Seminars and Lectures 2019-20

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 2019–20

Title/Speaker	MP3/MP4
The Australian labour market—unpacking the ABS statistics Wednesday 26 February Presented by Bjorn Jarvis, head of the labour statistics program at the Australian Bureau of Statistics Slides: [PDF 1483KB]	MP3 58MB
Colonial frontier massacres Wednesday 12 February Presented by Professor Lyndall Ryan, Conjoint Professor in the School of Humanities and Social Science (History) at the University of Newcastle Notes: [PDF 327KB] Warning: readers and viewers might find this material disturbing	MP4 190MB
One year until the next presidential inauguration: What to expect from America in 2020 Thursday 6 February Presented by Kim Hoggard, Fellow, United States Studies Centre and former staffer for President Ronald Reagan and President George H.W. Bush; and Dr David Smith, Senior Lecturer in American Politics and Foreign Policy, United States Studies Centre and University of Sydney	MP4 100MB
The prerogative, the courts and article 9 of the Bill of Rights Thursday 28 November Presented by Professor Anne Twomey, University of Sydney Notes: [PDF 280KB]	MP4 190MB
Why Politics? Ambition and Ideals in Alfred Deakin's shifting political vocation Wednesday 27 November Presented by Emeritus Professor Judith Brett, Latrobe University Notes: [PDF 353KB]	MP4 160MB
Challenges for trust, fairness and regulators in an AI and algorithm-driven economy Thursday 17 October Presented by Peter Leonard, Professor of Practice at UNSW Business School (Information Systems and Business and Taxation Law); Principal of Data Synergies, a data commercialisation consultancy, and previously a foundation partner of national law firm Gilbert + Tobin. Notes: [PDF 240KB], Slides: [PDF 6MB]	MP4 230MB
Productivity — the main driver of living standards Wednesday 16 October Presented by Ralph Latimore, Executive Manager of the Canberra office of the Productivity Commission and Ben Dolman, Assistant Commissioner—Research at the Australian Government Productivity Commission	MP4 200MB
Political marketing and democracy Tuesday 15 October Presented by Associate Professor Jennifer Lees-Marshment, University of Auckland	MP4 140MB
Puzzles of a Prime Minister - Alfred Deakin Revealed Monday 14 October Presented by Dr David Headon	MP4 260MB
So much more than a Prime Minister–Andrew Fisher Thursday 10 October Presented by Dr David Headon	MP4 250MB
Declining trust in politics: what can be done about it? Tuesday 17 September Presented by Professor Ian McAllister and Professor Patrick Dumont	MP4 160MB MP3 38MB
Protecting and nurturing the role of the APS in serving the Government, the Parliament and the Australian Public: reflections on the APS Review Tuesday 10th September Presented by Professor Andrew Podger AO, Honorary Professor of Public Policy, Australian National University Notes: [PDF 420KB]	MP4 200MB MP3 56MB
Australia’s press freedom: how do we compare against international standards? Tuesday 23rd July Presented by Dr Julie Posetti	MP4 255MB