The Future for the NSW Liberals

The NSW election being almost done and dusted, it won't be long before attention turns to the future of its Opposition - and it seems the jostling has already begun.

It's fairly safe to say that Peter Debnam will offer his resignation should his party be unsuccessful - or, if he does not, the pressure on him to do so will eventually prove unbearable. Nevertheless, there are no obvious contenders to take his place. Deputy leader Barry O'Farrell has reportedly refused chances to revive his leadership aspirations. Immediately elevating a new candidate such as Pru Goward would be extremely risky.

Into this mix - and, intriguingly, before rather than after the election - comes an editorial by conservative attack dog Piers Akerman strongly suggesting that one John Brogden would be the only man to drag the party out of the doldrums (whilst `demolishing' the `myth' that Brogden had been comprehensively been brought down by dissidents within his own party) and issuing an open plea for his return to the fold.

Could Brogden be on the comeback trail?

Most commentators agree that the election would have been far more competitive with Brogden leading the Opposition. It's entirely plausible that the David Clarke might be faction fingered for costing the party the election with its white-anting. The moderates - who admit they are no less bloodthirsty in their pursuit of power than their opponents (some of whom have suggested that the only way to counter the stacking of branches with far-Right members is to stack them with their own supporters instead) - will certainly push this line in an attempt to pull the party back into the centre. In such a climate, the notion of Brogden quietly and slowly reasserting himself is a viable prospect, if he has patience and feels up to it.

Someone in Akerman's corner certainly seems to see things falling out this way, anyway.