If you are thinking the resolution to the potential city stopping crisis of NSW rail workers going on strike next Thursday in the middle of World Youth Day activities was a little too convenient and a little too stage managed you are not alone. While there is no suggestion that it was prompted by John Watkins, who has by all accounts merely sought to do his job as Transport Minister, the same cannot be said of John “Robbo” Robertson Secretary of Unions NSW. Perhaps realising the potential to both embarrass his new nemeses, the Premier and Michael Costa, and at the same time give the most commonly referenced alternative Premier (Watkins) a positive publicity boost Robbo has seized the PR opportunity. In this round at least he appears to have come out the winner with most publications reporting the stoush as a loss for the Premier.

Interestingly what could be described as the other side of the coin is the argument that the government’s vulnerability to strike action is in part due to the Minister not having a plan to deal with any transport crisis appears to have been overlooked. Another question that might be asked is how has the Opposition dealt with this situation? The simple answer is that Barry O’Farrell has managed to fulfil his duties well and has wisely kept the message simple, “The government is divided” has been the mantra repeated in a few different variations and the more opportunities the NSW government provides to keep this message going the greater the damage .