Newspoll and Essential Research both recorded movement to Labor this week, but it hasn’t made any difference to BludgerTrack, on which the only movement worth noting is a half-point drop for One Nation. Labor nonetheless makes two gains on the seat projection, with one apiece in Western Australia and South Australia. Newspoll’s numbers have resulted in movement away from Malcolm Turnbull on both leadership trend measures.
Note that there’s a post below this one for discussion of state by-elections in New South Wales and Victoria, and another one below that on the draft federal redistribution boundaries for Queensland.
briefly
The effect of S 44(i) is that a person could be eligible to nominate for election at one point in time – say in September 2017 – and contest and be successful in an election and then in October 2017 become ineligible to serve because of changes to the citizenship laws of another country. This could occur without the person being aware of the changes and, in such a case, could never in any sense affect the allegiance of the person involved.
If S44(i) is about anything, it is about conflicted allegiance. How can it make sense for a person to have divided allegiance when they are not aware of either a past or a new conferral of foreign citizenship?
There is undue reverence given to the purported views of the Constitutional Conventions. The men who comprised the Conventions were not prepared to wholly trust the Parliament – and, by implication, the voters – to decide the eligibility of its own future membership. At the same time they decided Aboriginal Australians would not be citizens – and therefore could not become electors or seek election – while British Subjects from NZ, Canada, South Africa, India or the UK would be eligible to sit in the Parliament.
They had quite oppressive ideas about allegiance. They were prepared to exclude from the Parliament people who had settled here and become solely Australian citizens but who had formerly made oaths of allegiance to other powers. In 1901, it was not in itself enough to become a citizen unless one was already a British Subject, in which case citizenship was not an issue at all.
This really did create different classes of citizen with respect to rights to political participation. This discrimination remains embedded in the Constitution. It is wholly archaic. The provision these days is highly undemocratic in its effect. The legislature should be drawn from the people – from all those citizens eligible to vote. As it stands, about half of those people who are to be represented in the Parliament will be disqualified from election on the basis of the entirely spurious notion that their allegiance may be in doubt.
As long as it’s possible to hold dual or multiple citizenships in Australia, it should be lawful for such citizens to seek to represent their peers in the Parliament.
I have a friend, Tammy Solonec, who was a candidate in the last Federal election. She was born in the Kimberley to an Aboriginal mother and an immigrant father. It’s quite likely she would have been eligible to become a dual citizen. It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever that Tammy should be disqualified from election to the Commonwealth Parliament on the basis of possibly conflicted allegiance. That is an insane idea. Yet it is the premise underlying 44(i).
Canavan and Roberts very similar types.
“They have done nothing wrong”.
It’s mothers, sisters and foreign governments who have made their positions a problem.
Another Marine Osprey A/C has been reported as having made a ‘hard landing*‘ in Syria.
(* – crashed due to mechanical failure.)
Despite relative peace, law and order in Spain for 30 years many people are still wanting independence from Spain – the Basques, Gibraltar and Catalonia.
The levels of unemployment in the country must play be some part in this.
Another Rowe:
briefly
They were not unique in that. In the US the founding fathers inserted the Electoral College to actually appoint the President almost making the presidential election ‘window dressing’. Their treatment of indigenous also ‘same’.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
Paul Bongiorno criticises the name calling that is going on with the energy debate and other issues. A typically good article from this veteran.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/2017/09/30/name-calling-the-energy-debate/15066936005280
Tony Wright tells us how Australia blew its future gas supplies.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/how-australia-blew-its-future-gas-supplies-20170928-gyqg0f.html
Jack Waterford describes how Turnbull is being kept afloat by surface tension. A long article well worth reading.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/the-surface-tension-holding-a-prime-minister-afloat-20170929-gyr4zs.html
A excellent contribution for a Fairfax journalist about his friendship with Liberal MP Dean Smith and how he watched Dean transform over the years from a same-sex marriage sceptic to a passionate supporter.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/the-senator-and-i-across-the-divide-shared-hopes-on-samesex-marriage-20170918-gyk1nv.html
The SMH editorial explains why the YES vote should win.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/smh-editorial/why-yes-deserves-to-win-20170929-gyrjw8.html
Richard Ackland begins this article with “It was uplifting to see Father Paul Kelly, editor-at-large of The Catholic Boys Daily, beating the drum for a religious freedom bill. Never mind that already we have too much religious freedom; Father Kelly wants more. It was one of his traditionally wordy pieces, but he still didn’t have enough words to explain just how religious freedoms would be trampled should same-sex couples be treated equally by the law, or just what freedoms were at risk.”
