Comments on: Now Lee is a Green, expect the Labor mud to fly http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/10/07/now-lee-is-a-green-expect-the-labor-mud-to-fly/ now with extra source Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:22:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Dave Liberts http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/10/07/now-lee-is-a-green-expect-the-labor-mud-to-fly/#comment-20399 Dave Liberts Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-20399 As Lisa Crago commented in reply to yesterday's article on the same topic, history repeats. Kris Hanna in South Australia defected from Labor to the Greens in 2004, but contested the 2006 state election as an independent. There are multiple opinions about what went wrong, but the fact that the SA Greens were not used to having any MPs, let alone only one who was from outside their traditional circles, was definitely a massive factor. I should know, I was Kris's electorate officer at the time. The other interesting footnote is that Kris was re-elected as an independent despite stepping off two political parties in one term of office. As Lisa Crago commented in reply to yesterday’s article on the same topic, history repeats. Kris Hanna in South Australia defected from Labor to the Greens in 2004, but contested the 2006 state election as an independent. There are multiple opinions about what went wrong, but the fact that the SA Greens were not used to having any MPs, let alone only one who was from outside their traditional circles, was definitely a massive factor. I should know, I was Kris’s electorate officer at the time. The other interesting footnote is that Kris was re-elected as an independent despite stepping off two political parties in one term of office.

]]> By: Tom McLoughlin http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/10/07/now-lee-is-a-green-expect-the-labor-mud-to-fly/#comment-20400 Tom McLoughlin Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-20400 I think you're at risk of smearing a maverick. He doesn't fit into the ALP and is about 100 kg lighter and 30 years younger than Mal Colston. No worries. And he's Irish which is just fine. It used to be in 1995 that the Green Party national organisation had a conscience vote on pro chocie/life arguments and I suspect this accomodates at least one current senator?<br /><br />And what's with trawling a fellow's private family life anway because he quits the ALP? Two collapsed relationships at 32 ... a big so what. Does he pay his maintenance? Is his ex wife an elected official? Is the child? Could she be an assertive self directed emancipated person that got bored took off on her own adventures with no need for a handbag? I mean how patriarchical to airbrush her choices and her capacity to decide her future. And no credit to the sisters on this string implying otherwise. I think you’re at risk of smearing a maverick. He doesn’t fit into the ALP and is about 100 kg lighter and 30 years younger than Mal Colston. No worries. And he’s Irish which is just fine. It used to be in 1995 that the Green Party national organisation had a conscience vote on pro chocie/life arguments and I suspect this accomodates at least one current senator?

And what’s with trawling a fellow’s private family life anway because he quits the ALP? Two collapsed relationships at 32 … a big so what. Does he pay his maintenance? Is his ex wife an elected official? Is the child? Could she be an assertive self directed emancipated person that got bored took off on her own adventures with no need for a handbag? I mean how patriarchical to airbrush her choices and her capacity to decide her future. And no credit to the sisters on this string implying otherwise.

]]> By: Dave Liberts http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/10/07/now-lee-is-a-green-expect-the-labor-mud-to-fly/#comment-20401 Dave Liberts Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-20401 "He doesn't fit into the ALP" writes Tom McLoughlin. The ALP has heaps of members and pollies who are fervently anti-abortion (as well as many with an opposing view), heaps who are pro-environment, heaps of pollies who don't get Greens preferences (as well as many who do) and heaps of folk who are younger and slimmer than Mal Colston. I will admit, however, that it's rare to find this combination all in the one person. “He doesn’t fit into the ALP” writes Tom McLoughlin. The ALP has heaps of members and pollies who are fervently anti-abortion (as well as many with an opposing view), heaps who are pro-environment, heaps of pollies who don’t get Greens preferences (as well as many who do) and heaps of folk who are younger and slimmer than Mal Colston. I will admit, however, that it’s rare to find this combination all in the one person.

]]> By: Cathy http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/10/07/now-lee-is-a-green-expect-the-labor-mud-to-fly/#comment-20402 Cathy Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-20402 All a bit gruesome this. A political campaigning contortionist using Wilderness and Wildlife groups, the local Catholic congregation and a dwindling rabble of ALP buddies to get him a seat in parliament. He sounds a patriarchal, bigoted hypocrite with a bent for women and no commitment. How can he be loose with the truth on his parliamentary website and what else doesn't or does the parliament know about the guy now sitting on a green bench? If an official website of the Queensland Parliament can mislead the public then it sounds like a ham-fisted operative too. What other misinformation is under the Queensland coat-of-arms and are we looking at another Joh era? All questions the Parliament needs to answer - now that Mr Lee has taken it as well as the ALP for a ride. All a bit gruesome this. A political campaigning contortionist using Wilderness and Wildlife groups, the local Catholic congregation and a dwindling rabble of ALP buddies to get him a seat in parliament. He sounds a patriarchal, bigoted hypocrite with a bent for women and no commitment. How can he be loose with the truth on his parliamentary website and what else doesn’t or does the parliament know about the guy now sitting on a green bench? If an official website of the Queensland Parliament can mislead the public then it sounds like a ham-fisted operative too. What other misinformation is under the Queensland coat-of-arms and are we looking at another Joh era? All questions the Parliament needs to answer - now that Mr Lee has taken it as well as the ALP for a ride.

