Hit and mist

AT yesterday's launch of Frank Sartor's book there was general agreement that Labor, like a dung beetle egg, is deep in the doo.

AT yesterday's launch of Frank Sartor's book, The Fog on the Hill: How NSW Labor Lost its Way, there was general agreement on the former NSW minister's central thrust: that Labor, like a dung beetle egg, is deep in the doo. But that didn't stop a few solid backhanders.

Here's co-launcher Graham Richardson: "When you read through this book, the first thing that impresses you is how ordered and how thoughtful it is. I sometimes thought Frank wasn't quite like that." And fellow co-launcher, former NSW minister Rodney Cavalier: "The weaker sections are on the ALP; this is not surprising because Frank doesn't understand the ALP." These sentiments were offered in an affectionate manner. No such luck for former health minister Reba Meagher, who once informed Sartor why he'd never be premier: "You're not one of us." Cavalier, who repeated Meagher's name in tones of comic wonderment, said Sartor wore this as a badge of pride. Richo was blunter: "It was the only profound thing Reba Meagher ever said." Richo, who gave the lament of the retired powerbroker ("Once, they had to do what you told them"), said while he didn't agree with everything in Sartor's book -- sections of which Sartor said could have been written as a play, if he'd had the flair -- it was an antidote to Labor's newfound allergy to argy-bargy over ideas and policy at its federal conferences. "There's no argument, just applause. I remember being spat on walking into a federal conference talking about uranium," said Richo nostalgically. "There's no doubt about it, Labor's lost its way, and it needs to find it again soon."

Dog on the hill

WE hear there was a bigger turnout across town for the launch of Sandra Lee's Saving Private Sarbi: The True Story of Australia's Canine War Hero. Given that a dog is the theme of both books, what gives?

Bang the bong

SEX Party president Fiona Patten yesterday on proposed legislation in Victoria that would ban bongs (as favoured by young Caucasians) and water pipes (Chinese) but exempt Middle Eastern hookahs: "If Andrew Bolt's statements about race are illegal then this bill surely is as well. How can you send Chinese and Caucasian Australians to jail for selling and displaying bongs and then exempt Lebanese and Egyptian Australians from selling and displaying their version of a bong?" There's nowt we can add.

Untamed melody

LISTENING with a casual ear to the live stream of the tax forum on futuretax.gov.au this week, Liberal senator Simon Birmingham was struck that one song broadcast during a break was the uncensored version of James Blunt's gruelling You're Beautiful, complete with the lyric: "She could see from my face that I was f . . king high". Birmingham laments the language, but tells Strewth any high at a tax forum is to be welcomed by participants. In which vein, we present Wayne Swan and Virginia Trioli on ABC News Breakfast yesterday:

Trioli: "Are you considering getting yourself a cattle prod for all those people who kept falling asleep during the forum as they did yesterday, Treasurer?"

Swan: "Have you got a spare one?"

Trioli: "I'm not giving you mine, you'll have to find your own."

b

QUEENSLAND Liberal National Party leader Campbell Newman may not be knocking 'em dead yet, but he showed promise yesterday when addressing scrutiny of his financial interests: "Queensland is run today by drunks, punks and desperadoes, headed by Anna Bligh with her dirt unit. This is just more of the same summer of sleaze that we told people about a few weeks ago." We hand over to AAP: "As Mr Newman delivered that line, fellow LNP member Richard Towson clutched Mr Newman's shoulder and said 'sorry Cam', before slumping to the ground in a faint." He recovered quickly.

Born again

READER Peter Curlewis on what a real curse looks like: "I'm prepared to overlook your horrible remark about predicting ill for Manly only because we Manly supporters have decided that, in your next life, you will return as an avid Manly fan who will write glowing tributes to the Premiers every day each winter."