2026 Festival

Speaker Profile

Tom McIlroy

Tom McIlroy is the political editor for Guardian Australia, based in the press gallery at Parliament House. He has reported for a range of newspapers in Australia and overseas, including The Australian Financial Review, and his first book, Blue Poles: Jackson Pollock, Gough Whitlam and the Painting that Changed a Nation was released in March, 2025. 

When Did Climate Change Politics Become Unsexy?

Thursday April 23
Sorrento Community Centre
10.30am / 60 mins

Bob Brown, Tom McIlroy and Marian Wilkinson with Jo Dyer

Our esteemed panel - former Greens leader Bob Brown, Guardian political editor Tom McIlroy and Walkley Award-winning journalist Marian Wilkinson - discuss.


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The Political Lunch

Thursday April 23
The Baths Sorrento
12.00pm / 120 mins

Paul Kelly, Tom McIlroy and Niki Savva with Barrie Cassidy

Our Festival Lunch at The Baths, hosted by Barrie Cassidy, will present three respected political journalists, in discussion over a wonderful two-course meal and drink on arrival

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Special Event

The Michael Gordon Forum

Friday April 24
Halcyon Hall, The Continental
6.00pm / 90 mins

Annabel Crabb, Tom McIlroy and Jim Middleton

In honour of one of Australia’s finest political journalists, Annabel Crabb, Tom McIlroy and Jim Middleton discuss the state of the nation in the spirit of their friend and colleague, Michael Gordon. 

This is a Special Event

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Free Event

Writers On Writing (About Artists): Three biographers discuss

Saturday April 25
Portsea Village
1.00pm / 60 mins

Drusilla Modjeska, Tom McIlroy and Susan Wyndham with Fiona Gruber

This is a Free Event

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