Past Events
What’s happening in the US?
Biden’s first six months in office
Join Professor Simon Jackman
and AFR’s Jennifer Hewett
in conversation
Wednesday 18 August 2021
Biden is thinking big - but what has he delivered?
Biden and his team appear to have delivered a sense of normality; almost half the adult population has been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and the economy seems to be roaring back, although still about 7 million jobs short of where it was in January 2020.
While Biden's "American Rescue Plan" delivered an enormous US$1.9 trillion stimulus to the economy and also strengthened the social welfare safety net, there is much more to do and so much at stake. This includes repairing relations with China, reviewing Trump's immigration policies and his tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy, prioritising voting rights by setting minimum standards for voting, acting on climate change, addressing racial equity, and dealing with the Republican Party as well as hostile forces in his own party.
On Wednesday 18 August 2021, Professor Simon Jackman, CEO, United States Studies Centre and Jennifer Hewett, National Affairs Columnist with the Australian Financial Review, joined us for a robust and insightful conversation on what’s happening in the US since Biden’s election.
Dr Geoff Raby AO and Jennifer Wong on our relationship with China, inside and out
Thursday 15 April 2021
Rarely does a day go by without media comments on our tenuous relationship with China. Despite an 80 per cent tariff on Australian barley for the next five years and disruptions to our exports of coal, meat, wine and shellfish, we remain by necessity major trading partners, mainly for minerals from Australia and manufactured goods from China. However, the Chinese hand has been well and truly declared.
Dr Geoff Raby AO has spent 35 years analysing, advising and doing business with China. He was a diplomat in Beijing in the mid to late 1980s, Australia’s ambassador to China from 2007 to 2011, and a contributing writer to the Australian Financial Review’s opinion pages for the past seven years. We were delighted to have Geoff join us for a timely and engaging discussion, and share his strategic insights on our very important but incredibly challenging relationship with China. Jennifer Wong, highly acclaimed writer, performer, comedian and culture leader, facilitated the conversation.
Peter FitzSimons AM and Prof Jenny Hocking on the Palace Letters
Tuesday 16 February 2021
The Palace Letters tell the story of our past, but what does this mean for the future?
Professor Jenny Hocking fought a ten-year campaign and a four-year legal battle to get access to the “Palace Letters”, 211 pieces of correspondence between Buckingham Palace and Sir John Kerr (governor-general at the time) which led to the deeply controversial dismissal of the Whitlam Government in late 1975. The heart of the issue here is national independence and a recent poll by the Australian Republic Movement shows 62% of Australians want a republic.
Leading commentator and author, Peter FitzSimons AM and political scientist, historian and author, Professor Jenny Hocking, led a broad-ranging discussion on nationalism, politics, democracy and the way forward.
Read more here.
ZALI STEGGALL OAM MP ON CLIMATE CHANGE
Thursday 19 November 2020
The recent bushfires, drought and extreme weather, and the findings of the recent Royal Commission, have confirmed Australia's deep vulnerability to the impacts of climate change. While committed to the Paris Agreement and its objective to hold global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, more than a decade of political "climate wars" have prevented the emergence of a national plan to significantly reduce emissions and address the growing risks of a warming planet.
On 9 November 2020, the Federal Member for Warringah, Zali Steggall OAM MP, introduced into the Australian Parliament the first-ever climate legislation that would put Australia on a pathway to net-zero emissions by 2050. This Bill follows hot on the heels of net-zero commitments from some of Australia's major trading partners - China, Japan and South Korea, and the election of a new US President who will commit the world's biggest historical emitter to the same target.
Zali shared memorable moments of her political career, winning Tony Abbott’s former seat of Warringah as an independent, her new Climate Change Bill, and how she intends to overcome the ongoing Australian political stasis on climate, in discussion with Dr Dean Bialek, former Australian diplomat at the UN and lead negotiator of the Paris Agreement. Dean is also a member of the Sydney Salon Board of Directors and its Advisory Council.
Bruce Wolpe, US Studies Centre
and Pamela Williams, AFR on The most important presidential election
in US history
Thursday 15 October 2020
The US has been engulfed in civil unrest, a deadly pandemic, strained diplomatic relations, a declining economy, disinformation campaigns and the extreme effects of climate change. During the past four years, leadership has been dysfunctional, inconsistent, racist, amateurish and often unbelievable. Will the American system re-elect a president who openly scoffs at democracy, encourages political violence and election interference, asks voters to vote twice, and revels in corruption and ignorance? The stakes were even higher than they were in 2016. While every presidential election matters, some have far-reaching consequences. This election will determine whether the US will be fundamentally altered, and if its commitment to democratic government will survive.
