Talking to the topic ‘Who will win the NSW State Election
and does it really matter?’ Arbib said the ALP was campaigning in an
unprecedented 30 seats it perceives are marginal.
“The cynics say we are overestimating the possibility of
losing to get tagged as the underdog, but the threat is real,” said Arbib.
The ALP General Secretary expressed concern about the
increasing number of swinging voters, the fact that many voters will not decide
until “the last hour,” and the number of independents look strong against both
ALP and Liberal opposition.
Elizabeth Farrelly from the Sydney Morning Herald and the
ABC’s election analyst Antony Green were also guest speakers at the Fabian
event. Farrelly dished out a scathing attack on the political landscape calling
for “altruistic leadership” in response to the growing threat to the
environment.
Green backed up Arbib’s anxiety, telling the 80 strong
audience that many voters will make their decision at the last minute. The
ABC’s political savant also said the ALP had a solid majority buffer that would
be hard to unsettle, but could end up with a minority in Government due to the
strength of the independent candidates.
The Fabian Society is historically an English organisation
that believes in a methodical progression towards socialism. Geoff Gallop,
former Premier of Western Australia from 2001 to 2006, is the President of the
Fabian Society in Australia
and chaired the evening.
Source: South Sydney Herald March 2007