NSW Liberals in disarray
By Barry Healy
SYDNEY — The New South Wales government is in serious disarray as the scandal over the attempt to give Liberal renegade Dr Terry Metherell a plum Public Service job moves into its second month. The hope of defusing the affair by announcing an inquiry by the Independent Commission Against Corruption has instead produced public squabbling amoung the leading figures. There are now rumours of opposition to Premier Nick Greiner within his own ranks.
A cabinet decision directing the attorney-general to deny legal assistance for the ICAC hearings to Metherell and Liberal backbencher Brad Hazzard while granting it to Greiner, environment minister Tim Moore and the head of the Premier's Department has only inflamed matters. "The government must have something to hide for it to act in this way", Metherell told the press after the decision.
Hazzard has publicly directed his fire at attorney-general Peter Collins.
Democrat upper house member Richard Jones told Green Left Weekly that he knows of rising discontent with Greiner's leadership in the Liberal ranks. "Whether or not there is a favourable finding from the inquiry, the political fallout has been considerable for Nick Greiner", he said. "Many Liberals feel that Greiner should go.
"Nick Greiner and Tim Moore must be having some very sleepless nights at the moment."
Public disquiet about the scandal has not translated into increased support for Labor in opinion polls. "I just think people are sick of the machinations in the major parties, even including the Democrats", Jones said. "I think the Independents and the Greens will do well out of it all."