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/2017/09/30/gadfly-coleridge-and-the-rime-the-ancient-marrier/15066936005278
Michael Koziol examines the many claims in the SSM campaigns.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/testing-the-many-claims-of-the-samesex-marriage-campaign-20170929-gyrd1s.html
The whineosaurus Gerard Henderson says a YES vote will be a plunge into the great unknown. Google.
/opinion/columnists/gerard-henderson/samesex-marriage-yes-vote-a-plunge-into-the-unknown/news-story/5773bb147fe2e8cb7101a16970831f64
Mike Seccombe and the money case for SSM. Another interesting contribution from him.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2017/09/30/the-money-case-gay-marriage/15066936005287
Back in 2014, Welsh crooner Tom Jones starred at the AFL grand Final. Among the songs he performed was his hit Delilah, which graphically tells the story of a jilted man who knifes his girlfriend to death. This song was deemed unworthy of complaint by the then Prime Minister of Australia, Tony Abbott.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2017/09/28/nobody-complained-when-the-grand-final-had-a-song-about-a-bloke-killing-his-girlfriend_a_23225813/?utm_hp_ref=au-homepage
Section 2 . . .
Mark Kenny reports that Paul Keating has moved to rebalance the historical record by elevating former Labor leader Bill Hayden to centre-stage for his formative part in what is usually referred to simply as the Hawke-Keating period.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/bill-hayden-an-unsung-labor-hero-paul-keating-20170929-gyraji.html
Simon Cowan says that Coalition must stop gaming budget forecasts if it wants credibility
‘http://www.smh.com.au/comment/coalition-must-stop-gaming-budget-forecasts-if-it-wants-credibility-20170929-gyr8xt.html
Crispin Hull looks at a recent study on the relationship between cognitive ability and bringing about change. He touches on the current SSM issue as well.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/samesex-marriage-survey-important-lesson-for-yes-campaign-buried-in-the-data-20170928-gyqhfv.html
Phil Coorey on how some Coalition MPs are voting NO by hoping for a YES outcome. Google.
/news/politics/vote-yes-or-you-wont-be-hearing-the-end-of-it-20170928-gyqws5
A quick trip through the inglorious history of marriage, inequity and angry inequality campaigners in Australia, by Kelly Jenke.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/marriage-macklemore-and-inequality-in-australia,10767
Cory Bernardi’s nice work on behalf of Craigburn Primary School. Not quite what he intended though.
http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/news-and-views/opinion/how-cory-bernardis-attempt-to-smear-wear-a-dress-day-ended-in-a-windfall-20170928-gyqzdz.html
Senate powerbrokers Pauline Hanson and Nick Xenophon say they cannot support a lower tax rate for medium and big businesses in the current climate, delivering a blow to the government’s efforts to legislate its remaining company tax cuts. Google.
/national-affairs/nxt-one-nation-reject-further-business-tax-cuts/news-story/16fd0a2c7016d1feee23ec566660da7e
A neo-Nazi who fantasised about shooting up a shopping centre has been sentenced to at least four and a half years in jail for weapons and child pornography offences, with a judge pointing to his obsession with “sex, guns and death”. Yes, definitely a special breed!
