The National Conservatism Institute of Australia Podcast

by Dan Ryan

Paul Kelly, editor-at-large, The Australian newspaper - The Twilight of Australian Exceptionalism

My guest today is Paul Kelly, editor-at-large of The Australian newspaper and author of the recently published book: "The Twilight of Exceptionalism: The Liberal and Conservative Era 2013 - 2022". Today we discuss: Why, of the many books he has authored, he found this one the most difficult to write Why the traditional Australian centre-right is in crisis Whether we over-mythologize the Hawke-Keating-Howard-Costello era in Australia and what he makes of the critiques of people like Andrew Hastie and Matt Canavan His view on Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter / X in 2022 and what responsibility journalism has for he problems the west faces And how we can make Australia exceptional again? And much, much, more https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Kelly_(journalist) https://www.mup.com.au/books/the-twilight-of-exceptionalism/9780522882339

E133

Aug 5, 2026

1:01:36

Prof Alan Gamlen - The Politics of Immigration, National Identity, and Demographic Transformation

My guest today is Alan Gamlen who among other things a Professor in the School of Regulation and Global Governance at Australian National University and Founding Director of the ANU Migration Hub. Today we discuss: - How he became interested in the topic of immigration and why he thinks immigration has become such a hot button topic in recent times - How the universalist left and the free market right have similar views on immigration and the nation state - Why we need immigration at all and whether he thinks the UK deserves the criticism it has received - How he thinks this will all play out politically in the years ahead https://researchportalplus.anu.edu.au/en/persons/alan-gamlen/

E132

Aug 3, 2026

1:09:39

Chetna Mahadik - "Immigration and Multiculturalism: The Past, Present, and Future"

My guest today is Chetna Mahadik, who is general manager of the Robert Menzies Institute and editor of the recent published book "Immigration and Multiculturalism: The Past, The Present, and The Future". Today we discuss: - Recent conference she organised in Melbourne and some of the key issues discussed such as the current rationale for immigration - Dual citizenship, whether it is really possible to love and have allegiance to two countries - What she understands by multiculturalism - And whether the citizenship process she went though is adequate And much much more https://www.linkedin.com/in/chetna-mahadik-0306902/ https://www.connorcourtpublishing.com.au/Immigration-Multiculturalism-The-Past-the-Present-and-the-Future-edited-by-Chetna-Mahadik_p_681.html

E131

Aug 3, 2026

58:57

Prof Alexandre Lefebvre - Defending Liberalism from the New Right

My guest today is Alexandre Lefebvre, professor of politics and philosophy at the University of Sydney. Alex is a staunch defender of liberalism but is also very familiar and engages with prominent thinkers in the national conservative, post-liberal, and "new right" movements globally. Today we discuss: - What makes him a liberal and what he has learnt from the critics of liberalism - Why he thinks the liberal consensus is coming under stress - Whether liberalism is inherently hostile to religion and the nation state - And where he sees the nationalist and post-liberal political movements going in the years ahead And much more https://www.alexlefebvre.com/

E130

Jul 28, 2026

55:23

Robert Forsyth - "Resilient Liberalism: Classical Liberal Thought in Australia"

My guest today is Robert Forsyth, a fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies in Sydney and host of the podcast "Liberalism in Question". Rob also a former Anglican Bishop. Today we discuss: The new book from the CIS called "Resilient Liberalism: Classical Liberal Thought in Australia" and I ask why liberalism in his view is coming under criticism We have a spirited debate on trade policy and whether there is need for reassessment We also discuss the relationship between Christianity and liberalism, whether they are in conflict with each other, and the extent to which Christian values are liberal values Whether political conservatism is properly understood in Australia and the extent to which the Hawke-Keating-Howard era policy framework needs to change And much much more https://www.connorcourtpublishing.com.au/Resilient-Liberalism-Classical-Liberal-Thought-in-Australia-edited-by-Robert-Forsyth_p_684.html https://www.cis.org.au/person/robert-forsyth/

E129

Jul 15, 2026

54:12

Robert Gregory - Australia's Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion

