The Terrigals’ reign of NSW bastardry is over
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For almost two decades, the NSW ALP right-wing faction known as the “Terrigals” has played a dominant rule in making and breaking premiers, ministers and MPs, manipulating pre-selections, guiding policy, raising campaign funds and appointing favorites to jobs. That era is over. The Terrigals, led by upper house MP Eddie Obeid and his bruising lieutenant Joe Tripodi, are dead. At a specially convened caucus meeting to be held at State Parliament tomorrow to select two new ministers, it will be buried. The demise of Obeid and Tripodi has been a long time coming — too long for most ALP members. It started on July 27, 2005, when then Police Minister Carl Scully, a loyal Terrigal, announced that he was a candidate to replace Premier Bob Carr who had just resigned. A few hours later, Obeid and Tripodi met Scully in his office to tell him that they had decided to switch their support to virtually unknown Health Minister Morris Iemma. They knifed Scully in what has become known in NSW politics as “one of the greatest acts of bastardry of all time”. Now roll forward to September 5, 2008. A struggling Premier Iemma has lost his electricity privatization legislation and has drawn up a list of ministers for a renovated Cabinet. On the eve of a critical caucus meeting, Obeid and Tripodi tell him they cannot support his ministerial changes and that he has lost the backing of the majority of the parliamentary party. Another act of political bastardy. Iemma resigned and Nathan Rees was installed as the new Premier. Now, after just five months in office, Rees is proposing to fill two ministerial vacancies in his Cabinet. One spot is already promised to John Robertson, the former secretary of Unions NSW who took a seat in the upper house last October. The race for the second spot is between Monaro MP Steve Whan, son of Whitlam Government MP Bob Whan, Heathcote MP Paul McLeay, son of Hawke Government MP “Leaping” Leo McLeay, and Parramatta MP Tanya Gadiel, the Cessnock-born achiever who holds arts and law degrees. Once again, Obeid, Tripodi and the dregs of The Terrigals are trawling through the corridors trying to promote their cronies, but who is listening? With the blood of Scully and Iemma on the caucus floor, what MP with any self-respect would be lining up for another round of intrigue? Tomorrow’s vote will plunge a stake through the Terrigal beast and a new right-wing grouping led by Health Minister John Della Bosca, Police Minister Tony Kelly, Campbelltown MP Graham West and Maroubra’s Michael Daley, will be calling the shots. Moves are afoot to include the left, a pathetic rump which is currently divided like Nestle chocolates into “soft” and “hard”. It remains to be seen who from the left will join the new factional realignment. What about the sub-faction known as the Troglodytes? I hear you ask. Regrettably, it has been reduced to an embarrassing cabal of old men mumbling about old issues that have not the slightest consequence for the citizens of NSW. Someone should tell them that Obama is in the White House, Rudd is in The Lodge, Rees is in charge of NSW and then turn off the lights and let them have a good night’s sleep. |
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11 Comments
Well said, off with Tripodi’s head and take Obeid’s as well. Given Nathan a go and get on with governing the state as opposed to all this in fighting.
Well, Alex no chance of misunderstanding here. 24 hours can be a long time in politics but you seem confident of the prediction. We can all listen and read about it tomorrow no doubt. Good luck with the detail.
Just to add I did eventually read Miranda Devine’s pitch for Frank Sartor and finally got ‘it’ in the last line of an article entitled “Frankly, the best option is Sartor” which reads “It is time to bring in the kamikaze.”
Mmm. If that’s not written by a journo barracker for the Tories then I’ll eat my cabbage hat. Take note Frank, she see’s you as a kamikaze to bury the ALP for good in a screaming ball of flames: No contest at the next state election unlike 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2007 - an intimidating record as impressive as Howard’s scorecard even with the lousy polling now. She’s quite a card isn’t she.
That’s downright embarrassing stuff from Alex clearly riding on the wrong info. Not that its Alex’s fault. Our political parties depend on the mainstream media Alex and don’t need Crikey - yet.
‘Parramatta MP Tanya Gadiel, the Cessnock-born achiever who holds arts and law degrees’ - have you ever spoken to her Alex?
Alex, considering what has transpired this morning, I think you should give up reporting on the dealings of the NSW Parliamentary Labor Party.
Alex, you seem to have the same jinx effect I have whenever I back a horse - please doff your soothsayer’s cap and sit on it.
Opps, Shame though. I would have preferred it if you’d been right
**A second cabinet post has gone to Monaro MP Steve Whan, confirming the influence of Ports Minister Joe Tripodi and upper house MP Eddie Obeid, who lead the so-called “Terrigals” sub-faction within the Right, also known as Centre Unity. **
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24978894-601,00.html
ALP, no-one cares about your ridiculous infighting. Just fix the roads, hospitals, schools - anything - just govern the State, already! (And the same goes for the other lot)
Well, he was wrong but I certainly don’t hold that against him. Getting fucked over by the NSW Labor party is a pretty common experience for many I would suggest
Well said, off with Tripodi’s head and take Obeid’s as well. Given Nathan a go and get on with governing the state as opposed to all this in fighting.
You bring us glad tidings Alex.
Good to see the back of them but won’t they have to carted of screaming and kicking ? Michael Costa had a whinge in the SMH only the other day about his great electricy privatisation scam which had every would be banker and intellectual pygmy from Keating to Carr bemoaning the lost fees they were eagerly awaiting . If anything-the great financial collapse has at least saved us from that !
As for Miranda spruiking Frank as a glorious new leader-I think she was having a lend of us.