Hugh White will be in conversation with Allegra Spender on his new book Hard New World Our Post-American Future, examining Australia's place in the new global landscape. Are we ready for our post-American future? In an era of rising danger for all, and dramatic choices for Australia, Hugh White explores how the world is changing and Australia should respond.

Under Donald Trump, America's retreat from global leadership has been swift and erratic. China, Russia and India are on the move. White explains the big strategic trends driving the war in Ukraine, and why America has 'lost' Asia. He discusses Albanese Labor's record and why complacency about the American alliance - including AUKUS - is no longer an option. This brilliant short book urges us to navigate a hard new world with realism and confidence.This is a thoroughly updated and significantly expanded edition of the bestselling Quarterly Essay, published in 2025.

6pm for 6.30pm start.

Hugh White in conversation with James Curran on Hard New World: Australia's Post-American Future.

What is Australia's place in the new global landscape?

Are we ready for our post-American future? In an era of rising danger for all, and dramatic choices for Australia, Hugh White explores how the world is changing and Australia should respond.

Under Donald Trump, America's retreat from global leadership has been swift and erratic. China, Russia and India are on the move. White explains the big strategic trends driving the war in Ukraine, and why America has 'lost' Asia. He discusses Albanese Labor's record and why complacency about the American alliance – including AUKUS – is no longer an option. This brilliant short book urges us to navigate a hard new world with realism and confidence.

Learn about Australia's place in the new global landscape with Hugh White in this expanded edition of the bestselling Quarterly Essay.

Are we ready for our post-American future? Under Donald Trump, America's retreat from global leadership has been swift and erratic. China, Russia and India are on the move.

In an era of rising danger for all, and dramatic choices for Australia, Hugh White explores how the world is changing and Australia should respond. He explains why America has 'lost' Asia, and why complacency about the American alliance – including AUKUS – is no longer an option.

Author and musician Anna Goldsworthy discusses the implications of artificial intelligence on what makes us human – and why AI may be our most persuasive God yet.

In this special edition of Melbourne Conversations, presented in partnership with Now or Never, author and musician Anna Goldsworthy discusses her new Quarterly Essay, The God We Made. Here, she considers how artificial intelligence is reshaping culture in its own image. 

What does it mean for creativity, connection and art making when machine learning begins to shape the world around us? 

This contemplative discussion will be accompanied by a musical performance from Goldsworthy, composed as an artistic response to the ideas explored in her work, bringing theory into direct dialogue with human art making. Hosted by Antonia Pont.

Literary lunch just got dangerous.

Get between the covers of a book deemed too dangerous to publish with literary aficionado Benjamin Law and special guest. Unpack the book’s pre-conceptions and dish out your hottest takes over lunch with a small group of fellow book lovers.  

The special guest and your assigned reading list will be revealed soon.  

Your ticket includes a two-course set menu lunch and accompanying beverages at Attenzione! Food & Wine.  

Presented in partnership with The Book Showdown.