Think: Business Futures

Last Sunday, The Federal Government unveiled their Return to Sport Toolkit, a road map for the glorious return of community and professional sport. But, it is not without its catches. Gone are handshakes, high fives, oranges at halftime and the familiar chanting wall of parents that populate the member's end of every suburban park. Clubs at all levels will not require a COVID19 safety coordinator, which seems like a much harder task than running the barbecue or being a touch judge. And in the professional ranks, the major codes have descended into talk of broadcast deals and steals over the last few months as the pressure mounts to secure playing time. Far more importantly, the future of elite women's sport is at a fascinating crossroads, with COVID's cleaning of the slate, and a potential women's Football World Cup on the horizon, it's an interesting time to be in the space. Joining us is Dr. David Bond, Course Director for the Master of Business Analytics at the University of Technology Sydney's Business School, Gen Simmons , Deputy Chair of Women Sport Australia and John Didulica, Chief Executive of Professional Footballers Australia.

Well, first we had Jobseeker, JobKeeper, and now in the naming tradition of COVID stimulus packages, we now have HomeBuilder. And while the Government's plans to break the champagne over the bow were slightly interrupted by a need to 'get off the grass', the latest economic injection has raised voices on both sides of the political divide. Joining the panel today is Federal Shadow Housing Minister, The Hon. Jason Clare and Master Builders Association of NSW Executive Director Brian Seidler.

This week, we ask; what impact have barley tariffs had on grain growers in Australia? What fears do the agricultural sector harbor for the future? And for the scores of Australian businesses that operate in other industries in China, including the countries booming e-commerce trade, how important is knowing the right people on the mainland, and what effect will the US China trade deal have? Joining the discussion today is Professor Kathy Walsh, Professor of the Finance Discipline Group at the University of Technology's Business School, Brett Hosking, Chairperson of Grain Growers Australia and Nicholas Henderson, Director of China Practice for Management consultancy firm Asialink Business.

In this week's edition of Think: Business Futures, our gaze turns to the often tumultuous relationship between Australia, and our largest trading partner, The People's Republic of China. Is brash 'megaphone diplomacy' the right move? Are there alternatives to Chinese markets elsewhere in the world? And, most importantly, how does Australia traverse the next few months as a middle power wedged between the twin axes of the US and China? Joining the program is former Foreign Minister, N.S.W Premier and now Industry Professor at the University of Technology's Institute for Sustainable Futures and Business School, Professor Bob Carr and the Director of the Australia-China Relations Institute (ACRI) Professor James Laurenceson.

Well, how much would you fork out for a stake in an airline? On this week's episode, we take a closer look at the Queensland Government's potential stake in Virgin Australia, why inter-state tourism is the best next step and what the future of travel could look like. Joining the program today is Mr Timothy Mander, Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Treasurer for the State of Queensland, Doctor David Beirman , senior lecturer in the Management Discipline Group specialising in tourism at the University of Technology Sydney's Business School and Daniel Gschwind, Chief Executive Officer of the Queensland Tourism Industry Council.

Well, should Australians get a fair go and a first go at jobs in the post-covid economy? Labor Home Affairs Spokesperson Kristina Kennelly certainly thinks so, and the senator is not alone. Immigration reform will be one of the key talking points as Australia scales down its global isolation and begins the economic and social re-building effort, but is immigration, and immigrants, a fair scapegoat? Joining the program this week is Mohammad Al-Khafaji, Chief Executive Officer of Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia, Professor Peter McDonald, University of Melbourne Professor of Demography and Professor Jock Collins, Professor of Social Economics at UTS.

On this week's addition of Think: Business Futures, we ask; what is the state of the NDIS during COVID19? The National Disability Insurance Scheme has a particularly interesting role to play in ensuring that some of Australia's most vulnerable are shielded from the physical, and by extension, economic impacts pf COVID19. But how important a piece of national infrastructure is the NDIS at a time like this? This week's panel is Andrew Hyland, CEO of NDIS provider Lifestyle Solutions, Professor Simon Darcy from the UTS Business School, and The Hon. Bill Shorten, Federal Shadow Minister for the NDIS and Government Services.

