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Straight Left
Tom Uren has always been a battler, and a fighter for peace, justice and freedom. From his early days, growing up in Sydney during the Depression, through the time he was a POW of the Japanese, to the years he spent in the House of Representatives—and being a Minister in both the Whitlam and Hawke governments—he has always been true to his ideals.
In Straight Left he tells the story of his life and times. It is anything but a dry political memoir: it is the story of a man with a passion for life, people and the causes he regards as vital—ranging from opposing the war in Vietnam to fighting for a proper, planned approach to urban and regional affairs. His commitment to the environment began long before it was the fashionable thing to do. To this day he is active in the fight for justice for ex-servicemen and women.
He tells of the people who sustained and encouraged him—among them is his mother, who was the first of a number of important women in his life; Weary Dunlop, under whom he served in Japanese prison camps; and political figures including Jim Cairns, Gough Whitlam and Paul Keating. He speaks movingly of his friendship with the late Lloyd Rees—an association more important than most political alliances.
From the day Tom Uren joined the Australian Labor Party he belonged to the Left and never stopped fighting for the cause. In Straight Left he tells his story of many of the political battles over the years within the Party, at both the state and federal level, on issues ranging from Timor to economic rationalism.
Straight Left is, above all, the story of a classic Australian who has never lost touch with ordinary people and has remained true to his ideals.
In Straight Left he tells the story of his life and times. It is anything but a dry political memoir: it is the story of a man with a passion for life, people and the causes he regards as vital—ranging from opposing the war in Vietnam to fighting for a proper, planned approach to urban and regional affairs. His commitment to the environment began long before it was the fashionable thing to do. To this day he is active in the fight for justice for ex-servicemen and women.
He tells of the people who sustained and encouraged him—among them is his mother, who was the first of a number of important women in his life; Weary Dunlop, under whom he served in Japanese prison camps; and political figures including Jim Cairns, Gough Whitlam and Paul Keating. He speaks movingly of his friendship with the late Lloyd Rees—an association more important than most political alliances.
From the day Tom Uren joined the Australian Labor Party he belonged to the Left and never stopped fighting for the cause. In Straight Left he tells his story of many of the political battles over the years within the Party, at both the state and federal level, on issues ranging from Timor to economic rationalism.
Straight Left is, above all, the story of a classic Australian who has never lost touch with ordinary people and has remained true to his ideals.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 10, 2015
This is a memoir, and I really enjoyed reading it. It was like having a conversation, reminiscing about the great political events through which I have lived and gaining an insight from someone who was on the inside. It was very revealing indeed. Having come from a working class family (my grand father was a stoker and my father a boilermaker) I was imbued with the values of the labour heartland and have always felt the validity of social conscience at a deep level. I remember the Vietnam War, I was conscripted and served there and saw first hand the brutality and amorality those circumstances promote; I remember the dismissal of the Whitlam Government and the ouitrage I felt at having my vote nullified by the predation of the Conservative right acting in the belief that they were the class that was born to rule; I remember the years of Labour in the wilderness, the struggles of the Hayden opposition to pull themselves together through the very public tussles of self serving egos; I remember the advent of Bob Hawke, the great sense of hope he brought to his Prime Ministership and the sense of disappointment and betrayal I felt at many of the decisions of his Government including privatisation, shifting the tax burden from the rich to the working class, the mining of uranium and the committment of troops to the Gulf War.
I did not know it at the time but I did sense in some way, that his stewardship along with his cronies represented the dying throes of the Labour movement as I knew it. Bob Hawke, little more than an opportunistic populist with greater committment to his wealthy mates than the people of his nation, he was a disaster for the Labour movement and the values it held so centrally for a century. The full result of the movement in the direction of market forces, towards the centre right of politics and the dictatorship of the polls are now being seen fully blown in the dearth of leadership and lack of principle that pervades the whole of Australian politics. The change has however been more radical within the Labour ranks than that of the Conservatives,there it has simply reinforced the substance of what has always been their elitist and arrognat politics. The "best" that politics in this country can provide now are all anathema to any thinking, principled human being A pox on all their houses.
In addition Tom Uren lit up for me the pettiness, meglomaniac, cynical manipulation of the political process by the Labour machine. It evolved to support and ensure the maintenance of the rights of the working class, it has been totally co-opted and corrupted to serve the interests of a few, intent of husbanding personal power, prestige and privilege; perhaps in a different way, but just as virulently as the Conservative camp, who regard human beings as merely elements of wealth production alive to serve their personal interests.
The leading lights of Labour could now never be addressed as "Comrade" by anyone, fraternal brotherhood and cooperation in the national interest has disappeared into the sludge of self serving opportunism. There is no greatness left, Uren was probably the last who could claim any of that. He at least knew what his principles were and was never afraid to stand up for them no matter the political consequences for him.
Politicians of Tom Uren's ilk could not survive in toiday's political landsacpe. The urge and commitment to serve the people is dead and it was effectively killed off by the very movement sworn to protect it. Short of violent revolution, there can never again be another age where the people determine the nature of their government or its policies, and revolution is entirely unlikely since the concentration of media ownership, free reign for predatory banks and the dumbing down of the nation through a dysfunctional education system has ensured an indebted, fearful, gullible people who believe every sound bight and fear to form their own opinions, even if they have the intellectual capacity to do so. Advance Australia...where?
