Seems Federal powerbrokers are stepping in to sort out the mess that’s
left of the South Australian Liberals.

Word has it that Christopher Pyne and Senator Nick Minchin are trying
to get the two main Opposition leadership contenders – Vickie Chapman and Iain Evans –
on a unity ticket to prevent an embarrassing free for all and head off a party
room ballot.

It’s the second attempt at the leadership title for Evans. Hopefully
he’s a little wiser today. When Olsen stood down as Premier, it was a three-way contest involving
him and Rob Kerin. I was working on ABC Breakfast Radio
news at the time and all any media knew was there was to be a vote starting at 8.30am on the morning between three contenders.

We had pre-prepared packages from the political writer with interview
grabs from all concerned saying how they were confident of a win and had the
numbers. I rang Iain Evans on a spurious little story – so forgetful, and at the
end I threw in the quip “Good luck
with the leadership vote today.”

And he responded with words to the effect, “Oh, there’s going to be no vote.
We’ve agreed to let Rob (Kerin) stand unopposed” – giving me one doozy of an exclusive at 7.15am! So I thanked him by
saying “ok, thanks, I’ll stop the recording now”. And he went, ‘OH,
NO.” Whoops he didn’t realise it was still part of
the interview. Apparently, the deal was to be kept secret.

Anyway, he never had a chance then as he struggled to get a seconder
for his nomination and then worked out he only had three votes. So he had to
pull out. He’s had about ten years to build the numbers.

Another former contender who’s sticking his hand up this time is Martin
Hamilton-Smith. He was the one who began the aborted attempt to oust Rob Kerin
as leader only months before the election. He pulled out when he realised the stunt only gave him two votes.

Word is there’s bad blood from the embarrassment of challenging the
leader months before the election.