Wayne Errington

Without fear or favour, How Good is Scott Morrison? examines the trials and tribulations of our 30th prime minister. Investigating Morrison's unlikely rise to the liberal leadership and his miracle electoral win, van Onselen and Errington put his leadership under the spotlight. Covering Morrison's disastrous management of the catastrophic bushfire season that was highlighted by the extraordinary statement, 'I don't hold the hose, mate,' and the decision to holiday while the country burned, How Good is Scott Morrison? shows his resolve and the redemption the government's response to the pandemic brought him. Right now, Scott Morrison seems unassailable and sure to win the next election, but what exactly is his vision for Australia? A pragmatist rather than an ideologue, he is a deeply Pentecostal religious man but he doesn't wear his faith as a badge of honour. So what does he really believe in?When the history of this period is written, Morrison will certainly be seen as an election winner but will he be viewed as having had the courage and vision to change Australia for the better, or the worse?'This book rips away the PR curtain to look at the real sins and virtues of our 30th prime minister.'- LAURIE OAKES'Scott Morrison is very good at doing not much and yet winning the politics. Errington and van Onselen have produced a forensic examination of a - so far - flawed leadership.'- BARRIE CASSIDY

The nation breathed a sigh of relief when Malcolm Turnbull achieved his lifelong dream to become prime minister. Yet months into the job it was unclear what Turnbull wanted to achieve as prime minister. He was strangely underprepared for a job that he had fought so long to win. Turnbull leads a party whose culture he doesn't share. He is interested in policy but is not passionate about any policy in particular and is not so wedded to any idea that that he will fight for it. This confused Australians who expect leaders to lead. Will this long, early election campaign allow Turnbull to grow into the role he has so long coveted. And will a decisive win allow Turnbull to lead on his own terms?

Tony Abbott came to the prime ministership lauded as the most effective leader of the opposition since Whitlam. Why then did he fail to succeed in the job to which he had aspired for decades?Frontbenchers leaked about cabinet processes to the media while backbenchers complained about the lack of access to their leader. Abbott's long apprenticeship in religion, journalism and political life prepared him for neither the mundane business of managing people nor the commanding heights of national leadership. Public goodwill evaporated after a tough first budget. Inside the Liberal Party individual ambitions and a succession of poor polls fuelled increasing concern that the next election was unwinnable.Battleground chronicles the paradox of the Abbott prime ministership: steadfast loyalty when pragmatism was required; social values at odds with community attitudes; stubbornness when tactics and strategy were essential. All would bring him undone.

This book introduces the dynamics of the Australian political system. It sets out the key concepts and institutions of democratic politics and demonstrates how the actors and institutions of Australian politics interact and develop. Each chapter is divided two discrete but related sections. The first part gives an overview of a particular institution within the Australia political system. The second part is an "Issue in Focus" which encourages students' critical thinking in unpacking the everyday application of one aspect of the institution under discussion. This engaging text uses current examples throughout, blending the practical with the theoretical. While focusing on the institutions of Australian government this text also discusses and analyses the processes and power themes and includes discussion of comparative political systems.

In ""John Winston Howard"", a frank and engrossing portrait of the Prime Minister, Wayne Errington and Peter van Onselen contend that John Howard is the first professional politician the country has seen, who has left a deep and lasting impact on modern politics, government and the country.For the first time ever, in unprecedented and extensive interviews conducted by the authors with Howard's family, friends, political supporters and detractors, we get a rare insight into the man and the government he runs. The result is a portrait of how Team Howard operates, and why it has been so successful.""John Winston Howard"" is a revealing study of the nature of modern politics, and of how dirty the game can get. Crucially, it offers an insightful understanding of the John Howard who lies - and is mostly missed - between the public vitriol and the ungainly praise that passes as analysis.