A long-listed finalist for the 2009 Walkley non-fiction book of the year
Since 1949, when the modern two-party system was introduced, Australians have voted to change government just five times. Kevin Rudd’s victory in 2007 was the fifth.
To the Bitter End is an extensive exploration of the 2007 election, including the campaigns and conflicts, and the resultant triumph of Kevin Rudd.
2007 was a year to remember in Australian politics for more reasons than the fifth changing of government since the two-party system. John Howard’s 11 years as Prime-minister is the second-longest period in power since Sir Robert Menzies, and was cut short by fatal political overreach, while policies such as the WorkChoices legislation polarised voters and politicians.
2007 was a year that saw the union movement become the centre of one of Australia’s most successful political campaign.
After years of contrasting Labour leadership from the likes of Kim Beazley, Simon Crean and Mark Latham, Kevin Rudd emerged as a fresh face less than a year before the 2007 election.
The rise of Kevin Rudd was both short and rapid, and is given much focus in To the Bitter End.
Peter Hartcher, a Gold Walkley award winning journalist, offers an exceptionally revealing account of the 2007 election year with a focus on the fall of John Howard and the rise of Kevin Rudd.
With unparalleled access to all the major individuals involved, Hartcher is able to expose the secret alliance between Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard to topple Kim Beazley.
He details the unending struggle between John Howard and Peter Costello over control of the national budget, and explains why Costello considers Howard’s loss the greatest humiliation of any Australian Prime Minister.
What Hartcher aims to do with this account is to illuminate readers on what happened outside of the public’s gaze, during one of the most exciting years in Australian politics. To the Bitter End offers Australia a comprehensive look at its own politics, policies and leaders.
To the Bitter End is published by Allen & Unwin, RRP $35
Review by Harrison Tippet, a first-year journalism student at RMIT University, Melbourne and intern with the Walkley Foundation.
