Comments on: Newspoll: 53-47 to Labor in WA

By: Minski

Minski — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 05:08:02 +0000

Mr Orange…whilst I do agree that membership of the ALP appears to be an impediment to preselection for the ALP in the eyes of the Premier, there are still processes in place that require candidates to be endorsed. Alan’s dream team can only be put in place at the will of the majority of State Executive. If Alan is successful in promoting his candidates through a negotiated deal, that can only be achieved with the agreement of the factional leaders. It would seem that they are prepared to consider the Premiers request on the basis of talent/convenience. That is they agree to a deal because it furthers their objectives in terms of promoting their candidates and ensuring that the Labor Party is returned to government. These candidates are not imposed upon the party in any way, the rules have not been suspended. It is a much preferable situation to the last round where Gallop had all sitting members automatically re-endorsed without an opportunity for any change.

By: Mr Orange

Mr Orange — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 04:27:42 +0000

What I meant by my comments, was that for the field to be narrowed to lawyers, lobbyists and journalists,……. whilst in the same breath saying that people with a union background, or local ALP activists need not apply because we’re looking for fresh blood, seemed a little odd…..that was an observation from someone who is merely a spectator to all that is going on in the media etc.

By: Frank Calabrese

Frank Calabrese — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 03:29:02 +0000

What are you trying to say about journalists who go into politics?

And he fails to mention that the Liberal member for South Perth was a Journalist for The West Australian, and the Nationals member for Greenough, Grant Woodhams was a journalist from the ABC, and worked with Carpenter at both Aunty and at Ch 7.

By: Andos

Andos — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:23:59 +0000

Alan Carpenter was previously a journalist…

One of Australia’s greatest PMs, John Curtin, was president of the WA Australian Journalists’ Association, and he proudly wore his AJA badge throughout his Parliamentary career. You can see it at the John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library at Curtin University of Technology in Perth.

What are you trying to say about journalists who go into politics?

By: Mr Orange

Mr Orange — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 06:11:50 +0000

“And then God, sorry Carps, created the world in his own image”….

The holy trinity of Carps’ “Dream Team” is now complete; ….we have lawyers, we have lobbyists and now we have JOURNALISTS!

Heaven help us! Sorry bout the religious connotations but it does have an apocolyptic ring to it.

So FC, as an ALP member whats your call on this one? How are rank and file ALP members taking the parachuting of these non-members into safe Labor seats?

By: Frank Calabrese

Frank Calabrese — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 09:06:25 +0000

Channel 7 Political Reporter Reece Whitby to run for the ALP in Morley.

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,23493435-2761,00.html

By: Gary Bruce

Gary Bruce — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 12:30:08 +0000

Marky, I too have fond memories of the Cain government. This was a good government for about 8 years but still only had a few good ministers. Cain was its strength. I think you overlook some deficiencies however with that government in the latter years, so much so in fact that I voted for Kennett in ‘92.
As far as Bracks is concerned he knew how to win elections. He read the electorate’s mind beautifully. He was in a position where acting like the Cain government would have brought electoral disaster. Kennett had remoulded the political landscape and expectations to such an extent that anything remotely reminiscent of Cain or Kirner was political suicide for Labor. Bracks had his critics but boy he gained the electorate’s support.

By: marky marky

marky marky — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 10:31:53 +0000

Gary talent is being excluded due to the factional system of both parties. I remember back to the 1980’s in Victoria and the labor party had a plethora of talented men and women who were in it to do things for the future,
As a result Victoria achieved great and lasting things such as the TAC (Transport Accident Commission), Workers Compensation, Freedom of Information Laws, their was an Auditor General appointed, National Parks, Bike paths and Rail Trails were started, so many great and wonderful policies which today stand and continue and became policies incorporated in other states. Today the present Victorian Government is putting forth no legacies and lasting policies instead it is PPP’s which benefit the corporate set, freeways, poor planning and incompetent ministers which are products of stacked seats and stacked committee, policy and internal processes within the Labor Party which hinders debate, hinders democracy and hinders ideas, sadly the party is going no where and people who care are leaving it in droves. You end up with dead policies and dills as your representatives who care about themselves and little else. Steve Bracks is a great example- paid by the taxpayer and paid by a number of boards which he is now on and paid also by KPMG as a consultant for one day a week earning one hundred thousand a year.
Yep what comes first the hip pocket or doing things.

By: Kina

Kina — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 04:56:55 +0000

WA badly needs another newspaper….

Stokes ponders starting second WA paper
Seven Network chief Kerry Stokes has flagged starting a second newspaper in Western Australia with billionaire mining magnate Andrew Forrest, if his move on the West Australian Newspaper Holdings (WAN) board fails.
http://news.smh.com.au/stokes-ponders-starting-second-wa-paper/20080403-23eq.html

By: Gary Bruce

Gary Bruce — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:43:23 +0000

Name a talented state government bunch of politicians of either party in any state in the last 40 years. Anyone? While you’re at it do the same for any oppositions for the same period. You may be able to name 3 or 4 people of any one government or opposition but you’ll be going to name any more. Talent at state level has been thin on the ground for many years.