By-elections, preselections and Section 44

A round-up of the latest news on by-election and related fronts.

A little extra polling:

• The Australian on Tuesday provided an extra finding from the weekend Newspoll: that opposition to reforming Section 44 has hardened since August, when Barnaby Joyce’s difficulty first emerged. Fifty-one per cent now believe dual citizens should be disqualified from parliament, up seven, with 38% opposed, down five. Forty-six per cent opposed a referendum being held on the matter, with 43% in support.

By-election latest:

• Western Australia’s Darling Range state by-election will be held on June 23. Nathan Hondros of Fairfax reports the Liberal preselection, which will be determined by the party’s state council on Saturday, will be contested by Alyssa Hayden, who unexpectedly lost her upper house seat for East Metropolitan region to One Nation in 2017, and Rob Coales, a police sergeant and Serpentine-Jarrahdale councillor. The early mail was that Coales was favourite, but according to Hondros, it is “understood party powerbrokers are supporting Ms Hayden”.

David Crowe of Fairfax reports the date for the Super Saturday by-elections could be pushed back to July 7, as the government looks at an Australian Electoral Commission recommendation to implement an online tool for candidates to lodge declarations and supporting documentation, so as to avoid further issues arising from Section 44. This had caused initial plans for a date of June 16 to be scotched, although concerns linger about the electoral impact of an eight-week campaign.

• Speaking of, Michael McKenna of The Australian reports the Liberal National Party preselection for Longman is being held off until next Tuesday to ensure frontrunner Trevor Ruthenberg was able to clear up his own Section 44 issue, arising from his being born in Papua New Guinea.

• Georgia Downer has emerged unopposed for Liberal preselection in Mayo. The Australian reports “ambitious conservative” Michael van Dissel was another potential nominee, but withdrew as it became clear the Right was solid behind Downer. In contrast to the Liberals in WA, Labor will be contested Mayo, despite never having held hte saet before. A Labor source quoted by Philip Coorey said the party believed its preferences could assist Rebekha Sharkie, and that failing to run would suppress the party’s Senate vote at the next election.

• Braddon will again be contested for the Liberals by Brett Whiteley, who held the seat from 2013 until his defeat by Labor’s Justine Keay in 2016, and served in the state seat of Braddon from 2002 until his defeat in 2010. The Burnie Advocate reports former McDonald’s licensee Craig Brakey and Wynyard RSL president Gavin Pearce also contested the state executive vote, but Whiteley was chosen unanimously.

• The Western Australian Liberals’ decision to forfeit the Perth by-election, said to have been instigated by Matthias Cormann, has been widely criticised in the party. Following Tim Hammond’s resignation announcement on May 1, Christian Porter told Sky News Australia the party would “undoubtedly” run, and state Opposition Leader Mike Nahan, who had mocked Labor’s unsurprising decision not to field a candidate in the recent by-election for Colin Barnett’s old seat of Cottesloe, said the by-election was “one we need to contest”.

• The Western Australian Greens have announced their by-elections candidates: Caroline Perks, senior sustainability officer at the City of Perth, in Perth; and Dorinda Cox, domestic violence campaigner and former police officer, in Fremantle.

Other preselection news:

• Jane Prentice’s preselection defeat in her Brisbane seat of Ryan has roused controversy over the lack of gender balance in the Coalition. The winner was Julian Simmonds, a Brisbane councillor who once worked on Prentice’s staff when she herself was on council. Simmons, who is identified with the Right, won a local party ballot by 256 votes to 103 over Prentice, a moderate and early backer of Malcolm Turnbull. Charlie Peel of The Australian reports the vote was “roughly split along traditional party lines, with Nationals backing Ms Prentice”. Critics of the decision include Campbell Newman, Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch and Capricornia MP Michelle Landry.

Jared Owens of The Australian reports Ian Macdonald and Barry O’Sullivan, who respectively hold Queensland Senate seats for the Liberals and the Nationals, face preselection challenges from Scott Emerson, the former state Shadow Treasurer who lost his seat of Maiwar to the Greens last November, and Susan McDonald, managing director of a chain of butcher’s shops and a member of “one of Queensland’s grazing families”.

