News | 27 Aug 2026

After finishing runners-up last year, St John’s College has gone one better, winning the 2026 Intercollegiate (Palladian) Debating Tournament!

Once again, the competition brought together debating teams from across the six Colleges for a weekend of quick thinking and plenty of sharp exchanges.

Our debating team won all five of their debates in a competition featuring some exceptional debating talent from across all the Colleges.

St John’s progressed through the tournament with a series of impressive performances before reaching the grand final against Wesely College on the Sunday afternoon. In a tightly contested final debate, the St John’s team held their nerve and delivered when it mattered most to claim the title and take the trophy home to St John’s.

Debating in the Vaughan Room (left to right): Sam Wright. Xavier Leaver, and Angus Martinez.

Jemima Carmody delivering her argument at Wesley College.

Angus Martinez as second speaker for the College.

It is a terrific achievement for our debaters and a well-deserved reward for the preparation, teamwork and determination they put into the competition. I am very proud of them all.

Our Champion Palladian Debating Team members include:

Debating Trials (left to right): Charlie Lieutenant, Angus Martinez and Daniel Osborne.

They tackled a range of challenging topics over two days of debates:

1. That we should scale national health insurance premiums based on unhealthy lifestyle factors (e.g. obesity, smoking).

2. That in cities with scarce housing availability, we should prioritise programs which provide the means for those in need to relocate to different cities with lower costs of living, instead of programs to build or subsidise affordable housing in the same city.

3. That we should nationalise all credit rating agencies.

4. That we oppose the glorification of good citizenship.5. That we support an indefinite halt to research to artificial intelligence.

Debating is one of those activities that brings out the very best in our students. It demands preparation, confidence and teamwork, but also the ability to listen carefully, think quickly and make a persuasive case, skills that will serve them well long after College.

Winning the tournament is a terrific achievement, and one that our debaters should be very proud of. My congratulations to the whole team, and my thanks to everyone who helped make the competition possible, especially our Palladian Secretary Lucy Galland, and Debating Secretaries Ava McInerney and Julia Richards.

Regards,

Dr Mark Schembri
Rector

Debating trials (left to right): Ava McInerney, Knox O’Connor, Sam Wright, Charlie Lieutenant, Angus Martinez, and Daniel Osborne.

Xavier Leaver speaking in his debate against The Women’s College.

(Left to right): Daniel Osborne, Charlie Lieutenant, Benji Harris, Ivy Tsirbas, Julia Richards, Ava McInerney, Angus Martinez, Xavier Leaver, Peter Gordon, Jemima Carmody and Sam Wright.

Fun Photo of the Week: The St John’s Debating Team strikes a learned pose!

Main photo: (Left to right, front row): Knox O’Connor, Charlie Lieutenant, Sam Wright, and Peter Gordon.
(Left to right, back row): Angus Martinez, Ava McInerney, and Daniel Osborne.