For discussion focused on the count for the Wentworth by-election, which turns out not to have been as over as you thought it was last night, the live results thread is still in action. For general political discussion, I offer the following post, with my usual semi-regular updates of preselection news.
• Phillip Coorey of the Australian Financial Review reports a New South Wales Liberal Senate preselection next month is a three-way contest between Jim Molan, Andrew Bragg and Hollie Hughes. Molan found a place in the Senate last December by the grace of Section 44, after securing only the unwinnable seventh position on the Coalition ticket at the 2016 double dissolution, to the chagrin of conservatives including Tony Abbott. Then followed the disqualification of Nationals Senator Fiona Nash, followed by the determination that the sixth candidate on the ticket, the aforesaid Hollie Hughes, was likewise ineligible due to a position she had taken on the Administrative Affairs Tribunal. Now it appears Molan is primed to take top spot, and since the third position is reserved for the Nationals, this leaves two and four to be fought out between Bragg, whose decision to withdraw himself from consideration for preselection in Wentworth is now looking pretty good, and Hughes, whose Section 44 complication is behind her.
• The Port Macquarie News reports three candidates have nominated to succeed retiring Luke Hartsuyker as Nationals candidate for Cowper: Patrick Conaghan, a former police officer and North Sydney councillor who now works locally as a solicitor; Chris Genders, a newsagent; and Jamie Harrison, former Port Macquarie-Hastings councillor and owner of an electrical business.
• The Burnie Advocate reports Gavin Pearce, who has been described as a “farmer and ex-defence force member”, has been preselected as Liberal candidate for Braddon ahead of “Devonport business identity Stacey Sheehan and property developer Kent Townsend”.
Observer says:
Sunday, October 21, 2018 at 12:26 pm
And this site degenerates to a fire storm on the comment of a Bastiaan supporter, single mother from an eastern suburb in Melbourne who, given the devotion to this site and attacking Shorten, obviously can not afford replacement batteries for her vibrator
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Seeing you brought it up mate. Can I recommend the Womanizer for the Mrs. Thank me later.
There is plenty to criticise Shorten for, you could start with Manus and Nauru, you could followup with pretty piss-weak renewables positioning where the globe is going to die unless there is some real leadership, in the next 10 years. It would be more interesting if you have alternative policies that are realistic from the reality we are in.
What I can’t stand is drone-bots who have just fallen for the Rupert propaganda and repeat all the rubbish you see non-stop. Other than lacking the complete support of the Rupert-Stokes propaganda machine of evil Shorten is a long long way ahead of where Howard was at a similar time, on all fronts. And unlike Howard he is not likely to privatise everything, sell gold at bargain basement prices and piss a boom up against the wall and leave the Country with nothing to show for it. So the bar for him to be the best Australian PM since Keating is pretty low, he will probably be there this time next year.
BB:
Totally agree with this too.
Too many people seem to mistake this blog for the hustings.
“Steve Bannon wins.”
Nah he wins when the BBC and ABC treat him as some kind of wise man, he loses when people rightly say this racist moron has been saying this same evil racist rubbish for 30 years, there is ‘no idea’ he brings to the table, he just brings racism and hate.
It is not a free speech issue, it is ‘Does the BBC support racism’ and it seems ‘yes’ is the answer.
Congratulations`5 to Nicola Sturgeon for her courage and integrity. If only two republican senators, just 2, had a similar courage and integrity America would be an immensely better place. Scotland is very lucky.
Incidentally, Murpharoo sounds “deeply cranky” (as she would put it) over Wentworth. As does Crowe at the SMH. You can almost hear them grinding their teeth in frustration as their beloved Coalition self-harms.
There is a real level of regret in their columns since Turnbull got chopped, a sentiment that was absent in the RGR days. In 2010-2013 it was mostly sniggering. But with the Turnbull Execution you can tell it’s more heartfelt.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/oct/20/the-wentworth-byelection-isnt-just-a-loss-for-the-liberals-its-a-disaster
“There is a real level of regret in their columns since Turnbull got chopped, a sentiment that was absent in the RGR days. In 2010-2013 it was mostly sniggering. But with the Turnbull Execution you can tell it’s more heartfelt.”
