Poolside player

THE reflections of former Victorian premier Steve Bracks should be required reading for the ALP machine.

THE reflections of former Victorian premier Steve Bracks should be required reading for the ALP machine.

In fact, elected members on both sides will find some gems about the state of politics - and, by default, the deficiencies of politicians.

Bracks was a rare beast in that he didn't appear to be driven by ego, maintained a sense of decency, and quit the top job at the height of his power because he didn't feel he could fully commit to it.

It's easy to yell advice from the sidelines but, as journalist Kate Legge writes, he is clear-eyed about the state of Labor: that it will have to lose to come back, that it has to re-engage with the people and redevelop policies.

And he has an interesting view on who should be the next Labor PM.