The State Labor Party is in chaos and even the Liberals are facing a vote on who will be their leader in the immediate future.

At the time of writing the Libs leader Brendan Nelson has challenged his party to support him or select another leader.

He says the move is aimed at putting an end to all the back biting and innuendo that has been going on about his leadership.

It might have been the only decision he could have made, but it is the right one.

Labor on the other hand seems to go from one debacle to another.

Not only are they in chaos in this state but they no longer hold government in West Australia and they were savaged in the NSW municipal elections at the weekend.

If the decision by Premier Morris “Who” to step aside wasn’t a surprise enough what has followed has been nothing but a three ring circus.

His replacement is a comparative unknown Nathan Rees and he’s wasted no time in cleaning out many of the old brigade.

But to top it all off has been the revelation that the then Minister for Transport Kiama’s Matt Brown stripped to his underpants and cavorted well into the night at his office in Parliament House which was the scene for much revelry.

The somewhat unsavoury orgy has seen him stripped of his Ministerial duties and has put another dent into the already battered armour of our Member for Wollongong Noreen Hay, who was also there and evidently danced with Matt in his undies.

Noreen’s daughter who, I believe, has strong political aspirations was also at the romp as was the member for Shellharbour Lylea McMahon, who continues to remain tight lipped about the event.

And I wonder who actually paid for the romp? Not taxpayers, surely!!!!

I’ve suggested before that our State Governor should step in and sack the government, but that’s unlikely seeing she’s their appointment.

What makes it all the more ridiculous is that here is a Government that has been busy sacking local councils around the State, and yet their own actions are at gutter level to say the least.

What might have happened here?

All of which makes you wonder what might have happened if we locals had been allowed to go to the polls at the weekend.

Certainly there would have been a Labor backlash and at a guess we might have seen the Independents take back control of the council.

Much is the pity we missed out and it seems ludicrous that we might have to wait another three years to have a rightful say in who we want to oversee our city.

Perhaps our new Transport Minister could catch a train and bring his new Premier down for a ride to meet disenchanted locals and change the mode of things by allowing an election here in mid – 2009.

It would be about the only positive action the once again Minister for the Illawarra
would have taken in his tenure and it’s also a chance for a NSW Premier to show some real interest in us.

Dream on John, dream on!!!

Still waiting

The changes to the NSW Ministry are not expected to hurry up any decision on the long overdue West Dapto development proposals.

Still before the NSW Growth Centres Commission the proposals which include an overall master plan, attention to flooding, riparian corridors and staging if the development goes ahead are not expected to be acted on until some time next month.

Then, I understand, our city administrators will again review the proposal and there’s every possibility another bulky summary will go to the people, maybe in November if they are lucky.

This is supposed to be planned progress. Anyway, with our city councillors sacked we didn’t get a chance to go the polls last weekend and try to have a few things changed so I guess the majority must continue to pay for the “sins” of a few.

Peter must go

Having read with some interest and dismay the two excerpts published to date of former Federal Treasurer Peter Costello’s political memoirs all I can say is that it’s time the Liberals gave him the boot.

Irrespective of the outcome of their leadership vote today ( Tuesday ) it’s also time they realised Pete’s outrun his usefulness.

In the early extracts of his memoirs he blamed former PM John Howard for ignoring his then colleagues and staying on as PM, and when you read between the lines it’s evident big Pete wanted the job.

What he hasn’t admitted though is that many Aussies saw him as self centred, the man with the often supercilious smile that left them cold.

Not good news

It’s not good news ahead for those people who are on Commonwealth pensions with changes mooted not likely to go in their favour.

The proposed Federal Government changes to the way Centrelink calculate income may well be altered so that income from superannuation pensions will be counted as income for Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) testing.

Our Canberra folk, or some of them, want to change the CSHC income test to include gross income from superannuation income streams paid from a taxed source.

It is also likely to want to include in the changes income that is salary sacrificed to superannuation in the income assessment.

It’s been suggested to me the changes could cost as much as $19.4 million to administer and at the same time save the government $17.8 million in outlays.

What a great deal!  So get along to your local Federal MP and get into their ear about this proposal, and do it quickly.

Spread around

Crowds at our major football games at the weekend were certainly spread around with 52 000 plus at the Rugby Union game in Brisbane, 48 000 at four A – League matches, 71 000 watching NRL – also four games – and 119 500 at two AFL clashes.

Sorry, but I can’t help myself when it comes to the AFL.

And was it coincidence or not? Two teams wearing the red and white – the Dragons and Swans – have now gone in the race for their respective flags.

Some good news

And on a brighter note the upcoming “Search for Illawarra’s Pop Star” is about to be launched providing kids from 8-11 years and older ones aged between 12-16 an opportunity to show their talents to the public.

I’ll have more about this exciting event in weeks to come, but watch out for next weeks’ Profile when I speak with one of the key organisers.

With all the bad news around us this sounds like a refreshing break and a welcome Christmas present.