(1982) A Purblind Futurology
Published shortly before the formation of the Social Democratic Party, Dr Owen’s book is important both as a diagnosis of the Labour Party and for the impressions he gives of the “Gang of Four”.
(1982) Why Crosland Still Matters
Members of the Labor Party who are not enamoured of the pidgin Marxist rhetoric that often passes for analysis among the Socialist Left would do well to read Susan Crosland’s biography of Anthony Crosland. It is a valuable introduction to the mind and character of her husband.
(1982) Leaders Bewildered by Crisis
Alan Reid’s introduction to the re-issue of Warren Denning’s handsomely illustrated Caucus Crisis contains a revealing memoir of the author of the classic account of the Scullin government and the Great Depression.
(1981) How the Labour Party Works
Studies of the workings of the Labour Party usually concentrate on the workings of Labour Cabinets, the intellectual pretensions of its leaders and the ideological significance of Annual Conference decisions. For this reason most of the literature does not score the tunes to which the party is marching.
(1981) Not All The Truth is Out Even Now
Kim Beazley in his Foreword to Michael Thwaite’s book Truth Will Out comments that the Petrov affair is in the memory of the political professionals rather than the public and argues that it was the performance of Dr Evatt rather than the Petrovs’ revelations that was decisive in shattering the ALP’s electoral standing in the 1950s.
(1981) Shades of Red
Usually the reminiscences of veteran Communist Party of Australia (CPA) members hero worship the Party, report tit-bits of gossip, re-evaluate while conceding a few trifling errors in CPA policy or tactics over the years, so as to enhance the credibility of their story. Consequently such memoirs are boring, to be avoided except as a cure for insomnia.
(1981) Lloyd Ross: A Critical Socialist
“It is only because modern labourites and socialists have neglected their own history, and no longer read their theoretical classics, that these strains of liberty, industrial democracy, workers’ self-government, have been forgotten and their lessons for today neglected.”
(1981) Against the Tide
Mr Santamaria is the most controversial and politically most influential Catholic layman in Australia’s history. To most ALP stalwarts Mr Santamaria is the political equivalent of what Professor Moriarty was to Sherlock Holmes.
(1981) Michael Thwaites’ Account of The Petrov Affair
Kim Beazley [Snr.] in his Foreword to Michael Thwaites’ book Truth Will Out comments that the “Petrov affair is in the memory of the political professionals rather than the public” and argues that it was the performance of Dr. Evatt rather than the Petrovs’ revelations that was decisive in shattering the ALP’s electoral standing in the middle 1950s.
(1981) The 110th Anniversary of the Labor Council of NSW
On 25th May 1871, a small band of men drawn from six unions in the colony of New South Wales formed the Trades and Labor Council of New South Wales.