driven partly by rising property values, is changing expectations and limiting life-style choices for younger Australians. The security of home ownership is arriving later in life, if it is achieved at all. Family formation is delayed as the 2021 Census shows through a sharp rise in single people aged under 35s. Emilie Dye is a Sydney-based economist and economic adviser who's personal experience of saving for a mortgage deposit is indicative of the home-ownership challenge faced by her generation. In this conversation with Nick Cater, Dye looks at the issue from an economic, cultural and personal perspective. Dye puts forward policy proposals based on Liberal principles by which state and federal governments could begin to bridge the wealth divide. The goal is to encourage wider home ownership and an Australia this is both more prosperous and fair. Nick Cater is Executive Director of the Menzies Research Centre, presenter of the Watercooler podasts and video conservations and the host of Battlegrounds, a weekly program steamed on ADH TV and also available as a podcast. Sign up for the Watercooler newsletter delivered to you inbox every Saturday for free: https://bit.ly/3SWMz3s Support these podcasts by becoming a paid-up subscriber to the Menzies Research Centre from just $10 a month: https://bit.ly/3waNjZ4 Watch more discussions on the MRC YouTube Channel https://bit.ly/3SW7KTs Email Nick Cater: watercooler@menziesrc.org Checkout Nick Cater's Battleground on ADH TV: https://bit.ly/3SYAMl9 Listen to Listen to Nick Cater's Battleground podcast https://apple.co/3Aw2vmo

Malcolm Fraser is Australia's fourth-longest prime minister, taking office in controversial circumstances amid the turmoil of Gough Whitlam's dismissal in 1975 and exiting seven and a half years later when Labor's Bob Hawke thwarted his ambition to gain a mandate for a fourth term. Yet the manner in which he came go power, and the disputes with his own party after he left power, have clouded perceptions. Alan Jones worked for Fraser during his challenging time as Prime Minister. He delivered a fascinating, frank and generous assessment of our 22nd Prime Minister at the Sydney launch of Fraser in Office by Denis White. This podcast includes Jones' tribute, some words from author Denis White, and some closing remarks from John Howard, Australia's second longest serving prime minister who served as Treasurer in Fraser's government. The podcast is introduced by Nick Cater, Executive Director of Menzies Research Centre. https://bit.ly/3Al5tKb (Purchase Fraser in Office) by Denis White: https://bit.ly/3Al5tKb Email Nick Cater: watercooler@menziesrc.org Support these podcasts by subscribing to the Menzies Research Centre from just $10 a month: www.menziesrc.org/subscribe

Australia has benefitted greatly from the two-way trans-Tasman trade in policy ideas in the last 40 years. In the early 1980s, a New Zealand Labour government led by David Lange and his remarkable treasurer Roger Douglas introduced deregulatory economic reforms later adopted by the Hawke government. Thirty years later, the incremental reforms and philosophical clarity of the National Party governments of John Key and Bill English inspired some of the successful policy initiatives of the Abbott government, notably in welfare policy. Does the evident warmth between Anthony Albanese and NZ PM Jacinda Ardern signal a meeting of minds on domestic policy? And if so, how scared should we be? NZ is after all the most woke jurisdiction in the Southern Hemisphere and its economy is officially going backwards. In this Watercooler Conversation held live before an audience in Sydney, Nick Cater and Oliver Hartwich weigh up the threat of contagion from sub-prime Kiwi policy in Australia. Oliver Hartwich is Executive Director of The New Zealand Initiative. Subscribe to his weekly newsletter here: https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz/ Nick Cater is Executive Director of the Menzies Research Centre. Subscribe to the MRC's Watercooler News for free: https://www.menziesrc.org/mailing-list Support these podcasts by becoming a premium subscriber from just $10 a month: https://www.menziesrc.org/subscribe1 Email Nick Cater: watercooler@menziesrc.org

John Howard experienced both the highs and lows of politics during 33 years in Parliament, 14 of which were in Opposition. In this Watercooler Conversation with Nick Cater, Australia's second longest-serving prime minister draws lessons from the Liberal Party's 2022 election defeat and urges unity and a focus on Liberal principles and policy. Email Nick Cater watercooler@menziesrc.org Support these podcasts by becoming a premium subscriber from just $10 a month: www.menziesrc.org/subscribe Nick Cater is executive director of Menzies Research Centre

