In doing so, he effectively acknowledged that Petain was France's head of state when French soldiers fought alongside Germans in battles against Australians, among others. History may not be bunk. But neither is it straightforward. Howard's attempt to instil a sense of history into the Liberal Party is a positive move. Likewise the decisions to commemorate the contribution to the Liberal Party made by the late Neville Bonner, John Gorton and Malcolm Fraser at Liberal conferences held in recent years.
History is like that.
Just ask Labor. Gerard Henderson is executive director of The Sydney Institute. This material is subject to copyright and any unauthorised use, copying or mirroring is prohibited.