Following on from the thumping Labor lead in last week’s Newspoll, the addition of the latest ReachTEL to the BludgerTrack poll aggregate causes Labor to regain nearly all the ground it lost on the back of last fortnight’s Nielsen. However, with new contrary signals emerging through a shift back to the Coalition in Essential Research, it’s perhaps telling that the two-party trendline (displayed as always on the sidebar) looks as though it’s not sure which way to turn. Labor is now back into majority territory on the national seat projection, having picked up three seats each in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland and a further one in the territories (i.e. Solomon). It’s interesting to note that the state breakdowns show emphatic swings to Labor except where they govern at state level, at least until next Saturday’s elections. On the primary vote, Labor makes a gain this week directly at the expense of the Coalition, while the Palmer United Party is up slightly on a post-election low last week. There is no new data for leadership ratings this week.
dave
I presume you are talking about the Lib Senator from SA caught shoplifting plus — twice?
Her mental condition was well known in Adelaide before the first incident and even more so after.
The ALP, to their credit, played the game straight, didn’t make an issue of it, it was an eastern state Lib [or Nat] who for some strange reason stirred the pot unnecessarily after the second incident.
Not nice and stupid to boot.
There was a similar incident [vaguely similar] involving another pollie here at around the same time which, again, received an appropriate level of minimal publicity.
Having said all that I agree that the normal modus operandi is for the media to blast the ALP for minor incidents, Paddington Bear springs to mind.
http://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2014/mar/10/abbotts-paid-parental-leave-will-do-little-to-bring-women-to-the-workforce?CMP=twt_gu
[A review of research and data suggests Tony Abbott’s proposed paid parental leave (PPL) scheme will probably fail to achieve any significant lift in women’s participation in the workforce. More worrying is that spending on childcare, which is much more likely to achieve this aim, is to be constrained by the budget in a way the PPL scheme is not.]
Buswell was also the only logical successor to Barnett with Porter hiding in Pearce / Canberra. My that is an empty cupboard they have.
Dave
When I say it doesn’t matter I mean it doesn’t matter because it won’t bring down the government.
No matter what people say they did or didnt do, or what inquiries find out, how it is spun, we are stuck with the Tories in WA for three more years. and they will take comfort in that, knowing they just have to tough it out. No matter what people here, there and everywhere may say about them,they will still be the government.
it is most likely in three years time Barnett will be gone, Buswell will not stand if he hasn’t left already and a new bunch of ministers will be in charge and with the majority they have in parliament and backing from the Nats they will get over the line.
John Key also announced the 2011 election nine months ahead of time.
Poroti, So the NZ poll is right in the middle of the 4 Nations. A nice distraction.
[it is most likely in three years time Barnett will be gone, Buswell will not stand if he hasn’t left already and a new bunch of ministers will be in charge and with the majority they have in parliament and backing from the Nats they will get over the line.
]
Couldn’t agree more – if I was Barnett I’d be looking to retire.
Well admittedly it’s hard to steer straight when your nose is stuck to the seat.
William,
I remember reading/hearing that when JG first announced the 2013 election. As a general rule I think setting the election date, if terms aren’t fixed, well ahead of time is a good idea.
WWP
Describing the politics of making Mike nahan treasurer as problematic is the understatement of the week , and it is early.
Nahan makes Cormann look like a master communicator.
He is an economist! and in his previous roles with the chamber of commerce and I think the IPA he was really good on theory. I well remember him spouting the standard lines of cutting wages, cut red tape, cut government spending
Now he is a minister for energy and all those theories don’t seem to match the reality he has to deal with every day
Rossmcg,
Barnett admitted asking the media to back off. And they did.
In the mean time everybody gets their stories straight.
Viola! Troy’s had a breakdown. Barnett – plausible deniability. Police didn’t know Troy was driving or that it was his car although ALL MP’s addresses are on file.
Nobody joined the dots?
BS.
[ fredex
Posted Monday, March 10, 2014 at 2:43 pm | Permalink
dave
I presume you are talking about the Lib Senator from SA caught shoplifting plus — twice?
Her mental condition was well known in Adelaide before the first incident and even more so after. ]
First time I have ever heard that. The whole matter was discussed here on PB in much detail as it all unfolded and none of our SA PB contingent raised it. Certainly not “well known” in that context.
So “well known” to whom – broadly?
Was she being treated ?
I remember Daniel Andrew’s wife had an accident in Victoria a couple of years ago and the media couldn’t get enough, especially the local ABC. A tory politician could be a cannibal and I doubt the media or the police would take any notice.
I often wonder how the world might have been if JFK had not been assassinated …… and if Gough had longer to complete his visions for Australia ….
Or if Whitlam had won in 1969 and had a full four years before the end of the long post-war boom and full employment (literally, i.e. Less than 2%), getting his mistakes out of the way in a more benign world and having far more favourable economic conditions in which to implement his policies. We can never know, of course. He still would have had a fractious Senate who believed that a Labor Government was against the natural order. The USA would have been cheesed off because of our withdrawal from Vietnam during 1970 and an end to our unconditional support. The media would probably have turned against him and started campaigning for regime change after a year or two.
