Political journalist, analyst and commentator Michelle Grattan will deliver the 2014 Dean Jaensch Lecture on Tuesday September 16 at Flinders University Victoria Square.

Her topic will be ‘Getting two feet under the desk: prime ministers’ first year in office’, and will examine the first year in office of successive Australian prime ministers from Gough Whitlam to Tony Abbott.

The annual Lecture acknowledges the work of the University’s highly respected Professor of Politics, Dean Jaensch and is one of the School of Social and Policy’s flagship events.

Ms Grattan is one of Australia’s most respected and awarded political journalists. She has been a member of the Canberra parliamentary press gallery for more than 40 years, during which time she has covered all the most significant stories in Australian politics.

As a former editor of The Canberra Times, Michelle Grattan was also the first female editor of an Australian daily newspaper. She has been with the Australian Financial Review, The Sydney Morning Herald and was political editor of the Age.

Ms Grattan currently has a dual role in an academic position at the University of Canberra and as Associate Editor (Politics) and Chief Political Correspondent at The Conversation.

The lecture is free, but please RSVP here.