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May2015 No.516 VolumeLix,Number5 , Mike Fogarty, Frank Long, Matthew Arkapaw, Shan Stevens, Derek Allan Letters 2 L. Peter Ryan John O’Sullivan Chronicle 5 Barry Maley guestcolumn 7 Democracy Jeffrey Goldsworthy in Faith Losing law 9 Christie Davies Sociology? Blame We Must society 18 Rebecca Weisser Dullness of Doctrine the and BoreCons Budgets, politics 24 Philip Ayres Misconceptions and Errors Fraser: Malcolm 27 Daryl McCann Deal Iranian the on Men Wiser themiddleeast 32 Chris Berg Deregulation of Tasks Undone The economics 35 Frank K. Salter Not or Ready Eugenics, bioethics 41 Hal G.P. Colebatch II) (Part Election 1977 the and People” “Boat The history 52 Short Ross Babbage Fell That Shot Well-Aimed A defence 60 John Carroll Conservative Political a Became I How firstperson 64 Giles Auty Art State-Approved of Rise the and Sewell Brian art 70 R.J. Stove Remembered Sculthorpe music 74 Plays Michael Connor Other and Love in Humpbacks theatre 78 Australia Daniel O’Neil on Lawrence D.H. Leaf: New a World The literature 82 Neil McDonald Candlelight by Noir Film Tudor film 85 Sean O’Leary Somebody stories 88 Bob Wright Valley Wellington 94 Obertone Anthony Daniels Laurent by Utøya Seierstad; Åsne One of Us by books 98 Alan Gould McEwan Ian The Children Act by 102 Robert Murray Brown James by Anzac’s Long Shadow 104 Iain Bamforth Nedo Michael by Ludwig Wittgenstein edited 106 David by The Digital Apocalypse Parker; Derek This Tattooed Land by 108 Groves George Thomas Jenny Stewart 111 guestcolumn Service 31: Rod Usher; Frogs Fine Five Woodman; the for Waiting 23: Poetry Records Elisabeth Wentworth; Grace Rod Usher; 40: Third Party Selfie Peter Jeffrey; 51: Reflection Ken Stone; 59: IX Haiku Gary Hotham; Hog; It Got Lost Saxby Pridmore; 63: So If You Know My Inmost Alan Gould; 68: Among the Leaves Paul Williamson; 69: On Bravery Elisabeth Wentworth; Kranky Peter Jeffrey; 73: Instructions Myra Schneider; 76: A Satisfying Answer Immanuel Suttner; 77: At the Sheridan Food Pub; Wind Knute Skinner; The Dawning of Sadness C.R. McArthur; 87: The Swede Myra Schneider; 110: The Close Distance Paul Williamson Let ters for and of the department. In doing so, he stifled initiative and his dead hand alienated many of his officers. Hasluck monitored Editor Sir Paul Hasluck public opinion and interfered with John O’Sullivan his department’s ability to shape [email protected] SIR: Philip Ayres has written a and influence diplomacy. Yet para- LitEr ary Editor perceptive review of Geoffrey doxically, he could be a warm and Les Murray Bolton’s biography of Sir Paul kindly fatherly figure. One senior dEput y Editor Hasluck (April 2015). Having diplomat remembers him with George Thomas attended the Canberra book launch affection, for his benign side, find- in December, and on reading the ing him considerate, appreciative Contributing Editors book thoroughly, I concur with of briefings and effective. In con- Books: Peter Coleman your reviewer. The launch had a trast, another officer who worked Film: Neil McDonald certain piquancy as it was distin- for Hasluck found the experience Theatre: Michael Connor guished by the presence of the diminishing. CoLumnist Governor-General, General Sir His official gate-keeper, the Peter Ryan Peter Cosgrove, who gave more late Ellestan Dusting, assumed a Editor, Qua dr ant onLinE than official authority to the pro- conduit role in any communica- Roger Franklin ceedings. Sir Peter served as a tions. She was appointed for her [email protected] junior aide-de-camp to Sir Paul in personal loyalty to Hasluck, rather 1972. than supporting the wider interests Editor-in-ChiEf As a former diplomat, I have of External Affairs. Tange resented Keith Windschuttle kept a keen interest in the history this off-hand treatment because it of Australian diplomacy. The demeaned his authority and status Subscriptions National Archives have surrendered as a senior mandarin. For his impla- Phone: (03) 8317 8147 many official documents on cable defence of this remit, he soon Fax: (03) 9320 9065 Hasluck which explain his political fell out. Tange earned his passage Post: Quadrant Magazine, psychology and his relationships to India for a five-year exile. His Locked Bag 1235, (personal and official) with replacement, Sir James Plimsoll North Melbourne VIC 3051 some key players in the nascent (Jim the likeable), was an oblig- E-mail: quadrantmagazine@ Department of External Affairs. ing and charming spirit who is still data.com.au Arthur Tange served with remembered for his consummate Paul Hasluck in the period. diplomacy. Yet he turned out to be Publisher Hasluck betrayed Tange over the antithesis of Tange, in that he a trivial function of diplomatic was an unreflective administrator. Quadrant (ISSN 0033-5002) is