Cause for optimism: John Howard and John Anderson on the future of liberalism

John Howard and John Anderson shared their thoughts on the future direction of Liberal Australia as they launched an important new book for the menzies research centre that aims to reignite a renaissance of the Liberal cause.

The Menzies Research Centre was delighted to bring together Australia’s second longest serving prime minister, John Howard and his former deputy prime minister, John Anderson, to launch an important new book, Dignity and Prosperity – The Future of Liberal Australia.

Fittingly the event was held at RG Menzies House, which bears the name and honours the memory of the founder of the Liberal Party of Australia. Addressing an audience of 100 Menzies Research Centre supporters,  Mr Howard and Mr Anderson acknowledged the many challenges facing the Liberal movement. However, they were optimistic about the future, reminding the audience that not only has the Coalition been in opposition across the country before, but also that the Liberal values that have driven this nation forward are enduring.

Mr Howard drew on those values in a powerful argument against the voice to parliament. He stressed that dividing citizens on race is fundamentally illiberal.

“I just don't think it makes sense. It certainly doesn't make good Australian citizenship behind which we can all unite to divide people on their ethnic background. We draw people from the four corners of the world and we say you are all the same providing you honour Australia.

“It’s been one of the great boasts of this country, that we have taken people from everywhere and we treat them all the same. We’re proud of that. It’s a terrific achievement.”

The supremacy of the individual over the collective is a key theme of Mr Howard’s chapter in Dignity and Prosperity. Individual freedom is the cornerstone of liberal policy. Prosperity stems from individual choice and enterprise, not government.

“The reason that we reject compulsory unionism is not that we're against unions. It's just that we are against people being forced to belong to a union in order to earn a living. We put the individual above the collective,” Mr Howard said.

Mr Anderson used his remarks to warn against the “mistake of identity politics”, which divides society into victims and “victim-makers” and has left young people without hope or direction. To counter this movement, the centre-right needs to construct a better narrative that re-engages young people and teaches them that the liberal tradition on which this country is built is worth defending.

“The right thing by Australia means that we, on our side of politics, must clearly send a message that we're not just about a sweet set of numbers.

“We're not just about ideology. The things we believe in are important to us because we think they are the keys to a flourishing land of opportunity and prosperity and peace,” Mr Anderson said.

Edited by David Stevens, Dignity and Prosperity is a collection of essays from Australia’s leading liberal luminaries united by the common purpose of reigniting a renaissance of the Liberal cause. It is a call to action for those on the centre-right of politics to re-engage in the battle of ideas. The book’s central premise is that only through a liberal democratic future can all Australians have opportunity, dignity, respect and impartial institutions necessary to enable them to pursue their happiness and dreams.

Alexander and Georgina Downer, David and Rod Kemp, Nick Minchin, Richard Alston and Judith Sloan are among the publication’s other contributors.  An extract of the foreword is available here.