Hearn is known for comments he made in 1988 about the Australian Bicentenary celebrations. In his address to the 54th synod of the Anglican Diocese of Rockhampton, he described the celebrations as an "historical absurdity". Hearn said aspects of Australian life had become blurred amid the hype of the bicentenary which he said failed to recognise 40,000 years of Aboriginal culture, which was why there had been protests about the event.