representation. Tange trumped Paul Hasluck was captive to published ten times a year by Quadrant Magazine Limited, Hasluck when he was appointed his odd personality. At times he Suite 2/5 Rosebery Place, as the secretary of the department could be over-sensitive, aloof, Balmain NSW 2041, Australia in 1954. Sir Arthur, as he soon arrogant, petty, vengeful, hyper- ACN 133 708 424 became, probably stayed too long at critical and inflated with a sense of the helm. Having been a diplomat self-importance that a more con- Production in a formative period of Australia’s fident man or woman might have political history, Hasluck then subdued. Self-conscious to a fault, Design Consultant: Reno Design asserted his authority over his new he was obsessed with his place in Art Director: Graham Rendoth department. His animosity towards history and did his best to whittle Printer: Ligare Pty Ltd Tange had not abated. Both proved down his putative parliamentary 138–152 Bonds Road, obdurate. Hasluck’s weakness colleagues who did not equal his Riverwood NSW 2210 was in governance, for he resisted perceived intellectual command. team-building which might have His churlish pen portraits, pub- Cover: Colours of Australia “Eucalypt” advanced his claims for real lead- lished posthumously in 1997, The ership. He neglected to foster any Chance of Politics, demonstrated www.quadrant.org.au workable relationship with Tange. inherent character flaws—he could Hasluck controlled External be uncharitable and small-minded Affairs from a distance and arro- when he was on the cusp of being gated the sole authority to speak a statesman. 2 Quadrant May 2015 Letters He lacked an ability to engen- because they are hopeful that they rare in such discussions. His warn- der affection and felt that merit was may turn out better than the father. ings to both, about the way a desire its own reward. Fellow party mem- For Mr Jackel it shows an inability to eradicate the other will actually bers could only agree with him for to express himself except by that compromise the essence of each, his perceived lack of it, and did very third-rate means. are prescient. As a clergyman in the not regard him as an appropriate The review by Philip Ayres of conservative Protestant tradition successor on Harold Holt’s death. the book Paul Hasluck by Geoffrey I felt respected, and respectfully Colleagues had to be courted and Bolton is also a disappointment. challenged, by Professor O’Hear’s obliged, whereas Hasluck felt that It is not difficult to see the angle superb article. I thank you. this was an unseemly activity to from which Mr Ayres is viewing Matthew Arkapaw be avoided. John Gorton presided, the book. Early on he states: “His Riverwood, NSW winning the leadership. Australians parents were in the Salvation can be thankful that Hasluck, Army, an unpromising background along with not a few other politi- …” which would seem to express The Quadrant Line-Up cians, was denied the prime min- Mr Ayres’s views rather than istership which, for his insecurities those of the thousands of people, SIR: Are you aware of the male- and diffidence, he would have been including servicemen during the dominated top-down layout of poorly equipped. war, who have been cared for by your read? From the Editor, Remember him as one of the the Salvation Army. Literary Editor, Deputy Editor, finest to assume the titular and He quotes Hasluck’s views Contributing Editors, Columnists functional position at Yarralumla, on Molotov: “He is easily the to the Editor-in-Chief—all are where he could enjoy the pomp outstanding person of the male. Of the forty-six authors who and circumstance it afforded. He conference, in fact the most contributed to the March 2015 edi- had a refined sense of protocol and impressive figure I have met— tion, only six are female, and a cou- assumed and exemplified the dig- Churchill or the King or anyone ple have names that do not label a nity which is expected in any vice- else included.” A little later in the gender. And astonishingly, all let- regal role. paragraph Ayres says, “but why did ters to the editor are from men. Does this critique seem too Hasluck put ‘the King’ in there? A What does this tell us about critical? Geoffrey Bolton has gifted nice guy, but ...” Whatever one may Quadrant and its perceptions of us a measured testimony of a sto- think of kings, and it is not hard to the world around it? Catharine ried and influential figure. Hasluck imagine what Philip Ayres thinks A. MacKinnon, in her analysis has bequeathed an enduring legacy of them, they are still impressive by of the Universal Declaration of which rises above my ungenerous their rank if by nothing else. Human Rights, titled “Are Women tribute. His assured stature, if not In regard to Mr Ayres’s Human?”, notes that Article 1 of statue, dwarfs us.