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An Activist Life
An Activist Life is the story of an apparently ordinary woman – a high-school English teacher from northwest Tasmania – who became a fiery environmental warrior, pitted against some of the most powerful business and political forces in the country. In it, Christine Milne tells her story through the objects that have symbolic meaning in both her personal and political life, from the butter pats in her kitchen that represent her journey from farm girl at Wesley Vale to environmental and human rights activist at the national and global level, to the Pride t-shirt she wore walking in Mardi Gras next to her son, after years of fighting for the legal reform of gay rights in Tasmania. She describes how politics actually the deals, the promises kept and broken, the horse-trading and treachery involved in some of the most controversial and difficult issues of our time, including the attempts to forge a workable and effective climate change policy for Australia, and Australia's treatment of refugees and asylum seekers. This is a fascinating insider’s account of what it means to be a woman in the sacrifices of family life and relationships, the relentless misogyny and sexism that must be endured, the gritty conviction that you must never, ever give up the pursuit of the greater good. It is the story of Australian politics and the fight to save the world, and essential reading for anyone who cares about either.
360 pages, Paperback
Published February 1, 2018
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About the author
Christine Milne
6 books1 followerChristine Milne is a senator for Tasmania and the Australian Greens’ spokesperson on climate change and energy.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 17, 2018
‘Timing is everything in politics.’
Christine Anne Milne (née Morris; born 14 May 1953) is a former Australian Senator and was leader of the parliamentary caucus of the Australian Greens from 2012 to 2015. Ms Milne stepped down as leader on 6 May 2015, and was replaced by Richard Di Natale.
I left Tasmania at the beginning of 1974. Green politics was not yet a strong force in local politics, but activists were mobilising. Christine Milne’s name first came to my attention over the proposed pulp mill at Wesley Vale, and again when she was elected to the Tasmanian Parliament in 1989. But it wasn’t until Ms Milne was elected to the Australian Senate in 2004, and then became leader of the parliamentary caucus of the Australian Greens in 2012 that I thought a little more about her involvement in politics. I picked up this book hoping to learn a little more about the woman behind the politician, and was intrigued.
This is not a standard autobiography. Ms Milne writes:
‘I am like a lot of people. People who find it hard to write about how they feel, but will happily explain the history of an object they value. Through their stories of how an object came into their keeping and why it means so much to them you can learn a lot about a person. That is why I have chosen to tell the story of one woman’s life, my life, through objects that matter to me.’
And so it was that I read about Peg Putt’s picnic chair, about the butter pats she keeps as a reminder of her life as a girl growing up on a dairy farm at Wesley Vale, about the Gay Pride T-shirt she wore while marching at Mardi Gras with her son. There are other items, too, which are important to Ms Milne. Through reading about those items, I came to appreciate more of what Ms Milne has achieved as well as the challenges faced by women in politics. I admire Christine Milne’s gritty determination, her dogged persistence in trying to make a difference by ensuring that environmental and social issues are not ignored or forgotten. I could wish that all politicians were as principled as Ms Milne.
Recommended reading for all with an interest in Australian politics.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Christine Anne Milne (née Morris; born 14 May 1953) is a former Australian Senator and was leader of the parliamentary caucus of the Australian Greens from 2012 to 2015. Ms Milne stepped down as leader on 6 May 2015, and was replaced by Richard Di Natale.
I left Tasmania at the beginning of 1974. Green politics was not yet a strong force in local politics, but activists were mobilising. Christine Milne’s name first came to my attention over the proposed pulp mill at Wesley Vale, and again when she was elected to the Tasmanian Parliament in 1989. But it wasn’t until Ms Milne was elected to the Australian Senate in 2004, and then became leader of the parliamentary caucus of the Australian Greens in 2012 that I thought a little more about her involvement in politics. I picked up this book hoping to learn a little more about the woman behind the politician, and was intrigued.
This is not a standard autobiography. Ms Milne writes:
‘I am like a lot of people. People who find it hard to write about how they feel, but will happily explain the history of an object they value. Through their stories of how an object came into their keeping and why it means so much to them you can learn a lot about a person. That is why I have chosen to tell the story of one woman’s life, my life, through objects that matter to me.’
