The McKell Institute

Last night I had the great honour of addressing The Sydney Institute on behalf of The McKell Institute alongside the ever-formidable Tony Grey. Tony and I presented our divergent views on the prospect of nuclear for Australia and the state of the current renewables rollout. The best evidence and recent experience suggest that nuclear energy is inordinately expensive, fraught with uncertainty, and fundamentally incompatible with the future structure of our grid. For Australia to embrace nuclear at this point in time, and at this point in our economic development, would see us swimming against the global energy policy tide and be a blatant act of economic and environmental self-sabotage. While Tony and I didn't see eye-to-eye on the evidence, it was a real treat to share a long-form, thoughtful, and rational discussion on what will be one of the big issues come the next election. Full remarks here: https://lnkd.in/giwYiRRK Recording with Q&A here: https://lnkd.in/gEQAp6J6

WATCH — McKell Institute's Max Douglass addressed The Sydney Institute this week, offering his clear-eyed economic assessment of the barriers to nuclear energy in Australia. https://lnkd.in/g78NhHbC

"The 'A Better Deal: Fixing Tasmania's Broken Public Transport System' report by progressive think-tank McKell Institute described it as having patronage in "terminal decline" with "no meaningful investment" in decades, and found Tasmania's existing bus network failed to adequately service areas of greatest need." Max Douglass' recent report on Tasmania's public transport woes frames this ABC feature on the Rockliff government's transport policy. https://lnkd.in/g9mxt8kK

Ahead of Northern Territory's August 24 election, Chief Minister Eva Lawler and CLP Leader Lia Finocchiaro squared off in the first leaders debate this week. McKell Institute SA/NT Executive Director Dr Gemma Beale with the key takeaways: https://lnkd.in/dyaJw6Cj

Today we welcomed NSW Health Minister Ryan Park back to The McKell Institute for a comprehensive discussion about the challenges facing the state's health system and the Minister's reform approach in one of Australia's most complex and consequential portfolios. Thank you Wade McMonagle, Emma St Clair-Pearce and everyone at AbbVie for your support of today's event.

Nice to be back in Melbourne for today’s The McKell Institute discussion with Federal Assistant Minister for Health & Aged Care, Ged Kearney. Thanks to Licardo Prince for helping out on hosting duties and Anacta for kindly sponsoring.

Earlier this year, McKell's Ed Cavanough addressed the Sydney Institute, arguing in favour of the Federal Government's gig-work reform agenda. Too many workers in the gig economy are being underpaid and have been injured and even lost their lives at work. Flexible working models are important in a modern economy, but flexibility cannot come at the expense of safety, fair pay, and support when things go wrong.

Great The McKell Institute discussion today with NSW Climate Change, Energy, Environment & Heritage Minister, Hon. Penny Sharpe, on the NSW Government's energy and environment agenda. The Minister described the path forward on NSW's energy transition, environmental protection — and even seahorse and platypus preservation! Thanks to Naomi Bergman and the entire team at Allens for kindly hosting.

Overnight, I was included in the Kremlin’s sanctions list, alongside 26 other Australians, as a result of having advocated for our Australian Government to do more in support of Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts. The Russian Government’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine is illegal, immoral, and incredibly destructive. It is condemned by many Russian citizens — those inside the country, and those forced into exile. As a result of the Kremlin’s unprovoked aggression, the people and government of Ukraine are facing an immense reconstruction effort, the cost of which is estimated to already be over A$750 billion. I believe that Australians within government, business and civil society have an ongoing role to play in condemning the conflict, but also in practically supporting the reconstruction in the years ahead. This role includes advocating for Australia to meaningfully contribute to that effort, as well as providing a forum for Ukrainian voices to describe the horrors and consequences of the conflict to Australian audiences, as the McKell Institute has done. No Australian individual or organisation should be intimidated into silence by any foreign government. https://lnkd.in/gXuKzMT6

The NSW Government announced a record investment into social housing, echoing the recommendations made by the McKell Institute in our pre-budget submission. You can find out more here: https://lnkd.in/g2_mvPW8