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Filed under: Barry O Farrell, Internet, Kristina Keneally, Nsw, Politics, Twitter

57 comments

You might think NSW Premier Kristina Keneally and Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell have a lot on their plates - like trying to come up with ways to get NSW out of the infrastructure black hole we’ve fallen into. After all, this week was Budget week in NSW.

NSW deserves better. Cartoon: Warren Brown

But our two political leaders have developed a new hobby - taking pointless potshots at each other on Twitter. Is it dignified? No. Entertaining? Not really.

O’Farrell, whose Tweets you can see here, has taken to referring to his counterpart as KKK (geddit!). And Keneally, whose Tweets you can see here, uses it to flog dead political horses, like her assertion completing the Kokoda Track is no biggie.

In case you missed the Kokoda story, O’Farrell recently cited the fact he’d walked Kokoda when he was asked on radio if he had strength.

He said: “I don’t reckon I would have personally survived my Kokoda trek if I didn’t have something inside me that kept me going.”

Keneally, not once, but twice retorted with: “Well, so did Miss Australia - so congratulations, Barry.” The culturally inept dig was in reference to the fact Miss World Australia 2007 Caroline Pemberton trecked Kokoda last year.

Needless to say, the Premier caused a bit of a stink, and for a second looked terribly American (an appearance that was not helped by her Tweet last night that NSW had secured the “NFL” grandfinal - a iPhone typo apparently, but bad timing nonetheless).

Anyway, you would have thought Keneally would want the Kokoda thing to disappear but yesterday morning she was at it again.

Knowing when to let go can be a handy skill in politics. Looking back through the Premier’s Tweet stream from recent days, it’s apparent she spends a huge amount of time on Twitter, such is the profligacy of her posts.

Between last Monday morning and 2.30 yesterday afternoon the Premier tweeted a staggering 131 times. Seriously, when does she have time to run the state?

O’Farrell, by comparison, has posted a more modest 31 times in the same period.

After being chipped by fellow users he’s dropped one of the K’s from his KKK Keneally reference.

The whole thing feels very high school, and as a resident of NSW, it’s very irritating.

For my sins recently I volunteered to sit through a debate between the Premier and the Opposition leader. It’s an hour of my life I could have spent rearranging my sock drawer, which would have been a more fulfilling experience.

NSW needs serious people, with serious solutions. Not Twitter snipers with enough time on their hands to take pot shots at each other on a micro-blogging site.

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57 comments

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- Ben says:
  
  06:57am | 11/06/10
  
  well said Tory. This mediocre and immature behaviour gives even more weight to the argument of abolishing the state level of government, or at least placing NSW into voluntary administration so it can run by people who have the skills to achieve a result, instead of people whose ego wants only to win an election as their main goal. KK, get on and run the place and spend less time on spin or trying to score points.
  
  Reply
- centurion48 says:
  
  07:35am | 11/06/10
  
  The beauty of Twitter is that you can un-follow Twits whose tweets no longer interest you. Following the immature rants of politicians as they chase votes instead of working to improve NSW (and this applies to both sides plus those irritating pollies sniping from the sidelines) is bound to be a disappointing waste of time.
  
  Reply
thinktank says:

12:28pm | 11/06/10

To be fair, Tory complains about the 2 tweets mentioned in this post, but I read back through a week’s worth of both Barry and KK and couldn’t find any other examples. That’s hardly constant sniping. Unless there are a lot more examples more than a week old then I’m not sure what the impetus behind this story is.
- OldGirl says:
  
  08:11am | 11/06/10
  
  I obviously have the internet lol I am not typing this by smoke signal and I would not be bothered chasing them around on twitter. To be perfectly blunt , Labor in N.S.W is a bloody disaster. Liberal and Labor voters I am sure will all agree on that. The trouble is we are stuck with them till the next election. Where do they think all this childish behavior is leading them? Its sure lead us up the garden path. I am sorry to hear Barry is as big of a twit cause who do I vote for now?
  
