As Horne wrote 'a first rate country run by second rate people'. Enjoyed your piece (if enjoyed is the word). Vision and conviction is MIA in Australian politics (self-interest rules) and change is upon us at such a rapid rate that I fear we're about to become seriously unstuck or as my mum used to say 'tears before bedtime'. A good article which resonates all too loudly for comfort.
"I fear who we’ll imitate next" - alas if the COVID response was any indication, it'll be Communist China. In our shift to cosmopolitanism we seem to have lost a lot of our larrakinism and healthy disrespect for authority - here's hoping the newer generation can find it again. Thanks for a great article Michael.
A great article. In 1964, our second-rate leadership was still warming its toes on the afterglow of the work of previous generations. What Paul Kelly called The Australian Settlement transformed our country from a pastoral colony to one of the most prosperous and (genuinely) progressive nations in the world.
What was the Australian Settlement?
. White Australia - a restrictive immigration system.
. Wage arbitration.
. Trade protection.
. State paternalism, and
. Imperial benevolence.
Fast forward to 2026 and all these pillars are gone. Mass immigration feeds a ponzi economy, which has been deindustrialised through so-called ‘free trade’ policies. Workers are left to look after themselves in the IR arena, with the labour share of GDP at historical lows. The state has backed away from most useful intervention, replacing it with the niggardly regulation and nanny-state scolding typical of neo-liberal governments everywhere.
We no longer live in a benevolent empire (if we ever really did..) - indeed our current imperial loyalties seem to be dragging us into conflicts we have no interest in.
Donald Horne’s Australia looks like a paradise because, compared to today, it was. But that paradise was built, not by Menzies and the tired conservatives of the 1950’s, but by giants like Curtin, Chifley, Jack Lang, Barton and visionaries going back to the 1880’s.
This was a good summary of the econ/social/political issues facing Australia. The other side of this is art, culture, literature, or lack thereof, referenced by myself and others in this wonderful piece @neopasseism commissioned.
I found the part about his grandfather searching for a taste of the bush pioneer life and not being able to find it interesting. They were all pretending by that time (probably late 1800s) and didn’t even know how to make damper.
Hastie has been deeply disappointing, and I no longer think he has the goods.
His recent comments about being “open-minded” to a windfall profits tax on gas exports and to reducing the capital gains tax discount sit badly with the Liberal Party’s supposed commitment to small government, lower taxes and less red tape.
The AFR article by Ronald Mizen, “Andrew Hastie reveals ‘father-son dynamic’ with unlikely mentor Malcolm Turnbull”, is even more concerning. He has gone down sharply in my estimation.
After the South Australian election result, Australia’s political landscape has clearly shifted. Whether that turns out to be good or bad, who knows, but a shake-up is overdue.
This country has been run by career politicians with little real-world experience for far too long.
Not sure I agree with much here. As an older person my memory of growing up was we didn’t get too involved or concerned about politics because we didn’t need to. Whitlam changed that!
Not sure Hastie coined uniparty and if I agree wit a much of what he says these days. When it counts he is MIA.
Never read or wanted to read Horne’s book because I don’t t believe in luck just God, hard work, caring for family and wanting government out of our lives and balancing the budget- our money. As for young people all my offspring have a house and a job.
The Liberals are pretty much moribund and irrelevant. That bit I do agree with.
Hi Jillian, thanks for the comment. I don’t see much disagreement there. On a closer read, I think you’ll find your points are broadly consistent the article. I’ll also add that if you were politically conscious by the Whitlam era, your children are likely Gen X, or perhaps older Millennials. We Millennials are middle aged now, and it’s the next generation of Australians I’m referring to, especially those not lined up for large inheritances, who are facing very difficult conditions.
Clearly true, yeah. But I don't think the macroeconomic conditions are comparable. It's a very different country now, and it's not a matter of bootstraps, though a stronger work ethic would help.
We were smarter in 1900 when we could talk about a continent for a people and a people for a continent. Australia is on the way out with only 1.2 lambs per ewe. Will it end up Arab?
As Horne wrote 'a first rate country run by second rate people'. Enjoyed your piece (if enjoyed is the word). Vision and conviction is MIA in Australian politics (self-interest rules) and change is upon us at such a rapid rate that I fear we're about to become seriously unstuck or as my mum used to say 'tears before bedtime'. A good article which resonates all too loudly for comfort.
"I fear who we’ll imitate next" - alas if the COVID response was any indication, it'll be Communist China. In our shift to cosmopolitanism we seem to have lost a lot of our larrakinism and healthy disrespect for authority - here's hoping the newer generation can find it again. Thanks for a great article Michael.
