Ross McMullin, The Light on the Hill 1992Despite disheartening episodes and eras the ALP has displayed an admirable resilience throughout history. With the party's disappointing performance since 1915 very much in mind, one observer concluded that the ALP has been burdened with careerists, turncoats,hypocrites, outright scoundrels, stuffy functionaries devoid of sense and imagination, bellowing enemies of critical intelligence, irritatingly self-righteous clowns bent on enforcing suburban points of view, pussy-footers, demagogues, stooges for hostile outside groups and interests, aged and decayed hacks and ordinary blatherskites'.
_____________________________________________________
Ross McMullin is a historian and biographer whose main interests are Australian history, politics, and sport. He has researched and written extensively about the impact on Australia of its involvement in World War I. Dr McMullin’s books include his biographies, the award-winning Pompey Elliott and Will Dyson: Australia’s radical genius.