Paul Kelly - (BA DipEd '69)

Domestic and International Politics in 2007


Multi-award winning journalist, editor, author and academic, Paul Kelly is currently Editor-at-Large of The Australian newspaper, writing on Australian and international issues, and a regular commentator on ABC television.

Nearly thirty years of observing and writing on Australian and international politics have given Paul Kelly a depth and breadth of insight and understanding that held more than 100 University of Sydney alumni enthralled at the first Graduate Connections Breakfast for 2007.

Paul's presentation covered a range of critical issues. Among them:

"Short-termism" in which policy setting and political decision-making are often dictated by the 24-hour media cycle - at the very time when we need a long-term focus.

"When our political leaders get out of bed in the morning their one aim is to win the upcoming 12-hour media cycle," he said. "There are a thousand contests to be won and the tactics are keen, but the strategy is too often forgotten."

Paul described the current climate of political practice as one in which spin and market research were all important, where politicians knew in advance what the public thought and felt, regurgitated those thoughts and feelings and yet generated commensurate contempt from the public.

"We need a new approach to politics in which leaders respond more to issues on their merits, can hold fast to their convictions, can speak openly, honestly and frankly to the people and make public opinion and change sentiment," he said.

Mr Kelly went on to describe parliamentary democracy as a "fading splendour" that was being replaced by a rise in direct democracy. "Interactive democracy, where we vote through technology may be the future of democracy in the next 20 to 30 years and we need to look at these issues carefully," he said.

He then went on to discuss the environment in which Australia operates in the context of globalisation and the challenge of regionalism. Global GDP projections showed that by 2050 China would have 20 per cent of the world's GDP, the USA 14 per cent, India 12 per cent and the EU 10 per cent.

An increasingly globalised world that at the same time was characterised by the rise in nationalism, religion and the nation state presented many challenges to Australia. Unlike countries such as Canada, Italy or Thailand, which were embedded in a larger geographic environment, Mr Kelly felt that Australia's future was as a stand-alone state that would stand or fall on its own merits.

He also felt Australia could best meet the challenges of today through a renewed commitment to economic competitiveness, to greater engagement with the Asia-Pacific region, to its strong immigration, multicultural and population growth policies and to a far greater investment in education, particularly because of its economic implications.

Nor should Australia have to choose between the environment and growth. "The real political relationship is being able to integrate these divergent paths," said Mr Kelly. "In the same way, we should integrate our relationship with the US and the UK with our growing relationship with Asia. We have to ensure that this is a success."

Click here to view the question and answer session that followed.