NSW: Howard and Carr look to happy second term coexistence

AAP General News (Australia)
04-14-1999
NSW: Howard and Carr look to happy second term coexistence

By Catharine Munro

SYDNEY, April 14 AAP - Is it possible that an unlikely alliance is emerging between Prime
Minister John Howard and the Labor premier from his home state of New South Wales?

Today Mr Howard described the newly-elected Bob Carr as the most successful Labor leader in
Australia.

Admittedly the accolade came as part of Mr Howard's polemic, which was really directed at
senators refusing to support his tax package.

But while this is so, and while the two government leaders are on opposite sides of the
political divide, the pair appear to share common ground as social conservatives.

They co-exist more comfortably on the great social issue of the moment -- drug reform --
than do Mr Howard and Victoria's Liberal premier Jeff Kennett.

While Mr Kennett has urged Canberra and the other states to consider heroin trials, Mr Carr
and Mr Howard have both dug their heels in against them.

In NSW, Mr Howard today took the bizarre course of flattering Mr Carr while attacking
coalition leader Kerry Chikarovski, known as his protege.

Contradicting Mrs Chikarovski's claim she had campaigned heavily on the contentious issue
of power privatisation, Mr Howard accused her of mistakenly halting the promotion of the issue
mid-campaign.

He also argued against NSW National Party leader George Souris's claim that NSW voters
voted against privatisation of the $25 billion state-owned industry.

What else could he do? Coalition colleagues who declare privatisation is electorally
unpopular are hardly going to help the cause of getting the sale of Telstra through the
Senate.

By contrast, a Labor leader who supported the GST would help his other great cause.

When Mr Howard titled Mr Carr Best Labor leader, he attempted to exploit the premier's
refusal to campaign against the GST as tacit support.

"Surely the Labor Party senators from NSW should take notice of what Bob Carr has said," Mr
Howard said.

"Bob Carr is the most successful Labor leader in Australia at present by far and he's
saying the GST is good for the people of NSW."

Mr Carr has never said the GST is good for the people of NSW.

However, he has said that Mr Howard "could argue he has a mandate to introduce a GST".

As the two second-term politicians continue to push their agendas and vie for middle
Australia's vote, expect more brave new alliances.

AAP cm/sb/jnb/de

KEYWORD: HOWARD CARR

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.