A big
splash in the Mainly Daily today: “A so called ‘factional warlord’ who has served in Federal Parliament
and the NSW Upper House has emerged as a high-profile contender for Liberal
preselection in Pittwater,” the paper says.

They’re talking about
one Stephen Mutch, who might be better described as a “faction rat and
failure,” although anyone who saw just how p*ssed he got one night at the 1990
Young Liberal Annual Conference will never forget the man.

Mutch spent two years
as the member for Bruce Baird’s seat of Cook, way down in Sydney’s south, before being dumped from
preselection. Another outsider in a parochial electorate. Interesting.

Meanwhile, Barry O’Farrell
has delivered a valedictory speech for the former member, John Brogden. He
ended by referring to Brogden’s maiden speech: “He finished his speech by
adding: ‘When I leave this place I hope that I will have achieved that goal and
made a difference for Pittwater and NSW.’ Despite John Brogden’s truncated
tenure in this place, he fulfilled that hope. I pay tribute to him. I wish him
both good health and a fulfilling future.’”

The full text is here.