In our first face to face Sydney Salon event for 2020, Bruce Wolpe, Senior Fellow at the United States Studies Centre, and Pam Williams, investigative reporter and writer-at-large at the Australian Financial Review, provided their insights on the Trump-Biden contest, and what either outcome would mean for the US, Australia and the world.
Carl Hoffman, author of Liar's Circus: A riveting and terrifying journey
into the heart of Trumpland
Tuesday 22 September 2020
This was an extraordinary conversation with Carl, live from Washington DC on Zoom, facilitated by Piers Grove. It provided some amazing, although quite concerning insights into the man many thought would win a second term as US President, Donald Trump.
Carl Hoffman has written about the most dangerous and remote corners of the world. His most recent book, Liar's Circus, which was published in September 2020, is a wildly entertaining road trip exploring the MAGA rallies, and has been described as trenchant, surprising and profound. Trump held over 550 ticketed campaign events between 2015 and 2020, and these rallies are acknowledged as the pressurised, combustible core of Trump's political power - a meeting of the faithful where Trump is unshackled and delivers the most extreme rhetoric, with downstream consequences for the rest of the nation. In 2019, Carl embedded himself in the Trump rallies, stood in line for days with crowds of supporters, travelled from Minnesota to Texas to Mississippi interviewing hundreds of attendees, and experienced their surreal culture; all the while seeking to understand the strange and powerful tribe that forms the President's supporter base.
Louise Herron AM, Kim McKay AO & Michael Dagostino on How we will reinvest in the Arts post Covid19
Thursday 25 June 2020
How we reinvest in the Arts says a lot about the type of community we hope will emerge post Covid19. This Salon looked at the impact of the decisions we make and also the role the Arts can play in lifting us up as a community, following the devastating events of 2020, in conversation with Louise Herron AM, CEO of Sydney Opera House and Michael Dagostino, Director of Campbelltown Arts Centre, moderated by Kim McKay AO, Director & CEO of Australian Museum, and co-founder of Sydney Salon.
Australia has been ravaged by bushfires and floods, the US has been engulfed in violent turmoil, and the world has been in lockdown to avoid a deadly infectious pandemic, paralysing the global economy. Are there parallels to the wartime era to guide us out of this morass? Following WWII, Austria chose to restore the Vienna State Opera House as a priority. Together with major events such as the first Edinburgh International Festival and the first Avignon Festival in 1947, these actions set a new tone for post-war Europe and helped revive its communities and the economy.
In Australia in 2020, arts venues have been closed and many arts companies left to fend for themselves, without early or adequate government support. Many won't survive. How we reinvest in these venues and companies, and how we leverage the Arts to lead a renewal of our society, will say a lot about the type of community we want to emerge from the Covid19 crisis.
Peter Greste, Lenore Taylor & Senator Sarah Hanson-Young on integrity in journalism
Thursday 21 November 2019
Australian newspapers redacted their front pages in 2019, as part of a campaign by Australia’s Right to Know coalition to protest against moves by successive federal governments to penalise whistleblowing, and in some cases, criminalise journalism. In addition to this, journalism is under threat all over the world.
Integrity in journalism is so incredibly important. Without it, what do we have? The Sydney Salon hosted some of the best speakers to discuss this critical topic; former Al Jazeera journalist, Peter Greste, Guardian Australia's Editor Lenore Taylor and Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, who was conducting a Senate inquiry into press freedom at the time.
In an age where facts are subjective, fake news abounds, and the loudest voice with the deepest pockets often wins, the speakers and Salon attendees explored how we find integrity in journalism and how we can practice integrity in an industry that is facing such immense pressure from every side.
dr Luke Slattery phd: An Epicurus feast of ideas. How much is too much?
And just because we can, should we?
Monday 23 September 2019
After 27 years of almost uninterrupted economic growth, Australians have become some of the most prosperous people on Earth. However, as we become wealthier and consume more and more, should we pause and consider how much is too much? What are the implications of runaway consumption for the planet and for our well-being?
The Sydney Salon welcomed author and journalist, Dr Luke Slattery PhD, to draw upon the ancient wisdom of Epicurus to help us answer the ultimate question - just because we can, should we?
