The 2025 Laurie Carmichael Lecture was delivered by former Senator the Hon. Doug Cameron on Wednesday 9 September 2025.

Speaking to a packed house Doug Cameron paid tribute to his friend, colleague, and mentor Laurie Carmichael

“working-class hero, public intellectual, unionist, peace activist, educator and great Australian.”

In the speech, entitled  Australian Sovereignty and the Path to Peace,  Doug Cameron challenges Australia’s ongoing commitment to AUKUS and advocates that it is

“timely to critically analyse Australia’s political and industrial capitulation to militarism and warmongering – disguised as defending Australia.”

Doug Cameron reminds us that

“It will be working-class families and their communities who pay the price as mind-boggling amounts of public funds are expended on subsidising the US and UK military industrial complexes.”

The speech concludes with a wide ranging set of policy recommendations for the Albanese Government.