Pollies are beefing up the ranks at routine media announcements as candidate hopefuls try to squeeze into picture opportunities. Mike Smithson delves into political manoeuvring ahead of next year’s State Election.

New faces are appearing at routine political announcements which are little more than a flag waving exercise.

There’s nothing wrong with a picture opportunity for candidates who’re hopeful of getting elected next March, but their moment in the sun will quickly fade over the horizon if they’re unsuccessful.

It’s all part of a predictable cycle with just over five months until the next election.

The government usually has the upper hand with the daily news cycle, as it also holds the taxpayer purse strings.

Malinauskas forces have been reminding us constantly of where and how the money is being spent in the hope of securing another term which, realistically, is only theirs to lose.

After decades of watching election build ups, this one is different with technology playing its part, especially with enthusiastic young aspirants on social media.

Labor had to correct its well-charted and navigated course after the Deputy Leader and Treasurer suddenly handed back their commissions to the skipper.

Susan Close and Stephen Mullighan were steady hands at the helm, if needed, and gave Premier Malinauskas a wake-up call that “life wasn’t meant to be this easy.”

But that also threw new ministerial faces into the mix at a crucial time where careless mistakes, slips up and banana skin moments won’t be tolerated.

Newbies Lucy Hood,........

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