So Monstrous a Travesty: Chris Watson and the World’s First National Labor Government

The pioneering government that a century ago led Australia to be one of the world’s most progressive systems is closely examined in this history. Comprised of an accomplished prime minister, a cabinet that included two future prime ministers, and a defense minister who feuded with the British commander in chief of Australia’s defense force, it surprised the international community in its rapid rise to power and led people from around the globe to come and inquire about its advanced social systems. Through detailed accounts, this look at Australia’s labor government illustrates how it came to office, assesses its records and achievements, and analyzes its defeat, illuminating the labor party’s place in Australian history.