I did not know it at the time but I did sense in some way, that his stewardship along with his cronies represented the dying throes of the Labour movement as I knew it. Bob Hawke, little more than an opportunistic populist with greater committment to his wealthy mates than the people of his nation, he was a disaster for the Labour movement and the values it held so centrally for a century. The full result of the movement in the direction of market forces, towards the centre right of politics and the dictatorship of the polls are now being seen fully blown in the dearth of leadership and lack of principle that pervades the whole of Australian politics. The change has however been more radical within the Labour ranks than that of the Conservatives,there it has simply reinforced the substance of what has always been their elitist and arrognat politics. The "best" that politics in this country can provide now are all anathema to any thinking, principled human being A pox on all their houses.
In addition Tom Uren lit up for me the pettiness, meglomaniac, cynical manipulation of the political process by the Labour machine. It evolved to support and ensure the maintenance of the rights of the working class, it has been totally co-opted and corrupted to serve the interests of a few, intent of husbanding personal power, prestige and privilege; perhaps in a different way, but just as virulently as the Conservative camp, who regard human beings as merely elements of wealth production alive to serve their personal interests.
The leading lights of Labour could now never be addressed as "Comrade" by anyone, fraternal brotherhood and cooperation in the national interest has disappeared into the sludge of self serving opportunism. There is no greatness left, Uren was probably the last who could claim any of that. He at least knew what his principles were and was never afraid to stand up for them no matter the political consequences for him.
Politicians of Tom Uren's ilk could not survive in toiday's political landsacpe. The urge and commitment to serve the people is dead and it was effectively killed off by the very movement sworn to protect it. Short of violent revolution, there can never again be another age where the people determine the nature of their government or its policies, and revolution is entirely unlikely since the concentration of media ownership, free reign for predatory banks and the dumbing down of the nation through a dysfunctional education system has ensured an indebted, fearful, gullible people who believe every sound bight and fear to form their own opinions, even if they have the intellectual capacity to do so. Advance Australia...where?
February 10, 2015
Excellent and entertaining read. A war hero, a stalwart Labour Party man, a life in public service. Insightful story of a worthy life.
October 22, 2025
I found this one on Mum's bookshelf, or to be more specific, in a box of books she needed to offload when she moved house. I like biography and politics so even without the clever and catchy title, I would have picked it up.
Straight Left refers to Tom Uren's politics and the fact he was a boxer in his youth. It's also a nod to his honesty.
Much of Straight Left is overly detailed descriptions of political discussions and voting, but if you can wade through the dry weeds, you get a good sense of what Uren stands for, and a balanced view of the issues from the Vietnam War, to urban development and planning, environmental issues, the first Gulf War and the treatment of veterans. Uren also provides an insight into the the Whitlam and Hawke governments in which he served as a minister. 30 years in parliament means he knows what he's talking about. I like that he wasn't afraid to speak out against what he thought was wrong and speak up for what he thought was right, even taking on colleagues, allies, and the Prime Minsters he served under.
I enjoyed his succinct opinions on various people, mostly politicians but also pre politicians (the book was published in the mid 90s) like Peter Garret and sports people like former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh, among others.
Probably the best sections of the book were those which dealt with his life before politics. Tom was a prisoner of war during world war II and maintained his Christian faith through all these years. I was surprised to learn that he abandoned belief in his 40s and became a humanist. I don't understand humanism at all except as vanity so, with respect to Tom Uren, that coloured my perception of the book and of him. I was also disappointed there was very little personal content. There was some but I would have liked to hear more about him rather than what he did. That's not very clear, but anyway.
Although I had to speed read through a lot of 'boring' sections and deal with the unfortunate feeling that he was singing his own praises a little too much, I enjoyed Straight Left. My vague sense of dissatisfaction which I unsuccessfully tried to explain above led tot he three star rating but it's a good read.
Straight Left refers to Tom Uren's politics and the fact he was a boxer in his youth. It's also a nod to his honesty.
Much of Straight Left is overly detailed descriptions of political discussions and voting, but if you can wade through the dry weeds, you get a good sense of what Uren stands for, and a balanced view of the issues from the Vietnam War, to urban development and planning, environmental issues, the first Gulf War and the treatment of veterans. Uren also provides an insight into the the Whitlam and Hawke governments in which he served as a minister. 30 years in parliament means he knows what he's talking about. I like that he wasn't afraid to speak out against what he thought was wrong and speak up for what he thought was right, even taking on colleagues, allies, and the Prime Minsters he served under.
I enjoyed his succinct opinions on various people, mostly politicians but also pre politicians (the book was published in the mid 90s) like Peter Garret and sports people like former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh, among others.
Probably the best sections of the book were those which dealt with his life before politics. Tom was a prisoner of war during world war II and maintained his Christian faith through all these years. I was surprised to learn that he abandoned belief in his 40s and became a humanist. I don't understand humanism at all except as vanity so, with respect to Tom Uren, that coloured my perception of the book and of him. I was also disappointed there was very little personal content. There was some but I would have liked to hear more about him rather than what he did. That's not very clear, but anyway.
Although I had to speed read through a lot of 'boring' sections and deal with the unfortunate feeling that he was singing his own praises a little too much, I enjoyed Straight Left. My vague sense of dissatisfaction which I unsuccessfully tried to explain above led tot he three star rating but it's a good read.
December 30, 2020
autobiography of a very decent Australian; useful inside information from the 1960s and 1970s
January 30, 2016
He is one of my favorite humans
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews