Prime Minister Julia Gillard with Lansdowne Club Chairman Peter Brennan.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard will address the Lansdowne Club’s St Patrick’s Day lunch, to be held at Sydney’s convention and exhibition centre tomorrow.

New South Wales Premier Barry O’Farrell will also speak at the Irish business network’s annual flagship event, which sees figures from across the Irish community in Australia gather for a celebration of all things Irish.

Ireland’s Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter, will also attend the event as he kicks off a week of political and community engagements in Australia and New Zealand.

Ms Gillard also addressed the 2011 lunch, as did Opposition leader Tony Abbott.

Their state counterparts in New South Wales, the then Labor Premier Kristina Kenneally and Mr O’Farrell also addressed the 2011 lunch. Mr O’Farrell’s party would go on to inflict a bruising defeat on the ALP in state election held a week later.

The 1,200 capacity lunch kick off at midday.

Meanwhile, in Melbourne, the Irish Australian Chamber of Commerce (IACC) holds its own sold-out lunch at Federation Square.

It will be attended by members of the city’s Irish community across business, sport, politics and entertainment. Melbourne Victory coach Jim Magilton is among those set to attend.