Ross Fitzgerald

Ross Andrew Fitzgerald is an Australian academic, historian, novelist, secularist, and political commentator. Fitzgerald is an emeritus professor in history and politics at Griffith University. He has authored or co-authored many books, including histories of Queensland; biographies; works about Labor Party politics of the 1950s; and books relating to philosophy, alcohol abuse, and Australian Rules football. He has written many works of fiction.

Early life and education Ross Andrew Fitzgerald was born in Melbourne, Victoria.

He was awarded his PhD in political theory from the University of New South Wales.

Career Fitzgerald worked as a lecturer at Griffith University from 1977 to 1986, and then senior lecturer /associate professor between 1987 and 1996, followed by a personal chair between 1996 and 2002. In 2002 Fitzgerald was appointed professor in history and politics.

During his time as an Australian Research Council senior research fellow from 1992 to 1996, as well as writing two political biographies, Fitzgerald co-produced two ABC TV documentaries, about E. G. Theodore and Australia's only Communist Party member of parliament, Fred Paterson.

Fitzgerald writes regular columns for The Australian, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Canberra City News. He also appears on ABC Radio, ABC Television, Sky News Australia, and Channel 7. He is a regular guest speaker at The Sydney Institute. In 2025 his co-authored novel Chalk and Cheese: A fabrication received critical acclaim.

Other roles and activities Fitzgerald served as chair of Centenary of Federation Queensland between 1999 and 2002, and as a judge of the Prime Minister's Literary Award for Non Fiction and Australian History.

He was member of the New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal from 2012 to 2016, of the Australian Government's Expert Advisory Group on Drugs and Alcohol between 2000 and 2013, a member of the New South Wales Heritage Council between 2003 and 2009, a member of the New South Wales Parole Board between 2002 and 2012, a member of Administrative Decisions Tribunal of New South Wales between 2002 and 2012, and a member of the Queensland Parole Board between 1997 and 2002.

At the 2016 federal election Fitzgerald was a candidate for the Australian Senate representing the state of New South Wales, standing for the Australian Sex Party (later renamed The Reason Party).

Fitzgerald is a life member of the Australian Republic Movement.

Recognition and honours In 2014 Fitzgerald as appointed a Member in the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to education in the field of politics and history as an academic, and to community and public health organisations.

His 2015 book, Going out backwards: a Grafton Everest adventure was shortlisted for the 2017 Russell Prize for Humour Writing.

Personal life Fitzgerald is a recovering alcoholic who admitted in his memoirs, My Name is Ross: An Alcoholic's Journey and Fifty Years Sober, to consuming excessive alcohol between the ages of 15 and 24 years, when he took his last drink through his regular attendance of Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

Published works Fitzgerald has published 47 books, including the following titles:

, which was short-listed for the NSW Premier's Prize and for the National Biography Award. , awarded the Eros Foundation erotic novel of the year in 1994.

, about Fred Paterson.

, a book about Australian rules football. Going out backwards was shortlisted for the 2017 Russell Prize for Humour Writing.

Fitzgerald, Ross (2026). Rogue: A fictitious memoir. Goala Books: Melbourne.

Television and film documentaries

In development