The first Roy Morgan face-to-face poll of Tony Abbott’s Liberal leadership covers the last two weekends of polling, and it fails to replicate the encouraging results for Abbott in Morgan’s two earlier small-sample phone polls. Labor’s primary vote is up two points on Malcolm Turnbull’s last poll to 49 per cent, while the Coalition is up 0.5 per cent to 35.5 per cent. The Greens are down 1.5 per cent to 8 per cent. Labor’s lead on two-party preferred is up from 58.5-41.5 to 59-41.
Festive preselection action:
• Former Davis Cup tennis player John Alexander has won the Liberal preselection for Bennelong, having earlier tried and failed in Bradfield. Despite predictions of a close contest, the Sydney Morning Herald reported the Left-backed Alexander had an easy first round win over local business executive Mark Chan, scoring 67 votes in the ballot of 120 preselectors. As the Herald tells it, “the right split and the hard right deserted Mr Chan”, although VexNews notes the seat is “not a centre of factional operations for either camp”. The also-rans were businessman Steve Foley and financial services director Melanie Matthewson.
• Wanneroo mayor Jon Kelly has withdrawn his nomination for Labor preselection in the Perth northern suburbs federal seat of Cowan, after earlier being considered certain to get the gig. This comes in the wake of a Corruption and Crime Commission finding that Kelly had put himself at “risk” of misconduct through his relationship with Brian Burke. Burke presumably knew what he was doing when he subsequently endorsed Kelly, going on to say he had “sought my help on many occasions and I’ve always been available to assist him”. The West Australian reported the withdrawal was the product of a “mutual” decision reached after “a week of talks with Labor officials”, which included federal campaign committee chairman and Brand MP Gary Gray. Potential replacements named by The West are Dianne Guise and Judy Hughes, who respectively lost their local seats of Wanneroo and Kingsley at the state election last September. The ABC reports a decision is expected in mid-January.
• The Western Australian ALP has also confirmed Tim Hammond, Louise Durack and ECU history lecturer Bill Leadbetter as candidates for Swan, Stirling and Pearce.
• The NSW Liberals have selected incumbents Concetta Fierravanti-Wells and Bill Heffernan to head their Senate ticket, reversing the order from 2004. The Coalition agreement reserves the third position for the Nationals – I am not aware of any suggestion their candidate will be anyone other than incumbent Fiona Nash. Imre Salusinszky of The Australian reports Heffernan needed the backing of Tony Abbott to ward off challenges from David Miles, a public relations executive with Pfizer, and George Bilic, a Blacktown councillor.
• Phillip Coorey of the Sydney Morning Herald notes Left figurehead Anthony Albanese’s chutzpah in calling for the Macquarie preselection to be determined by rank-and-file party ballot, after the role he played in imposing numerous candidates elsewhere as a member of the party’s national executive. Albanese reportedly believes Left candidate Susan Templeman would win a local ballot, although the earlier mail was that the Right’s Adam Searle had the numbers and it was the Left who wanted national executive intervention.
• Final Liberal two-party margin from the Bradfield by-election: 14.8 per cent. From Higgins: 10.2 per cent. Respective turnouts were 81.51 per cent and 79.00 per cent, compared with 80.12 per cent at the Mayo by-election, 87.41 per cent in Lyne and 89.68 per cent in Gippsland. Question: if the results have been declared, why hasn’t the AEC published preference distributions?
• VexNews reports Saturday’s Liberal preselection for the Victorian state seat of Ripon was a clear win for the unsuccessful candidate from 2006, Vic Dunn, who my records tell me is “the local inspector at Maryborough”. Dunn reportedly scored 53 votes against 26 for Institute of Public Affairs agriculture policy expert and preselection perennial Louise Staley and four for local winery owner John van Beveren. Joe Helper holds the seat for Labor on a maergin of 4.3 per cent.
• The Berwick Star reports that Lorraine Wreford, the newly elected mayor of Casey, refused to confirm or deny reports she lodged a nomination for Liberal preselection in the state seat of Mordialloc last Friday. Janice Munt holds the seat for Labor on a margin of 3.5 per cent.
