Rees should do the decent thing and call the Governor

Rationalist says:

06:46am | 27/08/09

Is the Liberal any better?

Simon says:

07:19am | 27/08/09

Naaaa.. Hold out. The ALP sore that is NSW acts as a very clear indicator for Federal voters just how Rudd and co will end up.

Matt says:

08:50am | 27/08/09

By what constitutional device would Andrew have the Premier do this? The NSW Constitution provides for a four-year fixed term. The Government has a majority in the Legislative Assembly ensuring supply and confidence.

The Premier has no grounds to request a dissolution, nor the Governor to grant it.

Four year fixed terms mean precisely that. Four years. Fixed. Brother Stoner and the reptiles of News Ltd will just have to cope with that.

M

David Havyatt says:

09:03am | 27/08/09

This “call an election now” is the greatest piece of nonsense I’ve ver seen perpetrated!  On what planet do these people live?  The only time early elections are called is when either the Premiere thinks he has an excellent chance of winning, or the Premier has lost the support of the Parliament - that is loses a vote of confidence or fails on a major piece of legislation.

Neither aopplies - and the former has been eliminated as an option by the deals done with independents to have “fixed” four year terms.

If the coalition wants an early election they need to get grubby and follow the Fraser route.  Use the upper house to totally frustrate the Government’s program, and not just by voting against things that would be in coalition policy like the schoool league tables.  Barry O’Farrell and Andrew Stoner don’t have the brains or balls to pull that off!

Kick Knave says:

09:11am | 27/08/09

You would think a Member of NSW Parliament—let alone a leader of one of its political parties—would know NSW has fixed terms. It goes to show you the quality of the NSW Opposition.

Darren says:

09:20am | 27/08/09

Great article from a man who’s own party is being consigned to the dustbin of history - wonder how many seats the Nats will lose to community based independents at the next election -

pc says:

09:57am | 27/08/09

The complete failure of both federal and NSW liberals to gain any kind of traction has meant increasingly desparate tactics, tactics that might have a big effect if they work, but are, in any case, very unlikely to work and very likely to result in blowback. eg. Utegate. Now they have decided to follow the example of the repug - Oh I mean republican party and “astroturf” labor with an imaginary constituency of outraged citizens. The plastic people that make up this “Gabba Grass” protest probably wont achieve much, after all they are made of plastic.

Dave says:

09:56am | 27/08/09

There is absolutely no chance that the snakes of sussex street will give up there developer donation gravy train 1 minute before they have to.  In all likelihood Rees will be canned and his replacement will be NSW’s first ever femal premier.  This will be spun as an incredible success for women in NSW.  In reality it will mark a new low in the morality of ther NSW ALP.

Kay says:

10:19am | 27/08/09

Matt (Comment at 8:50am), the only conclusion I can come to from your comment is that you must be the only happy person living in NSW satisfied with how the State has been run by Labor for the past 14 years plus.  Congratulations, you’re one in almost 10,000,000.  I wonder who you work for?? Unfortunately anything the NSW Libs have tried to suggest or do something positive, your incompetent and inept mob have killed it.  So much for doing good for the people, which is by the way, the Government’s purpose, in case you forgot.

Robert Smithson says:

10:28am | 27/08/09

Nathan Rees’ government has been defined by incompetence and abject stupidity, but I don’t think Rees himself is a bad or corrupt man (although it was pretty funny that he couldn’t even register his own website!)

He would raise himself massively in the public’s esteem if he took this path. Stoner is right and to be applauded - let the people decide!

Robert S

Lucy says:

10:34am | 27/08/09

While unlikely, there is a constutional capacity for the Governor to dismiss a government in NSW.

It says the governor is not otherwise prevented from dissolving the Legislative Assembly (the trigger for an election) contrary to the advice of the premier, if exercising that power was done “in accordance with established constitutional conventions”.

The challenge is to find the constitutional convention. Few exist in NSW, however, it could be argued that the search for a precedent is not restricted to NSW given we are a nation (and state) within the realm of the Monarch - potentially opening up a much broader base for the search for a precedent.

So for all those suggesting there is ‘absolutely no way’ and election can be called early, you are incorrect. It’s just a very hard task to achieve.

Noel says:

10:47am | 27/08/09

Bring on election! We deserve the opportunity to rid our state of these morons before they get the chance to do too much more damage.

