O’Farrell faces test of mettle

ON the face of it, last month’s Newspoll - which put the NSW Coalition comfortably ahead of the beleaguered state Labor Government - should have been the best possible Christmas present for the conservative Opposition. Malcolm Colless

Barry O’Farrell boosts Mike Baird

NSW OPPOSITION leader Barry O’Farrell will promote leadership rival Mike Baird to become the Coalition’s treasury spokesman when he announces a reshuffle of his shadow front bench today. Sunday Telegraph

NSW Liberals preparing for power

A RESHUFFLE and radical restructure of the NSW Coalition front bench, due to be unveiled by Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell tomorrow, will provide the first solid clues on how a Caolition government intends to run the state. The Weekend Australian

Hage-Ali sues NSW Government

Iktimal Hage-Ali is suing the State Government for unlawful arrest and wrongful detention. Daily Telegraph

More cushy jobs for Labor mates

THE examples of poor judgment by Labor during its 13 years in office in NSW are legion. But former premier Bob Carr’s decision to scrap the state’s overseas trade posts is not one of them. Malcolm Colless

Rees Govt in terminal decline

Nathan Rees and his ministers have lost sight of the rudiments of service delivery. Christopher Pearson

Voters ask, where is Maxine McKew?

Even a diehard Labor supporter, agrees with his bowling mates that McKew has been very hard to spot. “We don’t see her,” he says. Steve Lewis

ALP machine culture rotten to core

IS the NSW Government totally dysfunctional or is it just suffering from a series of disconnected unfortunate events? The list of events is long and often reads like a series of episodes from a television soap drama. Ken Phillips

Joe Hockey for Premier?

The problem with Barry O’Farrell is that he has been unable to take the bold steps that are necessary to capture the imagination of an electorate that is crying out for change. Malcolm Colless

MPs silent on PC issues – Pasquarelli

John Pasquarelli

John Pasquarelli, artist, author, columnist, former PNG MP and One Nation adviser, isn’t afraid to speak out on issues that those who have been intimidated by the bullies of political correctness refuse to touch. This week he wrote:

“African thugs slashed at each other in a busy Adelaide shopping centre on Wednesday Nov 12, leaving one dead. About a year ago in Flemington Victoria, police were assaulted by African punks but no charges were laid. More

Congestion charges “a welcome step” say Federal Labor

Federal Labor has today given unqualified backing to the New South Wales Government’s economically damaging decision this week to introduce congestion charges in Sydney. More

Nile: Rees Govt has lost fiscal perspective

Rev Fred Nile
(Photo: CDP)

The NSW Labor Government has lost fiscal perspective by continuing to fund the Sydney Homosexual Mardi Gras amidst one of the greatest financial challenges the State had faced in the last half a century, the Rev Fred Nile, Leader of the Christian Democratic Party, said today.

“Our State of NSW is facing one of the greatest financial challenges it has experienced for more than half a century. The Government has announced that it will record a $917 million deficit this financial year despite slashing State spending by 3.3 billion More

Rees: all CoS and press secs should join ALP

THE Premier’s chief of staff, Ross Neilson, a close friend, has told all chiefs of staff and press secretaries in the Government that they should join the Labor Party. More

Heavy swings against Labor in NSW, ACT

SMH online’s report.

“NEW South Wales Labor’s worst by-election fears have been realised, with massive swings against the state government in three Sydney seats including a rout by the Liberal Party in the seat of Ryde,” news.com.au reports.

“Labor is set to suffer swings of at least 20 per cent against it in Ryde and Cabramatta and a double-digit swing in Lakemba.

“Liberal candidate Victor Dominello has claimed victory in Ryde, previously held by former deputy premier John Watkins by a 10 per cent margin.” More

Quote of the Week

Dennis Atkins on ABC1’s Insiders yesterday: More