The South Australian Political Landscape

[Psyber]

The ALP's campaign is obviously getting some traction in the media - I wonder who they are paying.
You have to ask why would she go on holiday if her job was really at risk?

[dedja]

LOL, the leaks are coming from the Libs themselves ...

[Psyber]

LOL, the leaks are coming from the Libs themselves ...

Allegedly..

[dedja]

perception is reality ...

[fish]

Psyber I find it hard to believe that the "state ALP spin machine" masterminded this:

Liberal media adviser Nic Nolan loses job after David Pisoni's media release gaffe

OPPOSITION Leader Isobel Redmond's office is in fresh turmoil with the resignation of her chief spin doctor.

It has emerged today that Ms Redmond's media and communications director, Nic Nolan, has quit.

It comes just days after he agreed heads would roll over the accidental release of a draft media statement from education spokesman David Pisoni which mocked the dress sense of a female Cabinet minister.

[dedja]

Labor obviously to blame for this too ...

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/sout ... 6449557385

OPPOSITION Leader Isobel Redmond is due to return to Adelaide today to face a Liberal Party further divided after her chief media adviser resigned.

Nic Nolan formally quit as Liberal media and communications director yesterday, days after the accidental release of a draft media statement mocking a female minister's dress sense.

It is understood Mr Nolan told Ms Redmond and senior members of her office on Friday that he intended to resign after disputes about media strategy and demands that he discipline unruly MPs.

Some MPs suspect Ms Redmond will today resign or call a leadership spill to assert her authority ahead of the Liberal annual meeting this weekend, featuring federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.

A well-placed source said Ms Redmond believed the party was behind her.

Ms Redmond has kept her own counsel during a weekend getaway interstate.

[Dogwatcher]

It's the media's fault. Nothing in it.

Ben Avery claims a scalp.

[Psyber]

I'm prepared to wait and see.
There may be issues going on in back room administration but that does not prove a leadership challenge is imminent.
However, you can never be sure, I guess, because of the sheer mass of individual MP's egos.
There will always be individuals, in any party, who think they are the rightful Lord of all..

All I can say, at present, is that there is nothing of substance, that the membership are hearing about, going on, and that my old school friend who is an ALP "heavy" did say stirring up belief in Liberal party instability was the state ALP's aim, and only hope.

[Dogwatcher]

So, what of the talk of Ian Smith, according to ABC he has been approached numerous times by Libs members?
Pretty good credentials. And....given NSD works at Aunty part time, I'm sure it was confirmed through her prior to being aired...

[Gozu]

All I can say, at present, is that there is nothing of substance, that the membership are hearing about, going on, and that my old school friend who is an ALP "heavy" did say stirring up belief in Liberal party instability was the state ALP's aim, and only hope.

You wouldn't think the rank & file membership would know what's going on especially given ALP MP's in Canberra didn't even know Rudd was about to get the knife.

[Jimmy_041]

So, Issie hasn't fallen on her sword or been knifed yet?

[Gozu]

South Australian opposition leader Isobel Redmond’s grasp on her job appears sunk today by claims that key federal Liberal MP Jamie Briggs is behind moves to parachute in a replacement. Briggs told InDaily this morning he had made approaches to prominent businessman Ian Smith to take up a seat in State Parliament.

“I’ve been urging Smith to run for State Parliament for a year, but to say it’s about leadership is wrong — that’s a matter for the state MPs,” Briggs said. “I think [ABC presenters] Matt and Dave have over-egged it.”

However, the moves have sparked more leadership tensions within the Liberal Party.

and this:

Several Liberal MPs have told InDaily there is barely a single MP who thinks the Redmond leadership has much life left in it. The Briggs revelations now make a spill almost inevitable.

http://www.crikey.com.au/2012/08/14/sa- ... d-falters/

[dedja]

So, what of the talk of Ian Smith, according to ABC he has been approached numerous times by Libs members?
Pretty good credentials. And....given NSD works at Aunty part time, I'm sure it was confirmed through her prior to being aired...

No wonder he was talking down Alexander Downer ...

[Jimmy_041]

Lyn Arnold has left Anglicare - heard a rumour he's in the mix

[Dogwatcher]

[fish]

South Australian opposition leader Isobel Redmond’s grasp on her job appears sunk today by claims that key federal Liberal MP Jamie Briggs is behind moves to parachute in a replacement. Briggs told InDaily this morning he had made approaches to prominent businessman Ian Smith to take up a seat in State Parliament.

“I’ve been urging Smith to run for State Parliament for a year, but to say it’s about leadership is wrong — that’s a matter for the state MPs,” Briggs said. “I think [ABC presenters] Matt and Dave have over-egged it.”

