Tanya Plibersek: On her own terms (Margaret Simons, Black Inc.)

Swept unexpectedly at only 28 into the safe seat of Sydney, Tanya Plibersek was the golden girl at the heart of Labor politics when the party was looking to increase female participation. Hard working and a great communicator, she threw herself into her portfolios, going on to gain big wins in childcare, paid parental leave, children’s dentistry, social housing and working towards ending domestic violence. That these are all still on the table today as important issues has a lot to do with Plibersek, and given her current role as environment minister in a rejuvenated Labor Party, now has turned out to be excellent timing for a biography. Margaret Simons captures all the events with sparkling prose, in an elegant structure that weaves backwards and forwards in time while incorporating a seemingly effortless wrangling of complex detail that ensures the book is unputdownable. Of course, Plibersek has in some ways had a dream run, and not just politically. The third child of Slovenian immigrants, she completed their family and was the apple of their eye. And then there’s Plibersek’s own remarkable marriage, and the birth of her three children during her time in office. While she managed to make this look unremarkable, it led to there finally being childcare in Parliament House, further normalising women in politics. If you’re looking for an entertaining and informative insight into the rollercoaster ride of Australian politics over the last 25 years, as well as an inspiring read about one of our most powerful women, look no further.

Julia Taylor worked in trade publishing for many years. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Category: Reviews