Lyndon Megarrity

Lyndon Megarrity reviews 'The Boy from Baradine' by Craig Emerson

April 2018, no. 400 • 26 March 2018

The Boy from Baradine is one of the latest Australian political memoirs to hit the shelves. Craig Emerson, a prominent minister in the Rudd and Gillard governments between 2007 and 2013, has some interesting stories to tell about life as a political adviser, a pragmatic supporter of the environment, and an ambitious Labor politician. Emerson comes across as genuine and down to earth. He appears no ... (read more)

Lyndon Megarrity reviews 'The Show: Another side of Santamaria’s movement' by Mark Aarons and John Grenville

September 2017, no. 394 • 29 August 2017

The Movement was a secret organisation which radically reduced the power of the Communist Party of Australia (CPA) within the union movement during the 1940s and 1950s. Initiated by B.A. Santamaria, the Movement was very active in several Australian states and worked with the general knowledge and approval of key Catholic Church bishops. The Movement (or the Show) ultimately aimed to steer the Aus ... (read more)

Lyndon Megarrity reviews 'Playing the Game: Life and politics in Papua New Guinea' by Julius Chan

May 2016, no. 381 • 27 April 2016

Papua New Guinea is so close to Australia, and yet so far away. We rarely hear about our near neighbour, unless there is a crisis reported in the media. Julius Chan's highly readable memoir should encourage more Australians to develop more curiosity about PNG, its complex history and multiple cultures. Twice prime minister of Papua New Guinea (1980–82, 1994–97) and now governor of the provinc ... (read more)

Lyndon Megarrity reviews 'All Fall Down' by Matthew Condon

November 2015, no. 376 • 29 October 2015

All Fall Down, set in 1980s Queensland, chronicles the direct and indirect links between officials and local criminals exposed by the Fitzgerald Inquiry (1987–89). It is the last volume in a trilogy that largely focuses on police corruption between the 1940s and 1980s, but there is also some discussion of the cronyism, misuse of powers, and corruption within the Country Party (later National Par ... (read more)

Lyndon Megarrity reviews 'Through the Wall' by Anna Bligh

June-July 2015, no. 372 • 29 May 2015

After a substantial career as a minister in the Beattie government, Anna Bligh served as Queensland Labor premier from 2007 to 2012. She was the first female premier in Australia to lead her party to victory at a state election. These experiences have given her many interesting tales to tell about winning elections, retaining community and party support, as well as pushing through reforms. Bligh ... (read more)

Lyndon Megarrity reviews 'Kevin Rudd: Twice Prime Minister' by Patrick Weller

January-February 2015, no. 368 • 01 January 2015

In modern Australia, politics and public policy appear to reflect a narrow range of managerial, political, and economic opinions. Even the much publicised ‘listening tours’ conducted by politicians seem designed to show that they are sensitive to community concerns, but not so sensitive as to want to change policy direction. What makes current discussion of political issues so dispiriting is t ... (read more)

Lyndon Megarrity reviews 'Don Dunstan, Intimacy & Liberty: A political biography' by Dino Hodge

August 2014, no. 363 • 01 August 2014

When I was commissioned to write this review, I assumed that this book would be a conventional political biography. I looked forward to reading about Dunstan’s career as premier of South Australia (1967–68 and 1970–79), as his record of achievements showed that our states and territories have the potential to be powerful players in social and cultural reform. However, the focus of Dino Hodge ... (read more)

Lyndon Megarrity reviews 'The Gillard Governments: Australian Commonwealth administration' edited by Chris Aulich

May 2014, no. 361 • 30 April 2014

The prime ministership of Julia Gillard attracted an immense amount of media attention, not least because of the novelty of a female leader aspiring to embody the values and dreams of the Australian people. As opposition to her policies and style grew, Gillard as the government figurehead was at times subjected to extremist protests that used her gender as a weapon. Gillard’s prime ministership ... (read more)

Lyndon Megarrity reviews 'For The True Believers: Great Labor speeches that shaped history' by Troy Bramston

December 2013–January 2014, no. 357 • 01 December 2013

‘Well may we say “God Save the Queen”, because nothing will save the Governor-General.’ Gough Whitlam’s famous words during his impromptu speech after the Dismissal in 1975 remain a potent symbol of the excitements and turbulence of the Whitlam era. As Troy Bramston’s collection of ALP speeches since 1891 reminds us, political speeches can capture a national mood or sentiment at a par ... (read more)

Lyndon Megarrity reviews 'W. Macmahon Ball' by Ai Kobayashi

September 2013, no. 354 • 27 August 2013

William Macmahon Ball (1901–86) was many things: an academic, a diplomat, a writer, and what we would now refer to as a ‘public intellectual’. As Ai Kobayashi’s new study of this fascinating man ably demonstrates, Ball was predominantly an educator. In the classroom, through books, and in the media, Ball encouraged his audience to reflect more deeply and actively on Australia’s relations ... (read more)