Labor Shop of Horrors revived in Bennelong
NSW premier Nathan Rees faces the cameras for the last time. Speaking in Sydney, December 3, 2009:
Should I not be premier by the end of this day, let there be no doubt … that any challenger will be a puppet of Eddie Obeid and Joe Tripodi.
New premier Kristina Keneally speaks the next day in the NSW Legislative Assembly, December 4, 2009:
I’m nobody’s puppet, I’m nobody’s protege, I’m nobody’s girl.
Turns out she’s Bill Shorten’s girl. The federal Opposition Leader in Sydney’s Eastwood, yesterday:
I have asked Kristina to once again serve, to serve the cause of the voters of Bennelong by providing a real choice …
The next Member for Bennelong, @KKeneally pic.twitter.com/O1kUUrURmV
— Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) November 13, 2017
Want to win a by-election? Just pick the woman who led NSW Labor to its worst defeat. The Australian online’s NSW election blog, March 26, 2011:
Counting at 8.15pm had the ALP around 26 per cent of the primary vote, the Coalition about 51 … This is the biggest loss the ALP has suffered in NSW. Today many, many people voted Liberal/Nationals for the first time in their lives.
Keneally reveals why she is running against dual citizen and ex-Lib MP John Alexander. Eastwood, yesterday:
… this is an opportunity … to stand up and say to Malcolm Turnbull: “Your government is awful. Enough is enough.”
Let us tell you about an awful government, Kristina. AAP, May 7, 2010:
Karyn Paluzzano has resigned from the state parliament … Ms Paluzzano was suspended by the NSW Labor Party on Thursday night and could be jailed after admitting signing false staff pay slips, rorting her parliamentary mailing allowance and then lying about it to a corruption inquiry.
A no-good, very smelly government. The Daily Telegraph, June 8, 2010:
Ian Macdonald quit parliament last night … Fears over more damaging revelations about Mr Macdonald’s expenses on a trip to Dubai and Italy and the way he ran his ministry are believed responsible for his decision …
Who led that government, mate? Oh yeah, that clown show was all you. Keneally speaking in Eastwood, yesterday:
I suppose I can have a slight claim to some experience in government …
Experience that includes bringing Macdonald back into the NSW Labor cabinet in the first place. The Australian, December 9, 2009:
… sacked by Mr Rees just three weeks ago, (Macdonald) has been given the ministries for state and regional development …
That turned out well. The Australian, June 2:
Macdonald … (has been) sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment, with a non-parole period of seven years, for misconduct in public office.
The ABC’s NSW political reporter Brigid Glanville provides the Bennelong Liberals with a campaign slogan on Twitter, yesterday:
I was going to ring Eddie Obeid and Ian Macdonald to get their reaction to Kristina Keneally’s news … but oops I can’t … they’re in jail.
And here’s another from the woman herself. Keneally speaks to The Weekend Australian Magazine, December 4, 2010:
… the Labor Party was in a highly unstable situation. I’m going to acknowledge it upfront, and I’m going to apologise for it.