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Quarterly Essay #59
Faction Man: Bill Shorten’s Pursuit of Power
In Faction Man, David Marr traces the career of a Labor warrior. In dazzling style, he shows how a brilliant recruiter and formidable campaigner mastered first the unions and then the party in pursuit of an ambition he set himself in childhood: to be Prime Minister of Australia.
Bill Shorten is a contender. But where do his loyalties lie? Is he a defender of Labor values in today’s Australia, or is he a shape-shifter, driven entirely by politics? And does this product of the old world of union intrigue have what it takes to defeat Malcolm Turnbull and lead the country?
Marr reveals a man we hardly know: the Napoleon of factions, a virtuoso with numbers and a strategist of skill whom Labor has backed to return the party to power.
Bill Shorten is a contender. But where do his loyalties lie? Is he a defender of Labor values in today’s Australia, or is he a shape-shifter, driven entirely by politics? And does this product of the old world of union intrigue have what it takes to defeat Malcolm Turnbull and lead the country?
Marr reveals a man we hardly know: the Napoleon of factions, a virtuoso with numbers and a strategist of skill whom Labor has backed to return the party to power.
196 pages, Paperback
First published September 21, 2015
18 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
David Marr
39 books104 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Eminent Australian journalist, author, and progressive political and social commentator. David Marr is the multi-award-winning author of Patrick White: A Life, Panic and The High Price of Heaven, and co- author with Marian Wilkinson of Dark Victory. He has written for the Sydney Morning Herald, the Age, The Saturday Paper, The Guardian Australia and the Monthly. He has been editor of the National Times, a reporter for Four Corners and presenter of ABC TV’s Media Watch. He is also the author of two previous bestselling biographical Quarterly Essays: Power Trip: The Political Journey of Kevin Rudd and Political Animal: The Making of Tony Abbott. His areas of expertise include Australian politics, law, censorship, the media and the arts. David Marr began his career in 1973 and is the recipient of four Walkley awards for journalism. He also appears as a semi-regular panellist on the ABC television programs Q&A and Insiders.
Eminent Australian journalist, author, and progressive political and social commentator. David Marr is the multi-award-winning author of Patrick White: A Life, Panic and The High Price of Heaven, and co- author with Marian Wilkinson of Dark Victory. He has written for the Sydney Morning Herald, the Age, The Saturday Paper, The Guardian Australia and the Monthly. He has been editor of the National Times, a reporter for Four Corners and presenter of ABC TV’s Media Watch. He is also the author of two previous bestselling biographical Quarterly Essays: Power Trip: The Political Journey of Kevin Rudd and Political Animal: The Making of Tony Abbott. His areas of expertise include Australian politics, law, censorship, the media and the arts. David Marr began his career in 1973 and is the recipient of four Walkley awards for journalism. He also appears as a semi-regular panellist on the ABC television programs Q&A and Insiders.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
September 24, 2015
Not Marr's best work (it lacks the animating rage of "The Prince", for example), but perhaps this rather dry telling is fitting to the man. Bill Shorten is something of a cipher to most Australians (myself included), and reading this book is more like discovering that the jigsaw has even more pieces than what it's a picture of. It's a good look at where Shorten's from, but it fails to give a good idea of where he's going to. (To be fair, this may be as much due to Shorten himself, given his tendency to keep things close to the vest, and his generally opportunistic approach to politics - he's more reactive than active as Leader of the Opposition, and while one feels that he'd be a sensible and competent Prime Minister, he'll never be mistaken for a visionary in the Whitlam or Keating mode. Or even in the Howard mode.)
October 10, 2018
A riveting book that keeps you captivated through the story of Shorten. But don’t expect the book to change your perception of the opposition leader, if you like him now, expect to like him more. If you dislike him, prepare to detest him. If you don’t understand what Shorten stands for, prepare to be more confused about what Shortens value and principles are. I still don’t know why wants to be prime minister beyond his pursuit of power from ever since he entered university. Nevertheless, Marr does a wonderful job traversing through Victorian Labor factional and Union politics and it is a really good read.
December 3, 2020
Filtered through Marr's underhanded anti-Catholicism, an occasionally enjoyable but mostly boring biography emerges - one about the least interesting of the ALP's leaders in recent history.
