Silencing Dissent: How the Australian government is controlling public opinion and stifling debate

by Clive Hamilton, Sarah Maddison

A frightening analysis of the tactics used by the Howard government to silence independent experts and commentators as well as public servants and organisations which criticise its policies.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Australia

279 pages, Paperback

First published January 2, 2007

About the author

Clive Hamilton AM FRSA is an Australian public intellectual and Professor of Public Ethics at the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics and the Vice-Chancellor's Chair in Public Ethics at Charles Sturt University. He is a member of the Board of the Climate Change Authority of the Australian Government, and is the Founder and former Executive Director of The Australia Institute. He regularly appears in the Australian media and contributes to public policy debates. Hamilton was granted the award of Member of the Order of Australia on 8 June 2009 for "service to public debate and policy development, particularly in the fields of climate change, sustainability and societal trends".


(From Wikipedia.)

Reviews

[Velvetink · Rating 5 out of 5]

A frightening analysis of the tactics used by the Howard government to silence independent experts and commentators as well as public servants and organisations which criticise its policies.

[Steve Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read but disappointing that this is still going on. Where are the idealists? Where are the people of principles and justice? We need them in government, we need them in the media, we need them in our learning institutions. Even though this book is 11 years old, the 'song remains the same'.

[Kerem · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good overview about Howard govt's actions that harm the democratic process in Australia. It can be simply extended to practices of some other govt's in other countries as well.