MEDIA RELEASE
Contact:
Samantha Hicks
F: 03 9349 5849;
T: 03 9285 9106
s.hicks@anzsog.edu.au
M: 0404 878 459
12 November 2009
For immediate use
Distinguished UK Politician, David Blunkett to Visit
Melbourne
ANZSOG has joined together with Vision Australia to bring The Rt Hon David Blunkett MP to
Australia. He will visit Melbourne from Friday 13 November to Wednesday 8 November, for a
number of engagements, including a public lecture on Wednesday 8 November. In Think Global, Act
Global he will discuss whether civil society can provide a counterweight to globalisation and
internet-driven individualisation.
David Blunkett was elected as the Member of Parliament for Sheffield Brightside in 1987. However
his outstanding political career began in local government as a member of Sheffield City Council
where he worked for eighteen years, seven of those years as Leader of the Council.
In Parliament, David led Labour’s assault on the poll tax as Opposition Local Government
Spokesman. Promoted to the Shadow Cabinet in 1992, he took on, in turn, responsibility for Health,
Education and the Education and Employment.
Following the 1997 Labour election victory, David became Secretary of State for Education and
Employment. There he oversaw massive improvements in the basic standards of literacy and
numeracy, substantial class size reductions and the introduction of university tuition fees. He led on
the implementation of the New Deal, saw unemployment fall to below 1 million and was
committed to increasing equality through responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Commission
and the establishment of the Disability Rights Commission.
With Labour returned in 2001, David became Home Secretary, where he dealt with counter-
terrorism and the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, crime and antisocial behaviour,
managing immigration and asylum, policing, criminal justice, prison and probation services, and
citizenship.
David took a leading role in fighting Labour’s third term election campaign in spring 2005, and from
May to November 2005, he was made Secretary of State for Work and Pensions where he set a
clear vision for reform of the welfare state, and established a nationwide debate to find long-term
solution to pension challenges.
For further information or to arrange an interview contact Samantha Hicks on 9285 9106 or
0404 878 459.
NEWS 
