The Woman Most Likely
On October 15, 1997 Cheryl Kernot set in motion the chain of events that instantly changed her life and altered the landscape of Australian politics. Her controversial defection from the Australian Democrats to the Labor Party sent a shockwave through the nation. Yet this historic and audacious move was not out of character with the unconventional style of a political risk-taker. Two years in the making, David O'Reilly's biography 'Cheryl Kernot - The Woman Most Likely' delves into the person and political life of a popular yet enigmatic figure, a woman driven by a conviction to bring a new way of thinking to the running of the nation.
From her beginnings as a schoolteacher through to Democrat Leader in the Senate and then into the battlefield as a Labor candidate, Cheryl Kernot comes over as tough and pragmatic yet sensitive and adventurous. A late-starter in politics, Kernot's career has been nothing less than meteoric as she transformed the Democrats into a hard-edged third party alternative, sat in judgement on national budgets and played a pivotal role in Canberra's unfolding dramas like Mabo, Telstra and reform of the wages system.
An in-depth look at the woman who many see as prime-ministerial material, here is the inside story of the defection, the fullest account yet of why she made the move and a compelling insight into the human side of politics. Here also is the voice of a woman who has intrigued millions of Australians, speaking more fully and frankly than ever before. Sketched in detail are her family life and upbringing, her private tragedies and triumphs, the cynical campaign to destroy her and her determination to prevail and bring about lasting change. Kernot's courageous decision to join the Labor Party was a strike of the heart of conservatism. But it was buttressed by her belief that egalitarianism, credible economic reform and visionary leadership can rekindle national hope trust and economic stability.
