'Fictional' history opens new front in war on workers

At the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards on 8 December 2014, the joint winner of the Australian History Award was Hal G. P. Colebatch for his book Australia’s Secret War: How Unionists Sabotaged our Troops in World War II. The judging panel was chaired by right-wing think tanker Gerard Henderson of the Sydney Institute, a diehard fan of ‘Pig Iron’ Bob Menzies, and included Peter Coleman, variously author, journalist, former Liberal Party politician, and veteran Cold War warrior. Colebatch’s book was published in October 2013 by the conservative Australian cultural journal Quadrant, founded during the Cold War as part of the Central Intelligence Agency’s international anti-communist campaign. History Award panellist Coleman edited the journal for 20 years. Quadrant continues to trenchantly criticise and attack Australian liberals and leftists, and is especially hostile towards the ABC. It is also a vigorous propagandist in the cause of climate change denial.