• Michael Owen of The Australian reports on a “strong challenge” for Liberal Senate preselection in South Australia from Alex Antic, an Adelaide councillor. This apparently poses a threat to another female Liberal MP, Anne Ruston, who might otherwise be expected to lead the ticket, but not to the mooted number two candidate, David Fawcett. It might also endanger Lucy Gichuhi’s hold on number three, long shot proposition though that may be.

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.

1,071 comments on “By-elections, preselections and Section 44”

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  1. Your ancestors would have been the beneficiaries and victims of that reality dozens of times. Just as various Aboriginal tribes would have been pre Whities turning up.

    Okay. I’m still not sure what the point is.

    “People acted like assholes in the past so therefore it’s fine to keep doing so” is not the most persuasive argument.

    I for one would be more than happy to see Australia lead the way in terms of ‘not being an asshole just because it’s historically fashionable’. How about we do what’s right instead of what’s easy, for once?

  2. poroti

    Apologies, I’ve had a quick look and you were right (I had an exclamation mark there, but removed it because I shouldn’t be surprised when I get something wrong…)

  3. poroti @ #945 Saturday, May 19th, 2018 – 6:14 pm

    adrian

    Only a dickhead uses the term ‘retarded’ these days.

    Ah the LOL, ‘retarded’ was introduced as a PC term . My how times change.

    Really? I’d be surprised if it was embraced as a PC term of abuse for people who are not retarded, but used as a put down of others meant to infer that those who have intellectual disability are somehow inferior. Precisely how that particular commenter used the term.

  4. A R @ #952 Saturday, May 19th, 2018 – 5:21 pm

    Your ancestors would have been the beneficiaries and victims of that reality dozens of times. Just as various Aboriginal tribes would have been pre Whities turning up.

    Okay. I’m still not sure what the point is.

    “People acted like assholes in the past so therefore it’s fine to keep doing so” is not the most persuasive argument.

    I for one would be more than happy to see Australia lead the way in terms of ‘not being an asshole just because it’s historically fashionable’. How about we do what’s right instead of what’s easy, for once?

    Ah, but what’s right is not necessarily in your best interests and when was the last time a country acted against its best interest?

    p.s. Personally I think you have a point. 🙂

  5. fess

    My new found knowledge (courtesy of google) is that it was meant to replace words like ‘moron’ and ‘cretin’ to describe mentally limited people, because the former had become abusive terms. Inevitably, of course, ‘retard’ became abusive itself.

  6. adrian @ #952 Saturday, May 19th, 2018 – 8:21 pm

    bemused @ #949 Saturday, May 19th, 2018 – 8:19 pm

    pica @ #946 Saturday, May 19th, 2018 – 8:15 pm

    “Get over yourself Bemused”

    Unfortunately, that is unlikely to happen……..

    I don’t feel the need, but I sure would like to get over cretins like you, Adrian and a few others.

    Piss off from this blog then, and do us cretins a favour.

    Fortunately there are enough sane people here to retain my interest and enjoyment.
    Like Barney, Don, Psyclaw, ar, Andrew of Earlwood, Absence of Empathy, Lizzie etc.

  7. zoomster @ #957 Saturday, May 19th, 2018 – 5:26 pm

    fess

    My new found knowledge (courtesy of google) is that it was meant to replace words like ‘moron’ and ‘cretin’ to describe mentally limited people, because the former had become abusive terms. Inevitably, of course, ‘retard’ became abusive itself.

    Interesting, for me it’s used much more offensively and with more impact than the other two.

    edit:
    Back in the playground, not now! 🙂

  8. zoomster

    I shouldn’t be surprised when I get something wrong

    Not as “not surprised’ as I am to find I got something wRONg !! ……………….again 🙂

  9. Sorry to lambaste you, as I usually enjoy your posts. But….”At contact’ there was no aboriginal presence Kangaroo Island…..End of story.

    Ha! No I don’t feel lambasted, If I did I’m in the wrong place.
    Contact was 1803?, when Flinders first charted it.
    Sealers were there not long after, so yeah. I was a few years out, and I’ve stopped digging.
    I ‘ll wear that, I should have used this link
    http://www.utas.edu.au/library/companion_to_tasmanian_history/A/Aborigines%20on%20Kangaroo%20Island.htm

  10. Bowe,

    This place is going to continue to descend into irrelevance and utter shit until you sort your nonsense out.
    Decide if you wish to use this place to scrape together a bit of money to support a thesis, or re-involve yourself in your blog.

