Black Dog Daze

Andrew Robb lived with an unspoken fear that what he passed off as not being good in the mornings' was something darker: a black dog whose daily visit lasted longer as the years passed. Worried about stigmas and letting people down, he avoided confronting the problem for four decades, the adrenaline of high-pressure and high profile jobs offering the ideal antidote. Ultimately, realising his ambitions meant having to face up to this very private demon.

Robb's battle with the black dog has touched a chord with many Australians. In this frank and honest account he details the challenges of managing depression, political ambition and life in the Liberal Party. His devotion to the Liberal cause as Federal and Campaign Director of the Liberal Party and now as a senior member of the parliamentary leadership team gave him the impetus to tackle his condition. Little did he know that it would also allow for greater freedom, opportunity and meaning in his life.

Confronting and inspiring, Black Dog Daze offers readers an insight into one very public man's private battle, set amongst the drama of contemporary Australian politics.

About the Author

Andrew Robb is the Shadow Minister for Finance and Debt Reduction. He was elected to the Federal seat of Goldstein in 2004, and has previously served as Federal Director and Campaign Director of the Liberal Party. He has held positions at PBL and the National Farmers Federation, and has been a board member at Sinclair Knight Merz, Garvan Research Foundation, Menzies Research Centre and the Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring organisation. In 2003 Andrew was awarded the Office of the Order of Australia and Centenary Medal for his service to agriculture, politics and the community.