I am starting to think that for Australians, access to beer is not unlike the NRA's position on the right to bear arms: it is fundamental to a free and democratic society. Consider this political protest:

About 11 separate convoys from as far as Western Australia and the Northern Territory are expected to descend on Canberra on Monday as part of a protest initiated by the National Road Freighters Association. The Convoy of No Confidence is voicing anger on a broad range of issues including the temporary banning of live exports, the carbon tax, wasted public expenditure, over-regulation and a lack of investment in regional areas. But before they make their final approach to Parliament House, each convoy will stop off at a small rural town close by.

And what do they stop for? A pep talk by opposition political leaders? A moment of mass gathering in silence in light of the importance of the moment? No, they stop for the juke box on free play and free play on the pool table and and kegs of beer. The pre-rally festivities are reported in the The Canberra Times with a photo (click above) of a pub owner putting on a new keg and at least three references to the bringing in of extra beer. They are either pounding the point home or there is something about pounding that speaks of home.

I thought we Canadians were comfortable with connecting beer and politics but our cousins on the other side of the world take comfort and make it something close to mandatory.