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The election campaign framed around utter pity

David Penberthy

by David Penberthy

14 Dec 05:45am

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Filed under: Kristina Keneally, Labor Party, Nsw Election, Nsw Government, Nsw Labor

58 comments

The Russell Lea Infants School class of 2010 graduated yesterday and among my daughter’s collection of journals, exercise books and achievement certificates is an unusual piece of political memorabilia.

Nobody knows the troubles I've seen. Photo: Tim Hunter

All the kids at this terrific K2 (kindergarten to grade two) public school have spent the past three years doing the Premiers Reading Challenge, introduced by Bob Carr as a literacy measure a few years ago. It’s a great program in that it introduces a sense of personal competition where the kids read as many books as they can from a set list, and receive a certificate at the end of the year.

The certificates for the past three years show how the NSW Labor Party has reduced the premiership to the status of cheap baseball swap cards, and my daughter has collected the whole set. In 2008 she got a certificate from Morris Iemma, in 2009 she got one from Nathan Rees, and this year she got one from Kristina Keneally, prompting her to ask the very sensible question a few months ago as to whether there was a different premier in NSW every year. The answer to which is obviously yes.

If Russell Lea went up to grade three, in the absence of a political miracle of unprecedented magnitude, next year’s Premiers Reading Challenge would be signed by Barry O’Farrell, unless of course the Liberals axe it to save on printing.

At this stage we have no clear idea whether the Liberals will or won’t do any such thing as their election bid appears to be framed around the smallest of small target strategies. Setting aside its now traditional lack of policy development this uninspiring branch of the Liberal Party is also tactically challenged. It’s regarded with borderline contempt by none other than Tony Abbott, who holds it almost wholly responsible for losing the federal election by failing to preselect candidates in key federal seats in advance of the campaign.

Many of its policy positions have been confusing and inconsistent - it sided with the Greens to block the release of school performance data, yet took a bizarrely conservative line opposing ethics classes in favour of religious education, probably to head off an internal stoush driven by the likes of rampaging born again David Clarke. At least these two instances have involved a policy stand, something which in other portfolios the party has been at pains to avoid.

For all this though the polls and (more importantly) any random conversation you have with fellow voters demonstrates one truth - at the moment, the consensus is that a party with no policies or confusing policies is still vastly preferable to the contemptible shambles which is NSW Labor, and a government which has become such a farce that even its own members would sooner quit than face the justified wrath of the people.

Kristina Keneally is in unchartered political territory - even Joan Kirner in Victoria was in better shape when she inherited the wreckage of Victoria from John Cain and became the first female premier to be sacrificed in the name of factional expediency by leading Labor to a noble defeat.

It’s unlikely there will be anything noble for Labor about next year’s NSW election. Analysts within the party are predicting Labor could retain as few as 20 or even 15 seats in this 93-seat Parliament.

Over the next few weeks when everyone else is relaxing Kristina Keneally will be sitting down with party chiefs and her (few) remaining sitting members to craft an election strategy and - hilariously enough - cook up a slogan which captures Labor’s argument for a fifth term. Given that last time it was “More to do but heading in the right direction” it’s anyone’s guess what they’ll come up with next year.

From what we have seen from Ms Keneally lately, it’s becoming apparent that the campaign will be framed around two things. Herself, and the most unusual of all emotions in a political context - pity.

The message is that Kristina Keneally is a really nice person who is hard-working and committed and compassionate, and that she’s pretty much got the worst job in the world, you have to feel sorry for her, maybe she (not Labor but she) deserves a chance.

The recent stoush with party president Bernie Riordan was largely a confected one aimed at consolidating her credentials in that department. Riordan played a lead role in the knifing of Morris Iemma over power privatisation and the rolling of Nathan Rees over pretty much anything but, on paper, he was not acting particularly disloyally towards Keneally. The statement he made in a union newsletter about members thinking about a vote for the Coalition or the Greens was not a call for them to do so; rather it was a carefully-worded warning which recognised the reality that even the most rusted-on Labor voters have run out of patience with this lot and are considering casting their vote elsewhere.

For Keneally, the decision to demand and secure Riordan’s sacking - given that he’s seen by many in the party as a blow-hard and an expendable irrititant - had less to do with any lofty matter of principle, but was about giving her a rare win.

