Whitlam's Dismissal: On These Very Steps
Sun
26
Sun 26 Oct 3:30 PM
Senate Chamber | Museum of Australian Democracy Old Parliament House
Wheelchair
General Admission
60 Mins
October
Australia changed under Whitlam. There were important steps taken on childcare, equal pay for women, access to education, Indigenous land rights and a greater sense of an independent Australia in the world. But the pressure mounted in the months leading up to his dismissal. Virginia Haussegger who has written on feminism and Whitlam, Esther Anatolitis, Editor of Meanjin’s recent issue on Whitlam and award-winning Wiradjuri writer, poet and academic, Jeanine Leanne come together with Whitlam biographer and journalist, Troy Bramston for this exciting panel. Each will take different perspectives on the story. How did the Woman and Politics Conference launched with a bang at Old Parliament House in September 1975 turn into a wild media circus and accusations Whitlam was letting crazy bra-less women’s libbers run the joint? What has Whitlam's dismissal meant for Australia's ongoing evolution towards being a Republic (culturally if not yet constitutionally)? How might we reinterpret the tall figure of Whitlam looming large over history and identity, including stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land rights in this country? What unfolded during the day of the dismissal and on the steps of this building?
Esther Anatolitis works venturously across the cultural and civic fields that create Australia’s future. Across two decades, she has held arts and media leadership positions across all platforms and artforms. Esther is a member of the National Gallery of Australia Governing Council, Hon A/Prof at RMIT School of Art, and Co-Chair of the Australian Republic Movement. Her strategic consultancy Test Pattern honours the values of art, tenacity and democracy, working across Australia on strategic development, creative precincts and public policy. A prolific writer and commentator, Esther’s work on arts and civic matters is widely published, and she regularly co-hosts RRR’s politics show Spin Cycle.
Jeanine Leanne is a is a Wiradjuri writer, poet and academic from southwest New South Wales. Her poetry, short stories, critique, and essays have been published in Australian Poetry Journal, Antipodes, Westerly, Cordite Review Overland and the Sydney Review of Books. Jeanine has published widely in the areas of Aboriginal literature, writing otherness, literary critique, and creative non-fiction. Jeanine’s collection of poetry, Gawimarra: Gathering (UQP 2024) won the 2025 Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Poetry and was shortlisted for the Kenneth Slessor Prize at the NSW Literary Awards 2025.
Virginia Haussegger AM is a passionate women’s advocate, and communication specialist with unique expertise in leading powerful conversations. She is also an award-winning television journalist, writer and commentator, whose extensive media career spans 30 years. Virginia has reported from around the globe, including Washington, New York and the Middle East, for leading current affair programs on Channel 9, the Seven Network and the ABC. She has anchored primetime national news programs and presented as state host in five capital cities, including 15 years as nightly anchor of the ABC’s flagship TV News in Canberra.
Participant Change: Evelyn Araluen will no longer be appearing in this event.
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Concession Tickets apply for children under the age of 16, full-time students, Commonwealth Health Care Card holders, Commonwealth Seniors Card Holders and Commonwealth Pensioner Concession Card holders. Please have your eligible card with you at the venue.
Esther Anatolitis works venturously across the cultural and civic fields that create Australia’s future. Across two decades, she has held arts and media leadership positions across all platforms and artforms. Esther is a member of the National Gallery of Australia Governing Council, Hon A/Prof at RMIT School of Art, and Co-Chair of the Australian Republic Movement. Her strategic consultancy Test Pattern honours the values of art, tenacity and democracy, working across Australia on strategic development, creative precincts and public policy. A prolific writer and commentator, Esther’s work on arts and civic matters is widely published, and she regularly co-hosts RRR’s politics show Spin Cycle.
Jeanine Leanne is a is a Wiradjuri writer, poet and academic from southwest New South Wales. Her poetry, short stories, critique, and essays have been published in Australian Poetry Journal, Antipodes, Westerly, Cordite Review Overland and the Sydney Review of Books. Jeanine has published widely in the areas of Aboriginal literature, writing otherness, literary critique, and creative non-fiction. Jeanine’s collection of poetry, Gawimarra: Gathering (UQP 2024) won the 2025 Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Poetry and was shortlisted for the Kenneth Slessor Prize at the NSW Literary Awards 2025.
Virginia Haussegger AM is a passionate women’s advocate, and communication specialist with unique expertise in leading powerful conversations. She is also an award-winning television journalist, writer and commentator, whose extensive media career spans 30 years. Virginia has reported from around the globe, including Washington, New York and the Middle East, for leading current affair programs on Channel 9, the Seven Network and the ABC. She has anchored primetime national news programs and presented as state host in five capital cities, including 15 years as nightly anchor of the ABC’s flagship TV News in Canberra.
Participant Change: Evelyn Araluen will no longer be appearing in this event.
_______________________________________________________________
Concession Tickets apply for children under the age of 16, full-time students, Commonwealth Health Care Card holders, Commonwealth Seniors Card Holders and Commonwealth Pensioner Concession Card holders. Please have your eligible card with you at the venue.