They, and many others, we real Turnbull fans, they tried to hide it, but the haste and the depth of love they showed for the dodgy, political farce that was the NEG was ridiculous. Phil Coorey and Murphy were two of the ones most sucked in by the LNP spin / love of Turnbull. Although all credit to Murphy, while she never admitted she was just wrong, she did evolve her position and listen to guys who knew their stuff. Coorey literally blocked people, including yours truly, trying to show him where real information was.
Holy Moly. Check out the percentages.
.
.
“Seven Chinese investment myths
………………..If CKI’s acquisition of the APA Group goes ahead, then between CKI and State Grid, a Chinese state-owned entity that owns and controls smaller subsidiaries in Australia, Chinese companies will control 100 per cent of electricity transmission and distribution assets in Victoria, South Australia and the ACT, as well as owning of 100 per cent of gas transmission and distribution assets in NSW and the ACT, 99 per cent in Victoria, 86 per cent in South Australia and 78 per cent in Queensland. Ownership will also include 74 per cent of gas transmission pipelines in the Northern Territory and 65 per cent in Western Australia.”
https://outline.com/5fmwaK
According to Kevin Bonham, maximum 7,164 postals to count of which not all would be received.
Sorry wrong thread…
WWP
One thing I will like about Labor being in government again is Sky not being the network on parliament house television screens.
After a proper inquiry and restoring to balance of the ABC including a new board and MD just having Labor do to them what Sturgeon has done to the BBC will see a big improvement in political narrative in this country.
Hopefully also many more voices at the Press Gallery to bust the Murdoch group think 🙂
WeWantPaul,
I admire Nicola Sturgeon for her integrity. However, when you vacate the field for Steve Bannon, who never passes up an opportunity to spread his poison directly into the veins of democracy, then we all lose. Now we won’t get to hear a very intelligent and principled politician and woman leader, debating Steve Bannon in the public arena.
The thing about Labor running dead in Wentworth is that it was strongly signalled BEFORE polling day, not some pissweak excuse made up after the fact … they knew exactly what they were doing and Turnbull’s son even jumped on that bandwagon, despite being good mates with the Labor candidate.
It was purely a case of the pawn blocking the King.
jenauthor:
Yep, exactly that.
jenauthor:
Yep, exactly that.
Jen
For any that doubt it I have seen reports of Labor Scrutineers joining the count.
I am sure Greens will be doing the same too. Just like how they switched their preference decision when they thought they could actually make a difference.
Its also shown by the fact the AEC made its count two party on Sharma and Phelps.
nath:
Please stop the faux outrage re. speech impediment. And please, no more talk of vibrators, this being a family site, with family values, and it is the Christian Sabbath.
“Now we won’t get to hear a very intelligent and principled politician and woman leader, debating Steve Bannon in the public arena.”
Steven Bannon isn’t there for a debate, his racist supporters are not going to listen to Nicola and say ‘oh wow she makes so much sense we were wrong’. It is entirely a BBC fail, as it was an ABC fail in Australia.
Leading edge US journalism has done a lot of work on ‘what they got wrong / do wrong / how we got played’ the Australian media is so dominated by bad actors (Murdoch Stokes propaganda machines) they haven’t done any thinking at all.
Aunt Mavis says:
Sunday, October 21, 2018 at 1:19 pm
nath:
Please stop the faux outrage re. speech impediment. And please, no more talk of vibrators, this being a family site, with family values, and it is the Christian Sabbath.
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I’m still hoping to hear back from Observer. I think he might have ducked out to follow up on my recommendation of the Womanizer.
– – Holy Moly. Check out the percentages. – –
Australian, American or Singaporean companies are just as capable as Chinese of abusing such owning power to the detriment of the Australian people. Look at the banks.