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/white-supremacist-michael-holt-sentenced-to-45-years-for-weapons-child-porn-offences-20170929-gyrmuf.html
States that fail to permit coal seam gas mining would be penalised under a fresh proposal from the Grants Commission to change the method of distributing goods and services tax revenue. Petulance perhaps?
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/victoria-nsw-to-be-penalised-for-outlawing-fracking-under-grants-commission-plan-20170929-gyrljh.html
The push for coal seam gas continues to leave communities wary.
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/still-cowboys-why-the-rush-to-develop-coal-seam-gas-leaves-communities-wary-20170928-gyqkqc.html
Section 3 . . .
David Speers accuses state leaders of being blind to the ramifications of the energy crisis. Google.
/news/opinion/state-politicians-blind-to-ramifications-of-energy-crisis/news-story/580683052d3cf415f63755ece26c901d
Meanwhile thousands of Canberra’s low-income households are facing a “double whammy” from gas bills, with gas-related debt in the ACT the highest of any jurisdiction on the national energy market. With average gas bills rising in the ACT from between $833 and $881 in 2012-13 to a whopping $1481 to $1688 in 2015-16, so too have related debts.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/canberras-lowincome-households-face-gas-bill-double-whammy-as-debts-soar-20170929-gyrbxd.html
Rodney Croome writes that Australia’s homophobia is deeply rooted in its convict past.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/sep/30/australias-homophobia-is-deeply-rooted-in-its-colonial-past
John Power in The Saturday Paper tells us why we won’t be getting a federal ICAC any time soon.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/law-crime/2017/09/30/why-were-not-getting-federal-icac/15066936005284
A vaginal mesh implant made by Johnson & Johnson (J&J) was launched without a clinical trial, and then marketed for five years after the company learned that it had a higher failure rate than their two earlier devices. The lawyers around the world will have a field day no doubt.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/sep/29/revealed-johnson-johnsons-irresponsible-actions-over-vaginal-mesh-implant
Peter Hartcher tells us that we are in a moment between techno-rapture and techno-panic. He then goes on to explain how we can thrive when the robots come.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/how-to-ensure-australia-thrives-when-the-robots-come-20170929-gyrgr9.html
On the same subject Ross Gittins says that our bulldust detectors are on the blink.
http://www.smh.com.au/business/comment-and-analysis/our-bulldust-detectors-seem-to-be-on-the-blink-20170929-gyr68u.html
This lawyer and former Wallaby says why the NRL is right and that sport and politics should mix.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/why-the-nrl-is-right-and-sports-and-politics-should-mix-20170928-gyr15q.html
Adele Ferguson writes that when veteran retailer Solomon Lew let fly at the woeful performance of Myer he put the spotlight on the value of consultants, saying the department store chain was a “basket case” being run “primarily” by consultants after losing a lot of good retailers. Yes – there are consultants and there are consultants! There is so much in this article that is right.
http://www.smh.com.au/business/consultants-borrow-your-watch-to-tell-the-time-then-charge-you-for-it-say-critics-20170929-gyrciv.html
The iconic Australian engineering company, SMEC, formerly the Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation, has had five of its subsidiaries banned by the World Bank after the discovery of “inappropriate payments” linked to projects in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
http://www.smh.com.au/business/world-bank-bans-iconic-australian-firm-over-inappropriate-payments-20170929-gyraf8.html
Section 4 . . .
A broadcaster and former MP writes about the damage being done by the inability (unwillingness) of the government to do its proper job in legislating SSM.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/neighbourly-love-lost-samesex-marriage-experiment-galvanises-bullies-20170928-gyqxvt.html
Harvey Norman’s audited 2017 accounts released on Friday show how the group has moved off its balance sheet up to $782 million of franchisee debt. The result is that the franchisee accounts are more opaque than ever. And Gerry wonders why people get upset with him! Google.
