THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE UWA POLITICS CLUB OCTOBER 2018 I EDITION 1313 Published by the UWA Politics Club OUR SPONSORS We would like to acknowledge the support of our sponsors whose kind generosity allows us to help fund the operations of the club. 2018 Calendar Year Sponsors 2018/2019 Financial Year Sponsors Platinum Gold Hon. Charles Smith MLC Hon. Melissa Price MP Member for East Metropolitan Region Federal Member for Durack Hon. Sue Ellery MLC Hon. Roger Cook MLA Member for South Metropolitan Region Member for Kwinana Hon. Tjorn Sibma MLC Silver Member for North Metropolitan Region Alyssa Hayden MLA Member for Darling Range Gold Senator Linda Reynolds CSC Hon. Mark McGowan MLA Senator for Western Australia Member for Rockingham and Premier of Western Australia Silver Hon. Christian Porter MP Hon. Michael Mischin MLC Federal Member for Pearce Member for North Metropolitan Region Bronze Bronze Ben Morton MP Hon. Darren West MLC Federal Member for Tangney Member for the Agricultural Region Margaret Quirk MLA Senator Louise Pratt Member for Girrawheen Senator for Western Australia Jessica Shaw MLA Hon. Nick Goiran MLC Member for Swan Hills Member for South Metropolitan Region Tim Hammond Hon. Paul Papalia MLA CSC As the Federal Member for Perth Member for Wanbro Simon Millman MLA Member for Mount Lawley Hon. Stephen Dawson MLC Member for Mining and Pastoral Region 2 CONTENTS FROM THE PRESIDENT 5 FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 8 OUR HISTORY 9 2018 REVIEWED 10 OUR CONTRIBUTORS 12 FEATURE: WHAT DOES THE AUSTRALIAN DREAM MEAN TO YOU? 14 TJORN SIBMA MLC ON THE AUSTRALIAN DREAM 16 CHARLES SMITH MLC ON THE AUSTRALIAN DREAM 17 POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES: A LOOK AT WHY WE BELIEVE THE THINGS WE DO 18 THE NECESSARY VALUE OF FOREIGN AID 19 MISCONCEPTIONS BY PRO-EUTHANASIA ADVOCATES 21 CLIMATE CHANGE IS UNDENIABLY INTERTWINED WITH OUR SECURITY 23 SEEN-ZONED BY SCOMO: PLANS TO ACCESS YOUR ENCRYPTED DATA 25 THE AWKWARD CHINA QUESTION: HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH? 26 AUSTRALIA SHOULD MOVE ITS EMBASSY TO JERUSALEM 28 OPINION: YOUR UNI FEES AREN’T THAT EXPENSIVE 29 THE END OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH? 30 THE POLITICAL GAME THAT SUSTAINS OUR OFF-SHORE DETENTION POLICY 32 MANUS ISLAND AND NAURU: AUSTRALIA’S SHAME 33 LIBERTY IN A TIME OF FIAT CURRENCIES 35 A GUIDE TO AND DEFENCE OF AMERICA’S CURRENT GUN POLICIES 36 JOHN MCCAIN: WHY HE HAS EARNED OUR RESPECT 38 BOOK REVIEWS 41 OUR MEMBERS ON THE BIG ISSUES 42 THE 2018 COMMITTEE 43 Due to circumstances beyond our control, interviews with Hon. Sue Ellery MLC and Senator Linda Reynolds, our calendar year Platinum and Gold Sponsors, could not be scheduled in time for the printing of this publication. The publication of the UWA Politics Club Editor: Sarah Jeffrey Deputy Editor: Nicholas Cokis State Website: www.uwastate.com UWA Politics Club Website: www.uwapoliticsclub.org Email: [email protected] Mailing Address: UWA Politics Club, M300, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley WA 6009 Designed by James Earnshaw Design. Printed by UniPrint, Crawley WA 6009. © Copyright 2018, UWA Politics Club. All rights reserved. The reproduction, adaptation, display, communication or sale of this publication, in part or in full, is strictly prohibited unless permitted under Division 3 of the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). State is the official publication of the UWA Politics Club under Section 16 of the Club Constitution. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the attributed author and do not necessarily reflect the views of State, the UWA Politics Club or any other affiliated organisation. Although we receive monetary support, this does not in any way influence or impact the content of this publication. State and the UWA Politics Club are non-partisan, independent bodies. 3 “We are a club o� opportunity; aiming to provide robust debate on contentious topics. We don’t shy away from the issues o� political correctness, the big issues o� the day and most importantly we don’t shy away, but actively support, the views o� students.” - Zach Cole, writing in State, 2011 FROM THE PRESIDENT he fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the collapse of the Soviet Union two years later settled the greatest T ideological debate of the 20th century – a contest between centralised authoritarian control and democracy, made up of, by and for the people. Across Eastern Europe, people rejected in mass numbers the totalitarian rule of the Soviet Union in favour of self-determination and civil liberties. As the 20th century drew to a close, the consensus was clear: no matter the barriers, liberal democracy was fated to triumph. Yet less than a quarter of a century later, democracy is in crisis. Checks and balances are slowly being eroded in emerging democracies as well as established ones. Nations once seen as a beacon of hope are sliding into authoritarian rule. Freedom House, a think-tank in America, recorded