Situations vacant

Opportunity knocks for aspiring Labor parliamentarians in Charlton, Hotham, Batman, Perth, Kingsford Smith, Rankin …

Two further additions to the already voluminous Labor retirements list since my last preselection review:

• Greg Combet is calling it a day after two eventful terms as member for the Hunter region seat of Charlton. Mentioned as possible successors are Pat Conroy, whose background as a staffer to Combet, George Campbell and Anthony Albanese, and as an official with the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union and CFMEU, is detailed in The Australian; Daniel Wallace, a local organiser with the AMWU; and Sonia Hornery, who represents the local area in the state parliament as member for Wallsend.

• Simon Crean is calling it a day after 23 years as member for the south-eastern Melbourne seat of Hotham. Michelle Grattan in The Conversation reports the seat is effectively reserved for the Right, with Bracks government adviser Rosemary Barker spruiking backing from factional figurehead Stephen Conroy as well as a base of support from the Australian Workers Union. Also mentioned is Geoff Lake, a Minter Ellison lawyer and former Australian Local Government Association who shares Crean’s association with the National Union Workers.

Another two vacancies have been resolved:

• David Feeney has emerged victorious in the contest to succeed Martin Ferguson in Batman, after defeating Left candidate Mary-Anne Thomas by 383 votes to 247 in the local party ballot on Sunday. The matter was to be settled the following evening when the state party’s public office selection committee to determine its 50% share of the overall vote, but Thomas rendered this a formality by withdrawing.

• Alannah MacTiernan, senior Gallop/Carpenter state government minister and more recently the mayor of Vincent, is now confirmed as Labor’s candidate to succeed Stephen Smith in Perth after two other mooted contenders – Tim Hammond, a barrister who ran unsuccessfully in Swan at the 2010 election, and Matthew Keogh, a lawyer with Freehills – chose not to nominate.

And some developments in two further preselection races:

• Tony Bowen, mayor of Randwick and son of Hawke era deputy prime minister Lionel Bowen, has emerged as a second candidate for the preselection to succeed Peter Garrett in Kingsford Smith. Bowen says he has nominated despite being told “in no uncertain terms” not to run by the state party’s head office, which is evidently very keen on the candidacy of Senator Matt Thistlethwaite.

• The preselection for Craig Emerson’s southern Brisbane seat of Rankin looms as a contest between Brett Raguse, who won the outer Brisbane seat of Forde in 2007 before joining Labor’s Queensland casualty list in 2010 (and who claims the support of Kevin Rudd), and Jim Chalmers, a former chief of staff to Wayne Swan.

Author: William Bowe

William Bowe is a Perth-based election analyst and occasional teacher of political science. His blog, The Poll Bludger, has existed in one form or another since 2004, and is one of the most heavily trafficked websites on Australian politics.

1,225 comments on “Situations vacant”

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  1. You’ll always get your Essential and Morgan on Monday, but other than that we might actually be entering a quiet spot after most of the other pollsters shot their bolt last week.

  2. FPM Julia Gillard is all class.

    Meanwhile:

    The Termite has been at it again, apologising for a successful ALP program. Rudd really loves rodent-cuddling the Party.

  3. I have no problem with KRuddPM talking to the families and saying sorry for their loss, but taking responsibility for the deaths was a step too far.

    Also, I have kids, especially sons, who are risk takers, they like adrenaline. When they go off to do something new,or doing new jobs, I am always discussing risks, safeguards, safety training etc. (I bought a sharkshield for one who took up diving.)

    Did any of these parents actually do a bit of research and provide advice to their kids, or did they just trust to the universe that everything was hunky-dory with the employers of these young people?

  4. Kevin is saying he’s sorry “on behalf of the Australian Government” (ie: don’t blame me, it’s still all the fault of that big bald singing bloke).

  5. And from the Land of the Free –

    Some cartoons on the 4th of July.
    http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/2013/07/04/cartoons-of-the-day-happy-fourth-of-july-2/
    More on North Carolina’s efforts on women’s health.
    http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/2013/07/03/video-gops-overreach-around-no-carolina-senator-the-senators-on-the-floor-are-only-voices-that-matter/
    Rachael Maddow has her say on thhe matter.
    http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017129192
    Oh what a pity! What a bunch of dropkicks.
    http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017128901
    This short video extract says plenty about the US.
    http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017129123

  6. So … I go away for a few days, and wind up back in 2010 with Kevin crying “mea cupla” over pink batts again.

    Of course, this is just after his “me culpa” over asylum seekers.

