ACCESS Annual Debate: Has Australian Democracy Become Too Conservative?

Hosted by: AIIA Victoria

The event will start on: Monday, 15 November 2010 6:00 PM

And will end on: Monday, 15 November 2010 8:30 PM

At BMW Edge Theatre

Federation Square, Cnr Swanston & Flinders Streets , Melbourne Victoria

9654 7271     events.vic@aiia.asn.au

Posted by: vic   

Free public event. 

ACCESS, the youth network of the AIIA, invites you to a discussion of this core issue; exposed in the recent federal election, when old certainties of the two party system were challenged by third parties and independents. Although the current federal government has taken a conservative stance towards many issues - climate change, immigration, gay marriage - Australian public opinion is polarized. Some argue economic conservatism served Australia well during the Global Financial Crisis, whilst others emphasize its adverse effects for a more equitable society. This contentious topic will be debated to consider whether or not Australian democracy has become more conservative, as well as its implications for Australian society and Australian foreign policy.

In Favour:
Rev. Tim Costello AO
Rev. Costello is CEO of World Vision Australia. He was named Victorian of the Year in 2004 and was made an officer of the Order of Australia in 2005. He is the 2008 winner of the Australian Peace Prize, awarded by the Peace Organisation of Australia, and is listed as a ‘National Living Treasure’ by the National Trust.

Michael Short
Mr. Short is an executive editor at The Age newspaper. For a decade, Mr. Short was the editor of the Australian Financial Review in Melbourne, and in more recent times established 'The Zone', whilst writing for The Age and Fairfax media. Mr. Short was a founding editor-in-chief of Bloomberg Television, France, and has been multimedia director for Bloomberg News in Paris.

Against:
Waleed Aly
Mr. Aly is a Melbourne lawyer, a former executive member of the Islamic Council of Victoria and a researcher at the Global Terrorism Research Centre and lecturer at Monash University. Mr. Aly recently published an essay on the future of conservatism in Australia in Quarterly Essay.

Chris Berg
Mr. Berg is a Research Fellow with the Institute of Public Affairs. He is also a regular columnist with the Sunday Age and ABC’s The Drum, covering cultural, political and economic issues. Mr. Berg is an award winning former editor of the IPA Review. Mr. Berg also co-edited ‘100 Great Books of Liberty’ with John Roskam.

Event Flyer:  AIIAV - ACCESS 2010 Annual Debate 15.11.10 (454.82 kB)