Gung ho micro-economic reform advocates returning to Canberra for the beginning of the Hawke Governments fourth term were reminded there is another key player in the development of a workable program for change. The Labor caucus, largely invisible in the post-election public debate as micro-reform fever swept the ministrys upper ececlons, assembled and elected the new committee leaders. The leaders will have a big influence on how far and how fast the Government will go.
One high-profile critic of open slather deregulation in the Governments last term, Victorian Left MP John Saunderson, is returning briefly - but not as a politician. Saunderson lost his seat as part of Labor's rout in Victoria. Now engaged on a short-term consultancy for the Australian Telecommunications Employees Union, he was back in Canberra "renewing acquaintances and seeing if theres anything going."