September 28, 2015
Easily the driest of Marr's five Quarterly Essays, Faction Man struggles with a poor subject. If you already think Shorten is boring, dull, hollow and mysteriously disingenuous this essay will do nothing to dispel those thoughts.
The main takeaways are:
1) How depressing is factional interplay ?
2) Who would want to be a politician in Australia in the modern age ?
3) I still don't know what Bill Shorten believes in and now I even wonder if he knows. If David Marr can't tease out an answer maybe it's strong evidence Little Billy (to borrow a Latham-ism) doesn't actually believe in anything.
The main takeaways are:
1) How depressing is factional interplay ?
2) Who would want to be a politician in Australia in the modern age ?
3) I still don't know what Bill Shorten believes in and now I even wonder if he knows. If David Marr can't tease out an answer maybe it's strong evidence Little Billy (to borrow a Latham-ism) doesn't actually believe in anything.
August 17, 2019
David Marr is so easy to read, and so well researched. Here's a portrait of a man with almost everything takes to be Prime Minister of Australia. He is clever, smart, sociable. He can organise others. He can compromise, even shape shift, to get an outcome. He believes in old-fashioned Labor issues like jobs for all, decent pay and conditions. He ought to be hero of the middle and working classes. But one sentence in Marr's description reveals the one lamentable thing: "It isn't true he stands for nothing. ... What's counted against him is that he stands for nothing brave."
November 26, 2023
Marr provides an extensive and detailed insight into Shorten's career. All throughout the book Marr draws on a variety of stories about Shorten as well as the opinions of others close to him. It enables the reader to learn what drives shorten: power. Shorten derives his power through factions. All of his career steps have been driven by his desire to increase his factional power. His power within the unions. His power within Victoria. His power nationally. His power in the ALP parliamentary wing.
It is not to say that there are no redeeming things about Shorten. Shorten has an extensive track record of using the media to advocate for worker. Much like Hawke he used the media to push the agenda of the trade union movement. Despite this, Shorten does undermine workers on many occasions - allowing substandard EBAs, receiving excessive employee subsidies and maintaining close relations with business. All of these shortcomings come down to his love of power.
Outside of Shorten, the essay provides some other interestering insights. In particular, the essay draws out how parliamentary talent are picked: factional deals or true talent such as Dreyfus.
It is not to say that there are no redeeming things about Shorten. Shorten has an extensive track record of using the media to advocate for worker. Much like Hawke he used the media to push the agenda of the trade union movement. Despite this, Shorten does undermine workers on many occasions - allowing substandard EBAs, receiving excessive employee subsidies and maintaining close relations with business. All of these shortcomings come down to his love of power.
Outside of Shorten, the essay provides some other interestering insights. In particular, the essay draws out how parliamentary talent are picked: factional deals or true talent such as Dreyfus.
May 15, 2018
Before reading this, my knowledge of Bill Shorten was that he was a man of mystery. He came to light at the Beaconsfield Mine Disaster, and being accused of knifing two prime ministers, and came on to become the now leader of the opposition.
This book covers his upbringing (in private schools), his wharfie father (Bill Snr), and his wheeling and dealing to rise through the ranks of unions, and now the ALP.
He still remains a man of mystery and I get the feeling you only will find out what he wants found out. Sadly this book highlighted the factional power plays that wrack the labor party, and will continue to do so. Bill's assertion that union members know more than the labor members so they get a better say in deciding policy is ludicrous.
A good book that gives you plenty to think about.
This book covers his upbringing (in private schools), his wharfie father (Bill Snr), and his wheeling and dealing to rise through the ranks of unions, and now the ALP.
He still remains a man of mystery and I get the feeling you only will find out what he wants found out. Sadly this book highlighted the factional power plays that wrack the labor party, and will continue to do so. Bill's assertion that union members know more than the labor members so they get a better say in deciding policy is ludicrous.
A good book that gives you plenty to think about.
March 31, 2019
I like David Marr's writing, and he has helped me get perspective on and understand better a number of Australian politicians. And with Shorten poised to take power at the next elections, I thought it was about time to try to get to know the man better. Despite Marr's best efforts, I don't really feel that I do. Shorten comes across as the ultimate Labour machine man - you certainly get a sense of his ambition, drive, factional wizardry, mastery of the political game - but almost nothing about him as a man, his real values, and goals and ambitions (other than ultimately to become Prime Minister). Depressing reading really - much of the country is desperate to get rid of the current mob in power, but is Shorten really all that we have by way of credible alternative? Marr tries hard, but never really seems to get under Shorten's skin - or does he? Is that all there is?
