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A Chatham-house style dialogue

The Readout

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The home of cutting-edge Lab commentary.

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The Pulse Check is a survey run by the Lab

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The Readout

The Readout is your guide to Australian development in the region.

Hosted by the Lab, some of the brightest development experts decode development - what’s current, what’s coming around the corner and what it all means in a fast-changing landscape.
The Latest Episode
April 18, 2024

Mat Tinkler x What’s the secret to a successful donor-implementer relationship?

According to Mat Tinkler, a successful donor-implementer relationship depends on trust, built through hard and honest conversations. That means implementers have to be brave, and donors have to be flexible.
Listen

Latest episodes

April 18, 2024

Mat Tinkler x What’s the secret to a successful donor-implementer relationship?

According to Mat Tinkler, a successful donor-implementer relationship depends on trust, built through hard and honest conversations. That means implementers have to be brave, and donors have to be flexible.
Mat Tinkler x What’s the secret to a successful donor-implementer relationship?
Listen
April 4, 2024

Sue Robertson x ‘There but for the grace of God…’ – reflections on leading the APS Integrity Taskforce

Australian Government integrity overseas starts with demonstrating integrity at home. According to Sue Robertson, leader of the APS Integrity Taskforce, investing in the psychological safety and contestability of the public service will deliver better foreign policy results for Australia.
Sue Robertson x ‘There but for the grace of God…’ – reflections on leading the APS Integrity Taskforce
Listen
March 21, 2024

Mira Sulistiyanto x Pulse Check Indonesia

Mira Sulistiyanto dives into the insights and ideas of Indonesian non-government experts in the Lab’s Pulse Check x Indonesia report and interactive website.
Mira Sulistiyanto x Pulse Check Indonesia
Listen
March 7, 2024

Hervé Lemahieu x How Australia Can Unleash Its Own “Brussels Effect” in the Pacific Island Region

According to Hervé Lemahieu, borrowing some of the logic of European integration and applying these concepts in the Pacific would better equip the region to advance its collective interests.
Hervé Lemahieu x How Australia Can Unleash Its Own “Brussels Effect” in the Pacific Island Region
Listen
February 22, 2024

Lisa Denney x Diverse Pathways to People Centred Justice

According to Lisa Denney, Australia should support the diverse ways people in the region access justice, beyond that of policing and the formal sector.
Lisa Denney x Diverse Pathways to People Centred Justice
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February 2, 2024

Stephen Howes x Tuvalu election and the Falepili Union

According to Stephen Howes, a visa-free Pacific is the new frontier of Australian development
Stephen Howes x Tuvalu election and the Falepili Union
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January 25, 2024

Natalie Sambhi x Generals gaining ground: Civil-military relations and democracy in Indonesia

According to Natalie Sambhi, Indonesia’s expanded military role in civilian government will be something to watch for Australia following Indonesia’s February election.
Natalie Sambhi x Generals gaining ground: Civil-military relations and democracy in Indonesia
Listen
January 25, 2024

Melissa Conley Tyler x What does it look like for Australia to take a whole-of-nation approach to international policy?

According to Melissa Conley Tyler, in this difficult world, Australia needs a whole-of-nation approach to foreign policy. But what does that mean in practice?
Melissa Conley Tyler x What does it look like for Australia to take a whole-of-nation approach to international policy?
Listen
January 25, 2024

Jane Edge x Disability Equity and Rights Strategy - what's critical for effectiveness?

According to Jane Edge, substantive change for people with disability requires real listening, responding and resourcing of the disability movement.
Jane Edge x Disability Equity and Rights Strategy - what's critical for effectiveness?
Listen
January 25, 2024

Dr Mike Green x The main game for Australian development is development, not building influence

According to Dr Mike Green, focusing on development outcomes, not influence, leads to better long-term strategic outcomes.
Dr Mike Green x The main game for Australian development is development, not building influence
Listen
December 4, 2023

Richard Moore x Australian Development Cooperation: Urgent and important, but “not a priority”

According to Richard Moore, little has changed in Australia’s international development policy since the DFAT-AusAID merger.
Richard Moore x Australian Development Cooperation: Urgent and important, but “not a priority”
Listen
December 4, 2023

Diastika Rahwidiati x Australia in Southeast Asia: Do we have the development skills, stamina, and leadership?

