Alby Schultz
Do you remember Harry Woods?
I will come back to that in a minute. First let’s review the story that prompted the question.
Yesterday, the largely unsung (outside of his electorate that is) Liberal backbencher Alby Schultz told Lateline journalist Greg Jenett he had defected from Howard to Costello.
QUENTIN DEMPSTER: A federal Liberal backbencher has declared that he no longer supports John Howard as Prime Minister. Alby Schultz has instead switched his allegiance to Peter Costello. The often outspoken MP from the southern New South Wales seat of Hume says he’s abandoned Mr Howard out of exasperation because of the control the PM’s office has over appointments to the ministry and [parliamentary] committees. And Mr Schultz says he’s not the only backbencher who feels frustrated. From Canberra, Greg Jennett reports.
GREG JENNETT: Alby Schultz doesn’t mince words.
ALBY SCHULTZ, FEDERAL LIBERAL MP: After a considerable period of time being loyal to one leader, it’s time for me to make a change, because it’s obvious that loyalty I’ve shown is not being repaid.
GREG JENNETT: A Howard backer since his entry to federal Parliament in 1998, Mr Schultz is now checking in with the Costello camp.
ALBY SCHULTZ: What the PM does is up to the PM. All I’m saying is that the PM no longer has my support.
GREG JENNETT: His anger stems in part from being overlooked by the Prime Minister’s office for the chairmanship of the House Agriculture Committee. But the former meatworker eventually got the last laugh, securing the job in a ballot at the expense of Mr Howard’s nominee.
ALBY SCHULTZ: It’s once again an illustration of the depth of feeling within the Liberal Party, in particular from its backbenchers, when they see decisions being made that aren’t necessarily in the best interests of not only the party, but of the country as a whole.
GREG JENNETT: He’s hit out at the whips and elements within the Prime Minister’s office, who he says are controlling the Liberal Party and rewarding some with patronage at the expense of experienced MPs.
ALBY SCHULTZ: There’s no democracy in the way in which the party is functioning at the moment.
GREG JENNETT: Alby Schultz controls only his vote in the party room, and he accepts that the PM’s leadership is not under threat. But his tactics in so publicly withdrawing support for the PM do set a new standard in boldness for the Costello camp at a time when John Howard has been urging unity in the ranks.
ALBY SCHULTZ: Peter Costello obviously is in a position and has the experience since he’s been in Parliament of making a good leader.
GREG JENNETT: He’ll need many more Alby Schultzes to get there. Greg Jennett, Lateline.
Back to Harry Woods. Let me refresh your memory with a passage from Graham Richardson’s autobiography, Whatever it takes. In it Richardson tells the story of the Hawke to Keating take over. A key strategic element of that transition was back benchers telling the media they had switched teams.
One by one Caucus members began to tell the press gallery that they had switched to Keating. Harry Woods was first out of the box and I made sure there was a steady flow to follow him. This was orchestrated because I still hoped that a ballot would not have to take place and that the transition would be peaceful and dignified.
Which brings us to my next question. Was this sour grapes and a brain-snap from Schultz, or is it the beginning of an orchestrated transition strategy within the Liberal Party?