I'm starting to feel the same way with regards to ALL political parties, especially between Liberal and Labor in any State, but an emailed message came to me recently which highlighted and article supposedly written by the columnist John Carter in "The Land" newspaper which made me think (if true) that in the case of environmental issues, Mr. Iemma is not only well out of touch, but morally bankrupt as well. In relation to over population and sustainability issues, Mr. Iemma made a statement to John Carter that... “there is no point in saving the planet if we ruin the economy doing it”.
What a hell of a thing to say. I've actually taken to time to write to Mr. Iemma's office asking for a clarification of the statement and although they have had plenty of time to get back to me, I have, to the present time, received no official denial of the statement. To a Labor voter, this has seriously challenged my loyality to the Labor Party in general and could very well sway my vote towards another party in the 2007 elections. Sadly, I don't feel the religious right will be any better. No wonder there's no interest in political involvement for many average Australians. We're powerless to resist the ongoing economic machine even when realising it will eventually destroy all we hold dear

I can't understand the Liberal Party. Why do they need to betray their origins as a 'liberal' party by moving to the far right and accommodating the xenophobes and god botherers?

I'm a traditional Labor voter, but would gladly vote for the Liberals in NSW if they trod a moderate, managerialist and inclusive line with someone like a Brogden or Greiner in charge.

The fact is Carr survived for years by sucking on the tit of property stamp duty. Now that source of revenue has dried up, the loathsome mediocrities in the state Labor Party are running NSW into the ground.

Populist and media-driven they indeed are. In fact, the rotten-ness of the ALP in NSW is remarkably similar to the stench emitting from the Howard-led Coalition in Canberra. Both governments have been in office too long and are past their use-by dates. They have forgotten why they hold power and now merely want to remain in power for its own sake. Hence, the desparate cynicism of their political tactics.

The 'Mum and Dad' theory says voters like the conservatives in Canberra looking after the economy and national security; and Labor in the states spending on health and education.

But I think Australia would be better off now if that was reversed. Put Dad in charge of the states to kick heads and get Mum into Canberra to clean up the mess left by Howard.

But first the Liberals need to live up to their name.

The resignation of Brogden, with the assistance of the vicious media, was a blow to the Liberal Party whose heavy-weights fail to offer sufficient pastoral care to its young.

Seemingly, a night out on the town (coupled with some inane commentary) is far more imprudent for politicians than the methodical corruption of governments (as seen in WA) by its members who are not expelled from parliament and refuse to resign.

After the annual convention in Melbourne for the Young Liberal Movement, the West Australian (27/1/07)outlined the movement's policies:

"A commitment to nuclear power and resisting any action to tackle alleged man-made global warming until there is conclusive evidence of its existence"

"Coal is a clean, low cost source of energy which Australians must continue to use"

"Prohibitions on tobacco advertising are an insult to the intelligence of the ordinary Australian"

"People are to work to the age of 70 before they are entitled to pension eligibility."

The Liberal party (infiltrated by "holy joes") and its politically naive young are now controlled by Dad's Army - out of touch, out of favour - hence the resignation of more members (mine included.)

My knowledge of political machinations is limited, however, many ordinary folk see a need for a complete review of conservative values to better fit the 21st century. I, and others, with similar beliefs have reviewed those philosophies and managed to alter them accordingly to fit in with the age of enlightenment.

The Liberal Party, with its inability to acknowledge the current state of the environment, or the concerns of its members where outspoken members are simply gagged, will remain in the wilderness in NSW and other states which begs the question: "Who will one vote for now?"

A 70 year old acquaintance of mine, from the Eastern States, has for the past ten years, on polling day, simply marked her paper with two words: G**^^% F**%%$$!

That, I suspect, may be the view of the silent majority.

And perhaps I too, despairingly, see some merit in this old woman's message!

The Liberal Party has it's problems with disorganised factionalism affected by over grown egoism where they find it hard to work with each other. Unlike the ALP where members will work hard to have their candidate elected no matter how much they hate them.

A matter which makes it hard for any Opposition to win government is when the apathetic voter does not care about the essential services that are fallling apart. Not to forget how easy people believe a 'Labor Lie' which is all too common.

The NSW Liberals must learn how cooperate amongst each other, learn how to campaign and most of all, learn how to motivate taking positive campaigning instead of the American styled 'hate' politics during elections which both sides are guilty of.

Incredible. 11% rate climate change while 8% for infrastructure.

