Another fairly uneventful week in the world of BludgerTrack, which has only nudged 0.1% in favour of Labor on two-party preferred and one on the seat projection (the gain being in New South Wales), despite their one-point improvements in the week’s Newspoll and Essential Research polls. If there’s anything worth noting, it’s that the Greens have fallen below 9%, and One Nation are back up after a recent dip. Both pollsters also produced new numbers for the leadership trends, the only observable movement on which is that Scott Morrison’s net approval is slightly improving, for no immediately obvious reason. Full results through the link below.
PS – If this had been an Islamic attack in NZ no prizes for guessing what response we would be seeing from motor mouth Morrison.
Davidwh, I’m a person who has extremely low opinion of MT, but his tweet didn’t blame the victims in any way, but rather people like Anning and the like who keep fanning flames of Islamophobia. FWIW that is how I read it.
dave:
Did you see Waleed Aly’s address on The Project tonight? He called out comments from Morrison 8 years ago, as well as remarks today from that deplorable git Anning without actually naming them.
https://twitter.com/theprojecttv/status/1106471346303754240
Extremely not extremes 🙁
‘Fess – nope haven’t seen it as yet, l’ll catch up with it though.
dave:
It’s worth watching. Obviously Waleed feels this personally, and he makes the point that those muslims in the mosques were sitting ducks, blissfully unaware, to anyone who knows that muslims faithfully pray every Friday.
Fess – I totally agree with Aly’s commentary.
On the guns used, I’m sure this will mean something to those who know about these things, but if Nance’s assessment is accurate then the guns may have been illegally modified.
Shorter Waleed.
You reap what you sow!
I haven’t seen this anywhere else but did you know that Barrie Cassidy has decided to leave Insiders!?!
https://www.abc.net.au/news/about/backstory/television/2019-03-15/barrie-cassidy-is-leaving-insiders/10902120
30 minutes between his post, that included a live streaming link of him en route, on a known public, alt-right, white supremacist echo chamber, and the beginning of the shootings. Shame on these so-called intelligence agencies
Re repealing S8 of the Parliamentary Priveleges Act 1987 in order to expel Anning, it doesn’t work like that. Expulsion was a legacy power under S49 of the Constitution. Repealing wouldn’t automatically recreate it. You’d probably need a referendum – and then what ensures the power to expel isn’t abused?
Voters will have a fine opportunity to expel Anning in a few months time.
Had breakfast (breakfast) with a Canberra Wontok
On the way heard the Minister for Education “interviewed” on NewsRadio
The Minister for Education – Tunge
I am trying to think of a descriptive work I can use saying that word is an understatement – but I cannot
Anyway
My company at breakfast advanced in the Public Service to very senior positions thru the times of Whitlam, Fraser, Hawke and Keating
His commentary on the PS today is damming – stemming from Ministerial Advisers appointed by Ministers to partisan appointments within the PS
So the fabric of the PS, to provide frank and fearless advice, has been torn asunder
And it dates from Howard – and Rudd attempting to return civility to politics so not having a “night of the long knives”, and appointing to restore reputation to the PS
He was scathing
And brilliantly scathing
I did manage to get a word in, referring to Phillip and Guy
The point he made was that both of these RBA Board Members are using public forums – and questioned why noting the subject matter of their presentations are stagnant wages growth and climate so their presentations tellingly at odds with government positions
Interesting morning as always with excellent company
dave:
I’m not going to post it here, but Ch10 Facebook page shared that Waleed video and the comments underneath it are mostly negative and racist. I’m ashamed that the majority of them are from women!
Usually it’s twitter that attracts the under-bridge morons, but the twitter comments under that video seem mostly supportive and in agreement.
… or five yards.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njJr09msGOo
The Christchurch events are too bloody grim to think about tonight; maybe tomorrow.
It’s raining in SEQ; in a week or so there should be flowers, and the birds and bees will be happy.
I don’t think NZ will thank us for exporting our right wing extremists, or creating the environment that allowed their views to flourish.
Did you see Waleed Aly’s address on The Project tonight? He called out comments from Morrison 8 years ago, as well as remarks today from that deplorable git Anning without actually naming them.
“On the guns used, I’m sure this will mean something to those who know about these things, but if Nance’s assessment is accurate then the guns may have been illegally modified.”
The high capacity magazines are illegal in NZ. I think they have a legal limit of 8 rounds / mag?? That style of magazine is almost as big an issue as the types of guns available. Big problem in the US. For civilian use I do not believe there is ANY justification for high capacity magazines.
C@t:
From the first Insiders. I can make out Cassidy (obviously), and the odious Piers. Who are the other two on the couch?
Tristo @ 9.11pm,
“Fraser Anning’s Conservative National Party” hasn’t yet been registered, and in my view there’s a very good chance that it won’t be. There were lots of objections lodged with the AEC to the proposed name and registration, and the process would seem to still have quite some way to go. The objections are all on the AEC website, at https://www.aec.gov.au/Parties_and_Representatives/party_registration/applications/index.htm.
