The Boy from Baradine

With special guest:

• Dr Craig Emerson
  … in conversation with Bill Kable

This is a rare opportunity. We do not often hear a successful politician being hailed for giving a shockingly personal honest and compelling reflection with brilliant insights. Our guest today is Craig Emerson who opens up about his rollercoaster ride from Baradine a small town in north western NSW to the corridors of power in Canberra.

In his book The Boy from Baradine we follow Craig on his journey. We hear how we are all shaped by our upbringing but this does not mean that we are imprisoned by it. Craig and his brother Lance were subjected to random acts of physical and mental cruelty from their mother and a father who was unable to help while he battled his own demons.

Yet from this unpromising start in life Craig was able to benefit from a good education. By a combination of hard work and some good fortune along the way Craig found himself advising the Prime Minister and bravely standing up for what he thought was right even when under pressure.

With his sound knowledge of economics and his willingness to present a case it was not too long before Craig moved from being an adviser to being advised as a Member of the Federal Parliament. Then followed high office as Trade Minister and since his life in politics his own economic advisory consultancy, Craig Emerson Economics.

This is a fascinating account of an extraordinary life. Craig does not forget his roots and he has lots of stories from his days in Baradine just as he does from his time in Canberra and other capitals around the world. Listen in to hear direct a lot more than we used to get in the 6 o’clock news.

Dr Craig Emerson

Craig Emerson is an eminent economist, and holds a doctorate from the Australian National University. He was economic and environmental adviser to Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, and a minister in the Rudd and Gillard governments, where he held the portfolios of trade, tertiary education, competition policy, small business, and minister assisting the prime minister on Asian Century policy. Before entering parliament, Dr Emerson was Director-General of the Queensland environment department, and, at the age of 23, the youngest economic analyst at the United Nations in Bangkok. He has published extensively in economic journals and on newspaper opinion pages, and is now the managing director of his own economic consultancy Emerson Economics.

Song selections by our guest: Wishin’ and Hopin’ by Dusty Springfield & Horror Movie by Skyhooks

Note: This program is an encore presentation of the one aired on 19 July 2018.

Podcast (mp3)