The victory: The inside story of the takeover of Australia

by Pamela Williams

In 1996 the political stakes had never been higher. For the Coalition, this was the final throw of the dice - a last ditch attempt to rescue the Liberal Party from the ruins after Hewson and Downer. For Labor, this was the opportunity to prove that its leadership of the nation did not rest on the electorate's rejection of the GST in 1993. For John Howard and Paul Keating, this was the concluding bout in a bitter struggle played out over two decades.

The result of exclusive access to the Liberal's campaign 'war room' and countless hours of confidential interviews with key players on both sides of the political contest, The Victory is the inside account of the demolition of 13 years of Labor dominance. It tracks the resurrection of the Liberal Party and reveals the depth of Labor's inner crisis.

Pamela Williams' detailed scrutiny of the inner workings of the 1996 election campaign shatters long-cherished political myths to reveal the brutal realities of today's politics. The picture she builds - of imperial courts and shadowy powerbrokers, pollsters and advertising agents, public and private duels - changes forever the way we think about Australian politics.

Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[John O’Boyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pamela Williams book covering the period in Australian political history from the Coalitions unexpected defeat in 1993 to their landslide victory in the 1996 federal election provides a fascinating insight into a period wherein an old establishment suffering from success gradually disintegrates in the face of a resurgent yet highly cautious, risk averse and desperate opposition, a story which though almost 30 years old at this point, still echoes and resonates with readers.

As a UK reader, whilst reading it I couldn’t help but notice parallels between the seemingly out of touch and deeply unpopular federal Labour government of 1996 as it marched towards historic defeat and the build up to our most recent general election(which took place only a month ago the time of writing) where a long standing, deeply unpopular Conservative government marched towards the worst defeat in its history after governing the UK for the past 14 years.

Setting aside the Australian specific focus the book provides a great insight into those not super common moments where an old regime slowly but surely loses touch with the electorate and an opposition finds itself newly reinvigorated and prepares to usher in the beginning of a new era. Williams brilliantly captures this moment of political and historical transition where long before the actual votes are cast, the elections outcome is already determined and until the old world has died and the new world can be ushered in, the electorate bears witness to the many morbid symptoms which plague a dying regime/era.

At the centre are the two key players, incumbent Labor prime minister Paul Keating who is unquestionably the most fascinating political figure to emerge from the Australian politics scene since Gough Whitlam and John Howard, the man who having suffered defeat and rejection from both electorate and his own party, finds the hand of history lifting him up to seize the moment in a politics second chance we rarely witness in the unforgiving 24 hour nature of the society we currently live in. We also see Howard’s causation and paranoia on full display right until the results start coming in which highlights the extent to which human instinct is so naturally tuned towards defeatism and pessimism even in the face of overwhelming evidence towards the opposite(a sensation probably currently being experience by many on the Democratic side of US politics during the countdown to the final weeks of the current US election).

Overall, whilst not being anything revolutionary or a masterpiece, the book is a brilliantly told Australian focused version of a story that’s as old as time and familiar to anyone who follows politics generally and makes for a highly enjoyable, rapid read.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great analysis of Paul Keating's election loss to John Howard in 1996. Very detailed but very readable. Written very soon after the event in 1997.

[Kara Rowley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting