Maxine McKew

Maxine McKew is an Australian journalist, author and former politician who served as the Member for Bennelong in the Australian Parliament from 2007-2010. She notably defeated sitting Prime Minister John Howard in the 2007 election, becoming the first person to unseat a Prime Minister in their own electorate since 1929. Prior to her political career, McKew worked for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) for over 30 years as a journalist and broadcaster. She anchored prominent programs including Lateline and the 7.30 Report, conducting interviews with major political and business figures. Following her departure from politics, McKew turned to writing and education advocacy. She has authored several books including "Tales from the Political Trenches" (2012) and "Class Act" (2014), which examine Australian politics and education reform respectively. She currently holds a Vice-Chancellor's Fellow position at the University of Melbourne, where she focuses on education policy. During her career, McKew has received multiple awards for journalism including a Walkley Award and a Logie. Her work spans political commentary, analysis of public policy, and investigation of Australia's education system.

Readers appreciate McKew's insider perspective on Australian politics, particularly in "Tales from the Political Trenches" where she details her experiences defeating John Howard in the 2007 election. Several reviewers note her detailed accounts of policy development and political strategy. Common criticisms include a perceived bias in her political reporting and what some readers describe as "score-settling" with former colleagues. Multiple Amazon reviewers point out that her writing can be dry and overly focused on procedural details. Her book "Class Act" receives praise for highlighting successful education initiatives but faces criticism for what readers call an oversimplified view of education reform. Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (42 ratings) Amazon AU: 3.7/5 (15 ratings) Google Books: 3.6/5 (8 ratings) "Tales from the Political Trenches" averages slightly higher ratings than "Class Act" across platforms, though both books have limited review numbers online.

Tales from the Political Trenches (2012) A first-hand account of Australian federal politics during 2007-2010, detailing McKew's experiences defeating Prime Minister John Howard and serving as a Labor MP.

Class Act (2014) An examination of successful education reforms in Australian schools, featuring case studies and analysis of policy implementation.

Beyond the Classroom (2016) An analysis of innovation in Australian education, exploring how schools and teachers are adapting to meet 21st century learning needs.

Kerry O'Brien - O'Brien covered Australian politics as chief political correspondent and anchor for ABC programs like The 7:30 Report. His memoir "Kerry O'Brien: A Memoir" provides similar insider perspective on Australian political journalism and interviews with prime ministers.

Michelle Grattan - As political editor for The Age and chief political correspondent for The Conversation, Grattan writes extensively about Australian politics and policy. Her analytical style and deep understanding of Canberra mirrors McKew's approach to political commentary.

George Megalogenis - He combines journalistic and academic analysis of Australian politics, economics and society. His books like "The Australian Moment" examine similar themes to McKew's work on how policy decisions shape national outcomes.

Chris Bonnor - Bonnor writes about Australian education policy and reform as a former school principal and public education advocate. His book "The Stupid Country" addresses many of the same education system challenges that McKew explores in "Class Act."

Laura Tingle - Tingle's political essays and reporting for the Australian Financial Review and ABC focus on power dynamics in Australian politics. Her quarterly essays analyze political leadership and policy development in ways that complement McKew's insider accounts.