Comments on: Newspoll: 52-48 to Coalition in NSW

By: Gary Bruce

Gary Bruce — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 07:29:15 +0000

Let me modify that for GG’s sake. “My attitude is coloured by the way me and most Victorians see councils here in Victoria and I stick by it.”

By: Greeensborough Growler

Greeensborough Growler — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 07:13:54 +0000

Gary,

What’s this “we” whiteman.

By: Gary Bruce

Gary Bruce — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 06:58:21 +0000

You are right Albert, my attitude is coloured by the way we see councils here in Victoria and I stick by it. Enough said.

By: Gary Bruce

Gary Bruce — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 06:53:12 +0000

Childish comment number 2 – “Mexican Gazza invitingly”

By: William Bowe

William Bowe — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 06:28:24 +0000

Gary, please don’t leave childish comments like 120.

By: Albert Ross

Albert Ross — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 06:22:18 +0000

Mexican Gazza invitingly says:

It just isn’t a big deal. So try again.

Well Vic is a big state (full of big hearted people like Cossie) I will concede.

Your attitude is probably coloured by the history of LG in Vic. My understanding is that until they were given the Jeff treatment they were tiny entities without a lot of power. Since amalgamation they are much bigger and have widerish powers but I suppose that the attitude that they are very parish pump is going to take a long time to change.

In NSW LGAs have tended to be bigger and with amalgamations over the last 40 years have got bigger. They have had fairly wide powers and have been battlegrounds between the ALP (and its factions) and the dark forces of the right either through proxies such as Civic Reform/Residents Action Groups or more latterly as out of the closet endorsed Liberals. Service as a councillor and especially as mayor has been seen as a stepping stone to greater glory at State and Federal level.

The political parties and the various independents take the NSW LGA elections seriously although the powers of the LGAs have steadily been eroded and there always seems to be quite a deal of public interest in the elections and the subsequent activities of those elected.

By: Frank Calabrese

Frank Calabrese — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 05:55:32 +0000

re Post 1125,

Sorry, wrong thread and I notice it’s being discussed in the AC Neilson thread.

By: Gary Bruce

Gary Bruce — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 05:55:19 +0000

As I said on another thread, you get the feeling Cossie is protecting Brendan from Malcolm. All Brendan has to do now is not call for a leadership spill because Malcolm won’t dare challenge while Cossie is there.

By: Frank Calabrese

Frank Calabrese — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 05:48:05 +0000

And Surprise Surprise, The Tip has piked on challenging as leader.

FORMER treasurer Peter Costello says he will not be challenging for the leadership of the Liberal Party.

Current leader Brendan Nelson’s ongoing poor performance in opinion polls has raised speculation that Mr Costello might be lured back to the frontbench to lead the Coalition to the next election.

Mr Costello broke his silence today with a rare doorstop interview in Melbourne.

He was asked why he was not letting his party and the Australian people know whether he intended to challenge for the leadership.

“Well I am not,” Mr Costello said.

Asked if that meant he was not challenging, he replied: “Everyone knows that.”

He was not asked if he would stand for the leadership if Dr Nelson stepped down.

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,24218429-5005361,00.html

By: Gary Bruce

Gary Bruce — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 04:08:52 +0000

Well, Albert, wrong again. Here in Victoria (oh, what a small state that is) council elections have as much interest as watching paint dry. I’m very politically minded but I couldn’t tell you who, on my council, is with which party or faction. It just isn’t a big deal. So try again.