One thing that’s always been a puzzle to me about Lawrence Springborg’s assimilation agenda is why exactly anyone would want to take over the squabbling rabble that is the Queensland Liberal Party. This is the mob who last year - let it be remembered - took almost a fortnight to work through a leadership challenge in their caucus of eight members, and for a couple of days were seriously contemplating deciding the winner by tossing a coin. And whatever the current byzantine alignments of their factions are, you can always bet a Santo Santoro acolyte somewhere in the shadows plotting a leadership coup.
Now Graham Young has provided us with the good oil on rumours of a plot by Clayfield Liberal MP Tim Nicholls (the new new face of Queensland?) to roll The Borg in the amalgamated Liberal National Party room. Aside from the good old fashioned notion of revenge percolating in the background with former Nats leader Jeff Seeney not exactly having buried the hatchet, there’s also the small matter of Lawrence’s opinions on recycled water:
The Liberal Party votes are said to be solid because none of the Liberals has ever been supportive of Springborg. In fact, the reason that Bob Quinn was dumped when he was had to do with the fact that he stood beside Springborg as Springborg expounded on the alleged tendency of fish to change gender from drinking recycled water. Quinn was expected to repudiate the remarks and didn’t.
You can read more about The Borg’s worries about fish and feminisation in the LP archive.
Then, of course, there’s the religious right factor in the Nats - associated with but not limited to Deputy Leader Fiona Simpson - which Seeney publicly blamed for his ousting. Santo Santoro, of course, is associated or linked with certain Catholic organisations New South Wales MP David Clarke might know a thing or two about. All this is rumour at this stage, but you can bet your house on the fact that with the addition of the Libs’ ancient tribal disputes into the equation, the “United Conservative Party” is an oxymoron waiting to happen.
Meanwhile on the other side of the continent, Troy Buswell’s leadership is again rocky. If the polls aren’t enough to convince you that the parties of the right in Australia aren’t in dire straits, their continued antics at state level should be something of a tonic.
As comical as the whole saga has been for the past year and a half, I wish they would just get the merger/nonmerger issue over with so that we can have some sort of viable opposition in this state. How do you think the elevation of Mal Brough to the Qld Libs presidency will change things?
Brough’s election means that the terms of the negotiations for amalgamation aren’t a lay down misere for the Nats any more. If he does go into state parliament, I think there’d be more leadership instability for the Borg - facing two ex-Liberal contenders and possibly also Seeney. I really don’t think we’re going to see viable opposition any way this plays out.
It seems the WA Libs are still stuck with Buswell.
I don’t see how a merger between the Nats and Libs could work. They have fundamentally opposed basic economic ideologies. Something which was illustrated admirably in the reaction to the Wheat Board legislation currently before the Senate.
Is there some mitigating factor in QLD?
It doesn’t really make sense to me…
I can’t see a joint party room meeting rolling the ‘Borg in favour of Nicholls or anyone else the Libs can put up. Perhaps they can get a Nat to stand as a dummy candidate against Springborg but there’s nothing they can say that will get Queensland to vote for them. Springborg may be completely unable to make a dent in the Government’s numbers but he’s the most charismatic leader the Nationals are able to put forth.
Springborg the two time loser, Sam? I don’t know why you would expect the Lib factions and egos to suddenly subsume themselves under his aura, or Jeff Seeney to forget and forgive.
Tell you a funny story.
’bout 2 & half weeks ago we went out for dinner w/ my wife’s relies. QLD swing voters, all voted for Rudd last time…but usually they’re Nat voters…I think two of them voted for One Nation once. After plenty of jovial banter & such we talked serious about pensions & immigration, I made some comments on RTS about the discussion.
Then I threw in the question:
“What do you think of Springborg’s latest ad campaign?”
Stony silence.
So I explained. They looked befuddled…”never heard of him” said the eldest male. The younger male (in late 40s) agreed. The younger female (early 50s) just shook her head. And the older lady muttered something about “useless”.
I then mentioned the shirt off, ironing moment. Then they remembered. Not a positive word came from those lips. They moved on quickly…as tho I’d brought up some slightly embarrassing moment in QLD history…or something unworthy of discussion.
The Borg just ain’t on their radar.
If the Coalition parties are intent on fighting over the spoils of defeat and setting themselves up for electoral oblivion, Seeney is their man. Once the merger is on, the Pineapple Party will have to fight against another party like One Nation which allows all the dissatisfied anti-Labor voters a chance to throw their support behind someone who will at least make a mark.
[It seems the WA Libs are still stuck with Buswell.]
And note that the WA Nationals have split from the Coalition here and the leader has said they will NEVER rejoin it, and will be candidates in all rural seats and also in the metro Upper house Seats.
http://www.nationalswa.com/
Bob Quinn must be in stitches. He now has a sinecure based in Singapore as a Trade Commissioner. He would know only too well his appointment was simply a smokescreen that allowed Bredhauer’s appointment as Trade Commissioner to China to fly under the radar.
While Beattie has some claims in Trade, neither Quinn nor Bredhauer have any background or experience that warrant such appointments.
Personally I can’t see this takeover by the Nats ever occurring. Certainly Quinn and Borbidge could agree as could Quinn and the Borg but Quinn and Vaughan or indeed any Nat west of the divide seems totally out of the question. They barely tolerated each other when in government.
Stuffed if they do but stuffed if they don’t.
I suppose,I suppose.Then again in Victoria we have a Minister that has ky at the end of her name that have made train tickets in costs… flights to other planets.According to A.M. ABC. In comparison,Springborg would still have his feet on the ground,albeit in a befuddled manner,and the Female in Victoria,is,if someone asked me…Off the Planet! B Kos you are mine,I walk the line! Hey! Kidz! From what song is that line from!?
Sam Clifford do you lean slightly to the conservative side of politics?
ALL politics inthis country is crazy and self-defeating at the mo.
It’s bad whoever you vote for.
Paul Walter @ 11, no I certainly do not lean slightly to the conservative side.