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The nobility of public life, in a sea of squalor

David Penberthy

by David Penberthy

04 Sep 06:00am

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Filed under: Eddie Obeid, Factions, Kristina Keneally, Luke Foley, Nathan Rees, Nsw Government, Nsw Labor

35 comments

There are more former ministers in the NSW Government than there are ministers. Fourteen of them to be exact.

One of the two purpose-built enclosures at the Macquarie St bearpit.

One of them is in Long Bay for plying youths with heroin and having sex with them in his parliamentary office.

The other 13 aren’t bad people. They’re just guilty of a combination of hubris, sloth, incompetence and stupidity, and stand as examples of what can happen when a government has been in power for so long that it can’t remember what it was originally there for.

Exhibit A in the stupid category, the latest entrant to the ranks of the disgraced and discarded, is the former Ports Minister Paul McLeay. The son of the factional hack Leo McLeay, young Paul somehow got it into his head that the management of Sydney’s waterways required him to while away the hours in his ministerial office looking at pornographic websites and gambling online.

He wasn’t doing anything illegal. He was just being really dumb, especially as the parliamentary web server stipulates on start-up that users agree not to access explicit or gambling-related content.

Given his parentage we should perhaps be grateful that he didn’t seek compensation from the taxpayers for any gambling losses he incurred.

There are several droll jokes doing the rounds in Labor circles about the McLeay case. One involves Kristina Keneally’s claim that it’s not the kind of behaviour she would expect from a NSW minister. Why? Another goes to Labor’s obsession with high-speed broadband.

Only the most airheaded optimist could survey the political landscape in NSW and take a glass half full approach to the often squalid spectacle standing before them.

But there was a yin-yang moment on Macquarie Street on Wednesday, the day on which the punter McLeay was punted, which will hopefully serve as a reminder as to what politics can be about and should be about. 

I wandered down to Macquarie Street at 5pm on Wednesday to hear the maiden speech by Upper House Labor MP Luke Foley. Foley is a cricket enthusiast who has written several excellent columns about the game for our website The Punch. Until he was sworn in as an MLC in June, he was the assistant secretary of the NSW ALP, a position he had held since 2003.

Foley was instrumental in the decision by former Premier Nathan Rees, who also hails from the Left, to take on the factions in his address to ALP State conference last year where he declared that henceforth the Premier and not the factions would determine the composition of Cabinet.

Within weeks of the speech the factions had rolled Rees and installed Kristina Keneally as Premier. Her first statement in the job was to declare that she wasn’t a puppet of the factions, a statement with which Eddie Obeid, Joe Tripodi and the other people who had conspired to put her there would have passionately agreed.

When Foley gave his maiden speech on Wednesday he was standing at the dispatch box just metres away from Eddie Obeid. There is a deadness in Eddie Obeid’s eyes. It comes from standing for nothing other than the retention of power. Obeid was one of the first to shake Foley’s hand at the conclusion of his speech. Had he listened to and comprehended its content he would instead have tendered his resignation.

“Today, political parties are much maligned,” Foley began. “I want to speak in their defence.”

“I have some experience of Labor’s remorseless internal politics. I’ve always felt that our members and supporters deserve a party machine worthy of Labor’s message. Political power is a means to an end; it should never be the end in itself. I reject the empty pursuit of power.”

After a federal election where the winner was nobody, where the informal vote surged, and in a state which is in the worst possible state under the management of people who can manage nothing other than improbable victories, the speech stood as a sincere exposition of the potential nobility of a life devoted to public service.

The added bonus is that Foley will go far in NSW Labor politics. It should only be days until another ministerial vacancy arises.

Most commented

35 comments

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    • Paul says:

      07:25am | 04/09/10

      I suspect that Australia is due for a catastrophic earthquake in the near future as the men and women who formed the Labor Party as a Party for the workers spin violently in their graves as they see what their beloved Party has become.
      For all their rhetoric and posturing, the Labor Party is a pale shadow of its former self.
      Too many university graduates and not enough persons with dirt under their fingernails.

      Reply

    • Tails says:

      09:58am | 04/09/10

      Yeah, but he would say that wouldn’t he.

      Reply

    • Heléna says:

      10:10am | 04/09/10

      I think the blame lies at the feet of the NSW Liberal party for not providing an even semi-credible alternative in all these years - the last few state elections should have seen NSW Labor kicked to the curb and even today O’Farrell hardly inspires

      Reply

    • Joan says:

      12:28pm | 04/09/10

      The NSW Libs and Labor are made up of the New South Wales people the quality reflects the current population of locals,  ie voters. ....and if they vote to stay in the same rotten rut , a rut getting deeper more entrenched with every year and not dare to move out of it even if the view is not inspiring ....well dead certain that nothing will change. Dead brain thinking has got NSW where it is today.

