• Rooftop Solar: Paradise Lost | Zoe Hilton & Emilie Dye
    Mar 26 2025
    Rooftop Solar: Paradise Lost | Zoe Hilton & Emilie Dye

    ​In this episode, we delve into the findings of the Centre for Independent Studies' recent report, "Rooftop Solar: Paradise Lost," co-authored by Zoe Hilton, Michael Wu, and Aidan Morrison. The report challenges the prevailing narrative that rooftop solar benefits all consumers, revealing that while solar panel owners enjoy significant financial returns, these gains often come at the expense of non-solar households. We explore how current tariff structures lead to cross-subsidies, disproportionately affecting vulnerable consumers, and discuss the broader implications for Australia's energy market and policy landscape. Today’s Guest: Zoe Hilton Hosted by Emilie Dye. Audio produced by Randall Evans.

    Read the paper: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/rooftop-solar-paradise-lost/ Become a member: https://www.cis.org.au/membership-2-step-1/ Subscribe to all our shows: Liberalism in Question features thought-provoking interviews with world experts in politics and culture from a Classical Liberal perspective. Subscribe here: https://liberalisminquestion.podbean.com/

    The CIS Research Collection delivers our research papers in an audio format so that you can listen to them on the go. Subscribe here: https://cisresearch.podbean.com/ What You Need to Know About delivers concise insights from CIS experts, breaking down complex topics like policy, economics, and societal challenges. Subscribe here: https://whatyouneedtoknowabout.podbean.com/

    CIS Events Experience: From the studios of CIS our events team brings you engaging discussions from our live events, featuring lectures, panel discussions, and conversations with leading experts: https://cisevents.podbean.com/

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    31 mins
  • Australian citizenship and the crisis of civic virtue | Peter Kurti
    Mar 20 2025

    In this episode, we sit down with Peter Kurti to explore the ideas behind his latest work, Fractured Loyalties: Australian Citizenship and the Crisis of Civic Virtue. We discuss the fundamental role of tolerance in a diverse democracy, the rising threat of antisemitism in Australia, and how weakening civic virtues are impacting social cohesion.

    Kurti unpacks the historical roots of citizenship, the principles that hold a nation together, and why fostering mutual respect is more crucial than ever. Join us for a thought-provoking conversation on democracy, identity, and the future of Australian civic life.

    Read the paper: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/fractured-loyalties-australian-citizenship-and-the-crisis-of-civic-virtue/ Research by Peter Kurti Hosted by Emilie Dye. Audio produced by Randall Evans. To become a member: https://www.cis.org.au/membership-2-step-1/

    Subscribe to all our shows: What You Need to Know About delivers concise insights from CIS experts, breaking down complex topics like policy, economics, and societal challenges. Subscribe here: https://whatyouneedtoknowabout.podbean.com/

    The CIS Research Collection delivers our research papers in an audio format so that you can listen to them on the go. Subscribe here: https://cisresearch.podbean.com/ Liberalism in Question features thought-provoking interviews with world experts in politics and culture from a Classical Liberal perspective. Subscribe here: https://liberalisminquestion.podbean.com/ CIS Events Experience: From the studios of CIS our events team brings you engaging discussions from our live events, featuring lectures, panel discussions, and conversations with leading experts: https://cisevents.podbean.com/

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    35 mins
  • Super for Housing | Peter Tulip
    Mar 13 2025

    ​In this episode, we delve into the proposal of allowing homebuyers to access their superannuation funds for purchasing a home. We explore how building housing equity and accumulating superannuation serve as alternative methods for ensuring financial security in retirement. The discussion highlights that while the government aims to ensure individuals prepare for retirement, it doesn't necessarily have a stake in the specific method chosen. Therefore, if someone prefers to save by paying off a mortgage rather than accumulating superannuation, governmental obstruction of that choice seems unwarranted.​ Read the paper: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/super-for-housing/ Research by: Matthew Taylor and Peter Tulip Hosted by Emilie Dye. Audio produced by Randall Evans To become a member: https://www.cis.org.au/membership-2-step-1/ Subscribe to our other shows: Liberalism in Question features thought-provoking interviews with world experts in politics and culture from a Classical Liberal perspective. Subscribe here: https://liberalisminquestion.podbean.com/

    The CIS Research Collection delivers our research papers in an audio format so that you can listen to them on the go. Subscribe here: https://cisresearch.podbean.com/ What You Need to Know About delivers concise insights from CIS experts, breaking down complex topics like policy, economics, and societal challenges. Subscribe here: https://whatyouneedtoknowabout.podbean.com/ CIS Events Experience: From the studios of CIS our events team brings you engaging discussions from our live events, featuring lectures, panel discussions, and conversations with leading experts: https://cisevents.podbean.com/

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    20 mins
  • The Success of NZ’s Housing Policy Reforms | Stuart Donavan
    Feb 12 2025

    In this episode, we dive into New Zealand’s groundbreaking housing policy reforms and explore how they’ve successfully tackled the housing crisis. Join us as we unpack the findings of the Centre for Independent Studies’ report, Less Crowded Houses: The Success of NZ’s Housing Policy Reforms and Implications for Australia by Stuart Donovan. What lessons can Australia learn from these bold changes? How did New Zealand streamline housing regulations to deliver real results? Tune in for an insightful discussion on housing policy, urban planning, and the path forward for more affordable living.

    Ideal for policymakers, urban planners, and anyone curious about fixing the housing crisis! Research by: Stuart Donovan. Hosted by Emilie Dye. Audio produced by Randall Evans.