The proposed name is one of the main problems for the party. Paragraph 129(1)(da) of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 requires a registration application to be refused by the AEC if the party name “is one that a reasonable person would think suggests that a connection or relationship exists between the party and a registered party if that connection or relationship does not in fact exist.” (See http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/cea1918233/s129.html)
And if the writ for the election is issued, any party which hasn’t been registered then misses out.
Fess – its very depressing and disappointing how casually too many people are willing to see people they have never meet be injured or killed.
I recall some Years back a longtime friend sent me a “joke” celebrating Pakistanis killed in a flood – told him wasn’t impressed.
When you trivialise harm /deaths of “others” the next step to do “it” on huge scale is so much easier.
WTF is the Australian PM standing up showing Leadership at this time.
Maybe better he hasn’t – if thoughts n prayers is all he has.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxyA5bgpels
KevinBonham @ 10.10pm
“Re repealing S8 of the Parliamentary Priveleges Act 1987 in order to expel Anning, it doesn’t work like that. Expulsion was a legacy power under S49 of the Constitution. Repealing wouldn’t automatically recreate it. You’d probably need a referendum – and then what ensures the power to expel isn’t abused?”
I take issue with your view. Section 49 of the Constitution states that “The powers, privileges, and immunities of the Senate and of the House of Representatives, and of the members and the committees of each House, shall be such as are declared by the Parliament, and until declared shall be those of the Commons House of Parliament of the United Kingdom, and of its members and committees, at the establishment of the Commonwealth. ”
This, on the face of it, clearly gives the Parliament an ongoing power to “declare” by legislation that the expulsion power is to be restored. House of Representatives Practice also notes that “The rights and immunities of the Houses, their committees and Members are part of the law of the Commonwealth, and the law may only be changed by the passage of legislation by the three component parts of the Parliament. Subject to the constraints imposed by the Constitution, it would however be possible for the Commonwealth Parliament to enact legislation which varied an existing right or immunity or created a new one.”
dave:
I cannot understand why these people were not on watch lists if what Zeh has posted about their activities before and immediately after the attack is accurate.
Malcolm Nance has responded on twitter to an Australian who asked him about this and he replied that if they are rightwing extremists they don’t get tracked. I’ve no idea if that is true.
Sorry if already posted..no comment needed
https://www.smh.com.au/national/morrison-sees-votes-in-anti-muslim-strategy-20110216-1awmo.html?fbclid=IwAR2W0A8f6iYOELX6M-ZfI12vS_Khrw_f5MDH0olhIZG_QWSDS3m0yJ5bhtw
I note Ad Man from Mad Men had his lapel badge on today
A map of Australia to remind him of who (or what?) he represents
Ad Man just cannot help himself
I only trust that Ad Man being over all media as he is is not a “Tampa”, “Weapons of Mass Destruction” or “kid’s overboard” event
Supported by a lapel badge, of course
Noting an Australian has murdered 49 men, women and children going about their lives in their home Nation of New Zealand
Doing the right thing when it’s easy, when people will praise you, and when you lose nothing, well that’s no big deal. You learn nothing about a person in those circumstances.
It’s what people do when they think they can get an advantage from doing the wrong thing that really lets you know what they really are.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/morrison-sees-votes-in-anti-muslim-strategy-20110216-1awmo.html
Observer
Re *wantok*
Did you do a stint with Spark Bank?
Tool – Vicarious
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RkVQcWlqK8
@Jaeger
Much better you than I.
Pedant
How come that didn’t stop the “Liberal Democrats” being registered?
ratsak @ #826 Friday, March 15th, 2019 – 7:56 pm
And noting from the report back then that it was JBishop who opposed Morrison’s strategy. No doubt some context to the personal animosity between the two.
And shadow cabinet were asked to bring 3 big ideas to the table and Morrison’s was using muslims as a hate strategy? WTF?
Is Morrison a racist?
He is worse. He will go with whatever favourable wind blows his way.
Illegal boat trophy in PMs office, coal stunt in Parliament, where the bloody hell are you tourist ad… Hillsong church …. hugging Turnbull and then knifing him…
An empty vacuous adman, bereft of any moral centre.
Cud Chewer at 11.06pm
Here’s the AEC’s statement of reasons re the Liberal Democrats: https://www.aec.gov.au/Parties_and_Representatives/party_registration/Registration_Decisions/2013/5122b.htm
The issues are invariably subtle, and vary from case to case. That very fact makes it less likely in my view that the Anning party registration will be finalised before the writs are issued.
Fraser Anning comes to the attention of international journalists.
Ah, I see what you did there. 🙂
I assume these were the other two?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2QJvc_SxFQ
The Tories are tainted by association with frasier anning
Votes ideology – whatever.
