ANU/CANBERRA TIMES MEET THE AUTHOR
Margaret Simons in conversation with Helen Sullivan
The Murray-Darling Basin is the food bowl of Australia, and it's in trouble. What does this mean for the future - for water and food, and for the people and towns that depend on it? In this Quarterly Essay, acclaimed journalist Margaret Simons takes a trip through the basin, all the way from Queensland to South Australia. She shows that its plight is environmental but also economic, and enmeshed in ideology and identity.
Her essay is both a portrait of the Murray-Darling Basin and an explanation of its woes. It looks at rural Australia and the failure of political processes over the last few generations to meet the needs of communities forced to bear the heaviest burden of change. It considers corruption and resource politics, drought and climate change.
Pre-event book signings will be available from 5:30pm and again after the event. This event is in association with Harry Hartog Bookshop and books will be available to purchase.
Margaret Simons is an award-winning journalist and the author of thirteen books, including biographies of Malcolm Fraser and Penny Wong. She won the 2015 Walkley Award for Social Equity Journalism and has been honoured with several Quill Awards for journalistic excellence.
Professor Helen Sullivan, Director of the ANU Crawford School of Public Policy, appears regularly in print, mainstream and online media commenting on contemporary public policy issues.
Dr Andrew Leigh MP will give the vote of thanks.
The Australian National University (ANU) is a celebrated place of intensive research, education and policy engagement. ANU is home to an interconnected community of scholars. The University is located in the heart of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
About the venue
T2 Lecture Theatre, Cultural Centre
Kambri Precinct
University Avenue
Acton ACT 2601
Contact - ANU EVENTS
T: 02 6125 4144
Parking
The closest parking to the store is an underground carpark directly below Harry Hartog (with stairs or public lift access to ground level. Staff at Harry Hartog can provide swipe-pass lift access from ground level to the upper level of their store, where the workshop will be held.) Due to the newness of the precinct, this car park isn't clearly marked in maps. To find it, drive down Kingsley Street (off Barry Drive) and follow signage to the Drill Hall Gallery/Drill Hall Gallery parking. Follow Kingsley Street straight down to its culmination in an underground carpark and you will have the correct one. We recommend this parking option for people who cannot or do not wish to cover much ground to the workshop venue. It costs $5 for the whole day on a Saturday. Parking at Llewellyn Hall is a short stroll away.