“ICAC—Theory and Practice” June 2016
A presentation and question and answer session on the drafting and introduction of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) legislation in South Australia and its ongoing administration. The presentation featured Attorney-General and Deputy Premier Hon. John Rau MP, Independent Commissioner Against Corruption Hon. Bruce Lander QC and Associate Professor Gabrielle Appleby, a leading academic on the topic from the University of NSW.
Annual ASPG Australasian conference October 2016
The South Australian Branch successfully hosted the annual conference on the topic ‘The Restoration and Enhancement of Parliaments’ Reputation’ in Adelaide during 2016. Over 70 delegates were welcomed, and a full program of interesting contributions were presented to the conference over the course of the event. Guest Speakers included keynote speaker Dr John Hewson AM and after dinner speaker The Hon. Amanda Vanstone.
‘Boundary redistribution in South Australia’ June 2017
This event looked at the latest boundary redistribution report with commentary and technical information provided by Hon. Michael Atkinson, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Dr Haydon Manning (Flinders University), Professor John Williams (University of Adelaide) and David Gully (Deputy Electoral Commissioner).
‘Election analysis with Antony Green – past and future— SA 2018 and Federal 2019’
December 2018
Antony Green, Australia’s leading psephologist joined us for a discussion and analysis followed by a question and answer session on the 2018 South Australian election followed by a consideration of the electoral issues for the upcoming Federal election.
‘The Great Supper Debate’ April 2019
Held in the House of Assembly Chamber and moderated by ASPG member Professor Clem Macintyre, our members joined former Leader of the Opposition Isobel Redmond, Sam Duluk MP and current Deputy Leader of the Opposition Dr Susan Close MP – for the affirmative and Professor Lisa Hill, Dr Jonathon Louth and Dr Robert Manwaring – for the negative in a night of fierce, funny and potentially factual debate on the merits of multi-member electorates and whether academics should have a say in electing our politicians.
Beyond Suffrage: A Woman’s Perspective of Politics in Australia – October 2019
2019 marks the 125th anniversary of women’s suffrage in South Australia. To note this landmark achievement, a discussion took place in the House of Assembly Chamber honouring the pioneers of the past, asked questions about the challenges faced by Female MP’s today and looked at the future and what can be done to build on the legacy left behind by those who have come before. The event featured South Australian federal and state female politicians from diverse backgrounds and political persuasions and was well attended by school aged female leaders of the future and current leaders including the Lieutenant Governor, Professor Brenda Wilson, the Premier, Hon. Steven Marshall MP and the Equal Opportunity Commissioner.
The event was compared by journalist and author Tory Shepherd who interviewed the following panellists:
- Frances Bedford MP – Former Deputy-Speaker and current Mother of the House of Assembly
- Hon Lyn Breuer – First woman Speaker of the House of Assembly
- Molly Byrne OAM – Third woman elected to the Parliament of South Australia
- Hon Vickie Chapman MP – First woman Deputy Premier and Attorney-General
- Hon Kate Ellis – Former Minister and Federal Member for Adelaide
- Senator Sarah Hanson-Young – South Australian Senator, youngest woman elected to the Federal Parliament
- Hon Anne Levy AO – First woman President of the Legislative Council
- Rebekha Sharkie MP – Federal Member for Mayo
- Natasha Stott-Despoja AM – Former South Australian Senator, former Leader of the Australian Democrats
There were no events held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘The Rise of Convenience Voting – is the Democracy Sausage Doomed?’ – May 2021
For the last decade, voters around Australia have shifted to doing their democratic duty before polling day, a trend that has accelerated in the shadow of COVID-19 restrictions. Has so called ‘convenience’ voting become a threat to our festival of democracy on election day? Should the availability of early voting be wound back? What challenges are posed to election administration? With so many early votes being cast, what can be done to ensure votes are counted and the result known on election night.
Antony Green, Australia’s leading psephologist joined us for a discussion and analysis followed by a question and answer session on this controversial topic.
‘BREXIT – What now?’ – September 2021
After Just over 40 years of membership, the UK left the European Union in early 2020. Eleven months later, on 31 December 2020 the short transition period concluded, and the UK severed all legal and political ties with the EU. Brexit only came after a long, bitter, and deeply divisive battle that came to dominate British politics. This talk traced the shifting and always uneasy relationship between the UK and the EU. It also reflected on what the major implications of this have been for British domestic politics as a major realignment of voter patterns is apparent and speculation of a break-up of the United Kingdom itself grows.
Presented by Clem Macintyre – Clem is Emeritus Professor of Politics at the University of Adelaide where he taught for 25 years. From 2016-18 he reported on Brexit while working as Political Officer at the Australian High Commission in London.
‘Life of a country MP’ – October 2021
A very experienced panel of country members and former members discussed the difficulties and rewards of representing a country electorate and considered questions such as what it is like to hold a ministry or position of authority within the parliament, while at the same time addressing the needs of sometimes isolated and distant constituents, lobbying government for what your constituents, and the changing face of rural South Australia. The panel also considered more practical matters such as the impact the job has on family life and work life balance.
Compared and featuring the thoughts of the ASPG SA Chairman Mr Peter Treloar. Himself the Member for Flinders based in Port Lincoln.
- The Hon. G M Gunn AM – former Speaker (1994-1997) and Member for Stuart (1970-2010)
- Mr Ivan Venning – former Member for Schubert (1990-2014)
- Mr Eddie Hughes MP – former Shadow Minister Primary Industries and Regional Development and Member for Giles
‘2022 SA and Commonwealth Election analysis with Antony Green’ – 7 September 2022
Antony Green presented at a sold-out evening seminar held at Parliament House to provide his analysis of the 2022 South Australian and Commonwealth elections.
‘Connected Parliaments’ – 16 November 2022
The chapter hosted an interactive evening seminar at Parliament House to examine how the Parliament of South Australia connects with and engages the South Australian community and provide practical tips and strategies for how the Parliament and its Members can reach beyond the usual suspects and hear the voices of a diverse range of communities and individuals. International experts Professor Cristina Leston Bandeira and Dr Alex Prior presented via videoconference, together with Dr Sarah Moulds and Matt Ryan from the University of South Australia, and the Parliament of South Australia’s Community Engagement Officer, Natalie Young.
‘Life After Parliament’ – 31 May 2023
Dr Amy Nethery and Dr Zim Nwokora from Deakin University presented at an evening seminar at Parliament House to discuss the findings of their world-first 2021 report, ‘Transitioning to Life After Parliament’, commissioned by the Victorian Parliament and the Victoria Parliament Former Members’ Association.
For information about South Australia Chapter events, please contact:
Lauren Williams