Videos - The Wheeler Centre: Books, Writing, Ideas

Lunchbox/Soapbox: Hugh de Kretser: All Right For Us But Not for Them: Selectivity in Australia's Human Rights Protection

Hugh de Kretser argues that a bill of rights is an essential part of maturing Australia's human rights culture.

Intelligence Squared Debate: Anzac Day is More Puff Than Substance

Six panellists each make their case for remembrance and national mythmaking in this lively Oxford-style debate.

Texts in the City: Summer of the Seventeenth Doll

Lili Wilkinson and guest Ailsa Piper explore Ray Lawler's Australian classic, Summer of the Seventeenth Doll.

The Fifth Estate: The Ambassadors

Guests Amanda Vanstone and Michael Wesley join Sally Warhaft to discuss the work of the modern ambassador.

Intelligence Squared Debate: Our Food Obsession Has Gone Too Far

Is our food obsession excessive, or can it drive social change and wellbeing? Explore the issue in this debate.

Australian Literature 102: Henry Lawson: The Drover's Wife

Martin Flanagan and James Ley discuss an Australian classic - Henry Lawson's short story The Drover's Wife.

Tasmania's Tipping Point

Contributors to Griffith Review's Tasmania edition speak with its editor about the privileges and pitfalls of the isl...

Michael Leunig

Michael Leunig looks back on a career of whimsy, joy and provocation - and draws live. In conversation with Michael W...

Joyful Strains

Danny Katz, Shalini Akhil and Arnold Zable reflect on their personal experiences of making Australia home.

The Fifth Estate: Regional Partnerships and Diplomatic Deals

Sally Warhaft, Tim Lindsey and Julian McMahon discuss Australia's diplomatic relationship with Indonesia.

Ideas for Melbourne: Making Racism History

What are we doing to combat racism? And how can we learn from past mistakes?

The Fifth Estate: Diplomacy, Disasters and Deals: Foreign Policy 2013

At the beginning of an election year, guests from The Lowy Institute discuss foreign policy's likely directions in 2013.

Ideas for Melbourne: The City of the Future

Can a big Melbourne remain beautiful - let alone liveable or sustainable? Can we have it all, or do tough choices lie...

Lunchbox/Soapbox: Sarah Marland on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and their Homelands

Considering political responses to Indigenous rights, Sarah Marland tries to understand why governments have been fai...

Geordie Williamson: The Burning Library

Geordie Williamson explains his passion for Australian literature's past masters. With Sarah L'Estrange.

Quarterly Essay: On Politics and Conservation: Tim Flannery

Tim Flannery joins Jane Rawson to discuss Australia's urgent environmental responsibilities and his ideas for a new a...

Lunchbox/Soapbox: Catherine Deveny on Pernickety Parents

Catherine Deveny rails against 'detrimental, counterproductive and narcissistic' helicopter parenting in this debate-...

Australian Literature 101: Tim Winton: Cloudstreet

In this episode of Australian Literature 101, Ramona Koval is joined by Cloudstreet's first publisher, Hilary McPhee.

Lunchbox/Soapbox: Paul Ham on the Atrocities of Sandakan

In this eloquent argument for atonement, Paul Ham recounts the barbaric and long-forgotten ordeal endured by Australi...

Texts in the City: Paradise Road

Andrew McDonald and film critic Thomas Caldwell discuss Bruce Beresford's film Paradise Road.

Australian Literature 101: Kim Scott: That Deadman Dance

Philip Morrissey joins Ramona Koval to discuss Kim Scott's award-winning modern classic, That Deadman Dance.

Michael Kirby: Law, Love and Life

Celebrated High Court judge Michael Kirby speaks with biographer Daryl Dellora about his dynamic private and public l...

Bill Gammage on the Biggest Estate on Earth: How Aborigines Made Australia

Bill Gammage discusses the insightful, holistic way in which Aboriginal Australians managed their land.

