The Great Debate — that Australia's history unites us
From the world's oldest continuous living culture, to the arrival of Captain Cook, the goldrush to the ANZACs, from Federation to elections to referendums, and beyond, our understanding of Australian history has evolved dramatically over recent years. Six esteemed scholars have six minutes each to wrestle with how our past unites, divides, and defines us. Who will win? The Great Debate was recorded for Social Sciences Week with the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia and the National Library of Australia. Speakers Affirmative team Frank Bongiorno Professor of history Director of the University of Canberra's Centre of Public Ideas Author, Dreamers and Schemers: A Political History of Australia and more Jakelin Troy Ngarigu woman from the Snowy Mountains of NSW Professor of Anthropology Director of Indigenous Research at the University of Sydney Georgina Downer CEO of the Robert Menzies Institute, University of Melbourne Negative team Michelle Arrow Professor of modern history, Macquarie University President of the Australian Historical Association Author, Women and Whitlam: Revisiting the Revolution and more Vonda Malone Former member of the Queensland Truth Telling and Healing Inquiry Former CEO of the Torres Strait Regional Authority First female Mayor of the Torres Shire Council Dan Woodman Professor in Sociology at the University of Melbourne Judges Richard Holden Professor of Economics, University of NSW Former school debating champion Chris Uhlmann Political contributor, Sky News, columnist, The Australian Kate Darian-Smith President of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
January 26, 2026
54 min
165 of 248
January 26, 2026
The Great Debate — that Australia's history unites us
0:00 / 54:37
Excerpt playback isn’t available for this episode — use the full-episode link.
Search the Record
Moment search isn’t open for this episode yet
When it opens, you’ll be able to type any phrase and jump straight to the second it was said.
Progressive Liberal Party Episodes Around January 26, 2026
Episode 165 of 248 — walk the feed in the order it was published.
54:37This episodeThe Great Debate — that Australia's history unites us
Summary
<p>From the world's oldest continuous living culture, to the arrival of Captain Cook, the goldrush to the ANZACs, from Federation to elections to referendums, and beyond, our understanding of Australian history has evolved dramatically over recent years. Six esteemed scholars have six minutes each to wrestle with how our past unites, divides, and defines us. Who will win?</p><p>The Great Debate was recorded for Social Sciences Week with the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia and the National Library of Australia.</p><p>Speakers</p><p>Affirmative team</p><p><a href="https://www.canberra.edu.au/about-uc/media/media-releases/2025/november/uc-launches-newly-established-vice-chancellors-centre-of-public-ideas-and-appointment-of-inaugural-director">Frank Bongiorno</a>Professor of historyDirector of the University of Canberra's Centre of Public IdeasAuthor, Dreamers and Schemers: A Political History of Australia and more</p><p><a href="https://www.sydney.edu.au/arts/about/our-people/academic-staff/jakelin-troy.html">Jakelin Troy</a>Ngarigu woman from the Snowy Mountains of NSWProfessor of AnthropologyDirector of Indigenous Research at the University of Sydney</p><p><a href="https://www.robertmenziesinstitute.org.au/about/people/">Georgina Downer</a>CEO of the Robert Menzies Institute, University of Melbourne</p><p>Negative team</p><p><a href="https://researchers.mq.edu.au/en/persons/michelle-arrow/">Michelle Arrow</a>Professor of modern history, Macquarie UniversityPresident of the Australian Historical AssociationAuthor, Women and Whitlam: Revisiting the Revolution and more</p><p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/vonda-malone-706b21112/?originalSubdomain=au">Vonda Malone</a>Former member of the Queensland Truth Telling and Healing InquiryFormer CEO of the Torres Strait Regional AuthorityFirst female Mayor of the Torres Shire Council</p><p><a href="https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/19920-dan-woodman">Dan Woodman</a>Professor in Sociology at the University of Melbourne</p><p>Judges</p><p><a href="https://richardholden.org/">Richard Holden</a>Professor of Economics, University of NSWFormer school debating champion</p><p><a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/chris-uhlmann">Chris Uhlmann</a>Political contributor, Sky News, columnist, The Australian</p><p><a href="https://socialsciences.org.au/president/">Kate Darian-Smith</a>President of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia</p>