Smithson: Political coup rumours revive memories of Premier’s own brutal execution edict
Rumours and leaks swirling around the latest baying for SA political blood have Mike Smithson reminiscing about “Young Peter’s” own involvement in a former Labor leaders’ assassination.
The element of surprise is always a key tactic to launching a political coup or leadership challenge.
There has been more than an ounce of truth to Liberal Party events of the past week, but those wanting to swing the axe against incumbent leader Vincent Tarzia were unlikely to have the immediate courage of their convictions.
I’ve witnessed the execution or attempted dismemberment of three leaders over the past 29 years of covering politics and all had differing approaches in their savagery and success.
This past week’s reported move against Tarzia will always be disputed by those in the know with an official verdict of “nothing to see here.”
The fact that leaks followed results of an internal poll, which were supposed to be kept under wraps behind closed doors, speaks volumes about where the so-called party faithful are at.
I’d be surprised if his apparent successor Ashton Hurn, who’s the obvious choice, would have much appetite left to savour the top job, even if drafted into it, after the intense scrutiny which should have been easily avoided.
She’s no traitor looking to undermine the leader and never has been, but plenty of others seem ready to push her forward.
How on earth do they think that party problems will now be resolved by handing her the poisoned chalice at this point?
How have previous coups avoided the stuff-up which publicly unfurled here?
Let’s turn the clock back to the heady Liberal days of 1996.
Dean Brown led the party to a landslide win three years earlier after Labor’s State Bank collapse.
What could possibly go wrong with such a majority?
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Conservative Lib John Olsen, now Crows Chairman, had long considered he should be Premier having lost two elections during his time as Opposition Leader.
The familiar story of poor polling was a looming threat to Brown.
I recall a sure sign that Olsen wanted to stand apart and create a defining public perception.
Brown had called his cabinet troops together at Mount Lofty House to strategize.
Media had been told in advance the Libs would be in casual attire as they soaked up a leafy location away from the State Administration office.
All complied except Olsen, who was dressed in an immaculately tailored suit and tie.
He stood out blindingly at the meeting as the person ready for business rather than mixing it with pleasure.
I even mentioned it in that night’s news report as his intent was so hard to miss.
As the sharks were circling in the days to come, the image of Premier Brown badly playing a big brass tuba at a Glenelg media event, as opposed to a smiling Olsen arriving briskly at North Terrace for work was another stark contrast.
I was only tipped off minutes beforehand that a spill was to be called with numbers already counted, and Brown was doomed to the point of not even contesting a leadership ballot.
Olsen forces were discussing the brutal execution only on a “need to know basis” with a swiftness that caught many by surprise.
Brown wouldn’t have wasted his time pumping out an excruciating tune at the Bay had he known the “end was nigh.”
Peter Malinauskas knows a thing or two about cutting leaders off at the knees.
He was dispatched with fellow Right faction powerbroker Jack Snelling to inform Mike Rann that his time was ending with Left faction rising star Jay Weatherill to take the reins.
It was on a Friday afternoon in July 2011.
There was no warning, no cameras, no suspicion and almost no public backlash as Labor moved to change guard after years of Rann rule.
Dumping the task on the shoulders of 30-year-old union big hitter Malinauskas was also a useful pointer towards the future.
Rann was outwardly philosophical initially, but inwardly furious at this audacious vote of no confidence.
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As his blood boiled, he repeatedly referred to Malinauskas as “young Peter” as if he’d been exiled from office by a schoolboy.
I was tipped off early the next day that Labor MPs were being summoned to a special Saturday morning caucus meeting at Parliament House.
It was a brutal assassination process of a popular Premier, but swift and uncompromising.
Rann insisted on choosing the exact date of his departure which was weeks later.
Labor’s justification was that the Party is always bigger than the individual, even though he’d delivered three election victories against the Libs who should have survived for at least another generation.
As I explained to a Liberal heavyweight last week, the current problem is two-fold.
The element of surprise has now been lost but plenty of damage has still been done for no gain.
Tarzia says he’s there to lead the party into the next election and Hurn says she will serve him with no intention of becoming leader before March.
It seems feasible under current polling that Tarzia could lose his seat leaving Hurn as the last person standing to take over, assuming she retains her safe seat of Schubert.
Come what may, the average swinging voter is hardly likely to stampede into a polling booth on March 21 looking for the box to vote-1 Liberal.
Sadly, the Libs look like a disorganized rabble.
I’m sure they have good intentions but poor execution, pardon the pun.
There will be conjecture over the supposed leadership coup with many saying it was never really going to happen.
Others are still saying it’s possible, perhaps even this week.
Changing leaders to Hurn may have been a risky but successful plan, but it’s history for now.
I’ve never questioned her ability, talent and drive as a politician, who’s also juggling motherhood.
She was also a clever, resourceful, and influential media advisor to Premier Steven Marshall.
Even if Tarzia does receive a delegation trying to convince him to step aside, he would then have the added trouble of convincing his Hartley electorate that he’s still the real deal.
As we head towards the peak of silly season, I have two end-of-year predictions.
Watch out for outgoing Speaker Leon Bignell to land the plum Agent-General job in London replacing former Liberal heavyweight David Ridgway.
It would be a logical and a just reward for Leon’s dedicated public service.
And if Labor’s Tony Piccolo manages to snare the seat of the Frome, now Ngadjuri, from talented Liberal Penny Pratt, I’m tipping his reward will be the Speaker’s chair, elevating him from Deputy Speaker.
Who said politics is boring?
It has never been.
Mike Smithson is weekend presenter for 7 News and a weekly unpaid weekly radio commentator.
