True Liberal? The Record and Legacy of the Fraser Government, 1975-1983
Symposium Schedule
The University of Melbourne (Melbourne School of Government and Archives and Special Collections) and ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â are delighted to invite you to a Symposium being held to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Fraser Government.
The Symposium will be held at ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â on Friday 12 and Saturday 13 December 2025.
Questions about the event should be sent to the Chair of the steering committee, Dr Margaret Simons, at margaret@margaretsimons.com.au
Queries about the archival collections at the University of Melbourne should be addressed to Katie Wood at kathrynw@unimelb.edu.au
Tickets for the Symposium will be on sale in the coming weeks. Check back here soon.
Photographer: Roger Scott (1944). Malcolm Fraser, Randwick Racecourse 1975, copyright courtesy Josef Lebovic Gallery, Sydney
Day 1 - Friday 12 December 2025
9 - 9.30am Welcome
Session 1: What kind of government was it?
9.30 - 10.30am Address by Dr Denis White, followed by Panel Discussion Chaired by Georgina Downer
10.30 - 11am Morning Tea Break
Session 2: The Malcolm Fraser Collection
11 - 11.45am Discussion with participating Chair, Katie Wood.
Session 3: The culture of the Nation
11.45am - 12.45pm Panel Discussion Chaired by Ian Renard
12.45 - 1.45pm Lunch
Session 4: Australia in the world
1.45 - 3pm Address by Alexander Downer, followed by Panel Discussion Chaired by Professor Michael Wesley
3 - 3.30pm Afternoon Tea.
Session 5: Providing Sanctuary – refugees
3.30 - 4.30pm Address by David Furse Roberts, followed by Panel Discussion
Session 6: the public service
4.30 - 5.30pm Panel Discussion, Chaired by Professor Emerita Anne Twomey
Session 7: the fraser collection announcement
5.30 - 5.45pm
Session 8
6 - 7pm Fraser Oration
7.15 - 10pm Fraser Oration Dinner, where members of the Fraser family will be in conversation with Dr Margaret Simons
Day 2 - Saturday 13 December 2025
Session 1: the first australians, then and now
9 - 10am TBC
10 - 10.30am Morning tea
Session 2: Monetary policy, the economy and productivity
10.30 - 11.30am Panel Discussion
Session 3: Constitutional and Administrative reform
11.30 - 12.30pm Panel Discussion
12.30 - 1.30pm Lunch
Session 4: Human RIghts
1.30 - 2.30pm Panel Discussion Chaired by Dr Phoebe Wynn-Pope
2.30 - 3pm Afternoon Tea
Session 5: Changing the face of the nation – immigration and multiculturalism
3 - 4pm Panel Discussion Chaired by Dr Phoebe Wynn-Pope
Session 6: What id liberalism today?
4 - 5.30pm Panel Discussion Chaired by David Kemp
5.30 - 6pm Closing Remarks