A recent public gathering at Canberra’s Christians for an Ethical Society questioned where contemporary politics is heading, and prompted a range of views and enthusiastic responses and lively debate. Chaired by Australian politics and government expert, Emeritus Professor Dr John Warhurst AO, the forum centred on: Why has politics become so adversarial; Why can’t we communicate with each other; Why has politics gone off the rails. As a one-time Political Science professor at the Australian National University, author or editor of books on Australian politics and society, media commentator and long-term columnist for The Canberra Times, Dr Warhurst took the lead. Citing the examples of former political leaders Sir Robert Menzies, Herbert Vere “Doc” Evatt, Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser, Dr Warhurst noted that politics has always been adversarial. Some participants noted too that: the media is too adversarial; politicians don’t necessarily adhere to their true beliefs but “go along with the party line”; and there is not enough adherence to policies that would be for “the common good”. CES meetings are recorded and videos are available on the CES website: www.ces.org.au
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