My guest today is Robert Gregory, CEO and President of the Australian Jewish Association (AJA) Today we discuss: The AJA's recent submission to Australia's Royal Commission on AntiSemitism and Social Cohesion and why he has low expectations regarding its recommendations What exactly explains the rise of antisemitism in Australia? Why is not in favour of hate speech laws What he makes of the monocultural vs multiculturalism debate and how it applies to the jewish community How much Israeli government lobbying there actually is in Australia? And much more https://asc.royalcommission.gov.au/ https://jewishassociation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Submission-Australian-Jewish-Association-Royal-Commission.pdf

E128

Jul 14, 2026

57:07

Dr Bella D'Abrera - "Mindless: How the Education System is Indoctrinating Our Children and Destroying Our Civilisation"

My guest today is Dr Bella D'Abrera a well-known Australian academic who was for many years Director of the Foundations of Western Civilisation Program at the Institute of Public Affairs. Amongst other things she is now on the Advisory Committee for the Australian National Archives and a regular contributor to The Spectator Australia, the Herald Sun, the Daily Telegraph and The Australian, and appears regularly on Sky News. Today we discuss: How she describes the ideology which is being taught to our children and whether it is correct to describe it as Marxist How exactly did this ideology come to seize the commanding heights of our education system How to push back against the argument that modern education is simply being kind and tolerant? What solutions are there for parents looking to protect their kids? And much much more. https://x.com/belladabrera?s=20 https://www.amazon.com.au/Mindless-Education-Indoctrinating-Destroying-Civilisation/dp/1764484908?ref_=Oct_d_otopr_d_4897353051_0&pd_rd_w=uVpan&content-id=amzn1.sym.69547269-75b4-4a51-b300-2e4234beacb4&pf_rd_p=69547269-75b4-4a51-b300-2e4234beacb4&pf_rd_r=6DQ8Q5PY5GQJNTMFRVK0&pd_rd_wg=GxDpP&pd_rd_r=65983723-8174-41f3-856c-d54838afb71a&pd_rd_i=1764484908

E127

Jun 22, 2026

36:09

Barnaby Joyce - What Really Explains One Nation's Recent Meteoric Rise?

My guest today is former deputy Prime Minister of Australia and now One Nation MP, Barnaby Joyce . Today we discuss: How he explains his new party's meteoric rise in the polls over the last 12 months Is One Nation just a protest party? If not, what is the governing philosophy of One Nation and how does it differ from The Liberal Party and The National Party Why the traditional centre-right parties adopting some of One Nation positions hasn’t improved their polls What positions he has rethought over the last 10 years and how things have changed since the Howard era Where he thinks it all ends And much much more https://barnabyjoyce.com.au/

E126

Jun 3, 2026

30:18

Parnell Palme McGuinness - The Politically Young and Restless in Modern Australia

Parnell is an insights and advocacy strategist and a senior fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies, an Australian classical market think tank. She also writes a weekly column for the Sun-Herald and the Sunday Age on politics, policy and culture. Today we discuss: Her well-known columnist father, his political transformation, and whether her views have changed over the years Whether there needs to be an update to the Howard era right thinking on trade and immigration How young people (25-34) in Australia are feeling about the economy based on her recent research Whether AI is going to kill journalism and all white collar jobs within 18 months as the head of Microsoft AI recently claimed And much more https://www.cis.org.au/person/parnell-palme-mcguinness/

E125

May 18, 2026

1:00:49

Dr James L Nuzzo - The Perils of Gender Politics and What Do To About It

James L. Nuzzo, PhD, is an exercise scientist and men’s health researcher. Dr. Nuzzo has published over 80 research articles in peer-reviewed journals. He writes regularly about exercise, men’s health, and academia at The Nuzzo Letter, with additional writings appearing at Reality’s Last Stand and Australians for Science & Freedom. In 2025, Dr. Nuzzo documented his academic cancellation using a freedom of information request. Today we discuss: His termination from his position at an Australian university and how the end of “woke” and cancellation politics has been greatly exaggerated How he got involved in the gender politics and how his research reveals data that is often very different to what is presented in the mainstream press The radicalisation of young women in the West and what should be done about it What he understands by the term “feminism” and how gender issues should be discussed Whether there are any causes for optimism And much much more. James L. Nuzzo, PhD, CSCS The Nuzzo Letter (Substack) ResearchGate Google Scholar Twitter (X) LinkedIn jameslnuzzo.com Go Fund Me (Research Support)

E124

May 15, 2026

54:39

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