Two privately conducted ReachTEL polls from the past week to relate, followed by enough federal preselection news to choke on. Also note immediately below this the post on a new YouGov Galaxy state poll from Queensland. I should also observe that September 8 has been set as the date for the Wagga Wagga state by-election in New South Wales, to be held after Liberal member Daryl Maguire fell foul of the Independent Commission Against Corruption. It presumably won’t be contested by Labor and will probably be of interest only to locals, but Antony Green naturally has a guide up.
On with the show:
• The Guardian reports a poll conducted for the ACTU has Labor leading 51-49 on two-party preferred. Other findings of the poll relate to wage rises, or the lack thereof: 47.6% reported not having received one in the past year, 32.9% said such as they had received did not cover the cost of living, and only 19.5% said their pay had improved in real terms. The poll was conducted on August 2 from a sample of 2453.
• Greenpeace has a Victoria only poll which, after exclusion of the 6.7% undecided, has the Coalition on 35.4% (compared with 41.8% at the 2016 election), Labor on 34.9% (35.6%), the Greens on an unlikely 18.6% (13.1%) and One Nation on 5.1%. Labor leads 57-43 on two-party preferred, compared with 51.8-48.2 at the election. The poll was conducted July 30 from a sample of 1118.
The preselection news bonanza starts in Victoria, where internal party democracy has been having a rough time of it lately, with Labor’s national executive and the Liberal Party’s state administrative committee both taking over federal preselections to protect sitting members amid factional unrest.
• The Labor vacancy created by the retirement of Michael Danby in Macnamara, as Melbourne Ports will now be known, is set to be filled by one of his former staffers, Josh Burns. The seat is reserved to the Right under factional arrangements, and Burns prevailed in a factional ballot with 61 votes to 49 for Nick Dyrefurth, executive director of the John Curtin Research Centre, and 16 for Mary Delahunty, a Glen Eira councillor (numbers related by Emma-Jayne Schenk of the Caulfield Glen Eira Leader). Delahunty called on the national executive to disregard the result, accusing Danby of hand-picking the attendees to the meeting and seeing that others were locked out, and complaining that 85% of those present were male.
• United Voice state secretary Jess Walsh will take second position on Labor’s Victorian Senate ticket after winning Socialist Left endorsement at the expense of incumbent Gavin Marshall. Marshall has been demoted to what is being described as an unwinnable position – number three according to the Herald Sun, though reports vary. The result is a defeat for Socialist Left powerbroker and Marshall ally Kim Carr, whose influence has diminished in the face of a new alliance between the Industrial Left and Right forces associated with state MP Adem Somyurek. It also contradicts the justification for referring preselections to the national executive, which was to protect sitting members.
• The Herald Sun reports a factional deal has set up state upper house member Daniel Mulino to run in the new safe Labor seat of Fraser in western Melbourne, making his existing seat in Eastern Victoria available for Jane Garrett. This was supported by Bill Shorten, and bitterly opposed by Garrett’s foes in the United Firefighters Union. Garrett is backed by the Industrial Left, which has been determined to find her a new seat after she abandoned her existing berth of Brunswick, where she is under growing pressure from the Greens. Mulino is aligned with the Right faction Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association (although the internal politics of that union is a story unto itself), which was at first unhappy at losing influence within the state government, but has been mollified with the promise of an extra state seat.
• Jenny Macklin’s successor in Jagajaga, which is reserved to the Socialist Left, will be Kate Thwaites, a former staffer to Macklin, ABC journalist and, most recently, communications director at Victoria’s Department of Health and Human Services. Thwaites won factional backing ahead of Sonja Terpstra, a local teacher and community activist.
• The Victorian Liberal Party’s administrative committee has rubber-stamped the preselections of all sitting federal MPs, ostensibly to prevent the party from being distracted in the lead-up to the November 29 state election. However, the real story by all accounts is that the dominant conservative faction wishes to protect Kevin Andrews in Menzies, who faced a challenge from Keith Wolahan, a former Blake Dawson lawyer who earlier served overseas with the Australian Defence Force.