Whilst the overwhelming nature of Chinese ownership is interesting and concerning, it could be partly explained by regional, trade and capital reasons. The argument is moot IMO. The real issue here is that selling (or giving away) state assets to private interests is opening a can of vipers – it is neo-liberal snake oil, a miracle cure (for problems that barely existed) that instead turned out to be a carcinogen.
Andrew Probyn article after narrow gap in count
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-21/wentworth-by-election-humiliating-slap-at-the-liberals-but-worse/10401788?section=politics
guytaur says:
Sunday, October 21, 2018 at 1:16 pm
Jen
For any that doubt it I have seen reports of Labor Scrutineers joining the count.
It would be very surprising if Labor scrutineers were not present. On the other hand, I’ve never seen a G scrutineer at any House-of-Reps count. They simply lack the resources or, in fact, the reason to attend.
Labor scrutineers are usually very well trained and well organised. They will be there until the poll is called.
briefly
Election counting is one of the areas I do admire the Labor party a lot.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-21/wentworth-by-election-humiliating-slap-at-the-liberals-but-worse/10401788?section=politics
It will be Labors dead running that will probably get Phelps over the line in the end.
It will be Labors dead running that will probably get Phelps over the line in the end.
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And strategic voting from those who would otherwise had voted for Labor.
I did exactly the same thing when Mayo saw Briggs and Downer off. Many voters do think.
nath:
[‘I think he might have ducked out to follow up on my recommendation of the Womanizer.’]
You’re shocking. May the Lord have mercy on you. I must stop viewing “Songs of Praise.”
HK- based entities are trying to buy distribution assets but not generation “assets”. Clearly, in the absence of any rational generation policies, there will be few investors in generation.
Distribution systems tend to be monopolistic and to produce cash flows that are analogous to rents. They are a logical place to invest as they will generate income no matter where and how electricity is produced. The Li family in HK really like running monopolistic businesses, where they are able to extort parasitic profits.
The power and energy distribution systems in Australia should not be held in private hands at all, and still less should they be in concentrated ownership. They could be compulsorily acquired by the Commonwealth. Maybe they could be held by the Future Fund or something akin to a Sovereign Wealth Fund. Maybe all utilities and essential major transport hubs and systems should be held in such a fund.
ALP Running Dead.
I am not a member of the ALP, and am not associated with them, so who am I to argue against such tactics. From an ALP perspective they probably make sense.
However, I believe that many rusted on Libs or rusted ons now voting IND are actually sympathetic with the values many of the ALP policies portray. So, sa a member of Australian society, for the sake of Australian polity, I would like to see the ALP actively prosecuting their case to all comers at every opportunity. I also think ALP candidates like Murray need to be given as much air time as possible.
SD
It was a good effort by the progressive side of politics all around. Labor Greens and yes other independents all ran dead.
In the end all did tactical voting cards. I still think the Greens did not need to but am glad they switched. The reason is I think Green voters think tactically anyway and tend to ignore official how to vote cards.
Its just a pity it was not clearer earlier on but then maybe it would have made no difference to conservative Jewish voters.
BK
More voters think than the commentary and inter party fights over preference deals would have you believe from the amount of ire over them.
Edit: Its why I think SK has it exactly right. Be proud of who you are. The more primary votes you get the more the preference decision you make counts.
The Libs must have thought it was a shoe in until Phelps showed up.Then they had a severe case of diarrhea.
This is a real Wentworth thread post, but I am posting for those wanting to have an idea of how long till we know if we are facing a hung or same numbers in parliament
@antonyGreenABC tweets
After much digging around, I’ve worked out the following. The AEC is currently re-counting the Bondi Beach, Bellevue Hill and Vaucluse polling places. At 3pm they will begin a count of and additional 1,200 postal votes. The result will be clearer or closer by tonight.
Steve
I think the 2CP will get Phelps over the line, and I don’t think Labor running dead will have made much difference to that.
Labor running dead has encouraged tactical voting from Labor supporters. I reckon there are about 5000 votes that would have gone to Labor, that went to Phelps instead, because of tactical voting. I suspect that would not have been enough to put labor into second in the 3 way contest, and therefore risk distributing Phelps voters preferences, but those voters decided that the best bet was a Liberal loss.
