Book Launch | Professor David Headon AM | Andrew Fisher So much more than a Prime Minister

The Whitlam Institute take great pleasure in hosting the launch of Professor David Headon’s latest addition to the ‘First Eight’ series, on Australia’s fifth Prime Minister, Andrew Fisher.

EVENT DETAILS 

📅 DATE:  12 June 2026

🕔 TIME:  2:30pm – 4:00 pm (Registration opens 1:30 pm) 

📍 LOCATION: The Whitlam Institute within Western Sydney University - Female Orphan School (Building EZ), Parramatta South Campus 

🎟️ TICKETS: Free, bookings essential

To purchase a copy of the book, please scan the QR code, complete the online payment and present your payment receipt to receive your signed copy.

Select 'Collect in Store' at the checkout.

THE SPEAKERS

• Welcome & Introduction - Professor John Juriansz

• Introduction to Book & Series - Professor David Headon, Australian National University

• "In Conversation" - Professor Headon & Steven Fox, Parliamentary Librarian, Question & Answer Session

• Vote of thanks - The Hon John Faulkner, Chair, Whitlam Institute

• Book signing and refreshments

ABOUT THE BOOK

The overarching motivation for this biographical series is to shine a long-overdue light on the political, social and cultural context of Australia’s early parliaments – namely through its prime ministers. Previously Professor Headon has written on Alfred Deakin, George Reid, Edmund Barton, Chris Watson and Joseph Cook. Now the story turns to that of Andrew Fisher. Being Prime Minister of Australia is a long way removed from life as a 10-year-old in the Scottish coal mines, but that’s the trajectory that Fisher found himself on and that Professor Headon has revealed in this book. In his adopted Queensland, Fisher worked in the mines, the unions, and the fledging Labor Party as a state parliamentarian, before serving within the Commonwealth Parliament and eventually as Prime Minister.

His career as a reformer and nation builder contained many significant achievements, which I’ll let the other speakers address. Suffice to say that there is a lot in Fisher’s service that is worthy of recognition, admiration and contemporary reflection.

This series has been an important and enduring collaboration between the Parliamentary Librarian, Australian National University, the National Museum of Australia, the National Archives of Australia, and the Parliament of Victoria. This collective support has ably assisted Professor Headon’s research, including not only these fine publications but also a wonderful companion lecture series – available to view on the parliament website.

 Steven Fox, Parliamentary Librarian will be in attendance to support this wonderful event. "It’s always a pleasure to support Dave’s work in this project, which adds another rich component to Australia’s political history and gives us a further lens to view our past with a fresh and engaging perspective”.

 Fisher had an ambitious reform agenda for Australia, and I note that this gained an international reputation for Australia as ‘the social laboratory of the world’. In fact policy makers from around the world would come and see for themselves how government could create a fairer and more inclusive society.

How to get here:

WSU Parramatta South Campus is well served by light rail and bus services from Parramatta station, as well as other bus routes.

There is paid parking on campus but it is generally in high demand during term.

More information on getting here can be found at: https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/future/our-campuses/parramatta-south-campus

Register now, seats strictly limited.