Elsewhere:
• Matthew Killoran of The Courier-Mail reports five candidates are seeking preselection for a Queensland Senate position reserved to the Left, which is being vacated with the retirement of Claire Moore. The front runner by all accounts is Nita Green, a former staffer to Senator Murray Watt, who is backed by the CFMMEU. This is despite Green being based in Brisbane, and party rules reserving the spot for central or north Queensland (Green says she will move there if successful). Others in the field are Leanne Donaldson, who held the state seat of Bundaberg from 2015 until her defeat in 2017, and lost her position in cabinet when it emerged she had failed to pay nearly $8000 in council rates; Julie McGlone, Tourism Australia marketing executive; Tania Major, Cairns-based indigenous youth advocate; and Karin Campbell, an occupational health and safety consultant.
• Paul Starick of The Advertiser reports that Georgina Downer, who for some reason wants to run in Mayo again, will face opposition from Reagan Garner, human resources manager for ReturnToWorkSA. However, Starick reports Downer is the “overwhelming favourite”.
• Sally Whyte of the Canberra Times reports there are five nominees for Labor preselection in Canberra, where a vacancy is available as a result of the Australian Capital Territory’s House of Representatives seat entitlement increasing from two to three. They are John Falzon, chief executive of St Vincent de Paul; Kel Watt, a lobbyist for the greyhound racing industry; Jacob Ingram, a staffer to Chief Minister Andrew Barr; Simon Banks, managing director for lobbyists Hawker Britton; and Alicia Payne, who has worked as a staffer to Jenny Macklin, Bill Shorten and Lindsay Tanner. Falzon has been endorsed by the Left, Watt and Ingram are seeking endorsement from the Right, and Banks and Payne are unaligned. Falzon has been in the news lately after a picture emerged of him wearing a t-shirt with Lenin emblazoned on it, while Watt has been the target of a dirt sheet being circulated within the local party. The preselection process will be completed early next month.
• In South Australia, Labor will deal with the abolition of Port Adelaide by having the homeless Mark Butler run in Hindmarsh, and moving Hindmarsh MP Steve Georganas to neighbouring Adelaide. The latter is being vacated by Kate Ellis, and has turned from a marginal to a fairly safe Labor seat as a result of the redistribution changes. Paul Karp of The Guardian reports the deal involves a Senate seat being forfeited by the Left, of which Butler is a member, with the top two positions on the Senate ticket to be taken by the Right.
• Nathan Hondros of Fairfax reports Labor’s likely new candidate for the marginal Liberal seat of Hasluck in eastern Perth is James Martin, Mundaring Shire councillor and director of Marketech Ltd, a firm that develops stock market trading software. The position became vacant after the withdrawal of Lauren Palmer, an official with the Maritime Union of Australia, who cited health reasons. Andrew Burrell of The Australian reports Martin is a member of the Progressive Left faction, which combines forces of the Right (the SDA, TWU and AWU) and Left (the MUA and CFMMEU).
• Luke Hartsuyker announced this week he will not seek another term in the mid north coast New South Wales seat of Cowper, which he has held for the Nationals since 2001. No word yet on who might succeed him as Nationals candidate, but Rob Oakeshott, who ran unsuccessfully against Hartsuyker in 2016, is not ruling out running again.
Omarosa claims she was offered $15K a month in hush money from Trump’s campaign: report
Former Donald Trump confidante Omarosa Manigault Newman was offered $15,000 a month from the president’s campaign to “stay silent” after being fired from the White House, The Washington Post reported Friday.
The offer was refused because of a nondisclosure agreement that would silence Manigualt Newman from commenting about Trump and his family.
https://www.rawstory.com/2018/08/omarosa-claims-offered-15k-month-hush-money-trumps-campaign-report/
Russian state TV warns Trump to ‘do what we say’ if you want ‘support in the elections’
One of Russia’s state-run TV news programs this week expressed displeasure with newly announced sanctions being leveled against the Kremlin — and one guest said that it was time to put direct pressure on President Donald Trump to get his administration to back off.
