The Centre for Dialogue was established by La Trobe University in September 2005 and inaugurated on 15 August 2006, at the National Gallery of Victoria, with the strong support of the Victorian Government. At the opening, attended by more than 700 people, Judge Christopher Weeramantry, former Vice-President of the International Court of Justice, delivered the inaugural Annual Lecture.

This was a major international conference hosted by La Trobe University to mark the 50th anniversary of the United Nations. the conference, convened by Joseph Camilleri, examined issues relating to democracy, security and regionalism, with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region. The conference brought together sdome fo the world's leading scholars, policy-makers and NGO representatives to examine the UN's structure, performance and agenda.

Joseph Camilleri was the founding Convener of Rainbow Alliance, a new political movement bringing together people active in peace, environmental, gender, social justice and union issues. Its aim was to encourage cross fertilisation between these streams of activism and to make the connections between issues often viewed in isolation from each other.