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Rees the new star in festival of heroic losers

David Penberthy

by David Penberthy

03 Dec 03:38pm

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Filed under: Labor Party, Nathan Rees, Nsw Government, Nsw Labor, Nsw Leadership Spill, Politics

41 comments

UPDATE 7.37pm: Rees gawn. Kristina Keneally won the ballot 47 to 21 and becomes the first female Premier of NSW.

JUST two days after Malcolm Turnbull’s tenacious and gutsy last stand as Liberal Leader, NSW Labor Premier Nathan Rees is turning in the performance of his political life as he doggedly slugs it out with the factions in a seemingly doomed bid to save his leadership.

Anyone who defeats me will be a puppet of Joe Tripodi and Eddie Obeid.

Rees gave one of the best speeches by any Australian politician today. It may well be his last - when the Party Room meets at 6pm he is expected to lose his job. 17 MPs have signed a petition demanding his resignation. They include the hated factional heavyweights Joe Tripodi and Eddie Obeid, the domestically troubled John Della Bosca and former Police Minister Matt Brown, dumped just a week into the job after it emerged he’d stripped to his green undies at a parliamentary office party, mounted the chest of backbencher Noreen Hay, and shouted at her staffer daughter: “Look, I’m titty-f***ing your Mum!”

Nathan Rees has told these ornaments to public service that they can basically get stuffed. Have a read of what he said:

Should I not be Premier by the end of this day let there be no doubt that any challenger will be a puppet of Eddie Obeid and Joe Tripodi. That is the reality, that is the choice at stake.

The time for talking is over, throughout the past 15 months my ability to do good has been impaired at every turn. A maligned and disloyal group well known by the community of NSW has made the business of government almost impossible.

I am determined to restore integrity to government in NSW. More than that I swore an oath of loyalty to the people of NSW. An oath of loyalty and an oath of service. And I say to them today: I will not hand the Government of NSW over to Obeid, Tripodi or Sartor. Under my leadership there will be no going back. The old regime will never again dictate the fortunes of our party, nor will they regain the levers of control.

I will lead one sort of government and one sort of government only: A government that is modern, ethical and progressive. A government in which the people of NSW can have confidence, trust and respect.

Those are my standards. And those are my beliefs. I will settle for nothing less.

As of now it’s unclear who will prevail at today’s meeting. Frank Sartor - who was once described by a colleague as being “as popular as a tongue-kisser at a family reunion” - is a possibility. Rees has apparently indicated privately he would make way for Carmel Tebbutt, who apparently wants none of it, and in her absence he is committed to fighting. Kristina Keneally (who’s American) is a chance, as is Eric Roozendaal (Treasurer, and poorly-regarded former State secretary), as well as some bloke no-one seems to have heard of, new Police Minister Michael Daley. 

One source told me Rees still has solid support from his Left Faction, with the exception of Ian Macdonald, and must pick up at least 16 of the 49 Right Faction votes to hang on.

It’s a hell of a battle. While it’s unclear whether his speech this morning made an impression on Caucus, it was an absolute, rolled-gold expression of public sentiment, where martial law seems preferable to being governed by this lot.

Most commented

41 comments

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    • Justin says:

      03:10pm | 03/12/09

      Great speech? Great speech? Sorry, had an attack of the Nathans & repeated myself. Repeated. Myself.

      Reply
    • David Penberthy

      David Penberthy says:

      03:23pm | 03/12/09

      Yeah i’ll pay that mate. That’s Keating’s legacy, he was a great repeater and they mimic him. Still a lot of what Rees said was worth hearing twice.

    • Glenn Beck says:

      03:25pm | 03/12/09

      Hahaha!

      Oh wait, you’re comment wasn’t funny and it didn’t make any sense. My bad.

      Reply

    • Sam of Sydney says:

      07:17pm | 03/12/09

      Did you see the press conference. He continually repeated himself.

      Oh and there is a reply button now.

    • Susan says:

      03:22pm | 03/12/09

      What odds Kevin Rudd will try to distance himself from the remaining mess and find Nathan Rees a Federal seat next year? Best way to show he’s got nothing to do with the rabble would be to really throw his support behind the last decent guy after the hacks ditch him.

