The CIS Event Experience

Education writer Natalie Wexler, New Zealand Education Minister Erica Stanford and literacy expert Lorraine Hammond discuss why phonics alone isn't for reading success. Recorded at  @CISAus  in Sydney, this conversation reveals the realities about how schools teach reading comprehension and what needs to change.
In this presentation Wexler presents evidence from US literacy reforms: states that fixed phonics instruction saw test scores improve in early primary years, then fade completely by middle school. "Do kids just forget how to decode words?" she asks. Schools spend years drilling students in abstract strategies like "finding the main idea" or "making inferences" without giving them the subject knowledge these strategies depend on. As Wexler puts it: "We're trying to build students' comprehension skills by having them read random stuff." A student who knows nothing about the Roman Empire can't comprehend a text about Julius Caesar, no matter how many comprehension strategies they've memorised.
The conversation tackles the resistance to knowledge-rich curriculum head-on. Education academics often oppose explicit teaching and knowledge-based approaches even as literacy outcomes stagnate. Hammond recounts pushing back against school leaders who prioritise their own preferences over student data showing poor reading and writing outcomes. The panel discusses why some affluent parents resist knowledge-focused education in favour of vague "critical thinking skills", even as their children benefit from the cultural capital they bring from home, while disadvantaged students fall further behind.
Minister Stanford discusses New Zealand's curriculum overhaul while the panel explores why AI makes subject knowledge more important than ever, the challenge of reforming teacher training programs, and what it will take to shift a system where the crisis isn't low literacy rates—it's that policymakers are finally doing something about it. This is essential viewing for anyone who cares about why Australian kids can't read and what actually works to fix it.
Natalie Wexler is an American education writer and author of "The Knowledge Gap: The Hidden Cause of America's Broken Education System" and "The Writing Revolution: A Guide to Advancing Thinking Through Writing". Erica Stanford is New Zealand's Minister for Education and Immigration, leading comprehensive curriculum and literacy reforms.
Lorraine Hammond is Associate Professor in Early Years Literacy at the University of Notre Dame Australia and one of Australia's leading voices on evidence-based literacy instruction.
 

In this episode, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley delivers a major economic address on restoring Australia's productivity and living standards, followed by an extended Q&A with CIS Executive Director Michael Stutchbury.
Recorded live in Sydney, Ley argues Australia has reached an economic "turning point," with productivity growth at its weakest in 60 years and the biggest fall in living standards in the developed world according to OECD data. As Member for Farrer since 2001 and former minister across Health, Aged Care, Environment and Regional Development, she outlines the Coalition's alternative economic strategy centered on lowering personal income taxes and repairing the budget through spending restraint.
Ley examines how the average worker now pays 24.3% of their income in tax, up from 22.3% under John Howard in 2007, and the impact of government spending and regulation reaching historic highs. She opposes Labor's multi-employer bargaining laws, advocating instead for enterprise-level bargaining. Her address provides insight into the Coalition's approach to lifting productivity, rewarding aspiration, and ensuring intergenerational fairness as Australia faces mounting economic challenges.

Broadcaster Andrew Neil and commentator Dave Rubin ‪@RubinReport‬ join Michael Stutchbury for a wide-ranging conversation about Donald Trump's presidency, the state of Western politics, and the future of free speech.
This discussion explores Trump's character and policies, the January 6th controversy, media bias, climate change and net zero policies, and the battle for free speech reshaping Western democracies.
Despite their shared scepticism of mainstream media and progressive politics, Neil and Rubin offer contrasting perspectives on crucial questions: Does Trump's character matter as much as his policies? Was January 6th a genuine threat to democracy? And can traditional journalism be reformed, or must it be replaced entirely?
The conversation reveals a genuine debate between two different strands of conservatism. Neil's traditional emphasis on character, civility, and institutional respect meets Rubin's focus on cultural warfare and challenging the establishment. They discuss Elon Musk's Twitter/X transformation, the mainstream media's credibility problems, why working-class voters shifted away from Democrats, Trump's appeal to minority communities, the costs and feasibility of net zero climate policies, and the impact of progressive politics on Western societies. This is an honest exchange that doesn't shy away from real disagreements between two thoughtful observers of the political landscape.
Andrew Neil is one of Britain's most respected political interviewers, with decades at the helm of BBC political programming. He's famous for his forensic questioning style (and his viral 2019 interview with Ben Shapiro, during which Shapiro accused Neil of being a "leftist" before walking out of the interview).
Dave Rubin is the host of the‪@RubinReport‬, one of the most influential political talk shows on YouTube with 3+ million subscribers and hundreds of millions of views. A former progressive who worked on The Young Turks, Rubin's journey from left to right became a roadmap for many disillusioned liberals.
This event was presented by the Centre for Independent Studies in Brisbane, Australia. Recorded live in Brisbane on 27 October 2025.

The Liberals are in their deepest political valley while Labor sits atop the highest mountain after their emphatic May 2025 federal election victory. But history tells us this certainty is an illusion.
At this CIS forum, Tom Switzer presented his analysis of political upheaval and the unpredictability of democratic politics, before joining CIS Executive Director Michael Stutchbury and former NSW Premier Bob Carr onstage for a wide-ranging Q&A. Together, the panel explored how unforeseeable events derail governments, the cyclical nature of political fortunes, and why no party's dominance is ever permanent.
Tom Switzer argued that history shows what's down can only go up, and what's certain can only come unstuck — from Churchill's shock 1945 defeat to Trump's unlikely comeback, from Whitlam's dismissal to Morrison's miracle win. The apparent hegemony of any political party is always largely illusory. Governments stuff up; and when they do, a capable opposition with a sound public-policy agenda can take advantage.
Michael Stutchbury and Bob Carr drew on their extensive experience in politics and media to examine how ideas, decisions and unexpected events shape political outcomes in ways pundits rarely predict.

