THE TWILIGHT OF THE ELITES

BOOKSHELF

by Professor David Flint

Reviewed by Charles Francis, AM, RFD, QC.

Published by Freedom Publishing, Australia, Ph: (03) 9326 5757. 250 pp. $29.95.

In his valuable book "The Twilight of the Elites”, Professor of Law, David Flint, Chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Authority, has had the temerity to challenge most of the sacred cows of our politically correct elites. The process will no doubt ensure that he is excluded (or continues to be excluded) from most academic circles. . He may also be denigrated by the liberal left for whom political correctness is a substitute for intelligent analytical thinking.

As Professor Flint points out, the elites are in many ways heirs to Plato's Republic, the equivalent of Plato's and Socrates' guardians and philosopher kings "who with their self-assumed superior knowledge and virtue believe themselves most suited to guide the ship of state". Heading the list of elites in Australia stand persons such as Gough Whitlam, Malcolm Fraser and Paul Keating, all of whom in turn have had their superior knowledge rejected by the commonsense of the majority of ordinary Australians. This is indeed the essence of the twilight, the fairly constant rejection of elitist viewpoints, a process of which Flint provides many examples. Typical was the return to power of John Howard on l0 November 2001, despite very strong advice of the elites and the media to throw him out, and the very firm rejection of the republican referendum.

Flint asserts the way ahead for Australians is to understand how the elites, a small minority, have surreptitiously achieved much of their agenda, although a majority of Australians are opposed to that agenda. The elites are very ready to attack the Australian Federation but it has been one of the great success stories of the twentieth century. Its first four pillars are the rule of law, the English language, the Crown and Judaeo Christian culture. The fifth pillar, Westminster parliamentary democracy, inevitably followed. It has proved a very well-ordered and durable democracy.

In Chapter 2 Professor Flint demonstrates precisely how this Federation operates and should continue to operate. Australia has functioned well because of strong institutions. The lesson is to maintain and not recklessly undermine institutions and a constitutional system which has been shown to work well over an extended period of time. The elites, however, look back on the Australian story with greater or lesser disdain, with what Professor Geoffrey Blainey eloquently describes as "a black armband version of history".

In his third chapter Professor Flint shows how the elite agenda functions and its links with the media. By capturing commanding heights in the arts, the faculties of the humanities and in "quality" journalism, together with bridgeheads in political parties, the liberal professions and the churches, Flint asserts that without any formal endorsement by the people, the elites have become our effective guardians.

Further, Flint is unhappy with the present media, which on many important issues operates as a single group. There is a surprising degree of homogeneity among the Canberra press gallery. Campaign journalism can make journalists unelected participants in the political arena.

Professor Flint then examines three core items on the current elite agenda - namely the proposals for a nation without borders, for a republic at any price, and a treaty with indigenous Australians which could well dissolve the Commonwealth. He goes on to discuss population policy, raising issues which are, and rightly, of proper concern to the mainstream.

Professor Flint's consideration in Chapter 9 of the moves to transfer aspects of our sovereignty without our approval to the control of the UN's international elite bureaucracies, is perhaps the most important part of his book. I have always found it quite extraordinary (and entirely inconsistent) that the same elites who complain so vigorously about the minimal intrusion of the Monarchy into our democracy are so ready to surrender so much more of our sovereignty to foreign bodies neither elected nor accountable to the Australian people, whose members often come from countries with no tradition of democracy and have little or no understanding of it.

In Chapter l0 another very important issue is discussed, namely how judicial activism and legislation by judges has changed our constitutional system without any agreement by the people. In this regard some of the judges of our Family Court, Federal Court and High Court have arrogantly assumed their opinions as to what Australian law should be is far more important than following judicial precedent and existing law, which remains not only their duty but also their only proper function.

Finally, Professor Flint emphasises the importance of making us aware of the methods by which the elites achieve their agendas as for example, by neutering opposing views by ridicule or by branding them with terms like "racist" or "conservative", and how we can best ensure the agendas of the elite are never again surreptitiously adopted.

“Twilight of the Elites" is a very important book. Most of us are aware that Australia is not functioning as well as it did in the past and are looking for means whereby we can guarantee the continuation of our democracy and a better future. "Twilight" explains what is happening. It will achieve for its readers a far better understanding of today's Australia, and how we should best deal with the present situation. In particular it clarifies nearly all-important current issues.