• The Country Voice SA website reports that one of its regular contributors, former SA Nationals president Wilbur Klein, will be the party’s candidate for Flinders at the March state election. The seats was held by the party prior to 1993, when it was won by its now-retiring Liberal member Liz Penfold.
• On Tuesday, The West Australian provided further data from the 400-sample Westpoll survey discussed a few posts ago, this time on attitudes to an emissions trading scheme. Forty per cent wanted it adopted immediately, down from 46 per cent two months ago. However, there was also a fall in the number wanting the government to wait until other countries committed to targets, from 47 per cent to 43 per cent. The remainder “ favoured other options to cut emissions or did not know”.
• Paul Murray of The West Australian offers some interesting electoral history on the occasion of the passing of former Liberal-turned-independent state MP Ian Thompson:
Shortly after the State election in February 1977, allegations began to emerge from both sides of politics about dirty deeds in the seat of Kimberley. Liberal sitting member Alan Ridge beat Labor’s Ernie Bridge on preferences by just 93 votes. The Liberals were the first to strike, claiming Labor was manipulating Aboriginal voters, but the move backfired badly. A subsequent Court of Disputed Returns case turned up scathing evidence of a deliberate Liberal campaign to deny Aboriginals the vote using underhand tactics and the election result was declared void on November 7.
Returning officers in the Kimberley for years had allowed illiterate Aboriginals to use party how-to-vote cards as an indication of their voting intention. What became apparent later was that Labor had put hundreds of Aboriginal voters on the roll and generally mobilised the indigenous community. The Liberals flew a team of young lawyers up from Perth to act as scrutineers at polling booths, with a plan to stop illiterate voters. The Court government pressured the chief electoral officer to instruct returning officers in the Kimberley to challenge illiterate voters and not accept their how-to-vote cards.
The court case turned up a letter of thanks from Mr Ridge to a Liberal Party member, who stood as an independent, saying “a third name on the ballot paper created some confusion among the illiterate voters and there is no doubt in my mind that it played a major part in having me re-elected”. Mr Ridge’s letter said that unless the Electoral Act was changed to make it more difficult for illiterate Aboriginals to cast their votes, the Liberals would not be able to win the seat.
Two days after the court ordered a new election, premier Sir Charles introduced in the Legislative Assembly a Bill to do just that. How-to-vote cards could not be used, nor could an instruction of a vote for just one candidate. Labor went ballistic, saying no illiterate voter would meet the test.
What transpired over nine hours was one of the most bitter debates ever seen in the WA Parliament and the galvanising of a new breed of Labor head kickers – Mr Burke, Mal Bryce, Bob Pearce and Arthur Tonkin, who came to power six years later. On November 10, it became apparent that the government was in trouble when one of the four National Country Party members not in the coalition Cabinet, Hendy Cowan, said he opposed the Bill because it disenfranchised all illiterate voters. When it came to the vote, the four NCP members crossed the floor and the maverick Liberal member for Subiaco, Dr Tom Dadour, abstained. The numbers split 25-25.
From the Speaker’s chair, Ian Thompson calmly noted that the law said when a Court of Disputed Returns ordered a by-election it had to be held under the same conditions as the original poll. If the Government wanted to amend the Electoral Act, it should do so after the by-election.
“Therefore I give my casting vote with the ‘Noes’ and the Bill is defeated,” he said. Hansard unusually recorded applause.
For Australians to describe Americans as “self-absorbed rednecks”, as they all too often do, betrays a certain lack of self-awareness.
Frank, I did appreciate “Libtarded Obamabots”. Now we know what choir the Oppo, their supporters & the MSM are singing in!
No chance Howard’s & Rupe’s Oz acolytes thought up “Ruddbot” for themselves. They pinched it off George Dubya’s Wingnut Republicans. How typical. I must read a few RBWD-supporter on-line newspapers to see how many more memes Shanahan, Planet Janet & Co have pinched from them. But Not Fox. I can’t watch Fox. Even Dr Joe Propaganda Minister would have baulked at Fox. And I don’t want to have to replace a smashed laptop yet!
