yARN: Has Conroy lost his mojo?
- 29 November, 2010 16:49
- Comments 4
When Communications Minister, Senator Stephen Conroy, attended a press conference with Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, to announce a deal with Senator Nick Xenophon, he wore the look of a sidestepped man.
Of the many questions launched at the pair during a lengthy press conference on November 24, none were aimed at the Minister Conroy – except for one from the Prime Minister.
Earlier that day Independent Senator, Nick Xenophon, agreed to pass the legislation in exchange for a 36-page summary of NBN Co’s business case being publicly released prior to the vote. The backdown came after months of adamant refusal from the Senator Conroy.
“I’ve said very clearly we will no be releasing the business case,” he said during the election campaign. “This is an entirely manufactured, confected debate started by the Liberal Party to try and slow down the NBN.
“Waste of time, waste of effort, waste of money.”
Months later as Conroy faced the possible failure of a Bill years in the making, it took intervention from a higher power to make a deal possible.
“I don’t think we would’ve gotten to this stage without the PM’s intervention,” Xenophon told journalists. “I just think the Prime Minister managed to cut through on this and we had a breakthrough.”
To many punters and pollie-watchers, the party’s compromise was a humiliating sign that Gillard had lost confidence in her Minister – that Conroy had lost his mojo and that his stubbornness almost cost the Government the vital legislation.
But anyone who thinks Conroy will go the way of former Environment Minister, Peter Garrett, and be sidelined without real power have it dead wrong.
Conroy is a Minister who is more than happy to face a wall of flak. If the Internet filtering policy proved one thing, it was that he will stick to his position despite taking heavy fire from people both inside and outside his party.
While some might see his stubborn refusal to change his mind as a failing for a senior politician, Conroy has proven to be a relatively effective Communications Minister. He understands the issues, speaks regularly with the tech industry and talks to knowledgeable sources.
So although Gillard was forced to play big sister and personally intervene, the Communications Minister is unlikely to lose any of his clout. And those who underestimate him do so at their peril.
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Comments
Emmisfor
1
David, it is called politics as you well know... >;))
Politics IS deal making, that is the essence of the game.
You are quite correct, Conroy knows the game and plays it well. He is often underestimated, and many people still do not understand that all major ALP decisions are made by caucus, not by one minister...
Akira Doe
2
"Conroy has proven to be a relatively effective Communications Minister. He understands the issues, speaks regularly with the tech industry and talks to knowledgeable sources."
I have a problem with this quote.
His constant misuse of the most basic terms regarding his portfolio and his lack of subject matter understanding (spams and scams through the portal) proves that he doesn't listen to the tech industry or the knowledgeable sources that he might talk to. If he doesn't understand the basics I doubt he can grasp the real issues.
He's a good politician, nothing more, and the type of manipulative and secretive politician he is matched with the contempt he shows towards his constituents, that's nothing to be proud of.
Tom Brown
3
I appreciate your estimate David.
From what I have seen and read of Conroy he is not a person who is good at thinking on his feet but he puts in the work and I respect and largely agree with the perspective he brings to the portfolio.
I think Mr Conroy's apparent stubbornness is a reflection of the man. He studies the question fully, he assumes a position based on that research and he holds that position until disproved and he is not bullied by critics, opponents or friends. I feel he is a person who does listen and takes it away to mull over before making a change in thinking.
William
4
It's a shame Conroy is the most inept Comms Minister since the spams and scams started coming through the portal that is the DBCDE.
Shame, Conroy, Shame. You should resign, but seeing as you have no decency, you will clearly continue on until your evil plan to filter Australians into submission takes shape.
Shame!