      Reply

    • Michael says:

      03:33pm | 03/12/09

      he’s a meathead though, he wouldn’t be putting in this performance if his back wasn’t against the wall for last year and a bit

    • shabangabang says:

      03:26pm | 03/12/09

      This is the person we need to contact:
      Office of the Governor of NSW
      Telephone:  (02) 9242 4200 Fax:  (02) 9242 4266
      Street Address: Chief Secretary’s Building Level 3, 121 Macquarie Street,
      SYDNEY NSW 2000
      Then we beg the Governor to oust the government. We’ll even sacrifice the virgin penbo for good measure.

      Reply

    • Kurisu Sonsaku says:

      07:08pm | 03/12/09

      NSW, you are a failed state. I can’t even be bothered taking the p##s out of you, do you even have any form of effective government??

      If this is what has become of what was once a powerhouse state (no pun intended) then i truly feel for the good folk of that state and am damn glad i don’t live in such a dysfuntional place..

      Reply

    • Alex White says:

      03:28pm | 03/12/09

      Kennealy is taking a poison chalice. Why doesn’t she just wait until after the election to take over?

      If Rees survives this, he needs to get the ALP National Executive to disendorse the rats Sartor, Obeid and Tripodi.

      Reply

    • Simon Rumble says:

      03:37pm | 03/12/09

      “Look, I’m titty-f***ing your Mum!”

      Gawd you’ve gotta laugh when it becomes farce eh?  I still chuckle every time I’m reminded of this one.  All class.

      Reply

    • Roger says:

      03:45pm | 03/12/09

      Mr P: as you introducing each of these lovely people you added an editorial comment, either before or after, with or without parentheses or a n-dash.  One was a green-undied chest-humper, one wanted no part of the leadership, one was un-popular at family gatherings, and one was, apparently, an American.

      What’s up with making that Ms Kenneally’s problem? And is she? Or was she just born there? 

      Or is she a double agent? What information has she sent back to Virginia?  Do they fear us more or less as a result of her infiltration?

      Reply
    • David Penberthy

      David Penberthy says:

      04:42pm | 03/12/09

      It wasn’t a criticism of her. It’s noteworthy though. I have no problem with Americans

    • Matt says:

      06:23pm | 03/12/09

      Penbo you lying wetback - you hate the Norteamericanos!

    • Chris says:

      04:20pm | 03/12/09

      Lord knows why the dont just hold an election the longer they wait, the more seats they will loose. I can just see safe Labor seats like Mount Druitt falling to the Libs smile
      Can the Governer general step in and sack em Whitlam style?

      Reply

    • Sam of Sydney says:

      07:22pm | 03/12/09

      Sorry Chris the Governor. This happened in the 1930’s when Game dismissed Lang. See shabangabang, for contact details.

    • Julie Coker-Godson says:

      10:11pm | 03/12/09

      Oh how I wish the Governor would, Chris, how I wish.  The new imcumbent shouldn’t get too comfortable in the role, god knows how long she’ll last.  What really frightens me though is just what is it that Obeid, Tripodi et al are planning “to get to work” on!

    • Greg says:

      04:26pm | 03/12/09

      What a disgrace this once great state finds itself in! To all those that couldn’t get over Peter Debnham in his budgie smugglers and voted for a failed Labor Party, well done because thanks to you Joe Tripodi and Eddie Obeid now rule this state. You should hang your heads in shame and yet this joke of a state government provides an insight into what we can expect from a Federal Labor Government in 10 years because with their spending they are showing form already. Anybody who still believes the Labor Party has the answers, come and park with me for a couple of hours on Australia’s most expensive motorways and dream about what a North West rail link would do for the state!

      Reply

    • Bruce says:

      10:05pm | 03/12/09

      Greg, well said. Unfortunately, the non thinking, mummy and daddy told me to vote Labor types, will vote for this useless government and puppet leader again. In NSW we must like dumb superficial governments. There can be no other answer. UNBELIEVABLE !!!

    • peter says:

      04:29pm | 03/12/09

      where’s corrigan and his 5 mates (or 4) in all of this? will they break over this?
      could this end up being the final smashing of the right into 49 different factions? can thistlethwaite back them all to be Premier (he’s getting there, one by one…)

      Reply

    • Peter Warrington says:

      04:30pm | 03/12/09

      penbo don’t ever get into bookmaking. you can’t count to 108%

      Reply

    • Zeta says:

      04:40pm | 03/12/09

      Here’s a conspiracy theory for you from the fringe Penbo: the whole thing is a set up. A scam. A ruse.