Lunchbox/Soapbox: Tim Soutphommasane: Don't Go Back to Where You Came From: Why Multiculturalism Works

Political philosopher and commentator Tim Soutphommasane puts forward his case for why Australian multiculturalism wo...

Lunchbox/Soapbox: Michelle Smith: From Prim to Poledance: Girls, Sex and Popular Culture

Examining outrage over the 'sexualisation' of girls, Michelle Smith explores parallels between the Victorian era and ...

Australian Literature 101: Patrick White: Voss

Ramona Koval is joined by Peter Craven, who offers his considered thoughts on Patrick White's classic novel Voss.

McSweeney's 41: Australian Aboriginal Fiction Edition

Join us for a celebration of McSweeney's 41 - a survey of contemporary Australian Aboriginal fiction - with its edito...

Quarterly Essay - Political Animal: The Making of Tony Abbott: David Marr

In a very lively, candid appearance hosted by George Megalogenis, David Marr discusses his bold, controversial essay ...

Australian Literature 101: Helen Garner: Monkey Grip

Critic Kerryn Goldsworthy discusses Helen Garner's iconic book Monkey Grip with Ramona Koval.

Australian Literature 101: Kate Grenville: Lilian's Story

In this instalment of our series exploring seminal Australian texts, host Ramona Koval is joined by writer and academ...

The Fifth Estate: End of Growth?

Sally Warhaft, Satyajit Das and Andrew Charlton take part in a heated debate over the future of economic growth in Au...

The Hazel Rowley Legacy

Alex Miller and Jim Davidson mark the anniversary of their friend Hazel Rowley's passing, and announce the winner of ...

Quarterly Essay - The Big Whinge: Laura Tingle

Laura Tingle and Fran Kelly discuss Tingle's Quarterly Essay, which tackles Australian society's climate of antagonis...

Lunchbox/Soapbox: Ian Lowe: Bigger or Better? Australia's Population Debate

Professor Ian Lowe of the Australian Conservation Foundation examines the complex, controversial issues surrounding t...

Walter Lippmann Memorial Lecture: Lindsay Tanner

Lindsay Tanner argues for the economic benefits of diversity through immigration in Australia.

Bob Katter: An Incredible Race of People

One of the country’s most controversial politicians, Bob Katter Jr joins ABC politics stalwart Barrie Cassidy to disc...

Lunchbox/Soapbox: Judge John Smallwood on An Old Take on Justice: County Koori Court

Judge John Smallwood discusses the County Koori Court: its mechanisms, successes and the role of community elders.

Lunchbox/Soapbox: Jim Davidson on Australia and the Monarchy

Jim Davidson examines Australia's history with the monarchy, and asks: when will we face up to the inevitable and mov...

The Fifth Estate: Boom Time Budget

Shareholder activist Stephen Mayne, journalist George Megalogenis and host Sally Warhaft unpack Australia's 2012-13 f...

Australian Literature 101: Ray Lawler: Summer of the Seventeenth Doll

Alison Croggon explores Ray Lawler's Summer of the Seventeenth Doll for Australian Literature 101, with Ramona Koval.

Quarterly Essay - Us and Them: Anna Krien

With host Siobhan O'Sullivan, Anna Krien discusses her recent Quarterly Essay, 'Us and Them' - an incisive survey of ...

Robert Dessaix: As I Was Saying

Eminent essayist Robert Dessaix discusses his distinctive passions, methods and perspectives with Crusader Hillis.

Australian Literature 101: Christina Stead: The Man Who Loved Children

Ramona Koval is joined by Michelle de Kretser, who examines Christina Stead's classic novel, The Man Who Loved Children.

Texts in the City: Collected Poems of Gwen Harwood

In this video-only Texts in the City, Jenny Niven and Chris Wallace-Crabbe look at Collected Poems of Gwen Harwood.

Texts in the City: Cosí

Lorin Clarke joins Ruby Murray to discuss Louis Nowra's Australian classic, Cosi.

Australian Literature 101: Judith Wright: Poems

Chris Wallace-Crabbe joins Ramona Koval to discuss the poems of Judith Wright.

