Melbourne Institute Public Economic Forums in Canberra
Forthcoming Forums 2012
Australia: Still the Land of the Fair Go?
Canberra
Date: Tuesday 24 July 2012
Time: 12.00 - 1.45pm
Venue: Hotel Realm
Speakers:
Dr Andrew Leigh MP, Federal Member for Fraser
Tall Poppies in the Land of the Fair Go: Why has Australian Inequality Risen, and
Does it Matter?
Mr Michael Perusco, Assistant Secretary, Social Inclusion Unit, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet
Associate Professor Roger Wilkins, Principal Research Fellow and Deputy Director (Research), HILDA Survey, Melbourne Institute
Paid Parental Leave
Canberra
Date: Thursday 6 September 2012
Time: 12.00 - 1.45pm
Venue: Hotel Realm
Speakers:
Professor Bill Martin, Professor of Sociology, Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland
Ms Jane Dickenson, Section Manager, Paid Parental Leave Branch, Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
Associate Professor Guyonne Kalb, Principal Research Fellow, Melbourne Institute
Past Forums 2012
A High Exchange Rate: Should we be concerned and what should be done?
Canberra
Date: Thursday 19 April 2012
Time: 12.00 - 1.45pm
Venue: National Ballroom 3, Hotel Realm, 18 National Circuit, Barton ACT
Chair:
Mr Gary Banks AO, Chairman, Productivity Commission
Speakers:
The Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP, Shadow Minister for Communications and Broadband
Professor Max Corden, Department of Economics, The University of Melbourne
(read Profesor Corden's working paper "The Dutch Disease in Australia: Policy Options for a Three-Speed Economy")
About the Topic
Australia's small size and narrow export base makes its currency relatively volatile. In the early 2000s, the AUD was below 60c American, and for most of the last 30 years it has been below 80c. Today it is over $1. Actions taken - whether via market-based forces or government policy - on the basis of short-lived rates of exchange can have long-term and persistent effects on the economy. Should we be concerned and if so, what actions should we take? In this forum, two leaders in this area discuss their idea for a solution.