The Robert Menzies Institute is proud to host Senator the Hon. Simon Birmingham to launch
The Art of Opposition co-edited by Scott Prasser
Wednesday 19 June 2024
Robert Menzies Museum, East Wing, Old Quad
The University of Melbourne
5:30pm - 7:00pm
ABOUT THE BOOK
The Art of Opposition is the first published research study of Australian oppositions across federal and state jurisdictions with additional coverage of the United Kingdom, Canada, United States and Europe. With senior academic contributors from Australian and international universities, and political practitioners like John Howard who led an opposition to office, The Art of Opposition is an up to date account of what oppositions do and how they do it. An effective opposition is essential for the health of any democracy - holding governments to account, exposing mistakes, and being the “government-in-waiting” with alternative policies ready to take office once an election result is clear.
ABOUT SENATOR THE HON SIMON BIRMINGHAM
Simon Birmingham serves as the Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Opposition in the Senate. Prior to entering the Senate in 2007, Simon worked for several industry bodies, establishing particular experience in the wine, tourism and hospitality sectors – industries that are critical to South Australia’s prosperity. Throughout his career, Simon has served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment, Assistant Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Education and Training, and Manager of Government Business in the Senate in February 2018. Under the Morrison Government, Simon then served as Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment and Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate from August 2018. Simon was then appointed as Minister for Finance in October 2020 whilst also serving as Leader of the Government in the Senate. Simon is an active advocate for mental health and ovarian cancer, and is a proud Adelaide Crows fan.
ABOUT SCOTT PRASSER
Scott Prasser has worked in federal and state governments in research and senior policy advisory positions. Between 2013-2019 he worked as senior advisor to three federal coalition cabinet ministers. Scott gained his undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications from the University of Queensland and Griffith University. He has held academic positions at five universities across four states, the last at professorial level. Scott has written extensively on Australian politics in academic and media publications. His publications include: The Menzies Era (1995), The Howard Mandate (1997); Royal Commissions and Public Inquiries in Australia (2021 2nd ed); The Whitlam Era (2022), New directions in royal commissions and public inquiries: Do we need them? (2023) and The Art of Opposition (2024). Since 2019 he has been Series Editor of Connor Court’s Australian Biographical Series which now has 22 titles and wrote Menzies – Man or Myth.
