Venom: Vendettas, Betrayals and the Price of Power

by David Crowe

A cracking account of the rivalries and hatreds that split the Liberal Party and brought down Malcolm Turnbull

Genres: Politics, History, Australia, Nonfiction

337 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2019

Reviews

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book deeply depressing, which is not to say it isn't accurate, well researched and interesting. It is depressing precisely because it is all true. What shallow, egotistical, stupid people we elect. Perhaps those are the types that think themselves worthy to stand, but surely we can do better than this or else we are on a slippery slide to wrecking the country.

[Stan Fleetwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

A detailed insight into the bitterness, hatreds and pettiness of our political leaders. It's scary that we elect these sorts of people to run our country. There's got to be better.

[Kate McFarlane · Rating 4 out of 5]

So well written and thoroughly researched, but the content is so disturbing that it was difficult, but essential, reading. We must know what goes on behind the scenes in parliament so that we can make informed decisions at election time. What is particularly galling is the lack of women in the Liberal/National party. It's just a pack of brawling, bullying, egotistical men. Nothing has changed. We must do better. The only way to do this is by voting out this autocratic party full of megalomaniacs at the next election.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a damning portrait of people who want power above all else - when they get
their prize, they have no plan B, leadership - what's that?? This story will be familiar to
anyone who has followed David Crowe's always measured and readable editorials, now
in book form.
Tony Abbott, the once Prime Minister, toppled by Turnbull and then seeming to set up
almost an alternative government as he and his band of merry men wreck, oppose and
destroy. Barnaby Joyce poses the big question - just what sort of person sees his name on
the ballot paper and thinks "yes, what a great representative he would be for the people of
New England"!! The biggest shock in the book is Malcolm Turnbull, desperate to be PM but
it came with strings, he had to appease not only the moderates but the hard line conservatives
and he set about trying to keep the hard right happy - even giving a lot of the bigger, more
sought after portfolios to them - at the expense of the moderates. He, at the end, came across
as a do nothing PM, someone who initially had some fight but after coming across the
implacable Abbott caved in and really couldn't be bothered to try afterwards. He had one
last hurrah with the NEG but by that time he was already on borrowed time. I was shocked at
how little Turnbull had to do in the marriage equality debate - but I can remember his
gratuitous speech in Parliament. Warren Ensch who had tirelessly campaigned for years was
all set to deliver it, but was forced to hand it over to Turnbull after being "persuaded" by
Christopher Pyne. It hurt Ensch deeply and he never forgot it. Another surprise was how
loyal Turnbull's supporters were till the end - the question is why???
The immovability of the Conservatives is shown in Julia Banks, feeling so horrified at a
Dutton government and eventually leaving Parliament but when she had the opportunity of
referring Dutton to the High Court because of questions on his eligibility to sit in parliament
she couldn't cross the floor and vote against her own party!!
Wanted - a backbone!!

[Malcolm Frawley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crowe calmly chronicles (sorry about the alliteration) the nest of vipers that has been the Liberal Party over the last 8 years. It will come as no surprise that the biggest snake of all was Tony "no wrecking, no sniping, no undermining" Abbott, but no-one else comes out of this book as anyone you'd want to spend a weekend with. Why can't we actually attract quality human beings into the upper echelons of government?

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

The lies and backstabbing. The interference of outside media interests. Unfortunately the people responsible for this and beneficies of this, now control our country. In the last 7 years too many decent people have been forced out of politics and we are a poorer nation for it.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crowe covers the Fall of Abbott and Turnbull and the rise of Morrison. The split in the Liberal Party once relatively harmless wets and drys, in this period becomes thoroughly toxic, and based more on personalities who blazingly hated each other than on philosophy. Turnbull was a moderate, and there were many few moderates with him, but the hatred of the 3 As: Abbott Abetz and Andrews, backed up by Dutton and turncoats like Cormann, Cash and Fifield, and with Morrison and his band of Christian brothers, Alex Hawke, Robert, van Manen, Irons, Hastie who solidly support each other whatever, made a poisonous mixture. Party solidarity didn’t matter, the interests of the Australian people still less, knocking off your enemy over-rode everything else. These political murders of Bishop and Turnbull were in the face of popular support for them. Morrison is portrayed as a master politician who deserved to become PM as he united the party (so far). I was particularly interested in how Crowe portrayed the 2019 election campaign as I have written about that in Waves of Unreason (Ginninderra). Crowe sees it as masterly politicking by Morrison, even while noting that many of his claims were not true, but well that’s politics. I saw it as an outrage, where Morrison lied and lied without stint, having no policies for ordinary people, marketing the nature of the campaign as a personality contest between him and Shorten, which is not what a democratic election is about. We had one side offering decent policies (all right, maybe not well costed but it was aimed at ordinary people), the other side offering taxes for the rich and that was it. Morrison the marketeer sold the electors a pup, as we now are seeing. Morrison or not, the Liberals did not deserve to win after the shambles of the previous hate filled years. Crowe stops at the victory – soon after that Morrison fumbled the bushfires, the COVID vaccine rollout, he was corrupt in handouts to mates … I need not go on, but admittedly that happened after the victory where Crowe stopped but I would have looked to see how Crowe would have handled that. The book has been very well received and indeed it gives a very detailed factual account, which as a reporter is certainly professional of him. I fear I judge through moral lenses – and not Pentecostal or even Christian ones.

