For the True Believers: Great Labor Speeches That Shaped History Troy Bramston (Ed) | Federation Press | 2013

For the True Believers: Great Labor Speeches that Shaped History Troy Bramston (ed) | Federation Press | 2013

ALP's archives is a speech by Minister Gough Whitlam and Premier Joe Cahill at the Sydney Gurindji Chief Vincent Lingiari Town Hall on 15 June 1957. In that stood together on the red earth speech, at a NSW ALP Annual under a clear blue sky. Whitlam Conference, Mr Cahill - a man who bent down and scooped up a had never seen an opera, a ballet handful of dirt and then poured it into Lingiari’s hand, symbolising the or a symphony - spoke forcefully transfer of that land into traditional against a resolution opposed to ownership. the building of the Sydney Opera House and the 'homes before Sometimes the editor contrasts opera' cry then resounding. the immediate reception or contemporary assessment of There are speeches that call for the particular speech with its change, action or steadfastness subsequent, different reception or in response to most of the great assessment. issues that have faced the nation. The challenges posed by free There is a foreword by leading trade or protectionism, world war, ALP speechwriter Graham First, the basics. F or the conscription, the White Australia Freudenberg, as well as both True Believers: Great Labor policy, the equality of men and a preface and an introduction Speeches that Shaped History women, reconciliation between by Mr Bramston. The theme of is an anthology of speeches Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal these three pieces seems to be made by leading figures in the Australians, native title, Australia's that speeches are of particular Australian Labor Party. The book place in the world and her 'great significance to the ALP as a includes eighty-nine speeches, power' alliances, the dissolution political party with a 'continuing reproduced in whole or in part. of the Communist Party of quest for practical idealism' The speeches are organised Australia, the Vietnam War and (Freudenberg) and as a party in seven parts: Reconciling the 1975 Constitutional crisis, are which agitates for change. all addressed in the course of this Australia; Reform, Progress and What then might be the relevance anthology. There are speeches the Future; the Campaign Trail; of 'political' speeches to members relevant to Labor's great schism History, Tradition and Ideology; of the Bar Association? Perhaps of the 1950s, the Split. War and Conflict; Australia and there is none. Mr Bramston the World; and Victory, Defeat, Mr Bramston, the editor of the quotes from an interview with Love and Loss. The earliest collection, is an opinion writer for Bob Hawke conducted for speech in the anthology is one The Australian newspaper and this book. Mr Hawke said that made in the NSW Legislative was the principal speechwriter speeches in parliament did not Assembly by George Ryan on 16 in 2007 for Kevin Rudd. Mr matter because the decisions July 1891 ('to make and unmake Bramston introduces each speech had already been made in the social conditions'), when a Labor with a short explanation he government party room. Mr electoral league had - for the provides of the context of the Hawke contrasted the charade first time - gained seats in an speech. These short explanations (his word) of parliament with Australian parliament. The most are usually informative and, his previous experience as an recent are speeches by Julia on occasion, rather evocative. advocate in industrial tribunals: 'in Gillard, made in 2009 and 2011. Gough Whitlam's speech at my experience as an advocate, I Within that span, the speeches W attie Creek on 16 August 1975 is was used to a situation where the have a diverse subject matter. introduced with: outcome depended on the quality One little gem which Mr Bramston At Wattie Creek, as the sun radiated of your argument.' Nonetheless, has retrieved from the NSW its warmth from above, Prime looking at some of the 'political'

