In Abrogating Responsibility: Vesteys, Anthropology and the Future of Aboriginal People (Australian Scholarly Publishing) Geoffrey Gray uses hitherto unknown documents in a detailed examination of the research by anthropologists Ronald and Catherine Berndt and the context in which it was conducted. Gray is less interested in judging the actions of the main characters than of understanding them in terms of their idealism and determination to bring about reform that was thwarted by the power of an absentee landlord, their Australian representatives and the lack of political will on the part of the Northern Territory and Australian governments.