      My first clue that something was amiss was Simon Benson’s yarn regarding the supposed verballing of Roozendaal Chief of Staff Walt Secord by Rees’ Chief of Staff Graham Wedderburn. Now, these are two guys who are both in the tent. Walt is one of the best media minds in the country, a literal sphere of influence. There is no way upper echelon decisions are being made without him. So for him to cop a flogging from Rees’ CoS struck me a bit odd. These two have worked closely together in the past, back in the Carr days, and any hint of a relationship break down would have made the funny pages a lot earlier.

      It was that story that set off the chain reaction of events leading to today’s supposed spill motion. Benson was first cab off the rack, and a careful eye would have spotted the fact that the SMH would then carry a similar story in their second edition, and guarantee widespread radio coverage. Overnight, the threat of a spill was orchestrated. Now as I understand it, ALP protocol dictates the 17 signatures for the motion should have been down 72 hours before the spill itself, unless their caucus votes on some kind of contingency - highly unlikely.

      So why is it that the earliest reports of a spill signatories were not until today - most coverage only AFTER Rees bombastic press performance?

      Benson, from the Daily Telegraph, and Andrew Clennel, from the SMH, are very savvy characters. If something is up, they know about it a long way out. So why the sudden spill? Why would the Centre Unity and Right factions leave it until the last 48 hours to secure their numbers?

      The hypothesis - they didn’t. There is no ‘spill’. The whole thing has been orchestrated by Rees’ inner circle to restore his control over the Party, and create the perception of a scrappy underdog, fighting against the evil plotters and schemers.

      My bet - and I’ve been wrong before - Rees will still be leader after the caucus doors open. The media will report that he’s done what no other Labor leader has done before, gone toe to toe with the factional heavies and won, won himself a mandate, and won the admiration of the NSW public. He’ll take the axe to the remaining ‘plotters’ on the frontbench, with one very big caveat… 2011 Election preselections will be opened to the Right. These guys wouldn’t give up their last tilt at putting one of the ‘Boys’ on the throne unless they got something in return. Rees will win himself 18 months of peace to be the Premier he wants to be, and the ALP Right will win themselves the Opposition of their choice in three years. Never underestimate the Labor Party’s ability to play a long game, these guys don’t make snap decisions. They plot and plan months, even years in advance. As for Rees, it’s win / win - If he loses the leadership ballot, why would he care? He gets a pension, and he gets to snipe from the sidelines if he’s betrayed. He might even come clean about the whole thing. But if he wins the ballot, he’s a hero.

      The leadership spill is a lie perpetuated by Rees himself to create the perception of an internal struggle that he can win, and regain respect for. Srsly.

      Reply

    • Bertrand says:

      04:56pm | 03/12/09

      thats brilliant

    • Patrick says:

      08:40pm | 03/12/09

      Ba bowwwww. Wrong.

    • Hary says:

      05:26pm | 03/12/09

      Why is it that the ALP gets the hot mature chicks?

      Federal Labor has Juilia Gillard.

      NSW Labor has Kristine Keneally.

      The Libs have…......Fran Bailey??

      Reply

    • Sam of Sydney says:

      07:24pm | 03/12/09

      They have both Bishops and Amanda Vanstone…

      ...your right

    • Old Clive says:

      06:38am | 04/12/09

      Who is Frans’s Prince Charming Ruudd maybe

    • Greg says:

      05:49pm | 03/12/09

      Joe and Eddie: “Thank god Kristina is Premier. Now we can get to the business at hand”
      NSW voter: ” What business would that be Mr Obeid and Mr Tripodi”
      Joe and Eddie:” Ignorant fool, we have lot’s of shredding to do between now and the next election”
      NSW voter: “What will you be shredding?”
      Joe and Eddie: ” nothing really, just all the planning and development documents from the last two ministers for that portfolio”

      I believe this is now a constitutional issue. The governor of this state must intervene for the sake of our democracy!

      Reply

    • Super D says:

      05:54pm | 03/12/09

      Whoever steps up now is nothing more than a puppet with some serious character flaws.  Though if they can the dumbass metro I will forgive them.

      Reply

    • Stu says:

      09:11pm | 03/12/09

      This Government is illegitimate and the Citizens of NSW need to take back our democracy. We are being taken for mugs by Tripodi and co.

