Defending Australia: Reigniting our passion for Australia through honest history

While acknowledging the dark periods of our past is crucial for growth and understanding, it is equally important to highlight the achievements and progress we have made as a nation. by Orlando Throsby

Orlando Throsby is an intern at the Centre for Youth Policy within the Menzies Research Centre. He is also a student at the University of Sydney.

To inspire a generation to be willing defenders of our nation, Gen Z needs to be convinced that our country is worth defending. We are living in an increasingly unstable world characterised by political, social, and military unrest. We have witnessed Russia’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine, the Israel-Gaza conflict, the rise of Anti-Semitism, and China’s willingness to flex their muscles. Against this background of mounting instability, national defence has become a pertinent topic, but one we don’t like discussing. We live in an age of unparalleled prosperity. However, young Australians have been born into a belief of ‘permacrisis’ (permanent crisis), whether it be climate change, housing, indigenous rights, education or racial division. In all of this we have lost sight of a key challenge: recognising the significance of Australia and why it is worth fighting for. 

My generation appears uninterested in defending our national inheritance. This is the unsurprising result of a 50-year assault on the civilisational foundations of Australia and the West. A recent poll reflects a concerning trend among the younger generations' mindset towards Australia and Western civilisation as a whole. A significant percentage of young Australians aged 18-24 expressed a negative outlook. When asked if they would defend Australia if it was in a similar situation to Ukraine, a mere 30% said yes. This shift in attitude from a time when most, if not all, would answer the call can be attributed to various factors, including a distorted understanding of Australian identity, history and culture perpetuated by certain segments of society.

The teaching of Australian history, or lack thereof, plays a crucial role in shaping this negative perception. A vocal minority of elites in schools and universities have pushed a narrative that emphasises the negatives of Australia's colonial past while disregarding its positive inspiration. It’s concerning to think children in year three are taught about ‘invasion day’, while the arrival of the first fleet isn’t even introduced until year four. Beyond history, the body that decides Australia’s teaching curriculum enforces three “cross curriculum priorities” for F-10 (foundation to year 10): Aboriginal and Torres-Strait Islander Histories and Cultures; Australia’s Engagement with Asia; and Sustainability. Whether it’s history, geography, English or maths, every subject must be taught with these backdrops in mind. This biassed framework fails to provide a balanced and comprehensive education while fostering a sense of contempt for our nation's heritage.

It's essential to recognise that liberal freedoms, the very foundations of our society, stem from Western democratic traditions. While acknowledging the dark periods of our past is crucial for growth and understanding, it is equally important to highlight the achievements and progress we have made as a nation. Events such as Federation are treated as mere dates to remember. Insufficient emphasis or moral weight is placed on what they truly meant, the accomplishment it was, to create one of the most successful and prosperous countries in the modern world. 

Since World War II, Australia has been a beacon of hope for millions fleeing racial division, sectarian conflict, and poverty. Since 1945, over 900,000 refugees and humanitarian entrants have fled to Australia for refuge. Our tolerant and free society has provided countless individuals with opportunities for a better life. But this reality is hidden from young people. Instead, young people are taught a skewed and revised history that sows the seeds of contempt for our heritage and nation.

Recent polling revealed 63% of Australians surveyed agreed that the federal government should do more to teach school children to be proud of Australia's history. This sentiment underscores the need for a paradigm shift in history education—one that embraces both the positives and negatives of our past.

By fostering a sense of unity and national pride, we can reignite the passion for defending our country. This starts with a comprehensive and balanced approach to teaching history in schools and universities. Students must learn about Australia's successes as a nation, and why we developed into one of the most prosperous countries in the world, while acknowledging the challenges and injustices faced along the way.

Out of all the colonised countries by European powers, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand were colonised by the British which although not perfect, arguably led to the stable democratic nations we have inherited. Had another country colonised Australia instead, our fate might have taken a starkly different turn. In the words of John Howard, “The luckiest thing that happened to this country was being colonised by the British”. The British colonial legacy provided a foundation for Australia's eventual prosperity, including a democratic government, a Westminster style of parliament, a secret ballot (historically known as the Australian ballot), the commonality of institutions, the common law legal system, press freedoms, social advancement and something unique to Australia, a classless society.

It is unfair to paint a one-sided picture of our history, ignoring those freedoms and the sacrifices made by those who fought for them. The progress achieved through perseverance and resilience is astounding. Australia's journey from a colonial frontier outpost to one of the most advanced democracies in the world within 200 years is a testament to the collective efforts of its people.

During the Second World War, 990,000 Australians enlisted. Although on the surface Australia was seen as aiding the ‘mother country’, it became apparent that we were fighting just as much our own war, to preserve our own sovereignty, in the face of Imperial Japan. Those brave diggers were defending Australia, our values, and a higher democratic world order. They recognised what an amazing country Australia is, and they realised it was worth defending. They fought against a global evil to preserve the liberties of a small island nation, and indeed, the world. We can see a similar axis of evil emerging today with Russia, Iran and the rogue Arab states. I only wonder how my generation will react.

Australia is worth defending, but to ensure young Australians realise this, we must change how we teach and perceive our history. By embracing a more inclusive and balanced approach, we can inspire a renewed sense of national pride and unity, laying the foundation for a brighter future for generations to come. Truth should be at the forefront of history; however, we need the whole truth, not just a certain segment pushed and defended by a small elite.

Liberal democracy, like freedom itself, is an invaluable inheritance that not all in the world receive, but one we must safeguard, fight for, and pass on to future generations. Let us unite in defending Australia's beauty and the values our forebears cherished.