Wright was created at the 2010 election as the latest new seat to be gained by Queensland as part of its ongoing population boom, taking on territory from the Gold Coast electorates of McPherson, Moncrieff and Fadden together with rural areas out to the New South Wales border, which had previously been in Forde and to a smaller extent Rankin. The Gold Coast area had historically been covered by Moreton and later by McPherson and Moncrieff, which were respectively created with the enlargements of parliament in 1949 and 1984, while the north-western areas were covered by Darling Downs and its successor Groom after 1984.
The electorate is lacking a clear centre, combining the inland edge of the Gold Coast and Brisbane’s southern hinterland, Warrego Highway towns to the east of Toowoomba, and rural territory in between. All of its component areas have traditionally been solid for the conservatives, but double-digit swings in Forde and Blair at the 2007 election gave the seat a relatively modest notional Liberal/Nationals margin of 4.8% going into the 2010 election. This has since been boosted by successive swings of 6.4% and 1.7% at the 2010 and 2013 elections.
Wright has been held since its inception by Scott Buchholz, who had previously been chief-of-staff to Barnaby Joyce. Although his background was with the Nationals, the seat had been reserved for the Liberals under the terms of Liberal National Party merger and he sits in the Liberal party room in Canberra. The LNP’s original choice for the seat had been Hajnal Ban, a Logan City councillor who ran for the Nationals in for Forde at the 2007 election. However, Ban was dumped for failing to disclose Civil and Administrative Tribunal action against her over her use of power-of-attorney over the finances of an elderly former council colleague, for which a conviction was recorded against her in 2012. An unsuccessful contender at both preselections was Cameron Thompson, who held Blair for the Liberals from 1998 until his defeat in 2007. Buchholz attained the position of government whip following the election of the Abbott government in September 2013.
billie@75
Thanks for that reminder.
He was never a proper person to chair Beyond Blue and has some bizarre ideas on Mental Health.
All things are relative and I was not saying he was good, just that he had moderated. I should have added ‘somewhat’.
The best we can hope for with respect to Kennett is that there is no connection between his brain and his mouth.
It is interesting that The Australian is believed re GG as the Abbott government uses it so much to break news. Will we hear of any government policy before it is in the paper
Pietersen in and straight away Siddle comes into the attack.
bemused and billy,
I think there was a fair amount of uproar within beyondblue and the community about the negligence of mental health issues with same-sex attracted youth. Whether this was real or more perceived, it was damaging beyondblue’s image and therefore ability to do it’s work. This was largely Kennett’s fault, on my reading, as most people within the organisation actually wanted to do something in this area, as they were expected to by the community, but Kennett came up with his dickhead-ry and obstructed efforts to provide support within the LGBT community. Kennett was made to feel this and hence changed his position, and seems to have used the opportunity to re-evaluate some other opinions he’s held.
Then again, perhaps I’m being unfair to Kennett. It’s hard to get the full story when it comes to in-fighting within institutions. But anyway, that’s what I’ve managed to ascertain from reading on the issue.
Hi everybody! I hope you had a fab Christmas! I was hoping to get on here yesterday or on Christmas Eve to give a message but I didn’t have a chance.
I hear Cosgrove is designated to be the next GG. That doesn’t surprise me. In fact, it was my prediction (and I think the bookies’ too) and it doesn’t bother me either, really. And as long as Cosgrove stays within his responsibilities as GG and doesn’t abuse his power or position, then I don’t expect to be bothered by it in future.
And considering other names mentioned were ones like John Howard (unrealistic) and David Flint, I think we dodged a huge bullet.
Walter E Plinge,
I imagine it’s because he used to work for the paper (writing it’s editorials?) hence, he can trust it. The Guardian’s Australian edition seems to be the preferred publication by Labor despite it’s youth, so we can’t really boast too much. E.g. Gillard writing articles (exclusively?) for the Guardian, leaks going to the Guardian, etc.
Pell could not be GG because the Catholic Church, unlike the Anglicans, has the brains to forbid its clergy to hold secular offices. This rule was I think made after the unhappy experience of Father Tiso as prime minister of the Nazi puppet state of Slovakia. We recall the Jesuit, Father Drinan, who was elected to Congress, and the Vatican ordered him to resign, which he did.
And then we had Father John Cootes. Selected in the Australian rugby league team, eventually left the priesthood.
Bugler@105
Setting aside the concerns of particular minority groups, Kennett amended the Mental Health Act to remove the section dealing with Voluntary Patients.
So, for example, any patient who agreed to stay in hospital for treatment was no longer covered by the Mental Health Act. 😮
Cootes was my French teacher at St Peter Pheils in Newcastle- one of the few whose sexuality was not questioned
I think the papal ban came in after Fr Cardenal joined the Sandanista government in 1979. Dry nan had already been in congress for 9 years by then.