And so it was that I read about Peg Putt’s picnic chair, about the butter pats she keeps as a reminder of her life as a girl growing up on a dairy farm at Wesley Vale, about the Gay Pride T-shirt she wore while marching at Mardi Gras with her son. There are other items, too, which are important to Ms Milne. Through reading about those items, I came to appreciate more of what Ms Milne has achieved as well as the challenges faced by women in politics. I admire Christine Milne’s gritty determination, her dogged persistence in trying to make a difference by ensuring that environmental and social issues are not ignored or forgotten. I could wish that all politicians were as principled as Ms Milne.
Recommended reading for all with an interest in Australian politics.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
February 19, 2024
Incredible memoir of a woman who has influenced and created so much change, not only in my home state of Tasmania, and country Australia, but the world.
March 23, 2018
Christine Milne, as the leader of the Greens' Party was one of those rare politicians with integrity, compassion and deeply held principals. She was also a woman who achieved so much for Australia and particularly her home state of Tasmania.
I have enormous respect for this brave woman and was delighted when I discovered she had written a biography.
An Activist's Life is a totally fascinating account of how politics really operates and deals not only with environmental issues and climate policy but also gay rights, sexism, asylum seekers and the power of big business. There are also wonderful chapters on travel and art.
I strongly recommend this intelligent, beautifully written book for anyone interested in Australian politics.
5+ stars.
I have enormous respect for this brave woman and was delighted when I discovered she had written a biography.
An Activist's Life is a totally fascinating account of how politics really operates and deals not only with environmental issues and climate policy but also gay rights, sexism, asylum seekers and the power of big business. There are also wonderful chapters on travel and art.
I strongly recommend this intelligent, beautifully written book for anyone interested in Australian politics.
5+ stars.
October 17, 2019
It's very biased, even I can see that and I love Milne's work and I love the Greens (I am one). It's Milne's actual story though and she does not pretend to write it from any perspective except her own. She talks about protesting for the forests in Tasmania, getting arrested, going more political, getting elected, forming the Greens (with Bob Brown of course and others) and trying to balance that with family life.
The toxic stuff from the major parties (the bias) I suspect is pretty fair given we all know the legacy of the last 2 decades of politics. I feel that this is a worthwhile and important book to shed some light on some of the things that happen in parli. I don't share Milne's relatively positive view of Bob Hawke for example but I share her dissatisfaction with politics-as-usual driven by coal barons.
I do wish more people would vote Green. I'd like to see more of us in there. I have a great deal of respect for people like Milne who paved the way and I find it kind of heartening to read about all the struggles in her way (similar to what we have in campaigns now). This is a hopeful book. I hope many Australians read it.
The toxic stuff from the major parties (the bias) I suspect is pretty fair given we all know the legacy of the last 2 decades of politics. I feel that this is a worthwhile and important book to shed some light on some of the things that happen in parli. I don't share Milne's relatively positive view of Bob Hawke for example but I share her dissatisfaction with politics-as-usual driven by coal barons.
I do wish more people would vote Green. I'd like to see more of us in there. I have a great deal of respect for people like Milne who paved the way and I find it kind of heartening to read about all the struggles in her way (similar to what we have in campaigns now). This is a hopeful book. I hope many Australians read it.
December 17, 2023
Such an interesting book to read. Learning about the protests in Tasmania trying to save areas of natural beauty, the formation of The Greens, both locally, nationally and Internationally. It opened my eyes more to the influences that affect political decisions more than I already understood.
I found it very informative even with her 'end justifies the means' moment.
I recommend anyone on the electoral roll reads this to get an idea of how papers help manipulate you, or the use now of social media.
I found it very informative even with her 'end justifies the means' moment.
I recommend anyone on the electoral roll reads this to get an idea of how papers help manipulate you, or the use now of social media.
February 28, 2018
Fascinating to read what is involved in a state and national politician's life, but this was just deadly serious with no sense of humour at all. Not sure it would encourage anyone to follow a similar path, despite the successes. It highlighted that nothing can be taken for granted in the long term - deals and understandings can unravel quickly.
December 18, 2017
What a life, what a warrior woman <3
November 23, 2019
I'm really glad I read this. I met people I knew and learned things about them and about Tasmanian politics that I didn't know before. An important book for all Australians to read.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews