Belly,

Trade unionists seldom get to the top by methods useful in managing a large economy. Robo as you refer to him has yet to display any qualities that other than a one dimensional stirrer. He has the backing of the unions, but has a long way to go to convince the majority of non unionised NSW.

Australian politics needs a clean up of the duplicitous incompetent style of Juliar.

How can a man like you know John Robinson Shadow Minister?
What do you know of him, how close have you followed him?
From what depth of information do you judge him and unionists.
Are you aware[ serious question you may well not be] of the amount of trade unionists who made it.
Wayne Swan, Bob Hawk heard of him?
And just how many came out of industry and big business, even returned there from your side.
Is there in your mind reason to think conservatives are better than workers?
I know John ,he will blossom, he is not never was the problem.
He is the answer.
REMEMBER Labor voters gave Barry his job, without great change they will continue to vote for him, not their party of life times.
NSW has seen the lost greens find out dreams of leftist policy's hidden behind a dead and inactive greens /conservationists name are not working.
Your insulting and uniformed slur on Robo is in my view uninformed.
As was you 60% chance Hanson was going to win a seat.
Hear again I take you on, in three years, with one to run before the NSW election Barry and you will know Robo is no push over no lefty loony but a leader fit to lead any section of my party.

Having spent some time negotiating with unions and with shop stewards, my personal experience is that most shop stewards have the concerns of their colleagues at heart, but the unions officials from outside often have their own agenda, that they are quite prepared to push ahead of the interests of their members.

John Robertson has done nothing to distance himself from this stereotype. So while not knowing him personally, from what I have seen and read about him, and what he did to shaft the labor party, I have full confidence that he is no threat to the liberals.

Swan and Hawke, Both were graduates who did work for the union. Hawke, privatised industries, compared to JR who opposes them, and Wayne Swan has actually achieved very little.

I am Rather chuffed that I was on first name terms and true friendship with many bosses over the negotiation tables.
And in every day union/work site business.
That I was very often invited by them to attend sites and help fix problems.
Also that as many of them as union members have stopped in to see me at home.
Equally proud to have known John Robinson and far more great trade unionists now in Parliaments all over this country.
Bill Shorten is another.
Behind your post Shadow Minister you avoid telling me how you got your information on Robo, you even seem not to be aware that has been the name he is and always was known by.
I am happy to have gone on record, clearly you will eat humble pie on this issue.
Preconceived thoughts and ideas based on pure bias are of no value, except to me, you help me win on this issue within months not years the very long trip back will be under way,Robo put the first few in the day he took over.

Dear Belly,

Don't be put off by the comments of SM. I got quite excited when I first saw the title of this thread. I thought, "Wow, what a turnaround for SM." And at the same time I couldn't help wondering, - "Would Tony Abbott let him say that?" Then of course I read SM's opening post and same, old, same old. However, I then thought that perhaps SM could be influenced. After all John Robertson and Action Man Abbott have something in common. Robertson swims 1.5km every day.

As a former electrician Robertson just may be able to hot-wire a stalled machine without having to rely on any religious position to do so. (smile).