Politics with Purpose: Occasional Observations on Public and Private Life

Written by Lindsay Tanner—whose parliamentary career spans 18 years, culminating in his position as the minister for finance and deregulation in the Rudd–Gillard governments—this edited selection of his press articles, speeches, and essays discusses a range of major subjects. Delving into Labor’s problems and prospects; globalization and its discontents; facing up to important values; the need for compassion; and lessons from Tanner’s own life, this work touches on a host of topics that faced Australia from 1990 to 2012. Whether the subject matter be economic, political, or personal, this account demonstrates what Australia lost when Tanner departed from national politics.