/business/retail/harvey-normans-782-million-franchisee-mystery-20170929-gyrf9a
Richard Wolffe writes that Trump is the puppet of his rich business friends. You don’t need a special counsel to find the evidence. Twice this week, when given the choice between his wealthy buddies and the working Americans he claims to care about, Trump has taken the gold-plated path.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/sep/29/trump-doesnt-care-poor-taxes-puerto-rico
Elton Musk is on track with the big battery farm in SA. Google.
/news/south-australia/tesla-founder-elon-musk-inks-deal-with-energy-regulators-to-build-worlds-biggest-battery-in-jamestown/news-story/741ec11c08568ee679f9ca1736696414
Jay Weatherill has made lemonade from the lemon he was handed exactly 12 months ago.
https://theconversation.com/a-year-since-the-sa-blackout-whos-winning-the-high-wattage-power-play-84416
Since the City of Port Adelaide Enfield publicly declared its support for an increase to Newstart in August, six more South Australian councils have joined the push to boost this meagre allowance.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/local-councils-say-yes-to-raising-newstart,10769
Desperate Pacific islands at risk of sinking beneath the sea say Australia is “stuck in the Dark Ages” by relying on fossil fuels, in response to alarming data showing this nation’s energy emissions have hit record highs. As if we didn’t know!
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/stuck-in-the-dark-ages-pacific-island-leader-vents-after-australias-emissions-hit-record-high-20170929-gyrbi6.html
Emissions of the greenhouse gas methane from livestock are somewhat larger than previously thought, posing an additional challenge in the fight to curb global warming, scientists have said.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/sep/29/methane-emissions-cattle-11-percent-higher-than-estimated
There is nearly $18 billion sitting in the super system without a home according to new figures and some of it could be yours. The Australian Tax Office has reported that the amount of money held in unclaimed superannuation accounts jumped 21.3 per cent to $17.9 billion in the year to June 2017.
http://thenewdaily.com.au/money/superannuation/2017/09/29/you-could-be-owed-some-of-the-18-billion-in-unclaimed-super/
Section 5 . . .
Former building industry watchdog Nigel Hadgkiss has been ordered to pay $8500 for breaching the Fair Work Act. Somehow I don’t think this will be the last we hear of Nr Hadgkiss.
http://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace-relations/contrite-former-building-watchdog-boss-nigel-hagkiss-ordered-to-pay-8500-penalty-20170929-gyr6o3.html
Jonathan Freedland looks at how leaving the EU would prevent a decent reshaping of the UK.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/sep/29/labour-nightmare-brexit-empties-coffers-corbynite-dream-public-investment
Michael West gets stuck into the big auditing companies.
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/audit-superhero-captain-cantcount-to-the-rescue/
In providing a comedic submission to the High Court Malcolm Roberts has emphatically – and empirically – argues his citizenship case is the strongest.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/senator-malcolm-roberts-argues-his-citizenship-case-is-the-strongest-20170929-p4yw6u.html
In an increasingly uncertain world, it is comforting to know that Pauline Hanson’s One Nation is just as laughably bumbling and bizarre as ever. Sydney bureau chief for The Independent Australia, Ross Jones, announces his nominees for the 2017 inaugural Gold Ashby awards.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/malcolm-roberts-and-the-golden-ashbys,10768
The area of farmland under partial or full Chinese ownership has dramatically increased over the past year as the level of American and British interests has fallen. Over to you Porline.
http://www.smh.com.au/business/chinese-ownership-of-australian-farmland-rises-american-ownership-falls-20170929-gyrmam.html
Section 6 . . . Cartoon Corner
Alan Moir takes a justified swipe at Potatohead.
Cathy Wilcox on modern multiculturalism in Australia.
Mark Knight is hoping for a Richmond win today.
http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/17ee6fd285413cf46e78b4ade7af4ad5?width=1024
David Rowe and a certain streaker at the MCG.
