After undergoing heart surgery in 2012 and facing his own mortality, Warren Mundine didn’t feel he had time to pussyfoot around anymore. He realised he mightn’t get another chance to say what he thought. By that time in his life he had already delivered dozens of speeches and written numerous newspaper articles but he began to write and speak much more frequently and truly speak his mind.
Speaking My Mind is a curated collection of Warren’s speeches and articles, taking the best from over 200,000 words written and spoken by Warren since 2012. He covers topics including reconciliation, constitutional recognition and treaties, poverty, health, energy policy, education, closing the gap, welfare reform and getting people into work. He’s not afraid to call out the lies and hypocrisy of activists as well as Australia’s political classes. He’s tackled the problems of violence, abuse and incarceration impacting Indigenous families and communities and set out his vision for regional development and building economies in remote Indigenous communities. He has advocated for Indigenous Australians fully participating in the real economy - through school, work, business and home ownership.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Nyunggai Warren Mundine AO is a highly respected and infl uential businessman, political strategist and advocate for empowering the First Nations of Australia to build businesses and sustainable economies. His life and career have been shaped by a personal commitment to community and economic development. He has nearly 40 years’ experience working in the public, private and community sectors. He has written regularly for the Australian Financial Review, the Daily Telegraph and The Australian and has also written for the Courier Mail, Herald Sun, Adelaide Advertiser, Townsville Bulletin, Daily Examiner, Centralian Advocate, Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Spectator Australia, Australian Jewish News and the Koori Mail.
