Discussions about our national identity, ever fluid in its post-colonial state, has bobbed up again as seeds of fledgling, religious based political parties comes to the fore ahead of the next federal election – some seats are said to be danger of losing sitting members due to this change in thinking about political representation. Julianne Schultz, a regular contributor on such matters and historian, thinks the timidity of our politicians in discussing national values has left a vacuum filled by nationalists focussed on the past rather than the future. WfaAR comment: this is important for any Republic debate when it ever gets to take place as it will be an important and significant expression of our future and of our identity. [“Australian needs a national identity based on civic belonging, not ethnic or religious exclusion” by Julianne Schultz, The Guardian online, 23 June 2024]