About Splitting Image
Splitting Image examines the 1954-55 Labor Party split from the perspective of a participant, an insider in the struggle.
It offers a partisan but important exposé of how the left wing of the ALP fought for Labor traditions and values against a secretive outside movement, led by Catholic layman B.A. Santamaria, which was attempting to take it over – whilst also causing ructions within the
Catholic Church.
The book details the background to Opposition Leader H.V. Evatt’s statement outing those within and outside Labor who were trying to
change its basic tenets, and the ongoing repercussions of that struggle in NSW.
It describes the formation of the Combined Unions and Branches Steering Committee which led the fight against the Trojan horse that was The Movement.
Splitting Image examines the 1954-55 Labor Party split from the perspective of a participant, an insider in the struggle.
It offers a partisan but important exposé of how the left wing of the ALP fought for Labor traditions and values against a secretive outside movement, led by Catholic layman B.A. Santamaria, which was attempting to take it over – whilst also causing ructions within the
Catholic Church.
The book details the background to Opposition Leader H.V. Evatt’s statement outing those within and outside Labor who were trying to
change its basic tenets, and the ongoing repercussions of that struggle in NSW.
It describes the formation of the Combined Unions and Branches Steering Committee which led the fight against the Trojan horse that was The Movement.
“This book is avowedly a participant history, it also functions as a memoir, and it has value as a historical document. It provides a perspective on how a man of the Left understood these events, times and people.”
Frank Bongiorno
Associate Professor of History at the Australian National University
"The landmark 1954-55 Labor Party split is re-examined in Splitting Image, a new book by the late Arthur Gietzelt, posthumously published by his family.Arthur, who died in January 2014, was a key insider in the 'Great Split' and a strong supporter of the then leader of the federal parliamentary Labor Party, Doc Evatt.
...Splitting Image comprises 26 chapters, some 416 pages, and is extensively referenced and
illustrated with many rare and valuable images."
The Evatt Foundation
...Splitting Image comprises 26 chapters, some 416 pages, and is extensively referenced and
illustrated with many rare and valuable images."
The Evatt Foundation
About the Author
Hon Arthur Gietzelt AO was a member and later Secretary of the NSW Steering Committee, a life member of the ALP, and a member of the ALP National Executive from 1971, rising to Junior Vice-President in 1983 and Senior Vice-President in 1986.
He was also Mayor of Sutherland Shire for 9 terms, a Labor senator and Minister for Veterans’ Affairs in the Hawke Government.
Hon Arthur Gietzelt AO was a member and later Secretary of the NSW Steering Committee, a life member of the ALP, and a member of the ALP National Executive from 1971, rising to Junior Vice-President in 1983 and Senior Vice-President in 1986.
He was also Mayor of Sutherland Shire for 9 terms, a Labor senator and Minister for Veterans’ Affairs in the Hawke Government.
"I have always admired your steadfast and loyal contribution to
the true ideals and objectives of the ALP, even though
at times you have had to pay a heavy price ."
The late Justin O’Byrne
former President of the Senate