Hagan and Turner's account of the Labor Party in New South Wales is the first history of the Party to span the century of its existence. As such it is a seminal work, bound to become required reading for all who are concerned with the future of the Labor Party. Whereas earlier works have been written from the central records, this history takes account of local forces and regional variation, detailing in particular Labor's interaction with the mining-industrial regions, the southern wheat belt, and the Sydney suburbs. It also relates the Party's political activity to the trade union movement and to the changing nature of society and economy in New South Wales.
The authors bring the history right up to the present day and, as two of Australia's eminent authorities in Labor history, their comment provides important ideas to a party that is presently questioning its future shape and direction.