Speaking at Central Queensland University, Donald Horne said he looked forward to Australia having a leader who fostered “a new national togetherness”.

The celebrated Australian author, journalist and academic was in Rockhampton Friday to speak about politics and art, and the role politicians and artists have in translating ideas into things that actually connect with human lives.

Horne, a prolific contributor to and an analyst of Australian society, discussed what he called “the need for a permanent liberal-democratic conspiracy” at a community gathering at CQU’s Old Supreme Court building. Calling the Constitution “unteachable,” he discussed the need to define our identity with our civic values.

Horne also said he believed that it was not often the intention of people to be racist, but their actions sometimes were.

Horne’s latest book Looking for Leadership: Australia in the Howard Years considers that Australia does not have one politician who can speak to us about our country in simple words.

The writer also toured CQU Press, located at the Old Supreme Court Building, and was presented with University-published books on art and the Central Queensland region.

Horne has written over 20 books on a variety of subjects, including social and political commentary with The Public Culture, history The Story of the Australian People and satire His Excellency’s Pleasure. He has been awarded Emeritus Professor, University of New South Wales, an Order of Australia, most recently Humanist of the Year.

Photo: Jan Cardnell of CQU Press presents author Donald Horne with some recent books on regional art and historical Queensland published by the University. The bookstore is open Monday to Friday and located in the Old Supreme Court building in Rockhampton.