Clare Wright OAM is the 2025 winner of the Australian Political Book of the Year Award for Naku Dharuk: The Bark Petitions.

The Australian Political Book of the Year Award is jointly sponsored by York Park Group and bookstore, Hill of Content. Established in 2022, the Award recognises the vital part political books play in promoting a better understanding of Australian politics and public policy.

Announcing the winner at a special event at Old Parliament House in Canberra, former Premier of South Australia, Jay Weatherill AO said:

“Works like these are why I’m an optimist about Australian democracy”.

The Award’s distinguished panel of judges is Emeritus Professor of Political Science at the Australian National University, John Warhurst AO; senior writer for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, Kerrie O’Brien; and political journalist, Barrie Cassidy.

The Judges said The Bark Petitions “… makes an enormous contribution not only to the history of Australian democracy but to our future direction”.

“The Bark Petitions tells the inspiring story of how the people of Yirrkala changed the course of Australian democracy. In this story the Indigenous people themselves are joined by missionaries, miners, government agents and politicians. Professor Wright explores all their perspectives and contributions with vigour, forensic research and great sensitivity. In doing so, she gave meticulous regard to the cross-cultural issues involved.”

“Her outstanding research involved both traditional academic archival methods and deep learning from Indigenous people by living in the region for months at a time. Professor Wright’s book, combining flair and skill, is as readable and engaging as a novel as she brings the leading characters to life.”

“The Bark Petitions, standing alongside the other two books in Professor Wright’s trilogy, will be read across the Australian community for many years to come. It expansively and accurately tells the whole story of an extraordinary development. Truth-telling about Australia’s past has never been more important. This book contributes to ongoing discussion and debate about the rights of First Nations peoples and to broader discussions of the dynamics of Australian democracy.”

A record number of submissions were received for the Award this year, from which 10 books were Longlisted and four Shortlisted.

The other three Shortlisted titles this year were: The Chairman’s Lounge by Joe Aston, Nuked by Andrew Fowler, and Mean Streak by Rick Morton.

The Judges said:

“We congratulate all four finalists for this year's Award for bringing their readers important insights into Australia's contemporary and historical politics.”

“The themes of people in power making bad decisions, systematic injustice, political ideas and things done in our collective name run through the finalists’ entries.”

Previous winners of the Australian Political Book of the Year are: Flawed Hero: Truth, Lies and War Crimes by Chris Masters in 2024; Bulldozed: Scott Morrison’s Fall and Anthony Albanese’s Rise by Niki Savva in 2023, and Telling Tennant’s Story: The Strange Career of the Great Australian Silence by Dean Ashenden who won the inaugural Award in 2022.

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