May 17, 2017
This is an intriguing book by the dogged David Marr. Bill Shorten, Australian Labor Party leader is the opposition, is portrayed as a politician who wants to be liked and is willing to talk your head off. He may yet be prime minister but will he dare to find the best solutions for Australia or will poll driven choices preserve the reigning mediocrity?
November 25, 2017
This was pretty dry, for which Shorten is most definitely to blame, not Marr. Still, it gives some insight into Shorten's history and what exactly he wants for this country, which is apparently the inspiring goal of maintaining the status quo.
May 13, 2018
Well written, really interesting read about Bill Shorten's rise to he top.
December 14, 2018
What Anyone expecting that Shorten will deliver for workers hasn't read this book.
December 2, 2020
It was OK, but a little bit underwhelming and boring. Hopefully not indicative of his personality.
October 13, 2015
Julia’s arse, Joan’s polka dot dress, Bill’s suit – what is it about the sartorial style (or lack of) on the part of Labor Party leaders that so gets people going? I did however warm to this essay about two pages in when Marr wrote: ”Shorten’s body is not made for suits. His baggy frame sits on skinny legs. At factory gates in the old days he wore chambray shirts and bomber jackets. There’s something about the new uniform of coat and tie that suggests a plugger dressed for court.”
The reviews of this essay have been mixed; some suggesting that Marr has not quite got Shorten right (Marr as a “sceptical Sydney intellectual”) and some suggesting that the terrain is not interesting enough to make an interesting essay. (I liked this comment: “Marr’s operatic sense of character doesn’t lend itself to Shorten’s rather cement-coloured biography.“ https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/2...) Actually I think the essay should be read in combination with the ever fabulous Annabel Crabb Kitchen Cabinet episode (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqBt5... ) which could be titled, in the manner of Victorian novel chapter headings “Awkward moments in which one too many people squash into a kitchen, recreate a recipe that is clearly foreign to the cook and enact charmless banter.” As always with Annabel’s work, it is revealing. Chloe won’t leave the kitchen; she is nervous and protective of Bill. Bill is nervous. The encounter fails to sing.
I’m still not sure that I could sensibly describe the factional trails and deals covered in this essay, as Bill’s schoolkid ambition: “to be Prime Minister” plays out via lobbying for various jobs, roles and side appointments. He always looked to me like a man on the make – from the time he bobbed up outside the minehead at Beaconsfield, a man alive to a media opportunity and a positioning. Kind of fake. And always I’ve set this perspective alongside the comments made by friends with disabled children who insist that he genuinely and sincerely went into bat for the idea of the NDIS and pushed it along with great energy. (Marr gives the impression that he wasn’t thrilled with the portfolio but was given the advice that he needed more than factional deals under his belt to sell himself as a potential party leader.) Who knows – it’s not a pretty picture of the Labor Party.
This is the fourth essay that Marr has written about an important national figure: the other essays have been about Rudd, Pell and Abbott. They have all been great – but this is the least interesting despite Marr’s skills and psychological insights. About Shorten, Marr is kind of damning: “It isn’t true he stands for nothing. There’s a list of decent Labor policies he’s always backed: jobs, prosperity, education and health. What’s counted against him is that he stands for nothing brave.”
The reviews of this essay have been mixed; some suggesting that Marr has not quite got Shorten right (Marr as a “sceptical Sydney intellectual”) and some suggesting that the terrain is not interesting enough to make an interesting essay. (I liked this comment: “Marr’s operatic sense of character doesn’t lend itself to Shorten’s rather cement-coloured biography.“ https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/2...) Actually I think the essay should be read in combination with the ever fabulous Annabel Crabb Kitchen Cabinet episode (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqBt5... ) which could be titled, in the manner of Victorian novel chapter headings “Awkward moments in which one too many people squash into a kitchen, recreate a recipe that is clearly foreign to the cook and enact charmless banter.” As always with Annabel’s work, it is revealing. Chloe won’t leave the kitchen; she is nervous and protective of Bill. Bill is nervous. The encounter fails to sing.
