The Andren Report
Peter Andren
'The Andren Report is required reading for anyone interested in Australia.'
Kathy Hunt (The Bulletin)'This memoir, written in a straightforward and often disarming style, is … refreshing … This book is readable, too, which is another first .'
Shaun Carney (Age)'Well written, unpretentious and engaging … We could certainly do with more Independent MPs like Peter Andren.’
Don Aitkin (Australian Book Review)WARNING: this book is injurious to the health of the Liberal, National, and Labor Parties.
Peter Andren is a remarkable politician. In March 1996, running as an independent, he won the federal seat of Calare in central-western New South Wales. His victory marked the first time in the seat’s 90 years of existence that the major political parties had been beaten. Andren won the seat for a second time in 1998, increasing his majority. Then the unthinkable happened: in 2001 he won the seat again, but this time with over 50 per cent of the primary vote. His two party-preferred vote of over 75 per cent made Calare the second-safest seat in Australia. This is the greatest achievement by an independent in Australia’s political history.
Andren had done all this in a rural electorate, without the benefit of a party organisation, and while holding views that are to the left of the Labor, Liberal, and National Parties. How did he do it?
The Andren Report is the story of an intelligent and sensitive human being who turned into a politician because he could see that the values he held and the people he cared for had been abandoned by the major parties. It is also the story of an electorate that has recognised and appreciated an honest and decent man. A heartening story in a disheartening time, it indicates a way forward for Australian politics that alarms the major parties.
Peter Andren
Peter Andren was born in 1946 at Gulargambone in central-northern New South Wales. After becoming a television news reporter in Sydney and completing an arts degree at Macquarie University, he became a senior news producer at Sydney's Nine Network. In 1977 he left Sydney for Orange in rural New South Wales, and in 1978 became news editor of the local television station CBN Channel Eight and radio station 2GZ. At 2GZ he wrote a weekly, 90-second commentary that was broadcast on Friday evenings and again on Saturday mornings. It was called The Andren Report. In 1995 Peter Andren decided to run for parliament as an independent in his local seat of Calare. The result is history.
Buy from Readings
Extent: 312pp
Size: 2334mm x 153mm
ISBN (10): 0908011 92X
ISBN (13): 9780908011926
RRP: $30.00
Pub date: September 2003
Status: Out of print
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