Australia – a lucky country?

In 1964 social critic Donald Horne wrote a book about Australia called The Lucky Country. The title was deeply ironic, suggesting that much of Australia’s prosperity depended on historical factors such as its colonial origins rather than effort and enterprise.

‘Australia is a lucky country run mainly by second rate people who share its luck', wrote Horne. ‘Although its ordinary people are adaptable, most of its leaders ... so lack curiosity about the events that surround them...