2005 Speeches, presentations and lectures

"A university should always be a forum for the debate of ideas. That’s why each year, the University of Melbourne hosts around 200 public lectures and every day of each semester, faculties and departments offer seminars, symposiums, colloquiums and forums which are open to the public."
--Professor Glyn Davis AC, Vice-Chancellor

On this page are transcripts of some significant speeches delivered at, or on behalf of, the University of Melbourne.

29 November 2005: Chancellor's Human Rights Lecture

Human Rights and Responsibilities in the Age of Terror (Microsoft Word, 124 kb)
by The Right Hon Malcolm Fraser AC CH

• Ex-PM Malcolm Fraser on Human Rights: SBS Radio (audio excerpt)
• Edited transcript in New Matilda
• Humour? You need a licence for that: opinion by Mike Carlton in Sydney Morning Herald, 3 December 2005
• Malcolm Fraser considers quitting Libs: ABC Radio, transcript from The World Today, 30 November 2005
• Aussie ex-PM blasts Howard's 'fear' policy: United Press International 29 November 2005
• Liberals thrive on fear, says Fraser: The Australian, 30 November 2005
• University of Melbourne to host Fraser's papers: media release 5 May 2005
• Other Chancellor's Human Rights Lecture transcripts

27 September 2005: Public lecture

Ten reasons why young idealistic people should forget about organised politics (Microsoft Word, 141 kb)
by Mr Mark Latham
Former Leader, Australian Labor Party

• Read the transcript online at the Melbourne University Press web site
• Listen to a recording of the lecture (requires QuickTime plug-in for your web browser)

Key points:

• Sales success of the recently-published book demonstrates that "These days, the public distrust media opinion even more than they distrust the major political parties. Increasingly, they want to cut out the middleman, the unnecessary filter of third party opinion, and make their own judgement, straight from the source material—in this case, The Latham Diaries."
• The Australian political system is "fundamentally sick and broken, and there are other more productive and satisfying ways in which you can contribute to society."

Further reading:

• Weblogs mentioning The Latham Diaries and the lecture (via Technorati)
• News media reports about The Latham Diaries (via Google News)
• About The Latham Diaries, published by Melbourne University Press
• Buy The Latham Diaries online from the Melbourne University Bookshop

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9 May 2005: Alfred Deakin Innovation Lecture

To Win Back My Youth… Encouraging Innovation (Microsoft Word, 71 kb)
by Professor Glyn Davis AC
Vice-Chancellor, University of Melbourne

Key points:

• Innovation as a product of generational change and adversity or necessity
• Relationship between youth and innovation
• Characteristics of the 'Millennial' generation

Further reading:

• Deakin Lectures web site
• Deakin Innovation Lectures 2005, broadcast by ABC Radio
• Alfred Deakin Lectures look at importance of innovation to our society and economy: UniNews article 2 May 2005
• The Millennial Generation: what can we expect? Article by Nerissa Bentley for the 2001 Virtual Alumni Summit.

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1 April 2005: The Melbourne Institute and The Australian: "Sustaining Prosperity" conference

Regulating Universities: an assumption and three propositions (Microsoft Word, 74 kb)
by Professor Glyn Davis AC
Vice-Chancellor, University of Melbourne

Key points:

• Dawkins model of higher education will be replaced by Nelson model
• Diversity among universities will produce quality and choice
• Regulatory reform could allow universities to diversify
• Flexibility of funding and allocation of places is also needed
• "The only thing worse than new ideas is no ideas. A university sector that approaches a public debate without suggestions for a way forward will find itself irrelevant."

Further reading:

• Universities need regulatory consistency: UniNews article, 18 April 2005
• Economics forum looks at creating balanced nation: UniNews article, 18 April 2005

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17 March 2005: "Australian Financial Review" Higher Education Conference

Transcript of The University, Singular and Plural (Microsoft Word, 69 kb)
by Professor Glyn Davis AC
Vice-Chancellor, University of Melbourne

Key points:

• Historical ideas about the nature of universities
• Regulatory environment in Australia is changing
• 'Tiers' of higher education: teaching, research and combined teaching-research institutions, emergence of private providers
• Proust and perceptions about change

Further reading:

• UoM invites wide input to Melbourne Agenda: UniNews article 21 February 2005
• Incoming Vice-Chancellor: radical change for Australian universities: UniNews article 13 December 2004

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1 February 2005: Installation of the 19th Chancellor of the University of Melbourne

Address (Microsoft Word, 53 kb)
by His Excellency John Landy AC MBE
Governor of Victoria

Key points:

• Appreciation of Mrs Fay Marles, outgoing Chancellor
• Achievements of the University
• Influences of emerging technology and social change
• Endorsement of Mr Ian Renard, incoming Chancellor

Response (Microsoft Word, 56 kb)
by Mr Ian Renard
19th Chancellor, University of Melbourne

Key points:

• Appreciation of Mrs Fay Marles
• Role of a university chancellor
• Strengths of, and challenges for, the University of Melbourne

Further reading:

• Melbourne installs its 19th Chancellor: UniNews story, 21 February 2005
• Profile and biography of Chancellor Ian Renard