[Ernest · Rating 3 out of 5]

As I wrote to start my review for Plots and Prayers: Malcolm Turnbull’s demise and Scott Morrison’s ascension:

'It feels odd to consider this book during COVID-19, in which Morrison’s role has gained in prominence as Prime Minister (as have many other national and state leaders). Whatever what one things of the decisions made, it does not change what (purportedly - although there does not seem to be major disagreement about the key moments) occurred to get Australia to this point.'

Covering much of the same material as Plots and Prayers, this book charts the personalities and plotting that led to Turnbull's fall and the rise of Morrison as Prime Minister of Australia. There appeared to be a deliberate attempt to not subscribe to any grand theories or subtle insights and a more direct, straight down the line retelling of who did what, for what reason, and for what result.

One may prefer the prose of one book over the other and this book is also little shorter, if that is a relevant factor. Many will want to move on from this episode (although the recent release of A Bigger Picture briefly brought this whole incident into the public spotlight). Swiftly retelling the action without being difficult to follow, one suspects that the individual actions of all involved (for the benefit of themselves or those they did or did not support, ideology, or more) culminated in something that ended up radically more than anyone could have guaranteed.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this against my better judgment, as I am heartily sick of the insider bullshit that passes for Australian politics and its analysis. To my surprise, I found a traditional journalsitic account of the events in the LP of the last few years. Crowe offers little analysis beyond the obvious; there's no grand theory offered, nor attempt to be especially insightful or close to the playahs. Just a tick tock recount of the self-indulgent and unrestrained self-absorption of the scared middle aged white men that think they deserve to run the country. I appreciate the view into the sausage factory.

[Anna Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Crowe has written a powerful account of the rivalries in the Liberal Party that led to not one, but two sitting Prime Ministers losing their positions before completing a full term. Situating his narrative within the historical context of the Australian Labor Party’s own revolving door of Prime Ministers (Rudd-Gillard-Rudd), Crowe delineates the particular ways in which the Liberal Party failed to heed the warnings exemplified by their party rivals, and set a course for their own self destruction.

Beginning on Australia Day, 2015 – where Crowe locates the beginning of the end of Tony Abbott’s Prime Ministership – and ending with Scott Morrison’s ‘miracle’ election win in 2019, Crowe reveals the fundamental problem with the Liberal Party in these years was that individuals placed their own ambitions ahead of the needs of their country, or even the needs of their party.

Crowe’s account is thoroughly researched. By his own testimony, he conducted 110 interviews and he claims that as often as possible, events recounted had more than one source. His thoroughness shows. The delineation of events outlined in the book ‘Venom’ offers not just a riveting narrative, but also a critical appraisal of what happened.

I recommend ‘Venom’ to anyone who wants to better understand the reason why the Liberal Party of Australia has found itself in tatters after the 2022 election. It’s an excellent book and extremely illuminating.

[F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very engaging and well-written account of the leadership spills that took place during the Abbott and Turnbull governments. I appreciate the fact that a journalist was able to remain unbiased and consult various viewpoints of politicians when researching this book. Crowe also brought attention to the fact that the media, as well as power-hungry factional opponents, played a role in the demise of these leaderships.

[Anthony O'Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

The bloodbath

Australian politics. The tumultuous leadership struggle within the Liberal Party that lead to the dumping of two elected prime ministers by their ‘colleagues’ in just a few years. Who needs an Opposition Party when they do themselves in like this. A thorough, well researched, well written account. Worth a read. A case study in ... well something.

[Cheryle Hocking · Rating 5 out of 5]

a whale of a tale

As a new reader to political literature I was truly astounded by the antics of people who purport to represent the Australian people. A real eye opener to the real ongoing machinations of the parliament of Australia and those that we chose to govern in our name.

[Mark J Fellows · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating. But, too wordy

I enjoyed reading this book which covers the period from Abbott through to Scott Morrison. The constant dealing and trivialising of policies, in order to ensure continual political success seems sad.

[Joanne, drinker of tea, reader of books, servant to cats · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading this I feel the need for a long hot shower, with a wire brush and carbolic soap.

[Dirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again a very good thriller of the world of Australian politics which is so scantily and miserably treated in Europe. There are more books to be found in European libraries about medieval hellholes like Afghanistan etc than books about a brethren country like Australia. Serious dereliction of duty by libraries, newspapers and cultural institutions .

[Loki · Rating 3 out of 5]

A detailed account of the deposing of Abbott and Turnbull as Prime Ministers, and in particular, of the manipulations of Morrison and Dutton as the two men maneuver to become Turnbull's successor. A little overly sympathetic towards its subjects - four men distinguished by the ability to put ego ahead of their nation at every turn, and their political allies, who put grudge-settling ahead of government any time there's a choice between them. An unsettling view of just how debased our politics have become.

[Damien Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good account of what overthrew 2 Liberal Governments, and how the Murdoch Media eviscerates someone who doesn't follow their narrative to the letter. Though in some areas it is incredibly soft on the true corruption of the Liberals and Nationals. Though, it wasn't this books purpose, it would have benefited from being more open and truthful about the deeds of the Liberal Party that aren't voiced by the Mainstream TV and Paper Media

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

More coherent than Nicky Savva’s book but no more enjoyable

[Tom J · Rating 5 out of 5]

fantastic. well researched and written, with significant context and information provided for everything that happens. a great dissection of abbot’s insane crusade to destroy his own party