Centre for Policy Development's Blog, page 63

Politics in the pub | TONIGHT, Sydney, 6pm

O’Farrell’s unprecedented cuts to the public sector – jobs & services under threat

 

- Anne Gardner, Public Service Association NSW

- Christopher Stone research director, public service program, Centre for Policy Development

 

WHERE

The Gaelic Club

64 Devonshire Street, Sydney, Australia 2010

View map · Get directions


WHEN

6PM 20 September

 

Larvatus Prodeo | 16 & 19 September 2013

Blogging on: Pushing our luck… 

With the launch of CPD’s new book Pushing our luck editor Miriam Lyons MC’d a panel discussion with Professor John Quiggin, Mark Bahnisch and Jesse “sweary website” Richardson.

Pushing our luck is full of ideas that focus on long term policy for building a better society from a range of expert authors.

“An excellent event. Panelists and Mark were on good form.”

Jesse Richardson, creator of that ‘sweary’ website in the lead up to the 2013 election shared his thoughts from the panel discussion on Larvatus Prodeo. He explains how smart ideas such as those in Pushing our luck need to be spread using a creative approach in order to reach people.

“Ideas such as those put forward in this book are vital for progressive politics, and now is the perfect time for us to be championing such ideas; but realistically very few politically disengaged swinging voters are going to read it. However, that’s not to say that the ideas, research, insight and wisdom that went into writing it are irrelevant to them. It just means that we need to take great ideas like these, spread them among the progressive movement, and find ways to communicate them that will cut through, resonate and stick in people’s minds.”

Read Jesse’s thoughts from the panel discussion

Miriam Lyons guest post at Larvatus Prodeo

Pictures from the event at Avid Reader’s Facebook

4CA 846 AM – Cairns Radio | 20 August 2013

Miriam Lyons talks plain sense.

Executive director Miriam Lyons was interviewed by Laurie Atlas on The Daily Agenda. Miriam introduces Laurie to the Centre for Policy Development’s values and goals. They discuss Tony Abbott’s paid parental leave, budget deficit, the job market and the need for a hard look at future policy for Australia.

“Often they get people on those sorts of shows whether they be The Drum or Lateline…especially on Sky where they have so much time to fill, and they’re always so very bi-partisan and they’re either left or they’re right on every single issue and they very rarely get someone who just talks plain sense, so congratulations on that”

Part One

http://cpd.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/4CA-846-AM-Cairns-PGM-1.mp3

Part Two

http://cpd.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/4CA-846-AM-Cairns-PGM-2.mp3

 

Short-term thinking cannot address Australia’s long-term dilemmas – Help us look further ahead!

 

 

Investing in agriculture’s future | CPD case studies report | DISCUSSION PAPER

CPD case studies inform sustainable food summit

Public policy think tank Global Access Partners holds its annual growth summit each September in the Parliament House of a hosting state for a select audience of senior executives from academia, the public and private sectors. This year’s Summit, to be held in at NSW Parliament House, will focus on food sustainability, international food markets and agriculture.

The Summit will discuss the economic contribution of Australian agriculture to domestic and international markets; the scope for further growth while ensuring sustainability; trade policy; infrastructure and the impact of long-distance food transportation; the commercialisation of Australian produce, investment in long-term agricultural R&D; and policies to support sustainable farming and improvements in soil condition and irrigation schemes.

New CPD researcher Richard Northcott has interviewed numerous agricultural practitioners from several states about their choice of farming methodologies, and how these have impacted their properties’ performance and profitability. The case studies will be distributed to summit participants, and supplied to specialist media outlets.

This report follows Laura Eadie’s recent Developing the North fact sheet, which analyses this populist policy idea in the context of evidence.

Download Investing in agriculture’s future

 

AEGN 2013 Annual Conference | 29-31 October, Melbourne

Capacity in this critical decade

The Australian Environmental Gr

urves and Michelle Grady. They will discuss what challenges and issues the environment faces and how can philanthropy address them?antmakers Network is holding their 2013 Annual Conference in Melbourne. This year CPD’s executive director Miriam Lyons will be joining an expert panel on ‘Politics, policy and environmental philanthropy‘ along with Rob P

“We often hear that we are in the critical decade for the health and future of our environment and the systems it supports. But are we ready for the opportunities this presents? Who are our eNGO partners and are they equipped to take on this decade? Do we have the leadership required to take us on this journey?”

W HERE

Treetops, Melbourne Museum

WHEN

Tuesday 29 – Thursday 31 October 2013

DETAILS & REGISTRATION

AEGN 2013 Annual Conference

*Please note this event is for grantmakers, not open public

Progress 2013 | Melbourne 7-8 November

Discuss new and daring ideas for our country’s future.

