The Opportunity

The Superpower Institute
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A podcast from The Superpower Institute exploring the big ideas, insights and evidence for a prosperous post-carbon world.

Episodes

  1. 1d ago

    The Government is fighting fuel insecurity with one arm behind its back

    Australia is one of the world's most fuel-dependent countries, relying heavily on imported petrol, diesel and aviation fuel. Reducing that dependence presents a significant opportunity to strengthen Australia's fuel security, create new industries and cut emissions. But are we getting the policy settings right? The Australian Government has recently consulted on a proposed mechanism to support the development of a domestic low-carbon liquid fuels (LCLFs) industry. While these fuels have an important role to play, particularly in sectors that are difficult to electrify, The Superpower Institute argues that the proposed framework overlooks Australia's strongest fuel security lever: electrification. In this episode of The Opportunity, TSI Policy Lead Sam Burt reads his op-ed, The Government is fighting fuel insecurity with one arm behind its back, originally published in The Energy. Drawing on TSI's modelling and its submission to the Government's consultation, Sam explains why a policy focused narrowly on low-carbon liquid fuels risks falling short of its objectives, and how a broader, technology-neutral Carbon Intensity Standard could deliver greater fuel security, economic opportunity and emissions reductions. Read Sam's op-ed: https://www.superpowerinstitute.com.au/news/the-government-is-fighting-fuel-insecurity-with-one-arm-behind-its-back Read TSI's submission on securing Australia's cleaner fuels industry: https://www.superpowerinstitute.com.au/work/securing-australia-s-cleaner-fuels-industry

  2. Oct 2

    What's wrong with the Safeguard Mechanism – and how can we fix it?

    The Safeguard Mechanism is one of the central pillars of Australia’s climate policy, designed to reduce emissions from the country’s largest industrial facilities. But is it actually driving the emissions reductions Australia needs? While net emissions covered by the Safeguard Mechanism have fallen, gross emissions from covered facilities have barely declined. Instead, facilities are increasingly relying on Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) to meet their obligations – raising questions about whether the scheme is providing a strong enough incentive for businesses to invest in reducing emissions at the source. The Australian Government is currently reviewing the Safeguard Mechanism and its settings beyond 2030. The Superpower Institute has made a submission to that review, arguing that while the Safeguard Mechanism is not the best way to price carbon pollution, significant reforms could make it more effective. In this episode of The Opportunity, TSI CEO Baethan Mullen sits down with Economic Research Director Ingrid Burfurd to explain how the Safeguard Mechanism works, where it is falling short, and what should change. They discuss TSI’s preferred alternative – an economy-wide Polluter Pays Levy – before unpacking three major recommendations for improving the existing scheme: making heavy reliance on ACCUs progressively more expensive, providing greater certainty about future compliance costs, and tightening emissions baselines to drive greater industrial abatement. The conversation explores what these changes could mean in practice – and how stronger, more predictable incentives could encourage Australian businesses to invest in actually reducing their emissions. Read TSI’s submission to the Safeguard Mechanism Review: https://www.superpowerinstitute.com.au/work/safeguard-mechanism-review Learn more about TSI’s proposal for a Polluter Pays Levy: https://www.superpowerinstitute.com.au/work/the-case-for-pricing-pollution

  3. Feb 25

    Kos Samaras on why Australia's climate policy shouldn't be held hostage to the past

