I think after the State Conference for the Labor Party

[Aussie leftie]

this may be the beginning of the end for Iemma and Costa. They were not only union members there as delegates, there were also mostly Labor Party delegates representing their SEC's and FEC's. Iemma and Costa were beaten 7-1 in the vote against privatizing the power industry. You cannot ignore a result like that and expect the status qua.

[Matilda]

1. Part of the problem with Costa is that he doesn't care what anybody thinks.

He's stated openly that he's looking to move into the private sector
(following Bob Carr into a cushy job with Macquarie as a reward for
doing right by them?). He's a really ugly person, and only has power
because his mate Alan Jones put pressure on the pathetic Carr to make
him Police Minister. When he'd stuffed that up, he moved to Transport
and stuffed that as well. Now as Treasurer he's stuffing everything and
everybody, and he just doesn't give a shit. I've never seen anything
like his screaming and swearing at the Conference - unbelievable.

The unions are threatening to kick both Costa and Iemma out of the Labor
Party if they go ahead - they could still be MPs as Independents, but
couldn't be members of the government any longer, because it was Labor
who was called on to form government, not any individuals. That would
really be something to see - I don't think it's ever happened before.
But by then, the damage could be done, and Costa for sure won't back
down, whatever they do.

Rudd is going to put a referendum to us at the next election, that fixed
four-year terms be introduced federally. I can't think of a better
argument against it than what is currently happening in NSW. We're stuck
with them for another three years, and we can't do anything about it.
And the alternative is just as bad, if not worse. It's enough to make
anarchy seem attractive.