Vitaly Tretyakov, the dean of the Moscow State University’s School of Television, argued that the Russian government should use whatever leverage it had over Trump to bend the president to its will.
“Let’s turn this into a headache for Trump,” he said, according to Davis’ translation. “If you want us to support you in the elections, do what we say.”
https://www.rawstory.com/2018/08/russian-state-tv-warns-trump-say-want-support-elections/
Donald Trump is a racist who used slurs against Kellyanne Conway’s half-Filipino husband: Omarosa
In leaked excerpts of Omarosa’s new book published by the Guardian, she claims that Trump once exploded when he saw a report about George Conway criticizing his administration.
Would you look at this George Conway article?” Trump said, according to Omarosa. “F*cking flip! Disloyal! F*cking Goo-goo.”
As the Guardian notes, both “flip” and “goo-goo” are racial slurs aimed at Filipinos.
https://www.rawstory.com/2018/08/donald-trump-racist-used-slurs-kellyanne-conways-s-half-filipino-husband-omorosa/
Good Morning Bludgers 🙂
I blame the Orthodentists and the Plastic Surgeons for the rise of the new Master Race and their casual acceptance of racism attendant to it!
Although I have to admit, the only thing Donald Trump looks like he is a master of, is his mouth. 🙂
What are the chances, if Malcolm decides that reefgate will just grow (and drag in Lucy PM), that he might rush off to the polls. Then there will be no qn of the fund repaying the money.
ANTONBRUCKNER11 @ #5 Saturday, August 11th, 2018 – 7:06 am
Haven’t they already indicated they won’t repay it? Even if Labor win? And there’s probably a Side Letter somewhere guaranteeing they don’t have to.
ANTONBRUCKNER11
Perhaps we should name our fearless leader PM Lucien Aye ?
And the beat goes on:
‘Treated like dirt’: Telstra workers reject ‘insulting’ pay offer
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/treated-like-dirt-telstra-workers-reject-insulting-pay-offer-20180810-p4zwuz.html
The fund can say they won’t repay it, if they like. But if the Australian govt heavies them to repay it they will find it very difficult to resist.
The post facto Grant Agreement with the GBRF includes the standard ‘termination for convenience’ clause the Cth puts in all contracts. Shorten will get the money back, and likely include GBRF scandal in a Royal Commission or similar.
Thanks, sprocket. So a Side Letter wouldn’t override that?
However, I imagine that the GBR Foundation would launch the mother of all court battles first to try and hang onto it. Plus, the (hopefully by then) Coalition Opposition would use it as a cause celebre to beat Labor up with.
If the GBR foundation is an active part of an unlawful process, and lets face it the process should not just be unlawful it should have very serious criminal outcomes, as should the 30 mm taxpayer gift to fox, then they may not have a choice
Rupert Murdoch is visiting his southern possessions- currently in the drought hit Wee Jasper property Cavan. He will be in Sydney next week for the NewsCorp internal ‘prestigious’ awards farce, known to everyone else as the RupertRooters. So it is interesting to look at the SmearStralian lead articles, as a tangential window into what the Holt St crew think will make the demented plutocrat happy.
War hero suing Fairfax leads
Israel’s Mossad taking out foe in Dubai, with Australian angle
2 stories on Socialist Victoria banning free speech by canning SkyFoxNews on trains
Rooftop solar buyer getting stiffed
Paris Agreement futility
Turnbull stuffing up NAPLAN
Strangely, no KillBill, no ReefGate, no Emma Husar.
Strangely, no KillBill, no ReefGate, no Emma Husar.
I wonder where Bill and Chloe are this weekend? Visiting the drought-stricken area of Yass? 🙂
Daryl Maguire engaged in what appear to be corrupt dealings, fell foul of ICAC and is out of the Liberal Party then, after hoping to stay on as an independent, is now out of the NSW Parliament. All very simple.
But what did Premier Gladys Berejeklian know? Nothing as far as I am aware and nothing has been reported for suggested. No media pile-on, no ‘questions to answer’ for Gladys. Why do I think it might have been different had it been a Labor Government?
