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A PREMIER’S STATE A P RE mi ER ’ S In May 1994, while I was going through pre-selection for by with Ellen Whinnett the seat of Williamstown, I sat down at my desk at home and I wrote a note. I was thirty-nine years old and in that note I mapped out what I hoped would happen in my life. In May 1994, while I was going through pre-selection for the seat of

By the time he was forty-eight, Steve Bracks had achieved the goal he’d set himself nine years earlier. He was premier of . In Williamstown, I sat down at my desk at home and I wrote a note. I was A Premier’s State he reflects on his ambition to make a difference, and how he reached his goal. He talks about his early childhood thirty-nine years old and in that note I mapped out what I hoped would growing up in a conservative but impassioned family that supported the

Democratic Labor Party, and about his gradual evolution from left-wing TATE university radical to pragmatic centre-left premier. He reveals for the happen in my life. first time the background to his decision to take the party’s leadership from his friend John Brumby in 1999—then to hand it back to John in 2007 when he sensationally resigned from office. He gives insights into BRACKS STEVE how to run a successful government and how to manage the factions, By the time he was forty-eight, Steve Bracks had achieved the goal he’d set and talks about everything from the impact of public life on his family, to forming minority government with independents. himself nine years earlier. He was . In A Premier’s State ‘Wide-ranging, This wide-ranging, thoughtful and incisive look at Steve’s life and his thoughtful and career encompasses not only his thoughts on the Labor Party, but on he reflects on his ambition to make a difference, and how he reached his the state of Australian politics generally. incisive ...’ goal. He talks about his early childhood growing up in a conservative but impassioned family that supported the Democratic Labor Party, and about his gradual evolution from left-wing university radical to pragmatic centre-

Royalties received by Steve Bracks from the sale of this book will be contributed to the left premier. Victorian Labor History Foundation. A PREmiER’S STATE ISBN 978-0-522-86079-5 He reveals for the first time the background to his decision to take the Cover design by Philip Campbell Design Cover photograph © aap image/Julian Smith STEVE BRACKS BIOGRAPHY 9780522 860795 with EllEn whinnEtt party’s leadership from his friend John Brumby in 1999—then to hand it back to John in 2007 when he sensationally resigned from office. He gives MUP insights into how to run a successful government and how to manage the RRP - print $34.99 factions, and talks about everything from the impact of public life on his e-book $14.99 family, to forming minority government with independents.

PUBLICATION/EMBARGO DATE This wide-ranging, thoughtful and incisive look at Steve’s life and his career 1 AUGUST 2012 encompasses not only his thoughts on the Labor Party, but on the state of Australian politics generally, both during Steve’s time in politics and after it. Steve Bracks is available for interview from 1 August. Steve Bracks joined the in 1974 and was Premier For more information please of Victoria from 1999 to 2007. He is a non-executive director of numerous contact Terri King at MUP non-profit and industry bodies including the Deakin (University) on 03 9342 0316 or 0406 998 020, Foundation, the Bionics Institute, Jardine Lloyd Thomson Australia, the or email [email protected] John Button Foundation, the Union Education Foundation and the Beirut Hellenic Bank.

Ellen Whinnett is a journalist of more than twenty years experience and now works as the deputy editor of News Ltd’s Sunday Herald Sun. She has won numerous journalism awards including a Walkley award for news reporting, and specialises in political, investigative and crime reporting.

MELBOURNE. UNIVERSITY. PUBLISHING

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