Fret not - principles will triumph over fear when it comes to bettering our society

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This was published 7 years ago

Fret not - principles will triumph over fear when it comes to bettering our society

Updated

It was a courthouse of years gone by that poet Henry Lawson so vividly described. "And opposite the bench, the dock, divided by a partition, with the women to the left and the men to the right, as it is on the stairs or the block in polite society." Here was a glimpse of what it was to be part of "polite society" in Australia in Lawson's era, where the division of people by gender (or race, religion, creed) could pass as expected and everyday.

Significant obstacles remain to the goal of equality in our society, but we can also look back at a century of significant achievements. In Susan Kiefel, after 113 years there is finally a female chief justice to sit on the bench of the High Court. This is an appointment to be celebrated.

A protester is removed from the viewing gallery at Parliament House on Wednesday.

A protester is removed from the viewing gallery at Parliament House on Wednesday.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Whether it is universal suffrage, equal pay, Indigenous rights, or the present campaign for marriage equality, no social advance towards equity has come without struggle, argument and often polarising disputes. There are principles to rally around – decency, equity, opportunity and compassion primary among them.

These principles drove the protests in recent days at Parliament House in Canberra against Australia's draconian policy on asylum seekers. While some felt the protests were jarringly dramatic, we feel they were a thoroughly justified reaction to a policy we have long argued has shamed our nation.

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Major political struggle, not just over refugees, is happening around the world. While seismic political realignments are too readily declared, there is no doubting the focus at present on the style and substance of governments around the democratic world. The victory of Donald Trump in the United States and Britain's vote to leave the European Union are seen as a mainstream challenge to the common faith in free markets and economic globalisation.

We believe regulated markets and a more integrated world have, on net, aided humanity. We believe these are ideas worth defending. And we believe robust debate should not be feared.

It is clear Australians are also feeling apathetic about the political leadership and overall direction of the country. A plunge in Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's approval rating in the Fairfax-Ipsos poll indicates voter discontent. His standing is down to 45 per cent. But all is relative; Opposition Leader Bill Shorten's approval rating is lower, dropping to 37 per cent.

Buried within those headline figures are more disturbing signs about how voters perceive the quality of leadership. Mr Turnbull is regarded not to be as "open to ideas" as he once was, and Mr Shorten has also fallen on this measure compared with last year. A perception that the major parties are mostly divided by personality rather than policy is perhaps one of the key reasons for the historic increase in support for minor parties in recent years.

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The challenge for the major parties is to engage the public, not pander to the lowest common denominator or engage in wedge tactics or decry so-called "political correctness". The future of our society is too important to leave to politicians alone, and thus is an obligation on every Australian. That is where the interest of the moment can be harnessed.

What is important is the conduct of debate be civil and substantive. Prejudice should always be called out, in a fashion that convinces people about the hurt caused and opportunity missed. Labels and abuse are of no service to the goal of betterment for our society. Ideology is the enemy of good debate and good outcomes. Australians have never really been attracted to grand philosophical narratives to define the nation. We just hold to the simple goal of a fair go – for all.

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