A Big Dialogue: Can Australia Tax Its Way To Prosperity?

The aim of argument, or of discussion, should not be victory, but progress. (J Joubert)

The Vice-Chancellor’s Centre of Public Ideas, University of Canberra, in association with Australian Dialogues, presents a public dialogue event to bring together a panel of differing experts and a diverse general audience, as a demonstration of the kind of better public discussion needed to progress tax reform.

Everyone wants a fair and efficient system. To most if not all, fairness means a system that rewards effort while ensuring that contributions are also calibrated with the taxpayer's means. Putting that into practice, however, can lead to much contention. The best means of achieving efficiency, on the other hand, lends itself to a high level of expert agreement. Many say: “we know what to do, we just need the political will to do it”.

Nonetheless, tax reform still seems to mean fundamentally different things to different people, who are often talking to like-minded people in separate echo chambers.

This event, like all Big Dialogues, seeks to showcase a genuinely viewpoint-diverse discussion, both to exchange different perspectives and prescriptions, increasing general understanding, and to explore common ground and approach compromise if not consensus on something fundamental to national prosperity and wellbeing.

The headline topic or provocation for discussion “Can Australia Tax Its Way To Prosperity?” lends itself to the binary divide between those who think we can and those who don’t - but also to nuances and potential agreement on different aspects of what a tax system should look like. It also alludes to public expenditure, the inevitable other side of the taxation coin.

A Big Dialogue: Can Australia Tax Its Way To Prosperity?

5.30-8.45pm, Wed 21 Oct, 2026

Ann Harding Conference Centre, University of Canberra, Bruce ACT

Join curious fellow citizens for an enjoyable and enlightening evening - tickets from only $20, food and drinks included.

The Format

The Big Dialogue format has been developed over the last six years to demonstrate that difficult, complex issues can still be discussed frankly, fearlessly and civilly, in a non-partisan way, in public, by people of goodwill, in good faith, in pursuit of truth, progress - and better policy and practical outcomes.

They are long-form public discussions between a small panel of knowledgeable speakers with very different perspectives, expertly moderated, in a congenial, catered environment - exploring differences, seeking common ground and possible agreement on solutions. They have consistently shown that such discussions are not only possible but are actually enlightening, enjoyable and much more interesting than echo chambers!

Past subjects addressed include universal basic income, the China-Australia relationship and the defence of Taiwan, climate change, democratic reform, pandemic management, energy transition, cost of living, housing, tariffs and trade, and social media impacts/regulation. See calendar for upcoming dialogue events.

Big Dialogues are conducted under the Brisbane Rule, which all speakers and guests agree to by attending:

All participants agree to listen carefully, speak civilly, and concentrate on the content of discussions, not on characters – before, during and after, online and offline.

• Guests will be able to submit questions for the speakers by email before the event and by SMS during the dialogue 

• A limited number of people in the audience will have the opportunity to ask questions from the floor

• The table seating mode is congenial for social discussion before and afterwards 

• Come early on your own or with friends, family and colleagues, for informal discussion with other guests

• Review the discussion from the high quality video recording included in the ticket (no live stream)

• Guests will be invited to participate in powerful AI-assisted discussion platform (Sway) to continue the discussion one-on-one with someone of a different view, after the event.

• Really want to get involved? Email the organisers (info@brisbanedialogues.org)

Tickets are priced to make the event as accessible as possible, with individual tickets from $20 for students, up to $1,000 for a Vice Chancellor's Table of eight. All tickets include food and drinks to sustain you through the long form discussion.

Hard costs of approx $100 per person need to be covered, so please consider buying a Vice Chancellor's Table or Premium ticket, donating tickets or making a separate donation to keep events accessible and Australian Dialogues independent, expanding and sustainable.

An allocation of complimentary tickets is available for volunteers and those who post a short selfie video to social media on why they are interested in this topic, event or Australian Dialogues generally, and email links to info@brisbanedialogues.org. 

Vice-Chancellor's Centre of Public Ideas (CoPI), University of Canberra, is a think tank established by Vice-Chancellor and President Professor the Honourable Bill Shorten to restore long-term, historically-informed thinking to Australian politics and public policy. Led by inaugural Director Professor Frank Bongiorno AM, who holds the Donald Horne Professorship, CoPI explores how historical analysis can strengthen the practice of contemporary politics and support well-informed, democratic decision-making. Through public events, research and community outreach, CoPI provides a platform for stimulating, civil debate on the most pressing questions facing Australia and the world — making it a natural home for this evening's conversation on tax reform and national prosperity.

Australian Dialogues, evolving out of The Brisbane Dialogues, Australia's first civil discourse/constructive discussion or "bridging organisation", established in 2020 to model better discussions between people who disagree. Their mission is to support other organisations conduct "across-the-aisle" dialogues. Activities include the Big Dialogues series, a private monthly discussion group (Tuesday Dialogues) and a schools program (Dialogues @ School). An Advisory Panel of leading Australians has been formed to expand the Dialogues' network and efforts. See calendar of upcoming events.