Trying to breath new life into the shattered Australian Labor party now in opposition in New South Wales was going to be a long and difficult job, but a chance remark seems to have put the skids under opposition leader John Robertson.
Robertson let it slip that while he was the Unions NSW boss and a tender was being considered for the sale of union owned waterfront land in Sydney used as a holiday retreat - he was offered a $ 3 million bribe by a notorious standover man to slant the sale in his direction.
Robertson proudly claimed that he rejected the offer - and removed this man from further consideration in the tender process, but also admitted that he did nothing to bring the matter to the attention of the police.
This gaffe has set off a storm of recriminations about what we expect from polticians and it seems that it has set the wheels in motion for Robertson to be replaced as leader. In the eyes of some, failing to report an offered bribe to the police is little different from actually accepting the money !
Of course, there is a subtle difference in the circumstances. At the time this bribe was offered John Robertson was not a politician. He was acting in his capacity as a union leader - and now he is being judged in the capacity of leader of a political party - but the same lack of judgement applies.
It comes at an unfortunate time. This state is still reeling at the disclosure that a minister and politicians and their political allies consorted together to rig the authority vested in government to enrich themselves to the tune of millions of dollars - at the expense of the New South Wales taxpayers.
Robertson chose an unfortunate time to drop his bombshell. Just when that scandal was starting to fade from public attention the issue of bribes has been refocussed in the public mind. - right at the time the Labor party is trying to act nice and select a new national leader.
Albanese and Shorten must be wondering why the Gods of politics are frowning on them !
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