With complete dominance of the eight State/Territory legislatures, and the political power to collectively destroy Howard's hegemony, it is bewildering that the ALP has failed to take advantage of the situation. A total lack of political imagination by a braindead party that has lost its way. Peter is right, time is running out for the ALP in WA, and soon an historic opportunity will have been lost. As the dominoes tumble, the blame for looming political oblivion must be sheeted home to the deadwood at the heart of the ALP party machine.

I was a little disappointed by this article. As an eastern stater I would like to know what the issues in the WA campaign actually are. Or if they in themselves, as presented, are of no consequence, then what they should be. Is either major party covering its bases in regard to industrial development and import substitution? (an obligation within any society that lives and consumes as we do) Health and education provision? The environment? Infrastructure? Culture and the arts? Equal opportunity? Social welfare (care for the aged, the sick, the homeless)? Inclusion and promotion of the indigenous?

The press and commentators therein, may I suggest, should not be concerned with whether and how the politicians are courting the press. The point is what are the parties proposing to do - all of them? If they haven't got much of an idea in a whole lot of areas which can be enumerated, that's the real news and the real point worthy of comment.