Grattan Institute Events Listing http://www.grattan.edu.au/rss/rss_events.php http://energyfutures02.eventbrite.com/ http://energyfutures02.eventbrite.com/ Energy analysts and commentators envisage coal and gas playing major, if not dominant roles in supplying an energy hungry world for many decades. Australia is a major exporter of coal, and coal-based electricity underpins our standard of living. Gas development is undergoing a revolution driven by technologies that extract it from coal seams and shales and the scale is mind boggling. Yet an effective response to climate change means the combustion of coal and gas as we know it today must cease by mid-century. This seminar in the Energy Futures Series will examine this conundrum, one of the major challenges of our time. MON, 14 may 2012 12:30:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/058_event_disability_insurance.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/058_event_disability_insurance.html Disability doesn't discriminate. And yet for Australians with disability, where you live or how you or a loved one acquire a disability can radically change the care and support you receive. The Australian Government has taken up the mantle for change. At this Grattan Institute event, Jenny Macklin, the Commonwealth Government's first Minister for Disability Reform, discussed the Government's work to build a National Disability Insurance Scheme. Fri, 30 Mar 2012 14:58:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/055_event_social_cities.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/055_event_social_cities.html Humans are social animals: relationships are critical to our wellbeing. Grattan's new report, Social Cities, argues that the way we build and organise our cities is crucial to the quantity and quality of social connection, which in turn is critical to our psychological and physical health. Report author Jane-Frances Kelly discussed the report and its recommendations with leading economist Professor Ian Harper in a conversation chaired by Peter Mares. Wed, 28 Mar 2012 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/056_event_multiple_climate_change_policies.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/056_event_multiple_climate_change_policies.html Europe wastes billions of euros by having overlapping climate-change policies. Is Australia about to make the same mistake? Dr Cameron Hepburn, an economist who was a senior adviser to the Stern Review on the economics of climate change, explained why governments need more policies than a carbon price to tackle change, but why the overlapping of these policies is dangerous for effective reform. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/055_event_learning_from_the_best.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/055_event_learning_from_the_best.html The world's centre of high performance in school education is now East Asia. Australian schools and education systems could match the successes of their counterparts in East Asia. Ben Jensen and Maxine McKew discussed these issues. THU, 23 feb 2012 13:50:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/054_event_energy_sydney_15_Feb_2012.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/054_event_energy_sydney_15_Feb_2012.html In early February, Grattan Institute released the first of a two-part report on the technology choices that will frame Australia's energy future. The report explores in detail the seven technologies that might enable Australia to achieve the targets set out in the Federal Government's Clean Energy Legislation for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. TUE, 15 feb 2012 14:45:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/053_event_mapping_aust_higher_education.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/053_event_mapping_aust_higher_education.html What is going on in Australian higher education? Andrew Norton, Grattan Institute's Higher Education Program Director, discussed the program's first report with Julie Hare, Higher Education editor at The Australian, at this public event in Sydney. FRI, 27 jan 2012 10:20:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/051_event_pm_reading_list_launch.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/051_event_pm_reading_list_launch.html Every year, Grattan Institute produces a Reading List for the Prime Minister; the books and articles we recommend Australia's leaders read over the summer break. Mon, 05 Dec 2011 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/050_event_getting_the_housing_we_want_report_launch.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/050_event_getting_the_housing_we_want_report_launch.html Former Victorian Premier, John Brumby, spoke with Grattan's Cities Program Director, Jane-Frances Kelly, at the launch of Grattan's latest report, Getting the housing we want. Our big cities are deadlocked. They continue to grow yet the market is not providing the housing that Australians say they want. Residents feel they have little say in how their neighbourhoods change: developers point to a range of barriers to building housing in established areas. Change is urgently needed. Grattan's new report offers a plan to make it happen. THU, 10 nov 2011 09:35:00 +1000 http://energy.unimelb.edu.au/the-future-of-solar-in-australia/ http://energy.unimelb.edu.au/the-future-of-solar-in-australia/ Ultimately, all our power comes from the sun, but converting solar radiation to electricity directly using photovoltaics, or less directly through solar thermal power is still relatively expensive compared with the processes that convert the solar energy stored in coal and natural gas into electricity. But the cost is rapidly dropping. What are the prospects for photovoltaics and solar thermal? At what point do they become competitive and what might be the implications for the broader energy generation system? THU, 10 nov 2011 09:25:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/049_event_education_merit_pay.