ANU Meet the Author series
Sean Kelly will be in conversation with Amy Remeikis on his new Quarterly Essay,The Good Fight.What Does Labor Stand For? In this subtle and brilliant essay, Kelly explores whether Labor is still up for the good fight.
Free Event: Registration is required
In the 100th issue of Australia’s leading agenda-setting journal of politics, culture and debate, Sean Kelly considers the enigma of the Albanese government. With wide yet shallow support, will it change the country? Does it have big ideas, or is it content just to become “the natural party of government”?
Kelly gives a definitive account of Albanese’s political style and asks what lies behind it. In speaking to a fragmented, disengaged electorate, the Prime Minister places a high value on moderation. Often that means ducking fights with entrenched interests. But this runs the risk of embedding an ever more unequal nation, led by a government that can seem gutless. In this subtle and brilliant essay, Kelly explores whether Labor is still up for the good fight.
“Labor has cast itself as a version of what the conservatives once were: the defender of the way things are. This may well appeal to large numbers of Australians, as it did in this last election. [But] Labor’s task, historically, has been to change things on behalf of those who desperately need them to change.” —Sean Kelly.
Sean Kelly is the author of The Game: A portrait of Scott Morrison; an award-winning columnist for the Nine papers; a regular contributor to The Monthly and a former adviser to Labor prime ministers, Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd.
Amy Remeikis is a contributing editor for The New Daily and chief political analyst for The Australia Institute. Her book, On Reckoning was published in 2022.
The vote of thanks will be given by Allan Behm, Senior Advisor, International & Security Affairs Program. The Australia Institute.
Books will be available for signing from 5.30pm and again after the event.