I’m still not sure that I could sensibly describe the factional trails and deals covered in this essay, as Bill’s schoolkid ambition: “to be Prime Minister” plays out via lobbying for various jobs, roles and side appointments. He always looked to me like a man on the make – from the time he bobbed up outside the minehead at Beaconsfield, a man alive to a media opportunity and a positioning. Kind of fake. And always I’ve set this perspective alongside the comments made by friends with disabled children who insist that he genuinely and sincerely went into bat for the idea of the NDIS and pushed it along with great energy. (Marr gives the impression that he wasn’t thrilled with the portfolio but was given the advice that he needed more than factional deals under his belt to sell himself as a potential party leader.) Who knows – it’s not a pretty picture of the Labor Party.
This is the fourth essay that Marr has written about an important national figure: the other essays have been about Rudd, Pell and Abbott. They have all been great – but this is the least interesting despite Marr’s skills and psychological insights. About Shorten, Marr is kind of damning: “It isn’t true he stands for nothing. There’s a list of decent Labor policies he’s always backed: jobs, prosperity, education and health. What’s counted against him is that he stands for nothing brave.”
September 24, 2015
Will the 'curse of Quarterly Essay' now hit Bill Shorten just as it hit Malcolm Turnbull (when he was opposition leader), Kevin Rudd and (belatedly) Tony Abbott? Once the Quarterly has published a profile of you - start looking over your shoulder!
David Marr's essay is competent but unspectacular compared to his previous biographical efforts. It also has a slightly rushed quality of a bunch of drafts and notes thrown together. One section is just a list of Bill's not very interesting nicknames from over the years. The best chapters are the first ones - which give you the basic message: Bill Shorten is a backroom operator who has always been fancied by himself and others as a major political leader, but is yet to be tested in a really bruising public contest. His Labor affiliations are tribal rather than ideological, and his political enthusiasms are blue collar conservative bread and butter issues such as jobs, health, education. Where he takes on something such as marriage equality, it's because that's where the political centre has shifted.
This QE also contains responses to David Kilcullen's previous essay 'Blood Year'. Kilcullen considers the correspondence from people such as Waleed Aly, Hugh White and Paul McGeogh, and essentially has to concede that the grand confrontation with ISIS that he called for will not happen. Western publics are just not going to support that kind of Middle East involvement anymore. So Kilcullen ends up recommending 'active containment' of ISIS - though you can tell it burns him to accede to something so unspectacular.
David Marr's essay is competent but unspectacular compared to his previous biographical efforts. It also has a slightly rushed quality of a bunch of drafts and notes thrown together. One section is just a list of Bill's not very interesting nicknames from over the years. The best chapters are the first ones - which give you the basic message: Bill Shorten is a backroom operator who has always been fancied by himself and others as a major political leader, but is yet to be tested in a really bruising public contest. His Labor affiliations are tribal rather than ideological, and his political enthusiasms are blue collar conservative bread and butter issues such as jobs, health, education. Where he takes on something such as marriage equality, it's because that's where the political centre has shifted.
This QE also contains responses to David Kilcullen's previous essay 'Blood Year'. Kilcullen considers the correspondence from people such as Waleed Aly, Hugh White and Paul McGeogh, and essentially has to concede that the grand confrontation with ISIS that he called for will not happen. Western publics are just not going to support that kind of Middle East involvement anymore. So Kilcullen ends up recommending 'active containment' of ISIS - though you can tell it burns him to accede to something so unspectacular.
September 29, 2015
David Marr again provides a compelling essay which gives tremendous insight into the character of Bill Shorten.
I will admit, that prior to reading this QE I was unconvinced that Shorten was the correct man to lead Labor. In my view, he has been mostly uncharismatic and constantly vacillated between positions depending on the the way the political wind was blowing. I wasn't aware of his earlier career, and Marr does highlight his exceptional skills in negotiating and as a orator in the union movement. A ruthless man who nonetheless appears to be principled.
I don't know if this was necessary Marr's intention, but this essay instils confidence in Labor supporters by indicating that Shorten is still finding his feet, and has at least some of the skills necessary to be an effective Prime Minister. He certainly has been able to maintain unity in the party.
Overall a good read, informative and well-written. I didn't find this quite as strong as Marr's previous essay on Abbott, 'Political Animal', but it still provided a strong contribution to my understanding of the current political landscape.
