Sean Kelly: On belief in politics
Thursday 4 December 2025, 6pm - 7pm, ACDT
Online & Allan Scott Auditorium, Hawke Building,
UniSA City West Campus, 55 North Terrace Adelaide
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Livestream
04 December 2025

Join us as award-winning journalist and political commentator Sean Kelly discusses his latest Quarterly Essay with Misha Ketchell, Editor of The Conversation.
In Quarterly Essay 100, Sean Kelly considers the enigma of the Albanese government. With wide yet shallow support, will it change the country? Does it have big ideas, or is it content just to become 'the natural party of government'
Kelly gives a definitive account of Albanese’s political style and asks what lies behind it. In speaking to a fragmented, disengaged electorate, the Prime Minister places a high value on moderation. Often, that means ducking fights with entrenched interests. But this runs the risk of embedding an ever more unequal nation, led by a government that can seem gutless.
In this subtle and brilliant essay, Kelly explores whether Labor is still up for the good fight.
Imprints Booksellers will be selling copies of Sean Kelly's Quarterly Essay 100: On Belief In Politics in the Auditorium foyer on the night of the event.
Presented by The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre


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While the views presented by speakers within The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre public program are their own and are not necessarily those of either the University of South Australia, or The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre, they are presented in the interest of open debate and discussion in the community and reflect our themes of: Strengthening our Democracy - Valuing our Diversity - Building our Future. The Hawke Centre reserves the right to change their program at any time without notice.