Publisher's Synopsis
For half a century the right wing of the New South Wales Labour Party has dominated the state branch and had a major influence on the federal ALP. Fundamental to the power of the Right has been its extraordinary grip on the leadership of the Labour Council of New South Wales. This is a critical examination of the rise to power of eight men who led the Labour Council between 1946 and 2001. It provides an insight into the relationship between the Labour Council and the Labor Party and throws new light on the right-wing faction. Labour Council leaders Jim Kenny, Ralph Marsh and John Ducker were major players in the Industrial Groups and the fight against communists in the unions during the turbulent 1950s. In later years Barry Unsworth, John MacBean, Michael Easson, Peter Sams and Michael Costa brought their own styles to the leadership, all of them exercising power in the Labor Party.
