The Scomo Diaries

Penguin-Books-Australia-The-Scomo-DiariesJust how good is Scomo? Our nation’s great leader tells all in this captivating (and completely unofficial) diary, as told to Mad as Hell’s Tosh Greenslade and award-winning cartoonist Andrew Weldon.

All aboard the Scomo Express as our hero pulls back the lid on the life and times of one of history’s great leaders and humbly serves up ­a steaming meat pie of everyman wisdom for the hungering masses.

These are the unofficial chronicles of Scotty’s first 18 months in his new role as head honcho of the largest marketing firm in the country – the Australian Federal Government – as it unfolded, completely devoid of any self-aggrandisement, double-speak, sleight-of-hand or other dirty shenanigans played by the Opposition.

Thrill as the man who put the Scotty into Marketing tells how he honed his Sharkies lovin’, beer drinkin’, God fearin’, cap wearin’, Daggy Dad alter ego and used it to such miraculous effect. Marvel at how he developed such classic slogans as ‘The Bill Australia can’t afford’, ‘I’m listening. I’m hearing. I’m doing’, and the immortal ‘If you have a go, you’ll get a go’.

Like an egg to the back of your head, you will be blindsided by the rush of adrenaline as the Boy from Bronte waltzes from the boardroom to the world stage, becoming besties with The Donald, all while keeping the Lucky Country lucky, the Newspolls honest and the Prince of Darkness from reanimating himself in the form of backstabbing Coalition aspirants.

From the inner-workings of BORDERFORCE!™ – to what really happened at the Engadine Maccas, this candid, compelling and completely unofficial diary is your backdoor access to the halls of power. With all that sweat, blood and cheers, who wouldn’t deserve a tropical holiday?

Tosh Greenslade is a Melbourne writer and actor best known for his work as a main cast member on all 12 series of Shaun Micallef’s Mad as Hell on the ABC. A graduate of The National Theatre Drama School, he has written for the Good Food Guide and performed at both the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Andrew Weldon is a Melbourne-based cartoonist. His cartoons have appeared in publications in Australia and overseas, including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian and The Big Issue. He is the author and illustrator of children’s books, including The Kid With The Amazing Head and Clever Trevor’s Stupendous Inventions.


The Scomo Diaries is published by Penguin Books Australia and available from all leading book sellers including Booktopia.

Image: The Scomo Diaries – courtesy of Penguin Books Australia