The reporter's resume includes a stint as the editor of the Canberra Times and a reporter for the Australian Financial Review and the Sydney Morning Herald. 

She has been a member of the Canberra parliamentary press gallery for more than 40 years, authored many books and was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2004.

This year, Grattan will be the guest of honour at the 28th John West Memorial Lecture, giving her opinion on the country's smaller political parties. 

Her lecture, The Power of Small Voices: The Struggle for the Senate's Centre, is set to cover many of the most talked about Australian politicians, from members of the Palmer United Party to Nick Xenophon. 

Launceston Historical Society president Marion Sargent said she was excited to hear what the celebrated reporter had to share with her Tasmanian audience. 

"She's a really well known lecturer ... it's a real coup to have her come down especially to give this talk," Ms Sargent said. 

Since 1989, the Launceston Historical Society has hosted a distinguished guest for their annual lecture, including Tim Flannery and Julian Burnside. 

Ms Sargent said that in the past, up to 750 community members have been in the audience for the lectures. 

"We're really excited about having it held in the same place as it was in 1989, which was then at the Tasmanian Institute of Technology and is now the Sir Raymond Ferrall Centre," she said.