Fraser's Journey. "Common Ground: Issues That Should Bind and Not Divide Us" by Malcolm Fraser. [review]

Abstract

In "Common Ground" - an impressive, if unscintillating, collection of (mainly recent) speeches and added commentaries - Fraser is, characteristically, untroubled by the apparent problem of shifting political identity. According to him, his early reputation for ultra-conservatism was always misplaced. While his views have remained more or less steady, the political spectrum has lurched violently to the right. It is the world and not Malcolm Fraser that has changed. Manne does not believe Fraser's self-interpretation fits the facts.