Above all a silent gutless so called PM with “thoughts n prayers”.
Motor mouth would be 247 if this attack had been by Islamic perps.
Pedant: firstly, simply abolishing Section 8 doesn’t even try to recreate the expulsion power; you’d need to also attempt this by specific legislation. But even if this happened, the question is whether any restoration of the expulsion power that no longer rested on the legacy clause would be constitutional, given that the Constitution defines many circumstances for automatic expulsion/ineligibility and “because the House/Senate feels like it” isn’t one of them. And also given that the Senate comprises members who have been “directly chosen by the people of the State”.
Pedant: firstly, simply abolishing Section 8 doesn’t even try to recreate the expulsion power; you’d need to also attempt this by specific legislation. But even if this happened, the question is whether any restoration of the expulsion power that no longer rested on the legacy clause would be constitutional, given that the Constitution defines many circumstances for automatic expulsion/ineligibility and “because the House/Senate feels like it” isn’t one of them. And also given that the Senate comprises members who have been “directly chosen by the people of the State”.
Jaeger:
I don’t even want to think what the other two were!
dave:
This from our fearless PM today, seemingly incurably immune to his own hypocrisy over capitalising on Australians’ fears about muslims.
Have to accept that the attack in NZ is going to be relevant to Australian politics and the election campaign. Whatever else its a “black swan” event that no one saw coming.
I’ll say again that Morrison and Shorten both spoke well to it today. Compare and contrast to Anning?
All that said i wonder what effect this will have on how one of the major Coalition election themes of Boats, Border Protection and Security is “progressed” into the election campaign??
For the next little while i would think they will just STFU about it and when they do take it up again (they have little else to run on) they will need to be very careful how they play it. This is NOT a Tampa or 9/11 event and i would not assume it will play out the same way.
Anning stuck his head up and is deservedly copping the abuse.
However, what about the other extremists like Hanson (and even Morrison/Dutton) who have exploited anti Muslim sentiment to solicit for votes?
Dutton and his Homeland Security Department must explain why they failed to pick up the Christchurch terrorist on their radar.
I expect Morrison will probably offer technical AFP assistance tomorrow.
Oh, and ALP also needs to be restrained on comment. Shorten and Wong have spoken well so far and i reckon they are smart enough in terms of the politics to leave it to the Libs with a not unreasonable expectation that they will fwark it up.
And watching Adern speak on this? Honestly, i really cant see how anyone could have done better than she has so far. Sincere, values based unity, and an utterly unequivocal strong rejection of hatred as ideology.
@ imacca
Yes I thought the same. It is a “Black Swan” event but certainly not the type Morrison, Dutton and Co. would have imagined. I trust that “better angels of our nature” shine through and the mass of Australians’ whom, I truly believe are good of heart, reject racism and intolerance and the associated evils.
“We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.”
One thing I don’t understand is why our intelligence agencies keep getting increased powers to digitally snoop on citizens, yet couldn’t pick up on online comments allegedly posted by at least one of the perpetrators, including social media footage of the alleged act posted to Facebook?
What exactly has Australia’s parliament empowered our intelligence and security agencies with when it comes to digital and online communications monitoring?
“yet couldn’t pick up on online comments allegedly posted by at least one of the perpetrators”
Too much data to trawl through maybe?? Probably do follow some people, but after some kind of other indications and warning that persons a threat.
KevinBonham @ 11.37pm
I agree that the restoration of the power to expel would require the relevant amending legislation to reconfer that power explicitly on the Senate. On the face of it, that would be within power.
The constitutional issues you raise are indeed interesting ones which I had considered myself. Personally I have my doubts as to whether the High Court would be prepared to accept, for example, a vote by the government to expel all opposition members (too Cambodian). But there’s no High Court precedent to that effect yet. I’m not sure the argument about Senators being directly chosen by the people of the State can be taken that far: the requirement for members of the House to be directly chosen by the people of the Commonwealth didn’t prevent the expulsion of Hugh Mahon MP. The Court might, of course, approach this in the way they approached the roll close issue in the Rowe case.
imacca says:
Friday, March 15, 2019 at 11:41 pm
Have to accept that the attack in NZ is going to be relevant to Australian politics and the election campaign. Whatever else its a “black swan” event that no one saw coming.
I’ll say again that Morrison and Shorten both spoke well to it today. Compare and contrast to Anning?
–
I thought Morrison did his job as our PM today and spoke as a Prime Minister should. Regardless of his inner thoughts and his history he stood up as PM today and condemned the incident and Annings disgusting rant. Kudos to him for doing his job for a change instead of self interested bollocking of anything not male or white.
I would think that the Coalition will not utter the MUSLIM or REFUGEE word again before the election. They might harp on about border security risks a month out after this terrible tragedy has cooled down some but the character assassination of AS will have to be dropped from the meme. Even Scomo is not that stupid surely ?