Australia has problems it needs to solve, goals it needs to achieve and fears it needs to allay. The Australian’s Greg Sheridan says, ‘Australia is a nation in decline. Across every indicator you can imagine – economy, living standards, social cohesion, crime, health, military capability, the creativity and virtuosity of the arts – we’re in serious decline.’
As we enter a more uncertain era in our history, how should Australia prepare itself?
In a dangerous world – particularly in an increasingly dangerous neighbourhood – alliances are the key.
As discussed in previous posts here, here and here, we believe Australia would benefit enormously from a much closer relationship with Israel.
Three key factors, in particular stand out – defence, the economy and family formation.
On DEFENCE, Australia spends 2 per cent of its GDP, Israel 9 per cent.
On the ECONOMY, Australia forecasts 1.7 per cent growth for 2025, rising to 2.2 per cent in 2026. Israel projects 3.4 per cent growth in 2025, rising to 5.5 per cent.
On FAMILY formation, Australia’s birth rate is 1.5 compared to Israel’s 2.9.
First, defence.
It is a given that the first duty of any government must be the defence of the nation.
As has been widely admitted, Australia is currently defenceless. We rely totally on the United States. Yet, Australia has three times Israel’s population, 400 times its landmass and a GDP ($1,800 billion) three times the size of Israel’s ($600 billion).
Resource-hungry China, with its regional aggression and military build-up – particularly its naval force which is now the largest in the world – should send an ominous warning to resource-rich countries like Australia.
As mentioned previously, Israel is its region’s superpower. It knows what it needs and is confident in its ability to meet any challenge – with or without outside help – in one of the toughest neighbourhoods in the world.
Or compare the Middle East to the Far East.
Israel is half the size of Taiwan and has less than half its population but if it was Israel that was located off the coast of China does anyone think for one moment that China would threaten it?
A former chairman of the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee reported that the volume of intelligence that the U.S. receives from Israel is greater than which it receives from all NATO countries combined.
General George Keegan, the former head of U.S. Air Force Intelligence, said “If we had to gather the intelligence ourselves that Israel gives us, we would have to establish five CIAs!”
Israel’s success lies not in what is beneath the ground but in what is between the ears – and within its heart.
Former Labor Prime Minister Bob Hawke once said that Israel was ‘… an inspiration, a small, lone democracy in the Middle East’.
Its birth rate, which is double that of Australia, signals a strong belief in its future – and in its past.
The late Jonathan Sacks said, “To defend a country you need an army. But to defend a free society you need families, schools and an educational system in which ideals are passed on from one generation to the next, and never lost, or despaired of, or obscured.”
Israel defends its culture and its way of life.
Having said all that, and notwithstanding these stark contrasts, Australia and Israel have a lot in common, harking back more than a hundred years.
October 31st, 1917, for example, was a pivotal moment in the Middle East Campaign of World War I, where the Australian Light Horse Brigade captured the heavily fortified Ottoman stronghold of Beersheba.
The capture of Beersheba sounded the death knell for the Ottoman Empire’s 400-year occupation of Jerusalem and surrounding territory.
As a result, Beersheba formed a significant historical link between Australia and Israel.
Israel is currently fighting a war defending Western Civilization – which Australia is very much a part of – against an enemy that wants to destroy our civilization.
As always, and against all odds, Israel will win.
But there’s something even more we have in common.
Australia’s Constitution begins with the phrase ‘Humbly relying on the blessing of Almighty God’ – yes, that’s the God of Israel.
Once again, it is good to be reminded of what Judeo-Christian values have brought to the world – the establishment of schools, universities, hospitals, aged care organisations and welfare agencies. The elevation of women, as well as the abolition of slavery, cannibalism, child sacrifice and widow burning.
It’s been said that one has to go through the wilderness to get to the promised land.
Australia’s promised land lies ahead.
Party Objectives
The objectives of the Australian Family Party are:
- To be an eligible political party within the meaning of the Commonwealth Electoral Act for the purpose of nominating and endorsing candidates for election to Federal and State Parliaments.
- To prepare, promote and support legislation which will result in the health, wellbeing, welfare, safety and agency of the family in Australia.
- To oppose legislation that would impact negatively upon the family.
Party History
Many great organisations and political movements (the abolition of slavery, the civil rights movement, public education, health, aged care organisations), started in churches. Motivated by a sense of concern for others, people of goodwill established schools, hospitals, welfare agencies and many other lasting endeavours. The Australian Family Party began the same way. And as you no longer have to be a member of a particular denomination to be admitted to these hospitals, schools or retirement villages, so it is with this Party. The Party is independent of any church or denomination.
Not Ashamed
Like so many other Australian institutions, at the Australian Family Party our Christian heritage is something we are both proud of and grateful for.
Strong Families
When we say families, we include extended families – mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, uncles, aunts, cousins, grandparents, grandchildren.
A job, a home, your finances under control, a safe neighbourhood to live in, a secure retirement and a few of life’s small pleasures (going on holiday, getting your hair done, going out to dinner). These all contribute to the health of the family.
Strong Values
Values are the foundation of a nation. We believe in the importance of values. Values like telling the truth, living within your means, hard work, respect, courtesy, compassion, courage, generosity. But when we see cronyism, wastefulness, backstabbing, price gouging by government agencies (water prices, power prices, land prices) and politicians spending millions of dollars on themselves and their rent-seeking, crony-capitalist mates whilst low-income earners and pensioners can’t afford to heat or cool their homes, we know there is a distinct lack of values and a total failure of leadership.
Strong Australia
Anything not based on economic reality is doomed to failure. Whether it’s mining, farming, manufacturing, tourism or small business, it is a truism that capital goes where it is made welcome and stays where it gets looked after. And whilst Australia is indeed blessed with abundant natural resources, Australia’s real wealth is not beneath the ground, it is between the ears!
A strong and prosperous nation builds up its infrastructure – roads, ports, reservoirs, power stations, airports and telecommunications. It also has strong defence capabilities and is able to afford the latest and best equipment for its defence forces.
Australia needs a political party which understands business and how markets work; how and why investment decisions are made; how real jobs are created; and that ‘barriers to entry’ to getting a job causes unemployment.
There is no doubt politics in Australia is going through a bad patch at the moment. The family is under pressure, values are deteriorating, Australia is getting weaker not stronger.
Australia deserves better.
A strong defence, a strong economy and strong family formation.
Vote 1, the Australian Family Party