I've been surprised at how much cynicism my article has evoked: I would have thought there were people out there who agreed that we neeeded a combination of social and liberal rights, and who felt, also, that there is no shame in progressives working within the Enlightment tradition. (instead of vacating this field for the Right to claim) Isn't there anyone out there who agrees we need a comprehensive array of social and liberal rights: but combined with a rigorous tradition of critical thought that enables us to relativise all dogmas and positions? Isn't there anyone who agrees we need to contest the false Conservative claim on Australian egalitarianism, and question the idea of the 'classless' Australian society?

What is more, I am a grassroots member of the ALP, and of the Socialist Left, but like most of the approximately 50,000 ALP members I am not a politician. I often feel cynical about the opportunism that goes for politics on both sides of the political field myself: but it is only through being involved that one makes a difference. I agree it ought not only be politicians who determine what 'our values' are. It is something that needs to be continuously contested and reconstructed in the public sphere: something we all need to take responsibility for and involve ourselves in. Being involved in the ALP is one of many ways of having input into this process.

BTW - I agree that there ought be widespread community debate about any 'Bill of Rights': but here the responsibility rests with the mass media and forums like this one. I don't think it is something that ought be done 'by the back door'. If you have an opinion about what ought or ought not be included in a 'Bill of Rights' then please take part in these forums or, even better, write an article for this, or some other publication.

Tristan said:

"we need a comprehensive array of social and liberal rights"

I want to propose a means of solving the 'What are Aussie Values' debate in a non partisan manner.

ANTHROPOLOGICAL ANALYSIS
is probably the only scientific way of actually coming up with a list of cultural values.
Its like our speech, we don't conciously think of Subject, Verb, Object, predicate,adverb, adjective and grammatical construction when we talk, we just DO it because its how we have been brought up.

The result of such a survey would undoubtedly be a number of cultural circles blending or overlapping as Venn diagrams, to differing degrees. But I think there would be ONE major large circle over which all the smaller ones tended to overlap.

The various cultural differences within our migrant communities is absolutely NOT a reason not to encourage, re-inforce, educate about and teach our predominant culture.

Cultural change, is quite a technical process, and 'osmosis' is the best method. When we rub shoulders with those who have different practices on say child rearing (my favorite example)...I noticed as an Aussie that Asians usually keep their newborns and young ones up to say 12 months at least, often longer with them or close at night.
Aussies tend to send them to "solitary" and then they cry their little hearts out we say "Let them cry... they will tire out and goto sleep, they just want attention" (because we have already fed and burped them.. and they are not 'soiled') Well duh :) yes..of COURSE the little tykes want attention.... and need it.

I never had a problem with crying children as we followed the much easier to work with Asian model. Thats 'osmosis'.

"Comprehensive array" ? Tristen.. the Jews have the 10 commandments, and then they listed 634 or so extra ones .. sub rules to show all circumstances where the 10 could be fulfilled.
The simple rule is 'DO UNTO OTHERS.....' Any list will become a mine/battle field.

Then.. any such list would be INFLUENCED by those with political agendas (gay rights etc)

Yes it is sad isn’t it Tristan when we turn a topic into a good old polly bashing exercise. Do you get the feeling that Australian politicians are beneath contempt? Considering that we are burdened with spivs, thieves, fraudsters, shysters, liars, carnalists and no-hopers masquerading as politicians why wouldn’t the average punter be cynical.

And why debate any Bill of Rights? Find out if such a Bill is unpopular and if it is force it upon the public; that’s how it’s usually done. That’s how both major parties operate within the Enlightenment tradition.

Tristan, as a non labor voter, I generally agree with the thrust of your missive.
What really turned me off were the dirisive comments about our pollies from Sage. I suggest you stand back and have a look at the rest of the population before you start throwing brickbats at the pollies. They are a fairly good reflection of what goes on in the general population.
One thing that I will say in support of the majority of our politicians (and business men as well) is that they are harder to bribe than those in some of our neighboring countries - or those with whom we conduct trade.
One of our characteristics was our tolerance of other peoples views on politics and religion, but this seems to have been eroded in more recent years. We have lost the ability or desire to conduct "reasoned argument" and we are the poorer for it. Many seem unable to concede a point and instead resort to ridicule. I suspect that one of the reasons for this is the increasing lack of English language skills of our younger generation. If, for no other reason than this, we must make sure that our migrant population has a good comprehension of the English language, so that we may engage them in a meaningful debate on matters such as our laws, the place of women in our society, our values and our history.

Enough of this values nonsense.

Let us simply divide Australia in to, for illustration, English/Irish/Scottish, Other European, East Asian, South Asian, WHATEVER. Then simply restrict migration to suit a panel of elected experts who judge each individual to suit the desires of their respective populations.

Why make life so complicated?

I am of Indianish descent by the way.

Nice article, Tristan - I particularly liked your distinction between integration and assimilation. I've noticed that in the current political articulation of Australian cultural xenophobia, these distinct policy orientations have tended to be glossed as being equivalent - particularly amongst the MSM commentariat.

Unfortunately, with the exception of VK3AUU, the comments thus far have been of the trollish kind that seem to proliferate in these forums when anybody writes something humane and sensible.

As for your ALP-SL affiliation - been there, done that. Join the Greens. We need more people like you.