We seem to be going into an ill-timed poll drought, so to keep things ticking over, here’s a post focusing on Senate preselection news. Please note there’s a post below this one on this Saturday’s Wagga Wagga by-election, which is developing into a fairly interesting contest.
• Queensland Labor’s state conference determined its Senate preselection on the weekend, having been hurried along by a national executive concerned the Liberal leadership crisis might bring on an early election. In doing so it bypassed a vote that was granted to the party membership under rule changes in 2013. The top position has gone to Nita Green, a former staffer to Senator Murray Watt and the favoured candidate of the CFMMEU and United Voice. The position is reserved to the Left, and is being vacated with the retirement of Claire Moore.
Green’s ascendancy has been contentious because party rules reserve the position for a regional representative and she lives in Brisbane, though she says she will move if elected. Supporters of rival Left candidate Tania Major, a Cairns-based indigenous youth advocate and protege of Cape York leader Noel Pearson, have further complained of being ambushed by a process for the factional ballot in which a three-day nominations period was followed immediately by the start of voting.
The second place on the ticket, which is reserved to the dominant Labor Forum sub-faction of the Right, has been retained by incumbent Chris Ketter. The cancellation of the party membership vote saw off any threat from rival nominee Pat O’Neill, former army major and candidate for Brisbane in 2016, although he was reportedly unlikely to win in any case. Number three goes to Frank Gilbert, a former Mackay councillor and candidate for Dawson in 2016, and a member of the Old Guard sub-faction of the Right.
• Matthew Denholm of The Australian reports Tasmanian Labor’s union establishment has again lined up against Lisa Singh for Senate preselection, undeterred by the success of a below-the-line voting campaign in overturning her demotion at the 2016 election. Singh will presumably dominate the party member component of the vote, but is reportedly unlikely to do any better than the loseable third position. This is because the dominant Left wants places for an incumbent, Carol Brown, and John Short, the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union official for whom Singh was relegated in 2016, while the Right is defending incumbent Catryna Bilyk.
• Tasmania’s Liberals are also conducting their Senate preselection vote on Saturday, and there are suggestions they too may repeat unhappy history from 2016. Richard Colbeck is again under pressure from conservative forces associated with Senator Eric Abetz, despite having almost matched Lisa Singh’s feat after being dumped to number five in 2016. He found his way back in the recount that followed Stephen Parry’s disqualification in November, and was promoted last week to the outer ministry, making him the only Tasmanian at that level of seniority. Brett Worthington at the ABC reports conservatives want the top position to go to Brett Whiteley, veteran of three winning and three losing campaigns at both federal and state level in Braddon, or alternatively to a woman. Further demotion beyond that would be particularly remarkable for Colbeck, as he is the only one of the four Tasmanian Liberal Senators facing re-election, the others having scored six-year terms. The other nominees for the preselection were detailed in an earlier instalment.
Re Henderson this morning, his attempt to blame Turnbull for the bullying was the most pathetic thing I’ve ever heard him come up with.
“Party tradition is that a petition only needs two names on it.”
Well Gerard, party tradition (on both sides of the house) is also that, if you lose the vote in a leadership spill, you don’t immediately attempt to bring on another one. Particularly if you don’t have the numbers.
The people who are solely to blame for everything that happened on in the last sitting week were Dutton, Abbott and their bunch of far right desperadoes. These were ScoMo’s “muppets” indeed.
What’s a bit depressing about this morning’s nonsense from Gerard is that is quite frequently channeling John Howard’s current thinking. Which suggests that Howard – who, although he is ideologically far closer to Dutton, had for a long time been of the view that MT was the party’s best hope for winning the next election – has decided to throw his support behind the troglodytes. And this possibly means that the trogs are contemplating another crack at the leadership.
I didn’t notice Gerard say one positive thing about ScoMo or the current leadership team.
For the Libs, things seem very, very crook in Tallarook.
”
Rex Douglas says:
Sunday, September 9, 2018 at 10:46 am
jenauthor @ #3388 Sunday, September 9th, 2018 – 10:22 am
I don’t think real Lib voters will vote Labor … even if they say they will. If the election was next week, maybe, but if it is 3 or 6 months down the track, the dust will settle to a degree and they’ll revert to kind.
Same as disenchanted Labor people during RGR.
BUT, there is a bigger bunch of swinging voters nowadays I think … and that is where the damage lies.
There is a growing shift away from Liberal and Labors hypocrisy, weakness, cruelty, self-centredness and mismanagement.
Now is the time for sensible independents to shine.
”
Nicholas did not answer my following questions. you have questions to answer?
