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Reviewed by Malcolm Roberts the Henson Case BOOK REVIEWS political risk offers a fresh way of The final chapters of Calculating The Henson Case ‘understanding and appreciating Political Risk are devoted to national by David Marr politics and public policy making.’ and international case studies. As a Text Publishing, Melbourne, The result is a serious, academic former state public servant, Althaus 2008 book offering a literature review, a chooses strategic plans from six states $24.95, 149pp quantitative survey, and numerous for analysis. The choice is odd. As ISBN 9781921520037 case studies. Althaus herself notes, the state plans The literature review is heavy were largely marketing strategies going. Althaus reports on an arid intended to create a positive political n May 2008, the Roslyn Oxley9 debate between political sociologists brand for incoming premiers. The IGallery in the Sydney suburb of about what defines political risk. rhetoric about long-term planning Paddington sent out invitations for Much concern is expressed about rarely led to substantive policy an upcoming Bill Henson exhibition, the lack of clarity surrounding the change or shifts in funding. Most of featuring a nude photograph of a concept. At times, the prose slips all, the development plans did not thirteen-year-old girl. On Thursday into ponderous phrases such as entail any significant political risks. 22 May, a column by Miranda ‘risk explains, shapes, delineates There are more interesting issues Devine in the Sydney Morning Herald and defines society and vice-versa; that could have been tackled. Reform and Chris Smith’s afternoon talkback and we can only understand society is typically a high risk venture in show on radio station 2GB sparked if we understand risk.’ We are Australian politics. Some public outrage. They warned that ‘unless politics becomes reforms—tariff reductions, also drew the attention reflexive, accommodates a risk the GST—have been of NSW police, who mentality and redefines itself, it will unlikely successes; others visited the gallery that disempower itself.’ such as industrial relations afternoon and prompted the owners to cancel the At the end, we return to the reform have failed. opening scheduled for the sensible conclusion that political Bu t t h i s c r i t i c i s m evening. The next day, risk is the unknown potential for c a n n o t b e m a d e o f officers seized Henson political damage arising from a the two international case studies—the UK photographs from the decision. Politicians will choose and gallery. design policies to minimise risk. But government’s handling of the ‘Mad Cow’ crisis and US security ‘In a little over twenty- in practice how do politicians make four hours,’ David Marr writes in this calculation? policy after 9/11. The UK crisis is the more interesting (perhaps because it The Henson Case, ‘a blast of public The next chapter is meant to disapproval had seen one of the answer that question. Althaus is less familiar). Althaus shows how the UK government underestimated nation’s leading commercial galleries interviewed more than 100 political the likely reaction of the public closed; the Prime Minister take his players and spectators she calls and media to what experts assured place at the head of a phalanx of ‘practitioners.’ Unfortunately, them was a remote risk to public angry politicians (he called them politicians can be elusive subjects: health. Cabinets contemplating ‘absolutely revolting’ on Channel 9’s with nothing to gain, they usually what Jim Hacker would call ‘open Today program); pictures taken into duck participating in academic government’ should take note. police custody; a lavish art magazine research. So sadly there are few Althaus tackles an important pulped; and pictures stripped from a active politicians in Althaus’ sample, subject—the intersection of public gallery’s walls.’ and almost none with experience policy and politics. She poses Marr credits Michael Heyward of as ministers. Political advisers are many interesting questions but, Text Publishing for thinking that well represented. But otherwise the unfortunately, Calculating Political ‘these bizarre events deserved a short sample has too many bureaucrats Risk falls short of fulfilling its promise quick book,’ and he delivered just and media commentators. of providing a fresh approach to that. This is an expanded journalistic The practical wisdom of the understanding politics. account of the affair, of a length you people interviewed is, well, practical. can easily read in a few days using The main finding is simply that Reviewed by Malcolm time snatched at the edges of a full calculating political risk is intuitive, Roberts working and domestic life. There’s no a gut instinct honed by experience. padding here. Readers already aware 58 POLICY • Vol. 25 No. 1 • Autumn 2009 BOOK REVIEWS of what happened may still find it The Henson Case devotes an entire ‘When we disapprove of something interesting for the thorough and chapter to the disconnect between we want governments to leap into detailed account of what happened the hysterical expressions of disgust action.’ to Bill Henson, his photographs and and accusations of child pornography As a policy outcome of the models, Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, and coming from politicians and Henson affair, in December 2008 all the people they enraged, on May commentators in the midst of the the Australia Council released a 23 and 24. media frenzy, and the informed view of protocol for artists working with The Henson Case is, nevertheless, lawyers and classifiers that according to children. Before commencing a unmistakably a single-issue book, official standards, the images concerned project involving children under and will hold little general interest were legal and inoffensive. fifteen, artists receiving federal even a few years from now. But it Readers may, with Marr, be funding through the council must will remain an important part of the concerned that Australian opinion now supply written confirmation historical record because of Marr’s and political leaders so want for that child’s parent or guardian ‘that access to Henson himself, and the a sense of proportion and due the artist has explained the context contribution it made to flaring up process. Or they may worry that for the work to the parent(s) or the controversy anew. our laws and classification schemes guardian(s) and to the child, and Under advice, Henson declined to don’t adequately reflect community a) they understand the nature and make any statements to the media standards. There appears to be intended outcome of the work; b) in the immediate aftermath of the a significant public appetite for they commit to direct supervision artworks’ seizure, yet agreed to be commentary that suggests there are of the child while the child is naked; interviewed for this book. So Marr paedophiles around every corner and c) they agree it is not a “sexual, was able to reveal that Henson’s and that artists who produce tame exploitative or abusive context”.’ friends had introduced him to Sue teenage nudes are reprehensible child Given the degree of outrage voiced Knight, then the principal pornographers. by NSW and federal political leaders, of St Kilda Park Primary in The contemporary it is surprising that the code does not Melbourne, who allowed panic about paedophilia prohibit projects involving depiction him into the grounds of and child pornography, of naked or semi-naked minors her school. Knight also a s i t m a n i f e s t e d i n entirely. Instead, it will just have a phoned the parents of the Henson affair, is chilling effect on artistic expression, two children Henson was undoubtedly out of hand. so that many artists receiving interested in as models, But Marr points out that funding may prefer not to work to ask if they would be in our liberal society, we with or feature children at all, even interested in participating are bound to tolerate fully clothed. That a mere chilling in the work. The revelation some things. Legally, effect is worth celebrating tells you caused a storm all its own, though Henson’s photographs are ‘allowed, something about where we’ve come Victorian education department not endorsed,’ and their appearance to. These are dark times for art, investigations into Knight’s conduct sends a message ‘that our kind of freedom, and common sense. The cleared her of wrongdoing. country permits publication of creative process should not begin Knight’s troubles—public material many find distasteful.’ In with thinking of how you’re going accusations of being a child-harming a similar vein, Cate Blanchett says to satisfy a government agency—but monster, followed by official that in defending Henson, ‘it was then, maybe it shouldn’t start with exoneration—parallel Henson’s. very important to me that it was asking for a handout, either. The artworks police seized from clear we were not saying it was Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery were reprehensible for people to have their Reviewed by Benjamin eventually returned, and proposed own opinions.’ There is supposed Hourigan child pornography charges never to be a distance between behaviour eventuated. When they were finally and expression that you merely referred to the Classification Board, do not like, and that which is so the images in question received G seriously dangerous or harmful that and PG ratings, marking them not it must be legally prohibited, backed only legal but fit for unrestricted with threats of severe punishment. exhibition. Unfortunately, as Marr writes, POLICY • Vol. 25 No. 1 • Autumn 2009 59.
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