2026 Festival

Speaker Profile

Annabel Crabb

Annabel Crabb is a Walkley-award-winning political commentator, author, and creator and host of ABC programs including Kitchen CabinetThe House with Annabel Crabb, and the upcoming Ms Represented. A member of the parliamentary press gallery since 1999, she has written bestselling books including The Wife Drought and two cookbooks with Wendy Sharpe. Annabel also co-hosts the popular podcast Chat 10 Looks 3 and is known for her sharp, witty insights on politics and culture. She recently authored a children’s book on democracy: There’s a Prawn in Parliament House.  

The Party’s Over: Has Australia’s two-party system cracked?

Friday April 24
Sorrento Community Centre
10.30am / 60 mins

Steve Bracks, Annabel Crabb and Zoe Daniel with Julia Banks

Special Event
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

Special Event
Saturday April 25
Halcyon Hall, The Continental
4.00pm / 60 mins

Geraldine Brooks, Jennifer Byrne, Annabel Crabb and Marian Wilkinson with Tom Wright 

This session is supported by Pitcher Partners

This is a Special Event

To Mark Carney, You Had Me At Hello: What does good leadership look like?

Sunday April 26
The Ballroom, The Continental
9.00am / 60 mins

Troy Bramston, Annabel Crabb and Paul Strangio with Natasha Mitchell 

 This session is supported by Thomson Geer