According to Diastika Rahwidiati, Australia must learn from its investments.
Diastika Rahwidiati x Australia in Southeast Asia: Do we have the development skills, stamina, and leadership?
Listen
December 4, 2023

Solstice Middleby x Aid is not development: The true character of Pacific aid, part 2

According to Solstice Middleby, the aid industry is not tooled to deliver on the needs of the Pacific peoples.
Solstice Middleby x Aid is not development: The true character of Pacific aid, part 2
Listen
December 4, 2023

Dame Meg Taylor x Aid is not development: The true character of Pacific aid

According to Dame Meg Taylor, Australia needs to change the way it does aid to ensure transparency and effectiveness.
Dame Meg Taylor x Aid is not development: The true character of Pacific aid
Listen
November 16, 2023

Reintroducing: The Readout

Each episode, you'll meet one development leader, hear their big idea and discover how it can shape the future of Australian development assistance.
Reintroducing: The Readout
Listen
July 20, 2023

The Readout - Series 3 Episode 5

Jo Choe and James Gilling again join Bridi Rice to discuss Indonesia and Solomon Islands, SDG progress, and approaches to addressing climate.
The Readout - Series 3 Episode 5
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July 6, 2023

The Readout - Series 3 Episode 4

Jo Choe and James Gilling again join Bridi Rice to discuss Australia’s ODI ranking, SEA development, and USAID’s localisation targets.
The Readout - Series 3 Episode 4
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June 19, 2023

The Readout - Series 3 Episode 3

Jo Choe and James Gilling again join Bridi Rice to discuss donors in the region, disruptions to traditional development, and a possible program reset.
The Readout - Series 3 Episode 3
Listen
June 2, 2023

The Readout — Series 3 Episode 2

Jo Choe and James Gilling return to discuss the Biden no-show, all tools of statecraft, and the value of effective country planning.
The Readout — Series 3 Episode 2
Listen
May 18, 2023

The Readout — Series 3 Episode 1

Jo Choe and James Gilling join The Lab's Bridi Rice to discuss the Federal Budget, DFAT capability and the imminent development policy in the first episode of a new fortnightly series..
The Readout — Series 3 Episode 1
Listen
May 13, 2022

Special Episode: Anka Lee Situation Room Address

Hear from Anka Lee, USAID’s acting Deputy Assistant Administrator and Senior Advisor for the PRC, on how USAID is approaching growing Chinese influence.
Special Episode: Anka Lee Situation Room Address
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December 13, 2021

A US Perspective

We’ve heard a lot of about the different approaches of the US compared with Australia. So how does the US go about democracy promotion?
A US Perspective
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December 12, 2021

A Practitioner Perspective

What exactly does ‘democracy promotion’ mean in real terms? How do practitioners approach the work? And what’s the challenge with adopting a US-style approach?
A Practitioner Perspective
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December 13, 2021

A Security Perspective

We’ve heard why governance support is critical for prosperity in the region. But just how seriously should Australia take this?
A Security Perspective
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December 10, 2021

A Pacific Perspective

To learn more about the state of democracy, and what the Summit will mean for the region, let’s start where we should – with a Pacific perspective.
A Pacific Perspective
Listen
December 11, 2021

A Summit for Democracy

President Biden has just held the first Summit for Democracy. What will it mean for the Indo-Pacific?
A Summit for Democracy
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Election series • Coming soon

05

Mat Tinkler x What’s the secret to a successful donor-implementer relationship?

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Listen
05

Sue Robertson x ‘There but for the grace of God…’ – reflections on leading the APS Integrity Taskforce

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Listen
04

Mira Sulistiyanto x Pulse Check Indonesia

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Listen
02

Hervé Lemahieu x How Australia Can Unleash Its Own “Brussels Effect” in the Pacific Island Region

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Listen
01

Lisa Denney x Diverse Pathways to People Centred Justice

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Listen
05

Stephen Howes x Tuvalu election and the Falepili Union

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Listen
04

Natalie Sambhi x Generals gaining ground: Civil-military relations and democracy in Indonesia

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Listen
03

Melissa Conley Tyler x What does it look like for Australia to take a whole-of-nation approach to international policy?

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Listen
02

Jane Edge x Disability Equity and Rights Strategy - what's critical for effectiveness?

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Listen
01

Dr Mike Green x The main game for Australian development is development, not building influence

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Listen
04

Richard Moore x Australian Development Cooperation: Urgent and important, but “not a priority”

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Listen
03

Diastika Rahwidiati x Australia in Southeast Asia: Do we have the development skills, stamina, and leadership?

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Listen
02

Solstice Middleby x Aid is not development: The true character of Pacific aid, part 2

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Listen
01

Dame Meg Taylor x Aid is not development: The true character of Pacific aid

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Listen
00

Reintroducing: The Readout

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Listen
05

The Readout - Series 3 Episode 5

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Listen
04

The Readout - Series 3 Episode 4

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03

The Readout - Series 3 Episode 3

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02

The Readout — Series 3 Episode 2

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01

The Readout — Series 3 Episode 1

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Special Episode: Anka Lee Situation Room Address

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Listen
05

A US Perspective

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Listen
04

A Practitioner Perspective

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Listen
03

A Security Perspective

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Listen
02

A Pacific Perspective

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Listen
01

A Summit for Democracy

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Listen
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