Boral cut a deal with the State Government and the residents of Walcha to offer to lease the sawmill in the New England town, a decision that will hopefully enable another group to reopen the mill and give the recently unemployed staff a chance for another job.

However, for the State Government the good news stopped about there.

It decided to adjourn its push to have parts of the state’s electricity assets sold to private enterprise. Adjourned but not defeated.

The Government’s strategy to take the legislation straight to the Upper House managed to bypass any embarrassing images of its party members crossing the floor to vote against the proposal.

As one insider said yesterday afternoon, it was a very unusual day: “very, very interesting politics”.

One wonders what the Government has in mind to replace its proposed windfall of $10 billion that the sale would have generated for it.

There were unconfirmed messages of an emergency caucus meeting being held late yesterday evening, to present a plan to sell off another revenue generating part of the electricity assets owned by the State. One assumes more will be known later in the day.

Remarks made by Tamworth-based MLC Christine Robertson, blaming the opposition for yesterday’s adjournment of the debate, seem artless and blind disregard for those who have written, appealed or protested against the sale.

Ms Robertson said the recall of parliament was based on the belief the Liberals and Nationals would support the legislation if the auditor-general endorsed it.

One must never assume, a crusty editor once uttered to a raw cadet. It makes an ass out of you and me.