Could commodities be the light at the end of the COVID19 tunnel? Australia has the second-largest accessible reserves of iron ore in the world, the fifth-largest reserves of coal and significant gas resources, so it isn't hard to imagine how the answers to our economic questions could be lying beneath our feet the entire time. To help unpack what COVID19 has done to commodity markets is Dr Christina Nikitopolous, Senior Lecturer in the Finance Discipline Group at the University of Technology Sydney's business school, Professor Warren Hogan, the former Chief Economist for big-four member ANZ, Matthew Doman, Director of External Affairs for The Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association and Greg Bussen, secretary for the CFMEU's Mining and Energy Western Australia District.

As businesses across the country close up shop, adapt to working remotely or simply cease to exist, the big questions are how things will look on the other side of COVID19. For indigenous-owned businesses, there is much to be asked, and answered, on the political, social and financial structures that will aid or abet businesses in returning to normal. Joining the panel this week is Robynne Quiggin, Associate Dean of Indigenous Leadership and Engagement at The University of Technology Sydney, Laura Berry, CEO of Supply Nation, Stella De Cos, Business Solutions Director for Indigenous Business Australia and Kerry Colbung, owner of Mandanga Indigenous Cosmetics.

Well, how safe is your super? And if you already know the answer, have you had thoughts about cashing out? One of the victims of the COVID19 economic crisis has been Australia's retirement industry, with over $3 trillion dollars worth of assets currently swirling around superannuation funds across the country in a state of absolute panic. Joining the panel this week is Professor Ron Bird, Emeritus Professor from The Australian National University, Russell Mason, Head of Superannuation at Deloitte Australia and Melissa Birks, head of advocacy for the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees.

As we settle down to life in the midst of COVID19, the numbers show that Australia property values continue to rise. With widespread concerns about job security and the rapid sell-off of the share market, it's an interesting time to talk about real estate. Joining host Max Tillman are Professor Harald Scheule, Professor of Finance at the University of Technology Sydney, Professor Heather MacDonald, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Design, Architecture, and Building at the University of Technology Sydney and Leroy Magee, Principal of Magee Real Estate in Sydney's West.

Fire up the printer, dust-off a table and get ready for the future of employment. In this week's episode, we take a deeper look at the viability of working from home, and whether it's still possible to separate Church and State in the post-COVID19 business world. Host Max Tillman is joined by Dr. Robyn Johns, Senior Lecturer in Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations at The University of Technology Sydney, Katherine O'Regan, Executive Director of the Sydney Business Chamber and Angela Vithoulkas, independent Councillor for the City of Sydney and the Deputy Chairperson of the City of Sydney Economic Development and Business Sub-Committee.

How capable are Australia's hospitals and healthcare systems of handling COVID19? This week on the program, host Max Tillman is joined by Stephen Duckett, The Health Program Director at The Grattan Institute, Prabhu Sivabalan, Associate Dean of Engagement at the University of Technology Sydney, and Rosalie Viney, Director of the Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation at the University of Technology Sydney to talk about the risks our hospitals face when dealing with a pandemic.

Last week, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced huge price cuts for Saudi crude oil and a planned increase in the country's daily production from 9 million barrels to 11 million barrels per day, with the extra production beginning next month. But what does this mean for petrol prices in Australia? Doctor Nicolas de Roos, an Associate Professor of Economics at The University of Sydney, Mark Mckenzie, CEO of the Australian Convenience and Petroleum Marketers Association and Michael Day, National Treasurer for The Australian Electric Vehicle Association join host Max Tillman to talk Black Gold and the precarity of the pump.

This Sunday marked the 43rd International Women's day, and with it, a broader retrospective on gender equality in Australia. In this week's edition, we take a look a closer analysis shows that all-too-familiar barriers to entry such as lower numbers of females in management roles and sexual discrimination are still very much present in the Australia workforce. Dr. Alice Klettner and Professor Thomas Clarke from the UTS Business School, Katherine O'Regan, Executive Director at The Sydney Business Chamber, and The Australian Human Rights Commission's Commissioner for Sex Discrimination, Kate Jenkins join the panel.