    • Rob r Charteris says:

      12:54pm | 04/09/10

      Abmittedly NSW Labor unfortunately should get a flogging at the next state election, as they should have at the last two. But look at the alternative you cant get more of a wet blanket than O’Farrell!!! does this bloke have any decent plans for NSW future? all you hear from him are rants about how NSW Labor is, he is just a fat loud mouth version of rAbbott.

    • Super D says:

      01:08pm | 04/09/10

      I don’t think the State libs were in reality any less capable than State Labor, they just couldn’t compete with the Government’s spin.

    • Louisa says:

      05:43pm | 04/09/10

      Barry O’Farrell is my local member - Ku-Ring-Gai. Unfortunatley he only gets a few seconds on TV whenever the Labor Party stuffs up and although this is often, it is not sufficent time to ‘advertise’ his policies. I doubt the NSW Liberal Party can afford to start advertising for the next state election and it is far too early anyway.

      I must admit that Barry does not inspire me at all.  I think also that his latest stance on same sex adoptions back come back to bit him as it will not go down well on the Upper North Shore. Liberals may well win, but Barry could lose his seat.

    • Macca says:

      06:20pm | 04/09/10

      @Rob, how on earth is there anything “unfortunate” about it! They’re an utter disgrace.

      As for Policies, I think the South and North Western Train Routes are a good start for O’Farrell

    • John C says:

      08:43am | 05/09/10

      I see. The Libs are responsible for the corruption, incompetence, lies and total disregard for the public good that is the NSW Labor government.

      I know that we live in a society where one’‘s faults and misdeeds are always the responsibility of somebody or something else, but this is taking it to the nth degree.

      Is Helena a nom-de-plume for Bruce Hawker?

    • Rob r Charteris says:

      09:53am | 05/09/10

      Macca says:06:20pm; Admittedly “unfortunate” and “utter disgrace” is very similar in this case, so I find myself agreeing with you there. We had our Casino to Murwillumbah rail line taken away by Morris, it needed a $150 million overhaul. Then only to see a $7 billion north-west rail corridor proposed for Sydney weeks later, gee you would have thought they could have spared a measly $150 million.

    • Joshua says:

      10:56am | 05/09/10

      Substance doesn’t seem to sell ..Spin however..

      Barry isn’t leading a corrupt party. That is a start. The biggest vision an opposition leader could offer today is to fix the corruption. If he can do that, he deserves our support.

    • David says:

      10:45am | 04/09/10

      What else can we expect. Both sides are overburdened with 2nd and 3rd generation hacks who have never had a real job. They’ve virtually gone straight from student politics or union arselicking into positions of great responsibility and potential power. Theyve never experienced the stuggle to keep a job in private enterprise or run a small business. They have no more chance of understanding the problems of the average family man than I have of knowing what its really like to live on the streets. All we get is dogma and motherhood statements.  Now, we’ve even got a 20 year old in a federal seat. God help us.

      Reply

    • stephen says:

      11:34am | 04/09/10

      And talking of squalor, now that the Labor Party’s been trashed, i suggest we raid the original gene-pool (Ireland, of course !), and rejuvenate with bloodline stock, before the current crop turn into soap-box wimperers and lead us all into tempation e.g. very angry men.

      Reply

    • Drew(Darlinghurst) says:

      12:35pm | 04/09/10

      Barry O’Farrell and his Liberal Party Team HAVE ZERO POLICIES.

      They will not be getting MY VOTE.

      Yes N.S.W Labor has failed BUT ...Barry is a policy Flake.

      Reply

    • marley says:

      02:34pm | 04/09/10

      True, the Libs have no policies (or at least no known ones) - but then neither does the ALP (beyond staying in office).  Like the man says, if you keep doing the same thing and expect a different result, you’re delusional.  So is anyone who keeps voting for the current NSW ALP and expects them to suddenly become a competent government.

    • Mike t says:

      03:13am | 05/09/10

      So Drew, how bad does a party have to perform not to get your vote??? I Dont care if they opposition is a bunch of monkeys, they still deserve the opportunity to govern after what this party has done to our state.

    • Super D says:

      07:42am | 05/09/10

      Their policy of not being the Labor Pearty will be sufficient for most.

    • Rosie says:

      09:51am | 05/09/10

      Here we go again, no wonder this country is moving backwards instead of forward as we have Labor supporters preaching in capital letters emphasing they will not be voting in any Liberal Party Team and giving the feeble excuse that N.S.W. has failed but the Liberal Barry O’Farrell and his team wouldn’t be any better. This is typical Labor voter mentality.

