The Liberal post mortems may have only just begun, but it’s never too early to start thinking of the next election.

Speculation continues in NSW that Senator Bill Heffernan will stand down at the poll. He will be well over 65 when his term ends on 30 June, 2011. So who might the balkanised party choose to succeed him?

Some minor staffer types are entertaining ideas above their station. Poor Paul Fletcher, the Optus exec and former Richard Alston adviser is talked about by some people, but is likely to be disappointed. Again.

Instead, there are some intriguing murmurs that suggest Janet Albrechtsen might just be the Liberals’ gal. Really. Even though they already have Connie.