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Backstage Politics
'Retiring in 1975, Fred Daly liked to tell the story of the new Member who sat next to him in the House. Turning to Fred, he said, 'I like to sit here and look across at the enemy.'
'Son,' said Fred, 'you are looking at the Opposition. The enemy is behind you.' '
Phillip Adams has been close to governments of various persuasions for over fifty years. Having been a confidant – or a fierce opponent – of many of Australia's most influential figures over that time, he has built up an unparalleled collection of anecdotes about our political and cultural leaders.
Backstage Politics is also something of a personal memoir, tracing Adams' life in politics, media and the arts over the years. To make the collection complete, he even invited the pollies themselves to submit their stories, the most enthusiastic respondent – not surprisingly – being Senator Barnaby Joyce.
The biggest characters of public life emerge afresh in these pages. From Menzies to Rudd – via Gorton, Whitlam, Fraser, Hawke, Keating, Hanson, Howard et al. – Backstage Politics takes us on a funny, insightful and revealing journey through the Australian political landscape.
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY BRUCE PETTY
'Son,' said Fred, 'you are looking at the Opposition. The enemy is behind you.' '
Phillip Adams has been close to governments of various persuasions for over fifty years. Having been a confidant – or a fierce opponent – of many of Australia's most influential figures over that time, he has built up an unparalleled collection of anecdotes about our political and cultural leaders.
Backstage Politics is also something of a personal memoir, tracing Adams' life in politics, media and the arts over the years. To make the collection complete, he even invited the pollies themselves to submit their stories, the most enthusiastic respondent – not surprisingly – being Senator Barnaby Joyce.
The biggest characters of public life emerge afresh in these pages. From Menzies to Rudd – via Gorton, Whitlam, Fraser, Hawke, Keating, Hanson, Howard et al. – Backstage Politics takes us on a funny, insightful and revealing journey through the Australian political landscape.
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY BRUCE PETTY
252 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
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About the author
Phillip Adams
40 books18 followersAustralian broadcaster, film producer, writer, humanist, social commentator, satirist, left-wing pundit and atheist.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 23, 2014
An enjoyable read, if you can get over Adams' self-aggrandizing prose. He seems to suggest that he's behind every development that has taken place in Australian politics over the past 50 years, but the book itself remains amusing. Would recommend to anyone with a light hearted interest in Australian political culture.
October 12, 2012
This is a laugh out loud book on the last 50 years or so in politics. You might be forgiven to think that Phillip is one of the "faceless men" of Australian politics but in reality he's more of an astute observer and commentator. It's the humorous insight on the personalities that have come and gone over the past 50 years and what happens behind the scenes that makes this book so enjoyable.
May 4, 2011
Starts of slowly but becomes a riot toward the end. Very funny if you know Australian politics. It could be used as a primer to understand Australian political culture.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews