For something slightly different, I talk to Gold Coast Lifeguard Luke Ingwersen on the range of roles a lifeguard plays, from local tour guide to first responder. It’s a great discussion on rips, some general water safety, the changing nature of international beach-goers and the challenges of being responsible for public safety in one of the busiest places in the country.

This episode’s title is borrowed from Robert Garran’s satire of the Australia’s State Premiers in 1934. While we oftentimes hear that the States should collect your income tax (the Feds currently do) they historically haven’t been too keen on it. Federalism is hardly a ‘fun’ topic but join Jordan Shopov, Will Witheridge and I as we talk about some of the unique features of our federal system.  

It’s not all about the United States, Trump or Brexit. All states and governments are under pressure, from technology and ‘automation’ to a new generation bringing all new grievances. Are robots really going to wipe out our workforce? And, in a more connected world, are we actually becoming more isolated? Join economist Will Witheridge and I for a discussion on the trends shaping our current world.

Renewable energy targets, power bills, nuclear power, Paris agreements and a ‘carbon constrained environment’. Join energy policy specialist Lauren Timms and I as we come at the energy discussion from different angles. I even manage to throw Adam Smith in there. Lauren Timms Lauren is an energy policy specialist with the Queensland Government, who came to the energy sector by way of an Arts degree majoring in international relations She started her career as a baby analyst and with a boutique consultancy firm in Vienna and specialising in European and North East Asian natural gas markets before moving into electricity. […]

From social media to our need for 24 hour news, we know that the world has changed. But how would past leaders survive today? And do we put our current political leaders under so much pressure, despite being able to do only so much? Talking through these topics with me is professional economist William Witheridge and Whig Capital’s Jordan Shopov. A special thanks to Sam Muller for his help in producing this episode! Jordan’s point that institutions should be our focus, instead of leaders themselves, is inspired by a Nobel Lecture from the late James M. Buchanan: https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/economic-sciences/laureates/1986/buchanan-lecture.html And links […]

My interesting discussion with Stephen Foote on public safety and staying resilient in a complex world. Steve is a co-founder of the International Safer Institute at www.saferinstitute.org.au.