Malcolm, I'll have to disagree with you on this one. I think Nick has been great for SA. he is just one voice in the Senate, but at least he is a loud one.
The Senate is supposed to be the States house of review however we have far to many party hacks that mindless vote for whatever their party has put up in the lower house.

Populism is the best form of political motivation, but given the utter failure of the major parties to have any leadership and vision and short election cycles then it's all we have. So if we are going to have a strong advocate foe SA that will drive some behaviors in others that will benefit SA then so be it, I'll be voting for Nick.

I think you need to direct your anger at the Libs and Labour they are the one that got us to this point. They are not going to get us out of it, well not without a lot of harassment from people like Nick. Even Clive served a purpose.

Our system of government provide stability through a sad pantomime of political discourse. Where pollies play a part asligned to them by their party. so it's good to have camio's from people like Nick, Bob Kater, and even Jacqui.

Nick is needed now as never before, and given trends away from the major parties and their controlling puppet masters continues, Nick may even get a couple of lower house seats?

I've seen Nick operate and comes across as a true representative willing to be swayed by logical cogent argument! If only we had more Nicks and less party hacks (dictatorial control freaks?) our democracy and our economy could be the best in the world?
Alan B.

"SA still suffers from a substantial insecurity complex."
That's largely because SA is financially insecure. For decades economic policy has been set to suit the eastern states, with little regard given to what SA needs.

This clown knows nothing about South Australia or Xenephon. Although Xenephon is a lefty, he is the ONLY senator who knows what the senate is - the states house. He is the ONLY senator who tries to do anything for SA. The "unelected swill" from Liberal and Labor (we are spared a Green idiot) just toe the party line and do not do their jobs for the state.

Feelings are very high against Squeaky Pyne in Sturt, and against the Woman Whisperer Jaime Briggs in Mayo, with Xenephon looking to be in with a chance.

Turnbull admitted to Leigh Sales that he DOESN'T TAKE ANY NOTICE OF POLLS which, of course, means he doesn't take any notice of the Australia people, the elitist pig; and Shorten continues to be shorten. Liberal and Labor stink to high heaven, and anything could happen.

Methinks you have a sNicking admiration for Xeners, Malc? Carn the Tiser.

One of the (non SA) NXT candidates for the Senate will get my vote.

Admire him Planty? A little. He's intelligent and crafty. He knows SA is in a leadership vacuum and the major parties are cardboard. He has also tapped in to what I call the 'little people' right wing vote. Righteous anger at being poor, unemployed or ignored. Who's to blame? Canberra. SA folk have been saying that for 40 years.

Is he an alternative? Alas, no. Almost all populist pollies crash and burn, taking their constituents with them. But Sen X will probably get another two senators up.

Do you know what he or his party stand for? Not an unimportant point or do you think one of the highest profile pollies in Australia wants to make himself a small target?

Interesting times.

Malcolm

thanks for this - a nicely written and well-deserved skewering of someone who doesn't deserve his halo.

As a West Australian, I particularly relate to "We'll actually have to do something beyond sucking 30 per cent of unearned monies from the GST horizontal equalisation formula." SA has about 65% of WA's population, but gets about three times as much GST revenue. Or in per capita terms, WA gets $722 per person in GST revenues, SA gets $3,270.

Hi Rhian,

Yes, WA needs a major overhaul of the GST payment equation in its favour. Way out of whack.

Any opposition to the major parties is only good!