Two brief news items to relate on Australian matters, as well as which we have the latest of Adrian Beaumont’s increasingly regular updates on the constitutional mess that is Brexit.
Sarah Henderson, who held the seat of Corangamite for the Liberals from 2013 until her defeat in May, will return to parliament today after winning preselection to fill Mitch Fifield’s Victorian Senate vacancy. This follows her 234-197 win in a party vote held on Saturday over Greg Mirabella, a Wangaratta farmer and the husband of former Indi MP Sophie Mirabella. After initial expectations that Henderson was all but assured of the spot, Mirabella’s campaign reportedly gathered steam in the lead-up to Saturday’s vote, resulting in a late flurry of public backing for Henderson from Scott Morrison, Josh Frydenberg, Jeff Kennett, Michael Kroger and Michael Sukkar.
Also, The Australian reports Queensland Liberal Senator James McGrath will push for the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, of which he is the chair, to consider abolishing proportional representation in the Senate and replacing it with a system in which each state is broken down into six provinces, each returning a single member at each half-Senate election – very much like the systems that prevailed in the state upper houses of Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia in the bad old days before the advent of proportional representation.
Ostensibly motivated by a desire to better represent the regions, such a system would result in a Senate dominated as much as the House of Representatives by the major parties, at a time of ongoing erosion in public support for them. The Australian’s report further quotes Nationals Senator Perin Davey advocating the equally appalling idea of rural vote weighting for the House. The kindest thing that can be said about both proposals is that they are not going to happen, although the latter would at least give the High Court an opportunity to take a stand for democracy by striking it down.
lizzie
says:
Thursday, September 12, 2019 at 9:50 am
Just for a laugh…
david munk @davidmunk
Oh my god. Water minister for NSW on climate change and drought. She’s remembering there was no rain in King Arthur’s time.
_____________________________________________
Good God. She is referring to the curse put on the land after the fall of Camelot in the Arthurian literary cycle.
lizzie @ #100 Thursday, September 12th, 2019 – 10:11 am
And a healthy dose of you can all get fcked..I’m in charge.
Labor should have invited Sam in to sit in the gallery and stare at Liu for the whole session….
[‘Senior Victorian Liberals have told the Herald Sun Australia’s intelligence community warned the party about preselecting Ms Liu for the seat Chisholm before the election.]:
https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/leaders/australian-politics-live-thursday-september-12/live-coverage/a5410bee3a5575511e9ff731dc360ed7
Labor should have a field day with this.
Mavis Davis
Even with the support of the cross bench, unfortunately they don’t have the numbers to demand an explanation.
Nice Gladys, we’ll protect you.
lizzie
Labor could do a Senate motion with the support of the Crossbench to at least get a Senate investigation up.
Of course according to the luminaries here its just a stunt. No value what so ever. The Senate passing motions is totally of no consequence.
You can’t blame a specific event or pattern on climate change – one heatwave, one cyclone or a drought. It’s the pattern that counts. Heat records in the last couple of decades outnumber cold records by 12:1. The South of the continent apart from the Eastern coastal fringe seems to be drying out. Rain-bearing Westerlies seem to be retreating polewards.
That was a particularly idiotic statement from Ms Pavey. It appears that she read somewhere (the Australian perhaps?) about a dry period in the 6th century. There is historical evidence for climate disasters around 535-36 – relating to volcanic activity perhaps. In any case it appears that Ms Pavey dredged up some vague memory of something she read somewhere to support her fixed belief as a member in good standing of the Conservatives. Someone should have asked her to produce rainfall records (for Australia) for 500-560.
Amy
Today is RUOK day so I wore a tshirt by Daniel Johnson saying “Hi, how are you?”
Tragically Daniel died a few hours ago of a heart attack.
A brave and original genius. RIP 🙁
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NjxbD_vvXw
lizzie @ #107 Thursday, September 12th, 2019 – 10:26 am
She’s gorn.
lizzie:
[‘Even with the support of the cross bench, unfortunately they don’t have the numbers to demand an explanation.’]
Correct though I don’t think the matter’s going disappear into the ether given that the Tories were warned about Ms. Liu’s dubious connections – shades of the Coombe/Ivanov affair resulting in the Hope Royal Commission:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combe-Ivanov_affair
There was a dry period in the 4th Century that effected Central Asia the most. No worries tho. Middle of nowhere. A few people called the Huns had to relocate… no threat to civilisation or anything.
And then in the 6th C the world did turn colder. Again – no biggie. Brought the black death to Rome but – meh.
Ever since the election in May, I have become convinced Australia is no longer truly a Liberal Democracy, instead it is becoming a very corrupt, authoritarian, illiberal democracy. The current government indeed is shamelessly flaunting that fact. Morrison is the ultimate manifestation of Trumpism. Since he is much more disciplined, pragmatic and shrew than Trump. I would argue Morrison is a bigger danger for Australian democracy than Trump is for America. Also the Morrison government has a Mainstream Media which is becoming a ‘controlled press’, along with Morrison and Dutton building a police state that Trump can only dream of.