[For Australians to describe Americans as “self-absorbed rednecks”, as they all too often do, betrays a certain lack of self-awareness.]
William,
All I say is read those Youtube comments – they make Bolt’s contributers look like members of Mensa 🙂
Frank, that’s true of any YouTube comments thread on any subject.
2804
No, I once commented on a Youtube video (on the US election) and was the only poster if I remember correctly.
Cuppa #2798
What makes 9/11 modern; but 6 terrorist attacks on London & 1 on Birmingham 2000-1 not? The 4 March 2001 BBC & 2 August 2001 bombings (Real IRA) happen only months/weeks before 11 September 2001, but they’re not “modern” because they don’t happen to USA & the terrorists aren’t Al Qaeda? And this attitude doesn’t strike you as weird?
So you’ve brought the GOP line that terrorism begins with an Al Qaeda attack on THEM, and is Middle Eastern & Islamic. So any “modern” terrorism must, ipso facto, be Al Qaeda and Islamic. So, despite the Lockabie bombing’s killing many N Americans, and the PLO & other Arab terrorist attacks – Munich Olympics to 9/11 – those Islamic terrorists aren’t modern al Qaeda Islamic terrorists.
Thank you for proving my point. Though why an Australian – always assuming you are an Oz, not from the USA – would support that narrow-minded perspective is beyond me. Australians have been involved (& injured/ killed in) most major UK terrorist attacks, as well as Bali and Mumbai.
A terrorist is a terrorist is a terrorist, irrespective of race, religion, colour and political affiliation; since all have the same aim, to terrorise through violence, especially to innocent civilians.
Defining terrorism – modern or otherwise – as specific to one religion, race, political affiliation, and the country or people attacked, is bigotry – sectarian, racial, ideological or whatever; but still bigotry
OzPol
I just happen to view 911 as a watershed moment in modern history. Other people’s interpretations will differ, obviously, but that’s the nature of History as a subject. So, no, my having an interpretation of historical events that differs to someone else’s (yours in this case) doesn’t strike me as weird at all.
Ozpol
many forget the Unabomber and Tim Mcveigh
[Ozpol
many forget the Unabomber and Tim Mcveigh]
And the Latter was a White, Anglo-Saxon Male born in the Good old US of A, and while there were no deaths here in WA there was the Woddchip Bomber, who blew up the Bunbury Port.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1300&dat=19780314&id=bAYQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=aZIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1741,6346665
I think why 9/11 stands out in people’s minds is that it is the only event of all those mentioned is that it was witnessed live world-wide on television. It would have had much less of an impact on the collective memory if it had been just reported after the fact.
Just ungarbling the first sentence in #2810
I think why 9/11 stands out in people’s minds is that it is the only event of all those mentioned that was witnessed live world-wide on television. It would have had much less of an impact on the collective memory if it had been just reported after the fact.
Indeed! Gusface #2808
In fact, my initial reaction to 9/11 was “We’ll the Militia Whackjobs have certainly ramped up their act since Oklahoma!” and I know I wasn’t the only one. With a shave, a local accent, conspiracy-theory tapes & Korans inside typical Bible binding, Osama could always hide out in Montana. He could train his terrorists there & who’d pick the difference!
Oops We’ll = well
[Osama could always hide out in Montana. He could train his terrorists there & who’d pick the difference!]
OzPol, that reminds me of an interview I heard at the time of the 2004 US elections with a Republican mayor of a town in Montana who was convinced that the 9/11 attacks were a CIA conspiracy. It is amazing that there haven’t been more Timothy McVeighs in US history
Frank
The Unabomber, Theodore Kaczynski, was also home grown in the US as was the Mad Bomber, George Metesky.
Keith @ 2799,
The Aussie version is better. It’s includes a refrigerated elongated tube that holds six stubbies for when you get a thirst at night.
