George Megalogenis

Quarterly Essay 40: Trivial Pursuit: Leadership and the End of the Reform Era

• UNABRIDGED (2 hrs and 33 mins)
• By George Megalogenis
• Narrated By George Megalogenis

In the aftermath of the 2010 election, George Megalogenis considers what has happened to politics in Australia. Have we entered a new phase with minority government and the rise of the Greens and independents? Hawke, Keating and Howard years were ones of bold reform; recently we have seen an era of power without purpose. But why? Is it down to powerful lobbies, or the media, or a failure of leadership, or all of the above? And whatever the case, how will hard decisions be taken for the future? In a brilliant analysis, Megalogenis dissects the cycle of polls, focus groups and presidential politics....