What's the Big Idea?

Leading thinkers from Australia and around the world outline how we can make change for the better

To mark The Australia Institute's 30 years of big ideas, we have asked some of our good friends and leading thinkers from Australia and around the world to share a big idea for a better Australia.

The Australia Institute has spent the last 30 years producing research that matters, and this anthology offers fresh thinking about climate action, how to safeguard our democracy, the importance of bravery in policymaking, and how to address some of the biggest issues of our day- from gender-based discrimination to the housing crisis; from our relationship with the United States to keeping cities cooler.

In our first 30 years, The Australia Institute has shown how to make the impossible feel inevitable, and the radical seem reasonable. The works in this inspiring volume serve as a reminder that the solutions are there; Australia just needs the courage to implement them.

Featuring - an introduction by The Hon Michael Kirby AC Yanis Varoufakis Aunty Pat Anderson AO His Excellency Anote Tong Professor Clare Wright OAM President Jose Ramos-Horta Professor Peter Doherty AC Professor Brian Schmidt AC Professor Fiona Stanley AC Associate Professor Rebecca Glauert Jennifer Robinson Thomas Mayo Christine Milne AO Professor Patrick McGorry AO Professor John Langmore AM Hon Melissa Parke Lucy Hughes Turnbull AO Alana Johnson AM Bob Brown Sally McManus Karrina Nolan Polly Hemming Greg Jericho Sunita Narain Amy Remeikis Bill Browne Maiy Azize Kieran Pender Anna Spargo-Ryan Dr Emma Shortis Alex Sloan AM John McKinnon Allan Behm Dr Joelle Gergis Louise Adler AM Dr Richard Denniss