The Alfred Deakin Institute Oration is an annual oration delivered by a public intellectual on a topic related to cutting-edge research about citizenship, diversity, inclusion and globalisation that is undertaken at the Institute.

The 2019 Oration ‘The new divides, a century later’ was delivered by Senator the Honourable Simon Birmingham, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment at Deakin Edge, Federation Square on 24 September. 100 years after Alfred Deakin’s death, Senator Birmingham assessed the modern day demarcation lines as they apply across contemporary politics and global trade.