James Walter and Carolyn Holbrook will be in conversation with Frank Bongiorno on their new book Australia Fair? Democracy, Bureaucracy and the Making of Modern Australia, which explores how policy shapes politics for a better Australia

Who advises politicians about the issues that impact our daily lives, and how has their advice changed over time? In Australia Fair? James Walter and Carolyn Holbrook explore the world of departmental officials and political advisers who wield significant influence in shaping our society and assess how policy advice has changed since World War II. How has the relationship between our elected representatives and bureaucrats evolved? Have they delivered what the people want? What has been learned, and what forgotten?

Focusing on three foundational policy domains - immigration, Indigenous affairs and housing - Australia Fair? reveals how social change, ideological differences and power dynamics have transformed Australia's political landscape and society. Provocative and important, Australia Fair? challenges us to reckon with a new era of policy innovation, to debate how we want to be governed and to choose what kind of society we want to be.

James Walter FASSA is Emeritus Professor of Political Science in the School of Social Sciences. Monash University. He was formerly Head of the School of Political and Social Inquiry. and President of the Australian Political Studies Association. James Walter has published widely on Australian politics, history, biography and culture. Among his books are The Ministers' Minders: personal advisers in national government (1986), Settling the Office: The Australian Prime Ministership from Federation to Reconstruction (with Paul Strangio and Paul 't Hart, 2016) and The Pivot of Power: Australian Prime Ministers and Political Leadership 1949-2016 (with Paul Strangio and Paul 't Hart, 2017).

Associate Professor Carolyn Holbrook is an historian in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Deakin University. Her most recent books are Challenging Anzacs: Stories that don't fit the Legend, edited with Mia Martin Hobbs and Joan Beaumont and Golden Age? Remembering the Hawke Government, edited with Frank Bongiorno and Joshua Black. She is the director of Australian Policy and History, co-editor of Australian Historical Studies and serves on the executive of the Australian Historical Association and the History Council of Victoria.

Frank Bongiorno AM FRHistS FASSA FAHA is Donald Horne Professor of History and Public Ideas at the University of Canberra, Emeritus Professor of the Australian National University and President, Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS). His most recent book is Golden Age? Remembering the Hawke government. Edited by Frank Bongiorno, Carolyn Holbrook and Joshua Black. (2026)

The vote of thanks will be given by Andrew Podger AO FASSA, Honorary Professor of Public Policy ANU

Books will be available for signing from 5.30pm and again after the event.

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A podcast will be made available after the event.

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