David Pope lines up Trump and Kim for the Grand Finale.
http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/federal-politics/cartoons/david-pope-20120214-1t3j0
Ron Tandberg is unimpressed with the government’s utterings on energy policy.
http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/federal-politics/cartoons/ron-tandberg-20090910-fixc.html
Jon Kudelka takes Abbott to the footy.
http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/5aa71074c03e1bb5db5679fed7ccba44
USA: A FEMO spokesman on CNN News just on saying ‘all is good’ … but on their internet news site –
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41447187
Bk – I hope your back pain has improved somewhat.
CTar1 @ #212 Saturday, September 30th, 2017 – 5:55 am
I can’t believe how good my back is this morning! Even the decades old chronic background back pain seems to have vanished. I hope I’m not getting my hopes up too high though.
Trump Goes On Vacation as People Are Dying In Puerto Rico
President Trump spoke to reporters Friday from the White House in Washington before he departed for Bedminster, New Jersey where he is expected to head to his Trump National Golf Club, telling them that Puerto Rico is going really well. Trump, having apparently learned nothing so far, added that the loss of life is always tragic but it’s “been incredible, the results we’ve had with respect to loss of life. People can’t believe how successful that has been, relatively speaking.”
http://www.politicususa.com/2017/09/29/trump-announces-puerto-rico-well-loss-life-tragic-incredible-successful.html
Trump whines about ‘cost of rebuilding’ Puerto Rico — and gets resoundingly destroyed by San Juan’s mayor
The mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico on Friday shot back at Donald Trump after the president argued “big decisions” have to be made about the cost of rebuilding the island, which is still reeling from a lack of basic necessities over a week after Hurricane Maria hit.
“The fact is that Puerto Rico has been destroyed by two hurricanes,” Trump wrote on Twitter. “Big decisions will have to be made as to the cost of its rebuilding!”
San Juan Major Carmen Yulín Cruz, who’s been critical of the administration’s response in Puerto Rico, took issue with Trump’s comment Friday, telling CNN, “If we let them die, nobody is going to pay the debt!”
https://www.rawstory.com/2017/09/trump-whines-about-cost-of-rebuilding-puerto-rico-and-gets-resoundingly-destroyed-by-san-juans-mayor/
BK, good to hear of your pain relief. I hope it continues too. Good luck with it. And thanks for your dawn patrol, it is my first ‘port of call’ in the morning.
Have a look at this solar powered disaster relief solution.
http://www.renovagen.com/products/rapid-roll-t/
BK @ #16 Saturday, September 30th, 2017 – 6:28 am
Bonjour Monsieur BK
I offer to you some of the words of a Kris Kristofferson song
Just let me enjoy ’till its over
Or forever
Please don’t tell me how the story ends
☕ 😎
BK
Huge dawn patrol this morning. Thank you.
Now please listen to Mother and don’t do anything that will strain your back for a few weeks. It needs time to settle down. 🙂
No life is useless; bernardi has finally had a day in the sun.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/sep/29/principal-amused-by-bernardis-dress-day-outrage-as-school-raises-275000
BK,
Great news! I kind of knew it would work well but I didn’t want to put the mockers on it by telling you about my positive experience with steroid injections. I have had them in the past for a neck problem after a car accident and for plantar fasciitis in my foot. I couldn’t walk on the foot, it was that painful, but after 2 rounds of guided injections into the area I can now walk unimpeded again!
So, that is the only proviso I would add. That is, if you do feel, down the road, that the pain has reoccurred, even if only a little bit, a stitch in time saves nine, and so see if your GP thinks another injection warranted. You can’t have them regularly, because then they lose their efficacy, but once more to settle down any niggles should see you right.
Am I then to assume you will now be playing cricket again this summer? ; )
lizzie @ #575 Saturday, September 30th, 2017 – 6:24 am
Thanks lizzie.
But did just go out to do horse duties.
C@t
Since my shoulder recon cricket is out of the picture.
