nsw politics
29 Jan 2009
The Unmistakable Smell Of Decay
With the NSW Labor zombie army smelling worse all the time, party hacks are considering swapping their front-line cadaver, writes Bob Dumpling
It's just four months since Nathan Rees became NSW Premier, but the Labor hacks in Sussex Street HQ are getting restless over the constantly poor opinion polls for his Government. In a weirdly compelling display of habitual self-belief, they are carrying on as if they think an against-the-odds election win in March 2011 is actually possible, or could come about through anything they might do, when clearly it would take an act of God to save them now.There are rumours that Rees could face a leadership challenge, possibly from Frank Sartor, reflecting the childish hope that with a new ribbon on the NSW ALP turd the opinion polls will magically turn around and the masses will feel that after 14 long years, it's time to give Labor another chance.
It's certainly true that Nathan Rees has so far failed to make a positive impact, partly through the behaviour of his fellow MPs, partly through the general difficulty of connecting with an electorate which is bursting with reasons to hate NSW Labor, and partly through a November '08 mini-budget which effectively strangled the fiscal life out of the NSW economy.
Just as the mini-budget intended, NSW has so far kept holy that most sacred cow of state politics — the AAA rating. Unfortunately, while they may see it as essential, the ALP won't automatically be re-elected based on Moody's credit approval.
Getting Labor (and NSW in general) out of this mess was always going to take something special. Reversing years of government and voter apathy, infrastructural decay and departmental corruption will probably take many more years, even with good leadership. But Rees is looking less the intuitive, dynamic politician we hoped for and more like your stock-standard, an-answer-for-nearly-everything Sydney real estate agent. Frank Sartor of course, would be even worse.
The latest shiny addition to "turn things around", care of Labor HQ, is Sam Dastyari. Rees already has plenty of media spin doctors but this one is meant to bring Rees "into the Unions fold" and is of a piece with today's awarding of a front bench portfolio to former unions boss John "Robbo" Robertson.
Meanwhile, Joe Tripodi and Eric Roozendaal have apparently had a falling out and aren't talking to each other. Neither, it seems, are their respective offices (Finance and Treasury), which are withholding information from each other. This kind of behaviour would be unimpressive if the economy was roaring along and Hyde Park Fountain was spouting chocolate milk, but in the current climate it's just another reason why the people of NSW want these petty, tribal fools gone.
Facing all of this, you can well imagine that Rees might be busy, but apparently he's now "too busy" to deal with the latest NSW hospitals crisis. Rees has used this line previously, when he was too busy being Premier to find out where $1 billion dollars went in the budget. Not a good look. That $1 billion would probably come in handy to pay some outstanding debts of NSW hospitals in the bush. They're running out of credit with suppliers for things like food, medical equipment and incidentals like wages for doctors.
There's some financial relief thanks to a welcome shot of new money for education, with Julia Gillard pumping an extra $719 million of federal funding into NSW schools under a new national agreement. But even there the story is largely bad. With the economic turndown, there may be a large shift of students moving from the private to public system, and although families will save a lot of cash by taking kids out of private schools, for parents there may be a few surprises.
2008 saw public school teachers take industrial action over salaries on no fewer than five occasions. Sources within the teachers union have advised that a deal with the Education Department is on the table for a 4 per cent salary increase (instead of the 2.5 per cent proposed earlier) for public school teachers, but this does not cover TAFE staff. The NSW Teachers Federation cancelled a 48 hour strike this week but will not reach an agreement without the inclusion of TAFE. Thus the threat of industrial action continues into the 2009 school year.
Also, the Department of Education ran newspaper ads this week informing parents and students that school resumes Tuesday 3 February. Not quite. School started Wednesday 28 January. Discoveriong the error, Education Director-General Michael Coutts-Trotter said that, "My breakfast turned to ashes this morning when I read them." Did it really? I just can't believe him anymore.
Education Minister Verity Firth offers little consolation or hope. When she became Minister, she frankly admitted her own shock upon discovering that the majority of state school funding came from — get this — the state. Such is the state of NSW, if you could buy stocks in naivety, there would be no financial crisis.
