Event and Ticketing Details
Dates & Times
Wednesday 12 June
7:30 PM - 8:30 PM
It’s been a tumultuous term in the federal government – and now it’s time for us voters to decide if we’re ready for change. And as we prepare to exercise our democratic duty to vote our government in (or out), the Wheeler Centre is hosting a robust look at Australian democracy in action.
What does it mean? Does democracy work? What does democracy mean to different people, and does everyone in Australia truly have access to it?
Prominent Australians will each share a snapshot of what Australian democracy means to them in 2013.
Renowned feminist – and firebrand – Anne Summers will talk from the perspective of women’s rights. Margaret Simons, director of the Centre for Advanced Journalism at The University of Melbourne, will talk about democracy and the media. Kon Karapanagiotidis of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre will explore the contentious ground that he has made his life’s work. Former speechwriter and Age journalist James Button will give his own unique perspective, as will left-wing historian Humphrey McQueen.
We’re inspired by the new Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka – which will explore the evolution and future of democracy, through interactive and immersive exhibitions.
Immerse yourself in some of the issues that will be crucial to the next government.
Hosted by Peter Mares.
Twitter: #AusDemocracy
Featuring
Margaret Simons
Margaret Simons is Associate Professor in the School of Media, Film and Journalism, Monash University. In 2015, she won the Walkley Award for Social Equity Journalism. Her recent books include Six Square Metres, Self-Made Man: The Kerry Stokes Story, What's Next in Journalism?, Journalism at the Crossroads and Malcolm Fraser: The Political Memoirs, co-written with former Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Fraser. The latter won both the Book of the Year and the Douglas Stewart Prize for Non-Fiction at the NSW Premier's Literary Awards 2011.
In addition to her academic work, Margaret regularly writes for the Saturday Paper, the Age, the Sydney Morning Herald, Griffith Review, the Monthly and other publications.
Peter Mares
Peter Mares is lead moderator with The Cranlana Programme, an independent, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to developing the ethical decision-making skills of Australia’s leaders. Peter is also contributing editor at Inside Story magazine and adjunct fellow at Swinburne University’s Centre for Urban Transitions. He is a former ABC broadcaster and the author of three books, including No Place Like Home: Repairing Australia’s Housing Crisis (Text 2018).
Kon Karapanagiotidis
Kon Karapanagiotidis is the CEO and founder of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, the largest independent human rights organisation for refugees and people seeking asylum in Australia. They assist thousands of people each year, with the help of over 1200 volunteers and 125 staff.
Kon grew up in a working-class family in a small country town in Victoria. His personal experience of racism and witnessing the exploitation of his parents in factories and farms planted the seeds for his passion for human rights. He started volunteering at a centre for homeless men at the age of 18, and went on to do volunteer work at 24 other charities. He also completed six degrees, becoming a lawyer, social worker, and teacher. Kon founded the ASRC at the age of 28.
His work has been recognised with over two dozen awards and honours including an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) and a Churchill Fellowship. He was finalist for Australian of The Year (Victoria) and the Human Rights Medal, as well as Citizen of the Year in his local community. His memoir, The Power of Hope is published by HarperCollins Australia.
Anne Summers
Dr Anne Summers AO is a journalist, researcher, commentator and best-selling author of nine books, including the classic Damned Whores and God’s Police, first published in 1975, and still in print. Her most recent book Unfettered and Alive, a memoir, was published in 2018.
In 2021 Anne was appointed a Paul Ramsay Foundation Fellow, located at UTS, and commissioned to undertake original data-based research that will throw new shocking light on the incidence and nature of domestic violence in Australia.
The result of that research is the report, The Choice: violence or poverty was published on 7 July 2022
Previously Anne has advised Prime Ministers Bob Hawke and Paul Keating, on women’s issues, run the Office of the Status of Women, been editor-in-chief of America’s leading feminist magazine Ms., editor of Good Weekend, chair of the Board of Greenpeace International and a Trustee of the Powerhouse Museum.
She has been an activist in the women’s movement since its inception and in 1974 was involved in establishing Elsie Women’s Refuge the first modern shelter for women and children escaping domestic violence.
She was appointed an officer of the Order of Australia for her services to journalism and to women in 1989; had her image on a postage stamp as an Australian Legend in 2011 and in 2017 was inducted into the Australian Media Hall of Fame
View ProfileJames Button
James Button is a former journalist and speechwriter.
James was a journalist at The Age for 20 years, including three years as Europe correspondent, and roles as deputy editor, opinion editor and senior writer. He has won two Walkley Awards for feature writing.
In 2009 he was a speechwriter for former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and for the Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Terry Moran.
Humphrey McQueen
Humphrey McQueen is a freelance historian and cultural commentator. Widely known in Australia through his books, radio commentaries, articles and public speeches he is in demand as a guest lecturer, critic and consultant.
Humphrey is the author of 19 books that cover history, the media, politics and the visual arts. His articles appear regularly in the Bulletin and his two classic books of Australian history – A New Britannia, and Social Sketches of Australia – were reissued in 2004. His latest work is A Framework of Flesh - the first installment of his research into the history of builder’s labourers and their unions.
Jane Smith
Jane Smith is inaugural Director of M.A.D.E (Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka) which opens on 4 May 2013 in Ballarat.
Her smarts include analysing technology platforms, film, broadcasting, content generation and consumer behaviour. Jane was CEO of the NSW Film and TV Office, ran Hugh Jackman’s production company, was an industry specialist advisor to a Federal Minister, the ABC’s Corporate Strategist and has worked with democracies in newly post-apartheid South Africa, Cambodia and Hungary.