FED:Robertson should use Abbott as model:Arbib

AAP General News (Australia)
04-24-2011
FED:Robertson should use Abbott as model:Arbib

CANBERRA, April 24 AAP - NSW Opposition Leader John Robertson should use Tony Abbott
as a model to attack the state government, a federal frontbencher says.

Sports Minister Mark Arbib said Mr Robertson should emulate the methods of the federal
opposition leader to highlight the faults in Barry O'Farrell's coalition government.

"Tony Abbott has provided a decent model for John Robertson to follow," Senator Arbib
told Sky News on Sunday.

"Keep it simple."

Senator Arbib was the general secretary of the NSW Labor Party between 2004 and 2007
and campaign director for the party's success at the 2007 election.

But the recent NSW election was the low point for state Labor, as it lost 30 of 50
seats it held before the March 26 poll with a 13.4 per cent swing against it.

The poll left NSW Labor with 20 seats in a 93-member parliament, effectively meaning
it would have to wait at least two terms - eight years - before having a chance of re-election.

NSW Labor had to concentrate on education, health and police issues to regain lost
ground, Senator Arbib said.

"They've got to focus to get back on the basics, be unified and also hold Barry O'Farrell
to account," he said.

"That is the key of good opposition."

AAP el/cdh/ajw

KEYWORD: ARBIB ABBOTT

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