Two former NSW Labor powerbrokers rubbish James Packer’s hiring of dumped ALP national secretary Karl Bitar as a Crown Casino lobbyist, suggesting the media scion might be better off dispatching his new charge back to the dole queue.
Frank Sartor
Robbo takes the top job as NSW Labor’s history wars rage on
John Robertson is a rebel with a cause, a diabolically difficult one — to transform NSW Labor from a national laughing stock to a viable political entity. His time starts now.
So long, good riddance: the dubious legacy of NSW ministers
When the moon spins into its last quarter on March 26, members of the NSW Cabinet will say goodbye to taxpayers — and to the pretty sight of their ministerial offices and parliamentary bonuses we fund.
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.
Sartor as Della Bosca’s saviour?
Just because he’s out of the premier race, don’t count John Della Bosca out for a return to the ministry. Will he use Frank Sartor as the ticket to his political comeback? asks Simon Benson.
Who could replace Rees as Premier?
It is the disunity in the NSW Labor government that has kept Nathan Rees as Premier for so long. But, the main issue for voters is, who is a valid leadership option? asks Simon Benson.
Frank Sartor for Premier in NSW: let the buffoonery begin
Alex Mitchell reports on the absurdity of NSW premiership speculation.
Politics in Sydney’s barmiest borough: Rockdale
While Liberal and Labor councillors are at each other’s throats all over NSW, not so in Rockdale, where they work hand-in-glove.
Cheer squad excited by Sartor’s extreme makeover
The morphing of former NSW Planning Minister Frank Sartor from the best mate of the developers to the hero of environmental activists is in full swing, writes Alex Mitchell.
Botany Bay car park doomed
The outrageous proposal by Rockdale City Council to build a 100-vehicle car park on the beachfront of Botany Bay has been scrapped, writes Alex Mitchell.
NSW Planning Minister Keneally romperstomps
NSW Planning Minister Kristina Keneally has trampled over community objections in two major development approvals this week , writes Alex Mitchell.
Botany Bay’s car park protesters gagged
Sydney’s Rockdale Council will stop at nothing to build a 100-vehicle car park on the foreshores of Botany Bay, writes Alex Mitchell.
NSW development transparency clouds over
Sartor’s 11th hour attempt to restore some transparency to the untrammeled powers of the minister has been derailed and his PAC has been rendered redundant, writes Alex Mitchell.
Controversial NSW planning bill passes lower house … at 2am
The NSW Parliament sat until after 2am to ramrod Sartor’s Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment Bill through the lower house, writes Alex Mitchell.
Tips and rumours
Crikey’s insights into the Rudd Government’s penchant for symbolism, subterfuge and spin over substance has now been taken up by The Australian and The AFR in recent days. While it is true that many of the Rudd Government’s new staffers hail from the now decayed and decrepit NSW Government, their experience using the levers of power […]
Welcome to NSW — the efficient and transparent State
Frank Sartor’s proposed reforms to the NSW Planning system continue to amaze those who have enough time to understand them, writes NSW planning insider “James Jacobs”.
Tips and rumours
It’s strongly rumoured that Bruce Matheson and his business partner will be the party that receives the pokie licence today. This culminates several years of strategy with the Labor Government to achieve. It’s further rumoured this started with a need for critical mass, hence his partner selection and purchase of 1,000 hectares of land several […]
Developer donations: Not bribing but taxing
Why would a property developer give money to political parties for no apparent return? John Addis ponders a quasi-Sicilian conclusion.
Sartor’s NSW: The developer led state
The developer funded NSW Labor Government is about to deliver the final chapters in the developer inspired rewrite of the NSW planning system, writes NSW planning insider “James Jacobs”.
NSW government is a pain in the arts
Sydney cares for the arts — as long as there’s a photo op in it. And the small to medium arts sector is getting sick of it, writes Nicholas Pickard.
Time to close NSW MPs’ personal fundraising accounts
When Labor supporters and developers gave election campaign donations to NSW Planning Minister Frank Sartor, little did they know that some of their money would finish up in the State’s most northerly seat, Tweed, writes Alex Mitchell.
Yartz appointments by head hunters. Que?
The increasingly irrelevant NSW Government and the humble Frank Sartor, Minister for the Yartz, has a poor record in choosing appropriate personnel. And it’s not improving, writes Crikey’s arts insider, Wilhelm Furtwängler.
Tips and rumours
Does the Minister for Everything in NSW, Frank Sartor, have too much on his plate? Arts organisations around the state (he is the Minister for the Arts) are still waiting to hear if they are to receive funding for 08 even though it is middle of February. They usually hear November/December… does he have too […]
Richard Farmer’s political bite-sized meaty chunks
Dining with journalists … Dining with developers … Participatory democracy … Obama to march on … The Daily Reality Check … The Pick of This Morning’s Political Coverage … The Pick of the Weekend’s Political Coverage …
Tips and rumours
NSW Planning Minister Frank Sartor entertained 90 guests, mainly developers, at the Art Gallery of NSW the other evening. Fainting with greed, the guests staggered out of their limousines to have Christmas drinks with the State’s planning supremo. Questions being asked around town are: who paid for the lavish reception and did Sartor, who is […]