It is difficult to believe but Tiso is now being promoted by some Slovaks for canonisation. My pick for the catholic priest who caused the greatest harm in the 20th century was Mons. Kaas who legitimised Hitler by leading the Catholic Centre Party in voting for the Enabling
Act
Hi all. Hope goodish Xmas was had by most. Me, recivering from xmas lunch yesterday. 🙁
[At a time when our relations with Indonesia are at an historical low ebb, choosing Cosgrove, who is heavility associated with the Indonesian loss of East Timor, will almost certainly be viewed as a deliberate and targetted snub by many Indonesias.]
While i suspect Cosgrove will legitimately be seen as having baggage by some, as long as he keeps quiet on matters political he will be ok i think. And really, do the Indonesians expect anything other than crap from this lot by now?
I understand that some Indonesians refer to Abbott as ‘kasar’.
= ‘crass’.
Do we really need/want another military person as GG.
What are we saying to the world?
[I understand that some Indonesians refer to Abbott as ‘kasar’.
= ‘crass’.]
Wot, those given to understatement then?
Wonder how they refer to Bishop the Younger?? Whats thier expression for incompetent ditz??
Shanahan’s latest effort was mentioned earlier. What drivel
[There is potential for a popular governor-general to detract further from Abbott’s public standing merely by comparative public approval.
That Abbott has decided to take the political risk is to his credit.]
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/columnists/general-appeal-may-trump-pm/story-e6frg75f-1226789787550
Re the respected and informed Hugh White|
________________________
Bishop shares that reflex support for the US policies common to many Australian leaders in my lifetime (not I think Whitlam or Keating)and many right-wing ALP members too
White said that the Chinese are annoyed at the place Japan has come to occupy in the pantheon of”best friends”and he fears the effect of a contest between Japan and China on Australia
One would think that no Australian PM could arouse public support in this country for any action in support of the Japanese…I sounded this out in a family discussion post-Christmas and the idea was meet with derision and hostility
I think that a deep dislike for the Japanese and their vile right-wing leaders like their current PM ..lurks just below the surface in this country and could be fanned very quickly in a intensly hot flame …especially among the older Australians like me who lost relatives in places like Changi
Try out the “do you want your son/nephew to die to defend Japan …I think the response is LOL
so I say let the various right wingers in govertment and elsewhere try to get support for Japan in a conflict with China…they will meet with intense opposition…and it will be a lost cause
As White suggests we may soon see a Chinese response to Bishop and Abbott which may be economically painful.
I wait with a sense of anticipation!
re Victoria’s link @ post 61
“China will inflict pain if Abbott blunders on”
An excellent article by Hugh White.
Rotten lousy incompetent useless Monkey
He’s already wiped 200 points of the ASX equities market!
deb
[Re the respected and informed Hugh White]
He’s a good thinker.
[My pick for the catholic priest who caused the greatest harm in the 20th century was Mons. Kaas who legitimised Hitler by leading the Catholic Centre Party in voting for the Enabling Act]
Yes, a dreadful man. Bruning tried to rally the Zentrum to oppose the Enabling Act, but Kaas was under the influence of Papen and the Vatican would not back resistance.
I can compare Abbott with Abe:
http://shisaku.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/live-from-yasukuni-shrine-well-now-we.html?utm_content=buffer8e897&utm_source=buffer&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Buffer
Doing all the wrong things to anger the Asian countries, and possibly with USA itself (And Canada, UK).
Imacca, good question, but something like ‘goblok’ would probably come close.
So appointing Cosgrove – widely expected, and flagged as the safest, most conservative choice while still being politically acceptable – is now a bold move by Abbott that shows how secure he is in his position and what a great leader he is.
Polish away Shanahan. That turd won’t get shiny by itself.
(Cosgrove a popular figure? Really? Am I that disconnected with the Australian people? I don’t have any strong negative feelings about him, besides him being another uniformed GG, but popular? Although to be fair it seems likely that pretty much anyone would be relatively popular when compared with Abbott at the moment.)
[116
victoria
Shanahan’s latest effort was mentioned earlier. What drivel]
Mr S, and a few other knob polishers, will completely implode before much longer. Not even they can forever deny the appalling reality of AbbottCo as it is publicly and relentlessly revealed in front of them.
More TPP news:
WikiLeaks Reveals Why Asia should skip TPP:
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2013/12/24/commentary/wikileaks-reveals-why-asia-should-skip-the-tpp/
“Asian governments should reject TPP unless they can tell their people exactly what is in it, and why and how it will affect their lives. Thanks to Assange, we now know that the U.S. wants signatories to allow patent changes that could raise the cost of food and health care in developing nations, including increasing the price of treating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases. Is that progress?”
Why is the USA so quiet on TPP:
http://www.smh.com.au/business/world-business/trade-secrets-why-is-the-us-so-quiet-on-the-transpacific-partnership-20131220-2zqv2.html
I think SMH just illegally copped the entire article from Japan Times.
Copied* @ 125
Re 122, 115 – or possibly ‘konyol’.
Shanahan’s efforts are comedic gold, but unfortunately the joke is on the Australian populace
I think OC @ 114 makes an excellent point.
Do we really need another military figure for GG?
What are we saying to the world?
Spot On!
