Fed: Bartlett shouldn't be blamed for Democrat decline: analyst

AAP General News (Australia)
12-14-2003
Fed: Bartlett shouldn't be blamed for Democrat decline: analyst

A political analyst says the ANDREW BARTLETT affair is unlikely to cost the Democrats
many votes at the next federal election.

Mr BARTLETT is on leave until parliament resumes in early February, after he drunkenly
manhandled Liberal JEANNIE FERRIS on the floor of the Senate recently.

Political scientist PAUL WILLIAMS says he expects the public to be more forgiving of
Mr BARTLETT than the headline writers have been.

Dr WILLIAMS -- a lecturer at Queensland's Griffith University -- says Australians understand
that politicians are human.

Dr WILLIAMS says Australians will also respect the fact Mr BARTLETT has apologised
unconditionally to Senator FERRIS and owned up to having a problem.

However says the Democrats were always going to be in for a rough time at the next
election, due to the party's lack of identity.

AAP RTV jhm/rca

KEYWORD: BARTLETT (BRISBANE)

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