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.
[The return of pink batts to haunt Rudd was obviously something he could have done without but damage will be limited. It’s the only significant negative so far in the Rudd return.]
I really don’t think the election will be decided over an insulation installation programe that finished 3 or so years ago.
If the Coalition just talk about insulation for the next 2 months they will lose the election.
The ABC should be referring to the ‘Home Insulation Program’ (HIP), not the ‘Botched Home Insulation program’ (BHIP) as I’m now hearing now on the replay on the Drum and heard many times while driving 180 km return today listening to ABC News Radio. That sort of thing belongs in the Daily Telecrap, which reports opinion and campaign slogans as news. The ABC should call the program by it’s correct name. It would, of course, be OK to refer to ‘Pink Batts’ to give it its common name. The ABC should, of course, interview parties concerned, including, the Opposition Leader. Let them opine that the program was ‘botched’ if they want to.
Alias
[to concentrate on ensuring no mess-ups by inexperienced ministers and so forth.]
Rudd is a one-man show and will produce mess-ups entirely on his own, thank you very much. When is the election for heaven’s sake after which we won’t have to see Rudd any more on our screen. And I thought Gillard was insufferable – she’s Mary Poppins compared to this windbag.
Think of the millions of dollars saved by the householders by the insulation.
Does not go with the jounos’ meme.
Pink Batts is all the Fiberals have, since SBY has pulled the boat rug from under RAbbotts feet
[zoidlord
Posted Friday, July 5, 2013 at 10:07 pm | PERMALINK
@Mod Lib/988
I don’t think there is an actual way to stop the states increasing the increase Royalties.]
The Feds agreed to cover this cost.
That is dumb.
Seriously, is no-one else getting this? The State Premiers got it pronto and immediately increased their Royalties, got the money from the Feds and the miners in their states were not out of pocket at all as the increase was covered by the Feds.
Win win lose*
*The losers being Gillard and Swan!
howard and costello: sold asset work billions (testra sold for $30 billion while it was returning $3-4 billion per year in revenuw back to the government/people; gold reserves sold at bargain basement prices); increased taxes – including the regressive GST to be the highest non-wartime taxing gob in history; were lucky enough to preside over a boom with china expanding and the financial bubble that preceded the bust/GFC; cut spending to education, R&D and industry support; they weakened the progressive tax base by giving taxbreaks and loopholes to the wealthy (so when the GFC hit, GST revenue fell and other form of tex were not avialble to labor – the super proft tax makes real sense); paid middle class welfare election year bribes, and people here want to hail them as good economic managers. they were lucky and lazy – they cruised on the hawke-keating reforms and squandered asset sales and the boom.
Hi Dave,
Hows that Paramatta to Epping railway Gillard promised with the other puppet Kristina Keneally coming along?
Hows RAbbotts boat plan going Mick ?
@Mick77/1003
If people want a gasbag over a nutter, that’s them for the choosing!
Shows On
[If the Coalition just talk about insulation for the next 2 months they will lose the election.]
Rudd is a stumble waiting to happen and he’ll give the Coalition plenty more talking points. Abbott will destroy him and put the stake through his heart that all Rudd’s Labor colleagues were pleading for a few weeks ago but couldn’t find his heart.
[Mick77
Posted Friday, July 5, 2013 at 10:11 pm | Permalink
And neither is the Heiner affair dead.]
Roll On Floor Laughing.
Bottom of the barrel? You lot have smashed thought bottom, throught the truck tray and are hunting around the dirt track.
Mod Lib@936
No, my opinions are reality based. If I think Gillard or Rudd got something wrong I say so.
You should give reality a try. It is very liberating!
[When is the election for heaven’s sake after which we won’t have to see Rudd any more on our screen. And I thought Gillard was insufferable – she’s Mary Poppins compared to this windbag.]
Lets up that you get another 6 years of him filling your screen.
bemused
If you live in reality you cannot vote for an LNP led by Tony Abbott.
With unreal policy like stop the boats its all fantasyland
“Abbott will destroy him”
Only a total schemdrick would believe that.
You believe in the Tooth Fairy also ?
SBY doesn’t determine our policies – even though we give them billions. And it matters nought what anyone says about illegal boats and how to handle them, the electorate will ALWAYS believe that Abbott will be better at border protection than any Labor leader, and they’re right
[guytaur
Posted Friday, July 5, 2013 at 10:12 pm | Permalink
Mick77
Besides my tongue in cheek yes really.
