Simon Benson

“One big morality tale… a cracker read.”

” …probably be the best-selling political insider’s account in years.”

“A riveting read… although it’s not a pretty picture.”

“This book takes readers inside the corridors of power and re-creates critical conversations through painstaking interviews. It’s a remarkable feat of investigative journalism.”

“You are going to hate what you learn.”

“an extraordinary book…meticulously detailed…I couldn’t put it down…an absolutely gripping story.”

“An accurate portrayal…I had a…deal with the Prime Minister and it should have been honoured.”

“I supported the government’s policy. On the question of organisational matters within the Australian Labor Party, Mr Iemma’s recollection of events is not accurate.”

“What I said is 100 per cent accurate. Mr Rudd’s the one who’s got it wrong…the one whose recollections are hazy.”

“A book that will shatter the credibility of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.”

“A portrayal of the dirty world of politics…secret meetings and broken promises…”

“An outstanding read…”

“An explosive tell-all book…”

“A ripper book.”

“…bombshell…”

“Benson has the quality tabloid journalist’s feel for detail… Betrayal, however, is more than a compelling political potboiler. It should stimulate the beginnings of the conversation about what Labor government in NSW between 1995 and (if the polls are correct) 2011 has meant. If the answer to that question by most media commentators and editorialists would appear to be ‘unalleviated disaster’, that simply reflects shortness of memory, including for many of their own previously held positions.”

“Benson is best of breed in political reporting… and his skill and access shines through his book, which reads like a political spy-thriller where you’re compelled to turn the next page to read the next act of intrigue, skullduggery or bloody-mindedness. We, of course, know how it ends but it’s no less compelling for it.”

“an account of the destruction of the Iemma government in NSW on electricity privatisation reform. In effect, the party destroyed the government.” (Paul Kelly)

“Simon Benson’s riveting account…of how the unions, the state ALP machine and even the opposition brought down the Iemma government…” (Michael Stuchbury)

“The book does a brilliant job capturing the often cinematic quality of the treachery within the ALP. There is one scene straight out of a movie.” (David Penberthy)

“…a book with more twists than a Rubik’s cube.”

“In the most explosive political book of 2010 the underbelly of Australian politics… finally exposed!”

“The first book which captures the disillusionment which followed the glory days of Kevin 07 and explores the chicanery of  The Lodge’s present tenant.”

“As a snapshot of what happened, the book deserves comparison with Alan Reid’s The Gorton Experiment (1971). The events, scheming, the atmosphere and personalities, drama and ultimate tragedy are deftly sketched. Benson’s book illuminates how the NSW machine betrayed its own traditions. That’s the real betrayal…”

“…A rollicking read… a readable and an accessible account of the dysfunctional, damaged and cynical culture of the NSW ALP”

“…Benson’s narrative is fast-paced and captures the hectic untidiness of politics behind the scenes… Amid the often colourful recriminations, Betrayal has a serious point to make. It is that when the party machine lacks ‘policy purpose, it has nothing more to offer than to focus on marketing and polls’…”