The CIS Event Experience

How Close Is Too Close? Rethinking Australia’s Military Ties to the U.S.

As strategic competition intensifies in the Indo-Pacific, Australia is being forced to rethink long-held assumptions about its alliance with the United States.
In this panel hosted by the Centre for Independent Studies (CIS), three experts—Doug Abdiel, Lt Col in the US Marine Corps; Sam Roggeveen, Director of the International Security Program at the Lowy Institute; and Aidan Morrison, Director of Energy and Defence at CIS—debate what Australia’s defence future should look like in a rapidly changing world.
Is Australia relying too much on the U.S. for its defence?
Are we spending too much on submarines and neglecting other critical needs?
Could U.S.-style weapons drag us into wars we don’t want to fight?
Are we building the right kind of defence force to protect Australia—not just to support the U.S.?

Ideas into Action: Ron Manners’ Libertarian Blueprint for Australia's Future

In this episode, mining entrepreneur and libertarian thinker Ron Manners AO shares his impatient vision for defending Western civilization and free market principles.
As founder of the Mannkal Foundation and author of "The Impatient Libertarian," Manners reflects on the five influential mentors who shaped his philosophical outlook, including economist Frederick Hayek. He discusses the strategic balance between ideas and action that has defined his entrepreneurial success over decades.
Identifying as "an impatient libertarian," Manners delivers an assessment of government overreach, regulatory barriers to entrepreneurship, and the cultural shifts threatening civil society. He shares remarkable personal anecdotes from his relationships with philosophical leaders while making a passionate case for libertarian principles in modern Australia. His firsthand experiences provide rare insight into whether free market advocates can overcome what he sees as a growing hostility toward industry and individual liberty.

Need for Clean Energy: Lessons from Canada's Nuclear Journey with Tracy Primeau and Aidan Morrison

As the global demand for clean and reliable energy grows, nuclear power is being reconsidered as a crucial part of the solution. What can Australia learn from Canada’s decades-long experience with nuclear energy?
In this discussion hosted by the Centre for Independent Studies (CIS), Director of Energy Research Aidan Morrison is joined by Tracy Primeau, board member of Ontario Power Generation and former nuclear operator, to explore Canada’s successful transition from coal and the revival of its nuclear sector.
Together, Primeau and Morrison tackle vital questions about the future of the energy industry in Australia:
What can Australia learn from Canada’s pragmatic approach to nuclear power?
How can decarbonisation and energy security go hand-in-hand?
Is political will or public opinion the real barrier to nuclear adoption? How can we challenge misinformation and build a more rational energy debate?
With a-to-z industry experience and a powerful personal story, Primeau shares valuable insights into how nuclear power can drive both economic opportunity and environmental progress. Could Australia follow a similar path?

Beyond the Belt and Road: Anastasia Lin on China's expansionist vision with Tom Switzer

In this conversation, former Miss World Canada and human rights advocate Anastasia Lin delivers a stark warning about China's strategic ambitions and what they mean for Australia's future. Drawing from her thirteen years of experience growing up in communist China, where she was once tasked with indoctrinating fellow students, Lin offers an insider's perspective on the Chinese Communist Party's worldview.
Lin articulates how initiatives like Belt and Road and Made in China 2025 are not merely economic programs but components of a carefully orchestrated strategy to achieve global dominance. She challenges the prevailing narrative that Australia must choose between economic prosperity and democratic values, arguing that the country's dependency on a one-party authoritarian state represents a dangerous vulnerability rather than a pragmatic necessity.
Particularly disturbing is her account of China's forced labour camps, where political and religious prisoners produce goods that undercut Western manufacturing. Lin explains how this system, combined with intellectual property theft and predatory investment practices, has enabled China to hollow out Western industrial capacity while extending its influence globally.

Islam, liberalism and the dilemmas of free societies with Ayaan Hirsi Ali

In this address, human rights activist and author Ayaan Hirsi Ali confronts the most pressing dilemmas facing liberal societies today. Drawing from her unique personal journey and deep understanding of Islamic ideology, Hirsi Ali offers a framework for distinguishing between what she terms "Medina Muslims" dedicated to establishing a caliphate, the majority of Muslims simply living their lives, and Muslim reformers actively working to reconcile their faith with modern values.
Through three revealing stories, Turkish President Erdogan's ambitions of conquest, Australian jihadists attempting to reach Syria, and the dangerous accusations of apostasy levelled by Islamist organisations. Hirsi Ali illustrates the challenges liberal democracies face when balancing freedom with security. She argues that our greatest vulnerability lies not in external threats, but in our own moral relativism and self-censorship.
Hirsi Ali rejects the conflation of criticising ideas with racism, warning that political correctness has created a dangerous vacuum that jihadists eagerly exploit. She makes the case that liberal societies must reclaim their commitment to individual rights over collective identities, and fearlessly defend freedom of speech even when uncomfortable.