The Liberal Party has been ejected from government in Canberra on only four occasions. Paul Kelly has reported on all four, starting with the It's Time election of 1972 through to the defeat of Scott Morrison's government at the May 2022 federal election. In this Watercooler conversation with Nick Cater he draws from the lessons of history to assess the latest defeat and warns of the mistakes the party must avoid in opposition. Paul Kelly is The Australian's Editor at Large. Nick Cater is Executive Director of the Menzies Research Centre and a columnist with The Australian Write to Nick Cater: watercooler@menziesrc.org Support these podcasts by becoming a Menzies Research Centre subscriber from just $10 a month www.menziesrc.org/subscribe Make a tax deductible donation to the Menzies Research Centre www.menziesrc.org/donate

The question, “What is a woman?” has become the barbecue stopper of the 2022 election, thanks in part to the pre-selection of a courageous and outspoken candidate in the seat of Warringah in Northern Sydney. Katherine Deves' campaign for the rights of biological females not to compete against transgender women in sport has generated a level of media coverage that most candidates could only dream of. The price she has paid, however, is to be subjected to a vicious and intimidating attack which would have driven others into hiding. The mainstream media, by and large, has joined the pile-on, condemning her views as unconscionable and her candidacy dead.  None of her critics, and sadly all too few of the journalists who have written about Katherine, have taken the trouble to actually listen to what she is saying. Deves joins Nick Cater for a Watercooler Conversation aimed at correcting that imbalance. She speaks candidly about her experiences on the campaign trail and why she is putting her head above the parapet to fight for the rights of women and girls.

Mick Mulvaney describes the sledgehammer approach to Covid-19 that shut down global economies for months as one of the biggest mistakes of the 21st Century. Mulvaney was President Donald Trump's acting chief of staff when the pandemic hit. He says the withholding of information by China and the poor advice Trump was receiving from key advisors including Dr Anthony Fauchi led the US to over-react with economic intervention which set the pattern for other countries around the world. “I think it will go down as one of the worst mistakes of the 21st century,” Mulvaney told Nick Cater in a Menzies Research Centre podcast. “I hope we don't make any bigger mistakes than that. “You can't beat a virus into submission. You can't bully it into going away. We'll be paying the price for this literally for generations.” In a wide-ranging and candid conversation with Nick Cater of the Menzies Research Centre, Mulvaney shares insights into the Trump White House and explains what led him to resign on January 6, 2021, the day of the Capital Hill riots. Contact Nick Cater: watercooler@menziesrc.org Support these podcasts by subscribing to the Menzies Research Centre from just $10 a week: www.menziesrc.org/subscribe

Malcolm Fraser led a Liberal Party Government for seven years and 122 days. When he lost to Bob Hawke at 1983 election, no prime minister except Robert Menzies had occupied the job for longer. Yet his reputation has been overshadowed by the controversy about the way he came power and quarrels with his own party after leaving it. Six years after his death, a fresh appraisal is long overdue, one unclouded or the dismissal of Gough Whitlam that put in into government by the political arguments in his post-parliamentary years. Dennis White worked for Fraser in his final term. He has set out to put the record straight in a monograph: Fraser in Office. White joins Menzies Research Centre Executive Director Nick Cater for this Watercooler Conversation Order Fraser in Office by Denis White: https://www.menziesrc.org/book-shop/fraser-in-office Support these podcasts by subscribing to the Menzies Research Centre from just $10 a week: https://www.menziesrc.org/subscribe Email Nick Cater: watercooler@menziesrc.org About Fraser in Office: Fraser in Office is a long-overdue reappraisal of Australia's 22nd Prime Minister. It examines Malcolm Fraser's prime ministership in historical context, recognising the challenge of restoring good government after the Whitlam years. Unclouded by later political disputes and separated from the extraordinary manner by which he entered office, Fraser emerges as a leader of considerable substance. Author: Denis White Foreword: David Kemp Jeparit Press (an imprint of Connor Court Publishing and The Menzies Research Centre) Paperback, 104 pages, $24.95