    Or, hire someone competent to monitor it for you.

    You simply cannot continue to allow a person to take a single phrase utterly out of context, whilst permitting others to use deeply offensive slurs against another.

    I have much, much more money than you, and will expend some of it, if necessary.

    Even the Guardian yobbo’s are laughing at you now, it is idiotic.

  11. zoomster

    My unreliable memory thinks that ‘Slow learner” replaced ‘retarded’ as the PC term. Which means of course ‘Slow learner’ became the abuse of choice for non PC people.

  12. zoomster:

    Calling someone a retard is meant to infer limited intellectual ability. To align that person with someone who has intellectual disability, and an ultimate put down.

    Calling someone a moron or cretin doesn’t carry the same weight. They are simply assholes, dickheads or idiots, not people who have a specific intellectual disability.

  13. On a day when I’ve read about two separate shootings at schools in the USA I’d like to share my thoughts.

    First, guns are about individual power. Their two purposes are to intimidate and to kill. Second, as societies Australia and the USA both believe deeply in freedom, just not in the same way. The USA promotes self-reliance, of being individually free to travel, to stake your claim, to be independent, to do what you want. Australian culture tends towards freedom from interference, Australian heroes reject the boss and the hero’s courage in doing so is valued. “Don’t tell me what to do.” Australian culture also values equality. “You are no better than me.”

    So if guns are about individual power is that why USA type freedom promotes generally available guns? And if guns disrupt equality is that why Australia’s type of freedom promotes gun restriction? Could the different ideas about “freedom” be why there is relatively easy access to guns in the USA and relatively difficult access to guns in Australia? And if so, is that how to promote gun restrictions?

  14. Boomy, with all due respect, evidence of archaeological existence is not the same as occupation, especially at the point of ‘euro settlement’ . I grew up close to an island that had clear evidence of Aboriginal visiting, but not occupation, they also referred to this pace as the Island of The Dead…..

  15. fess

    ‘Moron’ and ‘cretin’ were highly offensive terms in their day. They may have lost their weight with time, although they’re not terms I would personally use.

    poroti

    Kids are very quick to work things out.

    Primary school teachers are fond of using colours, animals etc to distinguish ability groups, in the fond belief that kids then don’t realise they’re being sorted. Inevitably, you hear some eight year old sigh, “I’m not good at Maths, I’m in the Blue group.”

  16. Late Riser @ #966 Saturday, May 19th, 2018 – 8:42 pm

    On a day when I’ve read about two separate shootings at schools in the USA I’d like to share my thoughts.

    First, guns are about individual power. Their two purposes are to intimidate and to kill. Second, as societies Australia and the USA both believe deeply in freedom, just not in the same way. The USA promotes self-reliance, of being individually free to travel, to stake your claim, to be independent, to do what you want. Australian culture tends towards freedom from interference, Australian heroes reject the boss and the hero’s courage in doing so is valued. “Don’t tell me what to do.” Australian culture also values equality. “You are no better than me.”

    So if guns are about individual power is that why USA type freedom promotes generally available guns? And if guns disrupt equality is that why Australia’s type of freedom promotes gun restriction? Could the different ideas about “freedom” be why there is relatively easy access to guns in the USA and relatively difficult access to guns in Australia? And if so, is that how to promote gun restrictions?

    If you use a gun to intimidate or kill, you have committed a crime.

    Guns, for farmers are just another item of equipment, as they are for sporting shooters, security guards, police etc.

  17. poroti, zoomster:

    You only have to look at the comments by certain PBers here to see that retard is intended to be term designed to infer intellectual inferiority.

    That’s all I need to know about the use of the term here.

  18. BB

    ‘Why we here in Australia (who made the correct choice on guns – that is, to substantially get rid of them – and keep them gone)

    There are over 2,000,000 legal firearms in Australia. There are now more guns than there were before Port Arthur. The Gun Lobby and the Shooters, Fisher and Farmers Party and the PHON Party are actively pursuing an agenda that is not all that different from that of the NRA.

