"Over the past 30 years Australia has experienced ongoing economic and social change. During this time many Australians might have felt liberated by the freer economic and social environment. At the same time, though, many more Australians have felt their lives becoming more precarious and come to see themselves in danger of social exclusion." "Weighing up Australian Values explains why so many Australians feel a greater sense of risk and suggests some positive new directions in social policy designed to anticipate and help people address risk. Author Brian Howe does not identify 'risk' as a negative; instead he argues that converting risk into opportunity requires a co-ordinated policy response.". "Former Deputy Prime Minister under both Bob Hawke and Paul Keating, Howe rejects the emphasis on personal responsibility and morality heard in much of current social policy discourse. He contends that society needs to give more attention to anticipating risks as they confront people across their life course."--BOOK JACKET.