A Brief History of the Association

The Association for Good Government began in September 1901 as the Sydney Single Tax League until 1913, when the name Free Trade and Land Values League was adopted. One of many organisations inspired by the influence of Progress and Poverty (1879) and by the visit of its author, Henry George, to Australia in 1890.

The familiar name taken by these organisations had been 'Single Tax Clubs'. Its founders, however, now chose a different name 'Free Trade and Land Values League, to represent its changing policies. That name generally alternated with 'NSW Henry George League' until 1965, when the name 'Association for Good Government' was adopted. At the same time, its magazine (founded in December 1905 as The Standard ) was renamed Good Government.

The organisation consolidated all Georgist organisations in Sydney into one. A.G. Huie, the first Secretary, made 'country visits' by car to collect subscriptions, speak at open-air meetings and maintain contact with members in outlying towns in NSW. Huie must hold something of a record since he became Secretary in 1901 and only retired in 1955. He also edited the journal.

During its over 100 years of history, the Association has maintained a remarkably consistent set of activities, holding conferences, seminars, courses and committee meetings, keeping a journal and writing submissions to government and letters to the press and others upon issues as divergent as civil liberties, privatisation, and taxation.

At all times, it has held to the main concerns of its founders to bring to the attention of the public the importance of equal rights on the earth and an understanding of economic rent to social stability and prosperity.

In 2006 the Association formed a Branch in Canberra. It has conducted annual conferences.

Beginning in 2011, the Association expanded its network to the Asia-Pacific. It conducted its first overseas introductory seminars in the Philippines to the University of Asia and the Pacific. Struck a working relationship with the Atsumi Foundation and its projects, the Sekiguchi Global Research Association and Asia Futures Conference held in different parts of Asia and the Pacific. It has then participated in international conferences in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, India, Australia and the Philippines.