The qualifier in the book’s subtitle – it is a political history of Australia – warns of a restricted focus. But Bongiorno’s conception of what counts as “political” is surprisingly ...

Clearly, records that are truly personal must be treated as such. But so much of the primary record of Australia’s political history has been managed in an ad hoc, discretionary way.

THE COALITION, a partnership of the right-wing Liberal and National parties, is so established in Australia that it has acquired a capital “C” and has ruled the country for around two-thirds ...