The Worldly Art of Politics

Erscheinungsjahr 2006
ISBN: 978-1-86287-615-6
Verlag: Federation Press

Buch, Englisch, 350 Seiten, Format (B × H): 150 mm x 210 mm, Gewicht: 562 g

Politics is the task of liars, cheats and scoundrels and politicians are the lowest of the low. So runs, and has always run, popular opinion in Australia. And yet New South Wales has been one of the best governed, most peaceful and most prosperous of societies over the past 150 years. How is the one compatible with the other? The Worldly Art of Politics argues that the public image owes more to myth than fact, and that politicians mostly live hardworking, effective, insecure, and very public lives. The book focuses on their contributions away from the spotlight of the Parliamentary bearpits. Some have special talents as committee workers, others as coalition partners (like the Nationals’ Charles Cutler), skilful administrators and negotiators (like Labor’s Reg Downing), or constructive party officers (like the Liberals’ John Carrick). All, in their own fashion, “represent†the electorate. There is the stalwart seen as “one of us†(Jack Ferguson); the “good local member†(Michael Maher); the Independent (John Hatton and Richard Torbay); and the pathbreaker who achieves relevance for a minor party (Elisabeth Kirkby) or a formerly unrepresented group (Millicent Preston Stanley). Overall, despite the lurid headlines, New South Wales politicians maintain a system in which ideas and conflicts and interests are openly articulated and peacefully resolved: a successful, working democracy.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Turner, Ken

Hogan, Michael

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politikwissenschaft Allgemein

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Contents Section 1 - The Need for Good Politics Introduction Ken Turner & Michael Hogan Why politicians must be odious Henry Mayer The ethical standards of politicians Gerard Carney Section 2 - Representing a Constituency Michael Maher: A Good Local Member David Clune Sir William Lyne: In His Electorate Sir Joseph Carruther A Tale of Two Independents Frank Bongiorno Jack Ferguson: Representing Workers Rodney Cavalier Millicent Preston-Stanley: Organising for women’s representation Michael Hogan A Plea for the Politican John Osborne Section 3 - Forms of Contribution George Mure Black: Labor Publicist Jim Hagan Arthur Hill Griffith: Standard Bearer for Public Enterprise Morris Graham John Hatton: Independent MP Henry Lee & Glenn Mitchell Elisabeth Kirkby: Attention to Parliamentary Review Ken Turner Sir John Peden: Representing the Public Interest Gareth Griffith Charles Cutler: A Lesson in Coalition Partnership with Premier Askin Paul Davey Creative Committee Work: Random Breath Testing Kevin Rozzoli The Public Works Committee 1888-1930 Clive Beauchamp John Carrick: the Influence of Head Office Ian Hancock Reg Downing: a Safe Pair of Hands David Clune Speechwriters: Are They Necessary? Graham Freudenberg Decision-Making in Greiner’s NSW Inc. An Insider’s Perspective Peta Seaton Conclusion Ken Turner & Michael Hogan