It will be fascinating to see how a party that has lost all credibility will craft any kind of message out of this mess, and stage manage something which anyone with the remotest interest in politics can recognise as a failure.

Surely not even the NSW Liberals can lose this one. My only regret is that there isn’t a grade three at Russell Lea so my daughter could collect the whole set.

Most commented

58 comments

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    • Eric says:

      05:00am | 14/12/10

      I didn’t see how the Liberals could lose the last two NSW elections, either - but they managed to find a way. Why does this state have all the most incompetent pollies?

      Reply

    • Geoffrey says:

      08:55am | 14/12/10

      Quite easy Eric. What happens is that journalists start writing articles ridiculing the opposition. Corruption and other disgusting actions are downplayed with statements such as “well, they all do it”. They then snigger at the “budgie smugglers”, run lies such as “no policies” or make remaks about O’Farrell’s weight. Then they run pictures of a winsome waif premier and try to get the voter thinking that its a beauty contest.

      Then they cover a series of “iron lady” stunts flicking a few enemies and friends, such as Riordan, that wanted to retire and move on anyway. Finally they will run a pitch for the gender vote by claiming that O’Farrell will re-introduce foot-binding and send all women back to the kitchen.

      Bottom line, stupid voters deserve bad government and no sympathy this time.

    • Zeta says:

      10:08am | 14/12/10

      Winsome waif…

      That’s hot.

    • Diamantina Dick says:

      03:20pm | 14/12/10

      Well said Geoffrey, it can be summed up by ‘Yeah, we know they are bad but (trust us) the other guys would be worse”....Let’s see if the punters fall for it again.

    • Russell says:

      06:52am | 14/12/10

      Well, at least we know ONE thing the Libs will do (the only thing): They will privatise the ferries. But since Labor recently abandoned my service to Birkenhead (in Angela D’Amore’s seat), yet the same boats trundle all the way up the river to a Balmian wharf 200 metres away (in Verity Firths seat) to pick up 5 iucky passengers (who might change their vote!), it doesn’t really matter any more…

      Reply

    • Matt says:

      06:59am | 14/12/10

      Don’t put it past the NSW LIbs, they really are hopeless. Luckily for them, NSW Labor is now even more hopeless.

      NSW, the handbrake of Australia.

      Reply

    • Darren says:

      08:12am | 14/12/10

      NSW provides ample ammunition to the argument of abolishing state governments - the only thing that worries me about the ALP getting thrashed is that it release the religious fundamentalists of the NSW Liberal Party

    • Charles Kelly says:

      09:35am | 14/12/10

      Seriously Matt, how do you know for a fact the NSW LIbs “really are hopeless”? Intelligent people judge others by what they DO, not what they SAY - and thanks to the gullible morons known as NSW’s lowest common denominator, the NSW LIbs haven’t had a chance to show us what they can do. Until NSW’s idiot voters stop prioritising spin over substance, NSW Labor still has a chance.

    • Joolya Ducksbum says:

      11:09am | 14/12/10

      Heya Matt! NSW hasn’t got a hand brake. It broke when the wheels fell off!

    • MK says:

      01:28pm | 14/12/10

      Actually Charles Kelly,
      they are hopefully, beyond pathetic,
      On this very site Barry O’Farrel
      http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/why-you-should-not-vote-for-independents/
      Facing up against a state gov with the Lowest approval rating (20%) in the history of approval ratings of state goverment.
      And the “Leader” of the opposition comes out swinging with
      ‘Please don’t vote for the independents’
      With absolutely sweet FA about why we should vote for Him,
      for the liberals
      substance ?

    • Diamantina Dick says:

      07:28am | 14/12/10

      Oh I get it,  we had to have 16 years of pathetic Labor Government because of the Liberal Party. Another apologist piece from the king of the diversion. Lets face it NSW voters are shallow, fickle and easily distracted and have gotten what they deserved. Can’t we talk budgie smugglers again David?

      Reply

    • Barnaby says:

      05:05pm | 14/12/10

      Serious? You really think that it is the ‘fault’ of voters that the Libs havent managed to take power in NSW.  I am gobsmacked, surely you see that it is the oppositions job to convincingly demonstrate their ability to lead the state should they win, therefore earning votes. Oppositions have won elections without the media pushing their barrow. The blame lays squarely on the shoulders of the Libs themselves.