    For over a decade, Australia's climate debate has been tethered to the trauma of 2013, when the federal Coalition prosecuted a highly effective campaign against the Gillard-Rudd governments’ carbon price, branding it a ‘great big tax on everything’. The Coalition won the subsequent election, and ever since the prevailing orthodoxy in Canberra has been that carbon pricing is a third-rail issue – a policy so toxic that its mere mention could trigger instant electoral backlash.  However, in a recent webinar for The Superpower Institute, Redbridge Director of Strategy and Analytics Kos Samaras argued that this strategic paralysis is based on outdated, and often incorrect, assumptions.  In this episode, we bring you that webinar in full. Kos unpacks new national polling on pollution, fairness and Australians' attitudes towards the sale of public gas resources. Drawing on both quantitative and qualitative research, he explains how voter attitudes have shifted – and why the old 'climate wars' frame may be masking a much deeper consensus around economic fairness. He also explores what this means for proposals such as a Polluter Pays Levy and a Fair Share Levy, how resilient that support might be under political attack, and where the obstacles to reform now lie. A video version of podcast is available at: https://www.superpowerinstitute.com.au/news/webinar-why-we-shouldn-t-be-held-hostage-to-the-past-unlocking-the-consensus-on-pricing Learn more about the Polluter Pays Levy and the Fair Share Levy at: https://www.superpowerinstitute.com.au/work/the-case-for-pricing-pollution -- Kos Samaras – Director Strategy and Analytics Kos Samaras specialises in compiling and interpreting research, statistical data and polling to provide a unique insight into the cause and effects of social and political issues impacting communities across Australia. Often sought for expert commentary on polling data and its impact on all levels of politics, Kos’s keen understanding of the nature of political parties and government decision-making (drawn from more than 25 years of political experience with Victorian Labor) allows him to deliver effective solutions for a broad range of clients.

  4. Feb 6

    The Politics of the Impossible: Will Australia prioritise its economy & make polluters pay?

    In February 2024, Ross Garnaut and Rod Sims took the stage at the National Press Club to propose a new approach to pricing carbon pollution – one grounded in economic efficiency and fairness, designed to make major polluters pay, strengthen the federal budget, and better position Australia for the industries of the future. Two years on, the need for action has only grown clearer. Rising fiscal and emissions reduction challenges are renewing the case for practical, lasting reform. In this episode of The Opportunity, TSI chair Rod Sims and Carbon Pricing and Policy Lead Ingrid Burfurd are in conversation with Australian Financial Review Economics Editor John Kehoe ,as they discuss the economic and political context behind The Superpower Institute’s major new report The Case for Pricing Pollution. The report makes the case that Australia’s current policy mix is falling short on both climate and the economy, and sets out a way forward that would deliver faster emissions reductions and economic renewal – a package that is fair, efficient and politically durable. It puts two ideas at the centre: the Polluter Pays Levy, and the Fair Share Levy. Learn about these two policies at the TSI website: https://www.superpowerinstitute.com.au/work/the-case-for-pricing-pollution

  5. 08/26/2025

    World Economic Forum: Building Blocks for a Green Iron Industry

    In this debut episode of The Opportunity, we take you inside the recent World Economic Forum / First Movers’ Coalition Green Iron Summit in Adelaide, co-hosted by Greenhouse and supported by Boundless Earth. The summit brought together government, industry, and finance leaders from across the Asia-Pacific to explore how South Australia can position itself as a first-mover hub for green iron production and exports. In this episode you’ll hear: Professor Ross Garnaut, co-founder of The Superpower Institute, on Australia’s unique advantages in green iron and the particular strengths of South Australia. A panel moderated by Joanna Kay (TSI Program Director, International Strategy) with: - Sam Crafter, SA Government / Whyalla Steelworks Transformation - Jeremy Conway, Chief Executive, Infrastructure South Australia - Max van Sommer, Managing Director Australia, Bivios - John Tsalaptis, General Manager, ZEN Energy The Superpower Institute is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to helping Australia seize the extraordinary economic opportunities of the post-carbon world.  The global shift to net zero is Australia’s opportunity.  TSI specialises in practical research and policy development to support the policy settings and market incentives necessary for making Australia a green export superpower to support global development in a post–carbon world.  Our role is to embed climate ambition in a broader economic context and to change the public narrative, so that decision-makers are comfortable adopting the required policies and incentive structures that will unlock the Australian superpower.    Read more about The Superpower Institute at https://www.superpowerinstitute.com.au The Opportunity was recorded and edited on the lands of the Kaurna People and the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation, and we pay our respects to Elders past and present.

  • 5 Episodes

About

A podcast from The Superpower Institute exploring the big ideas, insights and evidence for a prosperous post-carbon world.

Information

  • Creator
    The Superpower Institute
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Superpower Institute
  • Show Website
    The Opportunity