Quotes from the weekend media

In a piece titled “Labor’s Broken Heartland”, the Sydney Morning Herald’s Damien Murphy writes:

“Infighting and disarray are alienating voters in the Hunter region, where too much has been taken for granted.”

“Preselections have been botched, chosen candidates have shot themselves in the foot, branch members have been ignored while pro-developers manoeuvre to oust those wanting to hold onto the past, and perhaps worst of all, the Right-dominated Labor headquarters in Sussex Street, Sydney, has meddled in Hunter business.”

“The powerbrokers seem to have forgotten that Hunter voters are capable of turning against Labor.”

Murphy quotes the policy-shy, Sydney-appointed, ($100,000 plus) Sydney-funded ALP candidate for Newcastle, Jodi McKay, as saying that “a lot of people believe in change” – a big statement for a Labor candidate in an electorate that has changed its electoral support for Labor only once in its entire history.

Another, similarly titled, piece (“Broken Heartland”), by seasoned local political observer Neil Jameson in this weekend’s Newcastle Herald, also examines Labor’s the apparent Hunter implosion, and suggests that Labor is “looking vulnerable in Swansea, Newcastle, Port Stephens and Maitland”.

Jamieson quotes Sydney’s McKay as saying “I challenge anyone who’s running to get out there and meet the people.”

Good on you, Jodi! I’ve been doing this for weeks now, and I’m also hearing from people that they might be ready for a change – from a right-wing Sydney-dominated ALP that seems to be in political free-fall.

My challenge to you (again!), and to anyone else who’s running, is to start telling voters what you stand for. The people of Newcastle deserve more than empty cliches and mantras, or doughnuts from head office.

You’ve said that you believe in coal, so what’s your solution to climate change? If elected, what will you do about the political donations from developers that are contributing to the reported $100,000 plus funding your Newcastle campaign? What are your policies on public transport, the future of the Newcastle heavy rail service, the Royal Hospital development, the Mater public/private partnership….

It’s now been 59 policy-free days.

The chocolate frog prize is still in my fridge.

Will we receive our first McKay policy as a present for Christmas?