Author(s): Anthony Loewenstein

Politics

In the Australian election of 2010, more than a million voters chose not to cast a ballot. Of those who did vote, almost 730,000 voted informal. The figures provide a statistical confirmation of what had already become apparent during the campaign - namely, that vast numbers of Australians find the policies of neither major party appealing. And the million-and-a-half votes for the Greens show that many of those people are now prepared to countenance ideas to the Left of the two-party consensus. Left Turn is a book aimed at such people, at the many, many Australians disillusioned with the political process. It includes controversial, topical and challenging essays by writers and thinkers who openly identify with the Left - from Larissa Berendht to Christos Tsiolkas, Lee Rhiannon to Nazeem Hussain, and editors Antony Loewenstein and Jeff Sparrow. They do not all agree with each other; they do not present a complete package or a consistent manifesto. But they do open some windows in Australian public life and let some much needed fresh air in. Left Turn shows why the Left should be taken seriously. It is neither a policy document for a political party or a comprehensive list of ways to improve Australia. The essays are passionate, relevant, radical, controversial and topical; voices that are dying to be heard in an increasingly barren, media landscape.