Cirrus@Austlit

'In 2004, when she was John Howard’s Immigration minister and I was a reporter for my student newspaper in Adelaide, Amanda Vanstone granted me an interview. Her job was to administer Australia’s policy of locking up people who’d come to Australia by boat to seek protection from persecution. When I observed that remote refugee prisons in places such as Woomera, Port Augusta and Port Hedland did not facilitate access to lawyers and journalists, Vanstone said that was the fault of those professionals for not setting up their practices in those places. When I pressed my point, Vanstone became annoyed. “Listen. Yatala’s not remote. We don’t allow a lot of media there!”' (Introduction)

'Written by Queensland barrister Cathy McLennan, Saltwater has received almost universal acclaim among readers, reviewers and indeed the Queensland Literary Awards (QLAs), which declared it ‘Best Non-Fiction Book’ in 2017. Its author, appointed a magistrate shortly before the book’s publication, has since accepted invitations to speak on matters of law and policy affecting Aboriginal people and communities.' (Introduction)

'‘I fancy Malcolm [Turnbull] is like the big red bunger. You’re lighting up, there’s a bit of a fizz, then nothing. Nothing.’

'An updated, gift edition of the bestselling The Book of Paul, presenting the one and only Mr Paul Keating – at his straight-shooting, scumbag-calling, merciless best.

'Paul lets rip – on John Howard: ‘The little desiccated coconut is under pressure and he is attacking anything he can get his hands on.’

'On Peter Costello: ‘The thing about poor old Costello is he is all tip and no iceberg.’

'On John Hewson: ‘[His performance] is like being flogged with a warm lettuce.’

'On Tony Abbott: ‘If Tony Abbott ends up the prime minister of Australia, you’ve got to say, God help us.’

'And that’s just a taste.' (Publication summary)