COPLAND: On occasions each year, whether it be Australia Day or Anzac Day, phrases involving "freedom" and "our way of life" enter the public conversation.

When the TV cameras pan around the beaches and the streets of our wide brown land asking people to define what this "freedom" or "way of life" means to them, people struggle to put their feelings into words.

The most common response is, "We are free to have a barbecue and a few drinks with our mates."

But surely it is much more than that. I think I know where some of this freedom can be found.

Each time we vote we can freely choose whom we want to govern our nation, our state and our local government area.

There is no need for security on polling day.

A few years back when then Prime Minister Rudd was removed from office by his own party, local friends of mine who had escaped civil war in their homelands were truly amazed.

There were no helicopters in the sky, no soldiers in the streets.

Life went on the next day just as it had the day before. Freedom.

I'll tell you where else this freedom, this way of life, this fair go for all resides.

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