Class Dismissed
Series
Where
When
Tuesday, 12 May 2015, 06:15pm - 07:15pm
Event Status
Past event

In the past six months, Australia has seen the passing of two giants of the political stage — Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser. Defined by the dismissal, and with vastly different leadership styles, their respective visions and energy for reform have left a lasting legacy.
In this Fifth Estate, Sally Warhaft is joined by former Liberal MP, founding director of the Australian Institute of Multicultural Affairs and senior adviser to Malcolm Fraser (amongst others), Petro Georgiou; former Labor MP and friend and colleague to both Fraser and Whitlam, Barry Jones; and La Trobe University professor of politics Judith Brett.
Expect an intimate discussion of the vastly different contributions made by Whitlam and Fraser to the political world, and to Australia as a nation — from free education to immigration to Medicare to arts funding.
How do their legacies inform our understanding of the current political landscape? And can leaders like these, with a clear vision and grandeur of ideals, be seen again?
Featuring
Featuring

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, a Wheeler Centre podcast about Australians’ lives in the fog of ... Read more

Judith Brett is emeritus professor of politics at La Trobe University. A former editor of Meanjin and columnist for the Age, she won the National Biography Award in 2018 for The Enigmatic Mr Deakin. She is the author of four Quarterly Essays: Relaxed and Comfortable, Exit Right, Fair Share ... Read more

As a member of Federal Parliament, Petro Georgiou served on parliamentary committees including as Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Science and Innovation and Deputy Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Audit. Prior to entering Parliament, Petro had been Vic... Read more

Barry Jones has been a politician, diplomat, public servant, high school teacher, television and radio performer, lawyer, university lecturer and quiz champion. He is also the author of books including Sleepers, Wake! and A Thinking Reed. He was a Victorian MP for five years, a Federal MP ... Read more
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