ANZUS, Menzies and America

Sixth Annual Conference of the Robert Menzies Institute The Robert Menzies Institute's Sixth Annual Conference marks the 75th anniversary of the ANZUS Treaty, signed by the Menzies Government in 1951. Bringing together leading historians, political scientists and strategic thinkers from Australia and overseas, the conference will examine how the United States has shaped Australian politics, strategy and national life. Spanning the nineteenth century to the present day, the program explores the political, strategic and cultural influence of the United States on Australia. Topics include the origins of ANZUS, Australia's alliance with the United States, American ideas and institutions, Cold War diplomacy, domestic politics, defence, technology and contemporary strategic challenges. Twenty-six leading historians, political scientists and strategic studies scholars from Australia, Japan and the United Kingdom will present new research across the two-day program. The conference is the second instalment of the Robert Menzies Institute's three-year Forging Australia conference series, exploring the international forces that have shaped Australia's political institutions, strategic outlook and national identity. The keynote address will be delivered by Dr Michael Green, Professor and Chief Executive Officer of the United States Studies Centre and one of the world's leading experts on the Australia–United States alliance. The conference will be of interest to academics, students, teachers, policymakers, defence professionals, diplomats, journalists and anyone interested in Australian history, international relations and the Australia–United States alliance. Conference Dinner: This year, the conference also includes a Conference Dinner at University House, University of Melbourne, on Thursday 12 November 2026. The event includes an address by former Minister for Defence Joel Fitzgibbon. The tickets for the dinner must be purchased separately. Details of the Conference Date: Thursday 12 November and Friday 13 November 2026 Time: 8:30am-5pm Venue: Library, North Wing, Old Quad, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3052 Tickets: Free for Robert Menzies Institute members. General admission ranges from $150 (one day) to $325 (two days). Details of the Conference Dinner Date: Thursday 12 November 2026 Time: 6:30pm-9pm Venue: University House, Professor's Walk, The University of Melbourne Tickets: $150. The speakers at the conference will include: Dr Mike Green Opening keynote Sue Thompson Australia, the United States and Southeast Asian Regional Cooperation Peter Dean, Stephan Frühling, and Andrew O’Neil Assessing the Menzies Government’s Management of the US Alliance, 1961-1966 Lee Rippon Menzies’s man in Washington Chris Ashton The Manila Precedent Ryosuke Nobe Manufacturing ANZUS David Lee Saying No to America Bob Bowker Menzies, Eisenhower and Egypt Peter Phelps Australia’s Cold War with Indonesia Anne Henderson Robert Menzies, ANZUS & the Vietnam War Tim Rowse Menzies’s use of Parliament to win public support for hosting a US military asset: North-West Cape 1963 Benjamin Jones “We do not need a pact with America” Viktor Stoll Antipodean Anxieties Carl Bridge Billy Hughes, Woodrow Wilson and the Treaty of Versailles David Bird ‘I am hardly a pilot, but a beacon’ William Coleman The American Connection and the Birth of Australian Democracy Christopher Beer From Independence, Missouri to Middle Australia Andrew Kemp Distrust of ‘Official’ People Charles Richardson Menzies and the American Party System Tim Lynch Menzies, Churchill, and Roosevelt Benjamin Reilly, Samuel Garrett, and Ava Kalinauskas The Australia-US alliance at 75 Lucas McLennan Menzies, Diefenbaker and Pax Americana Nick Brown "Oh yeah": Managing the Americans Chris Berg An alliance of infrastructure Angus Davison Of Concordes and Discord Sally Burt The ANZUS Treaty and Cybersecurity as National Security