Maurice Blackburn Oration

About the Maurice Blackburn Oration

The Maurice Blackburn Oration is made possible through a trust fund. It honours the lives and work of two political and human rights activists, Maurice and Doris Blackburn.

Maurice Blackburn devoted his life to the cause of social justice, trade union rights, civil liberties and international peace. He represented the seat of Burke in the federal Parliament – an area now part of Merri-bek. Maurice Blackburn took from his middle-class background the notion of public service, particularly service to progressive, social movements.

Doris Blackburn was also a federal Member of Parliament. She was committed to peace and social justice and was an early campaigner for women’s rights, a promoter of pre-school education and played a central role in the establishment of organisations for the advancement of Indigenous Australians.

Previous Maurice Blackburn Orations

22nd Maurice Blackburn Oration

Thursday 2 August 2018 by Judy Slatyer, CEO, Australian Red Cross.

• The Humanitarian Impact of War (PDF 189Kb)
• The Humanitarian Impact of War (DOC 80Kb)

21st Maurice Blackburn Oration

26 July 2016 Presented by Her Excellency the Hon Linda Dessau AM, Governor of Victoria.

• The changing face of Australian families (PDF 184Kb)
• The changing face of Australian families (DOC 114Kb)

20th Maurice Blackburn Oration

10 November 2014 Presented by Tony Nicholson, Executive Director of the Brotherhood of St Laurence

Shaping Life Chances - our city and housing affordability (PDF 163Kb)
Shaping Life Chances - our city and housing affordability (DOC 204Kb)

19th Maurice Blackburn Oration

5 December 2012 by Professor Clare Martin

An issue of Equity: Is it fair and just that there are 230,000 second class citizens in the Northern Territory? (DOC 90Kb)
An issue of Equity: Is it fair and just that there are 230,000 second class citizens in the Northern Territory? (PDF 123Kb)

18th Maurice Blackburn Oration

15 November 2010 by Professor Patrick McGorry

A 21st century approach to mental health care for Australia (PDF 584Kb)

17th Maurice Blackburn Oration

30 October 2008 by Professor Larissa Behrendt

Reconciliation in a Civil Society: How do we make Reconciliation meaningful after the Apology? (PDF 3Mb)
Reconciliation in a Civil Society: How do we make Reconciliation meaningful after the Apology? (DOC 100Kb)

16th Maurice Blackburn Oration

26 September 2006 by Professor Hilary Charlesworth:

Human Rights in the Age of Terror (PDF 316Kb)
Human Rights in the Age of Terror (DOC 70Kb)

15th Maurice Blackburn Oration

25 February 2004 by Dr Clive Hamilton

Consumer Capitalism: Is this as good as it gets? (PDF 3Mb)
Consumer Capitalism: Is this as good as it gets? (DOC 638Kb)

14th Maurice Blackburn Oration

5 September 2002 by Julian Burnside QC

Hypocrisy and Human Rights (PDF 399Kb)
Hypocrisy and Human Rights (DOC 3Mb)

13th Maurice Blackburn Oration

4 May 2000 by Xanana Gusmão

The Importance of Community Alliances in the Rebuilding of East Timor