The latest edition of the Democratic Audit of Australia’s invaluable newsletter taught me the following things I (mostly) didn’t already know:
• Griffith University commissioned Newspoll to conduct two polls on “constitutional values”, in May 2008 and March 2010, and has handsomely published the full results in a comprehensive report. This finds the most pressing item on the public’s constitutional agenda to be “a referendum to decide which level of government is responsible for doing what”, which 54 per cent rate “very important”, followed by “what levels of government Australia should have” on 47 per cent, indigenous recognition on 43 per cent and a republic on 38 per cent. Support for recognition of local government is very high in Queensland (and, relatedly, among Nationals voters), but shaky everywhere else. However, the 2008 survey found the public would be highly favourable “if changes state there must always be a system of local government, set rules and standards of accountability, and guarantee a reasonable level of funding for local government”.
• The High Court has published its reasons for finding in favour of the GetUp!-backed plaintiffs who challenged the early closure of the electoral rolls introduced by the Howard government in 2006. The ruling restored the old regime under which new enrolments and changed details were accepted during the first week of the campaign, obliging the Australian Electoral Commission to accept over 100,000 applications that would otherwise have been frozen until after the election. There is a summary here and full judgement here. The court was finely poised on the issue, with Chief Justice Robert French and Justices William Gummow, Virginia Bell and Susan Crennan forming the majority, and Kenneth Hayne, Dyson Heydon and Susan Kiefel making dissenting judgements.
• Daniel Kreiss and Philip N. Howard probe the laxity of regulation surrounding political parties in the English-speaking world in “Political Parties and Voter Privacy: Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and United States in Comparative Perspective”, published on the online journal First Monday.
• An Australian Parliamentary Library report tells us that a federal redistribution in South Australia should occur during the current parliament, with the seven-year time limit on the existing boundaries expiring this month. Other than the Victorian redistribution that has just been finalised, this is the only redistribution likely for the current term.
• The Queensland government has produced an 18-page paper entitled Reforming Queensland’s Electoral System, which canvasses “on political donations, caps on expenditure by candidates, parties and third parties, and automatic enrolment of eligible voters”.
• The Democratic Audit’s Joo-Cheong Tham has published a paper on regulation of NSW local government elections.
• The Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters has initiated its inquiry into the 2010 election, and will accept submissions until February 16.
MTBW
[She couldn’t have done the same as Anna Bligh because]
[No one is asking her to do the same as Anna Bligh.
She put her hand up to become the Prime Minister of this country – there are certain requirements for that position.]
You misconstrued my post.
if such rubbish really she is the Pm and giving it all she can and doing all she can.
every one is different.
get off her case and now you have adam here o well going now.
mytbvs worth ring up your family and friends first ask them who they vote for
then ask them if they could do better
[She comes across as robotic in every press conference she’s done since becoming PM. ]
Wot a load of hogwash. 😛
Gusface
thanks for tweeting Mark Colvin. You can use whatever words you like!
[No one is asking her to do the same as Anna Bligh.
She put her hand up to become the Prime Minister of this country – there are certain requirements for that position.
]
i like to say something about the personality of a lot of Qlders but want.
after all she is our pm, to and I think in a few months time people will be sick of hear about qld. sorry to offend but there you have it
[No one is asking her to do the same as Anna Bligh.]
I beg to differ. The pedantic criticisms are ALL about how she compares to Bligh. It’s not a race for number 1.
Sorry, a scheming shit-for-brains is showing his true colours again and trying to take advantage of people suffering, and we wanna talk about the PM’s personality type?
At least she is doing her job.
I note that if she was doing things differently, say was in tears with a broken voice, the usual suspects would be whinging about what a weak drama queen she is acting like. She is the PM of the entire nation, not just Queensland and I appreciate her having it together and being herself, not what she is expected to behave like (something that got her into trouble during the election)
rua @ 3248
Thank you. You put it better than I did.
PM on now
colvin crabbs and salmon mornay
I remember when Julia was overseas and seemed to be conducting herself in a calm but friendly manner with os ministers etc., she got into trouble for being “giggly”. That is a typical put-down by males.
I respect her more for not hogging Anna Bligh’s limelight.
