The only thing that kept me sane, well reasonably sane, during 20 years "hard labor" was the hilarious things that my erstwhile colleagues became involved in. Not every pollie was as witty as Gough Whitlam, Jim Killen, Jim Cope, Mick Young, Paul Keating, Fred Daly or Peter Costello but we all got into absurd situations on occasions - usually by accident. Recording them for posterity has been a service of unalloyed joy and a million laughs. Bringing the House Down is not a book about the Left-Right or the Centre. The only test for a story's inclusion is - is it funny?

About the Author

Barry Cohen was a Member of Parliament for 21 years, with four as Minister for the Arts, Heritage and the Environment. He has also served as a columnist for the Bulletin, Sydney Morning Herald, Melbourne Herald and now writes for The Australian and The Spectator. This is his eighth book.