Michael Lester

Michael Lester is a public policy economist with a career in Commonwealth and State agencies, World Bank and OECD. His interests include innovation, environment, and governance. He presents programs on community radio.

Michael's recent articles

Medicare's much-needed reform held hostage by vested interests: Michael Lester in conversation with John Menadue, AO

Medicare's much-needed reform held hostage by vested interests: Michael Lester in conversation with John Menadue, AO

Access to affordable primary healthcare through GPs has collapsed, forcing more people to rely on overcrowded and understaffed public hospitals. These hospitals, meant to be a last resort, have instead become the costly default option.

Overreach and technocratic control in Australian University reform

Overreach and technocratic control in Australian University reform

Announced by the incoming Labor government, the University Accord process and review is being touted as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine the role and funding of Australia's 40-plus universities. With 1.5 million students enrolled, including 500,000 international students, and generating $35 billion in revenue, universities have been struggling in the wake of COVID-19.

Australia's faltering research and development funding and efforts

Australia's faltering research and development funding and efforts

Michael Lester in conversation with Professor Ian Chubb AC—policy adviser at the Australian Academy of Science (AAS), former Chief Scientist of Australia, and former Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of several universities—now appointed to lead a once-in-a-generation review of Australia's faltering research and development funding and efforts.

Whistleblowing, truth and the price of courage

Whistleblowing, truth and the price of courage

Michael Lester in conversation with Kieran Pender, senior lawyer for the Whistleblower Project at the Human Rights Law Centre (HRLC), discuss recent high-profile whistleblowing cases in both public (e.g. East Timor) and private (e.g. CBA) sectors.

Strategic space in a bounded global order: China, Russia and America

Strategic space in a bounded global order: China, Russia and America

Geoff Raby AO, former Australian ambassador to China, discusses with Michael Lester the remaking of the global order in his book Great Game On: The Contest for Central Asia and Global Supremacy (Melbourne University Press, 2024).

Ending 'Dog Days' stagnant living standards

Ending 'Dog Days' stagnant living standards

Over the past decade, Australia has endured its worst stagnation in living standards since the Great Depression of the 1930s, and has lost its way in terms of economic policies that can restore prosperity, says Ross Garnaut in conversation with Michael Lester.

The Future of Australia's telecommunications sector

The Future of Australia's telecommunications sector

While successfully rolling out 5G mobile wireless technology and achieving high rates of penetration and quality services for smartphones, telecom providers like Telstra have faced significant investments in infrastructure. At the same time, they have struggled to raise prices and maintain profitability, particularly in the face of the broadband network rollout (NBN), which has come at great taxpayer expense and performed poorly by international standards.

The ABC must reinforce its commitment to unbiased reporting

The ABC must reinforce its commitment to unbiased reporting

Jonathan Holmes, a respected journalist and former host of Media Watch, with an impressive career spanning over 40 years including work as an executive producer for programs like Four Corners, Foreign Correspondent, and 7.30 Report, has shared his perspective on the challenges facing Australia's national broadcaster, the ABC with Michael Lester.

Doubt, distrust, fear, and uncertainty surround the U.S. election process

Doubt, distrust, fear, and uncertainty surround the U.S. election process

With only days until the US Presidential election on 5 November and with polls calling the race 50:50. Michael Lester in discussion with Amelia Lester, Deputy Editor, Foreign Policy magazine, Washington DC, discuss what the conduct of the campaign tells us about the health of American democracy and the integrity of its electoral processes and institutions.

Israel-Gaza war, justice and hope: the 'sublime ideal' of inalienable dignity

Israel-Gaza war, justice and hope: the 'sublime ideal' of inalienable dignity

Distinguished moral philosopher and public intellectual Raimond Gaita (FAHA), Professor, University College London, and Melbourne Law school, discusses his approach towards a moral understanding of the Israel Gaza war based on the ideas collected in the book 'Justice and Hope: Essays, Lectures and Other writings', (Edited by Scott Stephens), Melbourne University Publishing, Paperback edition October 2024.

Never ending war on terror keeps us anxious, fearful, committed

Never ending war on terror keeps us anxious, fearful, committed

President Bush declared the War on Terror in 2001. Dr Alison Broinowski AM, Australians for War Power Reforms (AWPR), former diplomat and Author, argues that America and its Western Allies including Australia have been involved in multiple 'never ending' foreign wars with no declaration in sight of victory.

Antisemitism, Zionism and the war in Gaza: Sara Dowse, Author

Antisemitism, Zionism and the war in Gaza: Sara Dowse, Author

Sara Dowse, Northern Beaches resident and author, discusses the rise in antisemitism in the context of the Israel Gaza war and the ways in which the latest definitions of the term, including in Australia, are weaponised to silence opposition to, and consideration of, pathways to peace and justice by conflation with Zionism and lack of a full appreciation of the history of Israel statehood since establishment in 1948 and subsequent dispossession and dehumanisation of the people of Palestine.

Federal seat redistribution implications of bias to small tweaks

Federal seat redistribution implications of bias to small tweaks

The Australian Electoral Commission has announced proposed redistributions of the boundaries of federal election seats with NSW losing a seat (North Sydney), while Victoria and Western Australia each gained a seat with the average number in a NSW seat, increased from the current 118,000 to 121,000 and expected to grow to about 130,000 by 2028.

