Power, Politics and Parliament

John Nethercote's contributions to history, politics and public administration spanned five decades and three continents. Additionally, he played a crucial role in promoting political biography and was instrumental in stimulating a renewal of interest in the history of the Liberal Party. 

This book, which honours and reflects these contributions, includes essays by a wide range of renowned scholars and commentators, including Paul Kelly, Tom Frame, Glyn Davis, Meredith Edwards and Sir Anthony Seldon, covering themes that run from the nature of political biography to the relations between public servants and ministers. 

As John Howard says of Nethercote, "He understood in full the Australian version of the Westminster system...Australia has lost a premier political commentator, historian, and cultural analyst." As Australia grapples with a highly uncertain world, the wisdom these essays distil from long experience, scholarship and reflection could not be more timely. 

Henry Ergas AO is a columnist for The Australian. In 2016 he was made an Officer in the Order of Australia for distinguished service to infrastructure economics, higher education, public policy development and review, and as a supporter of emerging artists.

Jonathan Pincus is Visiting Professor of Economics at the University of Adelaide. He is a Distinguished Fellow in Public Policy of the Economic Society and an EOG Shann Award holder of the Economic History Society of ANZ; and he attended many test matches with John Nethercote.