In 1996 the political stakes had never been higher. For the Coalition, this was the final throw of the dice – a last ditch attempt to rescue the Liberal Party from the ruins after Hewson and Downer. For Labor, this was an opportunity to prove that its leadership of the nation did not rest on the electorate’s rejection of the GST in 1993. For John Howard and Paul Keating, this was the concluding bout in a bitter struggle played out over two decades.

‘The victory’ is the inside account of the demolition of 13 years of Labor dominance. It tracks the resurrection of the Liberal Party and reveals the depth of Labor’s inner crisis.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 339-342) and index.