Therefore; I believe that the government could win the next election, by employing much the same tactics as it did at this election. Plus they have three years to turn these tactics into an art-form. Of course it wont be a truly, free and fair election.
“She’s gorn”
Not until Scott has pledged his continued support for her. Or is that only for leadership contests?
@RichardDiNatale tweets
This says everything you need to know about our PM.
A true leader would have the courage to face up to our global peers and explain why he’s not only failing to address our climate emergency, but making it worse on behalf of his coal lobby donors.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/sep/12/scott-morrison-wont-attend-un-climate-summit-despite-being-in-the-us
Instead, @ScottMorrisonMP will dodge it. Too busy hanging out with the other climate denier in chief @realDonaldTrump. #auspol #climateemergency
Littleproud says that he just wants to give people the ‘tools’ to deal with the changing climate. Then why not provide more funds for all firefighting assets down the east coast? That wouldn’t require much deep thought.
Scomo may be soft on Chinese government operatives in parliament, but he is still tough on defending our borders ….. except from the thousands of asylum seekers arriving by plane.
At least with Gladys in parliament,there will be no need for any more external hacking.
@guytaur
Scott Morrison can get away with it, because the News Corporation media and the talkback radio hosts are virtually cheerleaders. Also Labor is so shell shocked by the results of the recent Federal Election, they are become pro-coal and even attacking the not just the Greens, even the some environmentalists, look at Albanese’s comments about ‘Vegan Terrorists’, that is literally the same rhetoric Pauline Hanson is using.
Anyway I believe Scott Morrison is Australia’s own Viktor Orban.
@PodSaveAmerica tweets
“If you’re Thom Tillis…or Donald Trump, I don’t think you look at the results last night & feel very good about what might happen in 2020.” @jonfavs @TVietor08 & @priaribi discuss the outcome of the #NC09 special election & what the results could mean for 2020. https://twitter.com/PodSaveAmerica/status/1171947905210564608/video/1
@Tristo
Nah not shellshocked. Stockholm Syndrome. Albanese is acting like he is part of the Murdoch Empire not against it.
@guytaur
As long as the Democrats nominate a candidate who can beat Trump, then he will be beaten in 2020. However Trump is not going to leave office quietly, my American friends agree with me, that Trump could likely incite a domestic insurrection. Basically Trump will argue he lost the election, due to rigging by the ‘Deep State’ and incite his supporters to overthrow the ‘Deep State’.
Currently armed Far-Right and Anti-Fascist groups are having battles on a daily basis in Oregon. This could be a sign of things to come in the aftermath of the 2020 election.
Tristo @10:46.
” Morrison is the ultimate manifestation of Trumpism. Since he is much more disciplined, pragmatic and shrew[d] than Trump. I would argue Morrison is a bigger danger for Australian democracy than Trump is for America.”
For similar reasons, I regard Mike Pence as a bigger danger to America and the World than Trump and don’t want to see Trump impeached before next year’s election.
Morrison might be Australia’s Pence.
@guytaur
That is a better analogy, honestly if Albanese remains leader of the Labor Party. Labor could do worse in 2022, than they did in 2020. Albanese could even lose his own seat to the Greens. Maybe an electoral disaster of that scale might be a good thing.
Anyway it is hard to see the Greens getting more than say 15% of the vote. However that would mean quite a few Inner City Labor seats would be lost. Essentially their base are those who would voted for the Australian Democrats back in day, along with long term environmentalists and some Progressive minded former Labor voters.
The ABC has put up this refreshingly uncensored factcheck confirming that Renewable power plus storage is now cheaper than new coal. So at this point, unless we are actively trying to cause global warming, why are we even debating more coal mines? We might as well promise north Queensland a blacksmithing industry. Even if global warming did not exist as an issue, we should be closing down coal power on economic grounds. This highlights how badly energy policy has failed.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-12/is-renewable-power-cheaper-than-coal-nuclear-malcolm-turnbull/11495558
Why? The Republican jerkass won instead of the Democratic jerkass. What good is a ~8% fall in Republican support versus 2016 if it still doesn’t deliver wins to the Democrats?
All OK. Henderson can provide a distraction from the Liu situation for the PM .
Tristo
Warren is the candidate most likely to win the nomination and beat Trump.
Why do I say Warren? She appeals to both the progressive wing and the corporate wing.
That means she has the best chance of getting turnout as Sanders will back her and so will the corporate side.
Win win for the Democrats. Thats my theory and Biden will be very wounded by just one election victory by any other candidate as it takes away his electability argument. The nostalgia of association with Obama will be blown away.
@guytaur
I agree Warren is the best candidate and I have a feeling she could win the nomination. Although it could be a comporimse with somebody like Kamala Harris or Pete Buttigieg being the Vice Presidental candidate.
A lot of people in America have been deeply shocked by the Trump administration and it’s polices. These people are feeling urgency that American Democracy is going to be destroyed, if Trump wins in 2020.
