2012-2013

Vital Issues Seminars and Parliamentary Library Lectures by year

The Vital Issues Program is a series of seminars organised by the Parliamentary Library for the benefit of Senators and Members. The aim of the seminar program is to bring notable speakers to the Parliament to give Senators, Members and their staff the opportunity to hear, first hand, expert opinion on a range of currently relevant topics.

Seminars held during 2012–13

Title/Speaker/Chair	MP3/MP4
The US Presidential Election: some preliminary thoughts Speaker: Dr John Hart, Reader in Political Science, Australian National University Chair: Judy Hutchinson 28 November 2012 Powerpoint presentation	MP3 55.9MB MP4 236MB
Is inequality increasing or decreasing? Speakers: Professor Peter Whiteford, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Powerpoint presentation Associate Professor Roger Wilkins, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, University of Melbourne Powerpoint presentation Chair: Senator Rachel Seiwert 10 October 2012	MP3 59.7MB MP4 229MB
Australia and modern slavery: national, regional and global perspectives Speaker: Dr Anne Gallagher AO Chair: Dr Dianne Heriot 19 September 2012
Extracting innovation from digital gridlock: how Australian copyright law is stifling innovation, what it’s costing and how to fix it Speaker: Dr Nicholas Gruen Chair: Dr Dianne Heriot 12 September 2012 Powerpoint presentation	MP3 55.6MB
The imperative for fundamental aged care reform: problems, solutions, and the benefits for older people and carers Speaker: Professor Hal Kendig, University of Sydney Chair: Dr Dianne Heriot 22 August 2012 Powerpoint presentation	MP3 54.6MB MP4 232MB
White Paper on Australia and the Asian Century Speaker: Emeritus Professor Peter Drysdale AO, Australian National University Chair: Judy Hutchinson 16 August 2012 Powerpoint presentation Presentation notes [PDF 108KB]	MP3 52.7MB MP4 225MB
Cyber security Speaker: Mike Burgess, First Assistant Secretary Cyber and Information Security, Defence Signals Directorate Chair: Dr Dianne Heriot 15 August 2012	MP3 15.3MB