The Australian moment

George Megalogenis speaks on Australia’s social and political place in the global economy. Brilliant in a bust and selfish in a boom – that’s the assessment of ‘the Australian moment’ by one of our most authoritative and independent political commentators. George Megalogenis speaks on Australia’s social and political place in the global economy, hacking through the statistical thicket and probing the national character to explain how we sidestepped the Great Recession to become the envy of the developed world. In conversation with Annabel Crabb. &nbsp

Open and closed – how to reconcile the contradictions in the Australian psyche

Adelaide Festival of Ideas session, Basil Hetzel Lecture Room, 1:15pm, Friday 10th July, 2009. Chaired by Chris Eccles.http://www.adelaidefestivalofideas.com.a

George Megalogenis: Australia’s second chance

Overview Use it, or lose it? That’s the question George Megalogenis thinks Australia needs to be asking itself. In his 2012 book, The Australian Moment, Megalogenis presented a meticulous case for Australia’s social resilience and economic potential through times of global hardship – recalling the end of the goldrush in the 1850s, and a society at odds with a government intent on tightening immigration and hoarding our wealth. His latest book, Australia’s Second Chance, extends the argument into post-GFC, post-mining boom times. Can we do better with the advantages we gained from the boom? Could Australia embrace a future rich not only in natural resources, but in human resources, too? What must we do to realise our underplayed capacity for prosperity? Join Megalogenis – one of Australian journalism’s great minds – as he weaves history, economics and demography into questions of who we were, who we are and who we could become. &nbsp

Leadership and the end of the reform era

Discussing his Quarterly Essay "Trivial Pursuit: Leadership and the End of the Reform Era", political journalist George Megalogenis examines the restless pace and timid tone of contemporary Australian politics. Discussing the essay with former Labor politician Lindsay Tanner – in a sometimes disarming reversal of roles – Megalogenis elaborates on his thesis of \u27impatience\u27 and rapid succession. While Tanner explores the influence of complacency and comfort in Australia’s timid political climate, as well as the change in commercial television’s current affairs reporting, Megalogenis muses on how new media has always affected the tone of its forebears. He suggests that a complex change has affected both governance and media which has much to do with each adopting the other’s tactics, as well as a marked shift in the attention span and distraction of citizens. &nbsp

Seeking a leader Like Keating

In his Monthly essay, Lessons in Leadership, George Megalogenis writes about the malaise in contemporary Australian politics, and how a leader like former Prime Minister Paul Keating might approach the task of reform today. In this exclusive SlowTV interview, Megalogenis discusses the essay and its themes with Nick Feik. Duration: 23:52 Watch the video at SlowT

The place of work in a meaningful life

Adelaide Festival of Ideas session, Basil Hetzel Lecture Room, University of Adelaide, 3.00pm, Sunday 12th July, 2009. Chaired by Barbara Pocock.http://www.adelaidefestivalofideas.com.a

GALAs 2015: in five. A gala debate on 2020

This Wheeler centre talk discusses where will we be as a society in five years’ time. Overview As part of our fifth birthday celebrations, we presented a unique headline debate with two sides, just one team – and nothing less than our future at stake. The central question: where will we be as a society in five years’ time? Should we feel hopeful, or should we feel despair? In four minute bursts, our panel of five prominent thinkers each make an informed, impassioned case for optimism – and counter with an equally persuasive case against it. It\u27s public debate of a kind that bucks binaries, marginalises myopia and penalises pigheadedness. And it’s a conversation with room for complexity, nuance and the grey areas in your grey matter. Speakers include feminist author Eva Cox, Robogals founder and former Young Australian of the Year Marita Cheng, political journalist and author George Megalogenis, Tasmanian Department of Justice secretary Simon Overland and medical anthropologist Gregory Phillips. Our host is writer and broadcaster Annabel Crabb. &nbsp