Guideposts for the Nation

Our Heritage and Australia's Future
Edited by Jim Ramsay,
Schwartz & Wilkinson.  RRP $16.95

DR HEWSON'S Mother of All Recovery Plans would, if implemented, come to nought unless, nationally, we get (as they say) the fundamentals right.  And that, essentially, is what this collection of essays sets out to achieve:  the collective wisdom of some prominent Australians successfully focuses on issues which, if not resolved, will leave this country in a hole which no Hewson or like plan can fill.

Historically, in this lucky country, we have not been that good at objective self-assessment.  Other than on the sporting field, we too readily accept mediocrity.  Mr Hawke's mission to establish Australia as the Clever Country, while an admirable goal, is pretty much "pie in the sky" talk.  All the more reason for informed, public-minded people to speak out on things as they are, rather than painting idyllic but unreal scenes.

The contributors to Our Heritage and Australia's Future were asked, during 1988, to deliver papers at a series of seminars organised by the 1988 Heritage Association -- a loose coalition of, principally, conservative-minded groups -- to restore balance to the "official" Australian Bicentennial Authority's guilt-laden program.  Many of the papers were revised and updated for this book.

In the foreword, Sir Paul Hasluck welcomes "discussion that raises awkward questions about what sort of nation we are, how we came that way and where we are going next".  But contrary to the claim by the Editor, Jim Ramsay, the collective result is, arguably, too predominantly a conservative view of the state of the nation.  Despite the eminence of the contributors, the cultural conservatism of their message will be unlikely to attract a warm reception among our public opinion-makers.  That, I expect, is quibbling, for doubtless, the intention was to avoid a mere debate about where we have gone wrong and about how we might rediscover our legal, political, cultural and religious roots.

In order of their appearance (and topic) the 1991 revised contributions are from Sir Charles Court (British heritage);  Dr David Kemp MP (Political/civil liberties);  Dame Leonie Kramer (our children's education);  Professor Geoffrey Blainey (one nation or a cluster or tribes?);  Senator Robert Hill (Asia-Pacific Security);  Michael O'Connor (Defence);  B.A. Santamaria (the crisis of Christianity);  Rev Dr John Williams and Babette Francis (family), Professor Mark Cooray (the rule of law);  Assistant Police Commissioner Bill Robertson (police and the law);  Dr Michael James (constitutional reform);  Hugh Morgan (private enterprise) and, finally, John Stone (economic freedom).  Quite clearly the book gathers together theoreticians who, above all, are also doers -- rarely the situation in what passes for serious discussion in academia of Australia's future.  That future is not too bright, on the evidence presented in this tightly-structured book.  Perhaps, and this is grossly unfair to the other participants in the forum, three of the writers -- Court, Santamaria and Blainey -- explore best, and most fluently, the dilemma which is at the heart of our national malaise:  sabotage of our past;  the false god of perverted multiculturalism;  and the virtual abandonment of religious values -- even by the churches.

The whole book dispassionately diagnoses the "sleeping sickness" rampant in the nation.  Positively, the authors jointly provide guideposts to bring us back to reality.  As I read these writers, it became clear that many of our problems and community inadequacies are man- (or is it person-) made;  yet, if we have the collective will, they can be turned around.  In this direction, the Hewson recovery package could be a start.  Unfortunately, we are an ill-disciplined, spoilt society -- living these past decades beyond our means, economically and spiritually.

The insights and concerns of Our Heritage and Australia's Future are an apt starting point.  But it is only us, collectively, who can turn our nation around.  Whether it is with Hewson, Keating, whomever, I do not particularly care.  These 14 prominent Australians have put in frightening, demanding place a springboard for our national counter-attack.  Well, that is the hope.