In 2008, at the height of the electricity privatisation saga, former Unions NSW secretary John Robertson took his seat in the NSW Upper House. Former PM Paul Keating took exception to how Robertson helped orchestrate the dumping of the man he replaced in parliament, Michael Costa, along with the premier, Morris Iemma. So he penned a scathing letter to his party comrade. It’s worth recalling:
“Let me tell you, if the Labor Party’s stocks ever get so low as to require your services in its Parliamentary leadership, it will itself, have no future. Not a skerrick of principle or restraint have you shown. You have behaved with reckless indifference to the longevity of the current Government and to the reasonable prospects of its re-election.
“It may be a novel concept for you, let me say that the conscientious business of governance can never be founded in a soul so blackened by opportunism.
“The people of New South Wales may have their problems, but they would be way better rattling through than turning to someone like you in some hope of redemption.
“I am ashamed to share membership of the same party with you.”
Later this week, with no challenges among Labor’s miserably depleted ranks, Robertson will be elected leader of the NSW parliamentary Labor Party, charged with fixing a political movement he helped break.
As Bernard Keane wrote yesterday:
“Robertson is what went wrong with Labor. From his derailing of electricity privatisation, which cost the state billions, to his destruction of Morris Iemma and his determination to inflict himself on the parliamentary party, Robertson is the problem, not the solution.”
Good luck, Labor.
How long will he last before the first challenge comes?
Was it the case that nobody else wanted the job because they were afraid they would be tossed out before they got to the next election?
My God – Keating is a national treasure. Perception and wit and ability, if perhaps a trifle immodest.
What rubbish!
Keating’s antics in the ALP were certainly not those of an angel.
Robertson supported what was about the only grassroots-involved process in the NSW ALP for yonks – the defeat of the electricity privatisation that was AGAINST Labor policy.
Unlike almost all his colleagues, he started life out of politics – not only that, he was actually a worker!
Not living in NSW I couldn’t care less which Labor idiot continues to bugger things up, but I do find the bile delivered at Robbo bewildering and hypocritical.
Thanks Bob, good comment, not too many ex workers in todays ALP and THAT is the problem.
Dont ever forget that Robertson was one of the maiu movers in the Labor 4 Refugees movement in the early 2000s. Had he and those of us who supported his stand been successful in prevailing at the National Conference, then the national ALP would actually have taken a principled stand and set itself apart from the Howard xenophobia. As Faulkner has pointed out it is the factions that control the party that are the problem, and they are most assuredly not left wing nor even worker friendly. Lets hope that Robertson can put some Labor ideology back into the party, and actually stand up for they are supposed to believe in. There would be no need for the Greens then, but there certainly is now.
As a follow-up to this piece, Paul Keating is being interviewed on ABC’s 7.30 tonight. Even if one doesn’t agree with his comments it’s a rare treat to listen to an articulate politician (ex or current) who expounds original thoughts.