20 million reasons for an intervention. With the anti-Pokies Senator Nick Xenophon being the balance of power man for the Federal Labor Government it probably was not a good look to have the local ACT Branch of the Party continuing to be a major beneficiary of poker machine revenue.

Hence there was very general approval within the ranks of the Federal Party when the locals decided to sell their interest in the successful chain of licensed clubs that produce the dosh. In the kind of strange process that could only happen in the national capital the purchaser will be the ACT Branch of the CFMEU with settlement of a reported $20 million due shortly.

Not that the sale will finally ease the tensions which have often existed between the Federal headquarters of the ALP and the local branch which will end up with the money. On the contrary, the word is already out that federal intervention is being looked at with a dispute which saw the recent resignation of the ACT Labor Secretary a potential excuse for doing so.

A matter of political judgment. Northern Territory Federal Labor MHR Damian Bale, the Member for Solomon, last week attended the launch of the Respectful Relationships Program to be taught in 40 NT schools. The program teaches students how not to become abusive husbands when they grow up.

Mr Hale, reports the Northern Territory News, stood behind Federal Minister for the Status of Women Tanya Plibersek when she said children needed training, “so they can have relationships that are respectful and non-violent”. This morning in the Darwin Magistrate’s Court an application by his wife Jennifer Hale, a Darwin traditional owner, for a domestic violence order against him was adjourned until Friday.

Opportunity to shine. New boy junior minister Mark Arbib is being given plenty of opportunities to shine and clearly the former party official does have friends in high places. He keeps bobbing up everywhere on the television with the blessing of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

I wonder how long it will be before the spinners have the courage to tell the boss that the shaven head makes the Minister for Employment Participation and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Government Service Delivery look far too sinister for such general consumption.

The bald-headed look just does not go down well with the public no matter how much of a prime ministerial confidante he may be.