Meet the author - Lech Blaine
Lech Blaine will be in conversation with Mark Kenny on his new quarterly essay . Who is Peter Dutton, and what happened to the Liberal Party? In Bad Cop, Lech Blaine traces the making of a hardman 鈥 from Queensland detective to leader of the Opposition, from property investor to minister for Home Affairs. This is a story of ambition, race and power, and a politician with a plan.
Dutton became Liberal leader with a strategy to win outer-suburban and regional seats from Labor. Since then we have seen his demolition of the Voice and a rolling campaign of culture wars. What does Peter Dutton know about the Australian electorate? Has he updated Menzies鈥 Forgotten People pitch for the age of anxiety, or will he collapse the Liberals鈥 broad church? This revelatory portrait is sardonic, perceptive and altogether compelling.
鈥淒utton doesn't need to become prime minister to redraw the battle lines of Australian politics. His fight with Albanese over parochial voters was always going to drag the political conversation rightwards: on race, immigration, gender and the pace of a transition away from fossil fuels 鈥 Dutton鈥檚 raison d鈥櫭猼re? Make Australia Afraid Again. Then he will offer himself as the lesser of two evils. A serious strongman for the age of anxiety.鈥濃擫ech Blaine,
Lech Blaine, an award-winning writer and journalist from Queensland, is the author of the critically-acclaimed Car Crash: A Memoir and the Quarterly Essay Top Blokes.Car Crash was shortlisted for the 精东传媒app Biography Award and two categories at the Queensland Literary Awards He was the 2023 Charles Perkins Centre writer in residence. His writing has appeared in Good Weekend, Griffith Review, The Guardian and The Monthly
Mark Kenny is Professor at the Australian Studies Institute at ANU, where he hosts the popular podcast series 'Democracy Sausage' .Mark is the Canberra Times political analyst and a regular on the ABC's Insiders program, Sky News Agenda, and radio programs across the country.
The vote of thanks will be given by John Warhurst, Emeritus Professor of Political Science at ANU
This event is in association with . Books will be available for purchase on the evening in the Cultural Centre foyer. Pre-event book signings will be available from 5.30pm, and available again after the event.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Registration is required for this event.
Accessible parking spaces鈥痑re available around campus should you require them.
To help keep everyone safe, please ensure that you are familiar with, and follow, the advice from .
If you do not feel well, please refrain from attending this event.
By registering for this event, you are accepting our鈥.
A podcast will be made available after the event.
Symposium by University House Wine bar (Shop 13, 152 University Avenue, Acton, which is just next to the Kambri cultural centre) will now be open for dining after meet the author events. Food and wine details at . No bookings necessary.
TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12002 (Australian University) | CRICOS Provider Code: 00120C
Location
T2, Cultural Centre Kambri (ANU Building 153)
Acton, ACT, 2601
Contact
- ANU Communications & Engagement