If LNP force the issue facts will emerge that will make people see the LNP as the grubs they are. Exploiting tragedy for political purposes]
The biggest risk for the Liberals is Rudd will grow some Gillard size balls and tell the Liberals so.
[Rudd is a stumble waiting to happen and he’ll give the Coalition plenty more talking points. Abbott will destroy him and put the stake through his heart that all Rudd’s Labor colleagues were pleading for a few weeks ago but couldn’t find his heart.]
You don’t think Abbott will stuff up and create some talking points during the campaign? Why is it that Rudd has immediately beocome the preferred PM over Abbott? Why do most people think Abbott is doing a bad job as Opposition leader?
Oh, I still think Labor will lose government, but I no longer think it will be a massive landslide with the Coalition enjoying a majority of 40 seats.
[SBY doesn’t determine our policies – even though we give them billions. And it matters nought what anyone says about illegal boats and how to handle them, the electorate will ALWAYS believe that Abbott will be better at border protection than any Labor leader, and they’re right]
So what is Abbott’s policy again?
he is going to go to Darwin and repeatedly shout “stop the boats”?
That’s it isn’t it?
[ I really don’t think the election will be decided over an insulation installation programe that finished 3 or so years ago. ]
The problem is it ‘goes to character’.
He wont defend his party and policy, even when there are adequate defences at law and practicality, none of which would preclude extending sympathy to the families of the deceased.
Employers involved have been charged, convicted and fined yet rudd doesn’t have the ticker to state this.
It gives the tories the first toe hold in to do him and Labor in.
It need not be so. It also risks drowning out positives from SBY etc.
But it need not have been so.
Terrible if this is the way such issues are handled.
Like murdoch, everyone and everything is expendable for rudd when they have served their purpose.
On the other hand rudd being expendable is a price I am very willing to pay.
[Hows RAbbotts boat plan going Mick ?]
Does Rudd have a boat plan other than picking them up from Indonesia and kissing SBY’s asshole?
[The Feds agreed to cover this cost.
That is dumb.]
WRONG!
They agreed to rebate the royalties AT THE RATE THEY WERE on the day the MRRT was announced.
You’re making things up again!
“SBY doesn’t determine our policies – even though we give them billions. And it matters nought what anyone says about illegal boats and how to handle them, the electorate will ALWAYS believe that Abbott will be better at border protection than any Labor leader, and they’re righ”
You’re not to fast on the uptake, are you Buddy ?
The regional, multi-lateral Refugee summit that SBY has just proposed has just rendered Abbotts non-policy redundant.
Let alone the fact that it was totally unworkable.
[Does Rudd have a boat plan other than picking them up from Indonesia and kissing SBY’s asshole?]
What’s Abbott’s plan again?
Oh that’s right, he doesn’t have one.
@Mod Lib/1006
Tony Abbott gave the OK for states to increase Royalties:
http://www.afr.com/p/national/okay_for_states_to_lift_royalties_6urHuUd3Kzs9kn2cD4uyCP
It wouldn’t matter what they (Labor does).
[The biggest risk for the Liberals is Rudd will grow some Gillard size balls and tell the Liberals so.]
Pathetic. Rudd took on the GFC ahead of the curve and had the guts to put all that through and more….
You jilted Gillardist are truly pathetic. Gillard needed to grow some national leadership skills, which Rudd demonstrated in about 5 minutes after re installation.
[Mick77
Posted Friday, July 5, 2013 at 10:24 pm | Permalink
SBY doesn’t determine our policies – even though we give them billions. And it matters nought what anyone says about illegal boats and how to handle them, the electorate will ALWAYS believe that Abbott will be better at border protection than any Labor leader, and they’re right]
He has three options, sink the boats, bring in the gun boats or backdown. Which option do you think he will take?
My money is he has no spine and will back down, Rudd seems to think he might be silly enough to bring in the gun boats. I don’t think he is that demented, but then maybe.
Rudd solution to the boats… Have another TALKFEST!
FFS… we are back to 2010 already folks. Stop with the talks and DO SOMETHING.
Anyone remember Howard having “expert panels”, “talkfests”, “summits”, etc etc when the Tampa rocked up? Nah he sent out the SAS and stopped the boats. It’s called taking action folks but this Labor government is too divided to do anything but talk, talk and more talk.
Thomas. Paine.
Posted Friday, July 5, 2013 at 10:28 pm | Permalink
My Paine, Rudd not Gillard didn’t defend his minster!
@Sean/1022
Why do they need a plan right now?
The Coalition Party were pressuring them to “Stop the Boats”.
Coalition Party have to go back to the drawing board.
