Tuesday Forums

26 February

The changing focus of immigration policy - from a tool of economic development to one of border protection - with a focus on recent developments in the US

Abul Rivzi

Increasingly, developed economies such as Aust, Canada, NZ are looking at immigration from a border protection focus rather than as a tool of economic development, despite the economic benefits high levels of immigration have provided. This Wednesday forum will focus on the developments in US immigration policy since the inauguration of President Trump, including the increasing likelihood of mass deportations. When so much of the US economy depends on cheap migrant labour, what could be the economic cost?

Abul Rivzi is Australia's leading independent commentator on immigration matters with multiple media appearances. He was previously a Deputy Secretary of the Department of Immigration and also the Department of Communications. He was awarded the Public Service Medal for services to the development and implementation of immigration policy.
(To accommodate Abul, this forum will be on a Wednesday.)

👉Registrations open 18 February 9AM and close 25 February 5PM.

To register email

Include your U3A membership number in the email.

4 March

An update on developments in the supply of nuclear energy and technology

Dr Robert Parker, Nuclear for Climate Australia

With the LNP promoting an energy policy that includes the building of seven new nuclear reactors, Robert will provide an update on developments in the technology for the supply of energy from nuclear sources. He will explore the economics of a mix of renewables and nuclear energy and examine power plant options including what we could build, how long it would take and possible suitable locations.

A past and popular speaker, Robert is a former President and Vice President of the Australian Nuclear Association - tasked with carrying out investigations of current advances in nuclear fuel cycle for power generation. Robert was a civil Engineer with 40 years in major civil infrastructure projects and his qualifications include a Masters of Nuclear Science from ANU in 2014.

👉Registrations open 26 February 9AM and close 3 March 5PM.

To register email

Include your U3A membership number in the email.

11 March

US politics – 6 weeks post inauguration

Jared Monschein, Director of Research US Studies Policy Centre

Jared will cover why Donald Trump was elected, what has happened since his inauguration and what can we expect in the next month and the next four years. The US Studies Policy Centre is the leading Australian think tank on US politics.

Jared Mondschein is the Director of Research at the United States Studies Centre. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in government and international affairs from Skidmore College and a Master of Arts degree in international relations from King's College London. Previously, Jared was a Research Analyst at Bloomberg BNA in Washington, DC, and a Research Associate in the Asia Studies program of the Council on Foreign Relations.

👉Registrations open 4 March 9AM and close 10 March 5PM.

To register email

Include your U3A membership number in the email.

18 March

Developments in AI

Wayne Custodio

Wayne was a partner at Deloitte and has extensive background in IT policy and delivery.

👉Registrations open 11 March 9AM and close 17 March 5PM.

To register email

Include your U3A membership number in the email.

25 March

Australian migration, refugee and citizenship policies

Peter Hughes

Peter is a Fellow of the Centre For Policy Development; The Migration Hub, ANU.

👉Registrations open 18 March 9AM and close 24 March 5PM.

To register email

Include your U3A membership number in the email.

1 April

Is there a housing crisis? What are policy responses?

Professor Hal Pawson

Hal Pawson is Professor Housing Research and Policy and Associate Director at UNSW's City Futures Research Centre.

👉Registrations open 25 March 9AM and close 31 March 5PM.

To register email

Include your U3A membership number in the email.