Benny Peiser has been following the climate policy debate for more than a century. In this Watercooler Conversation, he joins Nick Cater to discuss how the Russian invasion of Ukraine has exposed Europe's chronic energy insecurity and reframed the climate policy debate. Europe is dealing with a full-blown energy crisis, forcing western nations to rethink what practical action can be taken to combat climate change. The problems with relying too heavily on wind and solar have become all too apparent. Domestic electricity bills in Britain are rising by 50 per cent a year. And German industry is warning it cannot survive projected high energy prices and threats to the stability of supply. As European nations look for ways to replace their heavy reliance on Russian gas, oil and coal, the spotlight is thrown on Australia, one of the most energy rich countries in the world. Should we not be looking urgently at how we can increase our production of coal, gas and other energy sources to help the West resist Russian tyranny? Benny Peiser is director of the Global Warming Policy Foundation in London. Nick Cater is Executive Director of the Menzies Research Centre Support these podcasts by becoming a financial subscriber to the Menzies Research Centre from just $10 a month. www.menziesrc.org/subscribe Email Nick Cater: watercooler@menziesrc.org

It might seem strange to be debating the question of what is a woman in an election campaign in which so much is at stake. But the controversy over the choice of a Liberal Party candidate for the seat of Warringah has turned this into one of barbecue-stoppers of the election so far. The rising cost of living and health concerns arising from the pandemic will be crucial issues in deciding this election, as will Australia's response to rising threats to global stability, in Europe and the Pacific. But in this podcast, Nick Cater argues that stakes in the transgender debate are so profound we cannot ignore them. Brendan O'Neill, chief political correspondent of Spiked, joins Nick Cater for this discussion originally recorded for The Six O'Clock Swill podcast. Nick Cater is Executive Director of the Menzies Research Centre. Listen to the Six O'Clock Swill on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/six-oclock-swill/id1584770983 Support these podcasts by subscribing to the Menzies Research Centre from just $10 a month: www.menziesrc.org/subscribe Email Nick Cater: watercooler@menziesrc.org

The peaceful, western-dominated world order - secured by the victors in world War 2 and an incalculable cost - is showing signs of fraying. Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and Communist China's global ambitions may have already propelled us into a new era of global strategic conflict - what is at stake is nothing less than the cultural and strategic dominance of Eurasia and the Pacific and possibly the world. 
In this Watercooler Conversation, John Anderson and Nick Cater ask if today's Australians, Brits, Canadians and Americans ready for what lies ahead. Will they find the courage - if it is needed - to stand up in the defence of their country? Or has the decline in values - and possibly character - turned the West into a force that lacks the will to defend itself? John Anderson was Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Nationals Party from 1999 to 2005. He hosts https://johnanderson.net.au/conversations-with-john/ (Conversations) on YouTube and podcast. https://johnanderson.net.au/conversations-with-john/ Nick Cater is Executive Director of the Menzies Research Centre. He hosts Watercooler podcasts and co-hosts The Six O'Clock Swill with Tim Blair. Cater writes weekly for https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/nick-cater (The Australian) Email Nick: watercooler@menzesrc.org Subscribe for free to https://www.menziesrc.org/email (Watercooler News), delivered to your inbox every Saturday https://www.menziesrc.org/email https://www.menziesrc.org/subscribe1 (Support this podcast by subscribing to the Menzies Research Centre from just $10 a month) https://www.menziesrc.org/subscribe1

Australia's universities are in trouble. A decade or more of chasing revenue from foreign students has changed the character of universities and left them vulnerable to external disruption like the Covid-19 border bans. The rankings system with which rewards research citations more highly than the quality of teaching has distorted the allocation of resources and turned academic research into exercise in citation harvesting. Universities have become top-heavy in administration leading to untold frustration from students and teaching staff. And to top it all, universities are responsible for the lab leak that allowed the culturally destructive virus commonly known as woke to escape into the community. Are our institutes of higher learning broken beyond repair? Should they be abandoned in favour of other sources of epistemological excellence less remote from the community? That's the question Salvatore Babones sets out to answer in his new book, Australia's Universities: Can They Reform? He joins Menzies Research Centre Executive Director for this discussion recorded in February 2022 Salvatore Babones has a background in sociology. He has a PhD and Master of Science in applied mathematics at John Hopkins University and is currently an associate professor at the University of Sydney and an adjunct scholar at the Centre for Independent Studies. He authored a 2019 paper for the CIS: The China Student Boom and the Risks it Poses to Australian Universities. His latest book, Australia's Universities: Can They Reform? is published by Ocean Reeve Publishing https://www.oceanreevepublishing.com/product/australias-universities-can-they-reform/ Email Nick Cater watercooler@menziesrc.org Support these podcasts by subscribing to the Menzies Research Centre from just $10 a month: www.menziesrc.org/subscribe

