Yesterday Premier Nathan Rees must have heaved a huge sigh of relief. The man most likely to replace him in the state's top job self destructed ! Health Minister John Della Bosca's lover spread lurid details of their affair across the front page of a daily newspaper - and later in the day the minister fell on his sword and resigned as health minister.
This seems to be par for the course in the murky world of New South Wales Labor party politics, but it also opens an interesting can of worms - and one or two salient questions.
Who in their right mind would be plotting to take the job of captain of the Titanic ? The date of the collision with that iceberg is even well known ! March 2011 - when this state next goes to an election !
Usually any politician would run miles rather than be leader of a party facing an election massacre. That is the kiss of death for his or her political career - and yet we have plots bubbling away in the party room - numbers are being counted - and at least three contenders are fighting for the top place on the ship's bridge.
It seems that these are people with long term ambitions requiring short term success to be realised.
There is every expectation that life in opposition will be the pits - and given the incompetence of the Labor party in this state that period in the wilderness may last a long time. Whoever is premier on the day the votes are counted can look forward to some amazing perks, thanks to the rewards bestowed on former premiers.
The benefits are similar to those afforded ex-prime ministers. A ministerial car and driver for life. An office and secretary paid for by the taxpayer. Golden travel passes - and induction into a fabled club who get invited to A list events.
That's enough goodies to make any politician cheerfully hand in a resignation rather than face a bleak life in opposition - but it only becomes available if he or she has achieved that exulted status of State Premier.
It seems that what all the fuss is about is the expectation of a place in one of the Titanic's life boats for the captain - and a life of privilege thereafter !
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