Book description
'Retiring in 1975, Fred Daly liked to tell the story
of the new Member who sat next to him in the House. Turning to Fred,
he said, 'I like to sit here and look across at the enemy.'
'Son,' said Fred, 'you are looking at the Opposition.
The enemy is behind you.' ' Phillip Adams has been close to
governments of various persuasions for over fifty years. Having been a
confidant - or a fierce opponent - of many of Australia's most
influential figures over that time, he has built up an unparalleled
collection of anecdotes about our political and cultural leaders.
Backstage Politics is also something of a personal memoir, tracing
Adams' life in politics, media and the arts over the years. To make
the collection complete, he even invited the pollies themselves to
submit their stories, the most enthusiastic respondent - not
surprisingly - being Senator Barnaby Joyce. The biggest characters of
public life emerge afresh in these pages. From Menzies to Rudd - via
Gorton, Whitlam, Fraser, Hawke, Keating, Hanson, Howard et al. -
Backstage Politics takes us on a funny, insightful and revealing
journey through the Australian political landscape.
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY BRUCE PETTY
