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History of Australia


stees

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Hi All, I'm wondering if anyone knows of a documentary or series about the history of Australia? We're moving to Aus in August & I know various bits & pieces but I'd love a documentary to give a synopsis, however detailed.

 

Any info would be greatly appreciated, cheers!

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For modern Australian history I've just fininshed reading "The Australian Moment (How we were made for these times)" by George Megalogenis and can wholeheartedly recommend it. It is very skewed towards economic (and political) history but a really good read and excellent long interviews with Fraser, Hawke, Keating and Howard. Less from Rudd.

 

He is also quite cutting about some aspects of contemporary Australia (parochialism, boorishness, terrible politicians, celebration of mediocrity) and it's a well researched and beautifully balanced book with a good central theme (that Australia, uniquely amongst advanced economies, has the balance between free trade and regulation correct to allow stable growth and low (compared to remainder of OECD) unemployment).

 

Highly recommended as an intro to modern Australian history.

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For modern Australian history I've just fininshed reading "The Australian Moment (How we were made for these times)" by George Megalogenis and can wholeheartedly recommend it. It is very skewed towards economic (and political) history but a really good read and excellent long interviews with Fraser, Hawke, Keating and Howard. Less from Rudd.

 

He is also quite cutting about some aspects of contemporary Australia (parochialism, boorishness, terrible politicians, celebration of mediocrity) and it's a well researched and beautifully balanced book with a good central theme (that Australia, uniquely amongst advanced economies, has the balance between free trade and regulation correct to allow stable growth and low (compared to remainder of OECD) unemployment).

 

Highly recommended as an intro to modern Australian history.

 

I'll have to have a read of that. Not sure I'm convinced of his premise (I would err towards suggesting Aussie protectionism has done a lot to foster/create the "celebration of mediocrity" and lack of innovation) but it's always good to be challenged

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I'll have to have a read of that. Not sure I'm convinced of his premise (I would err towards suggesting Aussie protectionism has done a lot to foster/create the "celebration of mediocrity" and lack of innovation) but it's always good to be challenged

 

No, I actually agree with you. I've actually simplified the whole thing a lot, he reckons the most important decisions were Whitlam's (made possible by Fraser's support) to end the White Australia policy and the Hawke / Keating ending of protectionism but goes on to argue that not going too far into completely deregulated banking and workchoices style employment law helped Australia weather the GFC.

 

It is definitely good to be challenged. How boring would life be otherwise?

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