Rod Cocks -v- Greg Pargeter and the people of La Trobe

Rodney Cocks and Greg Pargeter: contenders in the seat of La Trobe

The word to Miss Eagle is that Greg Pargeter has re-nominated for the re-opened pre-selection process in the Victorian seat of La Trobe for which late-comer, new-comer Rodney Cocks is rumoured to be endorsed.

Miss Eagle congratulates Greg on his decision to re-nominate for the seat for which he has been a hard-working candidate. Why go down without a fight? Silent indignity in the face of dis-endorsement in favour of a person who was not even a member of the ALP a week ago is not the best way to go.

A couple of comments Miss Eagle has received:

• I think any preselection less than 12 mths out from an election is a waste of on the ground campaigners time. Whats the point?

• I have great concerns over the dumping of Pargeter. Firstly several months ago, the Fed's were happy to leave La Trobe alone, it was seen as unwinnable. But Pargeter and a dedicated campaign team have worked hard, Pargeter is out every weekend running mobile offices, attending fetes, shows,anywhere he can engage the electorate. And it's started to bite, we are now seeing letters in the local papers critical of sitting member Jason Wood (whose time in the house is being seen as filling the numbers). The undecided of La Trobe have realised there is an alternative to just another Howard lackie. Pargeter was local, was family, was worker and he took an interest in the community. The incumbent Lib' Wood on the other hand is aloof, arrogant and unwilling to engage the community on the big issues, whilst he is happy to give Boy Scouts water tanks, he is unwilling to comment on IR for fear of bad press, his stance on climate change was similar. Rodney Cocks is the unknown and hence my concern. Firstly give the man his dues, he's a national hero and that's a good thing as it counters Jason Wood's "trust me I'm an ex-counter terrorism copper" On national security Wood talks the talk, but Cocks will walk the walk. But in politics, all politics is local and Cocks may lack credibility if he is not up to speed on local issues.

Miss Eagle believes that the National Executive of the ALP will vote on the pre-selection to-day.

We wait to see what wisdom emerges from this process.