Terri Butler and Andrew Leigh will be in conversation on Terri's new book Labor of Love in which she canvases why it is up to us, as much as to her as a federal member of Parliament, to play our part: "If people of good will decide that politics is distasteful, they are in danger of leaving politics to the passionate, extremist few."

After almost two decades as a Labor party member, Terri Butler remembers the cocktails foregone and kids' school concerts missed and argues that yes, it is worth it.

Along with arguments about working for social justice, Butler combines frank and lively discussion of her experience of the political process - pre-selection, the campaign, working as a team, juggling work and family, party conferences - with the devotee's hard sell. Among the many reasons, she says, why people should join the ALP is that they have rowdier parties and better music than the conservative side of politics.

Terri Butler is the Member for Griffith and a Shadow Assistant Minister. She was elected to the federal parliament at a by-election in 2014, after Kevin Rudd left the parliament. Prior to being an MP, Terri led an employment law practice for the social justice law firm Maurice Blackburn Lawyers. She has held a range of roles within the community, including on the board of the YWCA Queensland.

Andrew Leigh is the Shadow Assistant Treasurer and Federal Member for Fenner in the ACT. He has been a member of the Australian Labor Party since 1991. Prior to being elected in 2010, Andrew was a professor of economics at the Australian National University. He holds a PhD in public policy from Harvard, having graduated from the University of Sydney with first class honours in Law and Arts. His books include Disconnected (2010), Battlers and Billionaires (2013), The Economics of Just About Everything (2014) and The Luck of Politics (2015).

Book signings will take place at 6pm before the conversation and then again after. This event is free.

Register online.