Courting the Indian Community T

he New South Wales state elections are still some time away, but the Labor party is on the back foot. Few, if any, election analysts give Labor any chance of winning in the 2011 elections and in all probability there will be a change in government in NSW. Unless of course, the Liberal Party led by Barry O’Farrell makes a major blunder to the effect that the electorate feels their animosity against the Liberals is greater than their frustrations against the Rees Labor government.

The Labor party in NSW has been in power since April 1995 and if it wins the next election, it will reach the 20 year mark. The Liberals have been outmanoeuvred by their opposition in the last two elections, the most notable being the 2007 election when the then Premier Morris Iemma came up with the slogan, “More to do but we’re heading in the right direction”, which both acknowledged the past few years of Labor’s ineffective rule but promised a more effective governance for the future. The public, disappointed by Liberal’s choice of leader Peter Debnam, decided to stay with the devil they knew and voted the Labor Party back in power.

The Liberals have regrouped, and as the Labor party has lurched from one disaster to another in the past 2 years, the Liberals under their new leader Barry O’Farrell have kept a reasonably low profile and presented a very small target to their opponents. Being in Opposition has allowed them to point fingers at the government rather than to make any pro-

If you are in year 10,11,12

By PAWAN LUTHRA

active policy statements.

If anything can go wrong for a political party, it has for the NSW Labour party in the past few years. Back biting, internal faction splits have all been evident for the public to see, also with a general breakdown in public services such as hospitals, transport, law and order, etc. Mix this with potent explosive issues of alleged corrupt property deals and alleged links with the underworld through murdered businessman Michael McQuirk, it does not paint a pretty picture. All the Liberals have to do is to keep very quiet, not release any major policies until they are absolutely necessary and the natural flow of events will win them the 2011 elections.

Meanwhile, both parties will come courting the Indian Australian community in NSW. With increasing numbers, it is a community which cannot be ignored any longer. As Maxine McKew who defeated Prime Minister John Howard in the last Federal Election proved, going to the grass roots in the community can create unexpected results. Both the NSW Labor and Liberal parties are well aware of the Indian vote block. Recently Premier Nathan Rees has made himself available to almost all major Indian community functions. Opposition Leader Barry