An inside look at effective policy making, realised through hard-won public policy battles

What does successful public policy look like, and how has it been achieved in Australia? What strategies are needed to overcome petty partisanship and narrow self-interest? And who gets to decide what a 'better Australia' even looks like? In A Better Australia John Brumby, Scott Hamilton and Stuart Kells examine policy design, implementation and reform, and show what can be achieved when engagement is sincere and intent clear. Leading policymakers and political insiders - Julia Gillard, Malcolm Turnbull, Cheryl Kernot, John Hewson, Ken Wyatt, Christine Milne and more - dissect the development of successful policy in energy, gun control, natural resources taxation, disability insurance, marriage equality, gender equality in the workplace, superannuation, reproductive healthcare reform, Closing the Gap and the pandemic response. A Better Australia takes us behind the scenes of the hard-won policy battles, showing the wide-ranging effects of good policy.

Copies of the book will be on sale at the event for $35 each ($5 off RRP).

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John Brumby AO chancellor of La Trobe University and honorary professor in economics at the University of Melbourne, has extensive experience in public policy and public life, serving as Premier of Victoria (2007–10), Victorian Treasurer (2000–07) and Federal MP for Bendigo (1983–90), among other roles. Since leaving politics he has worked in the not-for-profit and for-profit sectors and was awarded an Order of Australia in 2017.

Scott Hamilton is adjunct associate professor at Monash University, senior advisor to the Smart Energy Council and an expert in renewable energy, green hydrogen, energy transition, natural resource management and climate change. He writes regularly for The Mandarin and other publications. His first book, Sold Down the River, co-authored with Stuart Kells, was one of the top 10 Australian political books of the year in 2022.

Stuart Kells has written on a wide range of subjects including libraries, publishing, professional services and diamond mining. His shorter works have been published around the world including in Smithsonian, The Paris Review, The Guardian and LitHub. A University of Melbourne alumnus, he delivered the 2018 Jean Whyte Lecture and the 2022 Murray Talk. His book The Library: A Catalogue of Wonders was shortlisted for the Prime Minister's literary award and the NSW Premier’s general history prize. He is Adjunct Professor at La Trobe University’s College of Arts, Social Sciences and Commerce.

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Attend our in-person lunch and discussion at 12:30pm or watch the live stream remotely.

Live stream will commence at:
1:00pm AEDT (NSW, ACT, VIC, TAS)
12:30pm ACDT (SA)
1:002pm AEST (QLD)
11:30am ACST (NT)
10:00am AWST (WA)

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Register here to reserve a seat at our Graduate House event. Your ticket includes lunch from 12:30pm followed by a discussion from 1pm.

If you purchase an Online Ticket, you will be able to watch the live stream online. You'll receive the link by email.

Per Capita is committed to keeping its events accessible to those who may not be able to purchase a ticket. For this reason we are making a number of Concession Tickets available for unwaged/student/full age pension concessions. These tickets cover the cost of lunch plus a free ticket to the discussion.

Free tickets are available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in recognition of the fact that this event is being held on stolen land. Please email info@percapita.org.au to request a free ticket.

If you are able to and would like to help us increase the number of Concession Tickets available, please consider a donation on top of your ticket purchase.