Overview
An informative book about independent politicians and why they matter in a parliamentary democracy—with an Australian focus. The book documents the history and parliamentary contributions of independent members in Australia’s federal, state and territory parliaments. A must read for those who believe that parliament matters and have the welfare of parliament at heart. This book will be of interest to readers with a passion for parliaments, politics or history.
In this book you will read case histories of independents throughout our electoral history who best illustrate the independent effect. You will also meet ones who in some instances have gone against the majority views of their sometimes parochial constituents and still survived to be re-elected, such was the trust in which they were held.
Quentin Dempster, Australian Journalist and Author
About the author
Andréa Cullen is a parliamentary scholar based in Australia. Andréa was a UK Hansard Society Scholar in 2013 and recipient of the inaugural Chartered Secretaries Australia—Public Sector Scholarship Award in 2011. She has written on various parliamentary topics including: officers of parliament; public accounts committees; parliamentary strengthening; the art of speaking in parliament; designing for democracy—architectural considerations; and civil society participation in the work of parliaments.