More evidence for non-compulsory voting/attendance. 30 years ago lefties where bleating about Global Cooling, yep -- Cooling. Australia can only improve 1% of the hypothetical problem of Climate Change (six months ago this term wasn’t used Global Warming was) the unopposed secular progressive media constantly instil fear. Apparently, it is ethical when they instil fear but a cardinal sin if J Howard attempts the same.

Warming or Change? The average world temp since 1998 has started to fall! Shazaam!

Voters are happy to shoot themselves in the foot in order to teach those fundamentalist Christians a lesson. I certainly can't disagree with this observation. But, is that a reasonable response? I don't think so.

In the mean time the traffic chaos increases every year, our public schools are constructed like buildings in an upmarket shanty town, we wait 25 minutes for police to respond to an armed robbery, our mentally ill are more likely to be gaoled than put in a psychiatric hospital and our social fabric is buckling under the strain of valuing all cultures equally.

28% expect a hung parliament. It is encouraging that 1/4 of the population have thought about the election a bit longer than it takes to plan their evening meal.

Problem -- the Greens (& Animal Lib google that) will run NSW.

Now the clouds begin to roll back, regarding the media and unrelenting climate change fear mongering. Environmental fears = Green Votes that = the balance of power for 2007 to 2011 = more dead Koalas in the Pilliga forest, more marine parks--never mind that Australia now has 70% of the ocean parks, run more farmers out of business by stealing their land and water with no compensation etc.

Greens = no fishing, no farming, no 4WDing, bans on specific breeds of dogs and more feral animals and children, no more roads, no more mines.

Economic havoc results while the only parties to counter the Greens are the Christian Democrats and the Shooters party in the upper house. Shooters or Christians, the real question.

Spot on Spider! Ooops no yelling. spot on spider

Debnam did not promise to sack 20,000 PS.He said it would be through natural attrition.No new PS would be employed.Michael Coster has indicated likewise.Too many bludging bureaucrats have been our demise.One third of all salaries go to positions of administration.They can save $2 billion pa just on excess bureaucrats.Too many chiefs and not enough front line workers.It is a disease of most Govts,but Labor makes it a speciality.

John Brogden had the impetus of a wet lettuce.Yes we are bereft of talent and guts in NSW but it would do us well to have the pendulum to swing back to some degree of discipline even under right wing Christians whom I have little time for.

This Iemma/Carr Govt have been the most ill disciplined,chaotic,wasteful govt we have had since WW2.They must go even if Peter Debnam lacks experience and charisma.

If the people of NSW reward such incompetent,corrupt behaviour displayed by this Govt,then that is a message to all Govts that they can do as they damn well please.

It is going to be a lot closer than most people realise.Labor has got to go!

PS Graham.Are you secretly hoping for a Labor win so more people and capital will move to Queensland?Are you the pirate wanting to steal our wealth?You just can't trust those cane toads.Winning the State of Origin just isn't enough!

CowboyJoe:

Almost full marks for highlighting the problem of compulsory voting, but a few off for not pointing out that anyone picked up for not voting only has to claim it was because of their religion to prevent any further action.

As with a lot of posters, I would love to see a hung parliament come out of the NSW election, but am unable to determine where we should locate the gallows.

In a book I have, "The nIghtmare decade" by William Shirer, the hung parliament that Shirer encountered in Kabul in 1932 is described, with the politicians hung on a long pole suspended by two wooden supports. As each hanging politician constituted a dead weight on the longituditinal pole, it had quite a droop, but managed to take the weight.

The thing that constantly disappoints me about elections is that all parties continue to compare themselves against each other instead of against perfection, which, I am sure we would all agree, is the minimum standard acceptable to the electors.

I leave you with a passing thought that may inspire other posters:

"A vote for Morris Iemma is a vote for John Howard later in the year"

"A vot for Peter Debnam is a vote for Kevin Rudd larter in the year"

I support everything Mr Denman said, but

"A commitment to nuclear power and resisting any action to tackle alleged man-made global warming until there is conclusive evidence of its existence"

"Coal is a clean, low cost source of energy which Australians must continue to use"

"Prohibitions on tobacco advertising are an insult to the intelligence of the ordinary Australian"

"People are to work to the age of 70 before they are entitled to pension eligibility."

How could there be any support for such mutterings?
The market has limitations, or should have. Any govt that advocates market controlled privatisation, is sqibbing the issue. Pointed out on tele in what if's mode, macquarrie bank could buy all the water that flows in Australia, scary to say the least. Another scare to top the quote above.
fluff

I think it's time to reflect on the statement that we get the politicians we deserve. Also if you vote informal, no one knows let alone cares, and vilifying politicians makes the problem worse.

