Having been around for a while I am aware in times like this ALP members are supposed to roll up in a ball and say nothing.
Power station sell off? no problem but day after day we hear or see more evidence we are in trouble.
What purpose is served by party members just hoping it will all go away?
NSW for so very long has been the driving force behind the national ALP it resembles the rubbish dump of the party right now.
Yet we see no rebuilding of the conservatives?
No new directions no new ideas nothing.
NSW may well be the worst served state in Australian history by both sides of the house.
Without new leadership on both sides of the house now NSW will see the next state government have to contend with more smaller party seats held than ever in our history.
Predictions?
No power sell of in this parliamentary term.
A new team leads the ALP no later than end 2009.
New leader for opposition in same time span.
Liberals win office next state election but not the expected landslide.

State governments have a huge job trying to provide the infrastructure to cope with a growing population. And the problem is Australia wide, with state governments going massively into debt. Queensland, for example, is expected to go about $65 billion into hock for the necessary infrastructure, with interest payments of close to $3.5 billion per year.

And the reason for the population growth? Federal policy. Such a cop out to see the conservatives trumpeting their fiscal responsibility, when all they did was cut services and jacked up immigration, leaving state and local governments the infrastructure nightmare.

Sad to see it continuing under federal Labor. The situation could be changed quickly by cutting immigration and the baby bonus, and by allowing landowners more rights to develop their land. Not a chance of any of this happening.

Dear Belly,

I agree with Fester. We need to ensure that there is the infrastructure in place to sustain our population - Australia wide. We can't just keep adding to it, and not expecting something to collapse...

As far as NSW is concerned they really need to get their act together.
All the scandals, the corruption allegations, haven't done the party much good. They will lose the next election - if they keep going the way they are at present.

Although, having just returned from 'question time' in the House of Reps. in Canberra, and having seen both parties 'in action.' I confess that I don't admire the behaviour of the Libs at all.

All they seem to be capable of doing is attacking and criticizing. But no solutions. I mean heavens, give Kevin Rudd and his team a chance - he's only been in power for a few months, and he seems to be looking at long term solutions,( not the band-aid, knee-jerk, reactions that John Howard would come up with).

I realize when you're in opposition, you're supposed to criticize, but
please, - come up with some answers every now and again - just to let
the public gallery audience know you're not just a bunch of unimaginative bullies.

Hey Belly I know this is not the topic but do you know if Morris is going to go through with the idea of banning all political donations and have elections sponsored by the state?

Let us remember just what I am, a Labor party foot soldier till death.
And as I said it would be long before the federal election Rudd is doing well very well.
My fears and thoughts however are focused on the NSW ALP it is unworthy to overlook the sins of your own party.
I am what I am because I hold hopes of better government from my party truly.
They have let me down, let the state down, Carr is a man of Merritt he did not run away he would not have let me down so badly.
I as some would be aware could be removed from my party for my honestly held views.
But so many in power have removed themselves from the party, over ruled the party by their actions and remain in control.
Iemma may well bring about his reforms in financing the party's, we would be better if he did, but the man must go, he has bought our party to the brink of destruction.
Do not however for a second overlook Foxys words.
She has described the federal and most state Liberals, bitter slandering snipping ,the very policy's that they used and lost the federal election with.
In the middle of a true crisis in NSW with our worst team in my lifetime leading the state no conservative victory is yet assured.
They however will win, without change this ALP government may be forced, [yes I think it] to pay people to man the polling booths.

NSW Labor talks to the opposition but not its own party.
Dela Bosca an opponent of the sale, trying to explain an apparently shameful event to the house.
Costa grinning in the background while he does so.
I remain until death ALP it is not me who brings my party into this mud hole if it is not the worst time in our history it soon will be.

Belly it is a good reason to abolish State Govts.Basically they are useless,self serving incompetents whose snouts are so firmly intrenched in the trough,they see nothing but their own narcissistic image.All our State Govts have failed us dismally and only the surgeons knife of radical reform will remove this deadly cancer.

Dear Belly,

I don't think the picture is as bleak as all that for Labour.
Kevin Rudd is in control, and I'm sure that he'll see to it that
the NSW team will soon get back to where they should be.
So don't be disheartened.

He's working towards long term solutions for this country as I said in my previous post - and I'm sure that he's aware of the problems in NSW.

I can't see the Liberals making any headway. They have nothing to offer - except the same old scare tactics that are 'so yesterday!'

Foxy your post as always is like a ray of Sunshine, and I just wish it was true but it is not.
Rudd will lead us to new places just as I said long before his victory.
That understanding of politics is still with me Rudd wants NSW to find its feet, he may even play a party in trying to get us back on track.
But consider these facts.
At party conference members elected by their Branch's from all over this state voted against the power sale, nearly 6 to 1 against.
One branch supported the sale.
Yet we are still to sell?
Wollongong is a tragic tale yet one of many people using the party betraying the party.
Morris should have stayed the member no one knew, he could have been in that position forever.
Now forever he is the minister no one wants to know.
Daily hourly I find some who have voted ALP aways yet never been party members telling me it is over they will vote more smaller partys into this state house than ever before.
The formula to get the ALP back on track is heads to fall a new leader say Watson a new team and a new start.
If we wait until our train wreck defeat it will take 20 years to rebuild NSW Labor

Dear Belly,

If you see the only way out for NSW is - a new leader and a new team.

Then surely the party sees that as well?

They must do something - before as you say - it's too late.

