The SMH has the now traditional daily report on Latho's leadership. With the exception of the references to Latham's illness, the same story could have run any time since the election. Same leadership non-contenders (Rudd, the Beazer, the Glimmer Twins) and same notion that Premier Pete might be drafted. Oh and everyone's anonymous and often a "senior Labor MP". (Do journalists decide this or can you leak or brief that you yourself are a senior MP safe in the knowledge that nobody will laugh?)
However, one MP might be onto something:
"The winning formula is producing the right policies not searching for the next messiah," an MP, who asked not to be named, said. "Next we'll be checking on Bill Clinton's availability."
Journalists almost invariably upgrade their contacts to 'senior'. It has happened to me several times, even though I have never had a title incorporating the word 'senior'. (Or maybe my positions are not senior, but they think I am getting old, and trade on that ambiguity to make their source look better.)
Journalists who confess to citing less than senior MPs call their own status as senior journalists into question.
Jeeez, Bill would make a cracking PM. And no constiutional changes required!
Just the thought alone would be giving all the major parties the willies (so to speak).
Of course, the ALP have been talking about the need to come up with the "right policies" after, well, the last four elections now.
If someone can spare some can they please send them to the party care of PO Box 6662, Kingston ACT 2604.