An address on 9 October 2024 at the Sydney Institute, Phillip Street, Sydney, on the launch of James Scullin, Australian Biographical Monographs # 24, Connor Court publishers, subsequently published in The Sydney Papers, 2024.
It is a spectacular irony that in the 21st century, so far, the Australian whom in sympathy most popularised Catholic social thought is a committed atheist and Fabian socialist who youthfully flirted with joining the Communist Party. This is only one of the fascinating features of the life of Race Mathews (1935- ), explored in a well-researched biography by his wife and noted author, Iola Mathews.
Photos taken from the launch The Prime Minister’s remarks: Launch of ‘In Search of John Christian Watson, Labor’s First Prime Minister’ by Michael Easson |
WA Labor Senator Fatima Payman’s crossing the Senate floor to vote for a Greens’ motion on immediate recognition of the state of Palestine and against the Government is highly unusual in the ALP.
Stan Sharkey (1933-2024), NSW and national leader of building workers, former amateur and professional boxer, jockey, apprentice bricklayer, then skilled tradesman, communist, deserves tribute for an interesting, vital, important life.
It is interesting to speculate about what might have been.
The Hon. Michael Rueben Egan AO (1948-2024), who died yesterday, was the longest serving NSW Treasurer, 1995 to 2005.
Simon Crean, who died unexpectedly of heart failure after an asthma attack in Germany yesterday, following a morning exercise, was Australia’s most successful trade minister, whose contributions to the Australian labour movement ranged over fifty years, including as ACTU President during the Accord era.
Notes “dipped” into in delivering remarks at the Whitlam Institute, Western Sydney University, on 21 February 2023 at the launch of Scott Prasser & David Clune, editors, The Whitlam Era.
This thoughtful, well-researched, yet sometimes frustratingly opinionated book, The Party, covers the history of the Communist Party of Australia (CPA) from 1940 to 1970.