THE ILLUSION OF IMPARTIALITY
Neutrality is often upheld as an ideal. But what if it is a disguised claim to authority – a way of shaping reality while denying responsibility for both the means and the act of doing so?
In today’s heated political environment, accusations of ‘bias’ have become a powerful, rhetorical weapon against individuals and institutions invoke neutrality to defend their legitimacy.
Yet nobody is truly neutral.
Not journalists. Not politicians. Not judges. Not institutions. Not corporations. Not you.
Every claim of objectivity reflects a point of view. Every claim of balance is a choice about what matters and what doesn’t. Yet we continue to treat impartiality as the ultimate guarantor of truth.
So, who gets to decide what’s true? Can anyone really be impartial? Does neutrality illuminate truth – or obscure the forces shaping it?
In an age of disinformation, political division and competing claims about existential questions of genocide, climate crisis and the costs and benefits of deploying powerful new technologies, establishing the basis for truth and falsehood has never been more important.
If nobody is neutral, perhaps the real danger isn’t bias.
Perhaps it’s the illusion of impartiality.
Pat Abboud
Patrick (Pat) Abboud is a Walkley Award–winning journalist, filmmaker and presenter, founder of Only Human Productions and partner at Dreamchaser Studio. Co-creator and host of global hit Audible podcast The Greatest Menace: Inside the Gay Prison Experiment, his documentaries have earned more than 40 international awards including New York Festivals, SXSW and Rose d’Or. Named Walkley Freelance Journalist of the Year (2023) and LGBTQ+ Media Disruptor of the Year (2024), his acclaimed films include Surviving Gaza, Seeking Truth (2026), Unsettled (2025) and Gayrabia (2024). He will write and direct his debut feature RISE in 2027. Raised by Palestinian and Lebanese parents, Pat lives in Sydney and is a proud gay dad of two.
Michael Pembroke
Michael Pembroke is a writer, historian and former judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. His writing – laced with deep perception, a light touch and occasionally wry humour – explores history, politics and nature. His books include Trees of History and Romance (2009), Arthur Phillip – Sailor, Mercenary, Governor, Spy (2013), shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards, Korea: Where the American Century Began (2018), shortlisted for the Queensland Literary Awards and the NSW Premier’s History Awards, Play by the Rules (2020), a polemic about American leadership, and his most recent book Silk Silver Opium (2025) currently being translated into Chinese and other languages. He was educated at the Universities of Sydney and Cambridge and was a Director’s Visitor at the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton in 2017.
Allegra Spender
Allegra Spender is an accomplished business leader, clean energy advocate and Federal Member of Parliament for Wentworth. With a background in economics from Cambridge and advanced studies at Harvard and Dartmouth, she has worked as a business analyst at McKinsey, a policy analyst at the UK Treasury and Managing Director of Carla Zampatti Pty Ltd. Allegra is committed to social impact, having chaired the Sydney Renewable Power Company and led the Australian Business and Community Network. As a passionate advocate, she works tirelessly for families, young people, and local businesses.
Tim Dean
Tim Dean is a public philosopher, speaker and writer. He has a Doctorate in philosophy from UNSW Sydney on the evolution of morality and specialises in public philosophy, ethics and critical thinking. He is an Honorary Associate at the University of Sydney and the author of How We Became Human. He is also an experienced science writer and editor and has worked for outlets such as The Conversation and edited magazines including Cosmos and Australian Life Scientist. He is the recipient of the Australasian Association of Philosophy Media Professionals’ Award for his work on philosophy in the public sphere. He is currently Senior Philosopher and Manos Chair in Ethics at The Ethics Centre.
We acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation - the custodians of the country on which we meet - and acknowledge their Elders, past and present.
The views and opinions expressed by the Festival participants are not necessarily the views of The Ethics Centre and our partners.