THE CONTEXT

When the first Big Dialogue on the China-Australia relationship was held in November 2020 (see event description | video playlist), the 2020 Defence Strategic Update (of the 2016 defence White Paper) had recently been published, although its heightened warnings and message of urgency had not registered in the public consciousness. COVID-19 dominated the context, with Australia’s call for a global inquiry into the origins of the pandemic offending China - resulting in swift, damaging trade retaliation.

Donald Trump had just lost the presidential election and Xi Jinping was ascendant, but his call to the PLA to become a “modern military” by 2027 the month before had not been widely interpreted as an instruction to be ready to invade Taiwan by that year.

A lot has happened in the five years since!

Join us for a robust and engaging long-form public discussion between a small panel of distinguished speakers with very different perspectives, expertly moderated - on a specific topic TBC - fostering a deeper understanding of the complex challenges and potential pathways forward, among policy makers, academics and the general public.

ABOUT THE FORMAT

Big Dialogues are designed to demonstrate that contentious national issues can still be discussed frankly, fearlessly, civilly and even enjoyably, in a non-partisan way, in public, by people of goodwill, in good faith, in pursuit of truth, progress - and better policy and outcomes. Past subjects addressed include universal basic income, the China-Australia relationship, climate change, pandemic management, energy transition, housing, social media impacts/regulation and cost of living.

List of past and current Dialogues events.

SPEAKER PROFILES

Moderator 

Joanna Hewitt AO - Board Director at the Lowy Institute, Australia’s Representative on the APEC Vision Group, Member of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority and former Australian ambassador, departmental secretary and Lead WTO Negotiator.

Profile

Panellists 

Peter Varghese AO - Chancellor of UQ, Chair of the Asialink Council, Board Member of CARE Australia, North Queensland Airports and Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School and former Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs following other senior diplomatic and public service positions.

Profile

James Laurenceson - Director and Professor, Australia-China Relations Institute (ACRI) at University of Technology Sydney, "Australia’s first and only research institute devoted to studying the relationship of the two countries."

Profile

[Third panellist and MC TBA]

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
This event will be conducted under The Brisbane Rule:

All participants agree to listen carefully, speak civilly, and concentrate on the content of discussions, not on characters – before, during and after, online and offline.

Time is limited by the nature of a long-form expert discussion; however:

• Guests will be able to submit questions for the speakers by email before the event and by SMS during the dialogue

• A small number of people in the audience will have the opportunity to ask questions from the floor

• The table seating mode is congenial for social discussion before and afterwards

• Come early, on your own or with friends, family and colleagues, and carry on at the bar after the stage discussion

• Premium ticket holders, Dialogues partners and volunteers will have the opportunity to meet and talk with the speakers

• Discuss related topics online, before and after the night, on Sway, an AI-assisted one-to-one messaging platform which pairs and facilitates dialogue between people of opposing views.

• Review the discussion from the high quality video recording included in the ticket (no live stream)

• Really want to get involved? Volunteers always needed!

EVENT LOGISTICS
Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2025 Venue: The Princess Theatre, Brisbane
Doors: 6pm to meet, greet, eat and seat
Dialogue: 7pm to approx 8:45pm
Event ends: Bar closes approx 9.45pm

The dialogue will start at 7pm sharp, so please arrive no later than 6.45pm and preferably nearer 6pm to have a bite and a drink and mix with other guests. Stay on afterwards to carry on the discussion.

Light food included, with cash bar.

This is a family-friendly event and teenage attendance is encouraged. Photo ID may be required - tickets are not transferrable unless arranged prior.

TICKET PRICING
Tickets are priced to make the event as accessible as possible, with individual tickets from$10for secondary students, helped by the donation of time and expertise of all the speakers and volunteers, Convenor's Table and Premium ticket buyers, and donors.

Hard costs of approximately $70 per person overall need to be covered, so please consider buying a Convenor's Table or a Premium ticket, donating tickets, or making a separate donation to keep events accessible and Australian Dialogues independent, expanding and sustainable.

A small number of complimentary tickets are available for those who post a short (20-60 seconds) selfie video to social media on why they are interested in this topic, event or Australian Dialogues generally, and email the link/s to info@brisbanedialogues.org.

Get your tickets now - break out of your echo chamber and escape the small screen for a different and better night out!

ABOUT THE ORGANISER

The Brisbane/Australian Dialogues

The Brisbane Dialogues is Australia's first dedicated civil discourse or "bridging" organisation, now evolving into Australian Dialogues, with a mission to support other organisations to conduct "across-the-aisle" discussions. Over the last five years it has developed the Big Dialogues public discussion series, the Tuesday Dialogues monthly private discussion group and a schools program, Dialogues @ School. An Advisory Panel of leading Australians has been formed to expand the Dialogues' network and efforts.
www.brisbanedialogues.org | www.australiandialogues.org