1. Are Barber (Victorian ex-Greens leader) and Di Natali are Co-Son-in-laws i.e they marries blood sisters ?
2. Or Did Barber marry Di Natali’s sister hence Barber is Di Natali’s Brother-in-law?
3. If one of above is correct, why is Di Natali is promoting Nepotism in Greens and what are Greens doing about it and why are you silent about it?
4. As ABC recently reported Barber’s behaved in a misogynistic way as leader of Victorian Greens parliamentary wing? What do you have to say about it?
This is the most information that I have been able to find about RomanQ’s second submission to the Au Pair Affair Senate Inquiry:
https://www.afr.com/news/former-border-force-boss-roman-quaedvlieg-provides-more-evidence-to-peter-dutton-au-pair-inquiry-20180907-h151z6
So Serena was fighting for women’s rights and women’s equality. Give us a break.
Ven I don’t think Nicholas is a Greens member?
”
meher baba says:
Sunday, September 9, 2018 at 11:06 am
Re Henderson this morning, his attempt to blame Turnbull for the bullying was the most pathetic thing I’ve ever heard him come up with.
“Party tradition is that a petition only needs two names on it.”
Well Gerard, party tradition (on both sides of the house) is also that, if you lose the vote in a leadership spill, you don’t immediately attempt to bring on another one. Particularly if you don’t have the numbers.
The people who are solely to blame for everything that happened on in the last sitting week were Dutton, Abbott and their bunch of far right desperadoes. These were ScoMo’s “muppets” indeed.
What’s a bit depressing about this morning’s nonsense from Gerard is that is quite frequently channeling John Howard’s current thinking. Which suggests that Howard – who, although he is ideologically far closer to Dutton, had for a long time been of the view that MT was the party’s best hope for winning the next election – has decided to throw his support behind the troglodytes. And this possibly means that the trogs are contemplating another crack at the leadership.
I didn’t notice Gerard say one positive thing about ScoMo or the current leadership team.
For the Libs, things seem very, very crook in Tallarook.
”
Mehar baba
I understand he was one of Bob Santamaria’s disciples like Abbott. In 80s when Henderson either worked in Federal ALP government or for Federal ALP (I am not sure which), I was told he behaved like a person with right of Centre ideology. After Howard became PM, he behaved like a RW commentator (no longer right of Centre). After Abbott became PM he behaved like RW Catholic. But after Trump became President he became RWNJ. Now he is defending Trump through and through.
Taylormade @ #3420 Sunday, September 9th, 2018 – 11:13 am
Very poor sportspersonship from Serena.
Osaka deserved her moment, but it was stolen by Serena’s self-centredness.
guytaur says:
Saturday, September 8, 2018 at 10:03 pm
Andrew Earlwood.
….. Corbyn…..a man of his political times…….
….that is, the 1930s.
UK Labour and the Tories have both been captured by reactionaries…..by backward-looking romantics who refuse to face up to the realities of the 21st century.
Ven
Henderson defending Trump. A repulsive sight.
C@tmomma @ #3547 Sunday, September 9th, 2018 – 8:08 am
i.e. I f#cked up some of the detail first time,but what I said happened, happened! 🙂
Serana Williams behaviour on the court for US Open Final was appalling. As far as I can see Referee went as per rules & she accused and abused and threatened him that he will not officiate her matches/ US Open any more. She inflated the situation so much the crowd was booing the US Open officials and she had the temerity to say in Press Conference that she was fighting for Women’s rights.
One suggestion on this morning’s Insiders which I found interesting is that the Federal Libs might want to go to an election before the NSW Libs. Murph argued that they aren’t ready, and don’t have enough money or candidates.
Fair enough on the candidate front, but I’m struggling to see how the money situation is likely to get much better no matter how long they wait, unless there is a dramatic turnaround in the polls: in which case ScoMo will be scuttling over to Yarralumla like a rat up a drainpipe.
We know that MT is highly unlikely to be putting anything in the tin this time round. At least Dutton might have been able to court some more ideologically-driven businesspeople from WA and Qld. ScoMo doesn’t look to me like a fundraising magnet.
So the Libs are going to have a small campaigning budget, methinks. So going early might be a practical loss-limiting move.
briefly @ #3424 Sunday, September 9th, 2018 – 11:18 am
Yes, give us back our Blairite, our neo-con hero backed by Rupert who’s unafraid to commit their people to war… !
meher baba @ #3562 Sunday, September 9th, 2018 – 11:21 am
He doesn’t need to fundraise. He can tithe.
”
Rex Douglas says:
Sunday, September 9, 2018 at 11:18 am
Taylormade @ #3420 Sunday, September 9th, 2018 – 11:13 am
So Serena was fighting for women’s rights and women’s equality. Give us a break.
