Robert Menzies Institute

31/08/2026

TOMORROW IN SYDNEY!

Join us in commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the signing of the ANZUS Treaty with two special guests: Allegra Spender and Steven Marshall AO.

The commemoration is also part of our book launch of The Hidden War, by award-winning children's author Belinda Murrell. The Hidden War is a historical fiction that recounts the signing of the Treaty.

The event will include drinks and canapes. This is your LAST CHANCE to book a ticket.

TICKETS: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/commemorating-the-75th-anniversary-of-the-anzus-treaty-tickets-1996424153385

If you’ve registered, we can’t wait to see you tomorrow!

27/08/2026

Here’s a sneak peek of our upcoming episode of the Afternoon Light podcast with award-winning children’s book author Belinda Murrell, discussing the new historical fiction “The Hidden War”.

The novel brings the signing of the ANZUS Treaty to life, told through the eyes of 15-year-old John Spender (the son of the architect of the ANZUS Treaty, Sir Percy Spender): he would himself go on to become a barrister, politician and diplomat.

If you are in Sydney on 1 September, be sure to join us for a special book launch event of “The Hidden War” and to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty. Reserve your ticket now, as the event is next week!

TICKETS: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/commemorating-the-75th-anniversary-of-the-anzus-treaty-tickets-1996424153385

Our Afternoon Light podcast episode with Belinda Murrell will go live 3 September, available on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

26/08/2026

How did a person of Chinese descent rise to become one of the nation’s top barristers at the height of the white Australia policy?

Click to listen: https://zurl.co/zJIdD

Professor Andrew Godwin tells an astounding multicultural success story that long predates the very concept of multiculturalism. Offering lessons on integration and the process of ‘becoming Australian’, by shedding light on the life and times of Menzies’s friend and contemporary, William Ah Ket.

26/08/2026

There are only THREE weeks left until our Annual Oration & Dinner, with Andrew Roberts, Lord Roberts of Belgravia.

We are delighted to welcome Lord Roberts, one of the world’s greatest historians, to speak on “One Soaring Imagination: The Destiny of the English-Speaking Peoples in the Twenty-First Century."

At a time when liberal democracy is under pressure, alliances are being tested, and confidence in the institutions of freedom can no longer be taken for granted, Lord Roberts will ask what responsibilities now fall upon countries such as Australia, Britain and the United States: “Can we recover the imagination, courage and conviction needed to defend the free society in the twenty-first century?”

Your ticket includes canapés commencing at 6.30pm, followed by a three-course meal with drinks in the luxury surroundings of the Park Hyatt Ballroom in the Melbourne CBD.

Spots are filling quickly, so be sure to book your ticket today and reserve your spot for what promises to be a memorable evening of history and national reflection.

TICKETS AND INFORMATION:

The Robert Menzies Institute is pleased to invite you to our 2026 Annual Oration and Dinner. The 2026 Oration will be delivered by Lord Andrew...

25/08/2026

Will you be in Sydney on September 1st? Join us in commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the signing of the ANZUS Treaty with two special guests: Allegra Spender and Steven Marshall AO.

Allegra Spender, Member for Wentworth and the granddaughter of Sir Percy Spender who signed the treaty for Australia, will launch the book The Hidden War: a fictional account of the signing of the Treaty.

Steven Marshall AO is the former Premier of South Australia and current President of the American Australian Association.

The event will include drinks and canapes, so book your ticket today!

TICKETS -

Allegra Spender MP, Member for Wentworth, to launch 'The Hidden War', a YA historical novel on the signing of the ANZUS Treaty

21/08/2026

We have our winners for the Menzies Speech Competition! Last night, our finalists presented their speeches to a group of esteemed panelists. After much deliberation, the winning students are...