George Megalogenis: The Australian Moment

George Megalogenis discusses his incisive book on Australia's place in the global economy. With Annabel Crabb.

The Fifth Estate: Educational Principles

Sally Warhaft is joined by Lesley Lamb, Paul Sheahan and David Zyngier to discuss the Gonski report on education.

Hilary McPhee: Memoirs of a Young Bastard

Publisher and master researcher Hilary McPhee discusses film-maker Tim Burstall's diaries with Wendy Tuohy.

Lunchbox/Soapbox: Glyn Davis: Leader of The Gang: How Political Parties Choose Numero Uno

With political leadership constantly in question, Glyn Davis draws on history and sociology to suggest why this may be.

The Fifth Estate: The Numbers Game

In the series debut, Lindsay Tanner and Sally Warhaft discuss political parties, democratic process and media culture.

Australian Literature 101: Watkin Tench: A Narrative of the Expedition to Botany Bay

In the series debut, Ramona Koval and Michael Williams explore the generous historical voice of Watkin Tench.

Quarterly Essay - Man-Made World: Choosing Between Progress and Planet

Andrew Charlton discusses the conflicting interests of wealthy and developing nations in the global energy crisis.

Law and Order Week: A History of Bad Behaviour

Opium dens, illegal brothels and men with names as colourful as their pasts: we uncover Melbourne's criminal record.

Law and Order Week: Naked City

Rhys Muldoon, Andrew Rule and Tom Noble explore the truth, responsibility and vivid personalities of true crime writing.

The Late Great: Christina Stead

Ramona Koval, playwright Darryl Emerson and writer Rodney Hall discuss the satire and wit of the late Christina Stead.

Alex Miller

Esteemed novelist Alex Miller talks about 'Autumn Laing', art, love and imagination with Geordie Williamson.

Law and Order Week: Compassionate Bastard

Former Villawood boss Peter Mitchell, refugee advocate David Manne and Peter Mares discuss Australia's asylum seekers.

Must-Read Histories

Stuart Macintyre, Tim Soutphommasane, Marcia Langton and Clare Wright discuss essential works of Australian history.

The Slap

Key figures in the TV adaptation of Christos Tsiolkas' novel The Slap discuss its journey from page to screen.

Lunchbox/Soapbox: Thomas Keneally on Australians from Eureka to the Diggers

Thomas Keneally tells a story of racism, wartime politics, empire and the life and death of White Australia.

Paul Keating

In a marathon session, Paul Keating talks cultural vision, reconciliation, reform and creativity with Robert Manne.

You Say You Want a Revolution: Not Sorry Enough

Our panel considers the complexity of indigenous affairs in Australia: its losses, successes and future challenges.

Seven Billion: It's Getting Crowded in Here!

As the world prepares for its seven billionth person, our panel search for the soul in our ever more crowded cities.

Don Watson

Former Keating speechwriter discusses his memoir and the shifts in Australian politics since Keating's demise.

Paul Cleary on Australia's Mining Boom

Journalist Paul Cleary critiques Australia's dependence on mining in what he provocatively labels "generational theft".

The Late Great: Marcus Clarke

Tony Moore, Robyn Annear and Des Cowley remember 'urban bohemian' journalist, poet and novelist Marcus Clarke.

Intelligence Squared: There is No Justification for Risking Australian Lives in Afghanistan

In this lively debate, our panel discuss the value and risks of Australia's participation in the war in Afghanistan.

Emotional Cities

Kerryn Goldsworthy and Matt Condon discuss the culture, architecture and landscape of the cities that have inspired t...

James Boyce: The Truth About Melbourne

Author James Boyce reveals the forgotten founders of Melbourne, and ponders their impact on the present-day metropolis.

Sarah Maddison: Beyond White Guilt

Sarah Maddison explores Australia's guilt over its brutal past and the transformative opportunity it offers.

David Marr: Power Trip - The Political Journey of Kevin Rudd

Essayist David Marr assesses Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's inspirations, methods and political temperament.

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