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/049_event_education_merit_pay.html The debate over merit pay can be summed up as follows: economists like it, voters love it, and teachers are divided. Can merit pay be made to work? Andrew Leigh MP discussed these issues with John Daley, Grattan's CEO. Mon, 14 Nov 2011 09:00:00 +1000 http://energy.unimelb.edu.au/future-of-transport http://energy.unimelb.edu.au/future-of-transport This seminar looked at how Australians might get around in the low carbon cities of the future. Experts in research, policy and industry will explore the technologies that could be used to decarbonise the transport system and the realities of the challenges associated with bringing these online. Fri, 14 oct 2012 16:00:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/048_event_education_quality.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/048_event_education_quality.html At this event, Dr Brian Stecher discussed recent changes in education policy in the United States and what lessons Australia can learn from these. FRI, 30 sep 2011 17:10:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/047_event_the_spirit_of_cities.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/047_event_the_spirit_of_cities.html Cities define us. They shape the outlooks, opportunities and lives of billions. Yet most contemporary political thought neglects their role. Daniel Bell thinks it is time to revive the thinking of the Greeks and rediscover the spirit of cities. Tue, 04 Oct 2011 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/046_event_education_key_note.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/046_event_education_key_note.html Professor Yong Zhao, Presidential Chair, Associate Dean of the College of Education at the University of Oregon, presents Challenges of Learning from Others where he discusses some of the benefits and pitfalls of international policy research. Tue, 27 Sep 2011 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/044_event_electricity_network.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/044_event_electricity_network.html Effective and efficient transmission of electric power from generators to consumers is a vital part of the electricity system. But what is the optimal design to support a very different energy system in the 21st century? Wed, 24 Aug 2011 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/043_event_spence.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/043_event_spence.html Professor Michael Spence, winner of the 2001 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, examined how emerging economies are reshaping the global economy and the international order. TUE, 19 jul 2011 12:15:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/042_event_high_class_university.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/042_event_high_class_university.html In an era of globalisation, everyone wants to be world class. But what is the real measure of a world class university, and what does it take to get there? Fri, 17 Jun 2011 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/041_event_future_of_wind.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/041_event_future_of_wind.html Wind power is a rapidly growing source of energy globally and is now becoming a significant source of power in countries such as Germany, Spain, Ireland and Denmark. As one of the lowest cost zero-carbon energy sources available to date, this seminar explored wind market trends in Australia and internationally. TUE, 05 jul 2011 16:28:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/040_event_housing_report_launch.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/040_event_housing_report_launch.html Grattan Cities Program Director Jane-Frances Kelly in conversation with John Daley on the challenges to Australian cities and governments presented in The Housing We'd Choose. Thu, 09 Jun 2011 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.eventbrite.com/event/1699853307 http://www.eventbrite.com/event/1699853307 In April, Trade Minister Craig Emerson released the Gillard Government's Trade Policy Statement: "Trading our way to more jobs and prosperity". This aims to put the pursuit of free trade at the heart of the Government's economic reform program. At this event, the Minister will outline the five principles of this policy, and discuss how sound trade policy and solid economic reform should work hand-in-hand. Tue, 18 May 2011 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/038_event_rd_report_launch.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/038_event_rd_report_launch.html Grattan Institute launched its latest report, Investing in regions: Making a difference. The report shows that Australia's "patchwork economy" - in which some regions are both booming and others are going backwards - is becoming more pronounced. This has profound implications for government policy to promote economic growth and the opportunities of its regional citizens, many of whom risk missing out on basic services. Tue, 24 May 2011 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/037_event_energy_mei.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/037_event_energy_mei.html The debate surrounding the transition from the current carbon intensive energy system to one that is sustainable and low-carbon largely centres on cost. WED, 11 may 2011 17:45:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/035_event_education_report.