Opinion
Wagga Wagga boo-boo? Perhaps, but Speakman must defang yappy Nats
Alexandra Smith
State Political EditorThe barely known upper house NSW Nationals MP Wes Fang likes to boast to colleagues that he is a more effective operator in opposition than in government. Just as well, because his behaviour will help keep the Coalition out of power in NSW.
Fang, who often behaves more like a petulant child than an elected representative, ensured a small snub became civil war within the alternate government. Over five days, the Liberals and Nationals were caught in a verbal ping pong match over whether Opposition Leader Mark Speakman should have dropped in to see Fang as he passed through Wagga Wagga.
NSW Nationals Upper House MP Wes Fang and Opposition Leader Mark Speakman.Credit: Peter Rae/Kate Geraghty
Perhaps Speakman could have paid Fang a visit, sent him a text to say he was in town, or even had his office make a courtesy call. Beyond being polite, the opposition leader had no formal obligation. Fang is not the local elected member. He simply lives in Wagga (when not residing in Sydney).
Fang took to social media to accuse Speakman of “slinking” into Wagga and meeting instead the local independent MP, Joe McGirr. Fang finished his post: “That should tell you everything you need to know about the longevity of Speako’s leadership”.
Speakman was none too pleased and demanded Nationals leader Dugald Saunders, a close ally of Fang’s, demote the recalcitrant MP from the most junior of junior frontbench positions. Saunders refused, so the Liberals floated the idea of splitting from the Nationals – that is, of ending the state Coalition’s 97-year marriage of convenience.
We have been here before, although roles were reversed. During Gladys Berejiklian’s premiership, then Nationals leader John Barilaro threatened to take his entire team to the crossbench over little-known koala planning laws. At the time, the notion seemed inconceivable, not to mention churlish. Berejiklian stood her ground, threatened to install an all-Liberal frontbench and Barilaro surrendered.
This was a very different set of circumstances. While extreme, Barilaro’s ultimatum related to a policy dispute. The latest split would have been over hurt feelings.
Fang is known for his outbursts in the chamber, which are often aimed at his own side. Senior Liberals in the upper house are aghast that his behaviour, especially towards Liberal MP Aileen MacDonald, has been allowed to continue. He regularly interjects when she is talking, and scoffs at the points she is making. Nasty swipes at opponents are one thing in politics; targeting your own is another.
One senior Liberal said this of Fang: “There are issues that relate to Mr Fang that have been tolerated for too long. This is about whether the Nationals are prepared to tolerate bad behaviour. Wes’s behaviour is beyond the pale.”
But Fang cannot be given all the credit for the recent dysfunction.
The Coalition is stuck in a policy vacuum, whether that is not having a position on housing (YIMBY or NIMBY?) or a stance on nuclear power. Saunders’ contribution to the nuclear debate, for example, bordered on the absurd and was not in step with Speakman. In supporting the idea of storing nuclear waste locally, Saunders told ABC Sydney’s Sarah McDonald last month: “I mean, you go to the beach, you’ve got exposure to radioactivity from sand.”
During the recent Coalition brouhaha, Saunders – a relatively inexperienced MP who has only a year in the ministry under his belt – exposed himself as lacking both political nous and an understanding of how the Coalition operates. In a moment of hotheadedness, he fired off a public statement claiming Speakman had no right to hire and fire his frontbench. He was wrong.
However, the past five days also highlighted that there are Liberals in Speakman’s team prepared to damage his leadership. Ahead of a snap party room meeting called for Tuesday, right-wing elder Anthony Roberts publicly slapped down any notion of a Coalition split. He is a not a supporter of Speakman. “You don’t blow up a Coalition agreement over something like this,” Roberts told The Daily Telegraph. Others were also questioning Speakman’s judgment.
Speakman didn’t return Saunders’ calls. The Nationals’ leader said he waited all weekend for the phone to ring. It was for former premier Dominic Perrottet to become the reluctant peacemaker. Both party leaders turned to Perrottet for advice. His offering was simple. Retain the Coalition, resolve the (petty) differences and move on. Eventually, after too much energy was expended on the spat, it appears that this has been achieved. But with Perrottet poised to quit parliament, who assumes the role of mediator or wise head to keep the Coalition functioning?
The debacle of the past few days exposed the opposition as ill-disciplined, lacking policy direction and still unable to accept it is out of government. This will be good for Labor, but terrible for NSW. Voters deserve, and good governance demands, a well-oiled, united opposition.
Alexandra Smith is the Herald’s state political editor.