Australia has a founding myth as a free and open society, where everyone can have a “fair go,” and it certainly shows. The EIU gives the antipodean nation a perfect 10.0 on civil liberties, even after a decade in which anti-terrorism laws had some locals worried about surveillance. While Australia’s ranking could yet slip in the future, for now Canberra is laughing all the way to the major functioning democracy bank. Not that Australia is perfect. The country gets through so many Prime Ministers that it’s amazing the government continues to function at all. But what do Aussies care? They’re too busy enjoying the sea and sun in a desperate attempt to forget the lurking face spiders to worry about little details like that.
