Unintended Consequences explores what happens when things do not go according to plan - politically and personally. Forty years after the 1967 referendum Noel Pearson, Australia's most influential Aboriginal leader, writes the lead essay which analyses what has gone wrong in indigenous policy making. He presents some reasons for the failures and suggests a new agenda that learns from the mistakes of the past. Some of the best writers and thinkers in Australia go beyond simple explanations and conspiracy theories to examine how unintended consequences shape the way we live and who we regard as heroes. Murray Sayle considers on the way myths become reality, and the role of journalism, as he reflects on his chance encounter with Che Guevara in the Bolivian jungle forty years ago. This collection moves from the big issues - war, bureaucracy, technology, epidemics, heroes, planning and the media - to compelling and quirky personal tales that reveal the long term impact of little decisions. We are surrounded by Unintended Consequences. Writers include- Noel Pearson, Rolf de Heer, Murray Sayle, Margaret Simons, Glyn Davis, Georgia Blain, Christine Wallace, Bernie Matthews, Michael Wesley, Lee Tulloch, Malcolm Knox and more. Knox, Jennifer Kremmer, John Kinsella, Nigel Turvey and Georgia Blain. Photo essay by Dean Sewell.

Author Biography

Griffith Review is edited by Julianne Schultz, an award-winning writer with extensive media experience.