John Cain Lunch (February): The Good Fight with Sean Kelly

IN-PERSON TICKET SALES CLOSE FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13 AT 12PM AEDT.

In Quarterly Essay 100, Sean Kelly considers the enigma of the Albanese government. With wide yet shallow support, will it change the country? Does it have big ideas, or is it content just to become "the natural party of government"?

Kelly gives a definitive account of Albanese's political style and asks what lies behind it. In speaking to a fragmented, disengaged electorate, the Prime Minister places a high value on moderation. Often that means ducking fights with entrenched interests. But this runs the risk of embedding an ever more unequal nation, led by a government that can seem gutless.

In this subtle and brilliant essay, Kelly explores whether Labor is still up for the good fight.

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Purchase your copy of the Quarterly Essay. Visit: https://www.quarterlyessay.com.au/essay/2025/11/the-good-fight

Use the code $7 at checkout for a discount, as well as the code FREESHIP for free shipping.

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Sean Kelly is the author of The Game: A portrait of Scott Morrison, an award-winning columnist for the Nine papers and regular contributor to The Monthly and a former adviser to Labor prime ministers.

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Attend our in-person lunch and discussion at 12:30pm or watch the live stream remotely.

The live stream will commence at:

1:00pm AEDT (NSW, ACT, VIC, TAS)
12:00pm AEST (QLD)
12:30pm ACDT (SA)
11:30am ACST (NT)
10:00am AWST (WA)

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Register here to reserve a seat at our Graduate House event. Your ticket includes lunch from 12:30pm followed by a discussion from 1pm.

If you purchase a live stream ticket, you will receive the live stream link by email.

Per Capita is committed to keeping its events accessible to those who may not be able to purchase a ticket. For this reason we are making a number of Concession Tickets available for unwaged/student/full age pension concessions. These tickets cover the cost of lunch plus a free ticket to the discussion.

Free tickets are available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in recognition of the fact that this event is being held on stolen land. Please email info@percapita.org.au to request a free ticket.

If you are able to and would like to help us increase the number of Concession Tickets available, please consider a donation on top of your ticket purchase.