    I wonder exactly who he is preparing to throw to the wolves this time around?

    I’ll bet the mining tax comes next.

  7. [ … but other than that we might actually be entering a quiet spot after most of the other pollsters shot their bolt last week. ]

    Bot has been shot? I didn’t like the man, but even so, that seems a bit harsh!

    This will indeed quieten things down!

  8. Best summary of the reason’s for Gillard’s demise I’ve read so far, from the Piping Shrike:

    “Ultimately Gillard lost the Prime Ministership yesterday because the institutions she represented are redundant. She was installed in June 2010 as a means of the power brokers regaining control of the party. However, having done so, it exposed why they lost it in the first place under Rudd. The lack of social base of the institutions of the Labor party meant that far from recovering its control in 2010, it only hastened their decline and the last three years have been marked by an internal breakdown of the organising institutions of the party which Rudd could exploit. For Gillard, the lack of agenda of her government (as opposed to policy) ultimately accounted for her unpopularity and lack of authority, which by the end, was assuming an unpleasant personal and sexist form around the Prime Minister.

    Just as the redundancy of the party’s institutions accounted for Gillard’s unpopularity, so it also accounted for Rudd’s enduring popularity.”

    Of course such a level of mature analysis is way beyond the howling whingers that are currently infesting this blog, and who apparently have nothing better to do than personally denigrate a Labor PM in the most juvenile of terms, weeks out from an election.

    I think Puff the Tragic Dragon, Borewar, Rossless, and all the others should start their own I Hate Kevin R**d blog, and leave the adults in peace.

  9. Mod Lib
    Posted Friday, July 5, 2013 at 7:44 am | PERMALINK
    Perhaps an apology for the last 6 years of ALP government as a whole?

    ————-

    Apology from the libs for jumping ingot bed with newsltd and can only tell lies ?

    seems news ltd/abbott coalition accepting losing the unloseable election

  10. Mod Lib
    Posted Friday, July 5, 2013 at 7:44 am | PERMALINK
    Perhaps an apology for the last 6 years of ALP government as a whole?

    ————-

    Apology from the libs for jumping into bed with newsltd and can only tell lies ?

    seems news ltd/abbott coalition accepting losing the unloseable election

  11. [Player One
    ….

    I wonder exactly who he is preparing to throw to the wolves this time around?

    I’ll bet the mining tax comes next.]

    That would be shea culpa rather than a mea culpa I suspect

  12. Oh to be a fly on the wall at LNP HQ. They will be absolutely contorting
    themselves over how to deal with Rudd. The only Tony they dare let out
    of his muzzle is carping negative Tony and yet this validates everything the
    new PM has been saying about his shallow empty soul. They dare not let
    him debate Rudd as they surely know he will lose but they also know that
    with every passing day words like gutless and wimp and chicken are taking
    root in theelectorate.

  13. Mod Lib
    Posted Friday, July 5, 2013 at 7:52 am | PERMALINK

    …the long years of Opposition are over?

    Yes, I agree

    ———————

    Thanks to news ltd/abbott coalition they the libs/nat will remain in opposition after this year election

  14. Mod lib

    You should ask the liberal party why were they so weak , in having a cowardly puppet as a leader.

  15. The quirky Mr Watson:

    [Unite? Labour in crisis as union chief, Len McCluskey, turns on Ed Miliband

    Labour’s biggest donor and Unite leader accuses party leader of a ‘smear’ and a ‘stitch up’ as Tom Watson resigns from Shadow Cabinet]

    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/unite-labour-in-crisis-as-union-chief-len-mccluskey-turns-on-ed-miliband-8688356.html

    And (This story will play on):

    [Madeleine McCann investigation: 38 potential suspects identified]

    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/madeleine-mccann-investigation-38-potential-suspects-identified-8688170.html

  16. Morning All

    Albo Acting PM – any chance Kevin can go on a world tour and leave Albo to run the show??? 🙂

    Where’s Tony??? surely he has to front a long form interview before too long

    Kevin right to apologize for the HIP deaths – never a good thing when someone leaves for work and doesn’t come home 🙁

    Not enough women in William’s list above imo

    I think Parliament returning is a huge risk – Greens support for Kevin was conditional on an election being called. Abbott would be mad not to test the numbers on day one

  17. The pro coalition media still hasnt change still needs to find propaganda to protect its man abbott

    I notice morrison and J.Bishop were sprung lying about indonesia

  18. Wow, ABC got something right at last?
    [David Kindon ‏@dakindon 11m
    @BreakfastNews re the home insulation program – The number of fires/100,000 installs PRE HIP was 47.3 and 13.9 during the Program.]