Scarpat (2810 & 2811), your meaning was perfectly clear in the first instance. 🙂
Yes, there was the “live and televised” aspect that set 911 apart. Who can forget, at the time, whenever turned on the tele, the horrifying pictures of the plane crashing into the Tower, the Towers smoking, people jumping out of windows, the buildings crumbling to the ground, the interviews with distressed survivors and emergency workers, the fleeing on foot of terrified civilians. For about a week this went on, wall-to-wall. For me, a turning-point of modern history.
Of course, the attack was intended this to be spectacular and symbolic. A novel type of creative evil: hijack civilian aircraft, take the controls and crash the craft, with passengers, into majestic civilian (and in the case of the Pentagon, government) infrastructure. The World Trade Center, magnificent, gleaming silver Towers, symbolic of the US, the West, Christianity, capitalism etc, brought to the ground in a most evil, unforgettable manner.
Then there was the loss of life. Not too many terrorist attacks in history have scored 3000+ casualties.
Then there were the ramifications that the event gave rise to. The war on Iraq, the escalation of the offensive in Afghanistan. The emboldening of al Qaeda to stage other high-profile attacks on western soil and elsewhere.
Other people will interpret all this differently, and that’s fine and to be expected. But when they are intolerant to conflicting interpretations, well, that’s a literal case of bigotry. OzPol, I’m looking your way, as you were the first to use the “bigot” word, in post 2806:
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollbludger/2009/12/18/morgan-59-41-7/comment-page-57/#comment-383393
[. bigot – one who is obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices
. A bigot is a person who is intolerant of or takes offense to the opinions, lifestyles or identities differing from his or her own, and bigotry is the corresponding attitude or mindset
my emphases]
http://www.google.com.au/search?q=define%3Abigotry&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a
[Frank
The Unabomber, Theodore Kaczynski, was also home grown in the US as was the Mad Bomber, George Metesky.]
Thought as much, but was erring on the side of caution in case certain people would get all anal if I got it wrong.
[Thought as much, but was erring on the side of caution in case certain people would get all anal if I got it wrong.]
Don’t worry Frank. There are people on PB who go anal when you get things right!
Scarpat, I thought Bali had all the hallmarks of CIA propaganda operation – after Chile & quite a few others, who trusts the CIA – but it seemed better organised than more recent CIA galumphing, so I smacked the paw & attributed my conspiracy theories to watching “Spooks” too faithfully.
[Thought as much, but was erring on the side of caution in case certain people would get all anal if I got it wrong]
Dont worry,we’ve got your back covered
😉
Greensborough Growler @ 2816
Ha! 😀
#2802
I came across a sticker on a light pole the other day which read;
RUDDEVIL – No $s for Way Youth.
It was printed by the Wayside Chapel Youth Group. I don’t know what their complaint was (presumably they failed to get government funding).
First time I had come across the descriptor for the PM though.
How very bloody Christian of them. Not.
PY comes across, talks to someone or simply making things up?
“Wayside’s future seems secure now that the Federal Government has chipped in with funds from its economic stimulus package.
It has added to the $2 million pledged by the State Government in July and $1.5 million in public donations for a new four-storey building and refurbishment.
Mr Long said the funding announcement was a win for the disadvantaged in Kings Cross and surrounding suburbs.”
http://sydney-central.whereilive.com.au/news/story/st-kevin-comes-good-at-sydneys-wayside-chapel/
The Wayside Youth web page is here:-
http://www.thewaysidechapel.com/wayside-youth.php
GG –
You are not real bright are you.
The story reads:
‘ when the future of the Wayside Chapel was still in jeopardy, the Rev Graeme Long, made a promise to the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd:…..”
Clearly the poster was put up when the struggle was on for funds.
GG
I will go and photograph the sticker now. You will be bloke with egg on your face GG.
PY,
I might think tou’re a lying scumbag. But, I’d never post it.
[PY,
I might think tou’re a lying scumbag. But, I’d never post it.]