So Mick, why isn’t Abbott mensch enough debate Rudd ?
And neither is the Heiner affair dead.
Isn’t that the dead horse that Piers Akerman tries to flog from time to time? If there was anything in it, or even if there isn’t much, I’m sure we’d have seen screaming headlines on the Murdoch tabloids long since.
“Rudd solution to the boats… Have another TALKFEST!”
Err, It was proposed by SBY dopey.
Never let fact get away from you’re self-deluded narrative, eh Sean ?
[The regional, multi-lateral Refugee summit]
6 Years into the problem and Labors holding another summit…
How many years should we give Labor to talk about a problem without ever actually fixing it?
Please call an election now, this Labor government is a joke.
[Like murdoch, everyone and everything is expendable for rudd when they have served their purpose.
On the other hand rudd being expendable is a price I am very willing to pay.]
Got some sad news for the likes of you….if Rudd wins get ready for 6 years of him as your PM. One can bet that he has learned an altered game in the sand pit…and if he is able with the help others gets some party reforms done…..
And I can bet with a new GFC around the place the world is going to become a little more complicated… and Aust in need of a leader competent on the international scene.
Sean
Indonesian president slams Abbott plan
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/2013/07/05/15/45/rescue-mission-as-boats-dominate-talks
Read and weep
[@Sean/1022
Why do they need a plan right now?]
Because they’ve had 6 years to have a plan. This isn’t Rocket Surgery.
[Yesiree Bob
Posted Friday, July 5, 2013 at 10:31 pm | Permalink
So Mick, why isn’t Abbott mensch enough debate Rudd ?]
A debate involves more than three words! The slogens are getting longer, I have seen a couple of 4 words efforts recently. The things that panic can do.
@Sean/1035
SBY talks about the problem, not Labor.
If Abbott went to Indonesia he would come back with a photo.
[Rudd is a stumble waiting to happen ]
So are abbott and the tories. They will implode if and when it becomes apparent they will lose anther unloseable election.
Another 3 years out of power for the ‘born to rule’ arrogant shits will do their heads in and those of their hangers on – already counting the coin.
Panic in the next month or so if that solid poll lead doesn’t just slip away but gets far worse and cannot be recovered,
No time left to develop policy now for the tories. Everything was predicated on slipping into Government like O’Farrell did on bullshit and vested interest.
The shrillness today from abbott and boy wonder gave it all away.
“6 Years into the problem and Labors holding another summit…”
So, the Indonesian Presindent is now part of the ALP?
Mate, you really are mentally deficiant aren’t you ?
[If Abbott went to Indonesia he would come back with a photo.]
If Rudd went to Indonesia he’d come back with a boat:
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1786032/Asylum-seekers-safe-after-boat-rescue
[AMSA issued an alert to ships that a boat carrying asylum seekers was taking on water.
Two merchant vessels responded before aircraft tasked by AMSA located the boat about 42 nautical miles south of Java about 3pm.
The merchant vessels and HMAS Larrakia arrived at the scene about 5pm.]
42 Nautical Miles off Java? This has to be a joke right
[“Rudd solution to the boats… Have another TALKFEST!”
Err, It was proposed by SBY dopey.
Never let fact get away from you’re self-deluded narrative, eh Sean ?]
Well this is why it was a brilliant move by Rudd to have this issued as an Indonesian iniative. Abbott cannot criticise it, cannot stick his turn the boats back…and will have trouble attacking Labor on this issue since Rudd will talk to the regional cooperation to look for solutions.
This is the skill of a policy wonk like Rudd…much to the hatred of others.
Michael Kroger and Sam Dastyari are on Lateline tonight
[Yesiree Bob
Posted Friday, July 5, 2013 at 10:38 pm | Permalink
“6 Years into the problem and Labors holding another summit…”
So, the Indonesian Presindent is now part of the ALP?
Mate, you really are mentally deficiant aren’t you ?]
There is research indicating that not all conservative voters are mentally deficient, but it helps.
Abbott’s next policy will be the king Canute policy to keep that boats away.. order the tide to go way way out…
The distance between Java and Christmas Island is 280 miles (shortest).
While SBY and Rudd were giving the ‘interim regional solution’ press conference the msm was reporting a search and rescue operation for another boat carrying 80 AS “nearing Christmas Island.”
The boat was 40 miles from Java.
FFS. Report the damn truth or piss off.
@GuardianAus: Leaked Rupert Murdoch tape gets global coverage: http://t.co/Jjmvi3kiVW
Not in most of Australia’s media