  Reply
Tripper Smurf says:

08:34pm | 11/06/10

An alternative choice, even an independent. If enough people do it then you may get real change, otherwise you will be stuck with either Labor or Liberal who over the last 60 years of collectively managing the country between them have moprhed into two sides of the same coin.
Peter T says:

05:06am | 12/06/10

Old Girl, have a look around the country. And don’t forget to stop off at HQ (Canberra). Can you see ONE strong leader - either in power or opposition? No. Rudd - wimp. Abbott - all over the place and uncomfortable in opposition. Bligh - hopeless case. Qld LNP - chooks with no heads. Brumby - about an iota less of a wimp than Rudd. Bailleu - desperate. Not sure about SA and WA, but they don’t have stand out leaders. The era of strong, passionate government leaders died when Costello passed on Abbott’s job and Kennett chose to devote his time to Beyond Blue and Hawthorn (both honourable, by the way). We NEED strong, passionate leaders desperately, or we will all continue to see this petty, immature schoolyard-level ‘bitching’ among our elected reps.
- Macca says:
  
  08:25am | 11/06/10
  
  Even the tweets from NSW politicians are mediocre! Everything they touch turns to lead
  
  Reply
- Rick Eyre says:
  
  08:30am | 11/06/10
  
  Shall we see if yesterday’s departure of KK’s media adviser makes any difference to her tweeting?
  
  Reply
- AdamC says:
  
  08:59am | 11/06/10
  
  This NSW-in-crisis stuff is curious to a southerner like me. Down here in VIC, we also have a serial stuff-up government with a Premier we never elected and an oppoition leader who is failing to present a compelling alternative (but is improving).
  
  We have also had over a decade of ALP mediocrity, with its attendant crumbling infrastructure, crummy education system and a health system in need of reform (though, admittedly, not nearly as much as NSW’s).
  
  In NSW, the current malaise is viewed with horror and despair, in VIC, we seem to be simply ignoring it. Why is this so? Do Sydneyites with their ‘world city’ posturing expect more from governments; are Victorians just used to bad governance (given our history of catastrophic Labor governments); or is NSW somehow even worse than Victoria? How?
  
  Reply
coldsnacks says:

10:36am | 11/06/10

NSW is worse, because it seems all the Labor politicians are only there to ride the gravy train.

It probably doesn’t make news down in Melbourne, but we’ve got a Treasurer determined to put “Maintained a AAA credit rating during financial hardship” on his resume when he gets a consulting job (rather than spend on anything worthwhile), a revolving door of Premiers (Iemma, Rees, now Keneally…and how long will she last sans Tripodi, et al) and ministers (too many to name, but there’s been 4 leave the ministry or politics altogether in the last 6 months, 2 of them due to corruption - 1 because he was outed as being gay by a vindictive “journalist” who practically stalked him and 1 who has decided he can do more to help the community OUTSIDE of government).

Then you have wasted millions and billions on public transport ($93 million in reparations to tenders when a metro project was scrapped) and projects that aren’t even scheduled to start until 2017!
Moggy says:

02:51pm | 11/06/10

But Adam….we have new sports stadiums….& southern cross station….so who gives a fart that the hospital waiting lists are so long we’re dead before we even get a letter from them….& who gives a toss that the transport system is beyong crisis point…...& who would even bother to bleat about 3 million dollars being spent to bring a spoilt playboy to Melbourne so he can hit a little white ball around a friggin; paddock?? WE HAVE THE STADIUMS…..so quick bring out the whistles & balloons & people let the rejoicing begin!!
AdamC says:

03:57pm | 11/06/10

Coldsnacks, I agree that the ministerial merry-go-down hasn’t happened yet in VIC, but all that shows is that a) serial incompetents are shifted sideways not out and b) without an ICAC, corrupt practices remain hidden. I could probably add a c) our faceless ALP puppeteers keep their heads down, rather than in NSW where they have become too prominent.

