Australia's Labor government
I think we need to create a PUBLIC list of who definitely supports us (MPs, but also other Labor notables) and who doesn’t.
PLEASE SEND INFO VIA THE COMMENT FUNCTION ON OTHER LABOR FIGURES WHO HAVE TOLD YOU THEY WILL SUPPORT EQUALITY
In a much smaller way I tried to do the calculations for the Cabinet already … before the election … now it is time for an update and to expand it to all MPs and Senators. For the new Cabinet the figures are: 8 yes, 5 swinging, 7 no.
The real power-base for equality supporters, however, lies just outside the Cabinet in the general Ministry and amongst the factional power-brokers and leading state figures. Here there is virtually no charismatic or credible opposition, but there is an increasing list of supporters.
Who else can you name? I’ve got:
Party bodies
The Victorian, Tasmanian and ACT branches of the ALP.
Rainbow Labor
NSW and Tasmania Young Labor
There is a growing list of unions too (every the Firefighters!)
Individuals (Federal)
Nicola Roxon MP (Minister for Health, VIC), Senator Mark Arbib (NSW), Tanya Plibersek MP (NSW), Senator Doug Cameron (NSW), Andrew Leigh MP (ACT), Senator Louise Pratt (WA), Senator Trish Crossin (NT), Sharon Grierson MP (NSW), Stephen Jones MP (NSW), Kirsten Livermore MP (NSW), Deb O’Neill MP (NSW)
Individuals (State level / party office holder)
Premier Anna Bligh (National ALP President, QLD), Premier Kristina Keneally (NSW), Premier David Bartlett (TAS), Paul Howes, Cath Bowtell, Andrew Barr MLA (ACT) and John Stanhope MLA (ACT) (who actually got marriage passed but had their law overturned in 2006), Penny Sharpe MLC (NSW), Minister Bronwyn Pike (Victoria), Ian Hunter MLC (SA), Rachael Nolan (QLD)
UPDATED COMMENTARY ON HOW THE CABINET WOULD FALL …
