‘A decade ago we had a significant succession of truly inspirational governors general; we looked to the ABC for excellence in broadcasting, to the universities to foster critical minds and to the CSIRO for scientific research of high integrity. 

If John Howard were a true conservative, he would have sustained those traditions. Instead, he has debauched them. Today we have an invisible governor-general, universities corrupted by their scrabbling for money, an underfunded ABC and a CSIRO where those who are genuinely concerned about global warming are expected to bite their tongues. 

In 2000 Sydney proudly hosted the Olympics and showed its best face to the world: cosmopolitan, tolerant, good-humoured and, above all, generous in its sportsmanship. 

Today our sports fans taunt visiting players, our greatest tennis star is a graceless whinger, our most formidable batsman cannot take a joke, and our champion fast bowler is a sullen sledger. 

The Australian flag, so beloved of our PM, is the standard under which so much of this boorish behaviour manifests itself. Or, on the streets of Cronulla, it has become the symbol of racism and intolerance.’ 

Only A Meaner Nation Could Turn Kerry Packer Into A Secular Saint