Dear ,

In my last email I got a few things wrong, like the month for two of our functions. So I thought I should write to you and let you know, and at the same time readvertise both of them.

You might also be interested in reading my article from this morning's Spectator. It's on COVID-19, which is the biggest issue of our time. Even 30 years ago if we had this disease I am convinced we would have dealt with it differently, but there are a number of trends that have led to us becoming more timid, less optimistic, and less prepared to make the hard calculations as to what is really in the collective interest.

Climate Energy Policy Paper launch with Tom Biegler

Can Australia meet the carbon emissions promises it has made to other countries? Not if it keeps doing what it is doing, according to Tom Bielger. To be carbon free Australia needs to electrify its economy, but wind and solar aren't capable of meeting that challenge. We need full sources which are dense and reliable. Tom Biegler, the author of this policy is an engineer, and a former CISRO Division Head.

As a think tank we have taken the position that Australians have the right to decide be carbon neutral, and polling tells us this is what they want. But they need to understand the cost, and all the alternatives.

Nuclear has to be one of those options, and Tom will address this in his speech.

The launch is online Monday July 13 at 6:00 pm. As it is a policy launch it will be free, but bookings are still required. To book click here.

Professor Tony Makin and Hon Kate Carnell: where does the economic response to COVID-19 leave us?

With Victoria locked-down again, and the possibility that infection will flare in other states, we really need to look at the policies we have implemented, what they are achieving, and what alternatives are available to us. Perhaps we would adopt different approaches to COVID if the financial incentives were different and sustainable.

In this instalment of AIP’s COVID19: Causes, Consequences, and Cures Seminar Series, we will be bringing the expertises of Professor Tony Makin and Hon Kate Carnell together to explore the good and the bad of the economic measures we have taken. Both Prof Makin and Ms Carnell have a wealth of experience in public policy and have used this to call upon the government for greater reform. We will be focusing on issues such as ‘what inefficiencies have we introduced into our recovery’, ‘who has been disadvantaged’, and ‘what do we do now’.

The seminar is online, Monday July 20, at 12:30 pm - so this is a lunchtime event. To book click here.

The Brisbane Dialogues: Universal Basic Income

Not one of our functions, but it involves some of our friends. Milton Friedman liked the idea of a Universal Basic Income, which shows it has support across the board. The panel to disucss it includes Professor Gigi Foster (UNSW and ABC), John Humphreys (UQ and an AIP fellow), Simon Cowan (CIS) and Greg Marston (UQ).

The dialogue is Monday July 20, 7:00 pm at the Tivoli Theatre, Fortitude Valley (same day as Tony Makin and Kate Carnell, but in the evening).

To book click here and use the code "AIP"  to get a 10% discount. Hurry, they only have 150 seats available.

Conclusion

Sorry about the mix-up on dates. Look forward to seeing you online, or maybe in person at the Brisbane Dialogues.

Regards,

Graham Young
Executive Director