* Ellie Atkinson, from Our Lady of Mercy College Parramatta (Year 7/8)
* Laisa Gordon, from Bethany College Hurstville (Year 9/10)
* Anand Warrier, from Xavier College (Year 11/12)

Our winners will each receive a cash prize and will be invited to deliver their winning speech at our Robert Menzies Institute Annual Conference in November. Anand will also be receiving a complimentary trip to the United States Studies Centre at the Sydney International Strategy Forum 2026.

We cannot say thank you enough to all our participants for this year's Menzies Speech Competition for your research and courage to present yourself and your work.

Follow our website and socials for information on next year's competition!

20/08/2026

Today is the day! We are proud and excited to announce our finalists for the prestigious Menzies Speech Competition:

Year 7/8 Finalists
* Harriet Findlay, Overnewton Anglican Community College, VIC
* Ellie Atkinson, Our Lady of Mercy College Parramatta, NSW
* Mysha Ansari, Trinity Anglican School, QLD

Year 9/10 Finalists
* Laisa Gordon, Bethany College Hurstville, NSW
* Saisha Sharma, Huntingtower School, VIC
* Ivy Bekard, St Aloysius North Melbourne, VIC

Year 11/12 Finalists
* Aojin Chen, St Iganius College, SA
* Anand Warrier, Xavier College, VIC
* Ryan Allen, Sydney Boys High School, NSW

The final is today, August 20th, and will be judged by panelists Trisha Jha, Lucas McLennan, Helen Tani, David Albano, and Peter Collins.

This year's theme has been around the United States-Australia Alliance, and if after 75 years such an alliance is still in our country's national interest. Cash prizes will be awarded to the winner of each category.

You can read more about the Menzies Speech Competition on our website here: https://www.robertmenziesinstitute.org.au/research-learning/learning/speech-competition

Best of luck to our finalists!

19/08/2026

“We’re fighting a hidden war for freedom and democracy in the Pacific…”

We are pleased to announce 'The Hidden War', a new historical fiction commemorating the 75th anniversary of the signing of the ANZUS treaty.

Written by award-winning children's book author Belinda Murrell, the piece of young adult fiction tells the story of the ANZUS treaty from the perspective of John Spender (the son of Percy Spender, Robert Menzies’s Minister for External Affairs) and Annie Williams.

As the Cold War in the 1950s intensifies, fears of a third world war begin to grow, and Australia's presence in the Pacific feels increasingly isolated. Against the odds, can Australia forge a bold, new plan to protect the nation and secure its future? The novel explores not just Australia's political history, but also the socio-cultural history of 1950s Australia.

'The Hidden War' is available for purchase on our website: https://www.robertmenziesinstitute.org.au/book/the-hidden-war

Thank you to Jeparit Press of

19/08/2026

Globalisation only recently brought together Asia’s distinctively different cultures and regions. However, as the risks of globalisation become clearer, it is being realised as an emerging threat to the continent. Nick Bisley discusses the shifting geopolitical landscapes of Asia and what they could mean for Australia’s national security and global identity within the Asia-Pacific region on this week’s episode of Afternoon Light.

Listen here: https://zurl.co/UNpbP

12/08/2026

How has almost a decade in power left such a severe dent in the Liberal Party's reputation & viability?

On this week’s Afternoon Light special guest hosts Alexander Downer and Chetna Mahadik speak with Paul Kelly about his latest book The Twilight of Exceptionalism. Exploring the failures, contradictions and redeeming achievements of Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull, and Scott Morrison, and how the limitations of their prime ministerships have played into the rise of One Nation.

Listen to the episode here: https://zurl.co/8DXYo

Paul Kelly is editor-at-large and a former editor-in-chief of The Australian. He writes on Australian politics, policy, history and international relations, and has covered every prime minister from Gough Whitlam to Anthony Albanese. He has written or co-authored twelve books on our politics and history, with the latest being The Twilight of Exceptionalism: The Liberal and Conservative Era 2013-22. Kelly is a regular television commentator. He has been a fellow at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, a visiting fellow at Kings' College London and a fellow at the Lowy Institute in Sydney. He has a doctorate from the University of Melbourne and is a fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia.

Melbourne University Publishing