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Major Martin takeover
GREG KELTON, MICHAEL OWEN
April 12, 2007 02:15am
Article from: The Advertiser
NEW Liberal leader Martin Hamilton-Smith has vowed to "roll up his sleeves" and take on Premier Mike Rann with a revamped party which "means business".
But he already faces a crisis with threats last night from frontbencher Isobel Redmond to challenge Deputy Leader Vickie Chapman for her position.
The deputy leadership did not come up for vote yesterday, suggesting a deal between Ms Chapman, her supporters and Mr Hamilton-Smith.
Ms Redmond expressed her displeasure before the leadership vote that the deputy's position was not spilled along with the leadership.
Mr Hamilton-Smith, a former lieutenant colonel in the Special Air Service, defended Ms Chapman and said he thought that she was doing a good job.
To challenge, Ms Redmond needs four MPs to sign a letter and she will move by the weekend to seek those signatures.
"If there's a mood for change, Iain and Vickie came in on a joint ticket and her job should have been up," Ms Redmond told The Advertiser last night.
"I am like a wild animal when I am backed into a corner. I resent having decisions taken away from me which I think should be mine to make," Ms Redmond said.
As a result of yesterday's drama:
MR Hamilton-Smith has promised better relations with the party organisation and a "more assertive and aggressive" performance from MPs.
THERE also will be a major reshuffle of the party's frontbench with Opposition leader in the Legislative Council, Rob Lucas, set to lose his treasury portfolio.
DEFEATED leader Iain Evans said he was disappointed and would consider overnight if he would serve on a new frontbench.
Mr Hamilton-Smith will hold talks with MPs and announce a new frontbench within a week.
He said he hoped Mr Evans would be "a strong senior member of the frontbench".
Mr Lucas said last night the allocation of portfolios was a decision for the leader and "I have always respected the leader's decision".
Key issues in the downfall of Mr Evans have been his fractured relations with party president Christopher Moriarty, poor poll results and claims of a lack of aggression.
Mr Hamilton-Smith, who launched his surprise leadership challenge with only 24 hours' notice, won the vote 13-10 after a meeting lasting about 15 minutes.
He said it was the most significant change of direction for the party in more than a decade.
"It is a break with the past and we are looking forward to the next 30 years," he told reporters after the party-room meeting.
Mr Hamilton-Smith had gone into the meeting with 12 votes locked away but, at the last minute, there was a defection from the Evans' camp.
Asked if he had been stabbed in the back, Mr Evans said: "This is politics. Martin has the right to challenge. He has won the day."
Mr Hamilton-Smith becomes the party's third leader in 13 months following a disastrous showing in the 2006 state election.
The party-room vote brought to a head days of behind-the-scenes manoeuvring and a deal which gave leadership to Mr Hamilton-Smith but kept Deputy Leader Vickie Chapman in her post.
Former premier and party leader Rob Kerin, who had been critical earlier in the day about the timing of the challenge, said "it is on with the job".
"I'll support Martin. He is the leader and I'm a team player," Mr Kerin said.
Frontbencher Mitch Williams said it was common knowledge Mr Hamilton-Smith "had the numbers together".
"I certainly hope he can deliver what he's promised," he said.
Frontbencher Steven Griffiths, elected in 2006 with four others, said a majority of new members supported Mr Hamilton-Smith.
Premier Mike Rann said the problem with the state Liberals was they spent so much time fighting each other they did not fight for SA.
"I feel sorry for Iain Evans. Being Opposition Leader is a difficult job and one year is not enough to prove yourself," he said. Mr Rann said Mr Hamilton-Smith opposed everything and was prepared to promise anything.
Martin Hamiton Smith The New Liberal Leader
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Evans was only elected to spite Hamilton-Smith for challenging Kerin, who was a compromise between the two factions. Both were hopeless dithering idiots that wasted countless opportunities to nail Media Mike to the wall.bdm wrote:What a deceitful fool.
Evans had only one year, and was consistently given bad press. It wasn't the leader, it's the team--the amount of useless old fogies in the Libs ranks is too much.
You can tell just by the difference in the way that Hamilton-Smith and Evans talk and carry themselves, that Hamilton-Smith means business.
Although I'm not a Liberal supporter, I believe the state deserves some kind of opposition. Hamilton-Smith was the only Liberal who was trying. Evans had no initiative and passion.
But beside the point, I am dissapointed with the comments written on the Advertiser public forum about this story. It is depressing that there are still people upset about the tram line extension. How pathetic.
But beside the point, I am dissapointed with the comments written on the Advertiser public forum about this story. It is depressing that there are still people upset about the tram line extension. How pathetic.
Political question:
Whats the point of voting for an independant party if theyre never going to hold the power?
I vote this year in the federal election for the first time... and I would like some knowledge on the independants party point before I vote. Im going Labor for now.... but I like Pauline Hanson, but because she hasnt got enough votes to hold power (exception QLD 1998) whats the point?
Whats the point of voting for an independant party if theyre never going to hold the power?
I vote this year in the federal election for the first time... and I would like some knowledge on the independants party point before I vote. Im going Labor for now.... but I like Pauline Hanson, but because she hasnt got enough votes to hold power (exception QLD 1998) whats the point?
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