The ALP national executive’s decision yesterday to include Macquarie in its regime of central preselection impositions has sparked a wave of dissent from waring factions in the premier state.
Politics / Australia / NSW
Automatic enrollment: Sneaky plot or common sense?
Crikey pundits have been duking it out over the NSW government’s plan to introduce automatic electoral enrollment. Is it really a “shameful encroachment on basic rights”, or just good bureaucratic process? William Bowe wraps the debate.
The NSW Left’s big weekend
Few party officials effortlessly wield as much power as seen at last weekend’s NSW ALP conference. It was Luke Foley’s conference, writes Joe Sammaras.
How Rees’ secret plot unfolded
Nathan Rees’ axing of ministers Joe Tripodi and Ian Macdonald was a carefully plotted and highly secretive affair, according to Labor insiders. The Tele reveals how it all unfolded “under the cover of darkness”. Straight out of Le Carré!
Joe Tripodi’s smoke and mirrors finally exposed
It was almost possible, but not quite, to feel sorry for Joe Tripodi as he resigned yesterday, writes NSW ALP watcher Prue Believer. The real power in the NSW Right now rests with Canberra.
Dust off your Smiths albums, it’s 1988 and the Australia Card all over again!
Stock up on the ammo and canned food! Bernard Keane’s conspiracy theories on electoral reforms are flat out wrong, says Peter Brent.
‘Stronger democracy’ gives way to strong-arm democracy in NSW
NSW government agencies will be collating the private data of NSW citizens and providing it to the NSW Electoral Commission to automatically update the electoral roll. There’ll be no opting out; you will have no choice.
NSW to keep draining the life out of the Snowy
The NSW government has indicated it will continue to draw water off the Snowy River, despite extensive evidence the river is nearer to degradation than ever.
Robertson locals turn on Belinda Neal
ALP members in the NSW Central Coast seat of Robertson have dealt a blow to sitting member Belinda Neal’s political future, passing a motion last night rejecting central intervention to pick a candidate for next year’s federal poll.
Illegal: SMH breaks school league table ban
The Sydney Morning Herald says it’s breaching NSW state law today and risking a $55,000 fine by publishing this article comparing the test results of three Sydney high schools, challenging what it says is an “absurd” ban on giving parents information about the schools childrens’ schools. Subversive or sensationalism?
NSW ALP rank-and-file told to commit political suicide
On Thursday last week, the NSW Left voted against one of its defining tenets, namely the support of rank-and-file preselections, writes Prue Believer.
How university colleges foster a culture of rape
News that students living at Sydney Uni’s all-male St Paul’s College set up a “pro-rape” Facebook page doesn’t come as a shock to former college residents like Mary Gardiner — “rape culture” is endemic within the hallowed institutions.
Deluded Della Bosca still wants the top job
It’s sadly obvious that John Della Bosca still wants the premier job, writes Andrew Clennell. Lucky for embattled leader Nathan Rees, Della Bosca has no chance and there are no other alternatives. Apart from Carmel Tebbutt…
The long, long knifing of Nathan Rees
NSW premier Nathan Rees’ political death has been much reported, yet oddly slow to happen, writes Crikey intern Aaron Flanagan, with rumours as far back as January yet to bear fruit.
Blame the states when RBA lifts rates
When the Reserve Bank lifts interest rates next Tuesday and again either in December or February, you can thank the lazy, fat, rapacious State Governments.
Better latte than never to get excited about Goat Island again
Sydney ruthlessly expunged most of the “working harbour” aspects of its heritage years ago, rendering it blandly safe for the café latteratti set and retail mall developers, says Ben Sandilands. So why are Sydneysiders suddenly getting historical about their harbour again?
lol What’s an ETS? That’s when you turn your AC off, right?
Just when you think that all anyone is talking about is climate change, ETS, CPRS or Copenhagen, North Coast Voices reminds us that those are complicated terms.
NSW the epicentre of our housing crisis
NSW is at the centre of a long-term public policy disaster in housing that will have a major impact on Australia’s recovery from the recession.
How McDonald’s got its ads into public schools — and the government is lovin’ it
Almost half of NSW’s secondary school students are now learning maths from a computer program created by McDonald’s, where tutoring is preceded by ads for the fast food empire. And the government has given it the thumbs up.
Where NOT to eat in NSW? There’s an app for that!
The NSW Food Authority has just updated its engrossing (and fairly gross) “Name and Shame” list — outing restaurants and cafes that have breached cleanliness and food handling laws. We taste a few of the highlights.
Talking the Town: bookmaker Bill Waterhouse’s autobiography launch
There was no more fabulous place to be in Sydney yesterday than at Tattersall’s Club for the launch of colourful bookmaker Bill Waterhouse’s autobiography, What are the Odds? The Bill Waterhouse Story.
Gittins: Pollies pander to grey power
Single age pensioners received a pension increase and concessions on their rent. Is it because they are the most ‘worthy’ pensioners? No. It’s because their votes are critical, writes Ross Gittins.
Fighting for a fair deal from Centrelink
Dealing with Centrelink is a full-time job for someone applying for a Disability Support Pension, getting punted from payment to payment, filling out forms and going to pointless reviews and assessments, writes an anonymous disability carer.
Grattan: Can NSW Libs get their groove back?
The Bradfield preselection, won by Paul Fletcher, showed a strong field of NSW Liberal contenders. Can it help spark a renewal in the state branch? wonders Michelle Grattan.