Moggy, I don’t mind new sporting arenas - I don’t even mind Tiger Woods - but these are minor fripperies. As you rightly say, Victorians need to hold the government accountable for their big stuff-ups.
- jaydubs says:
  
  09:03am | 11/06/10
  
  Oh but of course!! You simply must complain about this. How dare they try to reach out to the public unless it is through the New Limited channels.
  
  Give me a break. Social media requires constant, pithy updates.
  
  And for some of us - as a direct channel to the content creator - its far more honest than something refiltered through a journalist
  
  Reply
thinktank says:

12:23pm | 11/06/10

I agree. Although KK does twitter a lot, maybe too much to be worth following, a lot of her posts seem to be responding directly to other twitterers.
- Steve says:
  
  09:09am | 11/06/10
  
  Tory a better story would be how a completely incompetent government managed to get voted back in so often. Perhaps it was because there was an even more incompetent opposition. More likely voters were scared off by an opposition dominated by ultra right wing religions nutcases who will do anything for power. Hell, that prospect scares me.
  So what do the NSW Labor brains trust do? they put in a photogenic conservative religious puppet as leader. They deserve a good kicking at the next poll.
  
  Reply
- acker says:
  
  09:14am | 11/06/10
  
  Big hearted spending for Rural NSW by K.K in the link on the following tweet
  >more initiatives for rural NSW outlined here http://j.mp/9jGwyD <
  $6million dollars would only be the equivelent of a weeks advertising bill’s or flight & hotel upgrades for the Keneally government
  
  >Investing in services in rural NSW
  The Keneally Government will invest $3.14 million to bring broadband internet to isolated rural communities, improve country halls and help small communities establish websites.
  Minister for Primary Industries, Steve Whan, said Budget funding would deliver on the five year projects, which have been managed by the Office of Rural Affairs since their introduction in 2008.
  “The Keneally Government is delivering better services for rural communities and building a better future for country families,” Minister Whan said.
  “In 2010-11 the Keneally Government is delivering a further $2.5 million to the Community Broadband Development Program.”
  “This will help bridge the communication gap for families in small communities by bringing affordable broadband internet to the heart of rural NSW,”
  Minister Whan also said that country halls were the traditional centre of activity in local communities and the Keneally Government would continue to provide much needed funding to ensure they remained the hub of small communities.
  “Country halls are a vital focal point, both socially and increasingly for the provision of services, and improvements are generally provided voluntarily by the local community” he said.
  “The Country Halls Renewal Package will receive an allocation of $550,000 to assist with refurbishment and renovation of country halls.
  “The Keneally Government will also continue providing funds so that more rural and remote communities can promote themselves to the world.
  ”$90,000 has been provided in the Budget for the Small Communities Awareness Fund to enable community groups to cost-effectively market themselves through a website.
  “Grants of up to $5,000 will be available to help small communities to develop a website, showcasing their attractions and tourist and investment opportunities.”<
  
  Reply
Talon says:

02:19pm | 11/06/10

OK. Finitely it is not a Keneally government .

As far as the story goes, well she is American and ignorant of the Australian history, culture and bias. An inappropriate jest is only expected from time to time.

And back again. I will never vote to have a Keneally government, even though I feel sorry for her being the token female puppet who touts for party line like a good little poppet in fear of losing their jobs.

The Labour party put her up to be the face of the education building debacle and the drivel we received from that was the story she was told to put forward or it would have been denied by the leader. Not a very good role model, I would think, for women in high possitions striving for recognition and to succeed.
- Zeta says:
  
  09:31am | 11/06/10
  
  Barry has great hash tags though. His use of the word ‘Fail’ as an entire sentence makes me wonder if when he isn’t being the Opposition Leader he doesn’t secretly have a Tumblr account where he posts funny pictures of cats between trolling 4chan.
  
