Liberalism in Question | CIS

Peter Costello on the Legacy of Reform and the Road Ahead

Watch here: https://youtu.be/ybqWLEwL28Y From economic reform and rising government spending to cultural shifts and the decline of liberalism, Costello reflects on the ideas that shaped the Howard years and what’s needed to renew them today.
👉 Support Sound Economic Research:🔹 Become a member:  https://www.cis.org.au/membership-2-step-1/ 🔹 Make a donation: https://www.cis.org.au/support/donate/today/ 🔹 Learn more: https://www.cis.org.au/ 
Peter Costello was elected to seven terms as a Member of the Australian House of Representatives and was Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Australia from March 1996 to December 2007, the longest term of any Treasurer in Australian history. Mr Costello delivered twelve federal budgets, including ten surpluses. During this period, Australia’s Sovereign Credit Rating was updated twice to its current AAA rating. Mr Costello set up Australia’s system of financial regulation establishing the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). He also established the Takeovers Panel.
In 2006, after the Government debt was eliminated in net terms, Mr Costello established the Australian Future Fund. From its original deposit, the Future Fund has grown to over $230 billion invested in diverse asset classes.
Mr Costello served as Chairman of the Future Fund from 2014-2024. Mr Costello has served on the IMF Committee and as Chairman of the Global Group of 20 Finance Ministers & Central Bankers (G-20).
After leaving politics in 2009, Mr Costello joined a number of international and domestic boards and was chair of the Independent Advisory Board to the World Bank.Mr Costello was Chairman of the Nine Entertainment Corporation from 2016-2024. NEC is the largest Australian-owned media company with television, radio, publishing and streaming operations.

The Erosion of Australian Values | Mark Leach

Listen to our new show, The Stutchbury Sessions on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM or listen on your browser.  Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/sv9pXQxa9bo
In this episode of Liberalism in Question, host Robert Forsyth engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Mark Leach, co-founder and CEO of "Never Again Is Now", on the rise of anti-Semitism in Australia, the erosion of Western liberal values, and the need for cultural renewal. They explore how anti-Semitism is a broader threat to Australian society, rooted in declining confidence in Western civilisation's core principles like individualism, equality, and pluralism.
👉 Relevant Research:
The Future of Australian Multiculturalism: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/the-future-of-australian-multiculturalism/ Fractured Loyalties. Australian citizenship and the crisis of civic virtue: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/fractured-loyalties-australian-citizenship-and-the-crisis-of-civic-virtue/ Reconciling value pluralism and national identity: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/the-ties-that-bind-reconciling-value-pluralism-and-national-identity-in-australia/ 
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Democracy’s Silent Guardian: Education | Trisha Jha

In this episode, Rob sits down with Trisha Jha, a policy analyst at the Centre for Independent Studies, to explore the relationship between liberalism and education. They discuss how liberal principles, like individual freedom, pluralism, and limited government, may require an educated population to survive. 
Trisha Jha is a Research Fellow in the Education program, where she leads a stream of work on the science of learning, as well as projects on school improvement and educational policy. Trisha has previously had roles as a secondary teacher, including through the Teach for Australia program, in state and independent schools in regional Victoria. She has also worked as a senior policy adviser to opposition leaders in Victoria.
She holds a Masters of Teaching with a specialisation in Research from Deakin University and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the Australian National University.
👉 More from Trisha Jha:Free Trade vs Tariffs: https://youtu.be/n69-4wdl5b0What is the Science of Learning? https://youtu.be/RjQ004yGsOo Learning Lessons. The future of small-group tutoring: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/learning-lessons-the-future-of-small-group-tutoring/ Implementing the Science of Learning: teacher experiences: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/implementing-the-science-of-learning-teacher-experiences/
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The Hidden Cost of Big Government | Robert Carling

