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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
'If he's elected as our PM in the future I would be very scared for women everywhere.' — Mia Freedman
When Julia Gillard — who was unmarried and childless, and an atheist — became prime minister in 2010, Tony Abbott was left boiling with rage. Not only had he lost, but he had been defeated by a modern woman. For the time being, the ambitions of this fundamentalist Catholic and fiercely combative reactionary politician had been thwarted.
Tony Abbott, a former pugilist and would-be priest, has dedicated his public life to the prosecution of his deeply traditional values. A favoured son in his own family, and raised in a cloistered world of male institutions, he has always been drawn to powerful mentors from his own caste — priests, zealots, and father figures. Perhaps this is why so many voters, especially women, dislike him: they sense in Abbott's default aggressiveness and lack of balance a man not attuned to their centre-of-the-road, secular interests.
In this blistering critique, Susan Mitchell explores how Australia's would-be prime minister became the man he is today . He is at war, not just with the government, but in an unrelenting battle for the hearts and minds of the Australian people. There is still time, he believes, to achieve the position that his male mentors think he is destined to hold — that of leading the country back to 'the proper order of things'. But is he the the prime minister-in-waiting that the country has to have — or does he pose an unacceptable threat to his own party and to the nation?' (Publisher's blurb)
When Julia Gillard — who was unmarried and childless, and an atheist — became prime minister in 2010, Tony Abbott was left boiling with rage. Not only had he lost, but he had been defeated by a modern woman. For the time being, the ambitions of this fundamentalist Catholic and fiercely combative reactionary politician had been thwarted.
Tony Abbott, a former pugilist and would-be priest, has dedicated his public life to the prosecution of his deeply traditional values. A favoured son in his own family, and raised in a cloistered world of male institutions, he has always been drawn to powerful mentors from his own caste — priests, zealots, and father figures. Perhaps this is why so many voters, especially women, dislike him: they sense in Abbott's default aggressiveness and lack of balance a man not attuned to their centre-of-the-road, secular interests.
In this blistering critique, Susan Mitchell explores how Australia's would-be prime minister became the man he is today . He is at war, not just with the government, but in an unrelenting battle for the hearts and minds of the Australian people. There is still time, he believes, to achieve the position that his male mentors think he is destined to hold — that of leading the country back to 'the proper order of things'. But is he the the prime minister-in-waiting that the country has to have — or does he pose an unacceptable threat to his own party and to the nation?' (Publisher's blurb)
Notes
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Dedication: To Dawn Palmer, the teacher everyone should have had.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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[Review] Tony Abbott : A Man's Man
2011
single work
review
— Appears in: The Advertiser , 29 October 2011; (p. 26)
— Review of Tony Abbott : A Man's Man 2011 single work biography -
A Misguided Vote of No Confidence
2011
single work
review
— Appears in: The Saturday Age , 15 October 2011; (p. 27) The Sydney Morning Herald , 15-16 October 2011; (p. 34)
— Review of Tony Abbott : A Man's Man 2011 single work biography -
Gap Between Real Abbott and the Bully Boy Caricature
2011
single work
criticism
— Appears in: The Age , 5 October 2011; (p. 17) -
What about Me?
2011
single work
correspondence
— Appears in: The Age , 6 October 2011; (p. 20) -
Sexist Abbott Blasted in a New Book
2011
single work
column
— Appears in: The Age , 30 September 2011; (p. 6)
-
A Misguided Vote of No Confidence
2011
single work
review
— Appears in: The Saturday Age , 15 October 2011; (p. 27) The Sydney Morning Herald , 15-16 October 2011; (p. 34)
— Review of Tony Abbott : A Man's Man 2011 single work biography -
[Review] Tony Abbott : A Man's Man
2011
single work
review
— Appears in: The Advertiser , 29 October 2011; (p. 26)
— Review of Tony Abbott : A Man's Man 2011 single work biography -
Book Tackles 'Dangerous' Abbott
2011
single work
column
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 1-2 October 2011; (p. 6) -
Polemic on Tony Abbott Lacks Substance and Logic
2011
single work
correspondence
— Appears in: The Australian , 3 October 2011; (p. 15) -
[Review] Tony Abbott : A Man's Man
2011
single work
correspondence
— Appears in: The Australian , 3 October 2011; (p. 15) -
[Review] Tony Abbott : A Man's Man
2011
single work
correspondence
— Appears in: The Australian , 3 October 2011; (p. 15) -
[Review] Tony Abbott : A Man's Man
2011
single work
correspondence
— Appears in: The Australian , 3 October 2011; (p. 15)
Last amended 3 Oct 2018 12:31:16
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