I think his constant ALP Bashing is somehow going to come back and bite him on the rear end really bad.
But then again, what do you expect from members of the Church of St Bob of the Leafy Matter 🙂
GG
Very droll. Now to open a Flickr account.
PY,
I don’t do requests.
[It was printed by the Wayside Chapel Youth Group. I don’t know what their complaint was (presumably they failed to get government funding). ]
I’m sure there was a poster and I’m sure at one stage the Wayside Chapel thought it wasn’t going to get funds. But in the end they did, and very complimentary of Rudd they were too.
[Sydney’s Wayside Chapel says it has been saved by a multi-million-dollar injection from the Federal Government.
The Uniting Church’s centre near Kings Cross offers meals, counselling, education and advice on emergency housing to thousands of people a year, but nearly 40 per cent of the building has become unusable.
The Federal Government’s decided to chip in $3 million dollars from its economic stimulus fund for an overhaul.
The pastor, the Reverend Graham Long, has told government ministers it is the most important day in the chapel’s 45 years.
“Earlier this week I threatened that if the feds came good with $3 million we’d call this place saint Kev’s,” he said.]
No need for egg on faces, Peter.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/11/13/2742173.htm
Peter Young
Given this:
http://www.thewaysidechapel.com/inner-circle.php
Maybe the lying Lindsay Liberals or fellow travellers are at it again, or a Vision that ne’er from heaven came!
GG
I think PY has been scribbling on the back of the dunny door again.
Boy is he in trouble when his mum finds out
😉
Lightpole stickers here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/peter124u/4217794007/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/peter124u/4217793943/
Gus,
I would not be bright enough to read it. That’s why PY is running around Sydney in the dark and the rain and I’m at home drinking beer and eating prawns.
[Cuppa
Posted Sunday, December 27, 2009 at 5:52 pm | Permalink
OzPol
I just happen to view 911 as a watershed moment in modern history. Other people’s interpretations will differ, obviously, but that’s the nature of History as a subject. So, no, my having an interpretation of historical events that differs to someone else’s (yours in this case) doesn’t strike me as weird at all.]
I think it is too; it was when the barbarians work out how to exhaust the financial might of an empire. And Bush played right into their hands.
[Lightpole stickers here:]
Peter
Your attempted slur was poorly thought out and even worsely presented
The sticker read:
RUDDED!! not RUDDEVIL
I thought you pretend pamphleteers would have learnt after your vainglorious attempt in jackie kelly’s seat
0/10
It’s RUDDED!!!
[The sticker read: RUDDED!! not RUDDEVIL]
Gus, would that be the best own goal since Turnbull’s Grech Email?
Gusface…there was no attempted slur by me..it reads as I said. I was reporting on what I saw.
Your actual slur that I was writing on the back of a dunny door was wrong.
GG’s actual slur that the sticker didn’t exist was wrong.
Finns
They never learn
🙁
Peter Young, you are your own worst nightmare.
this gives a diferent dimensiion to US ‘shotgun weddings’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3cFSgVGw0I
[Peter Young, you are your own worst nightmare.]
Careful, He’ll drag out the KLF clip next – He even managed to get Bilbo onside when he tried to slur the late Chris O’Brien as well.
He cannot help it – then he does this when he doesn’t get his way 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ah9FI2tGsvQ
[Your actual slur that I was writing on the back of a dunny door was wrong.]
Sorry PY
Your obvious lack of even basic spelling and comprehension vis a vis the sticker you posted is proof positive that you couldnt actually write anything original,even scribbling on the back of a dunny door.
So yes I retract that you wrote on the back of the dunny door as that would be lumbering you with an attribute you dont have.
Frank #2846
You know I did not slur Chris O’Brien.
To use the words of Gough Whitlam..
If you stop telling lies about me, I’ll stop telling the truth about you.
Boy you Labor hacks are sensitive little souls. RUDDED!!! or RUDDEVEL the sentiment is pretty much the same.
Frank, Peter Young didn’t say jack shit about Chris O’Brien, outside of your own fevered imagination.