16 May 2006

It's on! Stefaniak challenges Brendan Smyth for the Liberal Leadership

| johnboy
Join the conversation
6

Bill Stefaniak has challenged Brendan Smyth for the Liberal leadership. According to ABC radio he has the support of Richard Mulcahy and Vicki Dunne.

You have to wonder if Mulcahy isn’t using Stefaniak as a stalking horse. Or if Stefaniak feels this is last chance at the Leadership before the new breed take over.

UPDATED: Radio National have Zed Seselja in the Stefaniak column and are calling it game over. I think a 6-1 ballot is becoming possible as the rats jump ship.

Another Update: The ABC report is now up.

MORE UPDATES: Steve Pratt on the ABC is here. The Canberra Times feature is also online.

Join the conversation

6
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest

Stefaniak has said he’ll resign if he doesn’t win the next election.

So that’s where Zed’s support comes from I’d say.

Every time i grind along a 50km street in third gear I think of Brendan unfavourably.

unfair, yes. unkind, certainly.

but i comfort myself with the knowledge that, if all politicians were hounded through eternity for all their decisions by vengeful bastards like me, we’d have a better system.

Brendan lost it when he said tough tities about the caravan park.

The 7pm ABC radio news bulletin said Bill was set to take the ballot (to be held tonight I think. Presumably Markus will have the names for us in tomorrow’s CT.

This does explain somewhat the slightly oddly worded email I received from Mulcahy’s adviser this afternoon in relation to an email interview, in which he said “Unfortunately, Mr Mulcahy will be unable to participate at this time”. Twas the “at this time” that struck me.

personally I blame the Alan Clark Diaries on the ABC.

Politics is all about the numbers.

Stefaniak has three of seven.

Pratt won’t join Dunne you’d think.
Brendan will vote for himself (although he’ll be thinking of John Gorton refusing to serve on the basis of his own vote)

So that leaves Burke and Seselja.

Seselja is young, so while he may be impatient he’ll also know that time is on his side, the younger Smyth is a greater problem for his ambitions than either Mulcahy or Stefaniak.

And Burke? Now there’s a wildcard.

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.