Morgan Poll Face to Face
Primary Votes: ALP 38.5% (+0.5) LNP 44% (+1) GRN 13% (-0.5)
Two Party Preferred: ALP 50% (+1.5) LNP 50% (-1.5)
http://www.roymorgan.com/news/polls/2011/4620/
my say
[i like to say something about the personality of a lot of Qlders but want.
after all she is our pm, to and I think in a few months time people will be sick of hear about qld. sorry to offend but there you have it]
My say, I would love to hear what you think about Qlders.
What worries me is that Qld is predominantly made up of folks from states all over the country. That is where the population growth has come from.
[Where is the outrage that Abbott is politicising this tragedy. MSM do your bloody job!!]
There was a guy on Channel 7 who said (in a roundabout fashion) that it would be poor form for anyone to politicise this event.
He didn’t go on to say that IT IS BEING politicised, so therefore didn’t name the offender.
Teflon Tone.
[ust about to go on the Journos’ Forum on ABC 702 Sydney with @salmonmornay and @annabelcrabb 23 minutes ago via Twitter for iPad]
http://twitter.com/Colvinius
Anyone listening?
Their is not much leverage to gain for Julia Gillard from this disaster. She is doing her job. Nonetheless, one thing that she does keep rattling on about is the bloody surplus and this could come back and bite her if for example we have another major disaster in the next couple of years.
I feel Julia looked a little lost in the beginning, and only in the last couple of days has she got her act together.
Frankly i think she looked a little lost ever since she became leader, and as yet i have no idea what she believes in or stands for.
I think it is good opportunity for Labor to shelve this surplus nonsense and start stating we care about the people and we will help them and who cares about what it takes to do so, this is a perfect opportunity to get some traction from a State that does not like it much at present.
My insurance has been great, rang them up told the situation not claiming much, hws . bits $ pieces , they said no worries get it fixed send us the bill. no 2 quotes or any dramas. very happy
TSOP
[Fortunately, impressing armchair activists and keyboard crusaders isn’t a priority of the PM right now. DOING HER JOB IS.]
This “armchair activiist” held a ticket in the ALP for thirty eight years and held many executive positions until my husband became chronically ill four and a half years before he died.
marky
I sort of agree with you. By buying “the surplus is the most important thing in the world”, Labor is playing the libs’ tune.
[I think we can safely assume Mr Franklin will not be on ModLibs list of left leaning journalists.]
ModLib’s made his list then, has he?
LOL.
Of course not.
I’d defy anyone to name ten journalists of note in this “democracy” who are demonstrably left-leaning.
Must say though Tony Abbott has looked completely lost in regards to this disaster. Where is the dill?
[What worries me is that Qld is predominantly made up of folks from states all over the country. That is where the population growth has come from.]
OH and I were talking about that today, Dee. A lot of interstaters who have gone to Qld for seachange or whatever will have not had experience of the deluges up there before the drought. It will be a bit of a shock for many.
We get torrential rain here at times and the creeks come up quickly and we know not to drive through them but it’s still nothing like the torrentials in Qld.
Hope your friends will be OK.
lizzie
when the PM was asked about the budget in the past couple of days. She said wtte that like any budget, if unforeseen circumstances occur, priority will be given in some others and taken from others. The same goes for the government.
[I think it is good opportunity for Labor to shelve this surplus nonsense and start stating we care about the people and we will help them and who cares about what it takes to do so, this is a perfect opportunity to get some traction from a State that does not like it much at present.]
I would love them to do this also, but fear what Abbott and Co and MSN would unleash on them.
I would like to think that there are more people that care about other people than they do about money and the surplus, but not sure this is the case.
marky
He’s got all the journos pumping him full of air from behind.
BH
crabbs doing her feint praise and learned prattle routine
definite meme being constructed by the OO ooze
🙁
[This “armchair activiist” held a ticket in the ALP for thirty eight years and held many executive positions until my husband became chronically ill four and a half years before he died.]
Yes, and I am the King of the ALP and have all four of my limbs missing #dontreallycare
People in flood affected areas are the primary recipients of my sympathy right now.
Exactly what sins of omission or commission has the Prime Minister committed?
