Event and Ticketing Details
Dates & Times
Tuesday 14 March
6:15 PM - 7:15 PM
In 2017, Australia finds itself in a very strange position on the issue of marriage equality.
With the Federal Government’s proposed plebiscite defeated in the senate last November, we now have a bizarre situation in which leaders of both major political parties want reform but are unable to deliver it. There’s a sense of frustration and fatigue in the electorate – where do we go from here?
At this Fifth Estate discussion, Sally Warhaft will be joined by two speakers, both steeped in the marriage equality debate at federal level, and both with quite different takes on the issue: Liberal MP and former Human Rights Commissioner Tim Wilson, and Labor MP and Shadow Assistant Minister for equality, Terri Butler.
Is it possible that we will somehow break the gridlock this year? Is there a need, and an appetite, for further debate around this issue? Join us for a discussion of public sentiment versus political processes.
Featuring
Sally Warhaft
Sally Warhaft is a Melbourne broadcaster, anthropologist and writer. She is the host of The Fifth Estate, the Wheeler Centre’s live series focusing on journalism, politics, media, and international relations, and The Leap Year ...
Terri Butler
Terri Butler has been the Federal Labor Member for Griffith, in Queensland, since February 2014. Prior to being elected as the member for Griffith in 2014, Terri was a lawyer and a principal of the national law firm Maurice Blackburn, where she established and led the Queensland Employment and Industrial Law Section. While working as a lawyer, Terri was listed as one of Queensland’s top workplace relations lawyers in the Doyles Guide to the Legal Profession.
Terri has long been involved with organisations supporting those in the community. She has served on leadership groups of Children By Choice and the YWCA. Terri has also been involved in Labor’s policy development, having served two previous terms on Labor’s National Policy Committee, and a term on the new National Policy Forum.
Terri is the Shadow Assistant Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, the Shadow Assistant Minister for Universities, and the Shadow Assistant Minister for Equality. She is the Deputy Chair of the House Standing Committee on Employment, Education & Training, and a member of the House Standing Committees on Procedure, and Tax and Revenue. She's on the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services. She is co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Innovation and Enterprise group, and convener of Labor Friends of Tourism.
Tim Wilson
Tim Wilson is the Member for Goldstein. He was first elected in 2016 and achieved the strongest result in the Goldstein’s history for the Liberal Party. As a proud liberal he is committed to economic and social freedom, underpinned by the preservation of our culture and institutions.
He formerly served as Australia’s Human Rights Commissioner. In that role he worked with the government to reform laws to stop and prevent terrorism, improving economic opportunities for indigenous Australians as well as standing up for laws to protect free speech and stop marginalised communities from public harassment.
Prior to serving as Commissioner he ran his own business, was a regular contributor on television and radio, was a policy director for a public policy think tank and worked in international development across South East Asia.
Amongst many awards, he was recognised as one of the ten emerging leaders of Australian society by The Australian newspaper in 2009.
He has a Bachelor of Arts (Policy Studies) at Monash University as well as a Masters of Diplomacy and Trade (International Trade) from the Monash Graduate School of Business.
Tim and his partner Ryan are passionate supporters and members of the mighty Melbourne Demons, and as a hobby collect gins from across the world.