John O'Sullivan is a leading Conservative thinker, journalist, editor, and advisor to Margaret Thatcher.  He's the author of: The President, the Pope, and the Prime Minister: Three Who Changed the World. definitive history of the events that led up to the collapse of the Berlin Wall 33 years ago this November Today as Vladimir Putin pursues his goal of Soviet Union 2.0, O'Sullivan finds himself on the frontline of the new Cold War a a resident of Budapest, Hungary, just 250km from the Ukraine border. He joins Menzies Research Centre Executive Director Nick Cater from Budapest where he heads up the Danube Institute. Nick Cater is based in Sydney. This podcast was recorded on March 15, 2022 Read John O'Sullivan'shttps://quadrant.org.au/opinion/qed/2022/03/vladimir-putins-ever-darkening-room/ ( latest despatch in Quadrant). https://quadrant.org.au/opinion/qed/2022/03/vladimir-putins-ever-darkening-room/ Support these podcasts by becoming a paid-up subscriber to the Menzies Research Centre from just $10 a month: menziesrc.org/subscribe Email Nick Cater watercooler@menziesrc.org Purchase https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-president-the-pope-and-the-prime-minister-john-o-sullivan/book/9781596985506.html?source=pla&gclid=CjwKCAjw8sCRBhA6EiwA6_IF4W6ETYawuS50LrxZU-g3dYQ-0fZArorA9o-JxSTIWKNbUSqEi61GDhoCwq4QAvD_BwE (The President, the Pope, and the Prime Minister: Three Who Changed the World by John O'Sullivan. )

Rebekah Koffler is a Russian-born American citizen who joined U.S. intelligence where she observed the threat from Russia up close. Her book 'Putin's Playbook: Russia's Secret Plan to Defeat America' delves into the mind of Russian President Vladimir Putin and reveals his ambition to dominate America and the West.  She reveals details of Russia's destabilsation campaign against American democracy built upon a sophisticated knowledge of existing tensions within American society and a deep understanding of how Americans think and behave. Presented by Nick Cater, Executive Director of the Menzies Research Centre. email Nick: watercooler@menziesrc.org Rebekah Koffler's website: https://rebekahkoffler.com/ ---------------- Quotes from Putin's Playbook: “The Russian government during and after the 2016 U.S. presidential election stoked American racial divisions, ideological and political polarization, a profound distrust of government itself, and seething voter anger over the election results. The belief that Putin put Trump in office was fueled by a Russian intelligence operation. " ---------------- “The American people were, therefore, hit with a double-whammy—first by an external Russian adversary and then by internal American foes. These highly placed government functionaries, driven by their disdain for the unorthodox presidential candidate and desire to displace him, neglected their mission. Instead of identifying and neutralizing threats to American security, they became useful idiot soldiers in Putin's war on America.” ------------------ “The Russian government during and after the 2016 U.S. presidential election stoked American racial divisions, ideological and political polarization, a profound distrust of government itself, and seething voter anger over the election results. The belief that Putin put Trump in office was fuelled by a Russian intelligence operation. ------------------ “The American people were, therefore, hit with a double-whammy—first by an external Russian adversary and then by internal American foes. These highly placed government functionaries, driven by their disdain for the unorthodox presidential candidate and desire to displace him, neglected their mission. Instead of identifying and neutralizing threats to American security, they became useful idiot soldiers in Putin's war on America.” ------------------ “It would be at our own peril for Americans to ignore the Russian threat. Putin and his playbook are not going away any time soon. Having orchestrated a constitutional amendment allowing Russian presidents to serve more than two terms, the former KGB operative secured his presidency for life, or at minimum until 2036. Even if Putin unexpectedly abandons the presidency due to illness or death, his successor will likely continue with his anti-American playbook. ” ------------------- “During the past few years, I have increasingly felt like I was back in the USSR. “The rise of pervasive political correctness, growing intolerance towards religious people, and alienation of and even attacks on people whose views don't conform to the mainstream orthodoxy remind me of my childhood and youth in the USSR. “I find myself repeating the same admonitions to my young children that my mother frequently gave to me and my sister: “Don't believe everything that you hear on TV, think for yourself, and keep your and your family's views private.” “I found myself pulling my children from public schools and placing them into religious schools in order to avoid heavy and biased government-sponsored indoctrination. “It was painful for me to watch my little ones coming home and spouting how oppressive America is when I know firsthand what oppression really means. I also could not bear watching my kids coming home sad and confused because they were simply not old enough to be bombarded with all the sex-related ideas and concepts that the school pushed on them under the rubric of “family...

