No, prime minister

by James Walter

In this reappraisal of recent Australian political life, Paul Strangio and James Walter analyse the performances of five prime ministers (Whitlam, Fraser, Hawke, Keating and Howard) against the background of changes in the political system over the past three decades and assess the leadership style of a potential prime minister, Kevin Rudd. The authors argue that good democratic leadership requires robust institutions, including a fearless public service, a strong Opposition and alternative policy advice.