Dr Luke Slattery PhD is an author, journalist and literary critic. He teaches at the University of Technology Sydney and is an honorary associate of Sydney University's School of Social and Philosophical Inquiry. Luke has been published widely in Australian media, and internationally in The Los Angeles Times, The London Spectator, The Times Literary Supplement, The New Yorker and the US Chronicle of Higher Education. Luke served as higher education editor at The Australian, The Age and Australian Financial Review, and has been the recipient of the Higher Education Journalist of the Year Award, the European Union Journalist Award and the Australian Council's Keating Writing Scholarship in Paris.
Bill Ferris AC and Professor Steve Maguire on ‘Innovation nation or not?’
Tuesday 27 August 2019
Australia has just lost its long-held spot among the world’s top 20 most innovative nations, and is now 22nd in the latest Global Innovation Index. Bill Ferris AC, a keynote speaker at the AFR Innovation Summit in 2019, discussed what innovation really means and why it is critical to Australia’s future, in conversation with the University of Sydney’s Steve Maguire. They touched on whether Australia will face a positive outlook or a slow decline as forecast in Australia’s Roadmap to 2060, a report prepared by CSIRO, and Bill’s own 2018 report Australia 2030: Prosperity through Innovation. Bill shared tales from the trenches of private equity and engaged with the audience on a wide range of issues.
Bill Ferris AC was the inaugural Chair of Innovation and Science Australia (ISA) an independent statutory authority responsible for providing strategic whole-of-government advice on science, research and innovation matters. In January 2018 ISA released “Australia 2030: Prosperity through Innovation”, a national roadmap for action to strengthen Australia’s innovation performance and help put Australia on track to be a top-tier innovation nation by 2030.
Professor Steve Maguire joined the University of Sydney Business School in January 2019 as the School's first Fellow of Multidisciplinary Innovation and a Professor of Strategy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship. He comes from McGill University in Montreal Canada, where he built an important hub of multidisciplinary research and teaching program focused on sustainability, social innovation and entrepreneurship.
Kate McClymont on Life, Crime and Obeid
Thursday 30 May 2019
We were intrigued and delighted to listen to the amazing stories from Australia's most awarded journalist, Kate McClymont, investigative crime reporter extraordinaire with the Sydney Morning Herald, including her experiences with Eddie Obeid, a retired Australian politician and convicted criminal. Kate was interviewed by leading business and current affairs presenter, Helen Dalley, formerly with Network Nine and SkyNews, and appeared courtesy of Claxton Speakers International. What more can we say – this was definitely an event where you needed to be there!
Kate McClymont is an investigative journalist with The Sydney Morning Herald. She is a seven-time winner of journalism’s most prestigious award, the Walkley, including the Gold Walkley. She was named the 2012 NSW Journalist of the Year for her investigations into the fraudulent activities of Michael Williamson, the Head of the Health Services Union and the business activities of former NSW Labor minister, Eddie Obeid. In 2017 she was inducted in the Media Hall of Fame for her contribution to the industry.
Federal Election Special 2019: Dr Kerryn Phelps AM MP, Peter Hartcher, Tom Switzer and Trent Zimmerman MP, facilitated by Dr John Hewson AM.
Monday 29 April 2019
Prior to the 2019 Federal Election, Sydney Salon hosted a blockbuster event with Dr Kerryn Phelps, AM MP, Peter Hartcher, Tom Switzer and Trent Zimmerman MP, facilitated by Dr John Hewson AM. This event was sold out early, and in a rather crowded room (pre Covid of course) John led a very lively and of course, politically charged discussion with the audience and panel, while we enjoyed wine, cheese and antipasto.
You can read more about the speakers here.
Sam Mostyn, Andrew Charlton and Lachlan Harris on the rise of populism
Thursday 29 November 2018
Populism has reshaped the status quo in liberal democracies all over the world, and the fundamental operating model of Australian politics is breaking down. Serious reforms such as climate change initiatives are hard to get over the line, and support is growing for the more ideological parties, including One Nation and the Greens.
Does populism have a valid place in our democracy? Sam Mostyn, Andrew Charlton and Lachlan Harris led a robust discussion on the rise of populism, including what it means for Australia and the world.
Sam Mostyn is one of Australia’s most influential and highly regarded non-executive directors in business, sport, the environment, arts and culture.
Dr Andrew Charlton is a director and co-founder of AlphaBeta Advisors, previously with Wesfarmers in corporate strategy and operations, and senior economic advisor to former prime minister Kevin Rudd from 2008 to 2010.
Lachlan Harris is a successful entrepreneur and co-founder of One Big Switch, a BRW Top 10 Start Up, which is now one of the world's largest consumer campaign platforms.
Together they explored the role of populism in the future of Australian democracy. You can read more about the speakers here.