Well, well, well… you can’t say that no one saw it coming (Blueblog 16 Nov 2009).
Behind deposed Finance, Infrastructure, Ports and Waterways Minister, Joe Tripodi’s tears on Nov 15 just after he was dumped by the then NSW Premier Nathan Rees, was a furious, tactical and vengeful factional warlord - ready to take matters in his own hands… with a little help from fellow warrior - Eddie Obeid.
It took less than three weeks to mount the spill that cut the man (who Tripodi and Obeid installed as Premier only the year before), down and put him in the corner while 47 out of 68 Labor MP’s orderly lined up behind their faithful and stuck the knife in - much like the scene from the movie Flying High no doubt.
With Nathan gone, in swings A.B.N. - (Anyone But Nathan)… Frank Sartor, Kristina Keneally, I don’t think it really mattered - certainly not to the ALP State office. It was just simply time for Nathan to go.
Much like Tony Abbott, as the “ideological love child” of John Howard and Bronwyn Bishop, ascended to greatness as Federal Opposition Leader two days before… the “factional love child” of Tripodi and Obeid emerges as the victor in the NSW Government Party Room - All hail Premier Kristina Keneally!
What does this mean to the people of NSW?
- A Cabinet reshuffle of the reshuffle the month before… (It really is hard to keep track of who’s who in the zoo).
- I’d say a bit of money being spent on stationery reprints and office signage.
- Maybe a boom in the elocution training business, by way of lessons for the new leader, to try and smooth out that Ohioan accent and perhaps give her a bit more of a ‘dinky di’ feel that will appeal to the people?
- Some white-anting from the discarded former leader, Mr Rees?
So other than the Prime Minister being slightly annoyed (… understatement?) and a mental flash-image of watching CNN or Fox News as you tune into Channel 7, 9 or 10 each night… not a lot has really happened!
One good thing that has come out of all of this, is the fact that Kristina and Carmel now lead the first two-woman executive in the country… that is a move for equality, I guess.
However, I’m going to go out on a limb and say - I doubt that this point was at the forefront of ALP Honourable Members’ minds in casting their votes.
What are your thoughts? Comments?
I think it shows the calculating nature of Bob Carr. The impact of changing the NSW electoral cycle to fixed four year terms means the only real avenue for removing the government is to block supply (unlikely) or for the Government to move and pass a vote of no confidence in itself…although perhaps the likelihood of the latter option will be crossing the minds of disgruntled backbenchers…