In this episode, Senator Jonathon Duniam, Shadow Federal Minister for Education, joins the Centre for Independent Studies to outline the Coalition’s approach to education reform.
In conversation with CIS Director of Education Glenn Fahey, Duniam sets out a vision for restoring excellence in Australian classrooms. He argues that despite record funding over the past two decades, student achievement has declined — with one in three Year 9 students below minimum literacy and numeracy standards. The solution, he suggests, lies not in more spending but in smarter investment: evidence-based teacher training, a simplified curriculum, and a renewed focus on classroom fundamentals.
Together, Duniam and Fahey explore some of the most pressing challenges in education:
How can Australia address falling results despite unprecedented funding?
What reforms are needed in teacher training and entry pathways to raise classroom quality?
Should the national curriculum return to basics and shed ideological overload?
How can policymakers tackle persistent gaps in boys’ education, civics knowledge, and discipline?
While candid about the system’s failings, Duniam also emphasises the importance of bipartisan cooperation. He signals a willingness to work with Education Minister Jason Clare to pursue reforms in the national interest — aspiring for better outcomes rather than accepting mediocrity.
This episode offers a timely and wide-ranging discussion on the future of Australian schooling, highlighting both the urgency of reform and the opportunities for constructive collaboration.

In this episode, NSW Premier Chris Minns and New Zealand Housing Minister Chris Bishop hosted CIS Chief Economist Peter Tulip for a wide-ranging discussion on housing affordability and reform.
Together, the panel explored the challenges of housing policy, the role of politics and community attitudes, and what governments can do to make homes more accessible for the next generation. Premier Minns said Labor’s housing reforms had been shaped by international experience — particularly Auckland’s zoning changes that doubled infill housing, reduced rents by up to 35 per cent and encouraged younger people back into the city.
New Zealand Housing Minister Chris Bishop described his country’s experience with upzoning and national planning reforms, arguing that housing location should be guided by where people want to live and are willing to pay. 

India maintains the world's largest democracy with 75 years of continuous constitutional rule - yet international democracy rankings place it alongside countries with military coups and authoritarian regimes. What's really going on?
Former CIS executive director Tom Switzer sits down with author Salvatore Babones as part of the launch of his new book "Dharma Democracy: How India Built the Third World's First Democracy." Babones explores the unique model that enabled India to succeed where many post-colonial nations failed, arguing that Hindu religious and social reform movements created a distinctive civil society structure that Western political scientists have largely overlooked.
The conversation examines why India's democracy rankings don't reflect its actual performance and addresses one of India's single biggest challenges: integrating its 200 million Muslim citizens better into the democratic mainstream.

In this episode, British educator Dr Carl Hendrick and Australian policy advisor Dr Simon Breakspear join CIS's Glenn Fahey to unpack the rise of the ‘science of learning’ and its promise to transform Australian education.
Drawing from global research and classroom practice, the panel explores how cognitive science is reshaping how we think about effective teaching—challenging outdated methods and calling for a shift toward explicit instruction, knowledge-rich curricula, and better teacher preparation.
Together, they tackle key questions driving education reform:
Why has evidence-based teaching been so slow to take hold?
How can schools translate research into real-world practice?
What must change in teacher training to improve student outcomes?
With practical insights and policy expertise, this episode charts a path for embedding the science of learning at the heart of Australian schooling—and building an education system that serves all students, not just a lucky few.

In this episode, nuclear industry leader and Canadian trailblazer Tracy Primeau re-joins the CIS to share a compelling insider’s view of Canada’s nuclear energy success—and what Australia could learn from it.
In conversation with CIS Director of Energy Research Aidan Morrison, Primeau reflects on her 35-year career. As a member of the Nipissing First Nation, she offers a rare dual perspective: a deep technical understanding of nuclear power and a powerful voice for Indigenous participation in energy development.
Together, they explore key questions shaping Australia’s energy debate:
What’s behind Canada’s on-time, on-budget nuclear rollout?
How did Indigenous communities become partners in nuclear waste solutions?
Can Australia achieve clean, affordable energy without sacrificing reliability?
From the potential of small modular reactors to lessons in energy economics, workforce transition, and community trust, Primo delivers an inspiring case for nuclear as a clean, scalable solution for Australia’s energy future. A timely and deeply human conversation at the intersection of technology, policy, and culture.

In this episode, British historian and author Dr Simon Heffer returns to CIS for a provocative deep dive into the cultural and political currents reshaping the Western world.
In conversation with CIS Executive Director Tom Switzer, Heffer offers sharp insights into the global conservative backlash against identity politics, elite overreach, and the hollowing out of free speech across universities and public life.
Together, they tackle big questions confronting liberal democracies today:
Why is there growing pushback against the progressive orthodoxy in countries like the US, UK, and Australia?
What’s driving working-class voters back to the political right?
Can Western societies afford net-zero policies, open borders, and bloated welfare states all at once?
With trademark wit and historical depth, Heffer reflects on Britain’s cultural identity, the media’s role in stifling dissent, and how cancel culture threatens the very foundations of democratic societies. A timely conversation on the urgent need to defend liberal values from within.