Now Sartor tipped to exit sinking ship

ENVIRONMENT Minister Frank Sartor has been urged by friends to quit politics for a career in the private sector, as the resignation of John Della Bosca added to expectations that a stream of Labor MPs will jump ship before almost certain election defeat in March.

By InvestSMART · 1 Aug 2010

By InvestSMART ·
1 Aug 2010

Mr Sartor firmly denied whispers doing the rounds of Macquarie Street that he has sounded out a number of financial institutions in the city about possible roles post politics.

The former planning minister and former long-time lord mayor of Sydney said he was still considering whether to stand again in March but would not decide until November or December.

"People have said, 'If you're looking around, here's a suggestion', but actually I have more people bailing me up in supermarkets in the electorate saying 'Run again,"' Mr Sartor said.

"Every election, every MP has a think about it.

"Most politicians are pretty unemployable - it's the nature of the job.

"You become unpopular with some sections and your skills are very general."

That did not stop Mr Della Bosca, a former health minister and key election campaign strategist, landing a $150,000-a-year role as head of the National Disability and Carer Alliance's campaign for the establishment of a national disability insurance scheme.

Mr Della Bosca announced his departure on Thursday.

Premier Kristina Keneally conceded a day later that she was expecting more departures before the election.

Blue Mountains MP Phil Koperberg, a former environment minister, is weighing up his future.

Joe Tripodi was recently linked with a $400,000-a-year job as general manager of Club Marconi.

Others who will be reviewing their positions are Blacktown MP Paul Gibson and Mount Druitt MP Richard Amery.

The veteran MPs are believed to be under pressure from ALP head office to free up their safe seats.

Treasurer Eric Roozendaal is rumoured to be open to offers from the big end of town, perhaps following in the footsteps of former premier Bob Carr, who landed on his feet at Macquarie Bank after he retired from politics.

As Mr Della Bosca showed last week, the charity sector is another avenue for retired Labor politicians.

John Watkins, the deputy to Morris Iemma when he was premier, now heads Alzheimer's Australia NSW.

Disillusioned former juvenile justice minister Graham West also went to the charity sector.

Opposition MP Brad Hazzard said he expected more Labor MPs to jump ship before the election.

He said they realised that they had not delivered the services and improvements that the people of NSW expected.