    To read the paper: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/less-crowded-houses-the-success-of-nzs-housing-policy-reforms-and-implications-for-australia/ To become a member: https://www.cis.org.au/membership-2-step-1/ Subscribe to our other shows: Liberalism in Question features thought-provoking interviews with world experts in politics and culture from a Classical Liberal perspective. Subscribe here: https://liberalisminquestion.podbean.com/

    The CIS Research Collection delivers our research papers in an audio format so that you can listen to them on the go. Subscribe here: https://cisresearch.podbean.com/ What You Need to Know About delivers concise insights from CIS experts, breaking down complex topics like policy, economics, and societal challenges. Subscribe here: https://whatyouneedtoknowabout.podbean.com/

    #HousingCrisis #UrbanPlanning #AffordableHousing #NewZealand #PolicyReform #Australia #HousingSolutions #Podcast #RealEstate #EconomicPolicy

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    21 mins
  • The Rise of Activist Corporations: How activism agendas subsumed shareholder primacy | Peter Swan
    Sep 26 2024

    The Rise of Activist Corporations with Peter Swan - Interviewed by Emilie Dye. Australian companies have been shifting from a purely shareholder focus to a much vaguer, less accountable, and damaging stakeholder focus for many years. One important byproduct of this decline in shareholder focus has been former shareholder resources moving into ‘social responsibility’, corporate activism, and promotion of political and popular causes that are often antithetical to the interests of corporations’ own shareholders. This has resulted in many corporations becoming ‘woke’. Read the paper here: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/the-rise-of-activist-corporations-how-activism-agendas-subsumed-shareholder-primacy/

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    21 mins
  • Government Spending and Inflation | Robert Carling
    Sep 17 2024

    Government spending and inflation with Robert Carling - Interviewed by Emilie Dye. That government expenditure in Australia has grown apace in recent years is well-known. The growth became gargantuan during the coronavirus pandemic. However, to a less dramatic extent, it was happening before the pandemic — and has continued since it ended.

    Some observers welcome this growth to the extent it is a reflection of new spending programs and expansion of existing programs perceived to meet legitimate needs. But it is also a matter of serious concern for reasons that include the implications for higher taxation and public debt, the effect on incentives and the diversion of scarce resources away from alternative and higher productivity activities.

    Recently, attention has turned to the impact of higher public spending on inflation as monetary policy struggles to restore inflation to its target. Specifically, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has spoken of the high level of aggregate demand relative to the economy’s potential output. The RBA has drawn attention to the relatively rapid growth of public final demand as a contributor to excessive aggregate demand —­ although the Governor has also stated that public sector demand “is not the main game” in the policy response to persistent inflation.

    Here we talk about the key facts about public expenditure growth in recent years and discuss its contribution to inflation. You can also read the policy paper here:https://www.cis.org.au/publication/government-spending-and-inflation/

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    16 mins
  • Why Australia Needs Universal Early Numeracy Screening | Kelly Norris
    Jul 3 2024

    International data have repeatedly shown many Australian school students struggle with mathematics. Around 10% of students achieve at a level that requires additional support (NAPLAN) or are below the international benchmark Trends in International Maths and Science Study (TIMSS) — which is the equivalent of around 400,000 Australian students per year. More than a quarter of 15-year-olds are low performers in the subject. Learn what you need to know about Why Australia Needs Universal Early Numeracy Screening. Kelly Norris is a Senior Research Associate at CIS working on evidence-based identification and intervention processes for students with or at risk of maths difficulties. Prior to joining CIS in 2024, she has worked as a university lecturer, educational consultant, product developer, consultant teacher and classroom teacher with a particular focus on effective intervention within a multitiered system of support (MTSS). She holds a Bachelor of Education, Graduate Certificate of Education (learning difficulties) and Master of Education. In the latter research she investigated strategies and tools to improve identification and support for students with mathematical difficulties. #auspol

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    17 mins
  • The Impact of the Shadow Carbon Price | Michael Wu
    Jun 12 2024
    The federal, state and territory Energy Ministers have introduced a shadow carbon price for the national electricity market. This ‘value of emissions reduction’ (VER) sets the value of carbon abatement at $66 per tonne in 2023, rising six-fold to $420 by 2050. Costs will be passed onto consumers through electricity network projects because the regulatory investment framework will now include the interim VER as a benefit in their cost benefit analyses. This change is likely to increase the assessed benefits of projects that claim to reduce emissions, projects which might otherwise have been deemed uneconomic. Read the rest of this research here: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/the-impact-of-a-shadow-carbon-price-on-our-electricity-bills/ Hosted by Karla Pincott, What You Need to Know About is the podcast that covers exactly that. Hear from CIS' experts on the key points of their research, providing you with concise and insightful overviews of complex topics. In each episode, we break down intricate policy issues, economic trends, social challenges, and more, delivering the essential information you need to stay informed in today's fast-paced world. Join us as we cut through the noise and dive straight into the heart of matters that shape our society. Whether you're a policy enthusiast, a curious mind, or just someone looking to grasp the essentials without getting lost in the details, What You Need to Know About is your go-to source for bite-sized yet comprehensive insights. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CISAus Twitter - https://twitter.com/CISOZ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CentreIndependentStudies/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-independent-studies/ Telegram - https://t.me/centreforindependentstudies #auspol #nuclear #nuclearaustralia #australia #energymarket #energy #netzero #net0 #cis
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    6 mins