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.
NSW ALP
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.
Clennell: Nathan Rees vs. the world
Nathan Rees’ “fresh approach” to government is already looking stale, say Andrew Clennell and Louise Hall, putting up a hostile front to critic, the media and fellow MPs as he continues to play party politics.
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.
Clennell: Rees cuts out the cancer of the NSW ALP
Nathan Rees made a risky but necessary incision into the NSW ALP caucus yesterday, says Andrew Clennell, removing powerbrokers Eddie Obeid and Joe Tripodi. Whether the party’s factional fractures can really be cured is another question, though.
‘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.
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.
Tips and rumours: Tips and rumours: a new record for newspaper discounting?
Things must be amiss in our nation’s capital, with word that The Canberra Times is being offered in a special deal for a worrying 80% discount off the normal cover price. Plus, what’s happening in Labor’s Federal NSW seats?
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.
‘What is your perception of Nathan Rees?’: Labor polling begins
Secret polling is already under way in supposedly safe Labor seats in NSW, with fears that the next election may be an complete wipeout for the scandal ridden Rees government.
The media evolution of NSW politics
Following on from Crikey’s editorial on the changing identity of Michael McGurk by the SMH, North Coast Voices tracks the media progression of alleged corruption within NSW government ranks.
Underbelly IV: NSW Labor politics
Nathan Rees has been unable to stop the ‘soap opera’ of NSW politics, with the murder of businessman Michael McGurk opening up a Pandora’s box of corruption claims in NSW politics, thanks to an allegedly incriminating video.
Mystery, murder and McGurk
The death of standover man Michael McGurk has made big news this morning, with senior ALP MPs and Socceroo Lucas Neill now embroiled in the aftermath.
Nathan Rees’s government ‘beyond a joke’
The brazenness of Health Minister John Della Bosca’s sex scandal may have increased NSW Premier Nathan Rees’s leadership popularity for now, but it’s time to head to the polls, says Andrew Clennell.
Crikey Says: NSW, spelt W-T-F
New South Wales’ political problems aren’t just about sex scandals, the economy is suffering too. Anyone fancy another 19 months of the state government’s shortcomings?
Incompetence and scandal the NSW way
New South Wales doesn’t need another AFL team — its government provides more than enough in the way of spectator sport, writes Crikey intern James Pattison.
Della couldn’t negotiate his way out of this one
John Della Bosca was one of the best tactical and negotiating minds in the NSW ALP and truly believed he had a shot at the Premiership, says Andrew Clennell. But even the sharpest of tongues and midns could not overcome the problems of his private life.
The NSW ALP soap opera
John Della Bosca’s sex scandal is just the latest in a long line of drama and disgrace for the NSW ALP, says David Penberthy, as the party room looks more and more like Melrose Place every day.
Della Bosca quits over sex scandal
New South Wales Health Minister John Della Bosca has resigned, following revelations from The Daily Telegraph that he was embroiled in a sex scandal with a 26-year-old woman.
Mungo MacCallum: Nelson salutes, Howard on rights and the mess of NSW
Mungo MacCallum discusses Brendan Nelson’s departure, John Howard’s shameless return to his soap box, and Nathan Rees’ attempts to avoid the Obeid and Tripodi kiss of death.
Time for Kevin Rudd to fix NSW
NSW ALP politics is like having to endure Big Brother all over again, a brain-deadeningly boring production of apparently limitless interest to the media. It’s time to evict some factional heavyweights.
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.
