Government News Index
PM returns to deal with split Libs
PRIME Minister John Howard arrived back in Australia yesterday amid growing calls for him to force disgraced Senator Bill Heffernan to quit Parliament.
Mr Howard refused to comment on the future of Senator Heffernan, who has caused a rift in the NSW executive over his continuing influence within the Liberal Party.
Mr Howard will appear before the party faithful today at Sydney's NSW Liberal Party State Convention 2002 in his first scheduled public appearance since returning from England.
He was expected to urge members to focus their attention on helping state Liberal Leader Kerry Chikarovski win the next election, sources said. He will also outline his Government's achievements in the wake of recent controversies that have dogged the Coalition in its first parliamentary session.
Liberal Party fund-raiser Michael Yabsley has suggested that Senator Heffernan should quit Parliament amid concerns that his comments could put party donations in jeopardy.
A source on the executive said senior Liberals were lobbying for Senator Heffernan to be replaced on the NSW executive.
NSW Liberal Party state president Chris McDiven urged members not to be distracted from the job ahead. "Despite the other distractions that have been thrown our way in recent days, we are putting all our energy and direction behind Kerry Chikarovski and her team," she said.
Members are tense over Senator Heffernan's continuing influence on the executive in the wake of his comments about Justice Michael Kirby.
Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock was forced to attend Friday's NSW executive meeting after the senator pulled out as the Prime Minister's representative. He denied claims by some Liberal sources that he had been asked to urge Mr Howard to have the senator permanently dumped from the committee.
No reasons were given as to why Senator Heffernan failed to appear. He did not attend the convention yesterday and is unlikely to appear today.
The state Coalition will have to win at least 14 seats in next year's election to prevent the Carr Government from being handed a third term. Revealing the party slogan "We'll Get It Done", Mrs Chikarovski focused her speech on attacking the Carr Government.
Canberra Times