The ABC is reporting that former Member for Monaro, Steve Whan, has been given an Upper House seat by his party headquarters in Sussex Street.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/06/10/3241026.htm?site=sydney
The only problem is that Steve Whan is seen by many to be part of the problem for NSW Labor – a high level former member of one of the most disliked governments in Australia’s history. Whan was thrashed in Monaro at the last election with a swing of over 8% against him and now finds himself back in parliament in a cushy upper house seat with a further pension.
Whan, one of Ros Kelly’s senior staffers during the infamous ‘whiteboard’ scandal is a ‘professional’ politician with little life experiences. He lost a bid to enter the ACT Assembly and two bids to win the Federal Seat of Eden-Monaro prior to winning Monaro 2003. His political scoreboard is two wins and four loses. Senior Laborites, Kevin Rudd, Senator John Faulkner and Neville Wran have all scorned their party this week for the promotion of self-serving party hacks to political positions – NSW Labor refuses to address the problems that now find itself with an Aussie Rules size lineup in the NSW Legislative Assembly.
Whan made a big deal in the last campaign that he could deliver for the people of the Monaro Electorate in opposition. Now that he is in opposition it will be interesting to see what he does actually deliver especially when he is one of the most detested members of the Labor Party within the present government.
While sulking, he also made outlandish statements that the Nationals had overspent during the campaign – accusations he has failed to back up.
With the departure of Eddie Obeid and Joe Tripodi, Whan may try and take control of the Terrigal faction within his party.
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