José Ramos-Horta The value of independence
8 October 2024
In the Concert Hall
Talks and Ideas
Join José Ramos-Horta, President of Timor-Leste and a Nobel Peace Laureate, for an evening on the value of independence. He has dedicated his life to fighting for Timorese freedom from oppression.
| Date | Time |
| Tuesday 8 October 2024 | 6:00pm |
| Ticket | Price |
| Standard | $19.50 |
$8.95 booking fee applies per transaction
Prices correct at the time of publication and subject to change without notice. Exact prices will be displayed with seat selection.
The only authorised ticket agency for this event is Sydney Opera House. For more information about Authorised Agencies, see the frequently asked questions below.
Sydney Opera House Insiders pre-sale
9:00am, Tuesday 17 September 2024
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General Public tickets on-sale
9:00am, Wednesday 18 September 2024
Wheelchair accessible:
There are a number of wheelchair and companion seating locations in our theatres. To book accessible seating contact Box Office:
Telephone
+61 2 9250 7777
(Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm AEST)
Email bookings@sydneyoperahouse.com
Find out more about accessibility at Sydney Opera House.
Run time
The duration of this event is approximately 2 hours with no interval.
Event duration is a guide only and may be subject to change.
Age
Recommended for all ages.
Children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied at all times.
The Opera House is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children that visit or engage with us. Read our Child Safety Policy.
Useful information:
The Australia Institute is delighted to present President José Ramos-Horta for an evening of conversation as part of its 30 Years of Big Ideas
Timor-Leste demonstrated that nothing solid or lasting can be built on the denial of people’s fundamental rights. It demonstrated the value of reconciliation and establishing good neighbourly relations. And that with international solidarity, peace, freedom and democracy can thrive.
The world can learn much from Timor-Leste, especially at a time when conflicts are multiplying and geopolitical tensions are worsening. And in a context of worrying dysfunctionality in the relationship between Powers and growing impunity in the face of violations of human rights and international law. – Antonio Guterres, United Nations Secretary General
Timor-Leste is one of Australia’s closest neighbours and allies. However, many Australians are not aware of the history of Timor-Leste, the Timorese fight for independence, or how the futures of our respective countries are intertwined.
While strategic dependence on power is often promoted as the path to national security, former Prime Minister and now President of Timor-Leste, José Ramos-Horta, has direct experience building a democracy from scratch and knows what is at risk when a nation loses geopolitical autonomy.
Against the threats of climate change, food insecurity, and rising inequality, to achieve true security in the Asia-Pacific region, nations need to build respect, genuine partnerships and support each other to flourish.
On the 25th anniversary of Timor-Leste’s historic vote for independence, following years of resistance against foreign occupation, President Ramos-Horta will reflect on the importance and fragility of national independence, and how the stability of the Asia-Pacific region relies on respecting our differences and confronting shared challenges together.
Presented by The Australia Institute
Plan your visit
Venue information
Our foyers will be open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and two hours pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Refreshments will be available for purchase from our theatre bars.
All Sydney Opera House foyers are pram accessible, with lifts to the main and western foyers. The public lift to all foyers is accessible from the corridor near the escalators on the Lower Concourse and also in the Western Foyer via the corridor on the Ground Level (at the top of the escalators). Pram parking will be available outside the theatres in the Western Foyer.
Getting here
The Sydney Opera House Car Park, operated by Wilson Parking, is open and available to use. Wilson Parking offer discounted parking if you book ahead. Please see the Wilson Parking website for details.
Please check the Transport NSW website for the latest advice and information on travel. You can catch public transport (bus, train, ferry) to Circular Quay and enjoy a six minute walk to the Opera House.
Frequently asked questions
Ticket purchases and collection at our Box Office is discouraged and eTicket or postal delivery methods should be used, wherever possible. However, if you are collecting your tickets from the Box Office, we recommend doing this at least 60 minutes before the event starts. If you have already received your tickets, the venue doors will be open 45 minutes pre-show for Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 30 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Please take your seats as soon as you arrive.
If you are late, we will seat you as soon as we can and, where possible, in your allocated seat. However, to reduce movement in the venue as well as minimise disruption to the performance and other patrons, ticketholders may be seated in an allocated latecomer’s seat. Please be aware that some events have lock-out periods. In these cases, latecomers will be admitted at a suitable break in the performance. On occasions, this may not be until the interval, or at all where there is no interval.
Details of our right to refuse admission can be found in our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Events.
In accordance with our venue security procedures, Opera House security will be scanning and checking bags under the Monumental Stairs, prior to entering the building. Bags will be scanned by an x-ray machine, and staff will wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling your belongings, such as gloves. Cloaking facilities will be open 60 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 60 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. However it is strongly encouraged that you travel lightly to minimise contact and queuing. Any bags larger than an A4 piece of paper will need to be checked into the Cloak Room.
The authorised agency for this event is the Sydney Opera House.
Only tickets purchased by authorised agencies should be considered reliable. If you purchase tickets from a non-authorised agency such as Ticketmaster Resale, Viagogo, Ticketbis, eBay, Gumtree, Tickets Australia or any other unauthorised seller, you risk that these tickets are fake, void or have previously been cancelled. Resale restriction applies. For more details, please refer to our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Attendance at Events.
Please contact Box Office on +61 2 9250 7777 as soon as possible to advise if you can no longer attend.
Foyers will be open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and two hours pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Refreshments will be available for purchase from our theatre bars.
The venue doors will be open 45 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 30 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances.
Please bring a credit or debit card for any on site purchases to enable contactless payment. You’re welcome to bring your own water bottle but no other food and drinks are permitted inside our venues.
The health, safety and wellbeing of everyone at the Sydney Opera House is our top priority. In line with this commitment, the Opera House became a smoke-free site in January 2022. Read our Smoke-free Environment Policy.
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