ALP Secretary nervous about election

Talking to the topic ‘Who will win the NSW State Election and does it really matter?’ Arbib said the ALP was campaigning in an unprecedented 30 seats it perceives are marginal.

“The cynics say we are overestimating the possibility of losing to get tagged as the underdog, but the threat is real,” said Arbib.

The ALP General Secretary expressed concern about the increasing number of swinging voters, the fact that many voters will not decide until “the last hour,” and the number of independents look strong against both ALP and Liberal opposition.

Elizabeth Farrelly from the Sydney Morning Herald and the ABC’s election analyst Antony Green were also guest speakers at the Fabian event. Farrelly dished out a scathing attack on the political landscape calling for “altruistic leadership” in response to the growing threat to the environment.

Green backed up Arbib’s anxiety, telling the 80 strong audience that many voters will make their decision at the last minute. The ABC’s political savant also said the ALP had a solid majority buffer that would be hard to unsettle, but could end up with a minority in Government due to the strength of the independent candidates.

The Fabian Society is historically an English organisation that believes in a methodical progression towards socialism. Geoff Gallop, former Premier of Western Australia from 2001 to 2006, is the President of the Fabian Society in Australia and chaired the evening.

Source: South Sydney Herald March 2007