Watch here: https://youtu.be/DgqdELXU4BI In this episode of Liberalism in Question from the Centre for Independent Studies, economist Robert Carling discusses the alarming rise in Australian government spending and its long-term consequences.
👉 More from Robert Carling: 🔹 Leviathan on the Rampage: Government spending growth a threat to Australia’s economic future: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/leviathan-on-the-rampage-how-the-growth-of-government-is-draining-australias-economic-vitality/ 🔹Government spending and inflation: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/government-spending-and-inflation/🔹The Truth About The Tax Burden: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/the-truth-about-the-tax-burden/
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National Identity vs Moral Diversity: Can Australia Hold Together? | Peter Kurti & Jude Blik

Watch here: https://youtu.be/9bFoGoxcuQY
When Peter Kurti published "The Ties That Bind: Reconciling Value Pluralism and National Identity in Australia", Jude felt compelled to disagree vehemently, though only in a rhetorical sense!  
“Australia’s multicultural democracy is under increasing pressure, not only from economic uncertainty but from the moral and cultural disagreements that have intensified in recent years. Deep cultural and moral diversity presents both remarkable opportunities and profound challenges for our national identity,” writes Peter. 
Jude’s response? When disagreements grow too intense, the state must eventually intervene and take sides. He warns of ‘the tyranny of the majority’, the danger that majority opinion in a democracy can suppress dissenting voices or infringe on the basic rights of minorities. So, what happens when illiberal opinions become the dominant norm? 
This is not a merely theoretical concern. We live in a time of growing social division. The war in Gaza, for example, has exposed rising levels of antisemitism in Australia which is seen by some as disturbingly close to the new normal. The mainstream media may even help to fuel these opinions in the way they report on global conflicts.
Earlier this year, the BBC admitted to airing a prime-time documentary narrated by the son of a Hamas terrorist leader. Our colleague Tom Switzer recently interviewed BBC journalist Tim Franks about this incident, broader questions of editorial bias and how journalists with strong opinions can still strive to report fairly.
So, what’s the answer?
Democracies thrive on healthy debate and a shared commitment to truth. If you're interested in Peter Kurti’s work on civil society and antisemitism, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to CIS: 👉 https://www.cis.org.au/support/donate/today/

The Freedom Trap: The Chains of Choice | Priyan Max Jeganathan

Watch Here: https://youtu.be/29qPdsxMHss “Freedom or death!” The rallying cry of revolutions, constitutions, and rights movements shaped the modern world — and liberalism was its architect. Built on the belief that individuals should be free to choose their paths, pursue their dreams, and speak their minds, liberalism became the moral and political foundation of the 20th century. But in the 21st, the definition of freedom is expanding — and straining. We seek freedom not just from tyranny, but from discomfort, constraint, and even contradiction. Liberalism promised liberty, but has it delivered too much choice — or the wrong kind? Has the pursuit of personal freedom begun to erode shared values, social cohesion, or even the self? Thucydides said, “The secret to happiness is freedom.” But is that still true — was it ever?Join Rob Forsyth and Priyan Max Jeganathan for this challenging discussion on the limits of freedom.
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Liberalism in Question features thought-provoking interviews with world experts in politics and culture from a Classical Liberal perspective. Subscribe here: https://liberalisminquestion.podbean.com/ 
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Grounded Liberty: Liberalism’s Moral Roots | Michael Bird

Watch here: https://youtu.be/-NaJolceTlIRobert Forsyth interviews Dr. Michael Bird, who reflects on the relationship between liberalism and Christianity. Bird acknowledges the strengths of liberalism—its emphasis on individual liberty, pluralism, and democratic governance—but warns that when liberalism becomes detached from its Christian moral and philosophical roots, it risks undermining the very values it seeks to uphold.
He argues that a purely secular liberalism can drift into relativism or moral vacuity, leaving society vulnerable to fragmentation. For liberal democracy to thrive, Bird suggests, it must remain tethered to a deeper moral vision—one that Christianity has historically provided.
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Subscribe to all our shows: 
Liberalism in Question features thought-provoking interviews with world experts in politics and culture from a Classical Liberal perspective. Subscribe here: https://liberalisminquestion.podbean.com/ 
The CIS Research Collection delivers our research papers in an audio format so that you can listen to them on the go. Subscribe here: https://cisresearch.podbean.com/ 
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The science of learning will set students free | Glenn Fahey