Exactly what sins of omission or commission has the Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition committed?
How have these been reported?
[ModLib’s made his list then, has he?
LOL.
Of course not.
I’d defy anyone to name ten journalists of note in this “democracy” who are demonstrably left-leaning.]
Cuppa didnt the blog go over this ad nauseum yesterday? William and I posted numerous surveys where political journalists in UK, USA and Australia consistently reported that they were left leaning by 60% to 40%. I didn’t go into a song and dance about it and just left it at that. i wouldnt take it to mean that I had changed by mind once the evidence as it stands pretty much supported by estimate to a few percentage points!
William made some similar comment along the lines that it was well known that political journalists tended to be left leaning (don’t have the original quote sorry but I think that is a fair rendition of what he said).
victoria and blackdog
She gives sensible answers, but they are ignored or twisted.
I really think in some way she is apprehensive of some of the journos. I wish I could give her confidence.
The Govt can find ten billion easily, just ask Howard and Minchin. Ten bill, peanuts lets not even bother with treasury.
How about an increase in the medicare levy, worked for Howard multiple times. What about selling off… oops maybe not they sold it already.
Special dividend from Medicare Private, could be worth a few squillion. Maybe cut the private health insurance rebate, surely the Greens won’t object.
Victoria you know what that means, we take from one hand and give to you from another.
In reality it means you gain nothing. What if we have another disaster of unforeseen proportions and realistically i think it is possible because disasters
are now becoming more prevalent and will get much worse due to climate change.
i can see a point where much of government spending will be spent just on disaster relief and infrastructure repair.
Can I ask a couple of honest questions here?
1. Has the media been fair to Anna Bligh?
2. Do you think she is more likely to be returned at the next election now than before flood?
[I would love them to do this also, but fear what Abbott and Co and MSN would unleash on them.]
Franklin has already said wtte that his agenda is to pursue the Govt. come hell or high water about the budget/surplus. Every miniscule amount will be raked over by him.
Gusface – yes, she is learning well from her mate Maiden. I, too, long for Matt Price and even Paul Lyneham and his cynical take on things.
[Mod Lib
Posted Friday, January 14, 2011 at 5:59 pm | Permalink
Can I ask a couple of honest questions here?]
Yes 2 both
Lizzie
I think you are right about the journo’s, because she knows as you said, whatever she says they will not report it accurately.
I feel so sorry for her being asked repeatedly such stupid and irrelevant questions.
She is so good in QT when she is getting stuck into Abbott and Co, but the same thing happens. She gets criticised if she is being strong and showing emotion, and then when she doesn’t she also gets criticised.
It is so frustrating not being able to help. Only thing I can think of is when talking to friends and something comes up, I explain the accurate information, and people are truly surprised. It is not much, but one by one I will get there.
[Can I ask a couple of honest questions here?
1. Has the media been fair to Anna Bligh?
2. Do you think she is more likely to be returned at the next election now than before flood?]
oops. didnt realise the time, going out to dinner but will be back online later tonight to see if anyone is game to answer these qs!!
[ruawakePosted Friday, January 14, 2011 at 5:40 pm | PermalinkShe comes across as robotic in every press conference she’s done since becoming PM.
Wot a load of hogwash.
]
And a standard response from the Anti Gillard Muppets on here.
Oh and you can add this load of bullshit from Nick Butterly at The Miners Weekly – aka The West Australian:
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/opinion/post/-/blog/theburningissue/post/1795/comment/1
It’s about Julia’s BLOODY HANDS !!!!!!
[1. Has the media been fair to Anna Bligh?]
Yes. I guess. Either way, she has handled them well.
[2. Do you think she is more likely to be returned at the next election now than before flood?]
I think it increases her chances but I dunno if it will be by that much. Voters do have short memories and other issues come to play at election time. Assuming they wait until 2012 (?) By then, things could be a little better for Queenslanders and normal politics will resume.
I know I’d sound like a dick for saying this but I’d still say Labor will probably lose the next QLD election.
[Cuppa didnt the blog go over this ad nauseum yesterday? ]
If you missed it, Gos asked you to name who you consider the top ten leftie journalists.
Actually you didn’t miss the question. You just failed to answer it.
