Senator X would swing a little more weight with me if he sold down his 6 investment properties. He and his like aren't really providing a service to renters; they help keep the residential property bubble inflated.

Hazel is clearly a Xenophon fan and good luck to her. He has a 'right on' brand, a high profile in SA and even though he has lost the balance of power in the Senate, he has promised to be a 'pesky bastard'. I think the people of SA wanted more from the so called Maverick senator.

One must question the motives of the author. A senior media adviser to both the ALP and the Democrats. The former have had rings run round them by Xenophon, after they assumed that his opposition to the Liberals, when they were in government, meant that he was a supporter of the ALP. The latter were undermined by Xenephon when he reached the Legislativee Council because he was proactive, before destroying themselves by their support for the GST. The author is obviously suffering from professional jealousy, as well as delusions.

Xenophon is, as he claims an Independent. As such, he is unable to harness massive party machines to enforce his will. He manages to attract media attention by his 'stunts', he then addresses the particular issue once he has that attention.

I doubt the fruit block owners on the Murray would endorse the views of the author. Also, it is fatuous to compare Xenophon, one vote in the Senate, with Wilkie, one casting vote in the House. However, it is perhaps noteworthy that Wilkie credits Xenophon with focussing his attention on the pokies issue.

A declaration of interest, I have supported Nick's electoral campaigns, slightly financially, heavily with manning polling booths etc., for 14 years; this as a man heavily involved with the racing industry (and therefore gambling). Nick and I agree on pokies, disagree quite strongly on other gambling issues. This does not prevent him conducting reasoned arguments,nor does it affect his (or my) approach to other issues.

It is perhaps understandable that Malcolm king does not 'get' Nick Xenophon - Xenophon has integrity, perhaps a foreign concept to King.