Comment on Fred Chaney's retirement from politics

Housing Minister Jim McGinty says Fred Chaney's decision to quit politics is a further sign that the Liberal Party in Western Australia has now returned to the dark ages.

Mr McGinty said the signs were ominous for low-income families such as those relying on public housing and other Government assistance. 

He said the Liberal Party had been hijacked by an extreme right-wing group interested only in power and with little credibility or support among rank-and-file Liberals or Liberal voters. 

"It is no secret that Fred Chaney did not get along with Senator Noel Crichton-Browne, Bill Hassell or Sir Charles Court," Mr McGinty said. 

"Fred Chaney has always been a voice of moderation and reason within the Liberal Party, and this earned him the nickname 'Red Fred'.

"It was not so long ago that he was virtually booed out of the State Liberal Conference for questioning the party's red-neck approach to issues, including the treatment of Aborigines." 

Mr McGinty said the Court family's long-running campaign to stop Fred Chaney getting a lower house seat in Federal Parliament was well-documented. 

"This happened at a time when Mr Chaney was being looked on as a possible Federal leader and potential prime minister," the Minister said.

"However, the right-wing power brokers in the Liberal Party refused to give Mr Chaney the seat of Curtin, one of their safest seats and one which should go to a politician whose parliamentary or government duties would leave little time for electorate matters. 

"It is clear that there is no place in the Liberal Party for those people with a social conscience.

"Fred Chaney joins Barry MacKinnon, Peter Durack and Ian Viner as prominent and popular Liberals cast aside by the Court-Crichton-Browne clique. 

"Who will be next?" 

Mr McGinty said the ordinary people of Western Australia had a lot to fear from a political party which had no place for fair-minded and moderate politicians.