Pulling Down the Anzac the Beginnings Of
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$9.95 VOLUME 67/3 SEPTEMBER 2015 FEATURE TOO AUSTRALIAN? PULLING DOWN THE ANZAC BOOK REVIEW ANZAC AND ITS ENEMIES 6 THE END OF HISTORY 10 THE BEGINNINGS OF LIBERTARIANISM IN AUSTRALIA 28 BOOK REVIEW: RUSSEL BRAND’S REVOLUTION 32 IPA_Review_AUGUST 2015_FINAL.indd 3 15/09/2015 12:45:51 PM R FROM THE EDITOR Volume 67 I 3 Too Australian? deem valuable to future generations. example environmental history— The important part of this exercise rather than presenting a bigger is that judgement isn’t necessary. picture of history. That isn’t to say ALINE LE GUEN There isn’t any need to condemn that specialisation in and of itself is Editor of the IPA Review past generations for not meeting a problem. Some subjects require it. our modern-day standards and But there is a problem with t’s often said that those who fail expectations—nor does it require overly filtering the events of the past to learn from their history are that we engage in endless self- without providing the bigger picture doomed to repeat it. There is recriminations. Nothing exemplifies which allows for perspective and perhaps a greater potential for this better than slavery. context, both of which are necessary Irepeating mistakes if the record of Slavery did not end with the for studying history. As Chris Berg history is inaccurate. And while 1948 UN Declaration of Human points out in ‘The End of History’, the first draft of history may very Rights. The battle to end slavery all of Australia’s institutions were well be written by the victors, it began in eighteenth century imported from Britain, yet our doesn’t often remain so. Time England with William Wilberforce universities offer few opportunities passes, questions are asked and who spent his entire political career to study British history. This may historians seeking a more complete bringing about the abolishment not seem overly worrisome except understanding of past events will of this practice. So much have we that, as Chris explains, ‘origins search for those records that will come to abhor the idea of slavery, m a t t e r ’. help open up the past and shed light so ingrained is our objection Events like the Eureka Stockade on all of it—not simply those parts to this practice that it is easy to are part of our Australian history, we prefer, or are allowed, to see. wonder how it could have ever been but are also part of the continuing There is, though, a massive condoned. But this entirely misses struggle for property rights, a difference between trying to the point. concept which can be traced back to create as complete a picture of the The miracle is that it only took Medieval England. past as possible and redrawing it twenty years to legally abolish the Likewise, free speech began its entirely, starting with building a British slave trade and a further long journey from ancient Athens, new canvas. And this is what has twenty years to abolish slavery in and despite the many gains made been happening with respect to most of the British Empire at a since then, it is still under threat Australian history. time when slavery was so common today and even in Western countries This year marks the 100th a practice it existed in nearly all is still misunderstood. Indeed, anniversary of the Anzacs role cultures world-wide. Chris Berg explores free speech in in Gallipoli. The debate in recent This edition of the IPA Review his excellent article on Flemming decades on the Anzacs, the First explores history in greater detail Rose’s decision, ten years ago, to World War, and Australia’s role over three articles, two of which publish cartoons which depicted within it form part of the larger comprise our feature. The book Muhammad, and the politics behind discussion on history itself—on review of Mervyn F. Bendle’s Anzac the protests against this publication. what is taught, how it is taught, and and its Enemies details the century- No nation has a perfect history. even to some extent who should long attempt to discredit the Anzac No nation or culture has gotten write about it. It is a question of tradition. And in ‘The End of ‘it’ right every step of the way—no identity and whether celebrating History’ Chris Berg discusses what more than any individual can claim the good things in our history is history is being taught at Australian a faultless past. We are defined as perhaps now ‘too Australian’ for universities and how it is being much by our mistakes as by our some. taught. successes. And the modern practice What we teach of our history These pieces highlight the of judging the past by the standards highlights what we value of our past. problems with reducing history of the present is not an effective way It