The Labor Party Carlton Branch meeting this evening was supposed to have the attendance of Victoria Deputy Premier Rob Hulls.
I am certain that almost everyone in the room was expecting him. I was late due to the rain and ran to the meeting to find out that Mr. Hulls cannot make it due an emergency cabinet meeting. Spring Street isn't very far from the Trade Unions Hall in Lygon - so near yet so far.
In my mind I expected questions for Mr. Hulls from the floor to be on the lines of the implications of the recently concluded WA Elections, which the Labor Party lost to the Liberal/National tie-up on Saturday, and of course the Melbourne Metropolitan public transport 'crisis'.
The members in the room I spoke to agreed that the public transport problems have reached a tipping point that could launch an electorate backlash against the Labor Party. While it is understandable that the government cannot resolve the problems overnight but on the public relations front in providing confidence for the people has been rather disastrous. Think MyKyi and Lynne Kosky.
It is not just an issue of people's comfort in using public transport but also the implications for business and investments. Certainly this has affected Melbourne's status as one of the world's most liveable city. If Victoria wants to capitalise on the federal's initiative in turning Australia into a global financial hub then it has got to get its basic infrastruture right.
If it can't solve a public transport problem how can it provide a suitable platform for future investments and economic growth?
Until the people's grouses are subdued the future of Labor Party maintaining its hold in Victoria looks shaky, if not defeatable.
I am certain that almost everyone in the room was expecting him. I was late due to the rain and ran to the meeting to find out that Mr. Hulls cannot make it due an emergency cabinet meeting. Spring Street isn't very far from the Trade Unions Hall in Lygon - so near yet so far.
In my mind I expected questions for Mr. Hulls from the floor to be on the lines of the implications of the recently concluded WA Elections, which the Labor Party lost to the Liberal/National tie-up on Saturday, and of course the Melbourne Metropolitan public transport 'crisis'.
The members in the room I spoke to agreed that the public transport problems have reached a tipping point that could launch an electorate backlash against the Labor Party. While it is understandable that the government cannot resolve the problems overnight but on the public relations front in providing confidence for the people has been rather disastrous. Think MyKyi and Lynne Kosky.
It is not just an issue of people's comfort in using public transport but also the implications for business and investments. Certainly this has affected Melbourne's status as one of the world's most liveable city. If Victoria wants to capitalise on the federal's initiative in turning Australia into a global financial hub then it has got to get its basic infrastruture right.
If it can't solve a public transport problem how can it provide a suitable platform for future investments and economic growth?
Until the people's grouses are subdued the future of Labor Party maintaining its hold in Victoria looks shaky, if not defeatable.
No comments:
Post a Comment