[ rossmcg
Posted Monday, March 10, 2014 at 2:46 pm | Permalink
No matter what people say they did or didnt do, or what inquiries find out, how it is spun, we are stuck with the Tories in WA for three more years ]
As I’ve said above, there are other important issues involved and there are certainly many questions requiring detailed answers.
Silent
You go with the conspiracy theory, I’ll go with the stuff up
Police saying they did not to driver when they attended scene and did not realise who he was.
It’s 1.30 on a Sunday morning, they probably had bigger issues than a driver who has hit the gate in his driveway and nobody has been hurt. Add it to the hundreds of other things they have to follow up and it doesn’t happen.
[ sohar
Posted Monday, March 10, 2014 at 2:57 pm | Permalink
I remember Daniel Andrew’s wife had an accident in Victoria a couple of years ago and the media couldn’t get enough, especially the local ABC. A tory politician could be a cannibal and I doubt the media or the police would take any notice.
]
—————————————————–
If a politician found he had cannibals among his constituents, he would promise them missionaries for dinner.
H. L. Mencken
Should be did not speak to …driver
Have I done something with the italics?
It does seem that going to a private clinic to deal with a “mental breakdown” is a tactic employed regularly by Hollywood types when they get into a spot of bother.
Of course this would not apply to any Australian MPs.
[Her mental condition was well known in Adelaide before the first incident and even more so after.]
Her mental condition was well known the first time she got up in the Senate. I recall a Senator saying “that woman has serious issues,” well before the first incident. The real mystery is how she was ever chosen in the first place.
sohar
Distraction aplenty in the last week .Saffa’s a huge home game . Immediately followed by lots of selfies with the great and the good at the G20. Very good chance of pics with Obama ,Key one of very few invited to play golf with him . A few days later the election.
rossmcg@3016
Its was serious enough for people to call the coppers –
[ At 1.28am the next day, a member of the public called the WA Police Assistance Centre to report that a white Holden Caprice was being driven erratically on Roberts Road, Subiaco.
The witness, who contacted _The West Australian _ and Seven News this weekend, said the car was perpendicular to the kerb.
It was obstructing the left lane of Roberts Road, near the carpark at the south-eastern corner of Patersons Stadium, forcing the witness to stop his vehicle to avoid a collision.
The Caprice already had damage to its front end.
The witness said the Caprice then veered across from the left to the right lane, nearly colliding with parked cars.
It then pulled into the driveway of a Roberts Road property that is Mr Buswell’s Subiaco home.
The witness then saw the driver, wearing black dress pants, a white “tuxedo-style” shirt, no tie or jacket and glasses, “fumble around” with the keypad on the front fence and gate.
“He looked like he was under the effect of something,” the witness said.
He then got back into the Caprice, accelerated forward, hit the front fence and spun the vehicle’s tyres. The driver then reversed before successfully navigating the car through the gate into the driveway.
Yesterday, the Caprice – believed to be Mr Buswell’s ministerial car – was in the driveway of his Subiaco home, with damage to the front bumper, which lay on the ground in front of it. Slight damage to the front fence was also evident, with three vertical metal bars bent. ]
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/wa/a/21898229/buswell-crashes-after-hours-drinking/
He could have just as easy have killed people. As luck panned out he didn’t, but…..
citizen
Certainly not to Liberal MPs.
[ rossmcg
Posted Monday, March 10, 2014 at 3:03 pm | Permalink
Should be did not speak to …driver
Have I done something with the italics?
]
———————————————–
Buswell’s car crashed into PB ……. but its been ‘FIXED’ – just like his ( hic…..hic ) driving charges
…… blow into this bag, sir …… no, not like that, with your mouth, sir …..
Silentmajority two pages back:
[WA police minister Liza Harvey has declined to comment on whether she was informed by police (a normal requirement) if Troy Buswell was involved in an “incident” at his address on the night in question, saying the Premier was the best person to comment.
It should be noted that all MP’s addresses are logged by police & any incident is reported to the Commish & minister.]
Not this one it seems:
[Josh Jerga @josh_jerga
Troy Buswell’s Subiaco address was not listed as his in the police database @9NewsPerth]
“@eleanorbloom: Car registered to the Office of State Admin. No way for officers to find who in use of that car. This is how was kept secret by Buswell.”
Ross,
Why do tories always get the benefit of the doubt but Labor get crucified?
Julia Gillards glasses, a sandwich, the never mentioned ” I am determined to price carbon”, died of shame. There’s reams of them.
Someone from Labor needs to kick heads. Take the gloves off & punch the Libs & Mordor on the nose – repeatedly.
That’ll get the message out.
WA PB fulvio summit smelt a rat re the Buswell affair from the get go
How many people do you know that get done for DUI after making it into their own driveways.
I’ve known of plenty over time.
This doesn’t smell of a cover up… it plainly stinks.
