Two books were selected from the shortlist from nine eligible entries. They were Packers Lunch by Neil Chenoweth (Allen & Unwin), which recently won the Walkley Award for Best Non-Fiction Book, and Asbestos House by Gideon Haigh (Scribe).

Packers Lunch looks at business activity in Australian in the 1990s and how unrelated business people and transactions were closely linked.

Asbestos House is a history of James Hardie Australia, examining how asbestos has been used and the subsequent corporate actions that have led to controversy.

Now in its third year, the $30,000 prize is the biggest annual award for Australian business and finance writing.

The competition will be judged by Mahla Peralman AO, Alan Cameron AM, and George Maltby AO. The winner will be announced on 18 April 2007.