    • NicoleG says:

      05:57pm | 14/12/10

      Rubbish Barnaby. My sister and her husband are Labor sheep. Gillard, Keneally or any other brain dead Labor MP could burn their house down, clear their bank accounts out, smash their car and screw their dog and they’d still vote for them. And I’m deadly serious.

    • Super D says:

      07:34am | 14/12/10

      Keneally’s only chance is to have a leaders wet t-shirt competition during the campaign.

      Reply

    • stephen says:

      11:57am | 14/12/10

      Joe Hockey ‘d win.

    • Daniel says:

      08:16am | 14/12/10

      I think this rotten ALP government has run its course. All the failed Mps and all their failed promises they never follow through on has run out. People are fed with the do nothing attitude of these failed waste of oxygen Labor Mps.

      Reply

    • Heath Karl says:

      11:45am | 14/12/10

      Surely this problem is not solved by voting Liberal.

    • Daniel says:

      02:01pm | 14/12/10

      No people need to vote Greens.

    • Super D says:

      04:26pm | 14/12/10

      Sorry Daniel we are trying to reduce the level of incompetence and dysfunction so Greens is definitely not the way to go.

    • Edward James says:

      08:27am | 14/12/10

      In my full page ads have taken to calling her Premier Joan of Arc Keneally for obvious reasons. Edward James 0243419140
      http://bit.ly/EJ_PNewsAds
      Link to political attack ads

      Reply

    • nosthow says:

      08:35am | 14/12/10

      No fair minded person could say Penbo that its not time for a change in NSW - 15 years is too long for any government of any persuasion. But look at who is waiting to take over by default - Barry O’Tool ! Never has so little been offered by so few to so many ! Poor NSW - they will be in for the stock in trade Liberal “policies” of slash and tax - tax and slash. There aint no more folks and who better to apply these two policies than the sad little unloved figure of Barry O’Tool !

      Reply

    • Edward James says:

      10:15am | 14/12/10

      @nosthow are you hoping for change and change again until we get good honest representative government?

    • MDMConnell says:

      02:37pm | 14/12/10

      Hey tell us again how Labor were going to romp to landslides federally and in Victoria, cause that’s never getting old!

    • Mal says:

      06:43pm | 14/12/10

      Go hard noshow.  you have proved in recent times that you have no ability to judge the political pulse.  Go hard for Labor.  die going hard for Labor. Run the party line and never give up.

    • Ryan says:

      09:57pm | 14/12/10

      @nosthow: yeah tell us how Victoria is going to go again.. somehow your opinion and reputation is as tarnished as your leadership predictions, thankfully not all are as rusted on and blinkered as you.

    • A.K.A. says:

      08:36am | 14/12/10

      I didn’t even read the whole article because I didn’t want to ruin my day (sorry Tory! - I will read it once I calm down).

      I will say this:

      Public figures such as these monkeys should have their entitlements based on their performance.  If they deliver what they say they will deliver, they get their pensions, if they under perform, they get part or nothing.  In instances like the last 5 years of NSW Labor ineptitude, then a prison sentence should also be an option.  They should be held accountable to their actions.  They are elected on the premise they are capable of delivering what they say, and anything else is misleading and they should suffer the same consequences as businesses and professionals.

      For the NSW state government to waste $750 MILLION F@CKING DOLLARS IN ONE YEAR and have not one person lose their job or go to gaol/jail is just beyond comprehension.  Also, when people say no and things go ahead - such as that stupid bridge on Victoria Rd in NSW, there needs to be an audit to ensure there is no conflict of interest (which I understand there was in this instance) and if any breach of duties in a public office is found, then people should go to gaol/jail also.

      Ok, so I ruined my own day.  I might as well read the rest of the article.

      I am getting VERY sick of Sydney :(

      Reply

    • michael j says:

      10:48am | 14/12/10

      @ sick of sydney
      mate where are you going to go Queensland ?
      things are not good under labour anywhere
      we are spending $210,000,000 to fix a health
      dept payroll system that cost $60,000,000 to
      implerment when there was nothing wrong with
      the old system
      Then we have our $9 billion water system that
      does not work,,and nobody wants,,
      Now the Bligh gov has sold all the public asetts
      to pay for the intrest on these goodies
      south of the border looks good to me,,,,,,

    • A.K.A. says:

      02:59pm | 14/12/10

      I know, it’s depressing huh.  Maybe New Zealand?