    I have an open mind on an armed society being a ‘polite’ society; shit scared society, yes. Some thoughts:

    1. Is killing 30,000 people a year with guns ‘polite’?
    2. Is the sort of swaggering behaviour indulged in by groups of open carry gunnies ‘polite’?
    3. Is it ‘polite’ to instil a general fearfulness in a society?

  19. bemused @ #971 Saturday, May 19th, 2018 – 8:51 pm

    Late Riser @ #966 Saturday, May 19th, 2018 – 8:42 pm

    On a day when I’ve read about two separate shootings at schools in the USA I’d like to share my thoughts.

    First, guns are about individual power. Their two purposes are to intimidate and to kill. Second, as societies Australia and the USA both believe deeply in freedom, just not in the same way. The USA promotes self-reliance, of being individually free to travel, to stake your claim, to be independent, to do what you want. Australian culture tends towards freedom from interference, Australian heroes reject the boss and the hero’s courage in doing so is valued. “Don’t tell me what to do.” Australian culture also values equality. “You are no better than me.”

    So if guns are about individual power is that why USA type freedom promotes generally available guns? And if guns disrupt equality is that why Australia’s type of freedom promotes gun restriction? Could the different ideas about “freedom” be why there is relatively easy access to guns in the USA and relatively difficult access to guns in Australia? And if so, is that how to promote gun restrictions?

    If you use a gun to intimidate or kill, you have committed a crime.

    Guns, for farmers are just another item of equipment, as they are for sporting shooters, security guards, police etc.

    All true. But the people who I know in the USA who love their personal guns are none of these things. Also farmers use guns to kill. And I would put police and security guards into the intimidation category. Guns are used to coerce. If I see you carrying a gun I am intimidated by that. I hadn’t thought of sporting shooters. I don’t know any of those.

    Do you have thoughts on the difference in freedom as expressed by the USA versus Australia?

  20. Interesting to see the word “putsch” used in the headline of Murphy’s article about the Uglies taking over the Vic branch of the Liberal party.

    Thankfully most L-NP types seemed to be fixated only on ABC thought-crimes, so I expect this clear reference to nascent fascism in the Guardian will be ignored.

  21. September 11, 2001 conspiracy theories were banned.

    Perhaps, the vommitous, morning, crap about Donald Trump, from people like Victoria and Confessions, should go the same way.

    They say exactly the same sentence, at precisely the same moment each morning, in response to a sickenly similar comment, every single day, over, and over, and over again.
    It is incessant and goes on month, after month.

    I could watch TYT or NBC and get the same dross.

    The United States Constitution will take Trump down, they are doing a very good job of controlling him, so don’t worry, he is innaffectual, and has no control over Australia, or any other sovereign country.

    I expect that Donald Trump will be a good thing.

    Trump will probably change the world order.

    He weakens American power, and dissolves the rest of us of responsibility for its actions.

    Britain, Germany, France and Canada are already filling the void his corruptitude has created.

    There is no reason this country cannot help to do the same.

    This country, your own country, is in desperate need of a Bill of Rights, concentrate on that, for the love of an American God, or we may also be doomed to the same fate as them.

  22. Late Riser @ #976 Saturday, May 19th, 2018 – 9:00 pm

    bemused @ #971 Saturday, May 19th, 2018 – 8:51 pm

    Late Riser @ #966 Saturday, May 19th, 2018 – 8:42 pm

    On a day when I’ve read about two separate shootings at schools in the USA I’d like to share my thoughts.

    First, guns are about individual power. Their two purposes are to intimidate and to kill. Second, as societies Australia and the USA both believe deeply in freedom, just not in the same way. The USA promotes self-reliance, of being individually free to travel, to stake your claim, to be independent, to do what you want. Australian culture tends towards freedom from interference, Australian heroes reject the boss and the hero’s courage in doing so is valued. “Don’t tell me what to do.” Australian culture also values equality. “You are no better than me.”

    So if guns are about individual power is that why USA type freedom promotes generally available guns? And if guns disrupt equality is that why Australia’s type of freedom promotes gun restriction? Could the different ideas about “freedom” be why there is relatively easy access to guns in the USA and relatively difficult access to guns in Australia? And if so, is that how to promote gun restrictions?

