Universal declaration
Human rights activist and former judge Elizabeth Evatt delivered a speech at the University of New South Wales to mark the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
[Text: Elizabeth Evatt speaks on the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights]
21st century
In the sixth Boyer lecture, News Corporation's Rupert Murdoch remembers the class distinctions he saw at Oxford, but revels in the prospect of a world where privilege has been democratised.
[The 21st century: comforting the afflicted - a transcript of Rupert Murdoch's 6th Boyer Lecture]
Financial crisis
Lowy Institute director and former RBA governor Ian Macfarlane delivers 2008's Lowy Lecture on Australia in the World. He asks what is different about this financial crisis from the seven previous crises of the deregulated era spanning the past thirty years, and considers the lessons we can draw from it.
[Transcript and audio: Ian Macfarlane delivers 2008 Lowy Lecture - Australia and the international financial crisis]
Global middle class
In the fifth Boyer lecture, News Corporation's Rupert Murdoch says his recent trips to China and India have convinced him of one thing: there is no alternative to economic growth as a remedy for poverty.
[The global middle class roars - a transcript of Rupert Murdoch's 5th Boyer Lecture]
School accountability
The chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, Joel Klein, who is visiting Australia to talk up his model of education reform, has addressed the National Press Club in Canberra.
[Transcript: Joel Klein speaks at the National Press Club]
Labor's 'epic blunder'
Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull has assessed the Federal Government's first year in office, with a speech to the National Press Club in Canberra. He argues the Government has seriously mishandled the financial crisis and the unlimited bank guarantee has made the problem worse.
[Transcript: Malcolm Turnbull addresses the National Press Club]
Education reform
Delivering the fourth speech in the Boyer lecture series, News Corporation's Rupert Murdoch has branded Australia's public education system a "disgrace", saying it is leaving too many children innumerate and illiterate. He appeals for big business to play a more active role alongside governments.
[Fortune favours the smart - a transcript of Rupert Murdoch's 4th Boyer Lecture]
Spending surpluses
In a speech to the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) in Melbourne, Reserve Bank governor Glenn Stevens encouraged state and federal governments to continue to spend money. He says the Federal Government has his approval to run the Budget into deficit to help shield the economy from the global downturn.
[RBA governor Glenn Stevens addresses the CEDA Annual Dinner]
Beyond dead trees
In the third 2008 Boyer Lecture in Sydney, News Corporation chairman and chief executive Rupert Murdoch says newspapers will thrive in the 21st century if proprietors fully comprehend what it means to be alive in the era of information.
[The future of newspapers - a transcript of Rupert Murdoch's 3rd Boyer Lecture]
Tax reform
Treasury head Ken Henry has addressed the National Press Club, arguing for substantial reform of Australia's tax system. Dr Henry says people should not have to employ an accountant to choose whether to return to work or put their kids in childcare.
[Towards a tax and transfer system of human scale: Dr Ken Henry addresses Press Club]
Who's afraid?
In the second 2008 Boyer Lecture in Sydney, News Corporation chairman and chief executive Rupert Murdoch argues we must not be prisoners of the past - modern day Luddites - if we are to succeed in the golden era.
[Who's afraid of new technology? - a transcript of Rupert Murdoch's 2nd Boyer Lecture]
Greatest injustice
Former Australian of the Year and child health expert Fiona Stanley has delivered the annual Hawke lecture in Adelaide, entitled The Greatest Injustice: why we have failed to improve the health of Aboriginal people. Professor Stanley says governments are not taking enough responsibility for health and social outcomes in Aboriginal communities.
[Transcript: Fiona Stanley delivers Hawke Lecture]
One year on
Ben Saul, director of the Sydney Centre for International Law, judges the first year of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's Labor Government, spelling out areas requiring further attention - including Australia's attitude to capital punishment and torture in other countries.
[The Rudd government's human rights record: one year on]
Victory for Obama
Barack Obama accepts the position of US President-elect in front of a 65,000-strong crowd in Chicago's Grant Park.
[Full text: Obama's victory speech]
Aussie rules
In the first 2008 Boyer Lecture in Sydney, News Corporation chairman and chief executive Rupert Murdoch has called for an ambitious reform program of Australia's education and welfare systems.
[Aussie rules: bring back the pioneer - a transcript of Rupert Murdoch's 1st Boyer Lecture]
Household finances
The Reserve Bank of Australia's deputy governor, Ric Battellino, has told a financial conference that the high rate of inflation could limit further interest rate cuts, but Australia should be able to avoid recession.
[Update on household finances: RBA deputy governor Ric Battellino's speech]
Investing wisely
The Australian National University's vice-chancellor, Ian Chubb, has given an address at the National Press Club, arguing that Australia needed different universities to provide different courses according to where their strengths lay.
[Investing wisely for Australia’s future: Ian Chubb addresses the National Press Club]
Green New Deal
In a speech at the Sydney Institute, Greens Senator Christine Milne has challenged the Coalition to follow the lead of UK conservatives and support the Greens in pushing for a stronger emissions trading scheme.
[Text: Christine Milne speaks at the Sydney Institute]
Bill of Rights
Tom Calma, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner and Race Discrimination Commissioner, has delivered the Charles Perkins Oration at the University of Sydney. The speech, entitled 'Still riding for freedom - an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander human rights agenda for the 21st century', explores the issue of an Aboriginal Bill of Rights.
[Text: Tom Calma delivers 2008 Charles Perkins Oration]
Reconstruction in Afghanistan
Army Chief Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie says shifting spending priorities are putting the squeeze on stabilisation and reconstruction commitments, but he says that does not mean the insurgents have got the upper hand.
[Audio: Lt Gen Ken Gillespie addresses Lowy Institute]
Social justice for Aboriginal people
In the 2008 Warrane Lecture, Professor Larissa Behrendt from the University of Technology, Sydney, critiques government's approach to Indigenous policy initiatives, including the recent federal intervention into Northern Territory communities.
[Achieving Social Justice for Aboriginal People in a Civil Society: Larissa Behrendt delivers 2008 Warrane Lecture]
Same-sex relationships
Delivering the Rights Australia inaugural John Marsden lecture, High Court Judge Michael Kirby said despite moves to amend discrimination in a number of federal laws, same-sex relationships have been left behind.
[The Uncomfortable Demand for Civic Equality: Justice Michael Kirby delivers the inaugural John Marsden Lecture]
Future of newspaper journalism
Michael Gawenda - a journalist, commentator and former editor-in-chief of The Age - delivers the 2008 A N Smith Lecture in Journalism at the University of Melbourne. He asks whether newspapers have a future, and for how long.
[Michael Gawenda presents 2008 A N Smith Lecture in Journalism]
Rudd at UN
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has called for tougher international regulations and improved transparency of the world's big banks and financial institutions.
[Text: Prime Minister Kevin Rudd addresses the UN General Assembly in New York]
Broadband dithering
Telstra's departing manager of public policy, Phil Burgess, has accused the Federal Government of dithering over broadband in his farewell speech. Dr Burgess - well-known during his three years with Telstra for clashing with the government and regulators - says bureaucrats are playing games with the telco.
[Audio: Phil Burgess speaks at the Lowy Institute]
