Blink and you would have missed it – a line
in yesterday’s Adelaide Advertiser that Makin MP Trish Draper was “considering quitting at the next election”. But there’s more
today – “Nominations for federal Liberal seats have been delayed sparking
renewed speculation at least one MP will be challenged and that senior MP Trish
Draper was considering quitting at the next election” – and plenty of talk in
the House on the Hill.

The talk’s very
interesting indeed, as it contains plenty of speculation that H R Nicholls
Society heavy and Housing Industry Association president Bob Day may make a bid
for the seat.

Day has been crucial
to the Liberal Party in the Makin area – Adelaide’s outer north-eastern suburbs – for many
years, but his candidacy could be interesting at a WorkChoices poll.

Makin was only created
in time for the 1984 poll. It was held by Labor until 1996 when Draper
unexpectedly won, and has stayed Liberal ever since. The current margin is 3.8
per cent.

The Advertiser reports today “Liberal
sources said yesterday Mr Howard would talk to Ms Draper during this week’s
sitting after she told other state federal MPs she did not want to continue.
The sources predicted the party would face an uphill battle to retain Makin
next time without the benefit of a sitting member.” And a Day candidacy might
be a bridge too far at an IR poll.