[Greens-Media] NSW Liberal reforms paper thin – Clark faction still dominates

[Susie Gemmell]

Media Release
3 August 2008
 

NSW Liberal reforms paper thin – Clark faction still dominates
 
Commenting on the NSW Liberal State Council reforms Greens MP Lee
Rhiannon said that as the extreme right wing still dominated the
Liberal's key decision-making bodies, voters needed to be wary of the
promises being made by opposition leader Barry O'Farrell.
 
"Mr O'Farrell's failure to end the dominance of the NSW Liberals
extreme right faction suggests the reforms the opposition leader is
touting are paper thin," Ms Rhiannon said.
 
"The opposition leader might assert that the Liberal's factions have
kissed and made up but as long as the extreme right faction dominated
by David Clark has the numbers on the State Executive the people of
NSW need to be suspicious of what the Liberals really stand for.
 
"The opposition leader is misleading the public when he makes out the
reforms adopted at the weekend State Council will ensure 'the NSW
Liberal Party organisation operates in a fair and democratic way'.
 
"The extensive branch stacking reported on the ABC Four Corners
program two years ago has not been dismantled.
 
"Steve Pringle, the former Liberal MP, when he lost preselection for
the seat of Hawkesbury, said that the Liberal Party is 'controlled by
an exclusive sect, an extremist right wing group'.
 
"It appears that the main result of the so called State Council
reforms is that the Liberal left has been silenced.
 
"A veneer of unity has been created for the media and the public.
 
"Those who control the numbers inside the NSW Liberals hold socially
conservative views on abortion, euthanasia and homosexuality.
 
"The extreme right faction's hold on power within the NSW Liberal
Party structure will be significant for preselections for state seats.
 
"It would be expected that more NSW Liberals aligned to the extreme
right faction of the party will be preselected," Ms Rhiannon said.
 
For more information - 0427861568
 
 
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Susie Gemmell
Adviser, Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon (p/t Mon-Wed)
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
Mobile: 0431 458 102
Email susie.gemmell at parliament.nsw.gov.au
Web www.leerhiannon.org.au