also emphasises what lessons we subjects into a specialisation—for to understand or teach the past. R SEPTEMBER 2015 | IPA Review 1 IPA_Review_AUGUST 2015_FINAL.indd 1 15/09/2015 12:45:52 PM Editor-in-Chief: Chris Berg Editor: Aline Le Guen Executive Director: John Roskam Too Australian? Printed by: Contents Cover: Ligare Ligare.com Published by: Institute of Public Affairs 1 EDITORIAL 4 THE LATEST FROM THE IPA 64 STRANGE TIMES Ltd (Incorporated in the ACT) ALINE LE GUEN PETER GREGORY ACN 008 627 727 Level 2, 410 Collins Street, Melbourne Victoria 3000. Phone: (03) 9600 4744 Fax: (03) 9602 4989 Email: [email protected] FEATURED Editorial Design: Charles Elena Design charleselena.com.au LOST IN COAL WILL Reproduction: 18 TRANSLATION 34 CHANGE LIVES The IPA welcomes It has been 10 years since the Australian coal could lift nearly 82 reproduction of written The end of history 10 material from the publication of the Danish cartoons million people out of dire poverty IPA Review, but for that sparked a riot BRETT HOGAN copyright reasons the CHRIS BERG Australia’s political and social institutions were imported from Britain. But editor’s permission must first be sought. undergraduate history degrees do not teach fundamental aspects of Australian Views expressed in this publication are those of FOCUS ON history or explain how Australia came to be a liberal democracy the authors and do not THE SHARING POVERTY, NOT necessarily reflect the 38 CHRIS BERG views of the Institute of 24 ECONOMY Public Affairs. POLLUTION Political entrepreneurs are The Pope’s encyclical has stressed For all the latest news finding ways to break the strong the importance of tackling and information, visit us relationship between regulators online at: pollution to help the world’s poor. and industries, and in doing so are www.ipa.org.au But reducing poverty is the best Crossing the Line 14 paving the way to a freer market way to help the poor, and providing Cover Photo by : DARCY ALLEN cheap electricity has the best track Australia’s National Curriculum is politicising education, and its cross-curriculum Chris Phutully/flickr.com record in lifting poverty Melbourne Anzac Day priorities detract from the essence of education Parade, 25 April 2015. FATHER JAMES GRANT LIBERTARIANISM HANNAH PANDEL AND STEPHANIE FORREST 28 IN AUSTRALIA For forty years, libertarianism has ECONOMIC been an important aspect of public debate 40 FREEDOM IS RICHARD ALLSOP TOLERANCE The free market is both tacit acknowledgement that tolerance is necessary in human relationships DRAWING LINES and also a mechanism to facilitate it 32 AROUND FREE PETER GREGORY SPEECH The attacks on Charlie Hebdo THE MAGNA and in Garland Texas have once again ignited the debate on free 44 CARTA STILL speech and whether the right to be MATTERS offended trumps the right to free This excerpt from the IPA’s new expression book, Magna Carta: the tax revolt ELI BERNSTEIN that gave us liberty, explains why it is important to understand that the Magna Carta was born out of a tax revolt CHRIS BERG AND JOHN ROSKAM IPA_Review_AUGUST 2015_FINAL.indd 2 15/09/2015 12:45:54 PM Contents Cover: Too Australian? STRANGE TIMES Pulling down the Anzac 6 PETER GREGORY For nearly one century, there has been a concerted effort to discredit the Anzac tradition. Mervyn F. Bendle’s book explores the origins of this thinking BOOK REVIEW ANZAC AND ITS ENEMIES ALINE LE GUEN The end of history 10 Australia’s political and social institutions were imported from Britain. But undergraduate history degrees do not teach fundamental aspects of Australian history or explain how Australia came to be a liberal democracy CHRIS BERG Crossing the Line 14 Australia’s National Curriculum is politicising education, and its cross-curriculum priorities detract from the essence of education HANNAH PANDEL AND STEPHANIE FORREST BOOKS AND ARTS 46 REVOLUTION 48 THE42 CHURCHILL FACTOR by Russell Brand by Boris Johnson REVIEWED BY JAMES BOLT REVIEWED BY STEPHANIE FORREST 52 DICK HAMER: THE LIBERAL LIBERAL 56 THE LIBERTARIAN MIND 60 THE AGE OF CRYPTOCURRENCY by Tim Colebatch by David Boaz by Paul Vigna and Michael J. Casey REVIEWED BY RICHARD ALLSOP REVIEWED BY DR MIKAYLA NOVAK REVIEWED BY DARCY ALLEN IPA_Review_AUGUST 2015_FINAL.indd 3 15/09/2015 12:45:55 PM R THE LATEST PUBLICATIONS THE LATEST FROM THE IPATo see more of the IPA’s publications go to www.ipa.org.au IPA EVENTS YOUNG MEMBERS— Brisbane event On 12 May 2015, the IPA hosted more than 60 Young members in Brisbane to watch Treasurer Joe Hockey hand down the 2015 Federal budget. John Roskam and Simon Breheny both spoke to the gathered crowd who appreciated the opportunity to discuss the importance of a budget that controls debt and what that will mean to future generations of Australians.