  Reply
- Barry O'Farrell says:
  
  09:53am | 11/06/10
  
  happy to cop criticism - even advice - but, to respond to your plea in your first line that my time would be better spent on ideas to solve the State’s infrastructure problems, that’s exactly what I did yesterday in my budget reply (http://alturl.com/ze4m). Like the odd journo, it is possible for people (even pollies) to do a few things at the same time! http://www.startthechange.com.au
  
  Reply
Tory Maguire says:

09:57am | 11/06/10

Thanks for the comment Barry. Keep off the topic of “KKK” and you’ll be fine!
iansand says:

10:02am | 11/06/10

If you are Mr O’Farrell, what are your plans to deal with your religious nutters? I will vote for you anyway, simply to get rid of Labor, but a government with a large cadre of religious loonies is a real concern of mine.
Nicole says:

10:23am | 11/06/10

Inclined to agree Barry - I’ve noticed your tweets tend to be a little more substantial. It also irritates me when I get off a train that’s running about 15 minutes late (and is absolutely packed), get to work late (to have my pay docked by 20 minutes), and then sign into Twitter at lunch to notice Kristina has been tweeting every 3 minutes. #infuriating
Nitzpicker says:

10:34am | 11/06/10

Acting a bit like the thought police here Tory. Barry is the opposition leader, he wouldn’t be doing his job if he wasn’t criticising the government in power. That goes for KKK too.
Ben81 says:

11:03am | 11/06/10

iansand - Your tone and choice of words suggests you’re not a very tolerant person in the first place, so I don’t see why politicians should go out of their way to please someone like you, even just for votes. Same would go for a christian complaining that nothing is being done to get rid of Atheists in parliament.
acker says:

11:56am | 11/06/10

Could Barry tweet Kristina that he will raise a no confidence vote in the government, then could Kristina tweet Barry that all the Labor MP’s will abstain from the vote (then it will get passed) then NSW has an election about the 24th July ...perfect
iansand says:

04:04pm | 11/06/10

Ben81 - Very few atheists use their legislative power to attempt to impose a set of fringe beliefs on the rest of the universe.
Ben81 says:

07:26pm | 11/06/10

iansand, i’m sure Atheists and Christians are in politics because of their views just the same, it’s up to you whether or not you want to vote for them. I wouldn’t have said anything if not for the way you worded what you said, you really do come across as intolerant there. I’m an Atheist (well, agnostic leaning maybe), and I certainly have strong views on things, just as religious people do.
- Micko says:
  
  10:05am | 11/06/10
  
  Tory—if you feel your time is being wasted then get off Twitter— it is a complete time sucker.
  
  Reply
- PaulB says:
  
  10:06am | 11/06/10
  
  Twitter is for Twits.
  
  Reply
Nicole says:

03:03pm | 11/06/10

@PaulB, Twitter can be rather useful. KRudd’s Twitter is an excellent cure for insomnia.
PaulB says:

04:23pm | 12/06/10

Nice one Nicole.
- Nicole says:
  
  10:26am | 11/06/10
  
  Well said Tory. I must say though KK annoys the absolute crap out of me. She’s forever dribbling on about how she’s no ones puppet, but little Miss Barbie is Ruddies Puppet for sure. She just hasn’t got a clue. And that dig at Barry about the KT was truly low. I’d like to see her attempt it, but there’s no mirrors and hairdressing tools on that trek, so I doubt very much that’s gunna happen.
  
  Reply
Julie Coker-Godson says:

07:25pm | 11/06/10

If KK is no-one’s puppet then I’m Santa Clause - and I can fly! I will not be voting for this woman or this incumbent NSW state government. They have, repeatedly, failed the people of NSW, particularly in the renewing of infrastructure and on health, and the number of individuals who have left due to having their noses in the trough is disturbing to say the least. I have been buffing and polishing my baseball bat for some time now and I sure am looking forward to using it when the time comes.
- Mr Pastry says:
  
  10:36am | 11/06/10
  
  Political debate has never been high art - schoolyard bickering by persons who never left the schoolyard and its culture. From the schoolyard to university debating societies and into the party sausage factory they can continue schoolyard behaviour on twitter. It gives us a window to see them as they really are until the parties try to catch up with technology and shut this amusing reveal down.
  