I will admit, that prior to reading this QE I was unconvinced that Shorten was the correct man to lead Labor. In my view, he has been mostly uncharismatic and constantly vacillated between positions depending on the the way the political wind was blowing. I wasn't aware of his earlier career, and Marr does highlight his exceptional skills in negotiating and as a orator in the union movement. A ruthless man who nonetheless appears to be principled.
I don't know if this was necessary Marr's intention, but this essay instils confidence in Labor supporters by indicating that Shorten is still finding his feet, and has at least some of the skills necessary to be an effective Prime Minister. He certainly has been able to maintain unity in the party.
Overall a good read, informative and well-written. I didn't find this quite as strong as Marr's previous essay on Abbott, 'Political Animal', but it still provided a strong contribution to my understanding of the current political landscape.
November 13, 2015
As always, David Marr is an interesting and insightful writer, but the overall effect of the essay on me is that it is as unexciting as its subject. Not even David Marr can figure out Bill Shorten, and perhaps Bill Shorten has the same difficulty.
The main message that I took away from Marr's essay is that Shorten has risen to the top far too fast. While Shorten did have some impact bringing to the fore the plight of the disability sector, he has not yet had sufficient time to develop an overall political raison d'être. This is yet another case where blatant political ambition is just not enough.
The main message that I took away from Marr's essay is that Shorten has risen to the top far too fast. While Shorten did have some impact bringing to the fore the plight of the disability sector, he has not yet had sufficient time to develop an overall political raison d'être. This is yet another case where blatant political ambition is just not enough.
December 1, 2015
It was bad timing to release this essay only a few weeks before Tony Abbot was replaced by Malcolm Turnbull for it was robbed of a great deal of its context.
Despite that this is a riveting account of Shorten's ascent to the leadership of the ALP and what he did to get there - some of it admirable some not.I wanted to read this because I knew nothing very little about him. Now I know more but am even less certain what I think about him.
David Marr is an excellent writer and offers a clear dispassionate account of Shorten's career.
Despite that this is a riveting account of Shorten's ascent to the leadership of the ALP and what he did to get there - some of it admirable some not.I wanted to read this because I knew nothing very little about him. Now I know more but am even less certain what I think about him.
David Marr is an excellent writer and offers a clear dispassionate account of Shorten's career.
December 29, 2015
I always enjoy David Marr's writing and listened this as an audiobook narrated by the author.
Much of what Marr cover's of Shorten's life can be found elsewhere, but this was a great collation of those stories of his life in one place complete with analysis of some of Shorten's motivations throughout his career going back to his days in student politics. If you want to understand Shorten, this is a pretty good place to start.
Much of what Marr cover's of Shorten's life can be found elsewhere, but this was a great collation of those stories of his life in one place complete with analysis of some of Shorten's motivations throughout his career going back to his days in student politics. If you want to understand Shorten, this is a pretty good place to start.
September 21, 2015
David Marr tries to psychoanalyse Bill Shorten, and basically says he wants to be liked (Don't we all?), and he's a ruthless deal maker. Barely insightful. Shorten's thoroughly white bread public persona and lack of real policy achievement or expertise stand in stark contrast to his role in the Machiavellian removals of two Prime Minsters. Such a shame more wasn't done with this material.
September 1, 2016
I found this book to be an average read about Bill Shorten. Although a short, and not intended to be a lengthy biographical account of his life, I found I was left wanting more when I finished this book. Much preferred Annabel Crabb’s account of Malcolm Turnbull - not because of political alliances or voting intentions - but simply because it was a better read.
December 27, 2023
Interesting background on Shorten, and a quick read.
February 1, 2016
I thought David Marr did a good job with this essay, but I find Bill Shorten too boring to be truly engaged in this story unfortunately. I did enjoy the anecdote from Shaun Micallef about Bill's Zingers.
October 19, 2015
i was hoping for something a bit juicier like the Rudd & Abbott exposès, but even David's brilliant writing couldnt make Bill Shortbread interesting
December 13, 2015
Not the best of Marr's political portraits, possibly due to the character analysed. Can't see Bill Shorten getting up in the next election, unless he comes well out of his safe shell.
December 28, 2015
Insightful
Bill Shorten's beginnings aren't that popularly known I believe so it was nice to go into them
Bill Shorten's beginnings aren't that popularly known I believe so it was nice to go into them
July 13, 2016
Fairly dull, like the subject.
October 21, 2016
worth considering what it takes to sort through the "mine"-field of political maneouvring.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews