The End of Certainty: Power, Politics & Business in Australia

by Paul Kelly

The End of Certainty is a classic study of power, personality, and national destiny. From boom to recession, Hawke to Keating, and Labor's victory for the "true believers" in 1993, Paul Kelly has written the ultimate inside story of how the 1980s changed Australia and its political parties forever. His detailed scrutiny of the inner working of the Hawke-Keating partnership and its slow disintegration, his unraveling of the crippling rivalries for the Liberal Party leadership, and his burrowing into cabinet room struggles over the deregulation of Australia's financial system reveal the brutal realities of Australian politics and how it is played at the very top. But above all, he reminds us of the sheer pace of economic and social change the country lived through and the wake of uncertainty it left behind. Joining The Hawke Ascendancy, this is the second installment in Paul Kelly's analysis of modern Australian politics.

Genres: Politics, Australia, Nonfiction, History

792 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Australian political journalist who is currently editor-at-large at The Australian and was previously its editor-in-chief. He has written numerous books on Australian politics and political history.

Reviews

[Jayden Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say that as an analysis of perhaps the most turbulent decade in Australian politics, this book far exceeded my expectations (though this is at least somewhat a function of my contemporary dislike for Paul Kelly). The book brings together balanced discussion of the successes and failures of both parties with the invaluable psychological understanding that Kelly was able to garner from interviews with the key players throughout the decade.

True to form, Kelly is occasionally overly harsh on Labor's record. He also seems to leave out the party's fundamental commitment to ensuring that market-based policies were no implemented without a social safety net, and this can lead to Hawke and Keating coming off as the Australian Reagan or Thatcher.

Nonetheless, it provides a quality discussion and insights into the transformations of both major parties, how they happened, and who drove them. It also summises the period deftly and gives a great understanding of not only the challenges that Australia faced, but how they were received and discussed by the political class.

[Dirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better than any thriller, the politics of Australia are an eye opener to me in far away Belgium. It excels in pure democracy instead of the moribund parliaments of Europe
Congrats to Down Under and the writer for giving me a new exciting topic of interest, its my tenth book on Aussie Pol and I am not stopping !!

[Zac McDougall · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘The End of Certainty’ is considered by many to be one of the most important books on Australian politics. Paul Kelly details the transition of politics away from what he calls the ‘Australian Settlement’, resulting in the embrace of both sides of politics of free market economics. It saw Labor embrace deregulation and the removal of protection, yet also saw the creation of Medicare and compulsory superannuation. It saw Bob Hawke shift Labor away from its working class base towards the politics of ‘consensus’, and Paul Keating calling for Australia to become a cosmopolitan, multicultural republic which found its security in Asia, not from Asia. The period also witnessed the non-Labor side of politics evolve from being a tool of protection for the Melbourne Establishment, principally represented by Robert Menzies, to see the rise of the New Right and the ‘drys’ represented by John Hewson. However, ultimately, the non-Labor side would see the return of John Howard and his politics of racism, hatred, and division, the effects of which continue to be felt to this very day.

To understand contemporary Australian politics, it is important to understand this period of transition. The micro-economic reforms in the 1980s are a subject where reasonable minds can differ; on balance they are responsible for the economic problems faced by ordinary Australians today. While Kelly argues strongly for the reforms, this does not change the fact that this period fundamentally changed the nature of Australian politics, the marking of a turning point of both Labor and non-Labor policy. The modern reader can put aside Kelly’s views on the subject to see the book as the quintessential mainstream representation of the ‘consensus’ politics of the 80s - an important vantage point for understanding the (perhaps misguided) nostalgia those in the commentariat have for this time. Kelly does a great job at detailing the forces which shifted politics during this time, and it shows why this book is properly regarded as ultimate insiders account of the Hawke-Keating years.

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exhaustively detailed study of the Hawke / Keating era. Paul Kelly provides really good analysis and insights into this seminal period in Australian political life. Hawke and Keating come across as giants compared to the political pygmies governing Australia today. While Hawke and Keating deregulated and modernised the economy today's mob seem intent on swimming against the tide of history by trying to turn the clock back and reregulate the economy and recreate the paternalistic state. It won't end well!

[Stephen Coates · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kelly begins describing the Australia settlement, a situation from the end of WWII through to the 1970s during which, behind a high tariff wall and heavy regulation of business and labour, Australians enjoyed relative prosperity and close to full employment, all of which changed, starting in the 1970s but more dramatically in the 1980s, hence the book’s title. The bulk of the book is an analysis of Australia’s political landscape during the prime ministership of Bob Hawke and, to a lesser extent, Paul Keating. It was an interesting read for the time, although perhaps less so if one was to pick it up today.

[Brett Davison · Rating 5 out of 5]

The preeminent book of Australian Politics from the 80’s to the mid 90’s. The first 100 pages provide a great synopsis of the Australian Economy during the protectionist era, which is necessary to understand the massive transformations undertaken by the Hawke & Keating Governments. The economic restructure, combined with the political intrigue, skullduggery & bone headedness from both parties makes for an educational yet entertaining read. Read this & you will know – without doubt – why the Australian economy has performed so well & why Australian Politicians are how they are…

[Travis Bird · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, you have to be into this stuff...To those who are, it's a landmark book by a prominent reporter and commentator.

[Oz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a very elite view of history and politics in the 1980s but fascinating nevertheless