Trivial Pursuit: Leadership and the End of the Reform Era: Quarterly Essay 40

(Paperback, 40th edition)

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In the aftermath of the 2010 election, George Megalogenis considers what has happened to politics in Australia. Have we entered a new phase with minority government and the rise of the Greens and independents The Hawke, Keating and Howard years were ones of bold reform; recently we have seen an era of power without purpose. But why Is it down to powerful lobbies, or the media, or a failure of leadership, or all of the above And whatever the case, how will hard decisions be taken for the future In a brilliant analysis, Megalogenis dissects the cycle of polls, focus groups and presidential politics and explores what it has done to the prospect of serious, difficult reform and the style of our leaders. He argues that politics-as-usual has become a self-defeating game and mounts a persuasive case for a different model of leadership. This is also an essay that looks at the fate of progressive politics after the three years of opportunities lost. In distilling the meaning of election 2010, it offers a thought-provoking guide to the challenges to come. Now that the political landscape has changed, where to next

Author Bio

George Megalogenis is an author and journalist with three decades' experience in the media. The Australian Moment won the 2013 Prime Minister's Literary Award for Non-fiction and the 2012 Walkley Award for Non-fiction, and formed the basis for his ABC documentary series Making Australia Great. George is also the author of Faultlines, The Longest Decade, Australia's Second Chance, and Balancing Act, which contains his two Quarterly Essays, No. 40- Trivial Pursuit - Leadership and the End of the Reform Era and No. 61- Balancing Act - Australia Between Recession and Renewal. His latest book is The Football Solution.