Joan Kirner Social Justice Oration

Courageous, ceaseless, clever, compassionate - over many years, and in many theatres, The Hon. Joan Kirner AC fought for community, equality and social justice.

Joan was perhaps best known for her work as the front-woman for the grassroots campaign for educational reform in Victoria in the 1970s, and later as that state's first female Premier.

She was also prominent in the nation-changing struggles for social inclusion, women's equality, environmental protection, and community-driven community development.

Having played an integral role in the development of the social fabric of Australia, Joan remained to her final days an enduring community activist and champion for the forgotten and the downtrodden .

2015

The 2015 Joan Kirner Social Justice Oration was delivered by Lieutenant Colonel USMC (Retired) Dan Mori during the 2015 Communities in Control conference in Moonee Ponds on May 26, 2015.

In 2003 Dan Mori - then more widely known as Michael Mori - hurtled into the Australian public consciousness when he was appointed to represent Australian Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks.

His principled, determined and passionate pursuit for justice for Hick continued for several years, encompassing Hicks' controversial 2007 conviction for providing material support for terrorism - a crime that did not exist at the time of the alleged offence. Dan Mori found himself opposing the wishes of both the US and Australian Governments.

However the public mood and political climate shifted. In April 2007 Hicks was returned to Adelaide to finish his sentence and was release nine months later. This year his conviction was quashed.

Dan Mori's oration passionately and memorably asked delegates: "Are you really prepared to disobey?"

"Are you prepared to do what's right, and do the right thing? Because sometimes when we d the right thing we might have to disobey. We might disobey a law. We might disobey what is politically expected, what is popular."

Dan Mori also joined delegates at the end of his speech in offering Joan Kirner a special - and very loud - greeting at the conclusion of last week's event.

We thank Dan Mori for delivering the 2015 Joan Kirner Social Justice Oration:

2014

The 2014 Joan Kirner Social Justice Oration was delivered by The Hon Julia Gillard at the Communities in Control Conference, an initiative of Our Community and CatholicCare, in Moonee Ponds on Monday, May 26, 2014.

2013

The 2013 Joan Kirner Social Justice Oration was delivered by the Executive Director of the Human Rights Law Centre, Hugh de Kretser at the Communities in Control Conference held in Melbourne, on May 27, 2013.

2012

The 2012 Joan Kirner Social Justice Oration was delivered by Joan Kirner herself at the Communities in Control Conference held in Moonee Ponds on Tuesday, May 29, 2012.

The Oration received a standing ovation.

2011

The inaugural Joan Kirner Social Justice Oration was delivered by former head of the ACTU Sharan Burrow at the Communities in Control Conference on May 31, 2011.

Sharan delivered the Oration via a live cross from her headquarters as head of the International Trade Union Confederation in Brussels.