A great speech captures the power and passion of its ideas; it’s an attempt to influence thought, or to commemorate a moment in time. On the publication of her updated anthology, Well May We Say, Sally Warhaft responds to some of Australia’s most significant speeches, on the themes of defence, women, immigration and indigenous affairs...

Gough Whitlam’s visit to China in 1971 was a turning point in relations between the two countries. But luck played a part in this audacious mission The 1971 visit to China was not an exercise in political opportunism; it was a bold expression of Whitlam’s foreign policy vision, which prioritised regionalism and internationalism over ties...

This paper chronicles the 125 Commonwealth Members of Parliament identified as having served during the Colonial wars and/or the First World War. Introduction This research paper is a companion to a previous Parliamentary Library publication, Commonwealth Members of Parliament who have served in war. This paper chronicles the 125 Commonwealth Members of Parliament (MPs) identified...

Overview: This edited collection includes eleven major case studies and one general review of rhetorical contest in Australian politics. The volume showcases the variety of methods available for studying political speech, including historical, theoretical, institutional, and linguistic analyses, and demonstrates the centrality of language use to democratic politics. The chapters reveal errors in rhetorical strategy...

Introduction: This research paper provides a summary of Commonwealth parliamentary superannuation benefits in place prior to the 2004 general election. It provides explanation, hyperlinks and documents pertaining to the operation of the Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Scheme (the PCSS). A table of eligibility requirements and benefits under the Scheme is given.