In this special Watercooler Conversation, recorded 24 hours after Russia's declaration of war on Ukraine, we assess the adequacy of the Western response, its global implications and what it means for Australia with the help of Dave Sharma, federal member for Wentworth, former ambassador to Israel, and an astute observer of strategic affairs. Presented by Nick Cater, Executive Director of the Menzies Research Centre Support us by subscribing to the Menzies Research Centre from $10 a month https://www.menziesrc.org/subscribe1 Or making a tax-deductible donation https://www.menziesrc.org/donate Email Nick: https://www.menziesrc.org/subscribe1@menziesrc.org

The lurch away from democratic government towards technocratic command and control has been one of the most disturbing developments in the last two years. Some are content to see it as inevitable as we wage war against the Covid-19 virus - that parliamentary process and executive accountably must take a back seat while we put the experts in charge. But is there any guarantee that the experts will turn in their badges and allow normal service to resume? Or is it part of larger retreat from democracy amid a growing fear that leaving affairs in the hands of the demos is fraught with danger? Frank Furedi brings some light to these important questions in his recent book Democracy Under Siege: Don't Let Them Lock It Down! Frank joins Menzies Research Director Nick Cater from Kent, UK. Sign up for Watercooler News delivered to your inbox every Saturday https://www.menziesrc.org/mailing-list Support Watercooler Conversation by subscribing to the Menzies Research Centre from just $10 a month https://www.menziesrc.org/subscribe1 Email Nick Cater watercooler@menziesrc.org More about Democracy Under Siege https://www.booktopia.com.au/democracy-under-siege-don-t-let-them-lock-it-down--frank-furedi/book/9781789046281.html?source=pla&gclid=Cj0KCQiAjJOQBhCkARIsAEKMtO1AMDtXNPQbFQKe-bDoYe-m6AYHU8DOfCngWF_T6_btkTzDdg7JX-oaAuaGEALw_wcB In Democracy Under Siege, Frank Furedi examines the frequent claim that democracy is a means to an end rather than an important value in and of itself. The prevalence of this sentiment in the current era is not surprising, given that the normative foundation for democracy is fragile, and there is little cultural valuation for this outlook. Until recently, virtually every serious commentator paid lip-service to democracy. However, in recent times the classical elitist disdain for democracy and for the moral and intellectual capacity of the electorate has acquired a powerful influence over public life. Democracy Under Siege outlines the long history of anti-democratic thought, explains why hostility to democracy has gained momentum in the current era, and offers a positive affirmation of the principle and the value of democracy. Frank Furedi is a Hungarian-Canadian academic and emeritus professor of sociology at the University of Kent. He is well known for his work on sociology of fear, education, therapy culture, paranoid parenting and sociology of knowledge.

In the second of two Watercooler conversations centred around Australia Day and the need for stronger foundational narrative that accurately describes our country and that values that unite us. It is hard to have serious discussion about the meaning of European Settlement unless we can first agree on the facts. Yet fewer than four out of ten Australians know which event they are supposed to be celebrating or mourning, according a recent survey by Compass Polling. Only 39 per cent correctly identified it as the date of the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove. A new account of the founding of modern Australia by Margaret Cameron-Ash exposes how little we have known up to now about the British government's decision to establish a colony in NSW and how much of our understanding has been clouded by prejudice. Tellingly, Cameron-Ash trained as a lawyer, rather than a historian. Her book Beating France to Botany Bay: The Race to Found Australia debunks the myth that Australia was purely a dumping ground for Britain's criminal class, the explanation for settlement that was considered unquestionably true by Manning Clark, one of Australia's most influential historians. In his seminal four-volume A History of Australia, Clark makes no mention whatsoever of the French voyager Captain Jean Laperouse who's expedition to the Pacific stirred the British into action. Yet as Cameron-Ash documents, intelligence that Laperouse was on course for Australia with two vessels laden with trees, plants and seeds, manufactured goods, tools and unwrought iron convinced prime minister William Pitt the Younger that French settlement was imminent. Margaret Cameron Ash joins Nick Cater to describe the photo-finish to the race to Botany Bay and its consequences. Nick Cater is Executive Director of the Menzies Research Centre. Beating France to Botany Bay: The Race to Found Australia by Margaret Cameron-Ash is published by Quadrant Books. Order online here: https://quadrant.org.au/product/beating-france-to-botany-bay-the-race-to-found-australia/ Email Nick Cater: watercooler@menziesrc.org Support these podcasts by subscribing to the Menzies Research Centre from $10 a month: subscriptions@menziesrc.org