(Speaking of naivety, if anyone actually took seriously the Government's announcement about possibly building a tunnel near the Spit Bridge, then I'd like to hear from you. I own that particular bridge, and a couple of other famous Sydney landmarks, and I'm looking to sell them all cheap.)
Apart from suggesting Sartor (a former Planning Minister) as a possible replacement for Rees, sources within the ALP are talking about John Robertson. Also on the alledged succession list is current Planning Minister, Kristina Kenneally (see a pattern?) or new Minister for Roads, Michael Daley, credited for covering Randwick with roundabouts.
Miranda Devine has identified Frank Sartor as the best chance for NSW and the Labor Party. Her endorsement may itself be the kiss of death he so richly deserves, but in her words "It is time to bring in the kamikaze." A good point perhaps, since whoever is leading Labor and NSW as Premier in early 2011 will need a dash of good old kamikaze spirit. Also, letting Sartor fall on the sword of the same short term politics that NSW Labor has loved for so long might be a fitting way for this regime to die. But does anyone really think the people of NSW deserve another minute — let alone another two years — of this kind of suicidal rule?
I think can see a way out of this problem. Approximately 10 of the many despairing Labor backbenchers should cross the floor, declare their distaste and revulsion for the factions, arrogance and failure of NSW Labor, and let a double-dissolution get the 2011 election underway early.
I'm disgusted I had to even suggest it, but it's for the best.
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I have already expressed my distaste for NSW Labor (u are not wanted) in the past. Why the hell does a Labor party have two right wings? Their drift to the right has seen them leap-frog over the Liberals. Their stated intention that any new train lines will be privately operated to lock out the unions is just one proof of this and what do we get? A tunnel that is too steep for the trains and too noisy for the patrons.
The idea that my local member, the Minister for Popes and Laundering Developer Donations is being considered as Premier leaves me groping for words that can be printed without *****s.
One last thing, may I extend a very noisy and damp rasberry to those eejits that approved V8 car races around Homebush that requires chopping down trees and destroying the peace and tranquility that was attracting ever more birds to congregate and feed there. It will end up costing us a mint just for a few photo ops.
Hang on, I was going to vote Labour in the next state election on the promise that they were going to have chocolate milk pumping from all major public fountains.
Now Mr Dumpling implies the Moove policy is just another Macquarie Street jape, like the Manly tunnel, state run education or accessible health care.
GreameF may be on to something; Labour don’t deserve the name anymore. Is it possible that before the 2011 elections we the people could march down to Sussex Street and demand they rebadge themselves as the HUA or Head Up Arse party? I can’t beleive that we are still talking about shitty candidates like Frank Sartor as premier material.
If Sartor does becomes premier I am starting a new state at my house, screw NSW. Miranda Devine would love it of course because she sees in him a similarly grubby little soul mate.
Welcome back for 2009 Bob, you spoiler.
The current situation in NSW exposes the systemic cracks that have appeared in our Westminster system. Perhaps it’s time for consideration of California-style recall legislation?
Dr Dog, you need to take over Ben Pobje’s gig as satirist (ho, ho, ho) because I responded to his latest post this morning just before I came here.
They are gonna put chocolate milk in the water fountains? Make mine caramel and you’ve got a deal! And the HUA party sounds like the go to me. Who can blame us for thinking that’s where so many of their ideas come from (like taking the ‘u’ out of Labor and using American grammar)?
If Frank Sartor gets in as Premier, can I join your new state?
They should call this the Pinocchio Syndrome, then they could start their own forest and inject some new blood into the lumber industry.
Funny you should say that Jacqueline because I just came from there and discussed the same thing in the negative. (I think you were a little hard on Ben.)
My new state is going to be great, I can see that already. How about caramel milk in the Archibald Fountain and chocolate in El Alamein? If you like you can become Minister for Toast, it is a hugely important portfolio and as Minister for Tea we would be working closely together.
Harry MortonThe trouble with NSW is that the original convicts stayed there and bred offspring and those offspring kept begatting more who all stayed there. Therefore the population pool has little new stock to work with as is obvious with the NSW parliament. As usual I am being tactful.