The Liberal Dilemma: Philip Ruddock on Factions, Teals and Australia's Political Future

In this episode, former Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock discusses the state of Australian politics from his perspective as the nation's second-longest serving parliamentarian.
After 43 years in federal politics, Ruddock examines the Liberal Party's decline in membership and growing factional divisions. He analyses the teal independent phenomenon, current immigration challenges, and Australia's energy future. Identifying as "a liberal, not a conservative," Ruddock offers candid assessments of political leadership and makes a surprising prediction about the upcoming federal election. His firsthand account provides rare insight into whether Peter Dutton can lead the Liberals back to government.

Free speech, identity politics, and the Western project with Konstantin Kisin & Glenn Fahey

In this conversation, CIS education program Director Glenn Fahey speaks with Russian-born British satirist and podcaster Konstantin Kisin about the cultural challenges facing Western democracies today.
The discussion explores challenging topics including the fracturing trust in democratic institutions, the sustainability of multiculturalism, the rise of identity politics, and the intergenerational inequality facing young people. Kisin offers a sobering analysis of why Western societies are increasingly self-critical despite unprecedented prosperity, describing our current state as a "cargo cult" that imitates rather than practises the values that made us successful.
"This is a civilisational moment. You're not going to sit this one out." For anyone concerned about cultural direction, free speech, and the future of democratic societies, this conversation provides perspectives on the personal responsibility we each have in shaping our common future.

From Soviet Union to Western World: An immigrant's perspective on cultural success with Konstantin Kisin

In this episode, Russian-born British satirist and author Konstantin Kisin delivers a defence of Western civilisation and the cultural values that have made it uniquely successful. Drawing from his personal experience growing up in the Soviet Union, Kisin articulates why millions risk their lives to immigrate to Western nations like Australia, Britain and America.
With wit and clarity, Kisin dissects the fundamental pillars that have enabled Western prosperity: government by consent, freedom of expression, and a unique incentive structure that rewards innovation rather than compliance. He challenges the politically correct narrative that downplays Western achievement, arguing that we've become a "cargo cult" society, imitating rather than practising the values that made us successful.
As Western nations grapple with cultural self-doubt, Kisin makes a compelling case for why understanding and preserving our cultural heritage matters. He argues that we've failed to articulate these values to younger generations, instead focusing solely on historical wrongdoings without proper context or comparison.
Whether you're concerned about cultural direction or curious about what makes Western societies distinctive, this episode offers an honest perspective from someone who has experienced both worlds and concluded that the West is best.

Double Standards: Rabbi Elton's analysis of antisemitism past and present

In our 2025 Acton Lecture, Rabbi Dr. Benjamin Elton analyses antisemitism's persistence from medieval times to the present day. Drawing on his expertise as both rabbi and historian, Rabbi Elton explores the double standards applied to Jews throughout history and contemporary discourse.
He begins with a personal anecdote about the Tower of London, built partly with funds extorted from medieval Jews, questioning why wrongs against Jews are treated differently from other historical injustices like slavery. Rabbi Elton documents instances of this double standard: how Lutheran churches continue to honour Martin Luther despite his antisemitism; how culture condemns some artists for offensive views while celebrating antisemites like Roald Dahl; and how Indigenous land acknowledgements are accepted while Jewish connections to Israel are questioned.
As he examines antisemitism in Australia, Rabbi Elton argues that these inconsistencies spring from anti-Jewish ideas embedded in Western culture. He offers case studies demonstrating how empathy for Jewish suffering can quickly dissipate, as seen in public responses to the events of October 7, 2023.
Rabbi Elton concludes that addressing antisemitism requires understanding its causes: "The resilience of antisemitism in our society will remain puzzling unless we go to its roots." He calls for the removal of anti-Jewish foundations in Western culture, emphasising that this requires "the deepest, most thoughtful work."
Following the lecture, Rabbi Elton sat down with Peter Kurti for a conversation and Q&A session. The event concluded with remarks from Jillian Segal AO, Australia's Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism.
Rabbi Elton is Chief Minister of The Great Synagogue in Sydney and has become an important voice in Australian public conversations about antisemitism and other moral issues.

The Michaela Way: How traditional teaching transforms lives with Katharine Birbalsingh & Glenn Fahey

In this episode, renowned educator and "Britain's strictest headmistress", Katharine Birbalsingh shares her philosophy on education that has propelled her school to the top performance rating in the country. She challenges the progressive teaching methods that dominate Western education and explains why true compassion means holding students accountable regardless of background.
Our guest reveals how her school transformed students through three fundamental principles: values, discipline, and explicit teaching. She argues that today's educators have been misled to believe that "teaching is cheating," leaving disadvantaged students behind whilst mistaking leniency for compassion.
The conversation explores uncomfortable truths about how misplaced guilt and lowered expectations harm the very children educators claim to help. So , whether you're a parent, educator or neither, this episode, hosted by Glenn Fahey, will challenge your assumptions about modern education!