Will the AEC eventually do a Lab/Lib 2PP? For the records?
Simon² Katich®:
I think yours is more than a reasonable critique.
I think Tim Murray should be ushered into the Senate for Labor at the election after the one coming up. He has proven himself to be a deft campaigner and has qualities and credentials that the ALP needs in their team.
Put yourself in a Labor voters position living in Wentworth.You know have virtually no chance of winning outright so tactical voting really is only sensible thing to do.
Ah Yes, Tim Murray, whom Upnorth labelled a ‘hero’ and the personification of the digger spirit. I hope one day that his tomb will visited by thousands and school children can honor his heroic ‘stand at Wentworth’.
Edit: Sorry wrong post.
The Saturday Paper tweets
Despite being deemed unethical and harmful by psychologists, conversion therapy is still practised in Australia. Martin McKenzie-Murray on the report showing the extent of its damage. https://satpa.pe/conver37a6
– – Ah Yes, Tim Murray, whom Upnorth labelled a ‘hero’ – –
Seeing as I brought his name up I will answer that. Murray personifies diversification in ALP ranks. By that, I mean he has made his name outside of the Unionverse. Not that making your way through the unions is a bad thing, but I would have thought posters like nath would be happy that the ALP nominate such candidates. If only they can do it more often in winnable seats or safe senate positions.
It seems to me that the peeps think political outsiders, even within the 2 major parties, are awesomeballs.
In Wentworth, two Liberals were on the ballot paper, one in a blue t-shirt and one in pale purple. The best thing to do from Labor’s perspective was to encourage the fighting and hope for maximum collateral damage to be inflicted on other blue shirts.
So far so good.
Let’s not try to idealise Phelps by anointing her as a “progressive”. The day she campaigns for tax reforms, for increased social spending in health, education and welfare, for the repeal of economic privilege will be the day she chooses to lose her seat.
Not sure Trump or Morrisson will appreciate this – How could she?!
https://youtu.be/WH1NihRN5cU
Is there no one in the ALP whom nath will not craft a put-down for?
It’s a rhetorical question.
briefly
I don’t think anyone is calling Phelp’s progressive.
Except that she is nor far right. So lesser evil for progressive tactical voters.
Phelps might have fitted comfortably in the pre-Howard Liberal Party when it was centre-right rather than right-bordering-far-right. Replacing a right wing “Liberal” hack like Sharma is an improvement.
Thanks, booleanbach for the Disney message. It gives me more hope about the future now that Disney have bought out the film and tv businesses of Murdoch’s Fox.
I would say that Phelps has the same views as Turnbull when hes not shackled by the RWNJs and that probably appealed to voters.The Libs are too far right even for Wentworth people.Even they rail against nutters like Abbott and Dutton.
Cat
Yeah. I think Tim Cook will be more influential than James Murdoch. 🙂
I’ve got no problem with Tim Murray, he’s a good candidate. But not a hero, I’m sure he would agree.
Apropos of nothing in particular, here are 40 idoioms in various languages that are very difficult to translate: https://blog.ted.com/40-idioms-that-cant-be-translated-literally/comment-page-10/
So, for example, a Russian might say of Morrison’s decision regarding Israel that he went ‘galloping across Europe’.
guytaur @ 2.01pm
An interesting, if disturbing, article. It’s horrendous to think that this is still happening even though the “treatment” is worthless. A cousin of mine came out to his parents at a young age – they were very happy for him and supportive. His grandparents on the other hand said that it wouldn’t do and he had to be “fixed”. What they had in mind I have no idea and, of course, they were basically told to bugger off by the parents and by my cousin.
On a personal note, when I lived in Queensland and suffered from depression (I don’t think they were linked 🙂 ) my doctor kept telling me that I should try and date women. I’m not sure what this would have achieved but I politely told him to eff off. I’m happy in my sexuality and have no wish to be “cured”. As if!
Do some portion of postal votes still go to the AEC via political parties offices?