in their annual Freedom in the World report that 2017 marked the 12th straight year of decline in global freedom. Only 35 nations saw a net increase in political rights and civil liberties, while 71 experienced a net decline. Another organisation, V-Dem, notes in their annual democracy report that while the number of elected officials is increasing, the quality of democracy is declining. In Australia, only 62% of respondents in Lowy Institute’s annual 2018 poll said that democracy is preferable to any form of government. Among 18 to 29-year old’s, that figure drops to just 49%. A separate poll conducted by Essential Research in late September revealed that Australians concerningly hold little trust in key institutions. While the Federal Police, State Police and the High Court retains the most trust, only 39% trust the public service, 31% trust their local State Parliament, 28% trust the Federal Parliament and just 15% trust political parties. Democracy’s threat In the past, many thought that the greatest threat to democracy came from external forces. Today, the greatest threat comes from within. Many have lost faith and trust in the democratic process – disgusted by the revolving door of Prime Ministers, exhausted by the growing tribalism and partisanship in our politics, frustrated by how self-interested and out of touch our politicians have become. Others have seen their economic security undermined by growing economic inequality, exacerbated by the Global Financial Crisis, globalisation and the rapid rate of technological change. We are more interconnected than ever because of social media, but also more divided by it. It is easier than ever for someone to broadcast their opinions, opening up new sources of information and news which do not meet the same journalistic integrity as established media. This doesn’t just lead to the prevalence of fake news, but also to more people listening to views consistent with their own ideology, further isolating themselves from opinions which challenge their worldview. Others are threatened by debate, openly ridiculing alternate views, or are wedded towards politically correct expression, further undermining the value of an open debate. It is also clear that liberal democratic governments worldwide, Australia included, have become too complacent and out of touch with the will of the people. Governments have been slow to respond to the hardships and realities of citizens, most preoccupied with short-term electoral gains rather than prioritising long-term planning. At times, governments have done too much, other times too little. We have seen the 5 consequences of this shift to populist politics at the ballot box – the election of Donald Trump, Britain’s vote to exit the European Union and the increasing popularity of populist parties and leaders on both the far-right and far-left across the western world. Frustrated and exhausted, many have moved inwards towards the embrace of nationalist politics, protectionist policies and strongman leaders over the universal liberal values of the rule of law, open commerce, human rights and civil liberties for all. Thomas Jefferson once wrote that “A little rebellion every now and then is a good thing”, and he isn’t wrong. There is times when democracy requires a good dose of populism to ensure that a government of, by and for the people are actually in sync with the interests of the people. It can drive much needed economic and institutional reform by addressing entrenched injustice, redistributing power away from central authorities or injecting new blood and insights into politics with a fresh dose of idealism and vigour. It keeps government on its toes, promoting good and better governance while raising up more active participants in the political process – all of which is a good thing. But when populism strays into nationalist and nativist tendencies, when democratic pluralism is rejected, when checks and balances are eroded and the rule of law ignored, when the rights of minorities, especially immigrants, refugees, and people of the Islamic faith, are curtailed or restricted – this is when populism poses a dangerous threat towards our liberal democracy. Reclaiming democracy We are a blessed nation. We have free, fair, clean and competitive elections. Our leaders are held to account by an independent judiciary and a system of checks and balances. The rule of law reigns supreme and it helps protect our political rights and civil liberties including the freedom of speech, religion, expression and association. We have a press freer than most nations, low levels of corruption, a peaceful transfer of power from one leader to another. Our Constitution, after all these years, still works and prevails. Our liberal democracy has ushered in over a century of political stability, and for the most part, decades of prosperity and opportunity for Australians. It has been passed on from one generation to another with the solemn responsibility of ensuring its protection and its passage to a new generation of Australians to enjoy.