Scenario: Malcolm gets a bullshit NEG past his party-room and doesn’t get it past the states. He pulls the pin and goes for an “energy security” election. I think it would be stupid, but he’s shown he does stupid very well.
It will be interesting; will they be able to find the 1/2 billion dollars?
C@t
Assuming the Grants Agreement was duly executed, we have only seen an unsigned copy, it’s provisions are clear. A change in government policy is all that is required to invoke that clause. The GBRF can ask for compensation to recover costs, but you’d think the bulk of the $444m which was meant to last 6 years would be retrieved.
Side letters? Irrespective of whether such a agreement would outweigh a public contract in standard form in a court of law, if such a document existed it would destroy the reputations of many associated and politically, put the Coalition into Opposition for a generation.
Craig Thomler
@craigthomler
1h1 hour ago
So a male Deputy Prime Minister, who had an affair & has serious abuse allegations against him by credible people keeps his seat, while a decent female MP resigns due to unfounded allegations. The double standards of media & politicians in Australia are appalling #auspol
Queen Victoria
@Vic_Rollison
22h22 hours ago
The footage from Channel 7 of camera crews stalking Emma Husar at home and chasing her like she’s a criminal makes me sick to the stomach. What’s she being accused of again? A potty mouth and flirting? Talk about a witch hunt. Meanwhile #reefgate #beetrooter #neg #nbn #cash
Boy this guy lacks political judgement:
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/turnbull-to-tell-shorten-that-husar-investigation-must-go-to-finance-20180809-p4zwh2.html
Looks like “kill the industry super funds” has blown up in Malcolm’s face:
“Side letters? Irrespective of whether such a agreement would outweigh a public contract in standard form in a court of law, if such a document existed it would destroy the reputations of many associated and politically, put the Coalition into Opposition for a generation.”
You would think so. Look a Victoria, $1.2 billion flushed down the toilet, handed over to mates for a cancelled $6 billion project where costs incurred to date could only have been tens of millions, yet the Opposition is a real prospect coming back after one term. The rules don’t apply to the Right.
WeWantPaul @ #12 Saturday, August 11th, 2018 – 5:11 am
I haven’t heard any suggestion that it was unlawful.
Amazingly it seems to fit within the guidelines for such grants.
Morning all. Today’s Real Time line up.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers. This has to be one of the best collections I’ve put together. There are many articles of high standard.
Adele Ferguson explains the terrible day IOOF had at the royal commission.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/ioof-flunks-both-the-pub-test-and-the-front-page-test-20180810-p4zwtc.html
Jess Irvine looks at the royal commission in general and the efforts of Counsel Assisting, Michael Hodge aka the baby-faced assassin.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/high-drama-as-baby-faced-assassin-puts-super-trustees-in-spotlight-20180810-p4zwqm.html
Elizabeth Knight reports on the clash between Hodge and the hapless, hopeless and arrogant managing director of IOOF, Chris Kelaher. I managed to see most of the four hour long axe murder. It was riveting.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/baby-faced-hodge-lands-killer-blow-against-ioof-chief-s-ducking-and-weaving-20180810-p4zwsw.html
Karen Maley writes about the week that the NAB came undone at the royal commission.
https://www.outline.com/stvL3v
The AFR’s James Thomson explains how commission witnesses’ tactics have been changing.
https://www.outline.com/YyuwV5
John McDuling ponders over what might be Rupert Murdoch’s next move as he arrives in Australia.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/touching-down-in-australia-murdoch-may-be-plotting-his-next-move-20180809-p4zwek.html
Ross Gittins discusses Philip Lowe’s comments on the economic benefits of immigration and he says, “our young people are paying the price for this greater macro-economic flexibility. We’re schooling our employers not to bother training plenty of apprentices ready for the next shortage because it’s easier to wait until the shortage emerges and then pull in a tradesperson or three from overseas.”
