Table of Contents

Foreword Neville Wran Foreword Mark Arbib Preface Contributors Abbreviations Introduction Troy Bramston Part One: The Wran Era and Political Style The Path to Power Brian Dale Elections, Policy and Politics: An Overview David Clune The 'Wranslides' and Electoral Politics Antony Green The Wran Leadership Model Troy Bramston Part Two: Managing Government Working for Wran David Hill The Wran Cabinet Rodney Cavalier The Public Service Gerry Gleeson Neville Wran: The Voice of Sydney Graham Freudenberg Wran and the Media Rodney Tiffen Part Three: Policy and the Wran Government Health Laurie Brereton Education Michael Hogan Transport John Black The Economy Russell Ross Policing, Law and Order Andrew Clark Social Policy Gary Moore Social Policy and the Reform Agenda Frank Walker The Environment: Reform, National Parks and City Decline Jeff Angel Women's Policy: Courage with Caution - The decade in which NSW led the world in women's rights Carmel Niland An Aboriginal Perspective Pat O'Shane Reforming the Institutions of Governance David Bradbury Neville Wran and the Labor Council of NSW Michael Easson Part Four: Reflections and Assessments Reflections of a Minister Terry Sheahan An Assessment from the Outside Dennis Shanahan An Assessment from the Inside Stephen Loosley Appendix 1: Neville Wran's Resignation Speech, 7 June 1986Appendix 2: Cabinets and Ministries 1976-86 Appendix 3: NSW Leaders of the Opposition 1976-88 Appendix 4: Election Results 1973-86 Notes and Additional Sources Index

Reviews

If there were a Neville Wran anywhere in Australian Labor politics today, you can bet he would be on a fast, sealed train to Canberra. "Nifty" was no also-ran, and, on the 30th anniversary of his coming, this collection of essays, reminiscences and reflections celebrates the decade that belonged to the master of "razzle dazzle". It's almost worth buying just to read Graham Freudenberg's astute and evocative assessment of Wran's key attribute - that he was the "voice" of Sydney. As other commentators point out, including editor Troy Bramston, Wran was also the one who kept the flag of Labor flying in the darkest days after the Whitlam sacking when even some insiders thought the party might not survive. Divided into four sections - style, management, policy and assessment - it brings together a list of commentators that includes Laurie Brereton, Pat O'Shane, Dennis Shanahan, Andrew Clark and others. - Steven Carroll, The Age, 20 May 2006