Australia could persuade its Anglo-American allies to take a more rational approach to Hong Kong and mainland China in the interests of global peace and stability. Instead, the Australian political elite, seemingly in thrall to the United States, continues to fuel tensions with China. This positions the remote island nation as a potential pariah in its region.
Indeed, both my grandfather, Alan Frederick Green, and his brother, my great uncle Frank Clifton Green, were sent, as young men from a rural working-class Australian family, over 10,000 miles from home to fight for the British Empire in Europe and the Middle East during the first world war (1914-1918).
Both men returned to Australia disturbed, hardened and shaped by the horrors they experienced. My grandfather went on to re-enlist in the second world war at the age of 45 and was subsequently captured and imprisoned for more than three years by invading Japanese forces while defending Singapore for the British Empire. Frank went on to have an extraordinary career in the Australian public service, culminating in his record as the longest-serving Clerk of the Australian Federal Parliament, from 1937 to 1955.
As perhaps the most notable Clerk of Federal Parliament in Australian history, my Uncle Frank was coincidentally a close adviser and friend to prime minister Curtin. He famously provided round-the-clock support for Curtin when he, defying the wishes of Great Britain’s iron-willed prime minister Winston Churchill, ordered Australian troops to return from the Middle East in 1942. Curtin insisted on bringing Australian soldiers home to defend Australia from invasion – advancing Japanese forces were creeping up on Papua New Guinea.
As prime minister, Curtin had made the courageous decision to undertake perhaps the most significant assertion of independence since Australia separated from Great Britain in 1901. He put the interests of Australia and its peaceful existence ahead of British interests elsewhere in Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Churchill was furious but Curtin was unwavering, even under the immense political and diplomatic pressure.
Decades later, prime minister Paul Keating also made a historically defiant assertion of Australia’s independence and its place as an Asia-Pacific nation.
In his 1992 “Australia: Knowing Who We Are” speech, Keating spoke proudly of the surge in “independent and republican thinking” in the country at the time and exhorted Australia’s rightful identity as an independent Asia-Pacific nation. He memorably spoke of Australia engaging in its Asian neighbourhood, “not as a vicar of Europe, or as US deputy”.
Sadly, we can only look back on former Australian leaders such as Keating and Curtin when it comes to the idea of a far more active Australian independence – an independence which could position the country as a pivotal peacemaker. Australia’s leverage includes the immense strategic reliance of the US on access to Australian territory – which it could perhaps be made to work harder to retain.
As former British colonies, there should be a strong affinity between Australia and Hong Kong. Australia was all but abandoned by Britain in 1942 and subsequently suffered Churchill’s wrath when it stood up for itself through the courage of Curtin.
While the current generation of Australian political leaders may fear the wrath of an Anglo-American backlash should they adopt a more actively independent posture in world affairs, I would argue that one of the most redeeming features of Australian culture is the courage to stand up to bullies. Let us hope Australia shows more courage in the precarious period ahead of us all.
Damien Green is a Hong Kong-based financial services executive