Tea Parties are for Boston Harbour, not Port Jackson

And while gay marriage remains an issue for debate, just look how tolerant Australia has become in terms of it celebrating the cultural strengths of its different ethnicities. Even Sydney's Gay Mardi Gra has become an important annual cultural event.

The left-wing journalist Mike Carlton may also express fear about the influence of the radio host Alan Jones after he behaved "abominably" to the Prime Minister, and accuses the Coalition of whipping up fear over the carbon tax, but such fears are quashed by the reality that Australia remains a relatively progressive liberal democracy.

In a land which tolerated and then rejected One Nation, bring on any debate. I, for one, do not fear the quality of media players or Coalition leaders. Remember Howard and Turnbull, as Coalition leaders, both supported an environmental tax. Remember that the Howard government introduced much tougher gun laws, an achievement tin direct contrast to the US where its historical stupidity upholds the right to bear arms (and a very high murder rate). Remember that the Australian people told the Coalition where to go when it proposed radical industrial relations reform, despite most Australians accepting the need for ongoing economic reform. And remember that the Coalition is also committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, albeit by just 5 per cent by 2020.

Whatever the Australian people decide, I accept their decision. All we need is extensive debate to expose the issues as thoroughly as we can. I do not believe that policy elites should ever decide policy outcomes alone. As the GST became the primary 1998 federal election issue, so the next federal election should determine the fate of the carbon tax, although I do hope that the major parties do not focus primarily on just one or two issues.

In the end, however, Australia will still need sensible policies that prove capable of avoiding a US-style Tea Party movement. Joe Hockey is right to note the need to address record home affordability and much higher living costs (grocery prices and utility bills), although we are still waiting for solutions.

But, in contrast to Janet Albrechtsen, I do not believe that a Tea Party will or should emerge in Australia. I have faith in Australia's societal traditions to believe that pragmatic policy responses will remain the rule of the day in the Australian political experience, despite some policy difficulties ahead.