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Friday, 20 April 2018

Governing has become a hazardous challenge in recent times. The British BREXIT vote cost a prime minister his job. The Americans confounded most of the commentators and elected Donald Trump president. The New Zealanders dumped what was generally considered to be a competent government. In Australia Malcolm Turnbull led the coalition to a narrow victory and in WA, the coalition government was soundly trounced. What is going on?

A number of factors have emerged in Australia in recent years which have helped change the political landscape. They have certainly seen the end of the two party system in Australia where more than 80 per cent of voters generally supported the Liberal or Labor parties. Voters now have more choice.

Why has this happened? What are the consequences? What does it mean for "good" government?

These are the issues Peter will attempt to pursue and, he hopes, come up with acceptable answers. Or at the very least, he hopes they will produce a lively question and answer session.

Peter Kennedy is a Perth-based political columnist for WA Business News and regularly comments on national and state political issues on radio and television.

Peter is Perth-born and educated and graduated from the University of Western Australia with a major in Economics. He started in full-time journalism at The West Australian newspaper in 1970, and later moved to The Sydney Morning Herald where he covered New South Wales politics as well as federal issues in Canberra.

He served as press secretary to the Western Australian Deputy Premier in the mid-1980s, and joined the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 1990, hosting programs on ABC Radio in Perth. He was the ABC TV News' State Political Reporter for 11years before retiring in 2010.

Peter has travelled in Asia as a guest of the Australia-Japan Foundation, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Japanese Government.

He is the author of "Tales From Boom Town", about the Western Australian Premiers he has interviewed as a journalist, and is an adjunct professor at the University of Notre Dame Australia in Fremantle.

Tuesday 8th May 2018, 7:30pm

Reid Library, Second Floor Conference Room

Doors open 7pm, talk commences 7:30pm Cost: $5 donation (Free for Friends of the Library Members)

RSVP: Kathryn Maingard (08) 6488 2356
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/friends-of-the-library-talk-the-challenge-for-governments-tickets-45053914471

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University Library +61 8 6488 7425

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