    If you use a gun to intimidate or kill, you have committed a crime.

    Guns, for farmers are just another item of equipment, as they are for sporting shooters, security guards, police etc.

    All true. But the people who I know in the USA who love their personal guns are none of these things. Also farmers use guns to kill. And I would put police and security guards into the intimidation category. Guns are used to coerce. If I see you carrying a gun I am intimidated by that. I hadn’t thought of sporting shooters. I don’t know any of those.

    Do you have thoughts on the difference in freedom as expressed by the USA versus Australia?

    Hint. We are not in the USA.

  23. bemused @ #981 Saturday, May 19th, 2018 – 9:04 pm

    Late Riser @ #976 Saturday, May 19th, 2018 – 9:00 pm

    bemused @ #971 Saturday, May 19th, 2018 – 8:51 pm

    Late Riser @ #966 Saturday, May 19th, 2018 – 8:42 pm

    On a day when I’ve read about two separate shootings at schools in the USA I’d like to share my thoughts.

    First, guns are about individual power. Their two purposes are to intimidate and to kill. Second, as societies Australia and the USA both believe deeply in freedom, just not in the same way. The USA promotes self-reliance, of being individually free to travel, to stake your claim, to be independent, to do what you want. Australian culture tends towards freedom from interference, Australian heroes reject the boss and the hero’s courage in doing so is valued. “Don’t tell me what to do.” Australian culture also values equality. “You are no better than me.”

    So if guns are about individual power is that why USA type freedom promotes generally available guns? And if guns disrupt equality is that why Australia’s type of freedom promotes gun restriction? Could the different ideas about “freedom” be why there is relatively easy access to guns in the USA and relatively difficult access to guns in Australia? And if so, is that how to promote gun restrictions?

    If you use a gun to intimidate or kill, you have committed a crime.

    Guns, for farmers are just another item of equipment, as they are for sporting shooters, security guards, police etc.

    All true. But the people who I know in the USA who love their personal guns are none of these things. Also farmers use guns to kill. And I would put police and security guards into the intimidation category. Guns are used to coerce. If I see you carrying a gun I am intimidated by that. I hadn’t thought of sporting shooters. I don’t know any of those.

    Do you have thoughts on the difference in freedom as expressed by the USA versus Australia?

    Hint. We are not in the USA.

    Clearly.

  24. Disavow all Empathy @ #978 Saturday, May 19th, 2018 – 9:02 pm

    September 11, 2001 conspiracy theories were banned.

    Perhaps, the vommitous, morning, crap about Donald Trump, from people like Victoria and Confessions, should go the same way.

    They say exactly the same sentence, at precisely the same moment each morning, in response to a sickenly similar comment, every single day, over, and over, and over again.
    It is incessant and goes on month, after month.

    I could watch TYT or NBC and get the same dross.

    The United States Constitution will take Trump down, they are doing a very good job of controlling him, so don’t worry, he is innaffectual, and has no control over Australia, or any other sovereign country.

    I expect that Donald Trump will be a good thing.

    Trump will probably change the world order.

    He weakens American power, and dissolves the rest of us of responsibility for its actions.

    Britain, Germany, France and Canada are already filling the void his corruptitude has created.

    There is no reason this country cannot help to do the same.

    This country, your own country, is in desperate need of a Bill of Rights, concentrate on that, for the love of an American God, or we may also be doomed to the same fate as them.

    An excellent suggestion there.

    But what would they then have to gossip about?

  25. “There are now more guns than there were before Port Arthur.”

    I see you have not answered, so I am going to assume you are talking shit or you have gone to bed. I really hope you have gone to bed.

  26. Ah, but what’s right is not necessarily in your best interests and when was the last time a country acted against its best interest?

    I could be imagining things, bit didn’t New Zealand do something of the sort with its dispossessed Maori people?

  27. We, do in the first place declare:

    1. That the pretended power of suspending laws or the execution of laws by regal authority without the consent of Parliament… is illegal;

    3. That the commission for erecting the late court of commissioners for escclesiastical causes and all other commissions and courts of like nature are illegal and pernicious…

    4. That levying money for or to use of the crown by pretense of perogative without grant of Parliament, is illegal…

    5. That it is the right of the subjects to petition the king, and all commitments and prosecutions for such petitioning are illegal.