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/035_event_education_report.html Following the release of this Grattan Institute report, Dr Ben Jensen presented and discussed its findings. The report proposes a new system of teacher appraisal that provides constructive feedback to teachers based on a comprehensive appraisal of learning and teaching in classrooms. The new system will bring overdue recognition to effective teachers, spreading good practices through their school and beyond. THU 21 apr 2011 14:15:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/036_event_putnam.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/036_event_putnam.html Join Professor Robert Putnam, Malkin Professor of Public Policy at Harvard University, a pioneer of research in social capital, for an exploration of how communities have become increasingly disconnected and how they may reconnect. Grattan Institute, in association with The United States Studies Centre, and the Australia and New Zealand School of Government presented this seminar. TUE, 29 mar 2011 10:35:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/034_event_energy_michael_grubb.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/034_event_energy_michael_grubb.html Carbon pricing is the 'first among equals' in a broad triad of climate policy mechanism for cutting CO2 emissions, but is also the most politically difficult. This talk will briefly review the role of carbon pricing, the debates between taxation and emissions trading as a way of achieving it, and some of the key lessons learned from the European Emissions Trading Scheme. Professor Michael Grubb is Chair of the international research organisation Climate Strategies, headquartered at Cambridge University. TUE, 05 apr 2011 11:00:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/033_event_swinney.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/033_event_swinney.html Grattan Institute, in association with the Foundation for Sustainable Economic Development, the Centre for Public Policy, and Enterprise Connect, presented an evening forum with Dan Swinney, Executive Director of the Chicago Manufacturing Renaissance Council. In this session, he reflected on the Council's 25-year effort to maintain and expand high-skilled manufacturing jobs. WED, 23 mar 2011 16:45 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/032_event_energy.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/032_event_energy.html Australian governments, both State and Federal, have tried hundreds of policies and programs over the past decade to reduce carbon emissions in the energy sector. A new study by Grattan Institute launched at the seminar investigated their impact and identify the patterns. WED 16 mar 2011 10:30:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/031_event_garrett.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/031_event_garrett.html Following the release of the second version of My School, Minister Garrett outlined the direction of education reform for the coming year and beyond. Thu, 18 mar 2011 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/027_event_wellbeing.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/027_event_wellbeing.html Around the world governments are recognising that there is more to life - and government - than GDP. The Australian Government Treasury has developed a "well-being" framework for evaluating policy and outcomes, and the Australian Bureau of Statistics has developed a project named "Measuring Australia's Progress". This is the last in a series of three seminars about social and environmental measures for public policy. The panel will discuss how well-being frameworks might develop in Australia, how they are already being used in practice, and how they might influence the future development of public policy. Thu, 25 Nov 2010 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/025_event_jensen.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/025_event_jensen.html A new era of transparency will force considerable change in our schools. The My School website will soon include financial information for each school and more accurate measures of school performance. These changes will provide numerous strategic challenges and opportunities for school administrators, school boards and policy makers. The research shows that improving teacher effectiveness is the most successful way to confront these challenges. However, recent evidence highlights that both government and non-government schools are generally not effective in shaping their organisations to maximise teacher effectiveness and engage in successful teacher evaluation and development. Dr Ben Jensen, Director of the school education program at the Grattan Institute, will address these issues and present strategies for how schools can best confront these strategic challenges. Tue, 23 Nov 2010 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/024_event_eslake.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/024_event_eslake.html At this Grattan event, Productivity Growth Program Director Saul Eslake discussed how productivity growth is vital to meeting several of Australia's important economic challenges, and assessed the reasons for the marked deterioration in Australia's productivity growth performance over the past decade. Thu, 11 Nov 2010 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/023_event_mulgan.