Sundays 3 — 6 pm on the State Library Lawns. If you love free speech, the right to be heard and a vigorous debate, there’s many a reason to check it out. YouTube channel here;

http://www.youtube.com/speakersforum

Historically Melbourne [and from family tales, Sydney also] has a healthy past in citizen speaking. During the Depression it became a popular destination, perhaps suiting financial and political trends.

The old Birrarung Marr in Melbourne is now truly in the technological age given one may add its toilet to “My Toilets”. Although public parks and a list of “My Toilets” might take some explaining ;-)

http://www.toiletmap.gov.au/toilet.aspx?type=toilet&id=64760804-c552-4976-a176-ca26b3b14e0a

There is a Speakers’ Corner in the Domain in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia established in 1878. Official outdoor ‘free’ speech first appeared in the hustings and hanging grounds of Hyde Park Sydney in 1874. Free speech in this form was banned following a serious riot between Catholics and Orangemen. However following the formalisation of free speech in Speakers’ Corner in London it was decided in 1878 that The Domain would be the place for free speech in Sydney. Other Speakers’ Corners are found in King George Square and The Powerhouse in Brisbane, Australia. In Melbourne, Speakers Corner was originally held in Birrarung Marr where the original site is still visible. This site has lost some popularity over the years and Speakers Corner (Now called “Speakers Forum”) is currently held outside the State Library of Victoria on Sunday afternoon from 3pm. (From Wikipedia)

I think when I went there I met a Catholic-hating atheist, an atheist-hating Catholic and a guy talking about cubic time. The audiences were nothing like the ones in these videos though.