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On Mutiny
Why was Malcolm Turnbull removed and how did Scott Morrison emerge as Australia's thirtieth prime minister? On Mutiny is the inside story, a blow-by-blow exposé of the plotting, double dealing and numbers game by politicians in the most brutal period in Australian politics since the Dismissal. If we really do get the government we deserve, On Mutiny might provoke a civilian rebellion.
122 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 21, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 7, 2020
Spears begins this essay by making the connection between the mutiny on the ship the Bounty in 1789 with the mutiny within the Liberal Party in 2019. He gives a short, sharp yet detailed summary of the events leading up to the ousting of Malcolm Turnbull as PM and the instigation of Scott Morrison. I didn’t find this as engaging as I would have otherwise as I’d already read about most of this in Niki Savva’s “Plots and Prayers”. Spears doesn’t have anything new to say, but disagrees somewhat with Savva’s account of when Morrison started to actively consider having a tilt at the top job. Nevertheless, Spears too sees that Turnball got dumped for a range of reasons and concludes his essay by stating that this isn’t the end of leadership chaos in Canberra - “Leadership is getting harder, criticism is getting louder, and the coup culture is more entrenched.” (p. 90).
December 4, 2018
A quick, interesting read that uses Speers' Sky News access to fill in a whole bunch of gaps and answer a lot of until-now-unanswered questions about how the Turnbull ouster clusterfuck played out the way it did. Worth a read.
This said, for a book about a controversial subject, and one that does cover a lot of ground, it goes to an awful lot of effort to avoid antagonising any of the players - and in doing so, avoids talking about some of the harder questions. In one obvious example, Julia Banks and Lucy Gichuhi aren't even named in the book, and their allegations dismissed in a couple of sentences in the conclusion. There is also a pretty silly conclusion that is mostly Speers' getting extremely defensive about Sky News' role, and which serves as a reminder that, as much as Speers usually behaves like a serious journalist, he's still a creature of Sky.
This said, for a book about a controversial subject, and one that does cover a lot of ground, it goes to an awful lot of effort to avoid antagonising any of the players - and in doing so, avoids talking about some of the harder questions. In one obvious example, Julia Banks and Lucy Gichuhi aren't even named in the book, and their allegations dismissed in a couple of sentences in the conclusion. There is also a pretty silly conclusion that is mostly Speers' getting extremely defensive about Sky News' role, and which serves as a reminder that, as much as Speers usually behaves like a serious journalist, he's still a creature of Sky.
October 21, 2018
This could just be the first of many books on the downfall of Malcolm Bligh Turnbull as Australia's 29th Prime Minister. It's short, but considering the subject matter, hardly sweet. However, while I would have to be strapped to a chair to watch most shows on Sky News, David Speers is an absolute standout and has clearly researched the topic soundly. If you're reading this book in the hope you might find a glimmer of hope among the politicians that make up the coalition, you're going to be sadly disappointed - with perhaps the exception of Julie Bishop, Warren Entsch, Craig Laundy or Arthur Sinodinos. The rest might try and hide behind the "Everyone felt they were acting honourably" line, but you seriously would not want to be caught in a trench with any of the others: the Fifields, Hunts, Ciobos or the truly traitorous James McGrath. Pity old Will Shakespeare wasn't still around - he could turn it into a comedy and tragedy.
October 22, 2018
Entertaining if not spectacularly written short book about a bunch of ludicrous, vile arseholes tearing each other apart. Wonderful feelings of schadenfreude to be had. A shame I had to give some money to a writer whose an apologist for Australia's Nazi-est TV channel to buy it, though.
December 11, 2018
This was a really enjoyable read, and incredibly helpful for any casual observe of Australian politics who was stunned, as I was, to learn that yet again a sitting Prime Minister was deposed by their party caucus.
The author, a journalist, provides valuable insights as to the strategic considerations and pressures which influenced the PM, the chief challenger, numerous defecting colleagues, a deputy leader, and his (subsequently elected leader) mild-mannered Treasurer. While highly immersed in Australian politics, the lessons and tactics are universal, and worthwhile reading for anybody interested in party politics and caucus dynamics.
The author, a journalist, provides valuable insights as to the strategic considerations and pressures which influenced the PM, the chief challenger, numerous defecting colleagues, a deputy leader, and his (subsequently elected leader) mild-mannered Treasurer. While highly immersed in Australian politics, the lessons and tactics are universal, and worthwhile reading for anybody interested in party politics and caucus dynamics.
October 26, 2018
Good summary of the political madness that ended Turnbull. More depth than other media has given, but doesn't get bogged down in unnecessary detail.
The biggest problem is that it doesn't provide an answer for why any of this happened, so feels a bit lacking, but as Speers points out in the conclusion, there doesn't seem to be a settled answer to that question from any involved in the events either.
The biggest problem is that it doesn't provide an answer for why any of this happened, so feels a bit lacking, but as Speers points out in the conclusion, there doesn't seem to be a settled answer to that question from any involved in the events either.
October 28, 2018
This was an great summary of the timeline of events that led up to another Australian Prime Minister being ousted.
David provides a clear narrative of the timeline, however I do so wish he had of delved a little deeper into the topic; in particular analysing the complex relationships, the culture of Australian politics and the personalities that drove some of these actions.
A short narrative of the events the led to Scott Morrison becoming Prime Minister, and well worth a read.
David provides a clear narrative of the timeline, however I do so wish he had of delved a little deeper into the topic; in particular analysing the complex relationships, the culture of Australian politics and the personalities that drove some of these actions.
A short narrative of the events the led to Scott Morrison becoming Prime Minister, and well worth a read.
October 23, 2018
Interesting re-cap and discussion
November 19, 2018
A brief but gripping account of the putsch that downed Turnbull. Meticulously researched, but fails to answer the most pressing question: is there blood on Morrison's hands?
March 22, 2019
An excellent chronology, but from someone who is a close observer of all of these players like Speers I'd have appreciated more analysis about the why
November 3, 2018
Excellent play by play
If you want a concise and excellent detailing of the events that led to Turnbull’s demise, this is a great read. If you want an answer to why it happened, all this will give you is a picture of the characters and the space to make your own judgements.
If you want a concise and excellent detailing of the events that led to Turnbull’s demise, this is a great read. If you want an answer to why it happened, all this will give you is a picture of the characters and the space to make your own judgements.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews