The latest book of George Browning (Anglican Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn – 1993-2008), Not Helpful: Tales from a Truth Teller, examines power structures related to whistle blowers, inequality and climate. Addressing these issues through biography and anecdote, it covers Bishop Browning’s episcopate in Brisbane (1985-1993), and in Canberra. Bishop Browning recently talked about many of his concerns about contemporary times and the misuse of power, which he has outlined in his book, at a Manning Clark House function at All Saints Anglican Hall in Ainslie. “Truth is easily discarded by those with power as they seek to cement their positions with ‘alternative facts’. Truth is a two-edged sword. When embraced, it is transformative. However, where advantage and privilege are fiercely protected, as is often the case in the day-to-day minutiae of politics, truth is almost always an unhelpful intrusion, threatening self-interest and power”, he says.
