Who We Are Becoming in the 21st Century Join us for a compelling discussion with George Megalogenis as he unpacks Three Shocks: Who We Are Becoming in the 21st Century. In conversation with journalist Tory Shepherd, George will explore how the federal elections of 2022 and 2025 were an overdue wake-up call to three shocks that have reshaped our national identity:

For the first time since federation, we have a population that’s majority migrants and their children. Professional women are now the largest segment of the workforce, replacing blue-collar men. On the world stage, both our allies and our key trade partners have proven unreliable. In an era defined by uncertainty and possibility, what do these shocks mean for our political landscape? Which forces are driving change, and how are political leaders responding? George sheds light on the strategies, debates and decisions that will shape the nation’s future.

Imprints Booksellers will be selling copies of Three Shocks: Who We Are Becoming in the 21st Century in the Auditorium foyer on the night of the event.

Presented by The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre

Join us as we convene to reflect on the result of the recent election, assess its implications for movement-building, and strategize about our path forward as we continue to navigate a rapidly changing political landscape. In addition to creating a facilitated container for community members to share their reflections, we’ll also bring together a panel of top leaders from across the movement space who will lend their insights as part of this discussion.

No matter the outcome, the presidential election presents an opportunity to mobilize and organize our communities around the most pressing social issues we face today.

The second session we are going to focus on political economy. See reading materials below. Please finish reading them in advance and come to discuss with us 🙂

1. An Introduction to Marx’s Three Volumes of Capital, by Michael Heinrich, pages 39-49, 93-97 .

2. Capital Pt 1, Marx, Chapter 26 ‘The Secret of Primitive Accumulation’

3. Summary of Caliban and the Witch, Silvia Federici Ch 2: The Accumulation of Labor and the Degradation of Women: Constructing “Difference” in the “Transition to Capitalism” A feminist account of primitive accumulation and the exploitative nature of social reproduction under capitalism.

4. Class in the 21st Century: Asset Inflation and the new logic of inequality, Adkins, Cooper, Konings This is a publicly available journal article. Only read up to (and excluding) “Rethinking class theory”. So is a focus on Australian history of financialisation.

Rally with Save Festival Plaza Alliance and Adelaide Parklands Assoc at the Australian Tax Office to protest the Commonwealth Govt’s Tax Office facilitating the construction of Walker Tower 2 on our Festival Plaza by, incredibly, becoming an anchor tenant. Speakers include Senator Barbara Pocock and Land Economist

We are whistle blowers. Bring a whistle to let them know we don’t want them on our plaza.

One Nation is dominating the narrative right now – and it’s not because Pauline Hanson is suddenly more persuasive.

The hoarding of wealth and resources by the few has caused an economic crisis for the many, and the political mainstream are failing to put forward an ambitious solution people can get behind. When we fail to articulate a believable path out of a crisis, or worse stay silent for fear of getting it wrong, a vacuum appears. Enter One Nation who have filled it and, as a result, are dominating the mainstream media with divisive messages targeting people based on their race and gender, pitting communities against each other for political gain.

While the conversation is centred around Pauline Hanson’s sudden ascension to being preferred Prime Minister, social proofing for One Nation continues to climb, we continue to cede ground, and communities of colour and immigrants are rightly feeling abandoned.

Here’s what we know:

People are angry and outraged about the economic crisis, and billionaires have succeeded in scapegoating marginalised communities (including immigrants, trans people, and working class communities). Globally, anti-immigration parties are gaining in traction as a result.

Newer One Nation supporters are generally doing it tough and are looking for a way to protest and challenge the ‘political elite’ (aka major parties – and even civil society organisations), who they feel have failed them. They don’t always support One Nation policies, but are looking for alternatives that aren’t elitist. As a result, attacking Pauline Hanson in fact moves persuadables away from our messages of fairness and justice.

The solutions to improve the lives of everyday people are our solutions – real wage rises, tackling housing inequality, stemming corporate greed, ensuring access to public health and education – yet this is the opposite of the current conversation. Put simply: our messages aren’t cutting through.

We’ve invited Anat Shenker-Osorio to host a snap briefing to share frank advice on how we turn this around. Anat has spent years figuring out how progressive movements break out of this stagnation; build solidarity across race, class and genders; and give people a vision to get excited about. The briefing will include a presentation plus Q&A with Anat.

Join us for Conversations Training on Saturday July 18 at 3pm to learn how to have conversations about tackling the rise of far-right.

You may have seen the latest polling showing growing support for Pauline Hanson and One Nation, including a recent poll that placed Hanson ahead as preferred Prime Minister.

We know One Nation uses racism to fuel division in our communities, while doing nothing for everyday people. Hanson consistently votes against improving workers’ rights, raising the rate of job seeker and making housing more affordable. Many of us are worried about what their growing support could mean for First Nations justice, workers’ rights, multicultural communities and the future of this country.

But how should we respond when someone we know shares the kind of divisive talking points we hear from the likes of One Nation? Want to learn to have values based conversations? Join us!