Don Dunstan: Intimacy and Liberty

by Dino Hodge

Don Dunstan, Premier of South Australia in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s, is acknowledged as one of Australia's foremost civil rights advocates of the twentieth century. He actively promoted the rights of Indigenous Australians and women, and he passionately pursued multiculturalism. More than any other political leader in the country's history, Dunstan championed the rights of homosexual citizens at a time when they were treated as criminals, classified as insane, and regarded as outcasts. He was also bisexual.

This book records the change in public discourse over issues of homosexuality - from morality to state security and then civil liberties. Dunstan worked as a member of parliament for more than twenty-five years, and then throughout the remainder of his life, to realise his vision of full equality for same-sex attracted citizens. He focused on both legislative and cultural reforms, and introduced changes to the Police Force that were unprecedented and strongly resisted. His efforts and the backlash he suffered are fully documented here for the first time, finally giving due recognition to one of the country's most remarkable champions of human rights.

410 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2014

About the author

Dr Dino Hodge - Konstantino Hadjikakou - was introduced to notions of empire and colonisation by his Cypriot family, and to fluidity in identity and intimacy through his Greek cultural heritage. His publications include 'Did You Meet Any Malagas?' (1993), an oral history book about intersections of racial and sexual identities in Darwin's gay community, and 'Don Dunstan, Intimacy and Liberty' (2014), a biography of South Australia's great reformist premier. He is co-editor of 'You Don't Get Degrees in Weetbix Boxes' (1994), a social studies text about Indigenous education and career experiences.

Reviews

[Corey Zerna · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a child I remember watching Don Dunstan walk down to the Glenelg foreshore on TV, with thousands of onlookers, to hold back the impending tidal wave ... such was his sense of theatre and his charisma - he saved Adelaide (and I thought then me too) and the wave never came.
This book doesn't cover that event but delivers a fascinating history of gay culture in Adelaide through the 1900's , particularly the post-war (WW2) period and the shocking and brutal police war against homosexuals... and Dunstan's 25 year political career, his efforts to reign in police abuse of power, and his amazing achievements for gay rights not just in Adelaide but across the country.
The first biography of Dunstan to tackle the links between his sexuality and his public life head on.
This is a must read for any gays with an interest in how we got to where we are today

[Lisa]

I don’t usually on my blog on books that I abandon, but I was very disappointed in this biography of Don Dunstan, innovative Premier of South Australia and hero of progressive Australians in the 1970s. I was expecting it to recapture the heady atmosphere of those reforming days and to celebrate the man’s remarkable personality and astonishing achievements, but it doesn’t. In fact, it was too dull to finish.

The author’s premise seems to be that Don Dunstan’s sexuality was the catalyst for his interest in human rights and civil liberties. In pursuit of that argument the details of Dunstan’s intimate life overwhelm the man’s political and cultural achievements.

To see the rest of my thoughts, please visit http://anzlitlovers.com/2014/09/26/do...

I don't rate books I don't finish.