Event and Ticketing Details
Dates & Times
Thursday 15 September
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
It’s a debate with a decidedly apocalyptic ring: stand by while the dynamics of life on earth change irrevocably, or try to take action that may slow or halt the process - and in so doing possibly compromise our way of life. It’s a debate that challenges fundamental assumptions about evidence, responsibility and governance. And it’s a debate coming soon to the Melbourne Town Hall.
Few issues of recent times have divided Australia as much as how we should respond to climate change. The Gillard government’s proposed carbon tax is the most controversial policy proposal in at least a decade. Proponents struggle to convince the public of the link between a new, broad-based tax and climate change mitigation, while opponents recite their mantra: “A tax won’t fix climate change”.
This September, the carbon tax debate comes home to roost. The next Intelligence Squared debate will tackle the scaremongering, dispel the fictions and, one can only hope, end the confusion. Come and hear panelists from both sides of the divide: politicians, scientists, academics and stakeholders make their case and plead their cause.
Featuring
Sinclair Davidson
Sinclair Davidson is a professor in the School of Economics, Finance and Marketing at RMIT University and a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Public Affairs.
Adam Bandt
Adam Bandt is a Greens MP and the Federal Member for Melbourne. He was elected in 2010 when he made history by becoming the first Greens MP elected to the House of Representatives at a general election.
Adam was elected Deputy Leader in April 2012 and is the federal Greens spokesperson on industrial relations, banking, science and industry spokesperson. He was also participant in the government’s Multi-Party Committee on Climate Change.
Since being elected to Parliament he has successfully moved motions on marriage equality and condemning the government’s refugee deal with Malaysia. He has introduced legislation on protecting the Alpine National Park, banking reform, banning live animal exports and Parliamentary approval for sending troops overseas. Adam’s Bill to compensate fire fighters with cancer passed both houses in November 2012 and his Equal Marriage Bill is currently before a house committee.
Adam received undergraduate Law/Arts Honours degrees at Murdoch University, where he won the Sir Ronald Wilson Prize for Academic Achievement and he completed a PhD at Monash University in 2008.
His thesis looked at the recent trend of governments suspending basic human rights in areas such as migration, workplace relations and criminal law. He has written articles for many publications and has taught industrial relations law at RMIT.
For many years he worked at the labour law firm Slater & Gordon, where he became a partner in the industrial and public interest unit, the same job former Prime Minister Julia Gillard used to have. He is now a barrister who specialises in the field of industrial, employment and public interest law. Adam has represented many unions and low paid workers and has worked on cases involving freedom of speech and implementation of international covenants into Australian law.
Adam lives in Flemington with his partner Claudia and their two dogs.
Matthew Wright
Matthew Wright is the lead author of the award-winning Zero Carbon Australia Plan, and 2010’s Young Environmentalist of the Year.
As founder and executive director of not-for-profit organisation Beyond Zero Emissions, Matthew heads the fastest growing climate change research and development group in Australia. His focus on finding 21st century solutions is reflected in Beyond Zero Emissions and fully shared by its workforce, staffed by over 100 volunteers.
Tim Flannery
Tim Flannery is a scientist, an explorer, a conservationist and a leading writer on climate change. He has held various academic positions including visiting Professor in Evolutionary and Organismic Biology at Harvard University, Director of the South Australian Museum, Principal Research Scientist at the Australian Museum, Professorial Fellow at the Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute, University of Melbourne, and Panasonic Professor of Environmental Sustainability, Macquarie University. His books include the award-winning international bestseller The Weather Makers, Here on Earth and Atmosphere of Hope. Flannery was the 2007 Australian of the Year. He is currently chief councillor of the Climate Council.
Stuart Allinson
Stuart is a co-founder and director of Exigency, an independent, specialist energy and carbon market advisory firm. He is a member of the Coalition Advisory Council on Climate Policy.
Stuart has a broad-based energy and utilities background, ranging from oil and gas exploration and production to incentive-based economic regulation, primarily in European markets. He has a broad-based energy and utilities background, ranging from oil and gas exploration and production to incentive-based economic regulation, primarily in European markets.
He emigrated to Australia in 1997 to consult on various energy market reforms and corporatisations. Stuart left Ernst & Young in 2003, to establish Exigency, through which he has continued to provide specialist advice and strategic consulting to clients in the area of energy and carbon policy.
Stuart was educated at London University, Manchester University and Kellogg Graduate School of Management and holds degrees in mathematics, petroleum engineering and business administration.
Fiona O'Hehir
Fiona O'Hehir is CEO of Greenbank Environmental. She has a technical background in electronics and power conversion for the solar industry and has been involved in the clean energy space for many years.
Fiona spent six years as an elected industry representative on the board of the Clean Energy Council. She has just completed a two year board position on Renewables SA. With a budget of $20 million, this government organisation was able to fund initiatives and to bring renewable infrastructure and employment to South Australia.
In 2003 Fiona started her own business to educate the solar industry about the renewable energy target and the need to create their solar credits for the remote area power and grid connected installations. Eight years on, Greenbank Environmental is now the largest independent trader of Renewable Energy Certificates and other environmental credits in Australia, with the creation of four million renewable energy credits and a turnover of $150 million last year.