DANCING WITH ELEPHANTS
For all of its modern history, Australia has sought shelter under the protective wing of a great and powerful friend – initially the UK and then the USA. The price of that protection has been a kind of ‘vassalage’. With few exceptions, what’s ‘Good for America’ has been accepted as ‘Good for Australia’. America is no longer the reliable ally it was once assumed to be. The rules-based order, on which Australia has relied, is being unravelled by those who live by the creed that ‘might makes right’. They are the ‘elephants’ that dance where they please.
What does this mean for Australia? Is a ‘middle power’ ever truly ’sovereign’? Is our strategic freedom always to be constrained? Can we hope to ‘dance with elephants’ without being trampled in the process?
Bob Carr
The Hon Bob Carr was Premier of New South Wales from 1995 to 2005, during which his government created 350 new national parks, introduced the world’s first carbon trading scheme, and hosted the 2000 Olympics. He later served as Australia’s Foreign Minister under the Gillard and Rudd governments. Since leaving politics, Carr has built a distinguished career as author, academic and defacto diplomat. His books include Diary of a Foreign Minister, Run for Your Life (2018) and Bring Back Yesterday (2026). He is Chair of the Australian Heritage Council and Museums of History NSW, and a board member of Sydney Water.
Catherine McGregor
Catherine McGregor is a freelance writer, broadcaster, and author. She served as an officer in the Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force across a combined 51 years, including operational command in Timor Leste. A strategic advisor and speechwriter to every Chief of the Army until 2024, she later served as Director of Research and Analysis for the Chief of Air Force. She was awarded the Order of Australia in 2012. Her life was the subject of a stage production at the Sydney Theatre Company in 2018.
Malcolm Turnbull
Malcolm Turnbull was the 29th Prime Minister of Australia. Prior to entering politics he enjoyed successful careers as a lawyer, investment banker and journalist. As a lawyer, together with his wife Lucy, he successfully defended former MI5 agent Peter Wright against the British Government in the “Spycatcher” trial. He led the campaign to make Australia a republic. He has been, and remains, a venture capitalist having co-founded, among other companies OzEmail Ltd, the first Australian tech company to list on the NASDAQ in 1996. He established an investment bank in Sydney in 1987 and in 1998, became a partner of Goldman Sachs. As Prime Minister from 2015–18, his government, among other achievements, legalised same-sex marriage, reformed schools funding as well as income tax, and commenced the construction of both Snowy Hydro 2.0 and Western Sydney Airport.
Simon Longstaff
Simon Longstaff began his working life on Groote Eylandt in the Northern Territory of Australia. He is proud of his kinship ties to the Anindilyakwa people. After a period studying law in Sydney and teaching in Tasmania, he pursued postgraduate studies as a Member of Magdalene College, Cambridge. In 1991, Simon commenced his work as the first Executive Director of The Ethics Centre, a role he continues today. In 2013, he was made an officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for “distinguished service to the community through the promotion of ethical standards in governance and business, to improving corporate responsibility, and to philosophy.” Simon is an Adjunct Professor of the Australian Graduate School of Management at UNSW Sydney, a Fellow of CPA Australia, the Royal Society of NSW and the Australian Risk Policy Institute.
We acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation - the custodians of the country on which we meet - and acknowledge their Elders, past and present.
The views and opinions expressed by the Festival participants are not necessarily the views of The Ethics Centre and our partners.