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/023_event_mulgan.html Thinking about social design for cities is lagging behind thinking on economic and environmental issues. Yet history has shown us that without design that takes account of social needs, built environments can easily lead to isolated individuals and communities. All over the world developments are being demolished only a few decades after they were built because of poor understanding of human needs and social design. Design has to incorporate an understanding of how people live, what makes them feel they belong, and the right balance of interaction and privacy. Geoff Mulgan discussed these issues Mon, 08 Nov 2010 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/022_event_mcinroy.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/022_event_mcinroy.html Cities in Australia are facing a series of challenges, particularly relating to their next stages of growth. The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES), based in Manchester, UK, helps cities and communities cope effectively with such challenges. CLES has recently laid out a "place resilience framework" - a partnership model for local government and other sectors to work together to develop a resilient economy. The framework has been piloted in 15 locations in the UK with fascinating results. At this Grattan seminar Neil discussed the findings of the CLES's resilience pilot, and suggest how Australian cities and places might prepare themselves better for upcoming challenges. Thu, 28 Oct 2010 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/021_event_newton.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/021_event_newton.html Australian cities rate highly internationally on liveability and well-being indices. State and metropolitan governments are keen to promote the liveability of their cities as a means of attracting mobile capital, skilled labour and tourists. An examination of the liveability-environmental sustainability nexus, however, suggests that Australia's capital cities have gained their high liveability ratings while having high, and now unsustainable, levels of resource consumption. Tue, 26 Oct 2010 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/pub_page/report_cities_who_decides.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/pub_page/report_cities_who_decides.html From population growth to climate change, the challenges facing Australia's cities are much talked about. Facing these challenges will involve making hard decisions. But very little attention is paid to how these decisions might be made. Jane-France Kelly discussed the issues raised in Grattan's report. Tue, 19 Oct 2010 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/pub_page/report_the_cities_we_need.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/pub_page/report_the_cities_we_need.html The most important characteristic of a city is whether it meets the needs of its residents, both material and psychological. Despite the fact that these needs are central to our lives, they are often at the periphery of conversations about the future of Australian cities. On Monday 28 June Grattan Institute released its report "The Cities We Need". Mon, 21 Jun 2010 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/event_markus.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/event_markus.html Grattan Institute hosted a discussion with Professor Markus to talk about the report's findings. The discussion focused on contemporary immigration and immigrants' experiences of connectedness, social justice, sense of belonging and worth. Tue, 01 Jun 2010 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/event_education_report_launch_25_may_2010.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/event_education_report_launch_25_may_2010.html Grattan Institute released their second education report on Monday 24 May 2010. Dr Ben Jensen, Program Director School Education presented a seminar about the report's findings. Tue, 25 May 2010 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/event_mcternan.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/event_mcternan.html After decades of decline, Chicago, Glasgow and Manchester are experiencing a renaissance. Different cities have different stories to tell. However, three ingredients are common across all these cities; people, pride and purpose. Thu, 13 May 2010 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/event_harmon.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/event_harmon.html What are the links between education and productivity? With the Australian school education system currently going through a major reform, Grattan Institute hosted a seminar which discussed the relationship between education and economic returns. Will the proposed education reforms make a difference to Australian productivity? Thu, 06 May 2010 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/event_cave.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/event_cave.html Over the past decade, water restrictions have been imposed in many Australian cities. There have also been significant investments to augment supplies, which are coming on-line. With the immediate risks to water security abating, there is now an opportunity to explore how delivery of water services could be improved in the future. Mon, 03 May 2010 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/event_energy_report_launch_28_april_2010.