Sunset clauses:
While the Premiers and the PM debate sunset clauses on terror laws today, spare
a moment’s thought for Nelson Meers, a former Lord Mayor of Sydney tipped as a
saviour of the NSW Liberal Party in the early eighties. When he lined up for
preselection, he was asked about his opinion on sunset legislation – and told
the meeting that no matter what the Nationals thought, he supported daylight
saving.

Long weekend
diversions: In our desperate search for cheap laughs, we’ve been studying names
of the runners in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington on Saturday to see what might apply to the Member for Wentworth. Confectioner – something
on tax policy? Demerger – a reference to Canberra real estate? We’ll be charitable and avoid
making a gag about Frightening – let alone Hollow Bullet. And, no, we’ve never seen
Malcolm down at the Holy Grail, so Plastered won’t get a mention, either.

Longer
in the Loser’s Lounge: Sydney sources say that John Ryan, one of the supposedly
threatened NSW Liberal moderates, has all but secured the numbers for his
preselection to the NSW Loser’s Lounge. All he needs is the support of leader
Peter Debnam.