The Arthur Calwell Memorial Lecture is on again in 2018. This year's lecture will be held on Wednesday 16 May, at the Kangan Institute in Broadmeadows at 6:15pm for a 7:00pm start. The guest speaker at this event is Luke Hilakari, Secretary, Victorian Trades Hall Council.

This year’s speech will focus on Arthur Calwell’s early years in the union movement and how it shaped him politically and motivated him when he became the leader of the Australian Labor Party. It will also feature a discussion on Calwell’s contribution and lasting legacy to multicultural Australia through his post-WWII migration program to Australia.

Mr Hilakari will speak about the current industrial struggles we face in this country and, as a democratic socialist who was passionate about the Labor cause, the lessons we can learn from Calwell about confronting them.

Arthur Augustus Calwell was the Federal Member for Melbourne from 1940–1972 and was the Labor Party Leader from 1960–1967. He served as the inaugural Minister for Immigration in the Chifley Government. Calwell is the namesake of the electorate Maria Vamvakinou MP has had the honour of representing in the Australian Parliament since 2001.

Numbers are limited so if you would like to attend, please ensure you RSVP to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by the 11 May.