Pictured: former Labor resources and energy minister Martin Ferguson, Laurie Carmichael, centre, and former ACTU secretary Bill Kelty.
This is a comprehensive and heartfelt memoir of Laurie Carmichael driven by about 25 years of close quarters union leadership and friendship.
In this memoir of Laurie Carmichael Bill Kelty paints a rich picture of Carmichael’s personality as a backdrop to Carmichael’s many and most powerful contributions for the improvement of the lives of working people and, of the dynamism of their own relationship.
There is unique and sincere insight into issues not generally understood about some major disputes, critical decisions on policy and strategy, and Carmichael’s methods of consultation and debate to win support for his views on behalf of his members.
The extended description of the shorter hours campaign is just one example and, another is Kelty’s account of Carmichael’s studious and deep reflection on lessons for unions and union leadership arising from the defeat of the Whitlam Labor government in 1975.