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/event_energy_report_launch_28_april_2010.html Grattan Institute released its public report "Restructuring the Australian Economy to Emit Less Carbon" on Thursday 22 April 2010. Using a detailed analysis of Australian industries' own data, the report concludes the proposed free permits being offered by the Federal Government under its carbon pricing scheme are unnecessary. The report also shows that adapting to a carbon price is less difficult than the structural adjustments as a result of tariff reduction, competition policy reforms and the introduction of the GST. John Daley, Grattan Institute's Chief Executive Officer, presented a seminar on Wednesday 28 April, outlining the key findings of the report and discussed the implications for Australian policy making. Wed, 28 Apr 2010 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/event_hepburn.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/event_hepburn.html Grattan Institute hosted a seminar on energy policy, with special guest Dr Cameron Hepburn. This seminar provided an opportunity for detailed discussion about climate change policy around the world, and what it means for Australia. We discussed the economics of various options for designing carbon pricing schemes. Thu, 25 Mar 2010 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/event_cisneros_cities.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/event_cisneros_cities.html State and Federal governments in the U.S. have grappled for decades with urban issues such as urban regeneration and affordable housing. As Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Urban Development in the Clinton Administration, Henry Cisneros was at the centre of these efforts. Mr Cisneros talked about the challenges facing urban areas in the U.S. today. Drawing on direct experience with the current White House team, he discussed the shape of the Obama Administration's new urban agenda. Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/event_hockey.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/event_hockey.html The Hon. Joe Hockey MP, Shadow Treasurer, spoke at Grattan Institute on Thursday 11 March 2010. His speech 'In Defence of Liberty' pursued the theme that as a nation we have not struck the right balance between individual freedoms and collectivism. This will be an influential contribution to a core issue of our times. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/event_measuring_what_matters.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/event_measuring_what_matters.html Grattan Institute is released its first public report "Measuring what matters: student progress" on Wednesday 27 January 2010, looking at the issue of measuring school performance. This issue is relevant to the Commonwealth government's launch of the "my school" website of school performance. Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/event_changing_social_needs.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/event_changing_social_needs.html Dr Geoff Mulgan, Director of the Young Foundation, is one of the world's leading experts on social and organisational innovation. Straight from ANZSOG, he gave a mid afternoon seminar for Grattan Institute, sharing his knowledge about social and organisational innovation, what it is and how to it can be applied in Australian cities. He discussed his current research on the changing social needs of society. Thu, 04 Feb 2010 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/event_political_polarisation.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/event_political_polarisation.html David Brady, Professor of Political Science and Leadership Values, and Deputy Director, Hoover Institution, Stanford University, will be beginning Grattan's 2010 events program, taking part in a Q and A seminar. His knowledge comes from a breadth of areas including public policy, women's movement and internet voting; making him well equipped to discuss political polarisation, and what Australia can learn from the United States. Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/event_usambassador.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/event_usambassador.html Grattan Institute invites you to hear the new US Ambassador, Jeffrey L. Bleich, in his first public appearance in Melbourne. He discussed the Australia-US relationship, and how President Obama plans to strengthen it into the future. Wed, 09 Dec 2009 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/event_governing_growing_cities.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/event_governing_growing_cities.html Australia is famously one of the most urbanised countries in the world, with our cities producing the bulk of GDP and jobs. Today our cities are on the front line of responding to climate change, and are projected to significantly increase in size. Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/event_pricing_carbon.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/event_pricing_carbon.html The United States, the European Union, and other developed nations, including Australia, are moving towards regimes to put a price on carbon emissions. Daniel Price addressed questions such as: Are shifts in location to avoid carbon emission costs likely? Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/event_garnaut.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/event_garnaut.html The economic distortions associated with arbitrary allocations of free emissions permits to trade exposed industries in Australia is just one part of a global story. Without an effective international approach, this will contribute to a breakdown of the WTO based global trading system. Professor Garnaut discussed the problem and the way out. Wed, 09 Sep 2009 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/event_mann.html http://www.grattan.edu.au/events/event_mann.html Prestigious US political commentator Thomas E. Mann was brought to Australia by the University of Melbourne as a 2009 Miegunyah Distinguished Visiting Fellow and spoke at the launch of Grattan Institute in April 2009. Wed, 01 Apr 2009 09:00:00 +1000