NSW Labor highlights Gillard's moral failure

Even the sleazy, scandal-ridden NSW Labor Party is streets ahead of its federal counterpart when it comes to ethics and morality. Hard to believe, isn't it? NSW Labor has seen lying politicians, paedophile politicians, drug-using politicians and now it has taken steps to suspend former Labor minister Ian Macdonald in the wake of corruption allegations. The move followed a request from Opposition Leader John Robertson, whose own involvement in the Labor Council's Currawong holiday resort scandal has yet to be fully explained. Yet Robertson, who was also deeply involved in the abortive sell-off of the State's power industry, has now taken a principled position on Macdonald.

Who would have believed Robertson had it in him. Perhaps he realises that NSW Labor can fall no further in the public view. The former minister, who previously held posts including energy minister and state development minister, is being investigated by the Independent Commission Against Corruption over allegations that property tycoon Ron Medich arranged for him to spend time with a prostitute as reward for setting up meetings with executives from Country Energy and Energy Australia. Robertson last week said he was "appalled" by the allegations coming out of ICAC and said he would not put up with it in his party. "There is no place for this in politics," he told The Daily Telegraph. "I can tell you that there is no place for anyone behaving like that in the Labor Party under my leadership." Leadership - that's an unusual concept for the ALP. That's what Prime Minister Julia Gillard lacks. That's why she permits NSW MP Craig Thomson to remain in the federal parliament though he has attracted a raft of serious allegations which are being investigated by police in NSW and Victoria. If Gillard had any idea of leadership she would have shown the Australian people that she has the moral fibre necessary to hold the top job in the nation and she would have suspended Thomson from parliament until the allegations against him are resolved. But she doesn't have that moral authority and Thomson remains as a constant reminder of the bankruptcy at the core of the federal ALP.