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/fresh-blood-australia-is-still-lucky-thanks-to-our-young-migrants-20180810-p4zwob.html
Peter Hartcher also has an excellent contribution on the population matter, pointing to the need for better planning and management.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/plan-or-perish-management-can-solve-population-anxiety-20180809-p4zwll.html
The SMH editorial looks at the Emma Husar issue and says that a change is needed in political culture. It also points to the government’s hypocrisy.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/husar-shows-change-needed-in-political-culture-20180810-p4zwoq.html
Stephanie Borwick really gets into it as he laments at the different standards of reporting on the behaviour of politicians. A very good read!
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/accused-of-bullying-it-s-hard-not-to-conclude-the-bullies-have-won-20180809-p4zwg7.html
And Nick O’Malley explains the difficulties new backbenchers and their staff face. It’s not a good environment.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/emma-husar-has-supporters-and-critics-but-there-is-one-thing-that-all-sides-agree-upon-20180810-p4zwrk.html
While ethics in journalism is a hot topic, Bruce Haigh reminds us of when credit for breaking the Barnaby Joyce story was stolen from those who deserved it.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/giving-credit-where-credit-is-due,11776
Jack Waterford begins this extensive excoriation with, “That smoke and that stench emanating from the government’s extraordinary plan to give $444 million to a private charity is not, probably of illegality or bad intentions. It’s the smell rather of political dumbness, individual and collective incompetence among senior members of Cabinet, and, perhaps yet another reflection of a government and a leader without ideas or goals, let alone first-rate ones.”
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/reef-won-t-be-saved-by-fools-or-knaves-or-shortcuts-20180810-p4zwo2.html
The former head of the Australian Border Force has blasted the investigation that led to his sacking and called Eric Abetz a hypocrite for failing to stick up for him.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/politics/federal/sacked-border-force-chief-blasts-senator-s-hypocrisy-20180810-p4zwpr.html
Peter Hannam writes that electricity prices are falling – and will keep doing so – whether or not energy deal is inked.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/electricity-prices-are-falling-and-will-keep-doing-so-whether-or-not-energy-deal-is-inked-20180809-p4zwjr.html
Laura Tingle writes that it would be easy to simply see the current stand-off over energy and climate change policy as what the late and legendary rugby league commentator Rex Mossop would have called “deja vu all over again”.
https://www.outline.com/WXmrkT
Paula Matthewson says that Frydenberg is walking on NEGshells.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2018/08/10/frydenbergs-please-everyone-neg-challenge/
The best outcome for electricity consumers would be for state governments to kill the National Energy Guarantee (NEG) when the COAG energy council meets today. Having gone nine years without a well-grounded energy policy we can wait a few months until the next election, writes Ian McAuley for Michael West’s website.
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/declare-neg-dead-buried-and-wait-for-the-election/
Michelle Grattan writes that The Labor states have kept the National Energy Guarantee (NEG) alive but withheld the in-principle support the federal government had originally hoped to extract from Friday’s meeting of the COAG Energy Council.
https://theconversation.com/labor-states-keep-the-national-energy-guarantee-in-play-but-withhold-agreement-101393
David Crowe headlines his NEG contribution with “Politics wins as Turnbull’s flagship energy policy teeters”.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/politics-wins-as-turnbull-s-flagship-energy-policy-teeters-20180810-p4zwrq.html
The Senate will go back to considering company tax cuts next week after debate on ending a ban on the ACT and Northern Territory legislating for euthanasia.
https://www.outline.com/3M3PLt
Karen Middleton goes into detail over the Murray-Darling water scandal. It’s a disgrace.
https://www.outline.com/mRv5Nx
The Washington Post says that it has become increasingly apparent that neither Trump nor anyone in his orbit has any interest in his answering Mueller’s questions.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/enough-is-enough-it-s-time-for-mueller-to-bring-out-the-big-guns-20180810-p4zwue.html
Turkey’s unfolding economic crisis has deepened further after Donald Trump announced he was doubling US import tariffs on Turkish steel and aluminium, stoking the country’s currency freefall and rattling financial markets.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/10/turkeys-economic-crisis-deepens-as-trump-doubles-tariffs
More from the Washington Post with Trump embracing financial-market pain to get what he wants around the world, showing again the penchant for turmoil that is his trademark in US politics. His decision Friday to double steel and aluminium tariffs on a Turkish economy already reeling from a currency crisis came just days after imposing new sanctions on Russia, creating market havoc in both countries. Most Asian markets ended down for the week amid the US-China tariff war.
