By Adam Carey
Prime Minister Julia Gillard managed to steer clear of the subject of the Black Saturday bushfires when she launched the memoirs of former Victoria Police chief commissioner Christine Nixon today.
The book, Fair Cop, details Ms Nixon's claims that she was targeted by sections of the press after she left her command post to have dinner with her husband and friends on the night of the devastating fires that claimed 173 lives.
The book also claims her leadership of the force was undermined by sexist and "fattist" elements.
Even though Ms Gillard managed to avoid mention of the subject - the centre of controversy in recent days - she managed to slip up in an altogether different way, referring to the book by the incorrect title as "top cop".
She referred to Ms Nixon as a trailblazer who had made an impact in the male-dominated policing profession.
The friendly crowd gathered at the Windsor Hotel and included former competition tsar Allan Fels, former politicians Barry Jones and Mary Delahunty, former Victorian premier Joan Kirner and radio personality host Tracy Bartram.
Ms Nixon spoke about how tough it was as a woman to make it to the top in her profession.
She revealed that before she became a police officer she was rejected for a job as a manager at Coles because of her gender.
She received a standing ovation from the crowd.
Ms Nixon has repeatedly said that if she could change things she would have stayed at her post during the bushfires and on today said she hoped that people would judge her book in its entirety.
‘‘The Black Saturday was a horrendous catastrophe for our state and it happened two-and-a-half years ago,’’ Ms Nixon told reporters after the launch.
‘‘Maybe it’s time people moved on, and that people are continuing to see it in a long career that I’ve had as the most significant event, I can’t really change their minds.‘‘I hope they might move on as well.’’
Ms Nixon said she knew her book would attract controversy when she wrote it.
‘‘I think if people take the time to read it they’ll get a context of what happened over time and that’s all I can ever ask.’’
Ms Gillard said sge was ‘‘not here today to adjudicate on that controversy’’.
‘‘Readers will be able to judge for themselves.
‘‘I’m here because Christine Nixon is a high-achieving Australian whose long journey of public service deserves our attention and our regard.’’
With AAP