Anthony Dillon is a powerful voice for Australia's forgotten indigenous people, those without the privileged platform occupied by the educated, urban elite. In this Watercooler conversation with Nick Cater, he argues that ill-founded attacks on Australia are holding us back from true reconciliation. Rather than focus on our differences, our goal must be to rediscover the common core of humanity that all Australians share. This is the first of a two-part Watercooler conversation to mark Australia Day 2022. Nick Cater is Executive Director of the Menzies Research Centre. Email Nick at watercooler@menziesrc.org Support these podcasts by becoming a financial subscriber from just $10 a month: menziesrc.org/subscriptions Anthony Dillon is an academic and Indigenous commentator who is not afraid to take issue with the current popular ideologies which portray Indigenous people merely as victims of white Australia and history (the invasion). His experience in the area of Indigenous Health and well being has demonstrated that these dogmatically held beliefs are killing more indigenous people than cigarettes. He strongly believe that the only way we will “Close the Gap” between Indigenous Australians and the rest of the population is by ensuring that Indigenous people have access to the opportunities that most Australians take for granted. To achieve this requires us all to focus on the commonalities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, and abandon the myth that Indigenous Australians are deeply culturally different from other Australians. He believes it is extremely important that there is an open dialogue on the issues which have remained hidden under a veil of silence for too long, such as violence and substance abuse. He is regularly quoted in the popular media as a commentator on Indigenous affairs as my point of view is logical, academically sound and not constrained by preconceived notions of victimhood, or limited by political correctness. Anthony's linkedin page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-dillon-3065a816/?originalSubdomain=au

The Covid-19 pandemic was a gift for Australia's putative ruling class, says Nick Cater, in this essay for Spiked online. A self-appointed nomenklatura elite has exploited a public health threat to infiltrate areas of our private lives we once imagined sacrosanct. They have robbed the Australian people of dignity, denied them agency and demanded complete obedience. Where they might have drawn on Australians' abundant reserves of good will and on voluntary compliance, they have instead resorted to central planning and coercion. As a result, Australia has moved closer to the dystopia that Friedrich Hayek warned us about in The Road to Serfdom. Read the essay here: https://www.spiked-online.com/2022/01/03/lockdown-has-destroyed-the-australian-spirit/

The reaction to the torching of Canberra's Old Parliament House by Aboriginal protestors last week is evidence of the woke-ward drift of both the media and the police force. Nick Cater presents his latest column from The Australian. Read the column here: Email Nick watercooler@menziesrc.org Support these podcasts by subscribing to the Menzies Research Centre from $10 a month: www.menziesrc.org/subscribe

Omicron is the variant we can probably live with, says Nick Cater. So let's stop panicking about vaccinations and get back to living our lives. Nick Cater presents his latest column from The Australian in this bonus podcast from the Menzies Research Centre. Read Nick Cater's column in https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/steady-on-omicron-may-be-the-variant-we-can-live-with/news-story/985f5299742e3199fbee8d0b052ee0c3 (The Australian): https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/steady-on-omicron-may-be-the-variant-we-can-live-with/news-story/985f5299742e3199fbee8d0b052ee0c3 Email Nick Cater: watercooler@menziesrc.org

In the face of the biggest strategic alignment in most of our life times, Australians must unite around values and reconcile their differences. Brendan Nelson puts forward a practical proposal for bringing together two conflicting narratives of Australian settlement and ending the controversy over Australia Day. Dr Nelson delivers the Ninth John Howard Lecture to an audience in Sydney on December 16, 2021

Jussie Smollett's conviction for staging a hate crime against himself is a blow not just to his reputation, but the credibility of the woke narrative he tried to exploit, says Nick Cater. Read Nick Cater's column in The Australian: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/the-smollett-case-and-waking-up-to-woke-folly-of-good-v-evil/news-story/d55407d62713b7efb3207c44ed02e7f6 Email Nick Cater: watercooler@menziesrc.org This is a bonus Watercooler podcast presented by the Menzies Research Centre

