Broad Highway - A Statement of Liberal Values to-Day - Contents - The Liberal Party: What it stands for

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Patrick

“Broad Highway” presents an opening statement of liberal principles and the values honored by the Liberal Party of Australia in the contemporary era. Prepared by the Policy-Research Group established in February 1956, the work explains why principles must be defined and emphasized to shape a realistic programme of action. It frames governance as demanding intelligence, judgment, and compromise, while linking liberalism to liberty, the role of the individual, and long-term economic and intellectual progress in Australia.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages22

Reading Time55 min

AccessFree to download

Contents

The Liberal Party: What it stands for

Preface

The Individual

Free Enterprise

Industrial Relations

Economic Policy

Rural Life and the Liberal Party

Private Property

Role of the Individual in the Future

Socialism

Communism

Bureaucracy

97-84209-17Liberal Party of Australia Broad highway Canberra COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIESPRESERVATION DIVISIONBIBLLIOGRAPHIC MICROFORM TARGET ORIGINAL MATERIAL AS FILMED-EXISTING BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD RES RICTIONS ON USE: Roproductions may not be made without permission trom Columbia University Ubraries. TECHNICAL MICROFORM DATA REDUCTION BATIO: 10:/ FILNI SIZE: 35mm MAGE PLACEMENT:IA II DATE FILMED: 10-3-97INITIALS: 照 28589 TRACKING\#: FILMED BY PRESERVATION RESOURCES,BETHLEHEM,PA. B fl1CHWA SCB 886 0 ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ BROAD HIGHWAY A STATEMENT OF LIBERAL VALUES TO-DAY 8 1957 GLS CONTENTS page 11 The Liberal Party:What it stands for3 Preface APR Ⅱ The Individual4 Ⅲ Free Enterprise6IV Industrial Relations9V Economic Policy12VI Rural Life and the Liberal Party14VII Priuate Property16VIII Role of the Individual in the Future18IX Socialism20X Communism22XI Bureaucracy25PREPARED AND ISSUED BY THEPoLICY-RESEARCH GROUP OF TIIELIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIAExchangeFarmingtonMAR 261957 PREFACE 66D. BROAD HIGHWAY"is the first of a seriesof statements on liberal principles and the valueswe honour.Others will be published from time to timeto present a complete pattern of liberal thinking into-day's Australia. The statements were prepared by the Policy-Research Group which was set up by the Federal Councilof the Liberal Party of Australia at its annual meeting inFebruary 1956.Members of the Group were selected bythe Federal Parliamentary Leader and the FederalExecutive and drawn from the Parliamentary Party andthe Organisation. The task assigned to the Group is to review theprinciples which must continually sustain and inspire usas a Party;to encourage a climate in which a genuineAustralian liberalism can flourish;to look at,and toinitiate research into,long-term policies. We must never lose sight of the fact that thebusiness of government is rugged and difficult.Itrequires intlligence,judgment and common sense and aspirit willing to compromise as well as devotion to prin-ciple.The leadership of a political party is also a difficultbusiness. Keeping this in mind the Group decided that itshould initially concentrate on putting principles first.There is every reason to be proud of the principles forwhich we stand.But they must be defined and empha-sised to sharpen our faith in them,to construct aprogramme of action based on them,so that we may fullyunderstand the long-range advantages in terms ofeconomic and intellectual progress of the liberal way oflife. The practical day to day problem is how to breathevitality and principles into a policy.How do we workinto our day to day actions a strong sense of realism,a romantic sense of service,and the evangelistic spirit? From time to time the Group will report to theFederal Council and to the Federal Executive of theLiberal Party,and,on appropriate occasions,publish itsstatements,subject to publication being authorised bythe Parliamentary Leader and the Federal Executive. "Broad Highway"is not complete in itself;it is abeginning.But it does disclose a positive faith and under-lines a challenge.One extract in particular defines theessence of the liberal outlook:"If the Liberal Party stoodfor nothing else than the liberty of man to work out hisown destiny it would be embarking on a crusade whichcalled for superlative effort and deternination." The Group hopes the publication of the documentswill be both useful and a contribution to our continuedsuccessEach member of the Group has played a partand every contribution bears the impact of the views ofeach member. WILLIAM McMAHON,M.P. Chairman of the Policy-Research Group. # THE LIBERAL PARTY:WHAT IT STANDS FOR WEare apt to take liberty in Australia for granted.Yet it is under constant challenge,and chiefly by thosewho yearn for the all-powerful State. Liberalism is Liberty. It rejects t

FAQs

What is the purpose of “Broad Highway” in the document series?

It is the first of a series of statements on liberal principles and the values the Liberal Party honors, intended to present a complete pattern of liberal thinking for today’s Australia.

How was the Policy-Research Group formed and what task did it have?

The group was set up by the Federal Council at its annual meeting in February 1956. Its task was to review principles sustaining and inspiring the party, encourage a climate for Australian liberalism, and initiate research into long-term policies.

What does the document say liberalism stands for?

It states that liberalism is liberty: it rejects the State as the supreme master, values human personality, and restricts freedom only so the nation and community’s proper needs are served.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Patrick