La-la Land (aka the 51st state of the USA, but I suspect not for much longer) is certainly a lucky country run by third rate people.
Australia is in big trouble
A nation of quokkas. Nailed it.
A great article. In 1964, our second-rate leadership was still warming its toes on the afterglow of the work of previous generations. What Paul Kelly called The Australian Settlement transformed our country from a pastoral colony to one of the most prosperous and (genuinely) progressive nations in the world.
What was the Australian Settlement?
. White Australia - a restrictive immigration system.
. Wage arbitration.
. Trade protection.
. State paternalism, and
. Imperial benevolence.
Fast forward to 2026 and all these pillars are gone. Mass immigration feeds a ponzi economy, which has been deindustrialised through so-called ‘free trade’ policies. Workers are left to look after themselves in the IR arena, with the labour share of GDP at historical lows. The state has backed away from most useful intervention, replacing it with the niggardly regulation and nanny-state scolding typical of neo-liberal governments everywhere.
We no longer live in a benevolent empire (if we ever really did..) - indeed our current imperial loyalties seem to be dragging us into conflicts we have no interest in.
Donald Horne’s Australia looks like a paradise because, compared to today, it was. But that paradise was built, not by Menzies and the tired conservatives of the 1950’s, but by giants like Curtin, Chifley, Jack Lang, Barton and visionaries going back to the 1880’s.
Great article Michael. For your interest my just published book:
"Common Sense for Australia: If we had a party worth voting for...Would you back it?"
Published under pen name of "Kashmir Pete".
Can be ordered at any bookshop.
Cheers
Peter
Very interesting article. I don’t see Australia being in a good place in ten years
This was a good summary of the econ/social/political issues facing Australia. The other side of this is art, culture, literature, or lack thereof, referenced by myself and others in this wonderful piece @neopasseism commissioned.
https://neopasseism.substack.com/p/australia
One the best things I’ve read on Australia
It really is a tour de force, if I do say so myself haha
An excellent analysis
Excellent read
Excellent stuff. I have started rereading Horne’s classic.
I found the part about his grandfather searching for a taste of the bush pioneer life and not being able to find it interesting. They were all pretending by that time (probably late 1800s) and didn’t even know how to make damper.
Under this govt industrial action has gone through the roof. So I disagree that the power of unions is dwindling. Case in point, https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/workplace/lng-strike-threats-in-middle-of-global-gas-crunch-20260408-p5zm2q
It was Bob H who crushed the BLF, I don't see anyone coming for the cfmeu.
Hastie has been deeply disappointing, and I no longer think he has the goods.
His recent comments about being “open-minded” to a windfall profits tax on gas exports and to reducing the capital gains tax discount sit badly with the Liberal Party’s supposed commitment to small government, lower taxes and less red tape.
The AFR article by Ronald Mizen, “Andrew Hastie reveals ‘father-son dynamic’ with unlikely mentor Malcolm Turnbull”, is even more concerning. He has gone down sharply in my estimation.
After the South Australian election result, Australia’s political landscape has clearly shifted. Whether that turns out to be good or bad, who knows, but a shake-up is overdue.
This country has been run by career politicians with little real-world experience for far too long.
Not sure I agree with much here. As an older person my memory of growing up was we didn’t get too involved or concerned about politics because we didn’t need to. Whitlam changed that!
Not sure Hastie coined uniparty and if I agree wit a much of what he says these days. When it counts he is MIA.
Never read or wanted to read Horne’s book because I don’t t believe in luck just God, hard work, caring for family and wanting government out of our lives and balancing the budget- our money. As for young people all my offspring have a house and a job.
The Liberals are pretty much moribund and irrelevant. That bit I do agree with.
Hi Jillian, thanks for the comment. I don’t see much disagreement there. On a closer read, I think you’ll find your points are broadly consistent the article. I’ll also add that if you were politically conscious by the Whitlam era, your children are likely Gen X, or perhaps older Millennials. We Millennials are middle aged now, and it’s the next generation of Australians I’m referring to, especially those not lined up for large inheritances, who are facing very difficult conditions.
Perhaps but we all still had work hard. Pay high interest rates.
Clearly true, yeah. But I don't think the macroeconomic conditions are comparable. It's a very different country now, and it's not a matter of bootstraps, though a stronger work ethic would help.
We were smarter in 1900 when we could talk about a continent for a people and a people for a continent. Australia is on the way out with only 1.2 lambs per ewe. Will it end up Arab?