      My whole argument was these knuckleheads should be held accountable.  If it was a private business they were running, they would have been bust long ago and people would have been locked up.  Instead, they just fleece us for more money and it seems the more they get, the more they waste.

      If it wasn’t for the politics involved, you’d have to think that more people would get involved to try and make a difference.

      I know Sydney isn’t that bad, but it isn’t that good either (especially when you consider how great it could be if we have public transport that worked and competent, efficient government).

    • Steve says:

      08:39am | 14/12/10

      NSW - The Not-so-smart State

      Reply

    • Ryan says:

      10:00pm | 14/12/10

      @Steve: they certainly proved that being duped into sucking up the left wing media campaign the last time around.

    • John J says:

      08:40am | 14/12/10

      A pity Sartor quit. He would have been a far more effective and intelligent Premier than Keneally. Labor always seemed to have talent but went with the poorer options after Carr left: Iemma instead of Watkins, Rees instead of Tebbutt, Keneally instead of Sartor.
      I give O’Farrell one year before Mike Baird takes over. John Robertson or Michael Daley to take over as Opposition Leader.

      Reply

    • Ex ALP voter says:

      09:03am | 14/12/10

      Does the ALP fail because they want to fail or because they are natural failures? Keneally had time to make a difference but she didn’t do anything significant. Never vote ALP unless you want substandard government!

      Reply

    • Zeta says:

      09:28am | 14/12/10

      If politics is a game, Local Government would be under 16s, Federal Government would be the NRL, and State Government would be one of those obscure English collegiate Union leagues where everyone has bad teeth and the only people interested are the alma mater, a couple of rat bag journalists, and very rich property developers.

      Reply

    • Barnaby says:

      05:12pm | 14/12/10

      not so sure about the grade or level, but it is definatley all Rugby League. The AFL packed up and went in search of a more advanced society in another Galaxy.

    • MarK says:

      09:50am | 14/12/10

      The real pity is we can’t go to the polls now.

      Fixed terms are appalling and promote laziness and ineptitude.

      Reply

    • Russell says:

      11:25am | 14/12/10

      MarK, it won’t be you who decides when to go to the polls. Nor the opposition. The Premier can choose, at a time which suits him/her. What’s the advantage? The Telegraph can’t call the election date or change an elected government, no matter how much it wants to!!

    • TimB says:

      11:50am | 14/12/10

      But variable terms (controlled by the government of the day)  promote the use of sneaky tactics when it comes to calling the election. Like Julia pulling a swiftie before the electorate realises she hasn’t actually fixed the issues, but only papered over the cracks.

      Fixed terms with the inclusion of recall provisions for gross incompetence. That’s the way to go.

    • Richard says:

      11:55am | 14/12/10

      Hear hear, you guys really got the wool pulled over your eyes with that one. Can you imagine how much trouble we’d be in if there were fixed four year terms federally?

    • Cate P says:

      12:16pm | 14/12/10

      yeah thanks Rob Oakeshott.

    • iansand says:

      12:18pm | 14/12/10

      And how, oh wise one, do we get to the polls?  Could you give us a quick rundown on how the timing of elections was worked out before fixed terms?

      You may believe that the Labor government would call an early poll, but that would simply confirm my opinion of your intelligence.

    • MarK says:

      01:15pm | 14/12/10

      @TimB - oh yes I agree but 3 year variable terms give a lot more flexibility and also disincentivise inertia such as we have seen in NSW where they are just going through the motions. Sure Kirner for example hung on for grim death without the fixed term and I certainly should have included a 4 year clause in my opener.

      It will always be thus that pollies go for the opportune time but just look at WA and ask the Labor government over there how that went.

      Even Gillard with everything on her side all but lost

      @ian please. When you address me it is Wise One. Capitalised. I really am that important. If you want to go for brevity feel free to call me Sir by the way.

      Trust that you will remember this for the future. All the best ian, hugs and kisses.

    • S.L says:

      11:05am | 14/12/10

      No I don’t think the Libs will win the NSW state election in March 2011. The State Labor Party will lose it!

      Reply

    • Jim says:

      12:04pm | 14/12/10

      They won’t lose good old Newie though….the mouth-breathers here still worship Whitlam.

