The Sydney Institute Podcast

Tim Wilson & Kimberly Kitching - Religious Freedom: Two Views

The Coalition government of Scott Morrison has tasked the Australian Law Reform Commission to review current legislation around religious freedom. This was in response to the recommendations put to the government by the findings of the Expert Panel into Religious Freedom in 2018. As debate continued over what the legislation might look like, Labor’s Senator Kimberley Kitching, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate and Shadow Assistant Minister for Government Accountability and Tim Wilson MP, Liberal Member for Goldstein and a former Human Rights Commissioner, to offer their views on the discussion. Senator Kimberley Kitching and Tim Wilson addressed The Sydney Institute on Wednesday 7 August 2019.

Kate Legge - Escaping from the rat race – a Cradle Mountain love story

Gustav Weindorfer arrived in Melbourne from Austria in June 1900 and later met and married Tasmanian Kate Cowle. Their love of the natural and wild led them to Cradle Mountain where they eventually built a chalet for guests to stay. Their Waldheim or “home in the forest” was built of King Billy Pine. The couple mapped and created trails around the area. After Kate’s death in 1916, Weindorfer took up residence full time at Waldheim and began seeking support for a national park around Cradle Mountain. Today, the world celebrates Weindorfer’s trailblazing efforts in the pristine wilderness of Cradle Mountain – an Australian treasure. Kate Legge is a journalist with the Australian and the author of a number of books – most recently Kindred – A Cradle Mountain Love Story. To reflect on some of the story of Cradle Mountain and Gustav Weindorfer and Kate Cowle’s contribution to its pristine preservation, Kate Legge addressed the Sydney Institute on Monday 11 March 2019.

Finding My Other Family - Robert Tickner

Robert Tickner speaks to The Sydney Institute about his book Ten Doors Down - the story of an extraordinary adoption reunion.

John Howard - Has Politics Really Changed – from Menzies to Morrison

At The Sydney Institute’s Annual Dinner held at The Star on Wednesday 27 March 2019, the Institute celebrated its thirtieth year. Guest speaker at the dinner was The Hon John Howard OM AC who was introduced by Sydney Institute Executive Director Gerard Henderson and thanked by Carmel Mulhern, Group Executive, Legal & Corporate Affairs, at Telstra. Newly appointed Sydney Institute Chair, Jacquelynne Willcox was MC for the evening which was sponsored by Telstra.

Behind The Red Velvet Curtain: The Backstage Story of Ballet in Australia – Valerie Lawson

Valerie Lawson speaks at The Sydney Institute on the 3rd of December 2019

Geoffrey Blainey - A Life Writ Large

Now in his late-eighties, and listed by the National Trust as a “Living Treasure”, Geoffrey Blainey has now published the first volume of his memoirs – Before I Forget. In it, he reflects on his humble beginnings as the son of a Methodist Minister and school teacher, one of five children, and a carefree childhood spent in rural Victoria, from Terang to Leongatha, Geelong to Ballarat. From a young age, these places ignited for Blainey a great affection for the Australian landscape, and a deep curiosity in Australia’s history. To give a taste of the life that brought him to writing, Geoffrey Blainey addressed The Sydney Institute on Wednesday 31 July 2019.

Imre Salusinszky - The Hilton Bombing: Evan Pederick and the Ananda Marga

Imre Salusinszky speaks to The Sydney Institute about his book The Hilton Bombing: Evan Pederick and the Ananda Marga.In 1978, Evan Pederick, a naive 22-year-old in the thrall of a radical religious movement, Ananda Marga, placed an enormous bomb outside Sydney's Hilton Hotel. It killed three people. A decade later, Pederick confessed to this act of terrorism. But when one of his alleged accomplices was later acquitted, significant parts of Pederick's testimony were undermined and he was accused of being a 'fantasist'. Conspiracy theories flooded in to fill the vacuum. Was it a plot by ASIO, rather than, as Pederick asserted, a plot to assassinate the Indian prime minister? In the absence of a Royal Commission or similar inquiry, mystery continues to shroud the deadliest terror attack on Australian soil. Pederick, an Anglican priest, stands by his confession and testimony. Here is his story, told for the first time. It is an extraordinary tale of guilt, remorse, renewal, and the search for forgiveness.

Ursula Dubosarsky – Reading and Childhood Education

Ursula Dubosarky (Australian writer, Australian Children’s Laureate 2020-2021) speaks to The Sydney Institute and is interviewed by Anne Henderson

John Anderson: The Quiet Australians – Why I Blog

The Hon John Anderson is a sixth-generation farmer and grazier from New South Wales, who spent 19 years from 1989 in the Australian Parliament. This included six years as Leader of the National Party and Deputy Prime Minister. These days, John Anderson is best known for his “John Anderson” blog – offering a range of conversations and podcasts with opinion leaders. He recently sponsored the visit to Australia by Dr Jordan B Peterson. On Wednesday 11 September 2019, John Anderson addressed The Sydney Institute to explain why he created his blog and to air some of the issues that guests he speaks to have discussed.

Fifty Years Sober: An Alcoholic’s Journey - Ross Fitzgerald

Ross Fitzgerald speaks to The Sydney Institute about his memoir Fifty Years Sober: An Alcoholic's Journey