Gos named HIS top ten right wing journos, asked you to name your top ten lefties, then you copped out by saying (words to the effect): “all those who weren’t on your list”.
Now, enough dodging and spinning, ModLib. Please name them. Great minds want to know. 🙂
marky mark @ 3264,
[I think it is good opportunity for Labor to shelve this surplus nonsense and start stating we care about the people and we will help them and who cares about what it takes to do so, this is a perfect opportunity to get some traction from a State that does not like it much at present.]
I agree it didn’t look good when she was talking about bringing the budget back into surplus over equal pay for women and it certainly doesn’t look good when you’re doing it at a time like this. Sure some peanuts in the press gallery might’ve been trying to egg her on with it but you slap them away and hard instead of giving their talking points any sort of validity.
This will help Bligh in the short run, the long run i am not to sure. The bushfires helped Brumby in 2009 but some 22 months later he lost an election.
I think the media have been fair and Bligh has handled them and this crisis brillantly. Must say i think the media as usual have looked at times at trival things and been their usual scare merchant reporting and when interviewing people they tend to never listen to them and ask questions which have already been answered.
[She gives sensible answers, but they are ignored or twisted.
I really think in some way she is apprehensive of some of the journos. I wish I could give her confidence.]
lizzie – you’ve hit the nail on the head. When you see the press conferences in full there is some really good stuff in them and she handles the media exceptionally well.
However, what is shown on telly or heard on radio is only half the story and usually the uncomplimentary bits are shown. On the other hand, only the complimentary bits about Abbott are usually shown.
The point made about Parliament television coverage earlier is spot on too. The media manipulates – it won’t change so Labor has to find a way around it.
With out help we can be the voice and get stuck into the journos, the ABC et al whenever manipulation gets in the way of fact. Every little bit will help as shown by Gus and Poss letting Franklin know he is a wangker most of the time.
If anyone thinks Anna Bligh is not being coached by psychologists, expert in disaster management, in what she is saying. Then they are muppets.
[I know I’d sound like a dick for saying this but I’d still say Labor will probably lose the next QLD election.]
TSOP
You’re not the dick, the Premier in waiting is.
I do hope you’re wrong.
[It is so frustrating not being able to help. Only thing I can think of is when talking to friends and something comes up, I explain the accurate information, and people are truly surprised. It is not much, but one by one I will get there.]
blackdog – that’s right too. I’m amazed at the inaccuracy of a lot of information. I love pulling out Poss’s insulation stuff and the BER info – some are genuinely surprised because they heard on the news or from a shockjock …. blah, blah, blah.
Each time we pass the facts on perhaps it might give some a bit of food for thought.
BH
this is a battle that has been waging since 2006
peeps here are in for the long haul
and finally as cuppa can attest to
most have seen the light re media bias
the job now is to bring back the balance
and yes every little bit helps i suspect
Great segment on ABC24 ATM re the work of volunteers in a street’s cleanup. They came out of nowhere and people were walking around giving out muffins, snags and beer to the volunteers.
Katrina anyone?
The above effort says a lot about our fine country.
[Each time we pass the facts on perhaps it might give some a bit of food for thought.]
BH
And maybe they might pass information on to somebody else and so on.
[Yes, and I am the King of the ALP and have all four of my limbs missing #dontreallycare
People in flood affected areas are the primary recipients of my sympathy right now.]
pebbs I dont think mtbw warranted that reply
🙁
[BHPosted Friday, January 14, 2011 at 6:10 pm | PermalinkIt is so frustrating not being able to help. Only thing I can think of is when talking to friends and something comes up, I explain the accurate information, and people are truly surprised. It is not much, but one by one I will get there.
blackdog – that’s right too. I’m amazed at the inaccuracy of a lot of information. I love pulling out Poss’s insulation stuff and the BER info – some are genuinely surprised because they heard on the news or from a shockjock …. blah, blah, blah.
Each time we pass the facts on perhaps it might give some a bit of food for thought.
]
And on a related note – Ch 7 last night had ac “Social Media Expert” warning people to be wary about information on the floods beibng posted on Twitter and Facebook, implyin g that the people posting it are lying and to trust the MSM.
Thanks Gus!