In Australia the feeling with the re-election of the Morrison government, was of relief among many people. Also Trump’s presidency has made Americans wanting to face up to issues such as White Supremacism.
guytaur:
[‘Albanese is acting like he is part of the Murdoch Empire not against it.’]
You could say that but you’d be wrong. He’ll come out punching early next year after the election review is completed.
Tristo
If Labor is running on being a right wing centre government it should be honest and say so to maximise its votes.
That way the inner city people can vote for that 15% and force the ALP back to the centre left when the numbers fall and make minority government inevitable. I think that applies at 10% as well as we can’t rely on polling and the strong progressive vote in Victoria could make the situation worse for Labor than it looks if they do run as a centre right party
Mavis Davis @ #131 Thursday, September 12th, 2019 – 9:05 am
Or not.
@guytaur
In the event of disaster for the Labor Party in the 2022 election, with a number of seats being lost to the Greens. Since I believe that our elections are no longer free and fair, the Morrison government could win a majority again.
Also this government will literally do anything to keep itself in power. I am expecting when the economy goes into bad recession, they will spend big on groups that support them, such as self funded retirees.
So, electorally, is 2019 like 1961, when Labor came so close but stayed in Opposition for another 11 years, or 2004 when Labor missed out but won next time? It’s looking more like the former.
It’s looking more like the former.
Just give up now then, eh? Solid.
Steve
Labor has won from opposition when it has had a bold plan for change. Not a more of the same we are the lesser evil party. Even Rudd did that. I remember the hopes being dashed by many on Climate Change when Rudd did not go to a Double Dissolution.
He could have been right in tactics we will never know. However its from that period Labor has appeared weak and Gillard’s citizen assembly and letting the carbon price be turned into the carbon tax and then the leadership wars have just shown Labor as weak.
This is why I think Albanese is doing the exact wrong strategy. All they are doing is make Labor look weak and chasing the LNP not forming their own agenda.
To the point Labor appears to have joined in the Climate Denial to promote coal. Yes that means literally turning their back on facts. Not voting for Climate Emergencies despite a world wide strike declaring exactly that.
I’m afraid that Morrison is playing what I can only call “the race card” over poor, innocent, disabled (deaf) Gladys. Or Labor, Labor.
Is it all doom and gloom for the ALP?
Probably not, one thing that is certain is how polarized the electorate is. A prime example is the seat of Chisholm.
Parts of Blackburn within that electorate swung 10%+ to the ALP.
The same occurred with Deakin. In fact in the case of both Deakin and Chisholm, it was only the gaining of Glen Waverley (Chisholm) and North Ringwood/Croydon Hills(Deakin) that kept those electorates blue.
These electorates are winnable for the ALP + the long term drift of seats like Kooyong and Higgins will flip them red before places like Melton go blue…
Steve777
2016 was more like 1961, 2019 was more like 1963 where Labor went backwards and 2022 could be like 1966. While depending on what happens to the Labor Party, they could very well win in 2025, it would be like 1969 expect that Labor won that election. If electoral boundaries back in 1969 were as fair as today’s, Labor would have won.
That is the election. I believe will be pivotal for Australia as the 2020 election is shaping up for America and the next British general election will be for Britain.
Danama Papers:
[‘Or not.’]
Albanese has quite the mongrel in him, more so than Shorten. I’m confident that he’ll take it up to Morrison who I think will become vulnerable as time goes by, the economy likely to be his weakest link, too gutless to fiscally boost it, treating a surplus as if it is a holy relic.
Morrison wtte Gladys Liu is now an on water matter and no questions should be asked because Security.
@Mavis Davis
I am not discounting the possibility of the Morrison government, spending big on groups which voted for the government in the May election, if the economy gets pretty bad. I have a feeling that the national public sector debt is going to skyrocket in this economic downturn to come.
A perfect example of how Labor has been week on climate. They did not do anything about the threat to our national security by patronising Pacific Islanders about new coal mines. Instead letting the Pacific Islander concerns only be addressed by the Greens.
This makes the Greens better on National Security than Labor and the LNP. A way to keep Chinese influence at bay without antagonising the Chinese.
Gladys Liu is our very own Manchurian candidate.
I’ll remember where I heard that first, Diogenes. Saw him in Melbourne during what I presume was his last tour about six years ago. Wonderful show, warts and all.
It is important to have a multi-party commitment to preventing further erosion of parliamentary democracy. No MP should be serving the interests of a foreign government. It isn’t xenophobic to combat the Chinese Government’s efforts to use some of its nationals in Australia to advance its own interests. We must not be complacent about what the Chinese Government is doing. They are very aggressive in pursuing their interests and they are a ruthless authoritarian regime. Gladys Liu should be questioned and investigated thoroughly by Australia’s intelligence agencies and if there are any links between her and the Chinese Government she should be pressured to resign.
WB
I’m really gutted. First time I’ve worn a tshirt to work (for RUOK Day) and it turns out he died basically when I was putting it on.
https://images.app.goo.gl/rkboXfdR3tV8sJkz5