]]> By: Kate http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/10/07/now-lee-is-a-green-expect-the-labor-mud-to-fly/#comment-20403 Kate Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-20403 Lee is the product of the organisational wing of the ALP's stupidity and it is now coming back to bite them. He was only ever preselected to run in Indooropilly the first time because they though that they could not possibly win it. He has always been unpopular among ALP members - even before he was a MP - and this goes back to his days in student politics. The ALP needs to do better to ensure that only quality candidates are endorsed in all seats and stop the practice of running inexperienced hacks such as Lee from outside of the local area in "unwinnable seats". As mentioned in the article - those greens who supported him should not only be upset about his stance on abortion but also the treatment of his electorate staff. Lee is the product of the organisational wing of the ALP’s stupidity and it is now coming back to bite them. He was only ever preselected to run in Indooropilly the first time because they though that they could not possibly win it. He has always been unpopular among ALP members - even before he was a MP - and this goes back to his days in student politics. The ALP needs to do better to ensure that only quality candidates are endorsed in all seats and stop the practice of running inexperienced hacks such as Lee from outside of the local area in “unwinnable seats”. As mentioned in the article - those greens who supported him should not only be upset about his stance on abortion but also the treatment of his electorate staff.

]]> By: Cathy http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/10/07/now-lee-is-a-green-expect-the-labor-mud-to-fly/#comment-20404 Cathy Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-20404 Oh Tom...its the Cognac again. We're simply pointing out numerous professional and personal anomolies that don't recommend the character Ronan Lee purports to be. He's at odds with his stated beliefs. And those around him are feeling the brunt of his dyfunctionality. Leaving aside private obligations his workplace performance and ethics are more than questionable. So why not get staff feedback? How many have passed through his office during his three parliamentary terms? Have their careers benefited from their parliamentary employment with Lee? Beattie used to trot out testimonies from current staff whose jobs were at risk if they gave a thumbs down so this time lets get character references from former Lee staffers. Sisters on the string Tom! The ALP brothers have had it too good for too long! Oh Tom…its the Cognac again. We’re simply pointing out numerous professional and personal anomolies that don’t recommend the character Ronan Lee purports to be. He’s at odds with his stated beliefs. And those around him are feeling the brunt of his dyfunctionality. Leaving aside private obligations his workplace performance and ethics are more than questionable. So why not get staff feedback? How many have passed through his office during his three parliamentary terms? Have their careers benefited from their parliamentary employment with Lee? Beattie used to trot out testimonies from current staff whose jobs were at risk if they gave a thumbs down so this time lets get character references from former Lee staffers. Sisters on the string Tom! The ALP brothers have had it too good for too long!

]]> By: Helen Evans http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/10/07/now-lee-is-a-green-expect-the-labor-mud-to-fly/#comment-20405 Helen Evans Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-20405 Why on earth are the Greens dancing with this doozy? He's out there on his website grooving along like a 12-year-old going on 14. Single, 32-year-old male interested in politics and Tegan and Sara!! Just the kind of mature decision-maker I don't think we need in a parliament. Surely someone in the ALP or Greens scanned this one? The website's a scream - Ronan Lee MP 32 Male Brisbane AU with the backing lyrics of Monday (your place or mine, damn your mood swings). Speaks volumes for Bligh's decision to annoint him parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Justic and Attorney-General - they must be short on entertainment in George Street? Why on earth are the Greens dancing with this doozy? He’s out there on his website grooving along like a 12-year-old going on 14. Single, 32-year-old male interested in politics and Tegan and Sara!! Just the kind of mature decision-maker I don’t think we need in a parliament. Surely someone in the ALP or Greens scanned this one? The website’s a scream - Ronan Lee MP 32 Male Brisbane AU with the backing lyrics of Monday (your place or mine, damn your mood swings). Speaks volumes for Bligh’s decision to annoint him parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Justic and Attorney-General - they must be short on entertainment in George Street?

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