I’ve been watching, analysing and participating in nsw politics since 1992, sometimes at high level meeting Fahey, Armstrong, Carr before and after election, various ministers, local councillor stirring and blocking for 4 years.
So let me just say your article is pretty much crap, in my humble opinion.
It’s derivative of the big media drum beat. In that sense you are going with the flow of the sewage in the surf and you probably think that plays clever. But it’s actually pretty dumb wallowing.
It doesn’t satisfy, and it just dog whistles the other states who have their own share of sleaze and not even an ICAC in Victoria, let alone WA and Tas.
I give you some more discipline and some real analysis here:
"30 Jan 2009 - Big press commentary on NSW Cabinet recruits surprisingly immature
Topic: big media"
http://www.sydneyalternativemedia.com/blog/index.blog/1877328/big-press-…
I don’t mind some good whacks on the NSW ALP but take health - biggest population, highest immigration intake per year, and federal funding cost shift to the state from 46% to 51%.
That’s two federal policies there. And you think Kev and Julia are innocents in all this. Get real eh?
Crikey.com.au run pretty much the same line today via Bernard Keane but he falls over his feet effectively saying a $15B energy selloff should have happened leading to fire sale discount price for them right now in the grip of the global financial crisis. Lost income, lost assets, lost jobs, weak price. Totally stupid position.
Then to prove his lack of mettle says in a second story it’s fine for Kev and Julia to socialise the cost of propping up spiv property trusts to keep the wheels turning.
As I said over there, if the Opposition had not flirted with white supremacism we could have had a turnover in 2007 but they insulted the electorate. And if they had got in discount fire sale of $15B essential infrastructure asset just like Enron blackouts in California.
It’ about time you thought a bit more if you want to be a good writer and not just a digest of links.
Harry, this has nothing to do with a convict ancestry or lack of depth. Admittedly, the NSW cabinet (with or without Robbo the Banshee) is like a glorified sales team for a box factory - just look at the line-up of this crack team: http://www.directory.nsw.gov.au/ministers.asp They could swap places with the Teachers Fed and we’d be none the wiser.
Instead it’s the churn at the end of a 14+ year run. Out of ideas, initiative and kinda rotten.
Dr Dog, Labor do need to get behind something big and awe-inspiring. The polls have them losing 2007 safe seats, so chocolate milk is a start, free buses, rid schools of demountables and so forth. But something big picture Rees can have to show for himself in March ‘11. You can only say, ‘I’m working really hard for NSW’ so many times… instead they are in denial.
Tom McLoughlin, I’m all for constructive criticism but I (despite several attempts) haven’t a clue what you are saying. This article allegedly echoes the MSM which just dog whistles the other states?
Nice link. What a relief that ‘chalking’ is alive and well! "All yeh liars enter here"…. surprisingly immature indeed. Appointment of Robbo, a victory for the Left and a nod to the electorate shifting green? I’d like some more details first. So tell me more. I think the reality is a couple of factional lunches at Golden Century. Nothing more, nothing less.
Tom you are fighting the good fight but pull back on the mixed metaphors eg. ‘This has bent all the commentary out of objective shape today’, even Imre wouldn’t touch that. Take a breath and I’ll think a bit more about my linkage.
Hey Dr Dog, seems our paths crossed between there and here.
I was a little hard on Ben? It is a subject which makes me see red and then to see someone try and caricaturise it was the last straw. I just think that it is a topic better left alone in the comedy department, lest folk like me take exception and uproot the impartee.
I also note that Ben has not responded.
Minister for Toast? Hmmm, that sounds like the go for me. There is a recipe for that you know; you as Minister for Tea will have your hands full with all the party hopefuls or rejects who come begging.
We have to allocate a charge, Tea and Toast is gonna cost us. that’s going to keep my caramel milk founntain going and the chocolate milk revenue can go towards foreign Aid.
That’s going to keep my caramel milk in the Archibald F
**my lappie has a thing with it’s cursor, it jumps around all over the place.
That final sentence was a rogue one..