October 15, 2024
A new search for Australia’s most outstanding political leaders has begun, with nominations now open for the 2024 McKinnon Prize in Political Leadership. The McKinnon Prize, the nation’s foremost independent, non-partisan award for political leadership, recognises politicians who have demonstrated vision, courage, collaboration, and ethical behaviour. The 2024 edition will once again feature three categories: […]
March 22, 2024
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns and his predecessor, Dominic Perrottet, have been announced as joint winners of the first McKinnon Prize for State/Territory Political Leader of the Year. The McKinnon Prize is a collaboration between the Susan McKinnon Foundation and the University of Melbourne and has been awarded annually since 2017. The Prize was […]
Federal Member for Bass Bridget Archer and ACT Senator David Pocock have been announced as winners of the McKinnon Prize, Australia’s independent, non-partisan award for outstanding political leadership. The McKinnon Prize is a collaboration between the Susan McKinnon Foundation and the University of Melbourne and has been awarded annually since 2017. The Prize was established […]
February 8, 2024
The McKinnon Prize, Australia’s independent and non-partisan award for outstanding political leadership, has announced the shortlist for its annual awards. The shortlist contains outstanding political leaders from a diverse range of backgrounds, united by their delivery of effective political leadership and to inspire the next generation of Australian leaders. After extensive deliberation, the 2023 McKinnon Prize’s […]
November 16, 2023
Australia’s traditional irreverence about politics is, in many respects, a good thing – a potent check against grandiose populists, incendiary nationalists and snake-oil salespeople. But in the wake of the referendum, we should recognise our scepticism has created fertile ground for disinformation. In recent years, we have seen thousands of people taken in by the […]
Australians are being urged to put forward excellent political leaders for the 2023 McKinnon Prize in Political Leadership, with nominations for the prestigious award now open. The McKinnon Prize is Australia’s independent, non-partisan award for outstanding political leadership, recognising leaders who have shown vision, courage, collaboration, and ethical behaviour. Three prizes will be awarded this […]
October 18, 2023
What does effective leadership look like in an increasingly polarised world? What does it mean to be a citizen of Australia in 2023? How can civic leaders — and members of our communities — help restore trust in institutions so we can build a more inclusive and tolerant society? These questions — and many others […]
You can scarcely get out of bed these days without someone trying to persuade you to vote this way or that at the upcoming referendum. This piece won’t do that. But it will try to persuade you that you owe it to yourself, your nation, and future generations to really take the time to consider […]
July 11, 2023
The Hon Simon Crean, who was appointed as an Ambassador of the McKinnon Prize in 2020, had a long and distinguished career in politics. His courage and principled actions throughout his remarkable career earned him respect across the political spectrum, within unions, among parliamentary colleagues, and business leaders. As Australia’s trade minister he excelled and […]
A healthy culture of ‘frank and fearless advice’ in which public servants courageously offer their political masters a way forward for the good of the nation is something the robo-debt royal commission has exposed as sorely lacking in recent weeks. But optimal conditions for this dynamic to exist also depend on politicians who make space […]