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speeches collected in this work, Next, there are twin speeches of the famous speeches of it is hard not to appreciate by Billy Hughes in the House of Cicero against Catiline or Verres, some fine examples of the art of Representatives on 27 and 28 or Charles James Fox against persuasion and to see how the May 1909. Mr Bramston describes George III. Reflecting on it, a skilful use of phrase, rhythm and Hughes' presentation: question arises. How important style, can be employed to change Politicians and journalists raced into is the truth or accuracy of a minds. the chamber to watch Hughes in speech's content in persuading the listener? Was Hughes' Three of the speeches in fUll flight. Few had heard anything attack on Deakin so effective in the anthology were, for me, like this before. The face of Hughes damaging Deakin's credibility (as particularly impressive. was red hot with anger. The veins in his hands were bulging. His mind it was widely-acknowledged to There is Gough Whitlam's was calculating the most venomous have been) because there was, at speech in Melbourne on 9 June invective to unleash. His voice was very least, some truth in Hughes' 1967 at the Victorian ALP State high-pitched, shrill and excitable. brutal words? Conference ('Certainly the These two speeches involved a The third speech I want to impotent are pure'). The speech denunciation of Alfred Deakin highlight is a speech by Paul is a bold, unvarnished attack who had withdrawn support Keating to the Dail Eireann, the against members of Mr Whitlam's from Fisher's Labor government Irish Parliament, in Dublin on 20 audience, calling for change in and created a new Fusion Party, Septem ber 1993. Towards the the federal ALP's organisational thus sweeping Deakin into the beginning of the speech, Keating structure and urging the ALP to premiership for the third and says: be a party of national government final time. Hughes’ language was and legislative change rather than It would not surprise me if you are searing and pitiless: ideological purity. The arguments thinking — here we go again, he is wielded are wide-ranging. What ... I heard from this side of the going to tell us about our Irish past is striking about the speech is House some mention of Judas. I do or our literary tradition; he is bound not agree with that; it is not fair — to to quote Yeats at us; tell us about that it is so richly-laden with 1798 again or give us his views on technique and the devices of Judas, for whom there is this to be said, that he did not gag the man our character. I would dearly like to the art of persuasion. Among whom he betrayed, nor did he fail spare you this and I will. other devices, there is epiphora to hang himself afterwards. with tricolon ('The party was The contrast between this speech not conceived in failure, brought To realise this noble ideal he has and the speech of Julia Gillard to forth by failure or consecrated to assassinated governments, the US Congress on 9 March 2011 failure.') that would be at home in abandoned friends to the wolves, is marked: deserted principles and deceived the Latin or Classical Greek literature. I firmly believe you are the same There is the use of a version of people ... He will lead any party — he will follow none! He is faithful people who amazed me when I was anthypophora or erotoma ('Some to only one thing — himself. a small girl by landing on the moon. think that ... If this view is meant On that great day I believed to be complimentary to me, it is This speech by Hughes, the Americans could do anything. I a compliment I refuse to accept former tinker, union leader and believe that still. You can do ...' and 'So let us have none of this barrister, was made at a time anything today. nonsense that defeat is in some when the standing orders in Having introduced his speech ways more moral than victory.') the House of Representatives by telling his Irish audience what that has strong resemblance to prohibited the reading of he was not going to do, Keating the style adopted by Paul, in prepared speeches. It is a speech then proceeds to deliver a speech articulating his argum ents in his memorable for its delivery, in which is effortless in its prose first century AD epistles to the its use of satire and hyperbole and inspiring in its sentiment. churches of Greece and Asia and it is as coruscating as any The speech celebrates much Minor.

78 | Bar News | Autumn 2014 | of what is the best of Australia. speeches in the anthology. It is hard not to notice too, in our Keating depicts the great promise Western Australian Senator age of individualism, how the of Australia and the opportunity Dorothy Tagney's speech to the early speeches by leading Labor and liberty which Australia has Senate on 24 Septem ber 1943, figures appealed so frequently delivered. Keating celebrates with its optimism for, and vision to collectivism, and the values of the 'lesson of the emigrant' while of, post-war Australia, the power community and the social. at the same time informing his and logic of 'Doc' Evatt's 'No man The book is most likely to be audience that the great casualty should be deprived of civil rights' enjoyed by those with an interest of immigration was Aboriginal speech against the bill to dissolve in the techniques of persuasion, Australia: 'the destruction of this the Communist Party, Keating's Australian history or the Australian extraordinary ancient culture, and splendid eulogy to the Unknown Labor Party. the brutality and injustice inflicted Australian Soldier at the Australian on the first Australians can never War Memorial on 11 November Reviewed by MR Tyson really be set right.' The speech 1993 and several famous speeches simply is a thing of beauty. by John Curtin and Ben Chifley, are among the highlights. There are many other memorable

The Whitlam Legacy

Troy Bramston (ed) | Federation Press | 2013

institutions, and its achievements crown solicitor for 12 years from in discrete areas of public policy. December 1936. Michael Sexton, There are other chapters which then an adviser to the Attorney- look at the legacy of the Whitlam General Kep Enderby, has government. Gerard Henderson, contributed an intriguing chapter: Bob Carr, Frank Brennan, Susan 'The Dismissal'; which starts from Ryan, Peter van Onselen and about 8.00am on 11 November Malcolm Mackerras are just some 1975 and then describes from Mr of the contributors. Mr Whitlam Sexton's perspective, how the has written a foreword to the events of that momentous day volume. unfolded.

There has been so much written This book will be most appreciated about the Whitlam prime- by those unfamiliar with the ministership and Mr Whitlam Whitlam years or those who himself that I am not entirely have an interest in revisiting that convinced about the need for time. It is a volume which is fairly this book. However, I did enjoy comprehensive in its coverage of The second book which I have reading Michael Kirby's chapter its topic and does offer some fresh been asked to review is The 'Gough W hitlam : In His Father's perspectives. Whitlam Legacy. It features thirty- Shadow' which surveys the legal Reviewed by MR Tyson eight essays about Mr Whitlam career of Gough Whitlam's father, and his government. Among other Fred Whitlam, a distinguished things, there are essays about the lawyer and dedicated public Whitlam government's political servant. Fred Whitlam, inter style, its relationship with key alia, served as Com m onwealth

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