When it comes to solving the biggest national problems, a bit of courage leaves political caution for dead. Now’s not the time for politeness.

On this episode, Paul Barclay talks with the Australia Institute’s climate and energy research director, Polly Hemming. There’s no chance of solving Australia’s biggest challenges—inequality and poverty, environmental destruction, climate change and political disillusionment—if leaders aren’t willing to make big decisions and, as Hemming puts it, ‘stop doing bad stuff’.

This discussion was recorded on Tuesday, 18 February 2025, and things may have changed since the recording.

Order What’s the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website.

Guest: Polly Hemming, Director of Climate & Energy Program, the Australia Institute // @pollyjhemming

Host: Paul Barclay, Walkley Award winning journalist and broadcaster // @PaulBarclay

Show notes

Offsetting Us Up To Fail: The myths of ‘nature markets’ explained by Richard Denniss and Polly Hemming, the Australia Institute (November 2022)

Ending child poverty in Australia by Kristen Scicluna, Jack Thrower, and Greg Jericho, the Australia Institute (June 2024)

Pay up: Australians say it’s time big polluters paid for the damage they do to the environment, the Australia Institute (November 2024)

Securing transparency and diversity in political finance by Bill Browne and Benjamin Walters, the Australia Institute (November 2023)

Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions

We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.

Support What's the Big Idea?: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have restricted export industries in the past.

Australia is a rich country that can afford anything that is a priority. Dispelling myths about our economy helps Australians make choices about what kind of country we want to be.

On this episode Dr Richard Denniss joins Paul Barclay to discuss the importance of truth in democracy, the myths that mining is Australia’s economic ‘backbone’ and that Australia can’t ‘afford’ nice things, and how making you feel powerless is part of the strategy of the powerful.

This discussion was recorded on Thursday 30 January 2025 and things may have changed since the recording.

Order What’s the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website.

Guest: Dr Richard Denniss, Executive Director, the Australia Institute // @richarddenniss

Host: Paul Barclay, Walkley Award winning journalist and broadcaster // @PaulBarclay

Show notes:

Australia’s small mining industry, the Australia Institute (December 2024)

Australia’s gas policy mess, the Australia Institute (December 2024)

Fossil fuel subsidies in Australia 2025 by Matt Grudnoff and Rod Campbell, the Australia Institute (March 2025)

We can, in fact, have nice things, Follow the Money (October 2024)

Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions

We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.

Support What's the Big Idea?: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is no shortage of solutions for the biggest problems Australia faces — only a shortage of bravery to implement them.

Host Paul Barclay asks contributors to Australia Institute Press' first book about their big picture thinking on how we can change Australia for the better, in this new limited series podcast.

Support What's the Big Idea?: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.