https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1548916
On the afternoon of 9 May 1901, Australia’s first Parliament was opened in Melbourne before 12,000 invited guests — a defining moment in the birth of a democratic nation. On the 125th anniversary of that historic occasion, it is time to take stock, assess Australia's current predicament, place it in the deeply troubling global context, and reimagine and plan for a promising future.
Across the Western world, democratic institutions face deep strain. Public trust is fragile. Civic life is unsettled. On 9 May 2026, Reclaiming Democracy Together is launched — a seven-year national initiative dedicated to rethinking and revitalising democratic life in Australia and beyond. This launch marks the beginning of that long-term work.
Date: Saturday, 9 May 2026 Time: 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Venue: Melbourne Town Hall, 90–130 Swanston Street, Melbourne.
Places for afternoon tea have now sold out.
