The Story of the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party.
At 11am on Tuesday 8 May 1901, a day before the opening of the first federal parliament, twenty-two newly elected parliamentarians resolved: "That we form ourselves into a Federal Labor Party".
Alone of all Australia's political parties, Labor has sat in both Houses in every parliament since federation. Alone, it predates Federation and has upheld its presence in every state and territory parliament since Federation. Alone, it defines itself in its own terms. Since 1901, Australian politics has pivoted on one central idea: Labor or anti-Labor.
'True Believers' is the big unfolding story of the 607 men and women who have made up the federal Labor Caucus. It is a story of a century of change - the building of a nation through war and peace, economic depression and expansion, migration and development. It is also a story of terrible splits, self-inflicted wounds, reform and revival.