  Reply
Steve the Elder says:

01:12pm | 11/06/10

Well said Mr Pastry what we knead (sic) is less upper crust twits with their school yard bully tactics.
- acker says:
  
  10:39am | 11/06/10
  
  Tors it might pay to remember Barry was about 100 tweets behind Kristina in the count, in an AFL game we would call that a flogging.
  Barry I liked the idea about $7000 to attract people to make a change from Sydney to rural and regional areas, I think it needs to go further possibly doubling it for people to move out to areas like Hay.
  
  We have an almost empty NSW Lands Department office building next to the Shire Hall here in Hay, which I suggest could house many reloctaed NSW Public Servants from Sydney. In this web based era we do not have to be in an office next door to each other, I’m communicating to you from Hay, Penbo’s writing stories from South Africa..Those Sydney Public Service buildings could be sold.
  
  And if a public servant did move out here to Hay, perhaps they would prefer to work a 3- 3.5 day week rather than a 4.5-5 day week, then they could fish the Murrumbidgee or spend time partaking in another leisure persuit and still have their weekend plus the 2-3 hours per day they no longer have to use commuting to work…perhaps even look after their kids while their partner is at work . (or perhaps put the rugrats into our daycare center)
  
  With lower real estate prices these lifestyle options are possible in smaller communities such as Hay. You could also buy a small fruit and veg property or run some Horses, Sheep, Cattle or Alpacas on an affordable hobby farm.
  
  NSW is a big state and Australia is a big country, why should everyone continue to congest cities when we have so much space and country towns screaming out for increased population and jobs. Country towns that already have exsisting infrastructure in most cases getting under used.
  
  Lets spead the people out, and de-congest our cities
  
  Reply
Jezza says:

03:04pm | 11/06/10

Acker I totally agree. I’m about to go onto my aged pension. I don’t own a home & would love it if the governments of this country started to re-locate us oldies to country towns by building flats for us. As long as there’s a decent medical facility close by for us oldies, it would mean that housing in the cities would be then available for families.
marley says:

03:50pm | 11/06/10

Ah yes, well, it’s the issue of the decent medical facilities, isn’t it? I see the Bega Hospital, scheduled for completion next year, is a little behind schedule - they haven’t bought the land yet, the plans haven’t been approved and it’s not included in the budget. Other than that, it’s progressing well. Not.

And frankly would you trust either mob to build housing for anyone? They did such a good job of managing the BER money, didn’t they?
acker says:

03:50pm | 11/06/10

Plenty of affordable flats and houses available Jezza, and a lot of pensioners get from home to our local business area and clubs on those electric scooter/gophers..no freeways here
- coldsnacks says:
  
  10:40am | 11/06/10
  
  I don’t mind Baz’s tweets. They are substantial and tell you he’s out and about, doing what an Opposition Leader should be doing, over 6 months from an election: keeping a profile.
  
  Plus, a lot of the recent ones have been about him being with Stuart Ayres in Penrith, helping the young bloke out for the by-election.
  
  Can’t say I’ve seen any from KK on helping outtheir candidate though….
  
  Not all tweets need be inane.
  
  Reply
- Ben81 says:
  
  10:58am | 11/06/10
  
  Mike Rann in SA is worse, he’s off overseas and pretty much the only contact he seems to have with us is through bloody twitter. Want to find out exactly what he’s up to or where he is, or ask to contact him? You’re referred to Twitter by his office! It’s an insult.
  
  Reply
- In som nia says:
  
  11:10am | 11/06/10
  
  Keneally was designed and manufactured in sussex st,a backwater of Moscow suburbia where quality and tolerances are low,and is considered a poor standard robot by Dalek and Android publications
  
  Reply
- Darren says:
  
  12:17pm | 11/06/10
  
  the people of NSW are crying out for a decent opposition to take on the government - unfortunately all we get is Barry do Nothing and his religious nutters - I want to know if he and his mob will stop the ethics classes, close the heroin injecting room and move to criminalise abortion?
  
