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One of Australia’s leading political and economic thinkers. George Megalogenis, will be in conversation with Mark Kenny on his new book. Three Shocks. Who We Are Becoming in the 21st Century, which charts Australia’s course into the new century.

For decades, our politics has failed to keep up with a changing Australia. 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

Together, these shocks have changed the electoral maths for our politicians. For too long both major parties operated on outdated assumptions about Australia that go back to the Howard era. With original interviews and research, Three Shocks tells the inside story of how our leaders caught up to the times or were left behind. Labor learned how to win again by embracing our new diversity; the Liberals suffered back-to-back landslide defeats that have threatened their very existence. These three shocks will define our national politics in the future, and how we all think about Australia in the twenty-first century.

George Megalogenis’ book The Australian Moment won the 2013 Prime Minister's Literary Award for Non-fiction and the 2012 Walkley Award for Non-fiction. He is also the author of Faultlines, The LongestDecade, Australia's Second Chance and The Football Solution. He is also the author of has written three Quarterly Essays.

Professor Mark Kenny is Director of the Australian Studies Institute at ANU, where he hosts the popular podcast series 'Democracy Sausage'. Mark is the Canberra Times political analyst and a regular on the ABC's Insiders and numerous broadcast programs across the country.

The vote of thanks will be given by Jill Sheppard, Associate Professor in the School of Politics and International Relations, ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃ.

Books will be available for signing from 5.30pm and again after the event. 
 

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A podcast will be made available after the event.

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