Triumph and Demise: The Broken Promise of a Labor Generation

Triumph and Demise examines the Australian Labor Party governments of Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard from 2007-2013. The book draws from over 60 interviews with key political figures from this turbulent period in Australian political history. Paul Kelly, a veteran political journalist and Editor-at-Large of The Australian newspaper, chronicles the internal dynamics and external pressures that shaped these governments. His account covers both the Labor administration and the Liberal opposition during these six years of Australian federal politics. The narrative focuses on the relationships and tensions between central figures in the Labor government, particularly the complex dynamic between Prime Ministers Rudd and Gillard. Kelly explores major policy decisions, leadership challenges, and the broader political context of this era. This work stands as both a political chronicle and an analysis of leadership, power, and institutional dysfunction in modern Australian democracy. The book raises questions about party stability, succession planning, and the impact of personality on governance.

Readers view this as a detailed account of the Rudd-Gillard years, with strong focus on the internal Labor party dynamics. Reviews note Kelly's access to key players and behind-the-scenes insights. Readers praised: - The depth of research and primary sources - Clear explanation of complex political events - Balanced treatment of both Rudd and Gillard - Documentation of cabinet discussions and private meetings Common criticisms: - Too sympathetic to business interests - Occasional repetition of points - Some readers found Kelly's writing style dry - Limited coverage of policy achievements Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (31 ratings) Amazon AU: 4.3/5 (12 ratings) Sample reader comments: "Excellent insight into a tumultuous period" - Goodreads reviewer "Too focused on personalities over policy" - Amazon reviewer "The definitive account of this era, though Kelly's conservative bias shows" - Goodreads reviewer

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🔷 The book's author, Paul Kelly, has been a journalist for over 40 years and is considered one of Australia's most respected political commentators, earning the title "The Sage of Australian Journalism." 🔷 The period covered in the book (2007-2013) saw Australia's first female Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, who came to power through an unprecedented internal party challenge against sitting PM Kevin Rudd. 🔷 Kelly conducted more than 60 interviews over three years to complete this work, including in-depth conversations with both Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard after they left office. 🔷 The book's title "Triumph and Demise" reflects Labor's largest election victory in 2007 followed by its lowest primary vote in 100 years in 2013. 🔷 Despite the political turmoil it describes, Australia was one of the few developed nations to avoid recession during the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, a period extensively covered in the book.