National
Maaaaate … Sue Neales was on it
SUE NEALES, November 21, 2009: at HERE
Small wonder that Labor — both at a state and federal level — is so concerned about the Bartlett Government’s haemorrhaging prospects that it is preparing to bring in its big-gun advisers from interstate.
Already it has been suggested that the extraordinary $450,000 “government relations job” in the National Broadband Network handed this week by the Federal Government to Mike Kaiser — long-time Labor mate, former Queensland Labor state secretary and Premier Anna’s Bligh’s chief of staff — has more to do with Tasmanian politics than his broadband knowledge.
What better cover to have, if the federal Labor Party wanted to bring a killer tactician and adviser on the quiet to a floundering and desperate Labor state team, than a job disguised as working for the NBN company conveniently beginning its broadband rollout in Tasmania at the same time as the state election campaign?
Kaiser is an inveterate Labor Party dirt digger. He was personally responsible for running a massive negative and nasty campaign targeting Queensland Liberal-National Party leader Lawrence Springborg in the last days of Anna Bligh’s March election this year.
If anyone knows the quickest, nastiest and most effective way to pierce Liberal leader Will Hodgman’s 40 per cent popularity rating, it is NBN’s new “government relations” fixer.
Expect to see plenty of the tough, hard talking Kaiser in town over the next four months.
Clearly Sue was way ahead of the game, with Senate Estimates questioning now revealing that:
– Communications Minister Stephen Conroy recommended the NBN company appoint Kaiser to the $450,000 a year job;
– the job was not advertised; and
– no other candidates were considered.
Wednesday ABC AM: Labor accused of jobs for the boys: HERE
The World Today Report, Tuesday, HERE
Picture: SMH