However, the moves have sparked more leadership tensions within the Liberal Party.

Maybe Jamie Briggs is a stooge of the state ALP spin machine!

[Psyber]

Lyn Arnold has left Anglicare - heard a rumour he's in the mix

Not a bad option - he did have the good sense to stand aside and encourage Melbourne to steal the Grand Prix.

[Sojourner]

Lyn Arnold has left Anglicare - heard a rumour he's in the mix

He is actually leaving to begin his study to become an Anglican Priest. - Lyn Arnold is someone I very much admire and I think he will likely do very well in his next job. I do often wonder where the ALP may be if he had remained as leader!

[Psyber]

For those who complain she has had nothing to say here is Isobel Redmond's address to the 2012 State Council Annual General Meeting.

Distinguished guests, State Councillors, Liberals.
Can I begin by saying that the rumours of my demise “have been greatly exaggerated”. Unlike the great Elvis Presley, “ I have not left the building”, unlike poor Matthew Primus, I’m still in charge and unlike Jay Weatherill on the Murray - and on so many other issues - I will stand and deliver.

We heard earlier from Tony Abbott, whose message of Hope, Reward, Opportunity is resonating with the Australian people.
The next time he is in this room, he will be our Prime Minister and then it will be our turn and our time.

In recent weeks, some have cast doubt on whether I still have the support of the Party Room. Let me be very frank. All politicians have ambition, and all leaders understand that any Party Room will have those who believe they can, from time to time, do a better job than their leader. Indeed, if a vote were taken at any time, and especially after long periods in opposition, there will rarely be unanimity. Someone else might put their hand up. That’s what I did. And while some initially dubbed me as the accidental Leader of the Opposition, it will be no accident that I am the next Premier.

I note that when media outlets cite “ a senior SA Liberal” or a “senior Liberal source”, that these critics are either from outside the parliamentary party or they are agitators putting personal interest and ego ahead of our party. There is a point where constructive criticism becomes divisive and damaging. Some question whether we are working for ourselves, or for the South Australian people? It is time to answer that question.

I cannot deny that we have hit bumps along the road and I want to take this opportunity to thank my many colleagues who have offered consistent and vocal expressions of support, even in the face of their names being peddled publicly as likely challengers. I also want to thank the many Liberals and indeed non-Liberal members of the public at large who have also voiced their support over recent weeks. What I give you today is an inviolable commitment to ensure that the next Leader of the Opposition is Jay Weatherill and the next Shadow Ministry will come from the small Labor caucus that is left after the 2014 election. We are now under 19 months away, or more precisely, 574 days from our next state election. An election that will be fought on the rich battleground of the economy. An election the Liberal Party will fight on behalf of the families struggling with relentless cost of living pressures, the small businesses battling to keep their doors open in the wake of ever-rising taxes and charges, the pensioners abandoned by an uncaring government, the young people planning to head over the border because there is little hope of finding a job here. In short, the Liberal Party will be fighting on behalf of every single South Australian.

It will be an election that will determine whether South Australians want real change: real economic change, sustainable social change to fight off the malaise that is suffocating this state, or, whether they want more of the same: the same Labor arrogance, the same Labor bumbling mismanagement, the same old Labor spin. Ten years ago, as I said, when we were last in government, South Australia was a pretty good place to be, thanks to some very hard work by the Brown and Olsen Governments. We had not only survived the horror of the State Bank fiasco but we had emerged with a new and fresh vision for the state. Because of sound economic management, for which the Liberal Party is so renowned, we were putting money back in the bank. Families were able to educate their children, knowing that when the time came for them to graduate, there would be jobs for them. Small businesses were thriving and innovators who came up with ideas were able to secure the investment dollars to back them. Manufacturing and retail were performing strongly and employing thousands. Our food and agriculture sector was thriving and our exports were growing; money was flowing freely through the economy. The vulnerable, the disadvantaged and the marginalized were treated with dignity and care because the government was enabling money to be spent where it was needed. They were being held firmly in safe arms, as opposed to being strangled by Labor’s tentacle-like grip.

A decade on and our voice is silenced and our relevance as a state has all but vanished. Consider the utter disregard shown to us by the eastern states over the Murray and know that there is little thought for the state that sits at the end of that river. They are kicking sand in our faces and Jay Weatherill’s response is to launch a $2 million media campaign that cannot possibly achieve anything.

Look where Labor has taken us in its ten years:
We have seen power prices rise to levels that are the highest in the world, up 18% in the last year alone
Gas is up 79% over Labor’s time in office and we have the highest water charges of any capital city, up 40%, again, in the last year. Quite honestly, I do not know how people are paying these bills.

[Gozu]

Talk about pushing party propaganda.