Sir William McKell
David Clune
Australian Biographical Monographs, No. 12
Paperback, 76 pages, $19.95
ISBN 9781922449726
August 2021 Release
It has been some time since there has been a biography of Bill
McKell, Labor Premier of New South Wales from 1941-47 and then
Governor-General from 1947-1953. The memory has long faded, but his
worthwhile achievements, not just for the Labor Party, but for the
people of New South Wales deserve our attention. Also deserving of
attention is his consensus style of leadership, his respect for the
processes of parliament, and his ability to stand up to authoritarians
like Jack Lang - another Labor premier of New South Wales who will be
covered in this series. Today, Lang is perhaps better remembered, but
for his notoriety rather than his achievements. It was McKell who
rebuilt the Labor Party after its electoral defeats and fragmentation
during the 1930s, brought the party back to its true mission of helping
those in need rather than self-serving political crusades, and made
Labor worth voting for in 1941 when it returned to office and after.
This new monograph by Dr David Clune OAM is an overdue reminder of
the contribution of this great Labor leader. Dr Clune, long-time Manager
of the New South Wales Parliament’s Research Service and the
Parliament’s Historian, is able to bring fresh insights and a new
appreciation of Bill McKell as both a Labor leader, Premier and a decent
man who deserves our respect. It supplements David’s other monographs
in this series on New South Wales premiers Neville Wran and Jack Lang.