Good Morning
Bk
Great its down well. Love the Abbott Proof Fence pic. 🙂
Proves that the Grants Commission are mere bean counters.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/victoria-nsw-to-be-penalised-for-outlawing-fracking-under-grants-commission-plan-20170929-gyrljh.html
CT
TheLeadCNN: .@jaketapper: Puerto Ricans say they need supplies and food, not tweets claiming everything is going well cnn.it/2xHl1Gj pic.twitter.com/6ZvepjsxQ0
https://twitter.com/theleadcnn/status/913875508617719809
BK
The Saturday Paper puts the boot in with truth telling about Dutton. Their editorial.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/2017/09/30/talk-shame/15066936005272
briefly
Keeping your paper work in order to be a member of parliament is a pretty small test really.
More from Father Rod Bower.
Puerto Ricans are mostly non-white.
In Trump’s White Supremeworld they are expendables.
AP_Politics: ‘I regret that the recent events have created a distraction,’ Tom Price wrote in his resignation letter. apne.ws/VLeej1j
https://twitter.com/ap_politics/status/913881477443710976
BK
So glad to hear your back is feeling better.
Loved the Abbott proof fence photo too.
‘CTar1
Another Marine Osprey A/C has been reported as having made a ‘hard landing*‘ in Syria.
(* – crashed due to mechanical failure.)’
The bit where the props move from vertical to horizontal and vikki verka is a bit tricky.
abcsydney: pic.twitter.com/VeFekK2SCv
The Bombardier story is reality politics for both the Tories and Labor.
Basically, Boeing is conniving with the US power structure to try to destroy Bombardier building.
297% tariff. America First in action.
The take home lesson for the UK is that once it is out of the EU its negotiating clout will be close to zip.
http://www.smh.com.au/technology/innovation/elon-musk-promises-anywhere-in-the-world-in-one-hour-20170929-gyrpan.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=nc&eid=socialn%3Atwi-13omn1677-edtrl-other%3Annn-17%2F02%2F2014-edtrs_socialshare-all-nnn-nnn-vars-o%26sa%3DD%26usg%3DALhdy28zsr6qiq
Clash jumpers.
http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/radio/turnbull-goes-to-the-populist-end-of-the-radio-dial-to-reach-more-voters/news-story/fad2601aa92f335ae7a3f91e132ed7c4
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/sep/30/no-conspiracy-lgbti-advocates-say-survey-forms-have-gone-astray?CMP=share_btn_tw
Thanks guytaur. A lot of effort must be going into tracing outdated addresses (sarc).
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/sep/30/no-conspiracy-lgbti-advocates-say-survey-forms-have-gone-astray?CMP=share_btn_tw
briefly @ #2 Saturday, September 30th, 2017 – 3:24 am
All Tammy had to do was renounce her dual citizenship. S44 is perfectly clear in its original intent, and the subsequent HC clarifications have been in keeping with that intent. I think most Australians would agree with this intent, but you are perfectly welcome to try and get up a referendum to change it. But in the meantime, nothing would stop Tammy for standing for parliament.
Morning all.
Thanks BK for a mammoth effort this morning and good to hear you’re feeling better.
The cartoonists are sure having fun with Abbott and NO! these days. Love the Abbott-proof fence.
guytaur
Apostrophe fail.
Lizzie
I am not surprised. I despite complaining still get parcels delivered to the neighbouring post office not my home or LPO even when I am at home.
Previously Australia Post had no problem delivering to me. So add another bureaucracy on top with the ABS not having updated details in the database its inevitable. In both cases by design I reckon.
I think the advocates are wrong about the online thing. Thats only been used for OS people because of time factors. As we know unless you have paper ballots the Russians amongst others can hack online polls.
BK
On the back good to hear. As a few have said “Don’t f’ken over do it!”
The small solar gens are quite neat.
I don’t know what the competition for this segment of the market is like but they look rugged, are trailer mounted, the best of the 3 will do 14 hours of fairly OK continuous output and 4 will fit quite easily in a standard 40′ container you’d think that emergency relief organisations and the military would be very interested.
zoomster
I am not getting involved in grammar wars. I am an early casualty due to my failures in the subject. 🙂