At a special event at the National Press Club in Canberra, journalist and author, Chris Masters, was announced the winner of the 2024 Australian Political Book of the Year Award for Flawed Hero: Truth, Lies and War Crimes (published by Allen & Unwin).

The Australian Political Book of the Year Award is jointly sponsored by iconic bookstore Hill of Content and public strategy firm York Park Group.

Established in 2022, the Award recognises the vital part political books play in better understanding Australian politics and public policy and celebrates contemporary Australian political writing.

Friend of the Awards, Treasurer Dr Jim Chalmers MP delivered a keynote address at the event for the third year, and shared his love of reading, the importance of political books, and his support for the Award.

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

The Award’s distinguished panel of judges are Emeritus Professor of Political Science at the Australian National University, John Warhurst AO; ABC 7.30 Chief Political correspondent and author, Laura Tingle; and political journalist, Barrie Cassidy.

In determining this year’s Award winner, the Judges said:

"Flawed Hero addresses some of the troubling questions of the ethics of war which echo through many of the world's current conflicts.

“Chris Masters takes us onto the frontline of Australia's longest war and into the darker chapters of our involvement in Afghanistan.

“It is a book reflecting the lengthy and courageous reporting of Chris Masters and others which challenges the ideas Australians have of ourselves as a miliary nation whose soldiers' actions on the battlefield are always beyond reproach.

“The trauma of the very long engagement in Afghanistan - and the demands on many of servicemen and women to go back there too often - has been part of the dark story that has unfolded in the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicides that reported this year.

“The book also gives readers a rare look into the world of journalism itself, and the costs and consequences of defending it through Australia's biggest defamation case.

“It documents issues that our political leaders - as well as the defence establishment - still need to confront at a time when growing regional tensions have only escalated the national commitment to defence.”

Closing the event, York Park Group Partner, Evelyn Ek, reflected on the Awards’ success over its first three years, saying:

“We are so very pleased that, through these Awards, we are bringing passionate readers, followers of news and current affairs, publishers and authors, critical thinkers and lovers of long-form analysis together to celebrate these important works”.

“We are very excited to see the Awards continue to grow in the years ahead.”