The Robert Menzies Institute invites you to our 2025 Annual Oration and Dinner on Wednesday 24th September 2025 at the historic Ormond College Hall from 6:30pm – 10.30pm.

The Annual Oration and Dinner is one of the highlights of our yearly activities. Each year, we invite an esteemed international guest speaker to deliver a 30-minute Oration on a subject of contemporary political relevance – but which also connects to an issue or value that Sir Robert championed.

The 2025 Oration will be delivered by Toby Young, Lord Young of Acton, thinker, writer and founder of the Free Speech Union in the UK.

In his Forgotten People broadcasts on ‘Freedom of Speech and Expression’, Sir Robert Menzies said: “If truth is to emerge and in the long run be triumphant, the process of free debate – the untrammelled clash of opinion – must go on.”

Join us as we hear from one of the world’s foremost advocates for free speech, Toby Young, Lord Young of Acton, as he speaks on: ‘Truth emerges through debate: Menzies, free speech and the courage to disagree’. 

ABOUT Toby Young, Lord Young of Acton Toby Young, Lord Young of Acton, is the Founder and General Secretary of the Free Speech Union, co-founder of the West London Free School, and co-founder of the Knowledge Schools Trust. He is an associate editor of The Spectator, The Critic, and editor-in-chief of The Daily Sceptic. He was made a Conservative peer in 2024.

The Free Speech Union is a non-partisan, mass membership public interest body that stands up for the speech rights of its members and campaigns for free speech more widely. It champions the right of people from all walks of life to express themselves without fear of punishment or persecution. It defends its members who get into trouble for exercising their right to lawful free speech, whether in the workplace, at university or on social media.

ABOUT THE DINNER The tickets include canapes commencing at 6.30pm followed by a 3 course meal with drinks included in the historic Ormond College Hall.

TICKET AND BOOKING INFORMATION There are a range of ticket options for this event.

INDIVIDUAL TICKETS

Speaker’s Table (only 6 seats available): $2,000 per person

Early Bird Specials available until Thursday 31 July 2025.

Early Bird Silver Tickets: $250 ($225 for the Robert Menzies Institute members)
Early Bird Gold Tickets: $450 ($400 for RMI members)
Early Bird VIP Tickets: $850 (4800 for RMI members)

Gold seats have premium seating. VIP tickets have exclusive seating.

Ticket prices from Friday 1 August 2025.

Silver Tickets: $300 ($270 for RMI members)
Gold Tickets: $500 ($450 for RMI members)
VIP Tickets: $1000 ($900 for RMI members)

Gold seats have premium seating. VIP tickets have exclusive seating.

Student tickets: $150 (These can only be purchased by writing at chetna@robertmenziesinstitute.org.au and sharing your student ID).

BOOKINGS FOR TABLES FOR 10

Silver Table: $2700
Gold Table: $4500
VIP Table: $9000 (Early bird VIP Table for 10 costs $8000. Available only till Thursday 31 July 2025)
Gold and VIP tables are a premium table location for the dinner.

PAYMENT OPTIONS Trybooking accepts credit card payment for VISA, Mastercard and Applepay. For payment with American Express or invoices for payment via EFT or to purchase student tickets, please contact Chetna Mahadik, General Manager – Communications and Events at chetna@robertmenziesinstitute.org.au.