Labor's climate policy is so full of holes that it will haunt Albanese until election day as surely as it attached itself to Bill Shorten like some godforsaken seabird in a Samuel Taylor Coleridge poem, says Nick Cater. Read Nick Cater's column in The Australian: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/nick-cater Email Nick Cater: watercooler@menziesrc.org This is a bonus Watercooler podcast presented by the Menzies Research Centre

Michael Leunig is one of Australia's best-loved cartoonists. His work has appeared in The Age for more than 40 years.   He talks to Nick Cater about the cartoonist's shrinking role as court jester and free thinking spirit in an age when the restrictions around humour are increasingly suffocating and the penalties for dissidents increasingly harsh. Email Nick Cater: watercooler@menziesrc.org Support this podcasts by subscribing from just $10 a month at www.menziesrc.org/subscribe Book a seat for the 9th John Howard Lecture with Dr Brendan Nelson in Sydney on December 16, 2021: https://www.menziesrc.org/events

The Religious Discrimination Bill strikes a blow against the intolerable and intolerant religion of social justice. Nick Cater presents his latest column from The Australian. Email Nick Cater: watercooler@menziesrc.org Book a seat at the 9th John Howard Lecture: www.menziesrc.org/events

The stability of the two-party parliamentary system is challenged by the rise of special interest campaign groups and the rise of minor parties. Yet joining a mainstream party is still the best path for individuals who want to achieve change in the national interest, argues Tim James. Tim James Is Executive General Manager of Menzies Research Centre and has been a member of the Liberal Party since 1993. Nick Cater is Executive Director of the Menzies Research Centre. Email Nick and Tim: watercooler@menziesrc.com

In this column from The Australian, Nick Cater argues that the exclusion of the unvaccinated from public places is an insult to our intelligence. It cannot be justified on public health grounds unless the object is deterrence through humiliation. Email Nick Cater watercooler@menziesrc.org Read the column: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/the-tyranny-of-ineptitude-drives-more-to-the-streets/news-story/0e5370a6bd54c95611634dfc92b7038d

Stephen Chavura joins Nick Cater to defuse the loaded language of the anointed, starting with the terms “left” and “right”. As Thomas Sowell observed, while it is relatively easy to define what it means to be “on the left”, the term “right wing” seems little more than a label used by the anointed to condemn those with him they disagree. “Those who oppose the left are said to be on the right — and when they are strongly opposed, or opposed across a broad spectrum of issues, they are said to be on the “far right,” writes Sowell. Dr. Stephen Chavura teaches European and Australian history at Campion College. Nick Cater is Executive Director at the Menzies Research Centre

In this Directors' Cut edition of Watercooler, Nick Cater, John Roskam and Oliver Hartwich discuss the things about which we need a more intelligent conversation. Nick Cater is Executive Director of the Menzies Research Centre. John Roskam is Executive Director of the https://ipa.org.au/ (Institute for Public Affairs) Dr Oliver Hartwich is Executive Director of the New Zealand Initiative Email Nick Cater Support these podcasts by https://www.menziesrc.org/subscribe1 (subscribing to the Menzies Research Centre) from just $10 a month

Smart phone technology means the most dangerous place for children is alone in their own bedroom. In this bonus podcast, Nick Cater presents his latest column from The Australian. https://www.menziesrc.org/news-feed/parental-guidance (Read the column ) Email Nick Cater: watercooler@menziesrc.org

Victoria's Dan Andrews is demonstrating that high-handedness and ham-fistedness are two sides of the same coin. Menzies Research Centre Executive Director Nick Cater presents his weekly column in The Australian as a podcast. https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/glasgow-summit-sense-logic-lost-in-climate-of-moral-superiority/news-story/546cdb826e5d49cecee3769031dac437 (Read the column) Email Nick Cater: watercooler@menziesrc.org

Delegates at the Glasgow climate summit should draw lessons from the city's architecture. Don't let the enthusiasts take charge. Menzies Research Centre Executive Director Nick Cater presents his weekly column as a podcast. https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/glasgow-summit-sense-logic-lost-in-climate-of-moral-superiority/news-story/546cdb826e5d49cecee3769031dac437 (Read the column) More reading: Thomas Sowell, The Vision of the Anointed: Self-congratulation as a Basis for Social Policy, Hachette, New York, 1995.