What's the Big Idea?

Nuclear weapons are still a threat to humanity. In our age of uncertainty, Australia isn’t doing enough to rid the world of these weapons. On this episode, Paul Barclay is joined by Dr Tilman Ruff, co-founder of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) to discuss Australia's role in trying to rid the world of nuclear weapons, including renouncing protection by nuclear wea...

After the failure of the Voice referendum, achieving justice for Indigenous Australians remains more important than ever. This demands keeping hope alive. On this episode, Thomas Mayo joins Paul Barclay to discuss the Voice referendum, the use of Indigenous issues as a political football, disinformation in the media and social media, truth in political advertising laws, and the continuing importan...

The climate crisis is an inequality crisis. Australia needs to pay attention to equity and inclusion and enable sustainable development for countries in energy poverty. On this episode Sunita Narain joins Paul Barclay to discuss the need for inclusive and equitable growth in tackling climate change, pollution and congestion in Delhi, renewable energy in India and how climate change and climate jus...

Nature is priceless. It’s Monty Pythonesque to think that pricing nature will stop extinctions or protect the planet. On this episode of Big Ideas, former senator Bob Brown joins Paul Barclay to discuss the ‘price of extinction’, how monetising the environment won’t save it, the corporate capture of democracy and the failure of the major parties to truly protect the environ...

For most would-be whistleblowers, the cost of courage is way too high. A whistleblower protection authority would ease their path. On this episode, Paul Barclay talks with Kieran Pender, associate legal director at the Human Rights Law Centre. Kieran says that current laws leave whistleblowers unsupported, vulnerable to retribution and liable for prosecution. Australia needs to lower the cost of c...

Australians know how to solve national problems, but our political system protects the duopoly that creates them. That’s why we need proportional representation. On this episode, Paul Barclay is joined by former senator Christine Milne who brings her expertise and insights on how proportional representation and minority governments can be much more democratic, diverse, and help reduce corpor...

The ABC is always under attack. The best thing we can do for democracy is defend it. On this episode, Paul Barclay talks with Alex Sloan about the importance of independent public broadcasters, why they need to be well-funded in an increasingly privately-owned media landscape, and how they are the barometer of a strong democracy. This discussion was recorded on Wednesday 19 March 2025, and things...

There’s nothing indulgent about public funding for Australian culture. More funds would fix many of the sector’s problems.  On this episode, Adelaide Writers Week director Louise Adler joins Paul Barclay to talk about the biggest challenges facing the arts sector, including higher costs and prices, greater reliance on philanthropy and greater vulnerability to political controversi...

In a world of uncertainty, it is more important than ever for Australia to stop dismissing ourselves as a ‘middle power’ and start exerting our influence on the global stage.  On this episode, Allan Behm joins Paul Barclay to discuss Australia’s diplomatic strategy of ‘pre-emptive capitulation’, America’s international bullying and how Australia should use...

To end the housing crisis, governments need to stop subsidising private investors and instead directly invest in social housing.  On this episode, Maiy Azize joins Paul Barclay to discuss the housing crisis, how the government stopped directly providing housing and started subsidising private investors, why immigration is not to blame, how the housing crisis is an inequality crisis, why &lsqu...

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 des...

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 &l...

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...