History

Having represented Tasmania in the Australian Debating Championships in 1980, bringing back the national schools' trophy, the Door, for the only time in Tasmania's history, Adam Marshall noted the lack of a consistent debating competition in southern Tasmania. Resolving to fix this problem, he founded the Tasmanian Debating Union to host regular debates between schools.

Since its founding in 1981, the Tasmanian Debating Union has been Tasmania's premier debating organisation for schools' level competition, training and development, and Tasmania's representative to the Australian debating community, the Australian Debating Federation.

Australian Debating Championships

The Australian Debating Championships (also known as the National Schools' Debating Championship and the National Adults' Debating Championship) are Australia's premier debating competition, coordinated by the Australian Debating Federation and held every year in a different Australian capital. Tasmania has hosted the ADC three times, most recently in 2005.

As the sole Tasmanian affiliate of the ADF, the Tasmanian Debating Union selects the state team from a series of selection events held around the state. Tasmania has fielded a team in most Championships, and has won the schools' Championship once, in 1980, and been Runner-Up twice.

The Australian national team is drawn from the Championships, with Tasmania having been represented on a number of national delegations to the prestigious World Schools Debating Championships.

Contact

While we always endeavour to respond to enquiries promptly, the Tasmanian Debating Union is run by volunteers and does not have administrative staff.

The TDU can be reached by post at:

Tasmanian Debating Union
PO Box 5004
University of Tasmania LPO
SANDY BAY TAS 7006

Forfeit and postponement forms should be sent to the Schools' Coordinator or relevant competition convenor. Please contact our office-bearers if you have particular enquiries. You may also like to consult our list of Frequently Asked Questions.

Office Office-Bearer Email Phone
President Pat McConville president@tdu.org.au +61 400 216 634
Chief Adjudicator Michael Cordover chiefadjudicator@tdu.org.au +61 438 591 479
Secretary Kristof Wing secretary@tdu.org.au
Treasurer Tom Marshall treasurer@tdu.org.au
Schools' Coordinator Pat McConville schools@tdu.org.au +61 400 216 634
Publicity Officer Melanie Ross publicity@tdu.org.au
Webmaster Pat McConville webmaster@tdu.org.au +61 400 216 634