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.

There is no shortage of solutions for the biggest problems Australia faces &mdash; 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.

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.

There is no shortage of solutions for the biggest problems Australia faces &mdash; 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.

How do you turn big, bold ideas into positive change?  In What's the Big Idea?, this new 12-episode series from the Australia Institute, acclaimed journalist Paul Barclay speaks to leading thinkers about how we can make change for the better.

What's the Big Idea?

Get all of the Australia Institute's podcasts in one feed.

Get all of the Australia Institute's podcasts in one feed.

Australia Matters

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. 

There is no shortage of solutions for the biggest problems Australia faces &mdash; 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.&nbsp;

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.

Introducing What's the Big Idea? with Paul Barclay

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 environment.

This discussion was recorded on 5 February 2025 and things may have changed since the recording.

Order What’s the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website.

Guest: Bob Brown, Co-Founder, Bob Brown Foundation // @BobBrownFndn

Host: Paul Barclay, Walkley Award winning journalist and broadcaster // @PaulBarclay

Show notes: 

Shorting the Environment by Polly Hemming, Rod Campbell and Richard Denniss, the Australia Institute (September 2022)

Carbon credits no excuse for NSW Government to stall on saving koalas, the Australia Institute (April 2024)

“Nature Positive” summit can’t conceal nature negative policies, the Australia Institute (October 2024)

Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions

We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.

Nature is priceless. It&rsquo;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 &lsquo;price of extinction&rsquo;, how monetising the environment won&rsquo;t save it, the corporate capture of democracy and the failure of the major parties to truly protect the environment.
This discussion was recorded on 5 February 2025 and things may have changed since the recording.
Order&nbsp;<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/store/whats-the-big-idea">What&rsquo;s the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia</a>&nbsp;now, via the Australia Institute website.
Guest: Bob Brown, Co-Founder, Bob Brown Foundation // <a href="https://x.com/BobBrownFndn">@BobBrownFndn</a>
Host: Paul Barclay, Walkley Award winning journalist and broadcaster // <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulBarclay">@PaulBarclay</a>
Show notes: 
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/report/shorting-the-environment/">Shorting the Environment</a>&nbsp;by Polly Hemming, Rod Campbell and Richard Denniss, the Australia Institute (September 2022)
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/post/carbon-credits-no-excuse-for-nsw-government-to-stall-on-saving-koalas/">Carbon credits no excuse for NSW Government to stall on saving koalas</a>, the Australia Institute (April 2024)
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/post/nature-positive-summit-cant-conceal-nature-negative-policies/">&ldquo;Nature Positive&rdquo; summit can&rsquo;t conceal nature negative policies</a>, the Australia Institute (October 2024)
Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions
We&rsquo;d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to <a href="mailto:podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au">podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au</a>.

Nature is priceless. It’s Monty Pythonesque to think that pricing nature will stop extinctions or protect the planet.

Can you put a price on nature?

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 courage in the public interest.

This discussion was recorded on Wednesday 29 January 2025, and things may have changed since the recording.

Order What’s the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website.

Guest: Kieran Pender, Associate Legal Director at the Human Rights Law Center // @KieranHRLC

Host: Paul Barclay, Walkley Award winning journalist and broadcaster // @PaulBarclay

Show notes

Whistleblowing While You Work: Using Rewards for Whistleblowing to Uncover White-collar Crime by Jack Thrower,the Australia Institute (October 2024)

Whistleblowing in Australia: Prosecutions, Law Reform and the Whistleblower Project by Kieran Pender,the Australia Institute (August 2023)

Polling – Whistleblowing & secrecy, the Australia Institute (May 2023)

Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions

We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.

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 courage in the public interest.
This discussion was recorded on Wednesday 29 January 2025, and things may have changed since the recording.
Order&nbsp;<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/store/whats-the-big-idea">What&rsquo;s the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia</a>&nbsp;now, via the Australia Institute website.
Guest: Kieran Pender, Associate Legal Director at the Human Rights Law Center // <a href="https://x.com/KieranHRLC">@KieranHRLC</a>
Host: Paul Barclay, Walkley Award winning journalist and broadcaster // <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulBarclay">@PaulBarclay</a>
Show notes
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/report/whistleblowing-while-you-work/">Whistleblowing While You Work: Using Rewards for Whistleblowing to Uncover White-collar Crime</a>&nbsp;by Jack Thrower, the Australia Institute (October 2024)
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/event/whistleblowing-in-australia-prosecutions-law-reform-and-the-whistleblower-project/">Whistleblowing in Australia: Prosecutions, Law Reform and the Whistleblower Project</a>&nbsp;by Kieran Pender, the Australia Institute (August 2023)
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/report/polling-whistleblowing-secrecy/">Polling &ndash; Whistleblowing &amp; secrecy</a>, the Australia Institute (May 2023)
Theme music:&nbsp;Blue Dot Sessions
We&rsquo;d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to <a href="mailto:podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au">podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au</a>.

For most would-be whistleblowers, the cost of courage is way too high. A whistleblower protection authority would ease their path.

Safe to speak: protecting the whistleblower

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 corporate lobbying power.

This discussion was recorded on Monday 27 January 2025, and things may have changed since the recording.

Order What’s the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website.

Guest: Christine Milne AO, Former Leader of the Australian Greens // @ChristineMilne

Host: Paul Barclay, Walkley Award winning journalist and broadcaster // @PaulBarclay

Show notes 

Power sharing in Australian parliament by Bill Browne and Richard Denniss, the Australia Institute (July 2024)

Representative, Still: The role of the Senate in our Democracy, by Bill Browne and Ben Oquist, the Australia Institute (March 2021)

Healthy democracies need strong oppositions by Ben Oquist, The Canberra Times (March 2021)

Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions

We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.

Australians know how to solve national problems, but our political system protects the duopoly that creates them. That&rsquo;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 corporate lobbying power.
This discussion was recorded on Monday 27 January 2025, and things may have changed since the recording.
Order&nbsp;<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/store/whats-the-big-idea">What&rsquo;s the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia</a>&nbsp;now, via the Australia Institute website.
Guest: Christine Milne AO, Former Leader of the Australian Greens // <a href="https://x.com/ChristineMilne">@ChristineMilne</a>
Host: Paul Barclay, Walkley Award winning journalist and broadcaster // <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulBarclay">@PaulBarclay</a>
Show notes 
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/report/power-sharing-in-australian-parliament/">Power sharing in Australian parliament</a>&nbsp;by Bill Browne and Richard Denniss, the Australia Institute (July 2024)
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/report/representative-still-the-role-of-the-senate-in-our-democracy/">Representative, Still: The role of the Senate in our Democracy</a>, by Bill Browne and Ben Oquist, the Australia Institute (March 2021)
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/post/healthy-democracies-need-strong-oppositions/">Healthy democracies need strong oppositions</a>&nbsp;by Ben Oquist,&nbsp;The Canberra Times (March 2021)
Theme music:&nbsp;Blue Dot Sessions
We&rsquo;d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to <a href="mailto:podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au">podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au</a>.

Australians know how to solve national problems, but our political system protects the duopoly that creates them. That’s why we need proportional representation.

Introducing What's the Big Idea? with Paul Barclay

What's the Big Idea?

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