Award-winning writer Lech Blaine traces the making of Peter Dutton – from Queensland detective to leader of the Opposition. 

On this Summer Book Club episode of Follow the Money, Lech Blaine joins Ebony Bennett to discuss the rise of Peter Dutton, the evolution of the Liberal Party, and his Quarterly Essay, ‘Bad Cop: Peter Dutton's Strongman Politics’. 

This discussion was recorded on Friday 12 April 2024 and things may have changed since recording. 

To join our free Australia’s Biggest Book Club webinars live, register via our website. 

Order the first book from our new imprint, What's the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website. 

Guest: Lech Blaine, author of Australian Gospel, Top Blokes and Car Crash // @lechblaine 

Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, The Australia Institute // @ebonybennett 

Show notes: 

‘Bad Cop: Peter Dutton's Strongman Politics’ by Lech Blaine, Quarterly Essay 93 (March 2024) 

Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions 

We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.