EVENT: The Politics of Dissent in an Age of Endangered Democracy

The Institute of Public Administration WA Division

and

The Institute of Advanced Studies, The University of Western Australia

Invite you to this free public lecture

by

Anne Summers

The Politics of Dissent in an Age of Endangered Democracy

RSVP: by 28 July to 08 6488 2020 (automated line)

Parking available from Hackett Drive entrance 1 in Car Park 3. Map at http://maps.uwa.edu.au/crawley/display/11

Profile: Anne Summers is a best selling Australian author, journalist and speaker on political and social, especially womens, issues. She led the Office of the Status of Women from 1983-86 and was advisor to Prime Ministers Paul Keating and Bob Hawke. Anne is a former editor of Good Weekend, and is a Sydney Morning Herald columnist. Her books include Damned Whores and Gods Police (still in print after 28 years) and Ducks on the Pond, her autobiography. In 1988 Anne and Sandra Yates led a buyout of Ms. and Sassy magazines. She is a member of the Australian Society of Authors and co-editor of its magazine Australian Author. Anne is on the committee of Sydney PEN Centre, is a Walkley Award winner and is an Officer in the Order of Australia. She is the Chair of the Board of Greenpeace International and is also Deputy President of the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney. Her latest book The End of Equality: Work, Babies and Womens Choices in 21st Century Australia (Random House Australia, 2003) explores the diverse realities of Australian womens lives today, showing how their economic, political and social well-being has been steadily and systematically undermined over the past 10 years.

Many of the freedoms we take for granted in a democracy are being circumscribed or even challenged by governments pursuing a conservative agenda (often in the name of fighting terrorism) and by other agencies, such as corporations, whose power sometimes exceeds that of many nation-states. How to express dissent, argue for our beliefs and entitlements, and uphold the essence of democratic freedom has in recent times taken on an unexpected and unwelcome urgency. Anne Summers issues a call for active citizens to reclaim their democratic heritage.

The Reid Oration was established by the Institute of Public Administration Australia (WA Division) in 1991 to honour Professor Gordon Reid's contribution to public life. Gordon Reid, AC, was a distinguished scholar in the areas of Politics, Public Administration and Comparative Government. He was Professor of Politics for many years at The University of Western Australia as well as serving as Deputy Vice-Chancellor. From 1984 to 1989 he was Governor of Western Australia. He was also a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia, serving as a member of the WA Division as well as Councillor, Vice-President and President. Professor Reid passed away in 1989.

Enquiries to [email protected] or 6488 1340.