A
reshuffle forecast from Jason Koutsoukis in last weekend’s Sunday Age is generating some interesting talk around the corridors.

“Ah,
yes…” is the usual response. “I’ve heard about it, but haven’t read it,” is
another. No doubt the sources were good – but is it kite flying, wishful
thinking or what?

Trade
Minister Mark Vaile will swap portfolios with Transport Minister Warren Truss
as part of a ministerial reshuffle being planned by Prime Minister John Howard
for about July.

Immigration
Minister Amanda Vanstone, Sports Minister Rod Kemp, and Local Government
Minister Jim Lloyd are among those to be asked to make way for new blood…

Another
source said Mr Howard was looking for “a posting” for Senator Vanstone to ease
her departure from the ministry. “There
is not much respect for Amanda Vanstone in the PMO (Prime Minister’s office).
She’s lazy, she’s rude and very difficult to deal with.

“But at
the same time everyone realises that she can’t be moved out of politics without
the PM giving her a senior job, so that’s what they are looking for.”

Well, the
Kemp stories have been around for ages – that he’d be allowed to stay to enjoy
the Commonwealth Games in his home town, then would be for the chop. Lloyd’s a
galoot. But the rest? Vanstone? After Hill? Two casual vacancies from one state
so close? And what about the Prime Minister’s natural conservatism? Another
reshuffle – so close to the last one?

Puzzling.
And intriguing.