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Cautious pragmatism

by
June–July 2005, no. 272

Yes, Premier: Labor leadership in Australia's states and territories edited by John Wanna and Paul Williams

UNSW Press, $39.95 pb, 273 pp

Cautious pragmatism

by
June–July 2005, no. 272

This book explores an unprecedented phenomenon: coast-to-coast Labor governments in the states and territories. The peculiarity of the current situation is magnified by Labor’s continuing failure at the national level. Where state politics can boast political ‘stars’ such as Bob Carr and Peter Beattie, federally the cupboard seems bare. Yet this collection reminds us of the unfairness of comparison between Labor’s national failure and sub-national success. Victory is great for your image. It takes considerable historical imagination to appreciate that there was a time when Carr was regarded as ‘a stopgap leader’ – as he was in the aftermath of Labor’s 1988 electoral humiliation. David Clune shows that Carr’s first year or so in office, when the government had a majority of one seat, was no raging success.

Yes, Premier: Labor leadership in Australia's states and territories

Yes, Premier: Labor leadership in Australia's states and territories

edited by John Wanna and Paul Williams

UNSW Press, $39.95 pb, 273 pp

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