Australia’s cultural institutions are much the same now as when John Howard became prime minister in March 1996. When Mr Howard took up residence in Kirribilli House, one-time Gough Whitlam staffer Kerry O’Brien fronted ABC TV’s 7.30 Report and self-proclaimed leftist Phillip Adams presented ABC Radio National’s Late Night Live. Mr Howard let it be known that he believed there should be greater diversity among ABC personnel. When the Coalition government was defeated on 24 November 2007, both Mr O’Brien and Mr Adams were in situ.
It is true that John Howard involved himself in the debate about historical and contemporary Australia – but no more than Paul Keating. The fact is that neither the ABC nor SBS changed much during the time of the Howard government – despite board appointments and the like. Boards do not run businesses on a day to day basis. Nor should they.
Writing in The Age on 15 December 2007, Russell Skelton commented on “the scores of cultural warriors conscripted [by the Howard Government] onto the boards, councils and tribunals of the nation’s cultural institutions to impose Howard’s way”. But he identified only half a dozen individuals in this category – namely David Barnett, Christopher Pearson, P.P. McGuinness, Janet Albrechtsen, Ron Brunton and Keith Windschuttle. That’s pretty thin pickings. The Age seems obsessed with the so-called cultural warriors – despite the fact that it does not publish them.
As would be expected of any politically skilled prime minister, John Howard had an impact on the cultural debate in Australia which may – or may not – be dissipated in time. However, the fact remains that what Robert Manne has termed the left-intelligentsia remains the dominant influence in Australia’s cultural institutions – including the ABC, SBS, the universities, the arts and so on. As Richard Farmer acknowledged in Crikey on 18 October, on ABC TV The Chaser boys “really hurt” the Coalition early in the election campaign. Meanwhile at Channel 7, Kath + Kim targeted the Coalition’s WorkChoices legislation. And the likes of Cate Blanchett and David Wenham openly supported Labor. Compared with this lot, Windschuttle et al have little cultural influence.
At the AFI awards in Melbourne on 7 December, film director George Miller described the culture wars as being “as ridiculous as bald men fighting over a comb when we should be out there trying to grow hair” and looked forward to “sunnier and wiser days ahead” in the post-Howard era. George Miller usually talks sense. But on this occasion his comments were exaggerated.
The public broadcasters survived the Howard years as did the universities and arts bodies. Moreover, Australia – like other democracies – should have a vibrant debate about its past and its present. What some call the culture wars are really no more than a two-sided debate. What’s wrong with that?
Dear Gerard
I hope santa brings you a root for xmas, cause boy do you need one bad!!!!
Dear Gerard
Your obsessive harping about the Culture Wars post election is clearly a symptom of withdrawal from the Howard era. Or perhaps it’s simply a rationale for your in-print survival? Why not take up golf instead?
If the public broadcasters, universities and arts bodies were unchanged at the end of the Howard era (I doubt it) it wasn’t because the government hadn’t been trying. Nothing wrong with debate then and now about “culture” but Howard didn’t encourage it!
Gerard,
if you can’t own up to your vile little role in Johnny’s World just go away quietly, like your hero. I’ve had enough of your low-watt thinking, distortions and manipulations. Be gone!
Gerard must have developed a sense of humour. since his mentor lost office. Take a look at the ABC Board, packed with right wing think tankers, not to mention Albrechtsen and Windschuttle. et al. If Howard had no effect, it wasn’t for want of trying.