This year’s event featured acclaimed journalist Professor Peter Greste and an expert panel in a timely and thought-provoking discussion about transparency, trust and the role of information in democracy.
Queensland Information Commissioner, Joanne Kummrow, said the lecture underscored the value of credible information and proactive release in tackling information disorder and strengthening public confidence.
In her opening remarks Ms Kummrow said, “Accurate and credible information has a critical role to play in bringing clarity and confidence to counter chaos.”
“A public sector that embraces proactive release [of information] contributes not only to transparency, but a better informed community,” Ms Kummrow said.
Professor Greste said this is a critical moment for government and media to rethink how they engage with the public.
During his keynote Professor Greste said, “We have to seize this chance to reassess the relationship between government and media or lose the moment, or quite possible lose democracy with it.”
“We need independent sources of information to inform public debate and support healthy democratic decision making… without a free and independent media, democracy does not work,” said Professor Greste.
Don’t miss the compelling keynote and panel conversation, which also featured Tom Rogers AO (former Australian Electoral Commissioner), Linda Waugh (Integrity Commissioner), Stephanie Winson (Right to Information Commissioner) and Melissa Coade (Journalist at The Mandarin, emcee and panel facilitator).
2026 Solomon Lecture keynote
Journalists and Public Servants: Building trust in an age of misinformation
Held on the 28 September in the Premiers' Hall at Parliament House, the 2026 Solomon Lecture was delivered by journalist and award-winning foreign correspondent, Professor Peter Greste whose keynote addressed the theme, Fact versus Fake: Tackling information disorder in the digital age.
A panel discussion, facilitated by The Mandarin’s Melissa Coade, will follow the lecture, featuring:
• Tom Rogers AO, former Australian Electoral Commissioner
• Linda Waugh, Queensland Integrity Commissioner
• Stephanie Winson, Queensland Right to Information Commissioner
