This week saw big problems emerge for the Labor Party in New South Wales and Western Australia, while federally the Nationals shrank even further with the loss of Lyne. In the Senate, Steve Fielding voted down the luxury car tax increase, while in the United States, Sarah Palin has garnered an immediate and positive reaction.

The New South Wales Premier has revealed his new cabinet, declaring that the “soap opera is over”. As tipped, John Della Bosca has returned, along with right faction powerbroker Joe Tripodi. Frank Sartor and Michael Costa have been dumped, while Reba Meagher withdrew from contention last night before being pushed out.

Nathan Rees, the 40-year-old water minister who has been in the New South Wales Parliament for nearly 18 months, was elected unanimously by Labor MPs yesterday, in an unprecedented move in which both the Premier and Deputy Premier, Carmel Tebbutt, were drafted from the party’s Left faction.

In one sense, the rolling of Morris Iemma is unprecedented - never before has Labor in NSW executed a leader while in government. But in another sense, it is business as all-too-usual. This is yet another instance of the NSW Labor’s Right faction treating the government of our largest state as its personal plaything.

Nathan Rees, who entered New South Wales Parliament only 18 months ago, is to replace Morris Iemma as NSW premier. Mr Iemma fell on his sword this morning after losing his Right faction’s support, the first time in the 117-year history of the Labor Party a premier has been forced out.