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Australia's Prime Ministers by Mungo MacCallum: book review



The Good, the Bad and the Unlikely: Australia's Prime Ministers (2016) is about Australia’s 29 Prime Ministers from Edmund Barton (1901-1903) to Malcolm Bligh Turnbull (2015-2018), covering their background, aspirations, and life in office—whether it was for eight days or 19 years.

There are 28 men and one woman—Julia Gillard. Julia Eileen Gillard, Australia’s 27th Prime Minister, from 2010 to 2013, was the country’s first unmarried leader, and first woman PM, noted for her speech condemning misogyny.

Unlike in many countries, in Australia there is no requirement to be born in Australia to serve in the top position in the land. Hence, there are 22 Prime Ministers born in Austalia and seven born overseas—with six from the United Kingdom and one from Chile. John Christian Watson, the third Prime Minister—for four months in 1904—was born in Chile and raised in New Zealand. Although his premiership was short, he  led the world’s first Labor government.

The biographies are brief, mentioning their background and characteristics—positive and negative—their lives, legacies, and popularity (or not). Nothing is elaborated upon in any detail, and even the dates of their leadership is hidden in the narratives. A detailed list of dates would be welcome. 

Nevertheless there are some points of interest, and it's easy to dip in and out of chapters. 

For example, the first Prime Minister, Edmund Barton (1901-1903), was ‘the great conciliator’ bringing a cluster of colonial states to federation. Alfred Deakin who served three terms (1903-1904, 1905-1908, and 1909-1910) was ‘the great builder’ nursing the infant federation. 

Earle Christmas Grafton became the 11th PM for 19 days in 1939. Robert Gordon Menzies (1939-1941, and 1949-1966) had ‘an era in politics’ taking the country into three wars and the Cold War, including Australia’s ‘greatest spy story.’

Francis Michael Forde served as PM for eight days from 6-13 July 1945 after the death of John Curtin in office. John Benedict Chifley (1945-1949) is known as Australia’s ‘best loved’ PM and ‘most successful treasurer’ but mostly as the ‘man-of-the-people’ that ‘retained the common touch.’

Harold Edward Holt (1966-1967), a month after his inauguration, celebrated the currency change from pounds, shillings, and pence to dollars and cents on 14 February 1966. He died in office after a taking a morning swim on 17 December 1967 at Cheviot Beach. He disappeared and his body was never found, sparking theories of drowning, shark attack, and conspiracy theories.

Edward Gough Whitlam (1972-1975) was ‘large and legendary’ representing the future, but he was unseated in a vote of no-confidence, and on 11 November 1975 the Governor-General Sir John Kerr (the Queen’s representative) sacked him.

Robert ‘Bob’ James Lee Hawke (1983-1991) recorded the highest popularity rating ever measured by an opinion poll for his ‘career based on camaraderie … and sheer luck.’ Paul John Keating (1991-1996) had ‘electrifying performance skills … a natural talent for economics’ and an eye for the ‘big picture.’ He is the only Prime Minister with a hit musical show about him. 

It’s quite good for a quick reference book, and there is an accompanying photograph with each leader. But some snapshot facts and figures would add to the information and interest. 












MARTINA NICOLLSis an international aid and development consultant, and the authorof:- Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom(2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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