Sideshow: dumbing down democracy - Lindsay Tanner
Channel: ANU TV
Date: 2011-07-15

Lindsay Tanner in Sideshow, lays bare the relentless decline of political reporting and political behaviour that occurred during his career. Part memoir, part analysis, and part critique, Sideshow is a unique book that tackles the rot which has set in at the heart of Australian public life.
'Lindsay Tanner does us all a service in underlining the inadequacies inherent in the relationship between politicians and the media. These circumstances degrade public life and diminish our future. It must be changed.' Rt Hon Malcolm Fraser AC CH, former prime minister of Australia.
'This book contains painful truths for journalists and politicians. It provides a pitiless, first-hand exposure of the trivialisation of our national discourse by the media, aided and abetted by the political classes.' Alan Kohler
Lindsay Tanner was the Minister for Finance and Deregulation in the Rudd--Gillard governments, and held the seat of Melbourne for the ALP from 1993 to 2010. Having retired from politics at the 2010 federal election, he is now a special adviser to Lazard Australia, and a Vice-Chancellor's fellow and adjunct professor at Victoria University.