Very poor sportspersonship from Serena.
Osaka deserved her moment, but it was stolen by Serena’s self-centredness.
”
Serena sure did show self-centredness . How ever you did not reply to my questions about Greens.
Serena Williams is garnishing a lot of support on twitter. Unfortunately, identity politics holds firm sway among a noisy segment of the educated millenials of the US.
The whole thing is an enormous turn-off for the majority of people who don’t subscribe to the identity politics nonsense and who can’t work out how someone as rich and famous as Williams could reasonably represent herself as a victim.
The whole thing will have brought a smile to Trump’s face. It feeds his agenda.
Ven @ #3431 Sunday, September 9th, 2018 – 11:23 am
Aren’t you under instruction from Boerwar to ignore me ?
Ven
Your choice, of course but when Rex the Lib Bot’s trolling fails to get any bites, he goes away!
This morning the Miracle From God is going ‘Eli Eli Lama Sabachthani!’
Boerwar @ #3434 Sunday, September 9th, 2018 – 11:30 am
Perhaps you should take your own advice…?
Did a tennis player behave like a tennis brat?
Really?
a r says:
Sunday, September 9, 2018 at 11:23 am
meher baba @ #3562 Sunday, September 9th, 2018 – 11:21 am
ScoMo doesn’t look to me like a fundraising magnet.
He doesn’t need to fundraise. He can tithe.
And he can always pray…
“shiftaling says:
Sunday, September 9, 2018 at 11:15 am
Ven I don’t think Nicholas is a Greens member?
”
I do not know whether Nicholas is member of any party. But I do know a couple of things about Nicholas
1. He always defends Greens and keeps complaining about ALP although LNP is in power.
2. When I criticised Adam Bandt for lack of family vaues and implored people in Batman to vote for ALP after he went after Daily Tele in parliament for breaching the privacy of ex-staffer of ‘disgraced’ Joyce for showing her photo but not showing any sympathy for family of Joyce for his disgraceful behaviour, Nicholas told me to get a grip.
Morning all. A family event meant I only just caught up with the news. Way to go Wagga! A 28% swing! This proves the LNP is on the nose in rural and urban areas. No government survives the stench of proven corruption for very long.
Also well done to the Labor campaign team. Seeing McGirr win instead of Hayes is still a Liberal loss. And as Rebekah Sharkey recently proved, an honest independent, once elected, is often very hard to shift in a rural seat. The Libs may not get Wagga back for some time.
Whilst the Libs are the main target, Labor should not stop talking about the way Barnaby and his minions rorted regional eater bybacks too. The Nats are just as corrupt as the Libs.
BTW, I thought the most objectionable thing Williams did was to threaten the umpire: “you will never ever ever be on another court of mine as long as you live.” It’s classic “don’t you know who I am” nonsense, that’s both morally appalling and also a sign of weakness.
Truth is, if Williams was truly powerful enough in the tennis world to crush an umpire’s career, then she wouldn’t have to say so. Everyone would realise implicitly and nothing more would need to be said.
But why am I bothering to comment. I simply cannot abide tennis: I have had partners who adored the thing and could watch it on the box for hours on end, but I never caught the bug. I find it absolutely impossible to give a stuff about which overpaid prima donna beats which other overpaid prima donna, with whatever supercharged racket.
And I also don’t understand why it’s such a big deal for players not to receive coaching during the match. It’s permitted in most other sports, other than those in which it might facilitate cheating: but I can’t see how that’s an issue in tennis. But that’s tennis’s problem not mine.
Melbourne-Hawthorn next weekend: that’s my idea of a sporting contest! And better to watch on TV, so as to avoid the world’s greatest ever luxury 4WD traffic jam on the way out of the car park.
Is this the best the Republicans can come up with?
meher baba @ #3566 Sunday, September 9th, 2018 – 11:26 am
I tuned in as Serena was given the point penalty for racquet abuse. You could see she was ready to explode. It was obvious the way she treated the umpire that she would be given the game penalty. Osaka just kept her cool and let Serena go off.
Certainly not the first time Serena has behaved badly Similar outburst the year Sam Stosur beat her in the US Open – only that time she went off at a poor linesman. That time the rant was about colour and racism, something she could not use this time given that Naomi is also coloured. Serena got away with that one but I am glad the umpire took her on this time.
BW “This morning the Miracle From God is going ‘Eli Eli Lama Sabachthani!’”
If you are talking about the Libs, I think God has sent them an email, and it reads: “mene mene tekel upharsin.”
