A Time for Bravery

by Anna Chang (Editor), Alice Grundy (Editor)

We are living at a critical point in history with the stubborn problems of rising inequality, rising fossil fuel production, and declining faith in democracy. This is a time for individuals, organisations, communities and our elected representatives to find the bravery we need to not just acknowledge, but address, the challenges we face.
There is bravery out there right now, in Australia and around the world. And Australian history is full of acts of individual and collective bravery ranging from the campaign to end apartheid in South Africa to the campaign for equal rights for same sex from the green bans in Sydney's Rocks to South Australia's commitment to 100 per cent renewable energy. We have changed ourselves and the world before; if we are brave, we can do so again.


This book brings together advocates, politicians, campaigners, medical doctors, academics and a firefighter each with their answer to the what does bravery look like in Australia and how might it reshape our future for the better.

Genres: Nonfiction

208 pages, Paperback

Published April 28, 2026

Reviews

[William Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Australia Institute has put together a wide-ranging cast of essayists from Australia's liberal intelligentsia (I'm not using that in a pejorative sense), and the result is a thought-provoking &, at times, exasperating reading experience.

For me, the stand-out essayists were:
- Yanis Varoufakis
- Rodney Croome
- Tim Costello
- Richard Denniss
- Jim Casey

The book would benefit from the inclusion of some dissenting opinions for balance, but I appreciate that those holding such opinions would be unlikely to participate - I know John Hewson was a Liberal leader, but his essay is strongly aligned with the overall theme of the book.

I also found myself feeling as though the ideas espoused were a bit 'pie-in-the-sky', but soon after reminded myself that that was the intention of the book - setting high standards for our society.

A very minor note (that does not take away from the overall value of this book) - there are a few small errors/misprints e.g. John Hewson's GST cake interview was in 1993, not 1973. I mention this only because potential detractors may use this in an attempt to undermine the arguments presented within the book.

[Robert Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Australia Institute does great work advocating and educating for change and this collection of short essays continues their good work. Lots of wisdom from a diverse range of voices giving the reader a more than gentle nudge to stand up and be brave.

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inevitably, this is a mixed bag. For me the problem is lack of clarity around both notions of bravery and whether, if and when, bravery, of itself, succeeds. A number of contributions are almost mantras, commitments to causes and positions. Remaining true to unpopular positions may be brave, but rethinking strategy might be braver.
There are, however, some thoughtful gems. Jim Casey’s piece on the training that builds the basis on which the risk of firefighting becomes possible is amongst my favourites. It intelligently places bravery into a context that is really helpful. Professor Georgina Long’s contribution makes clear that bravery doesn’t mean stepping outside the agreed scientific method safeguards, but rather challenging assumptions about who does or does not have knowledge and who is consulted and listened to. Fatima Payman speaks powerfully to a very old conflict between conscience and loyalty and what bravery in that context means and costs. Greg Jericho’s contribution usefully raises the question of what bravery means in a policy context, finishing with the interesting assertion that: “We need bravery because each instance raises the bar and reduces the fear”.

Peter Costello’s considered, long view of gambling combines awareness of government constraints, grasp of human impact and price. “Bravery is when we know the odds are stacked against us, but we fight the fight regardless. It is being prepared to lose something so that we can gain reform that will protect our children and transform our society for the better”.

There is a comparable awareness of overcoming contrary forces in Frank Bongiourno’s argument which concludes: “The housing crisis will not be solved simply by tinkering with zoning or cutting supposed red tape. To get there, we will need a boldness lacking in housing policy since before the 1980s - reformers and visionaries such as Barnett and Stratton, but also politicians and bureaucrats, such as Chifley and Coombs, capable of grappling intelligently with a problrm that is undermining trust in the ability of government to meet one of our most basic human needs”.

Perhaps my favourite of the essays is that by Frank Brennan. It too, is grounded in experience, intelligence and common sense, refusing any silver bullet solution.

These contributors recognise the complexities, the cost and the intellectual challenge that bravery demands. It’s not a slogan and while it is necessary, it is not sufficient.

[Jennifer Goedde · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dear Maddy,


Like any essay collection some were good some were mid. Really liked a few and have added some authors other works to my TBR. Didn’t realise how niche this was.
Really glad this book exists.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Australia Institute has assembled almost 30 authors, thinkers, policy makers putting forth ideas to fix many of society's problems, from inequality, to the cost of living crisis, to social justice, to problems with our medical system, the environment, gambling, taxation, housing affordability as well war and peace and more with the attempt to push our 'make no waves' government to become 'brave' - to take advantage of the huge lower house majority and a 'working' majority in the Senate with the support of the Greens to make substantial changes in policy that will lift those on the lower half of the economic ladder- to improve the quality of life in Australia. Each of the authors write of their experiences and point out that what others see as bravery, they themselves in their situations thought that they were doing what was logical and right. An inspiring read. Now only if our federal government - a Labor government would take these to heart and stop listening to the handful of billionaires.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found a lot of the essays almost repetitive and sometimes boring. They mostly seemed to be taking the same views on what they deemed to be bravery and it would have been nice to have something balancing them out.

The three that made the biggest impact on me were:

1. The Tasmanian salmon industry by Eloise Carr. I can't believe we are not all boycotting Tasmanian salmon. The companies causing so much ecological harm are not even Australian!
2. The trying of the untested immunotherapy on Dr Richard Scolyer by his friend Prof Georgina Long. Now that is most definitely brave!
3. The high price of gambling by Tim Costello

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspiring read about visions that lays out an idealistic vision about what could be. Short on practicals, but the lofty verses are empowering and engaging. It’s now a matter of translating vision into practice. Senator Fatima Payman’s account was particularly powerful. Michele O’Neil’s account of unionism was the closest to something practical that ordinary people can take, and was — to me — the second most powerful essay among a litany of powerful, compelling and evocative pieces.

[Lottie C · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️

Very short but impactful

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

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A bit dull in parts, but some essays are more interesting. Brave people are not necessarily engaging writers. However the first essay about Piero and Bianca was very affecting. I also enjoyed Georgina Longs narrative about cancer treatments and bravery by medical practitioners. I hadn't known before that Australians are the world's biggest losers in terms of gambling losses per capita (Tim Costello essay). The insights by Amy Cootes about acceptance of death were valuable. The several essays mentioning Palestine, reminded me of a phrase "selective outrage" We are horrified by atrocities committed by US and Israel and driven to protest, as we have been fed a line that US and Israel are beacons of human rights, freedom and democracy and it is horrifically jolting to realise this is not so. Meanwhile atrocities committed by regimes in Iran, Congo, Sudan garner less attention

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but a bit frustrating. Contains about 30 very short statements on bravery. I world have preferred fewer but longer essays.