      A half day shut down in the Sydney CBD in the lead up to Christmas would send a powerful message that we want to go to the polls now.

      If Critical Mass can grind the city to a halt imagine if every taxpayer in Sydney shut off their engine and stopped on the road for 5 minutes on a peak hour Friday. Or if every commuter simply refused to buy a ticket on a given morning.

      Unfortunately most of us work and can’t follow Labor MP’s around on their public appearances and annoy them, but it would be great to see a campaign of slow hand clapping started at every media conference given by every Labor MP until the election is called.

      Time for Dr Bashir to prove that her role is actually relevant to the democracy of this state

    • Greg says:

      06:25pm | 03/12/09

      Matt Brown, Noreen Hay, Joe Tripodi, Eddie Obeid, Frank Sartor and Kristina Keneally have some very serious issues of credibility at stake. I want to see Joe, Eddie, Pants down Brown, Noreen Hay and Frank Sartor come out one by one and give individual press conferences refuting Nathan Rees accusations. This is Wollongong council all over again. All those names I listed have a lot in common: they are either from the Wollongong area or they have been in control of serious planning decisions in this state and now they have anointed one of their own to the ultimate position of responsibility. No wonder they were scurrying around like rats all day in Maquarie st. My tip is Nathan Rees was going to take this bunch to the ICAC and now they will gag him.

      Reply

    • Daniel says:

      06:30pm | 03/12/09

      Instead of rearranging the chairs on the titanic they are fighting over them.It doesnt matter who replaces who they are still deadwood. We need a Greens government in NSW.

      Reply

    • zeta says:

      06:34pm | 03/12/09

      this just inn from ph did not stand. wtf. zeta is live at ph..

      Reply

    • Peter says:

      06:37pm | 03/12/09

      PILF!

      Reply

    • iansand says:

      06:42pm | 03/12/09

      The rational result of the deposition and the rant is for Nathan to leave the party and sit on the cross-benches.

      Reply

    • Zeta says:

      06:46pm | 03/12/09

      Rees resigned. Kennealy is the new Premier. Zeta might have let his imagination get a bit carried away.

      Reply

    • shabangabang says:

      07:08pm | 03/12/09

      Update:
      Now with a yank premier of NSW I am moving to the USA to become governor of California after Arnie quits. Either that or move to Perth and relive the 1950’s.

      Reply

    • jimmy says:

      07:09pm | 03/12/09

      Turnbull and Rees ought to get together, sit back and hatch up a revenge plan.


      If they did, they’ll have my support!

      Reply

    • M.Streeton says:

      08:12pm | 03/12/09

      I hang my head in shame as a labour party supporter. We now have the mafia in full control of NSW; trimpodi,obied,sartor and co. And to make it worse we have an american born premier who does not appear to have many strengths to her character.
      RIP…...NSW.

      Reply

    • Marina Go says:

      10:02pm | 03/12/09

      My favourite line to fall off the back of the NSW Premier spill came from journo Scott Ellis on Facebook: “There’s no way that Nathan Rees is getting his bond back”.

      Reply

    • Joe the plumber says:

      02:10am | 04/12/09

      FARCICAL, INCOMPETENT and EMBARRASSING. At the very first opportunity- next election- they will be destroyed at the polls. We cant just vote them out- we have to destroy them with such a massive swing that they will be in the wilderness for decades. Maybe its time we gave the independents and the Greens the reins of power. They couldnt be any worse than this bunch of incompetent business failures. The libs dont seem to have any oomph either, so we have to be revolutionary and radical. Aren’t.Tripodi’s eyes just the shiftiest you’ve ever seen. He makes my skin crawl. Obeid is a dinosaur. Lets put them both into extinction and put the rest of this mob into the wilderness. We have to break the backs of these factions. Please. The only way KKK can save Labor now is punt those two forever and to immediately start to build the billions and billions worth of rail that is 20 years overdue. North West link- Parramatta-Epping link are the two that have to happen for starters. Dont announce it and then cancel it. BREAK GROUND and start work. I dont care about a AAA credit rating- get it done and really quickly, or be banished to political irrelevance for decades.

      Reply

    • Jin says:

      10:14am | 04/12/09

      An American puppet wow just when I thought it couldn’t get worse for NSW. The best punishment would be to isolate the labor party from the political landscape for at least 20 years.

      Reply
 
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