Customer Reviews

Dark Victory

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I read this book a year ago and found it such a compelling but chilling read. If it were not so painstakingly researched and the history it reports were not so recent and about a time I remember well, it would be possible to read it as a dramatic nail biting political thriller. The characters that as Australians we know so well are depicted so vividly, their actions so self serving and callous. Given the current political climate in Australia and around the world this book should be compulsory reading for all those who wish to not live through another term of the radical right wing conservatives. Frighteningly history is repeating itself with another election soon, the same campaign tactics exploiting the politics of fear and greed are being played out in the Australian media, fueled by now well seasoned politicians and business interests.

This is a book for the ages. In closely recounting the Tampa crisis, the "children overboard" affair, and the whole sordid mess of Operation Relex and its role in the 2001 federal election, Marr and Wilkinson have made a profound contribution to Australian political journalism, and to documenting the shameful record of Howard, his government of moral degenerates, and their distressingly inept Opposition. What might surprise some of Marr's critics is that this book shows an admirable lack of editorializing: he and Wilkinson don't need to seize the moral high ground and lecture the reader. The facts just speak for themselves. They make abundantly clear Howard's shameless tactics (such as 'dog whistle' and 'wedge' politics), the complete lack of independence in the Australian public service, and the contemptible weakness of military officers who refused to speak up with 'frank and fearless' advice even when they knew the government was lying. What the book also demonstrates is the terrifying gap between daily media reports and the reality of what goes on - and this in a country with a reasonably free press. To be fair, Marr and Wilkinson had the luxury of access to ministers, the detailed records of naval vessels, the reports of various inquiries and more than a year to write their book. But it does make you wonder: are most journalists just lazy? Or does the "news" move at such speed these days and get presented in such a format that it disallows the kind of close analysis a democratic citizenry deserves? Thankfully, people like Marr and Wilkinson are around to reassemble all the pieces for us - their role is essential in a country which seems to be suffering from collective A.D.D. when it comes to Howard and his kind. I was particularly impressed by the authors' meticulous research and referencing, helpful glossary and thorough indexing. This is an important book about a very important issue. I encourage all Australians to read it, and any potential illegal immigrants - sorry, foreign nationals (the Liberal's rhetoric is catching) - who might be interested in understanding the mockery of enlightened democracy that is Australian politics today.