Jeff, so have I.
When the wa police get a sniff of a DUI they’ll break the door down if it were you or me.
I don’t believe any of this.
Correct me if I am wrong but I believe if a person … lets say makes it home into their own driveway. The Police acting on a report of a vehicle driving eratically go to that house where the car is parked in the driveway and shortly after they (the police) make enquiries and ascertain that the driver of the vehicle admits to drinking earlier but refuses to undertake a breath test then the driver can still be charged with the offence and it would be up to him/her to prove that they were not driving at the time whilst under the influence.
Talk back radio re Buswell…”Get off his back! You guys have no heart!” Comment to Garry Adshead on 6PR this morning.
Adshead has been particularly searching as far as Buswell is concerned – and has copped flack from 6PR’s usual red neck listenership for his troubles – especially last Friday.
Comment from the Premier, the Police Minister and the Police Commissioner…wtte….”We knew nuffing….”
The report is the police turned up at Buswell’s Subiaco place, did not know he lived there, did not know who owned the car, did not bother to find out, went away and did nothing.
Meanwhile, without the report of an anonymous person reporting the above to police and later reporting it to the West, it seems none of this would have come into the open.
It is just astounding that the Premier did not know, or if he did not, why not.
I find it strange that the idenity of the driver of the car was not ascertained. Driver’s license or whatever.
It does not pass the common sense test that police officers would leave the identity secret. How can they check a driving record including if someone has a license to drive otherwise?
[It does not pass the common sense test that police officers would leave the identity secret. How can they check a driving record including if someone has a license to drive otherwise?]
That point really strains the credulity of the story, doesn’t it!
As a choice between cover up and cock up re Buswell, I am still inclined to believe cock up.
I think it is quite possible Colin and he crew did not want to know what was ailing Troy. Meanwhile, the ignorance and inactivity of the cops, was probably just that.
Too much Keystone Cops about it to be cover up.
Apparently they are all over B’s place now taking pictures of the car and the scene.
This may not be news to you but Buswell has resigned from Parliament.
Guytaur
Beggars belief!
Alas, his identity is more than likely the reason why the police turned a blind eye.
[I find it strange that the idenity of the driver of the car was not ascertained. Driver’s license or whatever.]
Apparently the vehicle was not in Buswell’s name but shown as part of a government fleet belonging to a particular department.
The police claim there was nothing to see/do at the time of the night visit and kind of just went away.
The claim is that the police also did not know that Buswell lived at said address.
Keystone Cops again.
Tricot
[The report is the police turned up at Buswell’s Subiaco place, did not know he lived there, did not know who owned the car, did not bother to find out, went away and did nothing.]
It may have been a little difficult get someone at the Office of State Administration at 1:30 in the morning to tell them who the car was issued to.
And as for the breaking down doors bit it’s a block of Units.
Maybe the WA police should introduce a new training program. How to knock on a door of a house
I believe it has worked in the other states for hundreds of years.
Did he show them his special badge?
A la Yes Minister?
“I understand he was as drunk as a Lord so after a discreet interval they’ll probably make him one”
nothing to see here move along…
[This may not be news to you but Buswell has resigned from Parliament.]
It’s news to me. Where did you hear this?
[ Tricot
Posted Monday, March 10, 2014 at 3:30 pm | Permalink
Talk back radio re Buswell…”Get off his back! You guys have no heart!” Comment to Garry Adshead on 6PR this morning.
Adshead has been particularly searching as far as Buswell is concerned – and has copped flack from 6PR’s usual red neck listenership for his troubles – especially last Friday.
Comment from the Premier, the Police Minister and the Police Commissioner…wtte….”We knew nuffing….” ]
Sounding more and more like “it wasn’t his fault” come hell and high water.
Even if he had been caught naked with Possum’s shaved goat and half a pound of butter, it still wouldn’t have been his fault.
So if the police didn’t know it was Buswell, how did anyone else in authority find out?
MTBW
I Thought Buswell had resigned from cabinet, not Parliament
jeffemu
The Bill is a good approximation of how police approach situations.
In any incident that police are called out to the first question is How are you followed swiftly by what is your name sir/madam
We are expected to believe police did not talk to the driver of a car and establish his identity.
The police made no allegation that someone concealed his identity from them, which is what would happen if door knocking happened.
The police would want to know who the driver was and what his record was and who owned the car to eliminate theft.
It’ll all be forgotten by next Saturday’s Paul Murray opinion piece in The West.
Ya know, the column that he slags Labor off in with monotonous regularity every week.
[A witness says he had to stop his vehicle to avoid being struck by Mr Buswell near the MP’s Subiaco home.]
[The witness told the West Australian newspaper Mr Buswell then struck the front fence of his home and spun the tyres before parking his car in the driveway.]
[Police have not charged him with any offences but began taking photos of the damaged car and fence on Monday morning, more than a fortnight after the accident.]
I assume there’ll be footage of alleged erratic driving soon on a ‘current affairs’ program near you …?