Foxy even before the power sale the party had a view the next election was lost.
In fact we held that view about the last one, yet we won, or did an opposition lost in a world of its own surrender?
I honestly think a post of yours highlighted why we won the unwindable election.
Conservatives even now are not weighing the policy's they support with public opinion.
What good is a policy that wins only committed voters who are already in your camp?
Labor voters , not only party members do not support policy's our lost leader uses to prop up our dead party.
He believe it talks to the opposition but not some in his party,
For get power, look at the mess the shameful mess in lack of action to protect Aboriginal children in this state from sexual molestation.
And like a rabbit stunned in the spotlight we dither about spilling our own blood by removing our lost leader ship content to let the voters do it for us ten fold worse .
Kevin Rudd needs the NSW ALP right he will intervene but it should be now and may have zero effect.

Dear Belly,

I understand your concerns.

However, I think the PM has a lot on his plate at the moment.
Rightly or wrongly, he's got a lot to deal with at present.

He's being attacked on all sides - after only months in office.
I still don't get why people don't give him a chance to do
what he has to do - and criticize him after several years, not several months. I mean, the other guy had twelve years - and did
nothing. Our current PM has achieved much more in just a few months.

I listened to the news the other night - where the Libs are blocking so many things in the Senate - for no other reason than to try to stop the current Government from achieving what it promised. And this
from a mean-spirited party that doesn't consider what is good for the country - but is only interested in point-scoring.

Give the PM time. I know you want him to act on NSW now - but I don't think that's going to happen.

The future of NSW politics will also
depend on how the Federal Government performs. If people see that
Federally, their Government is performing well - I'm sure that this will influence the votes in State elections.

Anyway, that's my opinion - for what it's worth.

Foxy do not be concerned for Kevin Rudd he is doing quite well in most areas.
Including the polls, he as an ALP PM must confront unfair criticism, but so far the polls tell it all.
Conservatives are being spiteful but not constructive, remember policy's must bring opposition voters to you not just give a back rub to your followers.
Sadly NSW is a basket case Kev has no magic wand, just hours ago it was announced power bills here are to increase by twice the inflation rate.
$90 a year why? to increase profits in fact shore them up, prior to the sale, to put value in a public asset soon to be sold.
We followers of the ALP must ask do we follow blindly? or do we want better government from our party?
Knowledge of Labor politics shows NSW is of great importance to our party nationally.
If the plan is to sell power THEN change leadership it will fail.
I do not under estimate the dangers of total fracturing the NSW party no wish by power brokers to act for the good of the party can overlook the conferences betrayal by a leadership team that has claimed ownership of my party.

Foxy
The truth is Kevin has stuffed the country already. All you guys who voted for him will feel it in the next two years. The worste part is so will our elderly.

First he tried to stop the carers payment- then told neighbours they HAD to spy on neighbours on pensions. Lovely Chaps ALP.

The countrys buggered .It didnt take him long. About six months. Dear God what about the great each child gets a computer gag. Then of course they ran programes to teach some how to use those computers. All at the tax payers expense of course.
Umm, So they programe they taught wasnt the one the people received in their new lap tops.

In other words after waisting the funds to teach them they COULD because they didnt understand the programe that was actually delivered to them!

They FORGOT it would be later in programe. Dur! Who else but ALP could do that I ask you. How dumb is that and what a waite of public money on yet again another five* stuff up.

Wouldnt it have been more helpful if they had been given only to those who really needed one for free.

Oh well it just the public money and after all Kevin wanted the kids to nag mum and dad to vote for Kevin )& because despite the fact many alteady had one and more parents could afford to suppply their own kids- we got stung to foot the bill.

Too bad about all the elderly people who cant even afford to eat.
One thing is for sure he will be a one term Prime Minister- and Thats A term too long IMO.
The LAST thing Australian needs is a Labour Government.
Labour are NOT the old Guys in the old days.
They are a bunch of thugs with no considferation for the lay people.
btw Foxy I was NOT a Howard Lover either.
Hope your well fair lady best wishes from all of us at pale.
Glad your back with us.

Hello PALE&IF,

I'm so sorry that you don't like Kevin Rudd.

My young nephew thinks he's Harry Potter! :)

Thank You for your kind words to me. When I read "Fair Lady,"
I simply melted.

I was away for about a week, but now I'm back and happy to be posting again. I'm doing O.K.

Anyway, God Bless you one and all, and again Thanks for being so kind to me. Believe me, it's very much appreciated.

Foxy

*My young nephew thinks he's Harry Potter! :)*
Love It Foxy Thanks!
Yeh these young ones brain washed its really the most sad for them of all people.
Harry Potter ah, Well he might needs Harrys Broom to sweep him away from the public in a year or so:)
Hilarious!
Look Forward to your next thread.

AH truly I love that post! have printed it and framed it!
True yes I have Rudd will without a doubt be returned next election, without a doubt.
It is true some will blame him for every thing, anything, some manufacture the silliest story's neighbors spieing!
remember the keys to winning elections
policy's that bring opposition votes to your side
Those that scratch the back only of your followers do not win one vote other than those you have already.
Even if the NSW debacle continues as I think it will Rudd will not suffer he will increase his majority.
Look to todays news from conservative Australia, tell me I am wrong.
In looking for a leader Peter Costello is said to be the great hope of Liberals.
Now consider with me, is it not true he would further polarize politics in this country?
Could the walking smirk bring ALP voters to his side?
After the next election, after my prediction comes true will those saying it will never happen ask how could they get it so wrong?
Opinion polls have backed my words an election held today would see a very big increase in Rudd's margin tell me that is not true?