Pru Goward has put her hat into the ring for the NSW State seat of Epping. Pru is regarded as one of the most talented women on the (relatively) conservative side of politics. She is currently Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner, and has used her role to generate debate on key economic and social issues.
You may not agree with a lot of what Pru says. I certainly don’t. But there is no doubt that she has a brain. And a very good one.
There are plenty of other Coalition MP’s with no shortage of brains and lots of life-experience outside of Parliament. Peter Debnam has impressive academic qualifications and credentials. He was a university medallist at Macquarie University. There are plenty of other MP’s with impressive credentials.
Then there are the mediocre Liberals. On the conservative side, we see the dominant faction ruled by an MLC who is regarded by his former factional allies to have entered Parliament after the Carr government legislated his personal injury and workers compensation law career out of existence.
The conservative youth wing of the party is filled to the brim with mediocrity. The staffers especially are people with little going for them. If John Howard got run over by a bus and the Coalition lost power federally, these guys (women are rarely welcome) would become … shall we say … consultants to Centrelink.
The political talent pool within the neo-conservative Liberals forces is very small. Which explains why they find intelligent and sensible people like Pru Goward such a threat.
Can you imagine Pru going head-to-head with Alex Hawke on paid maternity leave? Can you imagine her demolishing David Clarke on abortion? Pru could do it with one hand tied behind her back.
Rarely do we see the NSW Religious Right (“RR”) neo-Cons putting up sensible mainstream candidates. Instead, they put up ideological candidates with allegedly the correct views on all the right issues but not much idea about anything else.
Who on the RR neo-Con side has any credentials on tax? Or on economic management? Or on media policy? And we know that the RR is dominated by people whose idea of sound policy is digging up old editions of News Weekly and extracting choice paragraphs from Bob Santamaria’s editorials.
It will be a huge tragedy for the people of Epping, the NSW Libs and Peter Debnam if Pru doesn’t get up. Even John Howard is backing her, notwithstanding disagreeing with her on just about every social policy issue under the sun.
Still, if the NSW Liberals are too busy handing out anti-Di Vinci Code pamphlets at the cinema, Pru can always go federal. I like Bill, but I know for a fact that Pru Goward would make a much better senator than Mr Heffernan!
9 comments:
"Why don't you denounce the child molesters and sex offenders who founded your religion?"
Well, it seems clear that you know nothing about Irfan's religion.
Anonymous
LLB, BA, MBA
Please Irf, Stop the Catholic Bashing! There is as much sexual abuse in other Christian denominations as there is in Catholicism e.g Peter Hollingsworth.
Can u write about Bashirs release. Free Papua! If they release men like him and not outlaw JI then i say sell arms to Papua
I understand Pru is a good friend of the Howards. But she hides it well and earns a lot of admiration from people on both sides for her conservatism-moderated handling of a ton of issues, especially those concerning women though.
PS I see the previous comments on this blog post are all from anons. If you have something to say and you want people to take it seriously, put your name or at least your internet pseduonym to it!
Damn you're a funny guy. I don't care what you say. I don't even agree with it, but I love how you say it.
With your writing style you'd even convert Osama to thinking about joining the NEWS LTD board. After all, if Rupert will have a Spaniard join his board, why can't you convert the world's most famous Eurabian for him as Rup marches towards taking over the globe! They both have the same goal don't they?
Eurabian. You thought if it in your latest Crikey.com.au posting. It's your word big boy! Don't let anyone steal it.
Good stuff Irfan.
you are anti-Catholic, go join Hamas!
P.S You sucked as a liberal no wonder you left and the group is dying!
Go join Hamas you Catholic hating fat fuck!
Islam was built and started on the sword, Christianity founder Jesus Christ spoke of love adn stuff. Your Prophet killed and conquered.
Fucking Muslim piece of filth. The Crusades shoulda killed all of your dirty angry kind.
E.g The book of Genesis predicted the Arabs as the sons of Ishmael would fight amongst themselves.
FUCKIN SHUT UP
Irf,
That’s the best piece of writing I’ve read this year!
Your following description was absolutely breath taking: “Can you imagine Pru going head-to-head with Alex Hawke on paid maternity leave? Can you imagine her demolishing David Clarke on abortion? Pru could do it with one hand tied behind her back.”
That visual image I have in my mind is fantastic – a picture is worth a thousand words. I’d be in the front row watching that debate. She could do it with her eyes closed!
If we’re going to talk about factions then you’re right about John Howard. The best thing that’s happened to the NSW Religious Right is having John Howard. However, as a moderate, I even consider myself lucky to have him there in the party.
But I must object to your “consultants to Centrelink” comment. I’m insulted and I’m sure the staff at Centrelink are too…staff members there are highly intelligent to be compared to some of the neo-conservative forces your speaking of. Alex Hawke would be lucky to get a job at Centrelink.
I also do agree, as a Epping-Eastwood Young Liberal, that it would be very tragic if someone like Pru Goward doesn’t get up. To someone like Pru I’d say Life is about taking chances.
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