19 October 2006
A new book that takes a warts-and-all historical look at Victoria's premiers is sure to cause a stir in this, an election year.
The Victorian Premiers 1856 -- 2006 has been co-edited by Monash University's Dr Paul Strangio and Swinburne University of Technology's Professor Brian Costar. It will be launched on Monday 23 October.
The book is the first comprehensive collection of biographical and political portraits of the Victorian premiers. It has been written by leading Australian historians and political scientists.
"There have been 44 premiers in Victoria's history, from 'Honest' William Haines in 1856 and the roguish Tommy Bent at the turn of the century, to Steve Bracks 150 years later," Dr Strangio said.
"This is their story -- a compelling journey through a turbulent, occasionally anarchic, political landscape."
The biographical and political portraits cover many of the most dramatic episodes in Victoria's history: gold fever; bank crashes; police strikes; the great Labor split of the 1950s; the last hanging in Australia; and the adventurism and excesses of the modern era.
"This collection will leave the reader in no doubt that politics in the 'Garden State' has seldom been sedate and its premiers rarely predictable," Dr Strangio said.
The Victorian Premiers 1856 -- 2006 is being launched to coincide with the state election in November and celebration of 150 years of responsible government in Victoria.
Dr Strangio is a senior lecturer in the School of Political and Social Inquiry at Monash, and Professor Costar is the inaugural chair of Victorian State Parliamentary Democracy at Swinburne.
The Victorian Premiers 1856 -- 2006, published by Federation Press, will be launched by former Western Australian premier The Hon Geoff Gallop on Monday 23 October at 11am at The Hotel Windsor, Canberra Room, 111 Spring Street, Melbourne.
For further information contact Ms Penny Fannin, Media Communications on +61 3 9905 5828 or 0417 125 700. Paul Strangio and Brian Costar are available for interview.
Review copies are available from Di Young on (02) 9552 2200 or email: d.young@federationpress.com.au
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