Watch now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRlHwPrD850Robert Forsyth interviews Glenn Fahey, director of the education program at the Centre for Independent Studies (CIS), who explores why a classical liberal think tank is deeply engaged in education policy. Fahey argues that education is the great enabler of freedom—central to the classical liberal vision of a society where individuals can shape their own lives. He explains that without access to high-quality education, people are denied the knowledge and skills necessary to participate in the economy, civic life, and democratic decision-making. Glenn Fahey also discusses the science of learning and how society is slowly getting back to evidence-based education approaches.
Subscribe to all our shows: Liberalism in Question features thought-provoking interviews with world experts in politics and culture from a Classical Liberal perspective. Subscribe here: https://liberalisminquestion.podbean.com/ 
The CIS Research Collection delivers our research papers in an audio format so that you can listen to them on the go. Subscribe here: https://cisresearch.podbean.com/ What You Need to Know About delivers concise insights from CIS experts, breaking down complex topics like policy, economics, and societal challenges. Subscribe here: https://whatyouneedtoknowabout.podbean.com/ 
CIS Events Experience: From the studios of CIS our events team brings you engaging discussions from our live events, featuring lectures, panel discussions, and conversations with leading experts: https://cisevents.podbean.com/

In Defence of Jordan Peterson | Rohan McHugh

Watch here: https://youtu.be/o6TVilPFQxo Robert Forsyth speaks with Rohan McHugh, who contends that the liberal tradition’s “contest of ideas” — though vital for intellectual refinement — does not conflict with the enduring boundaries that have sustained Western civilization for millennia. These boundaries have been upheld by long-standing institutions and validated by their outcomes. While the classical liberal model deserves affirmation, McHugh argues it should be recognized as incomplete, especially when treated as a rigid framework that excludes metaphysical foundations. As American founding father John Adams famously stated, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
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Subscribe to all our shows: 
Liberalism in Question features thought-provoking interviews with world experts in politics and culture from a Classical Liberal perspective. Subscribe here: https://liberalisminquestion.podbean.com/  
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Liberalism in the Shadows: The Intellectual Dark Web and the Struggle for Free Thought | Jamie Q. Roberts

Watch here: https://youtu.be/9kHg5sDRbHE
In this episode, we delve into the controversial world of the Intellectual Dark Web (IDW) with guest Jamie Q. Roberts, a political theorist and commentator on digital discourse and dissent. We unpack the origins of the IDW, a loose network of academics, commentators, and public intellectuals who challenge mainstream narratives on culture, politics, and identity. Roberts explores how the IDW gained traction online, its appeal to audiences disillusioned with traditional institutions, and the tensions it reveals within liberal democratic societies. From free speech debates to culture wars, Joe Rogan to Sam Harris, we examine the influence and contradictions of this online movement—and what its rise tells us about the state of public intellectual life in the digital age.Roberts’ book: https://www.amazon.com.au/Intellectual-Dark-Web-History-Possible-ebook/dp/B0DYNPVKGJ 👉 Help promote sound economics:
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Subscribe to all our shows: Liberalism in Question features thought-provoking interviews with world experts in politics and culture from a Classical Liberal perspective. Subscribe here: https://liberalisminquestion.podbean.com/ 
The CIS Research Collection delivers our research papers in an audio format so that you can listen to them on the go. Subscribe here: https://cisresearch.podbean.com/ What You Need to Know About delivers concise insights from CIS experts, breaking down complex topics like policy, economics, and societal challenges. Subscribe here: https://whatyouneedtoknowabout.podbean.com/ 
CIS Events Experience: From the studios of CIS our events team brings you engaging discussions from our live events, featuring lectures, panel discussions, and conversations with leading experts: https://cisevents.podbean.com/