Peter Cosgrove is an unsurprising choice by Tony Abbott for Governor General. He has a favourable profile with the general public from his role in East Timor and more recently from roles such as heading the Cyclone Larry taskforce and even the ‘raise a glass’ campaign for Legacy. He is also safely conservative, although he is not seen as a political figure by the general public. Further, as far as I know, there are no skeletons rattling in his closet, e.g. relating to the various abuse scandals that surface in the military from time to time, although no doubt the Government will have checked this out.
Even so, I would not be surprised if the Abbott Government strategically leaked the appointment to the Australian to gauge the public reaction before confirming the appointment.
No doubt Peter Cosgrove will carry out his duties with dignity and diligence, although I am a little uncomfotable with a military man in the top job. He will, after all, be Commander in Chief of our armed forces.
But it could have been worse. I was half expecting Abbott to appoint a former Howard minister to the job (Alexander Downer? Philip Ruddock?). Abbott doesn’t do consensus and doesn’t mind dividing the community as long as he gets the bigger half. At least he didn’t appoint an IPA functionary.
Hmm
I headed off to Hardly’s megastore in Blacktown today t buy a vacuum cleaner only t fnd th store closed and the carpark empty. This didn’t seem quite to fit the description on Nein of Boxing Day sales fever sweeping Sydney.
Fran – Have you been on the turps?
You’re dropping letters like it’s going out of fashion!
Monsignor David Cappo was Social Inclusion Commissioner for the SA Government while he was Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Adelaide.
S777, a bit rude, what about brengsek?
CTar1
Fran has a new ipad. Takes some time to adjust to the touch key pad. Although I have yet to break the habit of missing the “t” key and pressing “f” in its stead. 😀
Re 134 – I suppose it gets down to Indonesian vernacular, which I don’t know. Doing multiple translations:
Brengsek -> Jerk (dictionary – useless)
Useless -> tak berguna
Tak berguna -> dud
Maybe ‘tak berguna’ is it.
vic -Ta.
[Fran has a new ipad. ]
My 6 & 7 yo grand nieces can do it so I guess Fran will conquer it.
She seems to lose vowels.
CTar1
🙂
S777 136, tak berguna, is more like ‘not used’ which is not really correct description as she is used but in a ‘lebay’ sort of way.
[goblok]
Isn’t that what Abbott gets when something unexpected happens? 🙂
konyol definitely appropriate.
brengsek, certainly a description of her capability as FM.
Google translate is a good tool wot??
Surprise No 69. After promising an absolute commitment to no lies, no excuses, no surprises, improved accountability and improved transparency in government, the Abbott Government puts corruption on the backburner in the B20. Mr Andrew said the decision of the Australian B20 business advisory forum, which will make recommendations for next year’s G20 agenda, to drop corruption from its top priorities for 2014 had been criticised in the region.
Keen observers will have noted that, reflecting their personal approaches to ripping off the Australian taxpayer, the Abbott Government is systematically stripping away governance frameworks to allow open slather to the Big End of Town.
[le·bay
adj. has the quality of being excessive, usu. refers to a story, personality or personal appearance
This word first sprung around year 2007 or 2008. Can either refer to a drama queen, someone who is constantly jayus, or anyone else who has the habit of taking things to an excessive effect. Usually used in a humourous context.]
Problem is that Bishop’s utterances are far from humourous.
[ja·yus
adj. has the quality of being corny or not funny, usu. refers to a joke]
Heeeeers Tony!!!
zoidlord@125
Let’s try reality rather than conspiracy theories.
Both Japan Times and SMH got it from Bloomberg and both give attribution. 😛
BW – anti-corruption measures are “red tape”, and according to Abbott all red tape is bad and must be abolished.
@bemused/143
Actually, It was posted under the same author,
William Pesek. 😛 there goes you’re theory.
zoidlord@145
That is entirely consistent with the facts, not my theory.
William Pesek wrote it for Bloomberg and SMH and Japan Times identified the author and original source.
Keep working on your “yours and you’res”. 😉
Well of course we can trust big business to always make the correct judgements regarding what constitutes unconscionable behaviour, how they should treat those of their employees who have minimal bargaining power, how much tax they should pay and to respect the environment. Just as we can always trust drivers to make the appropriate judgement as to how fast they should drive, how much alcohol they can consume before getting behind the wheel and to always maintain their vehicles to appropriate standards with regard to safety and emissions. Who needs read and green tape?
[No doubt Peter Cosgrove will carry out his duties with dignity and diligence, although I am a little uncomfotable with a military man in the top job. He will, after all, be Commander in Chief of our armed forces. ]
An entirely ceremonial title. The ADF acts on orders that come through the chain of command, and that chain stops with the Minister. The GG has no ability to issue orders to the ADF.
By the way I just discovered that Annette Funicello died earlier this year. She was only 70.
“M-I-C, K-E-Y, M-O-U-S-EEEEE.”
Psephos@148
We should be grateful if it is Cosgrove.
Given that it is Abbott making the choice, we could have got someone far worse.
At least Cosgrove can behave in a dignified manner and string more than 2 words together with out an ummmm, ahhh, or arrrgh.