Media Release

Leadership 'in lousy times' the focus of debate

Leadership "in lousy times" will be the focus of a debate at Elder Hall [1] on Wednesday 7 October, chaired by one of Australia's most popular and influential broadcasters, Phillip Adams [2] AO.

Adams will be joined by political journalist Annabel Crabb [3], former Northern Territory Chief Minister Clare Martin and organisational change expert Dexter Dunphy [4] for the first Dunstan Dialogues to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Don Dunstan's death.

Organised by the Don Dunstan Foundation [5] based at the University of Adelaide, the debate is anticipated to produce an entertaining, hard-hitting exchange of views reminiscent of the Dunstan era.

The Executive Director of the Foundation, Claire Bossley, says "The Gift of Lousy Times" is an appropriate debate to have in the current economic and political world climate.

"With the worst global economic crisis in 70 years, it certainly makes for lousy times for a great many people," Ms Bossley says. "Add to this a prolonged drought, bushfires, global climate change, rising oceans and impending problems with our water and food supplies, and we have a lot on our plate."

"History shows that great social innovations have come from lousy times and leaders who have understood this have taken their place in history. Think Nelson Mandela and Eleanor Roosevelt, both powerful leaders for social reform," Ms Bossley says.

National broadcaster, filmmaker and social commentator Phillip Adams has been described by political lecturer Robert Manne as "the most remarkable broadcaster in the history of this country" and among the leading 40 most influential Australian intellectuals.

His national radio program Late Night Live [6] is Australia's most successful podcast program, both in Australia and around the world, generating 13 million downloads in 2008.

Annabel Crabb is a political journalist with the Sydney Morning Herald. Crabb became involved in student politics at the University of Adelaide and left a legal career in 1997 to train as a journalist at the Adelaide Advertiser. She has subsequently worked in Canberra, London and Sydney.

Clare Martin was Chief Minister of the Northern Territory from 2002-2007 and was appointed CEO of the Australian Council of Social Service [7] in 2008.

The fourth panellist, Dexter Dunphy, is a Distinguished Professor from the University of Technology, Sydney [8], and a consultant on organisational change.

The debate will be held from 6.30pm to 8pm on Wednesday 7 October in Elder Hall at the University of Adelaide's North Terrace Campus. Tickets are $35 general admission and $27.50 concession or for DDF subscribers. To book visit www.mybookingmanager.com/ddleadership [9] or phone 8303 3364 for more information.

Phillip Adams