A Better Australia
Date
From: Wednesday March 5, 2025, 5:30 pm
To: Wednesday March 5, 2025, 7:00 pm
A Better Australia
An inside look at effective policy making, realised through hard-won public policy battles
What does successful public policy look like, and how has it been achieved in Australia? What strategies are needed to overcome petty partisanship and narrow self-interest? And who gets to decide what a 'better Australia' even looks like? In A Better Australia John Brumby, Scott Hamilton and Stuart Kells examine policy design, implementation and reform, and show what can be achieved when engagement is sincere and intent clear. Leading policymakers and political insiders - Julia Gillard, Malcolm Turnbull, Cheryl Kernot, John Hewson, Ken Wyatt, Christine Milne and more - dissect the development of successful policy in energy, gun control, natural resources taxation, disability insurance, marriage equality, gender equality in the workplace, superannuation, reproductive healthcare reform, Closing the Gap and the pandemic response. A Better Australia takes us behind the scenes of the hard-won policy battles, showing the wide-ranging effects of good policy.
Book Pre-order has now closed.
About the Speakers
John Brumby AO chancellor of La Trobe University and honorary professor in economics at the University of Melbourne, has extensive experience in public policy and public life, serving as Premier of Victoria (2007-10), Victorian Treasurer (2000-07) and Federal MP for Bendigo (1983-90), among other roles. Since leaving politics he has worked in the not-for-profit and for-profit sectors and was awarded an Order of Australia in 2017.
Scott Hamilton is adjunct associate professor at Monash University, senior advisor to the Smart Energy Council and an expert in renewable energy, green hydrogen, energy transition, natural resource management and climate change. He writes regularly for The Mandarin and other publications. His first book, Sold Down the River, co-authored with Stuart Kells, was one of the top 10 Australian political books of the year in 2022.
Stuart Kells has written on a wide range of subjects including libraries, publishing, professional services and diamond mining. His shorter works have been published around the world including in Smithsonian, The Paris Review, The Guardian and LitHub. A University of Melbourne alumnus, he delivered the 2018 Jean Whyte Lecture and the 2022 Murray Talk. His history of Penguin Books, Penguin and the Lane Brothers, won the Ashurst Business Literature Prize in 2015. His book The Library: A Catalogue of Wonders was shortlisted for the Prime Minister's literary award and the NSW Premier’s general history prize. He is Adjunct Professor at La Trobe University’s College of Arts, Social Sciences and Commerce.
Event Details
Date: | Wednesday 5 March 2025 |
Time: | 6pm and runs until approximately 7pm. Attendees welcome to arrive from 5:30pm to enjoy drinks downstairs (at own cost) |
Cost: |
Ticket including pre-order of the book "A Better Australia": $40 for members / $50 for non-members Book Pre-order has now closed. Ticket only: Free for members / $10 for non-members *Book Pre-orders close 12th February. Tickets will be available without pre-order of the book until fully booked. |
Venue: | The Kelvin Club, 14-30 Melbourne Pl, Melbourne VIC 3000 |
If you are not yet an ESA VIC member, this event is an opportunity for you to become a member to enjoy discounted rates on this and other events and access to other free events throughout the year. You can become a member here.
We look forward to welcoming you to this event,
ESA VIC Branch
Click here to Book Online
Venue
The Kelvin Club
14-30 Melbourne Place, Melbourne VIC 3000