https://www.theage.com.au/business/markets/reckless-escalation-trump-embraces-market-pain-with-little-concern-for-contagion-20180811-p4zwvk.html
Mike Seccombe wonders who’s making money out of racism.
https://www.outline.com/FNtTxv
More from The Saturday Paper on Sky News.
https://www.outline.com/wHqUPU
Kevin Rudd bores into Turnbull saying his behaviour towards Beijing has been foolish, amateurish and potentially dangerous. But this week, with one speech, the PM may well have made matters even worse.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/turnbull-s-grovelling-mea-culpa-on-china-risks-harming-australia-20180810-p4zwov.html
Fergus Hunter reports that Turnbull says he is aware of a police investigation into a domestic violence allegation against decorated veteran Ben Roberts-Smith, declining to comment on specifics but declaring that Australia has “zero tolerance” for violence against women.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/malcolm-turnbull-confirms-police-investigation-into-ben-roberts-smith-20180810-p4zwrb.html
Adani and the Queensland government were aware that polluted water could be released from the company’s Abbot Point coal terminal during cyclone Debbie in 2017, conservationists say.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/aug/10/adani-knew-of-abbot-point-pollution-risk-before-cyclone-spill-conservationists
Some high-profile monarchists are now more strident in their attacks on Bill Shorten’s plan for addressing the republic issue, writes David Muir.
https://independentaustralia.net/australia/australia-display/monarchists-seem-to-fear-a-popular-uprising,11770
An Australian data analytics company has partnered with anti-sex-trafficking campaigners to help identify villages in India where girls and young women are most at risk.
https://www.outline.com/g8Sed5
Is the NSW government playing favourites with Ray Hadley?
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/it-s-ludicrous-minister-delays-heritage-decisions-except-for-ray-hadley-20180810-p4zwsa.html
Julia Baird has a nice essay for us on indigenous culture and values based on a personal experience.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/one-of-the-most-profound-experiences-of-my-life-20180809-p4zwl4.html
“If so many Britons support freedom of movement, why doesn’t Theresa May?”, asks Peter Kelner.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/10/freedom-of-movement-theresa-may-immigration
The same aluminium cladding that caused the deadly Grenfell Tower fire in London more than a year ago will be banned in NSW as of next Wednesday but more than 400 buildings across NSW have the dangerous cladding installed where it should not be.
https://www.domain.com.au/news/fair-trading-to-ban-dangerous-aluminium-cladding-in-nsw-20180810-h13ssr-757560/?utm_campaign=strap-masthead&utm_source=smh&utm_medium=link&utm_content=pos5&ref=pos1
Kate McClymont with a nomination for “Arsehole of the Week”.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/software-magnate-anthony-castagna-jailed-for-2-6-million-tax-fraud-20180810-p4zwq7.html
Here’s another nomination.
https://outline.com/ZEFNNz
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe has Trump in the swamp.
Mark David with Turnbull’s pub test.
Peter Broelman and the GBRF.
Matt Golding at the banking royal commission.
Jon Kudelka nicely sums up the NEG position.
https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/34eb2956586ae33ecafc5ab2c7aa46ba
David Pope channels Winnie the Pooh on the NEG.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/act/david-pope-20120214-1t3j0.html
More in here.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/best-of-fairfax-cartoons-august-11-2018-20180810-h13tmn.html
As peer reviewers don’t get paid; the question really is which side of this debate is being predatory.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/aug/10/predatory-publishers-the-journals-who-churn-out-fake-science
Thank you, BK! Always appreciated. 🙂
frednk @ #21 Saturday, August 11th, 2018 – 5:27 am
Shorten to Turnbull, ” F’ off”!!! 🙂
Thanks BK.
