Blue-collar Seat Mining

In a strange way, the local Kingsford Smith branch of the ALP are correct on the subject of preselecting Peter Garrett, but for very different reasons than they probably think. Peter Garrett would do more harm than good as a member of a Latham government, and would be a real distraction on the front bench of a Labor Opposition. There is no reason to think that Garrett's role would be dramatically different from that of Cheryl Kernot.

Both Kernot and Garrett are individualists at heart, and are not used to playing a team game. For Kernot, being a minor Labor luminary rather than the star of the show was a blow to the ego, and Garrett is likely to face the same fate. An honest appraisal of his political potential shows that Garrett would need to build support and experience over time, and grow gradually into the role, which would be supremely difficult given his profile.

Garrett as a Green would work - he'd share a high profile with St Bob and be a senior part of a small group. As an Labor member, he'll be a small part of a big team, and end caught up in internal conflict and finish with a bruised ego. Not a good look.

Comments

NahumAyliffe said…
Garrett would work in a Latham government like Latham worked in the Beazley opposition. Latham would be hanging on to the Latham machine in much the same way that the moderates are hanging on now. People like Aunty Carmen, Kevin the Spud and others, are hanging on for dear life. You and I know this because we chowed down with Great Aunt Carmen only a few weeks ago.

Garrett needs a party with power so that he can be effective in his politics. He has spent years yelling loudly to the converted. He needs a forum to convert or be converted. He needs to be able to offend. You can't do that when you are followed by the usual followers.

I think he would do more damage in the Greens, where his personality and intellect would both clash with Dr Bob, and overwhelm the flibittygibbit Nettle. I know of no less deserving Senators than Nettle, apart from Vanstone.
9 June 2004 at 22:47
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