The notion of the virtues of quiet Australians has grown from being an explanation by Scott Morrison of his surprise victory at the recent federal election into a general commentary by leading government ministers on Australian social and political life.
As a celebratory remark about his government's return to office when the public opinion polls predicted otherwise it is unremarkable, with its echoes of the conservative silent majority or so-called moral majority and perhaps even of Robert Menzies' ode to the forgotten people.
But when a picture is painted of virtuous quiet Australians being drowned out by the 'din of loud Australians', in the words of Nationals Senator Matt Canavan, the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, it becomes a wider view of Australian politics which is a superficial analysis of whose voices really prevail in Australian politics today.
This wider view has a political purpose and may well appeal to many people who believe they are stranded on the periphery of politics, unheeded by the elites in Canberra and the state capitals. But it is a misrepresentation.
Canavan, based in Rockhampton, was contrasting the allegedly quiet voices of regional and rural Australians with the Stop Adani caravan led by activists like former Greens leader Bob Brown. He described loud Australians as busybodies interfering in the business of others. Yet that is to confuse the admittedly loud carnival-like atmosphere of mass politics with the quieter capture and execution of real economic and political power.
Regional and rural Australians possess many powerful voices, although they may dispute this. As well as having a political party of their own, the Nationals, which has been the junior partner in federal government since 2013, they are represented by many powerful lobby groups.
For instance, the Minerals Council of Australia represents companies which generate most of the country's mining output, and most of those mines are in rural and regional areas. The National Farmers Federation represents farmers and agriculture across Australia and by definition most of this activity is outside urban areas.
"Public activism may be louder, but is often a sign of lack of influence in inner circles."
These lobby groups are enormously well-connected and influential, making sure through insider lobbying that their interests are central to government policy. By contrast public activism — such as that displayed in citizens rallies on issues like climate change and refugees — may be louder, but is often a sign of lack of influence in