ANYONE involved in politics at any level should beware of the dangers of emails and where a misplaced copy can turn up - former federal Opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull discovered that reality after emails between Treasury officer Godwin Grech and himself were leaked last year.
Now a series of leaked emails between NSW Housing Minister, David Borger and Parramatta Labor councillor Mark Lack reveals, among other things, some insights into the difficulties the ALP is having in gaining traction at the local level.
A copy of the emails between Mr Borger and Cr Lack about a media release Mr Borger wrote for the councillor, calling on lord mayor Paul Garrard to sort out parking problems in Harris Park, was also sent to all 15 councillors, Liberals and independents included.
No prizes for guessing that the emails landed in the office of the state Opposition leader, Barry O'Farrell last week.
The need for more parking in Harris Park aside, the emails reveal more of the uncomfortable relationship that exists between Mr Borger and Cr Garrard, who was a long-serving member of the ALP until Mr Borger's pre-selection for the seat of Granville before the 2007 state election.
Cr Garrard resigned from the Labor Party over it and now sits as an independent on the council.
In his response to Mr Borger's initial email containing the draft media release, Cr Lack said that he did ``not feel comfortable with it as we are accepting `friendly fire' from our own side and giving our target plenty of chance to land some heavy hits back.''
Cr Lack continued: ``I think we need to be very focused in our approach with the attack being about his unsuitable character and abuse of power in the position bestowed upon him.''
In reply, Mr Borger did not hold back, either on Cr Garrard or the Labor opposition in council: ``Mark hi, Frankly labor councillors have not publicly taken garrard on about anything that I can remember. I think you have all been bullied by this guy ... There seems to be no effective opposition at council level.
``And if it comes to alp councillors outwitting him and getting lib and independent councillors good luck. This guy is as cunning as a fox,'' Mr Borger concluded.
Mr Borger said his comments were ``not over the top'' and that he had no intention of apologising for them.
``We all make mistakes from time to time,'' he said. ``Life's too short, I think we are all being far too serious about this.''
While not responding to our request for a comment on the matter, Cr Lack said in reply to Mr Borger's email criticisms of Parramatta Labor councillors that ALP councillors ``get bashed over the head all of the time in council''.
Cr Lack said: ``To attack Garrard on the lack [of] new parking in Parramatta over the past ten years is attacking ourselves and yourself as you were leader in that period.''
Cr Garrard said he could take legal action but had decided not to.
``At the end of the day my credibility is not on the line, theirs is,'' Cr Garrard said.
``To have a Minister of the Crown involved is a damn disgrace and abuse of office. The fact that he made comment about my character needs to be addressed. It is a sad tale and an indictment of a party which has lost contact with the grass roots.''
The Opposition Leader, Barry O'Farrell said the leaked emails showed Mr Borger had so much time on his hands that he was ``playing press secretary'' for local ALP councillors instead of addressing crucial issues in his portfolios.
Email a friend
Favourites
Del.icio.us
Facebook
Digg
StumbleUpon
MySpace
Reddit
Newsvine
LinkedIn
Kwoff
Twitter