The Sir Robert Menzies Lecture is an annual lecture delivered in Melbourne, by a prominent politician, academic or other noteworthy individual, about various aspects of modern liberalism. The lectures have been held annually since 1978, and are named in honour of Sir Robert Menzies, Australia's longest-serving prime minister.http://www.tonyabbott.com.au/Pages/Article.aspx?ID=130e
History The lecture was first proposed by the Monash University Liberal Club in 1976, when the president of the club was Michael Kroger, and it was held in its early years at the Clayton campus of the university. The inaugural speaker was the then Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser. The 1981 appearance of Margaret Thatcher drew strong protests from students; at the same time, Thatcher's lecture was one of the best-remembered of the series - receiving coverage on the front page of The Times in London as Thatcher rebuked former Tory prime minister Edward Heath and his call for a consensus government.
After the first lecture, the Sir Robert Menzies Lecture Trust was established to ensure the year-to-year running of the finances and organisation of the lecture. The inaugural chairman of the Trust was Dr Alan Gregory AM (1978 to 2010). Since 2010, Ron Wilson has been chairman of the Trust.
The lecture is now held each year at various locations in Melbourne, including Parliament House, Melbourne. The Monash University Liberal Club continues to be involved with the Trust in the operation of the lecture.
John Howard is the only person to have given the lecture on two occasions (in 1980 when he was the Federal Treasurer, and again in 1996 after he had become Prime Minister).
Patrons Sir Robert Menzies willingly agreed to lend his name to the Trust, but died before the inaugural lecture was delivered. The founding patron of the lecture was Sir Robert's widow, Dame Pattie Menzies, and the current patron is their daughter Mrs Heather Henderson AM.
Lecturers Year Lecturer Position Venue 1978 Malcolm Fraser Prime MinisterMonash University, Clayton Campus 1979 Andrew Peacock Minister for Foreign AffairsMonash University, Clayton Campus 1980 John Howard TreasurerMonash University, Clayton Campus 1981 Margaret Thatcher Prime Minister of the United KingdomRobert Blackwood Hall, Monash University 1982 Sir Garfield Barwick Former Chief Justice of Australia and Former Attorney-General Monash University, Clayton Campus 1983 Sir Shridath (Sonny) Ramphal Commonwealth Secretary-GeneralMonash University, Clayton Campus 1984 Sir Robert Muldoon Prime Minister of New ZealandMannix College, Monash University 1985 Professor David Kemp Professor of Politics, Monash UniversityMonash University, Clayton Campus 1986 Hugh Morgan CEO of Western Mining CorporationMonash University, Clayton Campus 1987 Dame Leonie Kramer Professor of English, University of Sydney and former ABC ChairMonash University, Clayton Campus 1988 Don Mazankowski Deputy Prime Minister of CanadaMonash University, Clayton Campus 1989 Sir Paul Hasluck Former Governor-GeneralMonash University, Clayton Campus 1990 John Hewson Leader of the Liberal PartyMonash University, Clayton Campus 1991 Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Blainey Former Dean of Arts at the University of MelbourneMonash University, Clayton Campus 1992 Jeff Kennett Premier of VictoriaMonash University, Clayton Campus 1993 Sir Harry Gibbs Former Chief Justice of AustraliaMonash University, Clayton Campus 1994 Professor Allan Martin Professor of History, Australian National University Monash University, Clayton Campus 1995 Sir Zelman Cowen Former Governor-GeneralMonash University, Clayton Campus 1996John HowardPrime MinisterMonash University, Caulfield Campus 1997 Peter CostelloTreasurerMonash University, Caulfield Campus 1998 Don Argus CEO of National Australia BankMonash University, Caulfield Campus 1999 Petro Georgiou Member of Parliament (Sir Robert Menzies's former seat of Kooyong)Monash University, Caulfield Campus 2000 Claude Smadja Managing director of the World Economic ForumParliament of Victoria 2001 Chris Patten UK Member of the European CommissionParliament of Victoria 2002 Alexander DownerMinister for Foreign AffairsParliament of Victoria 2003 Tony Abbott Minister for Health and AgeingParliament of Victoria 2004 Philip Ruddock Attorney-GeneralParliament of Victoria 2005 Michael ThawleyAustralian Ambassador to the United StatesParliament of Victoria 2006 Julie Bishop Minister for Education, Science and TrainingParliament of Victoria 2007 Richard Alston Australian High Commissioner to the United KingdomNaval and Military Club, Melbourne 2008 Gerard Henderson Executive Director of the Sydney InstituteParliament of Victoria 2009 Malcolm Turnbull Leader of the Liberal PartyParliament of Victoria 2010Lecture Postponed due to ill health of lecturer 2011Noel PearsonDirector, Cape York InstituteParliament of Victoria 2012 Jeff BleichUnited States Ambassador to AustraliaParliament of Victoria2013Lecture Postponed due to Federal election 2014Josh Frydenberg Member of Parliament (Sir Robert Menzies's former seat of Kooyong)Parliament of Victoria2015Christopher PyneMinister for Education and Training Hotel Windsor, Melbourne2016Paul Kelly Editor, The AustralianHotel Windsor, Melbourne2017Robert Doyle Lord Mayor of MelbourneMelbourne Town Hall2018Lecture Postponed due to change in Federal leadership2019Scott MorrisonPrime Minister Ernst & Young, Melbourne2022Sir Peter Cosgrove Former Governor-GeneralDeloitte, Melbourne
References
External links Menzies Lecture Homepage 1981 Lecture: Margaret Thatcher