”
Boerwar says:
Sunday, September 9, 2018 at 11:30 am
Ven
Your choice, of course but when Rex the Lib Bot’s trolling fails to get any bites, he goes away!
”
But but BW Rex did not provide answers to my questions I asked at 11:08 am. Rex is the one who posts Di Natali’s tweets on PB and concludes how pathetic Shorten is has nothing to say about his nepotism. It is not fair 🙁
Also I heard Andrew Leigh on ABC radio (Insiders?) in the car earlier. He went very well, pointing out how most people are getting worse off. Even the ABC reporter then mentioned people also digging into their savings, which was interesting. Perhaps Aunty realises the time of its deliverance from the neo-fascists will soon be here, and can afford to start being independnt again.
@Confessions
Sounds like Democrats caught the LNP 3 word slogan bug.
”
meher baba says:
Sunday, September 9, 2018 at 11:45 am
BW “This morning the Miracle From God is going ‘Eli Eli Lama Sabachthani!’”
If you are talking about the Libs, I think God has sent them an email, and it reads: “mene mene tekel upharsin.”
”
BW and MB, Seriously guys I have no idea what your postings. What language is that.
Ven…..RD is a troll. They don’t do Q&A unless it is to amplify their anti-Labor sledging.
mb
Haha. My reference was to the Pentecostal minister who has acclaimed Morrison’s prime ministership as a Miracle from God.
Boerwar
That is bringing God into disrepute.
(That was a joke but I can’t find the correct emoji,)
Ven
‘Eli Eli Lama Sabachthani’ is what Christ called out to God (technically also therefore to himself, he being the son bit of the Holy Trinity) My God, My God, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me! (Technically, he could also have said, ‘Me, Me, Why Have I Forsaken Myself).
I put it in because in his first electoral test voters forsook the Miracle from God in unholy droves.
MB’s reference is to writing on the wall in ancient Babylon.
‘lizzie says:
Sunday, September 9, 2018 at 11:53 am
Boerwar
That is bringing God into disrepute.’
I blame Dave and the voters of Wagga Wagga.
flyby comment, it occurs to me that, just maybe, prayer is all the LNP have left, hence Morrison is now PM. 😉
Grr. Editing can take too long sometimes.
Boerwar @ #3580 Sunday, September 9th, 2018 – 8:55 am
Doesn’t that highlight that religion is a form of mental illness?
Even their saviour suffered from it! 🙂
Wagga wipeout.Bill Shorten has questions to answer why it his fault that the Libs had a 28% swing against them.
If Morrison genuinely believes all that Pentecostal stuff what does it say about him?
Mr Henderson blamed Mr Turnbull for the bullying of women in the Liberal Party.
Mr Frydenberg was unwilling to state that there is bullying of women in the Liberal Party.
Washington Post columnist suggests Jared Kushner is behind NYT op-ed — for one very good reason
According to Washington Post columnist David Von Drehle, the person with the greatest incentive to be behind the anonymous New York Times op-ed declaring the “resistance” has come to the White House is the president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
As Von Drehle notes, oddsmakers are giving 12-1 odds that the culprit behind the column that has turned the White House upside down is the husband of Trump daughter Ivanka, who has always appeared to be unwilling to be part of the Trump Administration.
https://www.rawstory.com/2018/09/washington-post-columnist-suggests-jared-kushner-behind-nyt-op-ed-one-good-reason/
The only solid bet is on Trump’s panic (but the op-ed was probably Jared)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-only-solid-bet-is-on-trumps-panic-but-the-op-ed-was-probably-jared/2018/09/07/8c7b2aa0-b2d1-11e8-9a6a-565d92a3585d_story.html?utm_term=.1eed380a80dc&noredirect=on
BK
He should practice what they preach.
‘BK says:
Sunday, September 9, 2018 at 12:00 pm
If Morrison genuinely believes all that Pentecostal stuff what does it say about him?’
Easy.
It says that if, contrary to God’s instructions, the First Lady turns around at the wrong time she will be turned into a pillar of salt.
BK
Whether Morrison believes it or not, he certainly doesn’t act like it, which is why I have no respect for him.
Boerwar @ #3587 Sunday, September 9th, 2018 – 9:01 am
In fairness it’s like the Barnaby finding.
If they don’t know what it is, how can they say if it has happened!
Forget about Safe Schools, maybe we need to introduce a Safe Parliament education programme!
Predictions for Newspoll? Mine is 55-45 Labor.
BiGD
I am not an expert in these matters but when you have three Gods, a Son, a Father and a Holy Spirit in One God plus a Virgin as mother of one of the Three, you might be looking at schizophrenia.