With all that’s come out of the banking RC so far you gotta wonder how much more sullied the banks’ reputations can get!
Is this the first Democrat to come out on running for president in 2020? He’s not even 40 yet.
Craig Emerson
@DrCraigEmerson
17m17 minutes ago
Neo-Nazi supporters are piling in on Facebook complaining that I’m opposed to giving an avowed Nazi a platform on Sky TV. Too right I’m opposed to airing Nazi racism, bigotry & violence – as were the 60 million people killed in World War II. We will remember them. Lest we forget.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/08/09/eric-swalwell-iowa-presidential-run/amp/
C@tmomma @ #11 Saturday, August 11th, 2018 – 6:07 am
If they did that they would be scoring the mother of all own goals. There is no way in hell that any of this passes the pub test let alone the court of public opinion.
Barney in Go Dau says:
Saturday, August 11, 2018 at 8:39 am
frednk @ #21 Saturday, August 11th, 2018 – 5:27 am
Boy this guy lacks political judgement:
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/turnbull-to-tell-shorten-that-husar-investigation-must-go-to-finance-20180809-p4zwh2.html
Shorten to Turnbull, ” F’ off”!!!
Turnbull; he had the choice to stay out if it. He now looks a fool.
This goes some way towards explaining why Emma crashed out. She tried too hard.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/every-letter-every-email-every-phone-call-became-a-matter-of-life-and-death-inside-emma-husar-s-office-20180810-p4zwpv.html
You don’t need an MBA to know that it is bad practice to call your staffers “c**ts”. You shouldn’t need a briefing to know that it is bad practice to make your staffers (who are paid with public funds) do your personal errands without having discussed with them beforehand the ethical and professional boundaries involved.
She displayed a lack of self-awareness, a dearth of common sense, combined with poor communication and people management skills. Those failings are dire for someone in an important position that involves managing other people.
Stop defending the indefensible. Setting low standards for politicians is part of the problem. The partisan whining from Labor loyalists on this issue is disappointing (albeit not surprising).
LOL @Nick
I guess you part of the NSW Labor, defending them is piece week as shit.
Nicholas
I can see you’d be a very understanding and sympathetic boss.
I don’t see the issue with getting the money back.
It’s not like an infrastructure project where the money has been paid for a specific purpose.
All they have done is outsource the grants process in relation to the GBR for 6 years, so as we know the money is largely just sitting in bank accounts.
LOL
lizzie @ #37 Saturday, August 11th, 2018 – 6:55 am
I don’t think this is the last we have seen of her though. The article reads as though her greatest failure was inexperience and not having experienced staff in her team. However both those things can be overcome with more experience.
C@t
It was certainly a more sympathetic article than most.
lizzie @ #39 Saturday, August 11th, 2018 – 5:55 am
It highlights an issue for candidates who don’t have experience working in an electoral office and how they need assistance in learning how to deal with things.
Given that the GBR Foundation take 40% as ‘Admin fees’; does that mean the 6 of them get to share $200m of the $444m?
citizen @ #22 Saturday, August 11th, 2018 – 8:29 am
No coverage on the main ABC TV News for the last several days on this or the NAB being found out. As Karen Maley puts it –
https://www.afr.com/news/the-week-nab-came-undone-20180809-h13rhc
Such not worthy of coverage or mention on the national broadcasters main TV news?
No wonder I no longer trust the ABC.
ABC News is being dumbed down at a great rate. As Keating has pointed out “there was a car crash on the Pacific Highway” etc rather then cover substantial issues.
Putting an article up on the ABC website is not the same……and not good enough!
Nicholas @ #40 Saturday, August 11th, 2018 – 5:57 am
How would you vet candidates who nominate for an election?
What further restrictions would you place on eligibility?
Stop trying to deny people who have every right to become MPs doing so.
Quad bike and beetrooter are very similar stories, if one went the other had to go too even though only one was targeted.
But for the politics of it all both likely would have stayed.