Media Release - National Press Club announces new Principal Sponsor - 28 April 2005

The National Press Club of Australia today announced a three-year partnership agreement with the National Australia Bank, which will become the Club's Principal Sponsor.

From May 11, the National Press Club speaker luncheon will be known as the National Australia Bank Press Club Address.

National Australia Bank Chief Executive, John Stewart, said the role of Principal Sponsor enabled the National to demonstrate in a concrete way its support for the development of active, informed community discussion as the basis for policy-making.

Mr Stewart said the Bank would work with the National Press Club to expand such activity wherever suitable opportunities arose.  "Good journalism is an essential element of good governance in both the political and corporate arenas," he said.

Telstra, which has been the Principal Sponsor of the National Press Club for the past 12 years, will continue to be a key supporter. Its sponsorship will however be refocussed and will include for the first time a program to take National Press Club addresses to regional Australia, where the Club has a particularly strong level of recognition.

Telstra Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ziggy Switkowski, said the Corporation's long association had enabled the Club to establish its speaker programs on a stable, long-term basis to the benefit of the community as a whole.

He said Telstra's involvement had been a rewarding experience, particularly through the direct community response to so many events, which clearly showed the value of such a national forum.  Dr Switkowski said Telstra's role in the future would be different but no less committed.

National Press Club president Ken Randall said the new arrangements reflected the strong support of the Club's role, developed over more than 40 years, as a national forum for discussion of public issues and policies.  The National Australia Bank's involvement would ensure the continued viability of the Club's extensive speaker program, now averaging about 60 events annually.

Mr Randall also thanked Telstra for its exceptional insight in becoming the first Principal Sponsor of the National Press Club, and its strong support ever since.  Such an endorsement of an institution founded and run by journalists is exceptional today but was far more so at that time, he said.

Inquiries:

President, National Press Club
Ken Randall  0416 978 206

CEO, National Press Club   
Maurice Reilly  0415 738 473

National Australia Bank    
Brandon Phillips 0419 369 058

Telstra       
Michael Grealy  02 9206 0106