The only way to improve politics is to vote for the least offensive representative, then write to them. Maybe even to say job well done when required.

It's all very well to get hairy chested and spout rubbish like "they're wasting our money" and "hang them all", but that doesn't solve a single one of the issues.

Cheers

A very depressing result. Iemma's Government is overconfident, smug, convinced by its own spin, and corrupt. NSW is run by people who have taken over the Labor Party, and are running it as their own private corporate enterprise, to make personal profits and get advantages for their own tight little group. Decisions are being made by bribery; developers, hotel owners, the club industry dictate policy because they can afford to pay for the ALP's re-election by giving money for shiny colour brochures and smarmy advertisements.

Those of us who live in Iemma territory, that is, in the western and south western suburbs of Sydney, have seen just what his thuggish mates are up to. Those who are coocooned in their nice inner city or north shore environments never venture into the land of developers car re-birthers and drug dealers. And these criminals are the people who are running NSW. They have the money, they run the ALP. Why have we not seen Tripodi or Obeid in this campaign? Because Iemma is their front man - the one they push forward as the innocent looking family man. Never mind a vote for Iemma is a vote for Howard! Think about a vote for Iemma is a vote for Tripodi, Costa and Obeid. It is a vote for uncontrolled high-rise, for sale of public land to "fixers", for policy set for the exclusive benefit of gambling and drug interests. Have a look at Rockdale, Liverpool, Fairfield and Auburn and see the sort of landscape these people will turn Sydney into.

And no, I don't think that Debnam would be any better. But Iemma and his sleazy tribe need to be thrown out

Mr Denmore your narrow minded view on all political parties, government, the PM, mum and dad in Canberra etc etc and every thing else you criticized in your blog made my head hurt. (posted, 5/3/07).

Please explain what is a ‘god botherer’ and why use ‘xenophobes’ and simply not say someone who fears foreigners? If god botherer means someone who believes in God then there are lots of us around since Australia is a Christian country – holy dooly Denmore GET A LIFE – you sound miserable and perhaps a little bit of faith can help you

Is this squabbling in the best interest of Australia? Not a good piece of literature, just encourages more infighting

The Shed-A-Tier Group is not Alone on Government System Reform!

Our solution is to Shed-A-Tier! Yes, abolish State Governments and merge
Local Councils into larger Regional Governments to create a two tier system
as in England and New Zealand. The Regional Governments would look
after regional matters and report on the performance of the Federal Government,
which would no longer be able to blame the states for it's failures.

People would vote for the members of their Regional Government Centres
(real decentralisation). The elected members would then vote for the members
of the Federal Government, who would then elect their Ministers. Real power
emanating from the people up to the Ministers with each level fully accountable
to the level below and ultimately back to the people. Only one election every
4 year term and no bi-elections - simple, efficient and affordable!

We have not come out of the woodwork just for this election. Since 1998 our
group has been developing plans and strategies for the abolition of state
governments throughout Australia. We have adopted positions contributed by
independent authors as well as our own policy advisors. We are not alone in
our views - the following list of dignitaries are on the
public record as saying Australia would be better off without state governments.

1. Former Governor General: Sir Ninian Stephen
2. Former NSW State Premier: Nick Griener (LIB)
3. Former NSW State Treasurer: Michael Egan (LAB)
4. Current Federal Treasurer: Peter Costello

Currently, we have 15 Houses of Parliament in Australia representing around
21 million people - almost a House of Parliament for each million people! This
would be like Britain having 58 Houses of Parliament instead of just 2.

Regardless of who wins the NSW Lower House Election on March 24th, All
Shed-A-Tier candidates who win a seat in the NSW Upper House will begin the
reforms necessary to bring about a two tier system.

Kerry McNally
No 1 Candidate
SHED-A-TIER GROUP H
NSW Upper House Election 2007
http://abolishstategovernments.com

It looks like Grahamy was right in his assessment of Peter Debnam who has virtually thrown in the towel a week before the polls.
NSW Liberals have been too consumed with their own internal power plays and have not presented a united front.Individual egos have become more important than party solidarity.Talk about snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

If the polls are acurate,it will be a sad 24th March for the people of NSW having to tolerate more of the same for the next four years.

It is indeed time to rid ourselves of a layer of wasteful incompetent Govt.