Progress 2013 7-8 Nov | Melbourne

This year’s Progress event will host inspirational speakers who offer wisdom and insight into key challenges facing Australia.

The conference provides a chance to learn new campaign skills and build partnerships spanning across issues and sectors. Speakers include National Field Director of Obama for America Jeremy Bird, World Vision Australia CEO Tim Costello and Louise Tarrant, National Secretary for United Voice.

“Progress 2013 is the pivotal event for leaders, campaigners, and thinkers who believe in a fairer and more forward-looking Australia. Together, we will think, learn, and collaborate around our collective task of building a better society.”

WHERE

Melbourne Town Hall

WHEN

Thursday 7 and Friday 8, November, 2013. 7:30am – 6pm. 

CONTACT

info@progress2013.org.au

ADMISSION:

Register at progress2013.org.au

Tickets will increase in cost as the event gets closer, and are expected to sell out. Limited scholarship and discounted tickets available.

Progress 2013 is an initiative of the Centre for Australian Progress

The Conversation | 5 September 2013

Getting past Gonski: school equity beyond the election

Inequity in our education system is worsening, with advantaged students attending advantaged schools, and leaving the disadvantaged worse off. In this excerpt from their Pushing our luck chapter ‘Getting past Gonski: every child deserves a good school’, Jane Caro and Chris Bonnor outline the problems and ask for a solution.

“Greater funding, if carefully applied, can shift the achievement, enrolment profile and image of these schools. Certainly the evidence shows that such an investment can make a difference to student achievement. The investment and achievement is essential to entice middle class families back to their local schools.”

Without change however, this inequity will at some point outrun even the solutions proposed by the Gonski review of school funding.

Read more at The Conversation

Support Pushing our luck on StartSomeGood.com

The Greens Caring for our soil | 30 August 2013

Investing in a soil health strategy…

A new initiative from The Greens aims to protect Australia’s agricultural productivity from soil degradation. ‘Caring for our soil. Investing in a soil health strategy’ outlines their plans on how to invest in the agricultural industry which will help fund and drive innovative progress in farming techniques that will also help cut back on water use and fertiliser costs. This policy is based on a key recommendation from CPD’s 2012 report Farming smarter, not harder by Laura Eadie and Christopher Stone.

“”By investing in the delivery of regenerative agricultural practices, we can deliver strong financial returns for farmers as well as providing environmental benefits. The CPD found that acting now to improve soil condition could increase wheat production by up to $2.1 billion per year.”

Read more on The Greens website or download the report Investing in a Soil Health Strategy

Find out about Farming smarter, not harder

 

Change can happen faster than you think – help us seize the moment and point to the alternatives. Add your voice to ours!

The Greens | 30 August 2013

The Greens new initiative: Caring for our soil.

A new initiative from The Greens aims to protect Australia’s agricultural productivity from soil degradation. ‘Caring for our soil. Investing in a soil health strategy’ outlines their plans on how to invest in the agricultural industry which will help fund and drive innovative progress in farming techniques that will also help cut back on water use and fertiliser costs. This policy is based on a key recommendation from CPD’s 2012 report Farming smarter, not harder by Laura Eadie and Christopher Stone.

“”By investing in the delivery of regenerative agricultural practices, we can deliver strong financial returns for farmers as well as providing environmental benefits. The CPD found that acting now to improve soil condition could increase wheat production by up to $2.1 billion per year.”

Read more on The Greens website or download the report Investing in a Soil Health Strategy

Find out about Farming smarter, not harder

 

Change can happen faster than you think – help us seize the moment and point to the alternatives. Add your voice to ours!

2013 Festival of Ideas | Melbourne 1-6 October

The Art and Science of Wellbeing.
2013 Festival of Ideas

The University of Melbourne is hosting the 2013 Festival of Ideas. Miriam Lyons, CPD’s executive director, will be presenting along with a diverse array of speakers such as Kathy Lette, Mark Scott and Professor Marcia Langton.

“The Festival of Ideas is designed to capture and express the unique ability of the higher education sector to contribute to our national and global conversations. Encompassing the broad themes of “The Art and Science of Wellbeing,” the 2013 Festival will bring thought provoking presentations, discussions, debates and special events to Melbourne in October 2013.  A source of dynamic discussion for you!”

WHERE

University of Melbourne, Victoria

WHEN

Tuesday 1 and Sunday 6, October, 2013. 

CONTACT

ideas-info@unimelb.edu.au

ADMISSION:

Ticketing and full program to be released in September