    6. That…raising and maintaining a standing army within the kingdom in time of peace, unless it be with consent of Parliament, is against law.

    8. That election of members of Parliament ought to be free;

    9. That the freedome of speech and debates or proceedings in Parliament ought not to be impeached or questioned in any court or place out of Parliament;

    10. That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted;

    11. That jurors ought to be duly impaneled and returned, and jurors who pass upon men in trials for high treason ought to be freeholders;

    12. That all grants and promises of fines and forfeitures of particular persons before conviction are illegal and void;

    13. And that, for redress of all grievances and for amending, strengthening, and preserving the laws, Parliaments ought to be held frequently… Having, therefore, an entire confidence that his said Highness, the Prince of Orange, will perfect the deliverance so far advanced by him and will preserve them from the violation of their rights which they have here asserted and from all other attempts upon their religion, rights, and liberties, the said lords… and Commons assembled at Westminister do resolve that William and Mary, Prince and Princess of Orange, be and be declared King and Queen of England, France, and Ireland, and the dominions thereunto belonging.

  28. zoomster @ #948 Saturday, May 19th, 2018 – 8:19 pm

    ‘‘retarded’ was introduced as a PC term ‘

    It was? We were using it as an insult in primary school back in the sixties, long before PC was on the scene.

    Zoomster

    I think it is a term that changes generaton to generation as kids downgrade the original PC word.

    In Sydeny the maincente for helping disabled kids was called the Spastic centre, replacing the older non PC term of “crippled”but by the time I was at school the term “spas” wasused as a term of abuse.

    Retarded was definitely very PC when I was young, being used instead of older terms cretin and moron or idiot but by the time my kids were at school the the term “retard” was of course in use.

    We now use terms such as handicapped, disabled or challenged or special needs. I have little doubt that amongst 11 year olds these are used in some sort of nasty way and we will need new PC terms

  29. William Bowe says:
    Saturday, May 19, 2018 at 8:36 pm
    I am indeed monitoring the site, DaE, and even saw fit to delete a comment on the previous page. Guess whose.

    William

    You must despair at times having to wade some of the inanities you have to deal with here. I am just glad it’s you and not me.

    Anyway, I was just wondering if we are going to get a bludgertrack update this week. I think we are all a little bit on tenderhooks at the moment after the budget and all those varying polls.

  30. Boomy, with all due respect, evidence of archaeological existence is not the same as occupation, especially at the point of ‘euro settlement’

    The only ascertained area of Australia that did not have an Aboriginal presence is Kangaroo Island…..They were everywhere else without exception. Learn your history.

    OK, This is me not digging.

    Earliest European observations of the more remote islands of Bass Strait, such as the
    Furneaux Group, King and Flinders Islands occurred towards the end of the 18th century.
    At the time, each of these islands was recorded as being devoid of human inhabitants
    (Baudin 1803; Cumptson 1973:44-45, Flinders 1801, 1814; Peron in Micco 1971).

    So, according to you Kangaroo Island was the only place in Australia.

  31. Darn, what I usually do these days is update BludgerTrack when a new poll appears, or maybe a day or so later, and then do a post on it later in the week when the thread could do with a refresh. So while I will do a new post this evening, the numbers will be as they have appeared on the BludgerTrack display since Tuesday.

  32. I am pleased to report that I visited two domestic airports twice each over the past couple of days and that I was not compelled to produce an identity card.

    My faux sense of having any civil liberties at all in airport is intact.

  33. The Royal Wedding has been interesting to watch. 🙂

    At the moment the British attendees are watching on with bemused (no, not that one!) expressions as an American Episcopalian preacher is giving a spirited address to them.

  34. ok, so this black preacher at the royal wedding? He’s prettty good. Are we about to get the Blues Brothers bursting into the chirch?? 🙂

  35. Hey

    Thois wedding is quite something

    Pauline will be having conniptions!!!!!!!!!

    An African clergyman in full on evangelical mode.

    The British aristocrats look a little stunned.

    I feel very sorry for Meaghan’s mother. She seems very alone and rather sad. I guess she knows that she has sort of lost a daughter – she cannot really follow to become part of that upper class scene.

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