Books in the Quarterly Essay series

In Political Amnesia, Laura Tingle reveals a political culture suffering from profound memory loss. This is an essay about the role of government today that is part defence, part lament. Blending present-day cases, examples from history and interviews with leading figures, Tingle... shows the long-term harm that has come from undermining the public sector as a source of ideas and experience. She shows the damage done when responsibility is outsourced: 'Without the anchor of any sense of continuity, and without the anchor of a strong 'push-back' against political whim, politics and policy have spun down into a series of reactions and counter-reactions which play out in vacuous daily news grabs and zingers.' The idea of institutional memory loss helps explain what has gone wrong with our politics. In Political Amnesia, Laura Tingle examines how it occurred and how we might put things right.
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In QE44, Andrew Charlton exposes the rift that will shape our future progress versus planet; rich versus poor. Who, then, will save us? Charlton shows there are two leading candidates: economists and environmentalists. Each says they know what is best for our grandchildren. Yet e...nvironmentalists see economists as merchants of greed with a blind faith in markets. And economists see environmentalism as an indulgence for the middle class of richer nations; those who enjoy the lifestyle afforded by economic growth, but take its source for granted. In Australia, this battle has plunged our politics into one of its most tumultuous periods, splitting the business community; driving a wedge between the left and right of the Liberal Party; separating Labor's working-class from its progressive supporters; propelling the rise of the Greens and stirring up their counterweight in rural protest. Across the globe, economists and environmentalists vie over who has the right response to climate change, population or food security issues. In this groundbreaking essay Charlton argues that our descendants will only thank us if we find a way to preserve both the natural world and human progress.
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In this riveting piece of reportage and analysis, Toohey examines the wholesale attempt to change an entrenched way of life. He takes a perceptive, at time humorous, look at the encounter between outsiders, doctors, police, military and bureaucrats, and Territory Aboriginals.

The author looks at the challenge of balancing love and economics, and the value our society places on both. Examining how paid work has become 'sacred' for many, she argues that any true definition of equality has to take into account the fact of dependency and care for others. ...Australian author.
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The Great Barrier Reef is dying. Extreme weather is becoming all too familiar. Yet when it comes to action on climate change, division and paralysis rule the land.