NSW: Special caucus set to be held on Thursday evening

AAP General News (Australia)
12-03-2009
NSW: Special caucus set to be held on Thursday evening

NSW Labor MPs have signed a petition calling for a special caucus meeting to be held
this evening .. when Premier NATHAN REES will be challenged for the leadership.

AAP understands 17 MPs are signatories to the request for a meeting to be held at 6pm (AEDT).

It's believed that among those to sign the petition are Right faction powerbrokers
JOE TRIPODI .. EDDIE OBEID and JOHN DELLA BOSCA .. while dumped ministers MATT BROWN and
TONY STEWART are apparently also on the list.

At the caucus meeting .. a no-confidence motion is set to be moved against Mr REES
which .. if successful .. would spell the end of his leadership.

Planning Minister KRISTINA KENEALLY and former minister FRANK SARTOR are viewed as
the most likely leadership contenders .. but Police Minister MICHAEL DALEY and Deputy
Premier CARMEL TEBBUTT are other possible challengers.

Mr REES has vowed to go out fighting .. and has attacked those undermining his leadership
as a malign and disloyal group .. which has made the business of government almost impossible.

He says if he's not premier by the end of the day .. let there be no doubt in the community's
mind that any challenger will be a puppet to JOE TRIPODI and EDDIE OBEID.

AAP nr/evt/ajw

KEYWORD: LABOR NSW CAUCUS SYDNEY

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