Tag Archives: Robertson

In Case You Missed It….

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…Barry O’Farrell resigned on Wednesday.

It turns out that O’Farrell did receive a bottle of $3000 Grange (1959 Vintage) from Nick Di Girolamo and did write a thank you note. But, given he vehemently denied it on Tuesday and may (or may not – I could be wrong) have said that he would resign if proven otherwise, he’s had to go.

On Tuesday, following his appearance at ICAC he spoke to the media.

Then overnight, it appears Di Girolamo found the letter and gave it to ICAC, which meant that O’Farrell had to resign – you can see his speech here on the ABC website. Then, O’Farrell was called back to ICAC, speculation arose as to who would become the new Premier of NSW and Tony Abbott spoke to the media. Abbott was mainly talking about Badgery’s Creek, but that was taken over by the news of the resignation – and the first question asked by a journalist at Abbott’s press conference went like this:

From there, Barry O’Farrell pulled out of welcoming the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George to Sydney, and has been keeping quiet ever since. The reactions from the other sides of NSW Politics have been interesting, with John Robertson (NSW Labor Opposition Leader) and John Kaye (Greens MLC) both talking to the media about it.

On Thursday, Gladys Berejiklian and Mike Baird released a statement saying they would run on the same ticket for the party leadership with Baird as Premier and Berejiklian as deputy leader. Pru Goward put her hand up for the deputy leadership in the morning, before pulling out after lunch as did Anthony Roberts. Meanwhile, Jillian Skinner, Barry O’Farrell’s deputy stepped aside to allow for Gladys Berejiklian to take up the role. Both Baird and Berejiklian were elected unopposed to the Liberal leadership.

And that is it for now, as Mike Baird and Gladys Berejiklian spend Easter reshuffling NSW State Cabinet.

The Week That Was – July 28 to August 3

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Well, if not for the ICAC findings, this week would have been a bit of same old, same old.

So, it started on Sunday morning, when the Opposition Spokesman for Immigration, Scott Morrison said that maybe, the Coalition would support the PNG solution. Wait what? Last week they flipped from “this is good” to “this is bad” and now they’re saying “this is good” again. Honestly, make your mind up people!

Also this week, the Coalition decided that they like the Gonski Reforms – except I don’t think they are called that anymore – with Tony saying there is no difference between his and Kev’s education policy. The cynic within me thinks he’s only doing it because the polling has suggested that people are in favour of the reforms.

In NSW, the ICAC inquiry returned with rulings on three of their four investigations. Eddie Obeid and Ian Macdonald as well as a few businessmen have been recommended to the Department of Public Prosecutions for their corruption.

Eddie Obeid is not impressed; he thinks the whole thing is a sham. Oh, and I think he might have thrown John Robertson (NSW Labor Opposition Leader) under the bus.

Ian Macdonald is unimpressed too, but other than being rather annoyed that his case is off to the DPP, he hasn’t said much.

Quotes of the Week

“John Robertson’s irrelevant. He’ll get his day later…” – Eddie Obeid in his statement to the media about ICAC

“As far as school funding is concerned, Kevin Rudd and I are on a unity ticket. There is no difference between Kevin Rudd and myself when it comes to school funding.” – Tony Abbott on Gonski reforms.

 

Tweet of the Week

Lyndal Curtis (ABC Political Reporter) is working very hard by the looks of it – may have skipped a meal and listened to too much economic news. 😀

 

A Little Treat for you!

So, for those of you who are getting bored with the “when will the election be called” question, I have something about the election that will be definite – a HUGE ballot paper for NSW Senate candidates! Be ready to vote under the line and count to a large number!