      Look at the Federal Election, same excuse was used by non thinking Labor voters. They couldn’t bear to see what is the best for the nation so in some cases just threw their vote away to Bob Browne’s Greedy Greens and using the same old excuse that Gillard has failed but Abbott is no better. Labor voters have decided they can’t stand Tony Abbott so it doesn’t matter what he does they will say that Gillard, a political assassinator who abides by Labor Faceless Men will do better. Also the Labor women’s mentality that because she is our first woman PM they should vote for her. The whole thing is pathetic! I think it will take more than Labor Govts incompentency for any sense of fair decency to replace the greed and desperation to remain in power.

      I have a friend whom I thought held the same principles as I did until I found out he voted Labor. We then had this heated discussion and he tried to tell me he voted Labor because of the GFC otherwise the country would be struggling to get out of a recession. That was the only excuse that he was able to give me and it didn’t matter what I said he just wouldn’t budge. This was a friend that I stuck by when his wife left him because she was the income earner for many years as he couldn’t get himself to go looking for a job to help her pay the bills. While they were together he was not entitled to any social welfare because she had a job. Since she left him he now survives on welfare and welfare alone and doesn’t own a thing.

      After thinking about it I think he has lost all fairness and decency and envies those that have done well for themselves by sheer hard work so votes Labor for this reason. He just manages and is still my friend but have decided never to talk politics with him.

      God Bless Australia!

    • Gerard says:

      01:14pm | 05/09/10

      Mike t, exactly what has the coalition done to ‘deserve the opportunity to govern’? Their activities extend to occasionally pointing out obvious mistakes by the Labor Party. By that standard, every hack journo in NSW ‘deserves the opportunity to govern’. No one ‘deserves’ the opportunity to govern, they are granted a privilege by voters. If they don’t do a good job- and in this case neither major party has- they should be removed from parliament at the next election, and their seat given to someone who will. And that won’t be someone from a major party.

    • Fred says:

      02:19pm | 06/09/10

      @ Rosie - I think you’re confusing Labor voters with swinging voters:

      “Also the Labor women’s mentality that because she is our first woman PM they should vote for her”

      That’s not the Labor women’s mentality, clearly if they identify as Labor, they would vote for the Labor leader regardless of gender.

      It’s the swinging voters that use that as a reason that you should be worrying about.

      Also your example of a friend thinking they liked Labor policies without actually knowing any of them… I had the exact same thing happen to me a few weeks ago except in reverse.  It happens on both sides!!

    • Gerard says:

      12:47pm | 04/09/10

      The other 13 aren’t bad people? Most of them would be in gaol if the ICAC did its job properly. In most other countries this government would have been overthrown years ago.

      The article claims that McLeay didn’t do anything illegal. Criminal, no; illegal, yes. If McLeay has accepted an agreement in electronic form not to access pornography or gambling sites, then he has entered into a contract. His breach of this contract is illegal. If I did the same thing at work, I would get sacked.

      As for Foley…he’s all talk, just like the rest of his corrupt party. If he really does “reject the empty pursuit of power”, then why hasn’t he resigned from the Labor Party, an organisation which stands for nothing but the pursuit of power for its own sake?

      Reply

    • Fred says:

      02:21pm | 06/09/10

      Gerard - I don’t think that technically makes it illegal… in the eyes of the court, anyway.  His work would have the right to fire him because it went against something he said he wouldn’t do but I’m pretty sure there needs to be other elements involved to make it technically illegal.

      Any lawyers want to clarify?

    • Craig Iedema says:

      02:06pm | 04/09/10

      Whilst I agree that the NSW Government is a hopeless mess I think it is a but of long stretch to suggest that Milton Orkopolos is still part of it.  Makes for a good headline, but that is about it.

      Reply

    • David says:

      02:18pm | 04/09/10

      This is why we should never have fixed term parliaments!

      Reply

    • Gerard says:

      02:48pm | 04/09/10

      What do fixed terms have to do with it? Even if Labor could call an election now, they wouldn’t do it. They’d put off the election loss for as long as possible.

    • Drew(Darlinghurst) says:

      06:38am | 05/09/10

      Oh but we the citizens of NSW voted for 4 yr fixed terms…remember.????