  Reply
Grumbles says:

03:21pm | 11/06/10

I’m guessing they’re all the big issues affecting you then? We live in Judeo Christian Society, and thank God for that, do you know the alternative?
Darren says:

03:43pm | 11/06/10

I am also concerned about an Opposition that will not fund disability services, community services and privatise public transport
Robert S McCormick says:

04:16pm | 11/06/10

Grumbles, we don’t live in a Judeo-Christian society we live in a secular society. That many pay lip-service to the your JCS is just that. Lip service. What is so great about JCS anyway? Religions, particularly those of the Judeo-Christian varieties, have been responsible for more murder, mayhem, torture, cruelty than any other and they have all done it in the name of God or Christ et al.
- Robert S McCormick says:
  
  04:08pm | 11/06/10
  
  It’s not only the alleged leader of the NSW ALP Disaster who uses twitter! At least NSW has their temporary Premier actually in NSW! The ALP, alleged, Premier of South Australia, Media Mike Rann, has been “missing in action” for weeks. He is somewhere overseas and is actrually trying to run SA using Twitter. No-one, not even the Deputy Premier, Kevin Foley, who is in all sorts of trouble because he deliberately misled parliament and should resign, actually knows where he is! Hopefully Rann has got lost or been snatched by some “keep no prisoners alive” anarchist group which will mean we are, at last, rid of this useless article.
  The joke is that he is allegedly trying to get other governments to place orders with the Great Big Disaster that is Rann’s SA Defence Industry Project. They would do well to remember Rann’s Collins Class Submarine Project. Untold millions squandered over the last few years. The result: A heap of subs built with only one, reportedly, seaworthy and operational
  
  Reply
- Against the Man says:
  
  08:29pm | 11/06/10
  
  Keanelly a labor puppet? Indeed the answer is yes…............ What does a Yank know about our country?
  
  Reply
sha says:

09:31pm | 11/06/10

Racist
thinktank says:

09:38pm | 11/06/10

C’mon, you can do better than taking the debate there. She is now Australian. Keep the arguments to her politics so you don’t come across as an ignorant nutter.
Against the Man says:

11:51am | 12/06/10

Point 1: An American is not a race….....
Point 2: Where she comes from will reflect where she is going, Kokoda track is all I have to say…....
- sha says:
  
  09:17pm | 11/06/10
  
  I don’t know anyone that uses twitter except journos and politicians.We are too busy paying mortgage/rent and leccy bill.
  
  Reply
Little Pattie says:

01:28pm | 12/06/10

Vote Lib,pay less
- cam says:
  
  03:04am | 12/06/10
  
  I sometimes get the feeling that these guys tweet at and for each other rather than tweet for their followers. Leave having a crack at each other for question time.
  
  Reply
- Bruce says:
  
  01:26pm | 12/06/10
  
  I wish politicians would stop using “TWIT” as it makes them look like twits !! They are politicians, not 15 year old giggly girls / boys !
  
  Reply
- Brett L says:
  
  09:58pm | 13/06/10
  
  Tory, I could not name a reasonable politician at the moment. But in saying that I could not imagine any person worth running willing to put themselves in front of a soul destroying media pack. I believe we have people who could make this country a proud place again. But given the media, lobby groups and the other tripe who would bother?. There will never be another great leader because they will never be allowed to get there. Is a squeaky clean nerd who appeases minorities always going to run this country? The future looks like running on a 15 watt pilot lamp. We’re only hurting ourselves.
  
  Reply
- CP says:
  
  08:18pm | 14/06/10
  
  I would be surprised if either O’Farrell or KK were posting their own tweets. More likely some young lib/labor hack has volunteered for the job of twitmeister general.
  
  Reply

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Ben says:

centurion48 says:

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OldGirl says:

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Moggy says:

AdamC says:

jaydubs says:

thinktank says:

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acker says:

Talon says:

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Tory Maguire says:

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