Congratulations to Andrew for taking a stand and being willing to go the public - it’s a pretty sad state of affairs when the best thing anyone who tries to defend the indefensible NSW Labor Government can come up with is fixed four year terms. There are ways around that (after all, the NSW Constitution is only an Act of Parliament anyway, unlike the Australian Constitution). All I can say is the sooner the better.

Timmeh says:

10:59am | 27/08/09

Speaking of the dustbin of history - if we see swings at the state election on the scale of those seen at the byelections last year the Nats may win more seats in parliament than the ALP.

Xavier says:

11:50am | 27/08/09

Love the picture for this article, especially the white-out changing ‘you’re’ to ‘your’. It seems the original intent was that you are some kind of horn if you want Rees gone.

Steve says:

12:10pm | 27/08/09

You cannot seperate state and federal labor. Rudd will become Rees in a matter of time. The ability to manage health care, the economy and long term sustainability is the key of any good Australian government. Rudd/Rees need to stop blaming others, stop making excuses and stop wasting time. Get the job done and get it done NOW!

Susan says:

12:43pm | 27/08/09

@Lucy - by the time they’ve found and established a constitutional convention, it will be March 2011 anyway…

@Mr Stoner - I’m an ALP supporter from way back, but would really, really struggle to vote for this mob (if I hadn’t given up on the state and abandoned it). The trouble is, though, that I haven’t seen anything of substance from your side to suggest that you’d do any better. How about getting some real policies out there, for the voters to stress test and decide what they think? Sitting around and waiting for the ALP to fall over cost you the 2007 election, and Rudd’s didn’t win the Federal election in a six week campaign. Stop hoping you’ll win by default and show us what you’d do better.

Peter says:

01:59pm | 27/08/09

An early election can be held if the Legislative Assembly passes a no confidence motion in the Government. This would only be possible if Government MPs joined with the Opposition on such a motion.

Labor could do the right thing by the state by supporting such a motion, because 18 more months of anarchy benefits no one except those desperately clinging onto their white cars and offices in Governor Macquarie Tower.

Jason says:

02:56pm | 27/08/09

Andrew, totally agree. Premier Rees should isten to the people of NSW. In a time where this state needs a focused and accountable government more than ever - the people of NSW need to know that things should be improving. Instead the decline of NSW continues, whilst Labour meddles in its own leadership speculations and party in-fighting.

Premier… Read more Rees, do the right thing, listen to the people of NSW and bring on an early election. A motion of no confidence initiated from within the Labor ranks will acheive this.

John Tickle says:

05:06pm | 27/08/09

Fixed term or not, if sufficient members on the Government side voted with the opposition to carry a motion of no confidence in the Government, then the Premier would have no option but to go to the Governer.
We, the people of NSW , would hail them as heros.

Andrew Stoner says:

06:28pm | 27/08/09

John, no doubt it would be carried in the Upper House, the problem is in the Lower House, where Labor has the numbers. Whilst I’m no expert on the NSW Constitution, I believe the Governor could call an early election if the Government (via the Premier) sought one. Andrew

charlie says:

07:18pm | 27/08/09

“The people of NSW are crying out for someone to fix the bloody problems” as you say but they sure as hell aren’t crying out for the National Party to do it. How many Nationals are actually left in the NSW parliament? When the NSW National Party can’t even win North Coast seats anymore it really is time to just merge with the Liberals

Andrew says:

09:47pm | 27/08/09

Ok you constitutional experts, can the Governor abolish the whole state parliament?  I’m not talking about one that ends up in an election but got rid of the parliament and we could be governed by the feds, like the ACT used to be.

I mean what does the state government actually do? Is it just transport, education and health?

With the current options I can’t imagine it could be any worse..

Shamim says:

10:19pm | 27/08/09

I started drinking and smoking at the age of 19, in 1968 when I started flying. My instructor to introduce me, ” Meet Shamim, he smokes like a chimney and drinks like a fish. But I quit both in 1992; when someone pointed out that I was a slave of these two. One can only quit when one wants to; it is the desire. One must always go back to when one started by coaxing of a friend or cousin. Both have never tasted good otherwise why would one make faces while smoking or drinking. The bad effects of both should be publisized. Cops should be placed in front of bars etc to nab drunk drivers instead doing it on roads. Parents should be advised to keep drinks out of sight.

Timmeh says:

03:08pm | 01/09/09

To answer you question Charlie the Nats have 18 MPs in NSW Parliament…

...including 7 of the 8 seats on the north coast.

Check your facts next time.