    • Brian Taylor says:

      12:05pm | 14/12/10

      if the state labor party loses it then if the libs don’t win,...who does, grow a brain

    • HappyCynic says:

      03:55pm | 14/12/10

      @Brian Taylor

      I think what S.L is saying is that the NSW Libs won’t have done anything to win the election, they’ll have simply sat back and let NSW Labor lose it.  The Libs win by default of course but it still isn’t much of a win for for NSW voters.

    • Thirsty says:

      11:50am | 14/12/10

      Come closer to the election, Barry will have to outline some sort of agenda. At the moment, he highlights every big and little problem that Labor has in NSW, but when someone asks him what he will do about it, he always says that he will review it when he is in power.
      It is the NSW Libs who are gunning for the lowest common demoniator, promising to review everything, but not highlighting anything to fix our problems. This is giving all NSW voters false hope in the Libs, as everyone things that Barry is the mesiah coming to our rescue, when the truth to the matter is that we have no idea of what he stands for, what he is going to do.
      The biggest laugh that I have had for a while was Barry saying that the electricity assest were sold dirt cheap, but everyone forgets that it was the Libs that voted against the entire privitisation scheme in 2007, even though what was put up was more or less Lib part policy…instead of getting up to $20 Billion, we get $5 Billion, but we keep the expensive infrastructure that needs massive upgrades.
      This is just one example of NSW Liberals, I hope no-one ever forgets this when big Bazza gets up saying that our electricity assets were “given away”

      Reply

    • stephen says:

      12:05pm | 14/12/10

      At Milroy Observatory at Siding Spring, resident astronomers are advertizing for available viewing time.
      If Ms. Kenneally gets the boot, may I suggest she take her trouple to the Warrumbungles, (where maybe she should have been all along) sit in a chair peer through an eyepiece…and see where she has just come from.

      Reply

    • sandra nelson says:

      01:03pm | 14/12/10

      Labor will win the 2010 NSW State Election.
      Labor will win the next federal election.

      Reply

    • John says:

      02:01pm | 14/12/10

      Either your glasses are in a Kevin07 time warp from a bookmarked site way back in 2007, or blind drunk, from your Xmas office party lunch when your fingers dived for the keyboard.

    • Diamantina Dick says:

      03:14pm | 14/12/10

      There is no NSW State Election in 2010, but there could be a Federal one in 2011.

    • sandra nelson says:

      01:07pm | 14/12/10

      before the next election,The Liberals will get big huge shocks.

      Joining the ALP will be Piers Akerman, Andrew Bolt, David Pemberthy, Janet Albecht, Allan Jones, Ray Hadley, Quentin Dempster, ,Miranda Devine,Tony abbott, Julia Bishop,  and Barry OFarrell!

      Reply

    • TimB says:

      01:35pm | 14/12/10

      Ok now I know there’s an ALP troll factory up and running. “sandra nelson” is “jane wallace “aka “john tracey”.

      Same posting style. Same pointless rubbish. Same non-capitalised first name-surname format.

      Whoever is behind this, how stupid do you think we are?

      To the Punch Mods: Are all these coming from the same address? Surely you can do something about it.

    • n_dude says:

      01:56pm | 14/12/10

      What the???

    • john says:

      02:06pm | 14/12/10

      I worry when someone says ” big huge”  in the same sentence.

      Dear sandra, you been sitting on Santa’s lap far too long at Westfield shops and he already explained the Labor party has wasted enough of our tax money.

    • nosthow says:

      03:12pm | 14/12/10

      @TimB - I think “sandra nelson” wins todays “Rod and Reel” Trophy Tim eh ? Chongy won yesterdays !

    • Ex ALP voter says:

      07:10pm | 14/12/10

      Next election? Hello have you seen the duds in federal and state ALP? ALP thy name is hopelessness and shame so much shame. Investigate the corruption in the insulation debacle and the health care debacle between the the nurses’ union and the doctor discrimination Roxon.

    • Martin says:

      06:59pm | 14/12/10

      Slogan is already on signs in my electorate (Keira).

      Under Keneally’s picture it says ‘A New Direction for NSW’.

      Has someone told them they are actually the government….

      Reply

    • Gerard says:

      09:34pm | 14/12/10

      NSW Labor is a criminal organisation masquerading as a political party. Even the logically-challenged voters in NSW won’t back the puppet this time. I can’t wait to see her get kicked back to the sewer she crawled out of.

      Reply
 
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