      I know its a very long time when we are facing 4 yrs of a continuation of failure from NSW Labor…But like i mentioned before ...Where is Barry O’Farrell’s PLAN for NSW???? Still waiting Bazza

    • iansand says:

      07:46am | 05/09/10

      Do you really think that this government would call an early election to put us out of their misery?  This mob would linger on until the last possible moment to call the election, well beyond March 2011.  Without fixed terms it is the Premier who decides when to call the election.

    • TimB says:

      09:18am | 05/09/10

      I’ll say it again, this is why we need a recall provision. Barry’s first task in the job should be to get one drawn up, for the good of the state.

      Fixed Terms- Negates the ability of government to strategically call the election when the polls are good (or before they get worse in the case of Gillard)

      Recall Provision- Keeps the government on its toes knowing the people can petetion the Governor to turf them all at any minute.

      Best of both worlds.

    • Edward James says:

      02:57pm | 04/09/10

      The rank and file party members are the ones ultimatly responcible for the very poor work product of our elected representatives. If all voters are concerned about is that a liberal coalition will be worse than another term with labor pissing on our baks and telling us its raining. Then vote for change and and be prepared to vote for change again and again until we get honest open representative government. Because there is one thing as sure as the sun rising we wont stop the political rot by just chattering about it!  Edward James

      Reply

    • Gerard says:

      12:53pm | 05/09/10

      Problem is that most people’s idea of voting for change is to vote for the other major party, ignoring the fact that they’re part of the problem. Real change would be electing someone with the public interest at heart.

    • G. David says:

      05:16pm | 05/09/10

      I don’t know if it’s the same in NSW, but here in Vic,  Labor Party branch stacking is so bad that rank and file party members don’t get any say in who gets to be the endorsed candidate for the electorate.

    • Edward James says:

      09:45am | 06/09/10

      @ Gerard & David Your right Gerard most people do think change is one or the other of the two parties not much preferred hence they have taken turns. And yes David it is the same up here in NSW people who are motoviated by power take over branches. The seat of Robertson did put up a fight when it insisted on pre selecting Deberoh o’Niel over Belinda Neal We did not get change because the rank and file members insisted on rejecting the Iguana but I understand a branch chairman lost his chair as a result. We are getting an sample of what may happen if the people really turn their backs on the two parties not much prefered. I hope voters dont get frightened. The other thing which neds to happen is we need to keep after those who we have given our votes to in trust. The bulk of people just vote and forget about it for another four years. hence politicians head off and do as they please instead of representing their constituents.Party Caucus has over time been turned to a form of abuse of our democratic process. I often write that a basic requirement in becoming a party politicians is the removal of their backbone! When your local politician fails to act on your behalf it is often because they have been told NO by the party!

    • Tarzan says:

      09:50pm | 04/09/10

      I understand most politicians are intelligent people, usually the Dux of the school graduated in law. But with all this intelligence and and the myriads of advisors they always fail to do one thing. Sell their product. You must sell people what they need, not want they want. Both sides are hopeless. They have their polls and focus groups to steer them. But who knows the products better, the salesman or the customer? Any old car salesman could do a better job selling the ETS or Super Profits Tax. All these boffins with their political commentary and expert advice on policy cannot do the basics. What good is any policy (product) if you don’t know how to sell it. Bloody hopeless the lot of you!

      Reply

    • Peter Wauker says:

      02:50pm | 05/09/10

      To be quite honest I have always been a political animal but I’m growing ever so tired of all this BS. There is no ethics left in this world of politics. Both, possibly ALL are nothing but self grandiosing BS artists. No ONE ever inspires me any more!
      I will take on board what that idiot Latham sad and not vote anymore.
      PS. All one has do say it is against their religion to vote, no proof since that would be an invasion of privacy also. So go for it those whom are simply fed up to the back of their teeth. Dont bother getting up to visit to have your name crossed, an END to the bastards!
      Agree, the Libs have been dismal, they created the shit in this state for not providing an alternative.
      Go to their site liberal.org.au and see how the adminitrators on that site treat you. Its a disgrace at which I have complained to the highest but they think they are doing fine without support!

      Reply

    • MH says:

      09:11am | 06/09/10

      Having been there when then fixed four year terms were negotiated in NSW and having worked in both state and federal politics, I am totally convinced that the four-year term is the worst thing that ever happened to democracy in NSW.

      With “floating” terms, the Premier can keep their cabinet, backbench, party and Opposition on their toes - policy becomes acute, failure can be catastrophic and wits need to be sharp.  Fixed four-year terms leads to lazy and self-indulgent politicians - “that policy (or leader) didn’t work? she’ll be right, we’ve got three years to airbrush it and come up with a new one” - and disengaged and overly-forgiving voters.  They’re good for MP’s that regard politics as a career, but little else.

      Reply
 
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