The South Australian Political Landscape

[Sky Pilot]

Downer pretty much ruled out his participation on Richo last night so Izzy needs a bit of a makeover and a firm kick in the date to get her motivated and into it.

[scoob]

Izzy resigns as leader

[dedja]

what a bunch of muppets ... get out the fishnets!

She had to go after yesterday's embarrassment ...

[Dogwatcher]

Feb 18 is closing day for pre-selection of all Liberal seats.
The timing of this decision is very interesting in that respect.

[OnSong]

Feb 18 is closing day for pre-selection of all Liberal seats.
The timing of this decision is very interesting in that respect.

Made her announcement at a party meeting in Pirie. Must be some level of strategy behind it.

[Gozu]

What a complete rabble the Libs are, they're an absolute joke.

[dedja]

Downer has come out saying after her resignation that he doesn't want the job ... wow, it's worse than I thought.

MHS is sitting in the corner yelling ... pick me, pick me!

[Dogwatcher]

Oh, dear.

[mick]

What a complete rabble the Libs are, they're an absolute joke.

For once I have to agree

[OnSong]

Oh, dear.

x2

[OnSong]

SA Liberals uncover leadership frontrunner:

[dedja]

What are their options?

Back to the future with Evans or MHS, or even Chapman? ... if they aren't already dead then this would seal it

Marshall? ... would give it a red hot go but would be mauled by the Labor machine and a promising career would be over before it started

Downer? ... keeps saying no but there will be relentless pressure for him to stand

Anyone else? ... not unless they parachute someone outside of parliament

Geez, they're well and truly faarked.

Labor must be absolutely pissing themselves.

[Gozu]

Premier Jay Weatherill said Ms Redmond's announcement was "the culmination of the most treacherous and deceitful undermining of a leader we have seen in this state".

"There has been a relentless campaign to undermine Isobel Redmond - which she has bravely tried to withstand," he said.

"Isobel Redmond has been forced to resign because of the treachery of her own Party.

"The Liberal Party in South Australia is indeed a sad tale."

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/sout ... 6565707921

[Dogwatcher]

Gotta love that statement - a year ago he replaced Rann.

[Gozu]

A ballot for the position will be held at 9am Monday. Indaily understands that retired federal MP Alexander Downer will not contest the leadership.

The decision opens up a range of options for a replacement leader with lobbying beginning immediately.

Contenders include former leader Martin Hamilton-Smith whose challenge for the job last October fell one vote short, current deputy leader Steven Marshall, former deputy leader Vickie Chapman and, until this morning, Downer.

Former leader Iain Evans is understood to have little or no support.

Indaily understands Marshall is reluctant to take on the top job in his first term, having been elected in 2010.

Marshall and Hamilton-Smith had stood last October on a joint ticket as leader and deputy – the same is likely to occur Monday with the possibility Marshall might be convinced to take the senior role to keep the Downer bid at bay.

Today’s decision followed another destabilising leak to the media where The Australian received a copy of an email exchange between party stalwart and former one-term federal MP Michael Pratt and Alexander Downer.

The email included a comment from Downer that the state Liberals’ performance was “a sad tale” and talk of him seizing the leadership is "very interesting".

http://indaily.wordpress.com/2013/01/31 ... n-starter/

[Booney]

With the government under performing and under as much scrutiny as it is, it is almost inconceivable that the opposition could be considered a risk not worth taking. Well, that it is.

The Liberal party are an absolute joke.

[Grahaml]

I've often thought the better the opposition the better the government. But sadly the Libs have been so bad for so long, that I couldn't bring myself to vote for them even when Rann was governing by opinion poll. Any good leader would have won either of the two elections for the Libs IMHO.

Personally, I think we almost need Downer now. An experienced highly capable politician with a reputation and legacy that being a poor 1 term premier can't harm too much means he'll have an ability to run things and the balls to make decisions based on their merit and not their popularity. Gives Labor a chance to renew themselves in opposition for a couple of terms and the Liberals to really show what they can do with a good leader while developing their next leaders.

[mighty_tiger_79]

Downer to take a paycut???? not sure about that

i think MHS will run again and I think he is the attacking force that they need. I thought he did a reasonable job as shadow health and forced Hill a number of times to come out defending positions etc... some of those times didnt help MHS cause, but the more times you get the opposition talking to the media, the more opportunity there is for a slip up - see Izzy

if MHS leads the libs than for the first time i will vote liberal

[Sky Pilot]

What a complete rabble the Libs are, they're an absolute joke.

They are. But their incompetence is not wrecking the state

[Dogwatcher]

Applying your logic, if they can't get it together in Opposition, against a government generally regarded as weak, how much 'further' would it wreck the state?