Join us to launch the book Nazis in Australia, the incredible story of the special investigations unit that tracked down the Nazis who called Australia home after World War II.

Panel discussion with experts in justice and war crimes, Mark Aarons, Graham Blewitt and Emeritus Professor Konrad Kwiet.

Join us at this Melbourne launch of Minister Andrew Leigh’s latest book: The Shortest History of Innovation.

From the wheel to gene editing, new ideas shape our world.

In this dazzling, surprising and always entertaining book, bestselling author Andrew Leigh tells the story of innovation.

Innovation shapes almost every corner of our lives, yet we rarely pause to notice it. Someone had to invent nails and wheelbarrows; alphabets and books; glass windows and windscreen wipers; tin cans and synthetic dyes. From tools and technologies to fresh approaches in art and architecture, innovation surrounds us.

Leigh shows that three forces drive innovation: tinkering, teams and trade. He examines hotbeds of creativity, the forces that suppress them, and the surprising ways ideas travel across borders and disciplines. The result is a lively, compact look at the engines powering progress.

A brilliant follow-up to the international bestseller The Shortest History of Economics.

In Quarterly Essay 100, Sean Kelly considers the enigma of the Albanese government. With wide yet shallow support, will it change the country? Does it have big ideas, or is it content just to become "the natural party of government"?

Kelly gives a definitive account of Albanese's political style and asks what lies behind it. In speaking to a fragmented, disengaged electorate, the Prime Minister places a high value on moderation. Often that means ducking fights with entrenched interests. But this runs the risk of embedding an ever more unequal nation, led by a government that can seem gutless.

In this subtle and brilliant essay, Kelly explores whether Labor is still up for the good fight.

Sean Kelly is the author of The Game: A portrait of Scott Morrison, an award-winning columnist for the Nine papers and regular contributor to The Monthly and a former adviser to Labor prime ministers.

Attend our in-person lunch and discussion at 12:30pm or watch the live stream remotely.

The live stream will commence at:

1:00pm AEDT (NSW, ACT, VIC, TAS)
12:00pm AEST (QLD)
12:30pm ACDT (SA)
11:30am ACST (NT)
10:00am AWST (WA)

At this event, hosted by the University of Sydney, you will hear from Andrew Leigh as he launches his latest book, The Shortest History of Innovation - a follow-up to the international bestseller The Shortest History of Economics. He will be joined in conversation with Mark Scott, Vice-Chancellor and President, the University of Sydney

About the Book

Innovation shapes almost every corner of our lives, yet we rarely pause to notice it. Someone had to invent nails and wheelbarrows; alphabets and books; glass windows and windscreen wipers; tin cans and synthetic dyes. From tools and technologies to fresh approaches in art and architecture, innovation surrounds us. Leigh shows that three forces drive innovation: tinkering, teams and trade. He examines hotbeds of creativity, the forces that suppress them, and the surprising ways ideas travel across borders and disciplines. The result is a lively, compact look at the engines powering progress.

About the Author

Andrew Leigh is a member of the Australian Parliament. He holds a PhD from Harvard University, and is a fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia. Before being elected in 2010, he was a professor of economics at the Australian National University. His other books include The Shortest History of Economics, The Luck of Politics, Battlers and Billionaires and Randomistas.

Book Fair Australia presents a literary festival that celebrates stories of all genres. 

Join us at Book Fair Austalia for a panel discussion with Ariane Beetson and Jenny Valentish on How to Include Self.

This event will take place on the Book Fair Australia Stage at Melbourne Convention Centre.

Ariane Beeston is a former child protection caseworker and psychologist with NSW's Department of Communities and Justice. She was a staff writer at Fairfax Media's Essential Baby and Essential Kids and has also published articles in The Sydney Morning Herald, Daily Life, Babyology and Mamamia. Ariane currently works for Australia's peak body in perinatal mental health, The Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE), as their communications and content manager. She is also a dancer and choreographer. Because I'm Not Myself, You See is her first book.

Andrew Leigh will be in conversation with Anna -Maria Arabia on his new book The Shortest History of Innovation.

From the wheel to gene editing, new ideas shape our world. In this dazzling, surprising and always entertaining book, bestselling author Andrew Leigh tells the story of innovation. Innovation shapes almost every corner of our lives, yet we rarely pause to notice it. Someone had to invent nails and wheelbarrows; alphabets and books; glass windows and windscreen wipers; tin cans and synthetic dyes. From tools and technologies to fresh approaches in art and architecture, innovation surrounds us.

Leigh shows that three forces drive innovation: tinkering, teams and trade. He examines hotbeds of creativity, the forces that suppress them, and the surprising ways ideas travel across borders and disciplines. The result is a lively, compact look at the engines powering progress. A brilliant follow-up to his international bestseller The Shortest History of Economics.

Andrew Leigh is the Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury and Federal Member for Fenner in the ACT He holds a PhD from Harvard University and is a fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia. Before being elected in 2010, he was a professor of economics at the Australian National University. His books include The ShortestHistory of Economics, The Luck of Politics, Battlers and Billionaires and Randomistas.

Anna-Maria Arabia OAMis Chief Executive at the Australian Academy of Science, where she provides policy advice to the highest levels of government in Australia and contributes to global policy fora, In 2025, Anna-Maria was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for her services to science, particularly through organisational leadership roles. She has also received the Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy for her constant commitment to promoting the role of science in society.

The vote of thanks will be given by Professor Tim Senden, Pro -Vice-Chancellor (Research Infrastructure and Entities) ANU.

Books will be available for signing from 5.30pm and again after the event.

Please don’t let my kid become that guy

From Andrew Tate to algorithmic rabbit holes, this panel will unpack the real forces shaping boys today — and what parents can do beyond panic and blame.

Bringing up boys isn’t getting any less complicated. One minute they’re sweet, funny little humans. The next, they’re parroting some podcast bro who insists “patriarchy isn’t real” and “grindset” is a personality.

Shows like Adolescence and books like The Anxious Generation tapped a nerve. As toxic masculinity is loudly (and often rightly) called out, a generation of boys is confused and ashamed — and the algorithm is happy to lead them down dark alt-right rabbit holes. It’s part of the reason the Australian government introduced age restrictions for social media accounts.

So how do we cut through the bro-fluencer noise to raise resilient, emotionally literate boys?

Investigative journalist Jess Hill (See What You Made Me Do) and men’s mental health researcher Zac Seidler unpack the cultural forces shaping boys today and how adults can guide them with compassion.

Breaking the stigma surrounding motherhood’s most misunderstood crisis

Leading with compassion, this panel will dive into a perinatal condition that is increasingly talked about but remains widely misunderstood.

Along with overwhelming joy and love, new mothers are also told to expect exhaustion, low moods and hot tempers. The emotional extremes of “baby blues” and “mum rage” are all just part of it, right?

But what happens when panic becomes paranoia, when sleeplessness becomes delusion, and when, terrifyingly, reality cannot be trusted?

The much rarer cousin of postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis affects one to two in every 1,000 mothers. The early signs can look deceptively ordinary and be difficult to identify, but delayed diagnosis can lead to devastating consequences.

Early intervention is essential for the safety of mothers and babies alike — but how do we do this without risking a return to the centuries-old pattern of turning psychiatric labels into tools that control or silence women?

With Ariane Beeston, Anne Buist, Rachel Skillington and moderated by author and journalist Lauren Novak (Meltdown), this panel will illuminate the gaps in maternal mental health care, unpack the warning signs with compassion, and look to solutions.