  19. adrian

    [and leave the adults in peace.]

    You whingeing about everyone not loving Kev-07 is painful.

    The ‘I-love-Kev-07’ net address is likely available.

  20. puff do u think u may be sounding like bemused in
    the opposite direction, in days past?

    I think they would really like u at the pub?
    ?
    do u think u are starting to sound a bit childish?

    go down to laylor and join JG as she has said she’ will be
    helping the new candidate for her past electorate
    don’t think Julia would be happy to read your posts

    after all she is very positive.
    ====================================
    think it will snow soon mountains covered
    love the scenery and all is now well with the world abbott will not win this election
    and Julia policies will be safe

  21. lizzie RE

    Wow, ABC got something right at last?

    David Kindon ‏@dakindon 11m
    @BreakfastNews re the home insulation program – The number of fires/100,000 installs PRE HIP was 47.3 and 13.9 during the Program.

    Do you have a authoritative reference for that?

  22. Oh ffs.

    Once again, when it’s a choice between courage and crumpling, Our Hero takes the second option.

    Ordinary foot soldiers like myself have had the courage to look down the barrel of a TV camera and defend the pink batts program (with no discernible impact on votes) but not Our Hero.

    …and then we have the rewriting of history by the Ruddistas on this site who somehow believe that Rudd’s removal was all about factions.

    The people of principle in the party are the ones who walked because they knew that putting Our Hero back in charge – even if it improved polling figures – would see things like this happen.

  23. victoria

    Thanks for replying.

    Have already been there but that is not what I would consider an authoritative reference.

    I am inclined to believe it is correct however if i was not so convinced it would carry no wight.

    There must be an authoritative reference somewhere I just have to find it.

  24. CTar1

    which MIGHT be OK if we had evidence that it worked last time.

    It didn’t; it was one of the reasons that voters began to turn against him.

  25. Bob – Abbott will test the numbers if he knows he can win, my best guess is that he would go very very close and it’s not worth the risk. Kevin should call the election before parliament is due to resume on 20 August

    Zoomster – it’s fine to defend the program, it was well worthwhile and played a big part in keeping people employed at a crucial time. It’s also paying benefits today in lower heating / cooling costs. In saying all that, it has to be acknowledged that mistakes were made and some of those mistake indirectly led to 4 deaths. Kevin is right to apologize imo

    Off to work – have a great day all

  26. Zoom – Following a predictable track.

    Lots of travel will ensue. Big question now is which one to suck-up to: John Kerry or Hilliary?

  27. [George ‏@OverTheHill4 18m
    @BreakfastNews Going by your assumptions on Pink Batts all cancer claims at the ABC Toowong HQ (now closed) were all @abcmarkscott `s fault]

  28. womble

    that’s like saying that because there are car crashes on the bits of the Hume Fwy the government has redeveloped, the government is responsible for them – even though there are less crashes because the freeway’s been redeveloped.

    If the government’s going to apologise for every death that occurs on a project where government money is involved, that’s going to be a full time job for the rest of eternity.

  29. Mod Lib

    Posted Friday, July 5, 2013 at 7:44 am | Permalink

    Perhaps an apology for the last 6 years of ALP government as a whole?
    ——————————————————–

    Sorry
    for the 3 x Triple a credit ratings
    for the low unemployment
    for low inflation
    for low interest rates
    for the continued productivity growth even through the GFC
    for the low debt to GDP debt ratio
    for introducing Disability Care
    for getting an agreement on the Murray-Darling
    for pushing ahead with education reform
    for investing more money in health than Liberals
    for the money invested in infrastructure
    for reducing taxes

  30. I was surprised to find from last night that there was little comment on QandA Jakarta.

    Some of the questions from Aussies were too aggressive IMO and Tony Jones only just escaped being his usual self, but the insight into Indonesian attitudes and problems was a revelation to me. Comments by pollies are now revealed as the rubbish they are.

    To have that followed by Morrison was a complete turnoff (which I did!).

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