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Gagged ... Maxine McKew's position as parliamentary secretary
doesn't allow her to speak in the
House |
- Bennelong voters disappointed in Maxine McKew
- Not allowed to speak in parliament role
- "Too much focused on the party line"
WHAT do you do when you've knocked off a sitting prime
minister? In Maxine McKew's case, the answer seems to be fall silent.
A great communicator seems stuck in a non-speaking role.
Bennelong voters went all the way for Ms McKew. Not only did they decide she was so good they threw out John Howard, they decided she was so good they chose her as their first Labor MP.
Now Bennelong voters tell The Australian they are worried Ms McKew might not go all the way for them.
She is the parliamentary secretary for early childhood education and childcare. Parliamentary secretary status can be the first step towards a cabinet berth, but parliamentary secretaries cannot answer questions in the house.
The collapse of ABC Learning has made childcare a hot issue, yet Ms McKew has barely been seen. Education Minister Julia Gillard took the running on the issue.
"Queen Maxine was nowhere to be seen," Ms McKew's Opposition counterpart Sophie Mirabella quipped.
Ms McKew's caucus colleagues are protective. "Maxine is working hard" was the standard line they offered.
Ms McKew may have missed a key part of being an MP.
"Maxine thinks her job is to be Labor's ambassador to Bennelong rather than Bennelong's ambassador to Labor," one shrewd local political observer said.
"She is too much focused on the party line."
Bennelong is not a normal seat. It has had only three members in the 60 years since its creation. The first, Liberal John Cramer, served for 25 years and Howard served even longer.
Mr Howard, locals say, had a grassroots network of party members and supporters who acted as ambassadors and barometers of the electorate's mood for many years.
Ms McKew is building up a similar network, but has not fully grasped the part she has to play.
A good marginal member gives constituents the impression that they will fight to the bitter end for their concerns.
Read more of this story in The Australian
A great communicator seems stuck in a non-speaking role.
Bennelong voters went all the way for Ms McKew. Not only did they decide she was so good they threw out John Howard, they decided she was so good they chose her as their first Labor MP.
Now Bennelong voters tell The Australian they are worried Ms McKew might not go all the way for them.
She is the parliamentary secretary for early childhood education and childcare. Parliamentary secretary status can be the first step towards a cabinet berth, but parliamentary secretaries cannot answer questions in the house.
The collapse of ABC Learning has made childcare a hot issue, yet Ms McKew has barely been seen. Education Minister Julia Gillard took the running on the issue.
"Queen Maxine was nowhere to be seen," Ms McKew's Opposition counterpart Sophie Mirabella quipped.
Ms McKew's caucus colleagues are protective. "Maxine is working hard" was the standard line they offered.
Ms McKew may have missed a key part of being an MP.
"Maxine thinks her job is to be Labor's ambassador to Bennelong rather than Bennelong's ambassador to Labor," one shrewd local political observer said.
"She is too much focused on the party line."
Bennelong is not a normal seat. It has had only three members in the 60 years since its creation. The first, Liberal John Cramer, served for 25 years and Howard served even longer.
Mr Howard, locals say, had a grassroots network of party members and supporters who acted as ambassadors and barometers of the electorate's mood for many years.
Ms McKew is building up a similar network, but has not fully grasped the part she has to play.
A good marginal member gives constituents the impression that they will fight to the bitter end for their concerns.
Read more of this story in The Australian
(Read More)
Trish of Sydney