Greg Craven

Catholic social teaching had a venerable influence on Australian political history, but does it still have anything to offer? Greg Craven argues that it remains an important resource for addressing the central challenges of Australian politics. In doing so, he considers the case put forward by Tim Wilson in The New Social Contract for liberalism, Adrian Pabst's analysis of Labor's unique approach to social democracy in Story of Our Country, and Damien Freeman's account of conservatism in Abbott's Right. His critique of liberalism, social democracy, and conservatism from the perspective of Catholic social teaching offers a vision for how Australian political debate might be done better. Five essayists, including Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott, offer their own thoughts on the future of politics and policy, and the utility of Catholic social teaching as a resource for policy-making in their responses to Craven's analysis.

The place of religion in Australia has never been more contested than it is today. In this new and timely essay, Frank Brennan and Michael Casey draw on the Catholic tradition to explain why freedom of religion remains of vital importance for the way of life enjoyed in a secular liberal democracy such as Australia. Greg Craven complements Brennan and Casey's philosophical analysis with an essay discussing how freedom of religion is currently protected in Australia, and what reforms are necessary in order to ensure its protection in the decades ahead.

This book describes the bitter power struggles of the Australian constitution's forging, and paints the founding fathers as implausible heroes who managed a profound historical achievement. It talks about parliaments, courts, judges and ministers not just as colourless instruments of the Constitution, but as the walking wounded of political psychology; and it sheds light on today's great constitutional controversies: Do we need a Bill of Rights? Can federalism work? How can parliament work better? Can we ever be a republic?