After considerable success in the navy and education portfolios, Gorton became Prime Mininster in January 1968. Over the next three years, he tried to move Australia and the Liberal Party out of the Menzian past. He implemented, or sought to achieve, far-reaching reforms in Commonwealth-State relations, foreign ownership of Australian resources, Aboriginal affairs, the public service, the environment, health and social welfare, the flm and television industry, defence and foreign policy, and Papua New Guinea.
Ian Hancock has had full access to John Gorton’s private papers, to Gorton himself and a wide variety of former supporters, associates and opponents, and made extensive use of archival and manuscript sources. He has written an authoratitive and colourful account of both a unique Australian politician and a critical period in our political history.
