Dennis Shanahan to deliver Speaker’s Lecture 2026 at Parliament House Canberra

THE Speaker of the House of Representatives, Milton Dick MP, has chosen distinguished political journalist Dennis Shanahan to deliver the sixth Speaker’s Lecture at Parliament House on November 23.

Mr Shanahan will speak on the topic ‘How the rise of social media and misinformation is changing Australia’s democracy, and what we can do to safeguard our country.’

Mr Shanahan has been The Australian’s Canberra bureau chief, then political editor and now national editor based in the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery since 1989 covering every Federal Budget, election and prime minister since then. He has been in journalism since 1971 and has a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University, New York.

Speaker's Lecture 2026

Date: Monday 23 November 2026
Time: 12 noon – 1pm AEDT
Venue: Main Committee Room, Parliament House, Canberra

Mr Shanahan will be introduced by the Speaker and the Clerk of the House of Representatives, Ms Claressa Surtees. A Q&A session will be held after Mr Shanahan’s speech.

Building occupants and members of the public have been invited to attend (RSVP required). 

The Speaker’s lecture will also be broadcast on the APH website: www.aph.gov.au/live.

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