The lecture, at 8.30 pm in the Earle Page College Dining Hall, will be the 29th in the College’s Annual Politics Lecture series. Titled “The time has come for marriage equality in Australia”, it will follow a formal dinner for college members and invited guests at which Ms Hanson-Young will be guest of honour.

Sarah Hanson-Young, who lives in Adelaide, took her seat as South Australia’s first Greens Senator – and the youngest person ever elected to the Australian Senate – on July 1, 2008. Her portfolio responsibilities include youth, childhood education and care, immigration and citizenship, consumer affairs, water and the Murray-Darling Basin, human rights, sexuality issues, and Tibet. She leads the Greens’ efforts to have the Marriage Act amended to achieve marriage equality for same-sex couples, lobbies the Federal Government to protect the Murray-Darling Basin, and is a strong advocate of compassion in Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers.

Her varied career before entering the Australian Senate included positions as a campaign manager for Amnesty International (2004-2008), and State Secretary for the Australian Greens (2006).

Each year, Earle Page College invites a prominent political figure to speak at its Annual Politics Dinner. Previous speakers have included Julia Gillard, Tony Abbott, Bob Brown and Joe Hockey.

Sir Earle Christmas Grafton Page, after whom the College and lecture series are named, was chairman of the advisory council for the University of New England College from 1938 until 1954, and then the University’s first Chancellor from 1954 to 1960. He was Prime Minister of Australia for a brief period in 1939.

Everyone is welcome to attend Ms Hanson-Young’s lecture. A $5 donation on the night to the Earle Page College Charity Coast Run appeal in aid of the Children’s Medical Research Institute would be appreciated. For more information about the event, ring the college on 02-6773-5300 or e-mail epc@une.edu.au