Australia-America odd couple relationship needs repair

Australia-America odd couple relationship needs repair

The largely unrecognised risk to Australia that our powerful ally will strategically collapse through internal political stresses is greater than the much discussed threat of war with China. Allan Behm, Director, International & Security Affairs Program, The Australia Institute, in conversation with Michael Lester about his new book The Odd Couple: The Australia-America relationship (Upswell Publishing 2024).

Aged care reforms unfair, unreasonable, unsustainable

Aged care reforms unfair, unreasonable, unsustainable

Bipartisan agreement between the government and opposition have resulted in compromised, ageist inflected amendments to aged care legislation that do not respond adequately to the damning findings and reasoned recommendations of the royal commission.

Culpable corporate mind, legal blameworthiness

Culpable corporate mind, legal blameworthiness

Corporate culpability under law relies on aWhere's Wally logic to identify a natural person within a corporation to hold responsible for corporate wrongdoing but finding the smoking gun has proven elusive.

Secrecy Australia: big gap between official information and reality: Peter Cronau, Declassified Australia

Secrecy Australia: big gap between official information and reality: Peter Cronau, Declassified Australia

Australia is blanketed in a climate of secrecy with over 800 secrecy offences criminalised with jail terms and large fines under nearly 200 pieces of legislation.

Northern militarisation overlooking Indigenous rights: Prof Henry Reynolds, History, University of Tasmania

Northern militarisation overlooking Indigenous rights: Prof Henry Reynolds, History, University of Tasmania

Indigenous Australians have extensive land rights across Northern Australia where large scale militarisation is being undertaken, raising questions about processes of consultation and underlying Indigenous rights endorsed by Australia under international treaty arrangements.

Rebuilding public service from politicisation and externalisation

Rebuilding public service from politicisation and externalisation

Restoring trust and integrity in the Australian Public Service requires tackling the corrosive effects of past politicisation (secretary contracts) and externalisation (professional consultants) that have undermined capacity and independence, as highlighted by the Royal Commission on Robodebt fiasco, and parliamentary committee revelations around the extensive engagement of major consulting firms.

Carbon budget blown, only 50% chance 1.5 degrees

Carbon budget blown, only 50% chance 1.5 degrees

As greenhouse emissions accumulate each year and linger for decades in the atmosphere, effectively adding another layer of climate warming 'blankets' on the globe, it chews up our carbon 'budget' available to reach the Paris 2015 agreement target of 1.5 degree warming. I discuss this with David McKewan, director, adaptive capability, net zero program and project management consultancy, and author of 'The Adaptive Economy'.

How to fix poverty? Universal basic income

How to fix poverty? Universal basic income

A single standard income payment, untaxed and unconditional to every person, will provide income security and the freedom to choose education, work and lifestyle. It would replace existing targeted welfare payments (not programs) and be integrated for administration purposes with the taxation system.  Giving an equal payment to everyone would overcome poverty while boosting participation, skills, productivity and growth.

Protest rights: diffuse, proscribed and discretionary

Protest rights: diffuse, proscribed and discretionary

With no formal constitutional provisions or bill of rights the right to protest in Australia relies upon common law judicial interpretations, is heavily politicised and proscribed by governments in legislation, and relies for administration in a highly discretionary manner by police.

Half hearted housing policies ignore key role of public housing: Michael Pascoe

Half hearted housing policies ignore key role of public housing: Michael Pascoe

The housing crisis will not be solved for those who are suffering the most by the mish mash of half hearted, small steps, and policy responses currently favoured by governments. They lack the courage to commit to direct government intervention on a sufficient scale in the failed housing market in the form of publicly funded, developed and owned housing for the most vulnerable.

Guns, butter & taxes: hard choices, volatile economy

Guns, butter & taxes: hard choices, volatile economy

The Australian government needs to stand up against growing global protectionism and make some hard budgetary choices between guns and butter, defence and welfare, and the need to reform taxes if it is to avoid taking on too much at once in a world economy characterised by uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, and in an Australian economy treading a bumpy and narrow path balancing fiscal and monetary policy.

Nuclear and gas expansion weakens our national security

Nuclear and gas expansion weakens our national security

Former Australian defence force chief and admiral retired, Chris Barrie frankly discusses with Michael Lester his deep concerns that Australia is complacent in its unwillingness to face up to the threat to our national security posed by global climate change.

Nuclear energy in Australia: why now, what sense?

Nuclear energy in Australia: why now, what sense?

Why is opposition leader Peter Dutton campaigning on nuclear energy for Australia at this time?

A future made in Australia?

A future made in Australia?

Is Australia's new industrial policy a way forward to a competitive, innovative, and sustainable future in which the benefits of new technologies such as renewable energy and artificial intelligence are widely shared throughout society? Or a reversion to past failed attempts to protect local industry, pick winners at taxpayers' expense, lag in innovation and productivity while further contributing to growing inequality by enrichment of the rentier elites?

Djokovic visa decision a warning light on ministerial discretion

Djokovic visa decision a warning light on ministerial discretion

Cancelling Novak Djokovic's visa was another example of a trend towards ministerial intervention, which is undermining public trust in institutions.

China's Five Year Plan & Technology Leadership an interview with Prof Jane Golley

In discussion with economics professor Jane Golley, director of ANU's Australian Centre for China in the World, ANU, about the new china five-year plan 2021-2026 on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese communist party.

An interview with Prof. Ross Garnaut

This is an interview conducted by Michael Lester for Radio Northern Beaches with Ross Garnaut.

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