The Leader of the ACT Opposition, Trevor Kaine, is to be given a “”please explain” message in the party room tomorrow.
Liberal MLA Kate Carnell said yesterday that Mr Kaine should be given the opportunity to explain to the party how comments threatening the pre-selection of Tony de Domenico appeared in the media.
She would ask for the explanation. “”And we will play it from there,” she said.
Mr Kaine was quoted in Friday’s paper criticising Mr de Domenico for interfering in other MLAs’ portfolio responsibilities.
“”He’s heading to the point that he won’t be pre-selected at the next elections,” Mr Kaine was quoted as saying, “”We’ve got a guy who is offside with every member of the party room who is alienating himself from the party.”
Mr de Domenico has made no secret of his leadership ambitions.
Mr Kaine said yesterday, “”I’m not worried about Monday. Mr de Domenico has no support within the party room and he is alienating an increasing percentage of the ordinary membership of the party.
“”What he needs to do is to stick to his portfolio and do the job and to cut out all this outside talk which is just fantasy.”
Ms Carnell said yesterday, “”It has placed the party in a difficult position.”
The deputy leader, Gary Humphries, said on Friday that unity was essential and discussions about the direction of the party should be kept to the party room. Ms Carnell expressed similar sentiments then, saying unity had to start with the leadership.
It is understood from Liberal Party sources that there will be no leadership challenge or no-confidence motion, but it would depend on what Mr Kaine’s explanation is. The sources feel that at present, Mr Kaine will be able to give a reply that will satisfy the meeting. Some Liberal sources suggest that Mr Kaine was “”set-up” or goaded into making the comments to trigger leadership tension in public.
Mr de Domenico said yesterday, “”These sorts of issues should be discussed within the party room only. That’s what will happen on Monday. I’m happy to work in whatever portfolio is given to me by the leader.”
To date the Liberal Party has done a reasonable job of keeping the leadership issue at bay given that Mr Kaine himself said shortly after the February 1992 election that he would not see out the term. He has since changed his mind and said that he would lead the party to the next election in February, 1995. He would be 67 then and would celebrate his 70th birthday at the end of the term.
But yesterday, Mr Kaine said on whether he would lead the party to the next election: “”I’m always a bit equivocal because I’m not getting any younger.”
He had to weigh up the position of younger people in the party. He had to consider his family. But at present his health was good, there was no question about his competency to do the job. He intended to go on to the next election.
“”There is no reason to suggest that that will change,” he said.
But the decision would also depend on the pre-selection process.
Mr Kaine has moved from the Woden suburb of Isaacs to Tuggeranong recently suggesting he would like to stand in that seat under the new Hare-Clark system. Three other sitting Liberals already live in the central seat. (There is some irony in the fact that Isaacs might end up in the Tuggeranong seat anyway as recommended to the electoral commission by the two major parties and Independent Michael Moore.)
Some Liberals suggest that Mr Kaine has held his position to date as the everybody’s second choice.
Mr de Domenico has never formally challenged for the leadership, but since first being elected in 1992, he has made no secret of his leadership aspirations. In March, Mr Kaine thought his behind the scenes talk had become too much and demoted him, giving him more junior portfolios and taking away industrial relations.
At present, the Liberal leadership is stalemated, despite some dissatisfaction in the party organisation and among MLAs of the party’s prospects under Mr Kaine. There are six Liberal MLAs. Greg Cornwell and Lou Westende do not want the job, but want unified strong leadership. To date they have been content with Mr Kaine and there is nothing to suggest a change of mind, unless, perhaps, Mr Kaine’s explanation does not satisfy them tomorrow.
Until that is given, there is some concern in the party that Mr Kaine should not have made public statements of that kind, but not enough to see it as any more than a temporary misjudgment, and certainly not enough to warrant any challenge to his position.
Greg Cornwell said yesterday, “”I would certainly want to see it discussed at the party meeting.” He would not comment further.
Mr Westende could not be contacted.
Ms Carnell is seen in the party a good leadership potential, but not yet ready for the job. Mr Humphries is ruled out because he has his sights on Federal Parliament, he certainly would not challenge Mr Kaine. He has the ministerial experience, but has had a job retrieving support in the party organisation following his relegation to the No5 spot on the ticket at the pre-selection before the last election. He gained some respect on school and hospital closures for carrying through the job, but he also carries some residual dislike among those in the community directly affected.
Mr Humphries said yesterday that he could make no comment because, “”I haven’t spoken to Trevor yet.”
Mr Humphries and Ms Carnell are on the younger small l liberal wing of the party. In view of the federal election result and the rejection of dry rationalism, they should be seen as better prospects for getting the Liberals more seats in the 17-member Assembly.
Mr de Domenico is on the dry-business wing of the party. Some Liberal sources say he has broadcast his leadership ambitions in a way that has not reflected well on the party and as a result he has earned himself four permanent blocking votes in the parliamentary party. Some people in the party are very angry that the parliamentary party has been distracted at a time the Labor Party should be on the back foot over its mishandling of the power dispute.
Mr Kaine said, “”Since the election we have pulled together, even with one exception, but it is hard to continue the offensive against the Government when there’s a perception that we’re divided ourselves.”
Liberal sources say the likely result is that Mr Kaine will continue as leader because there is no-one else, unless he himself wants to call it a day and throw his support behind someone else _ very unlikely at this stage.