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.
Conducting a review when Labor gets into government?
Sorry, that was posted with tongue in cheek.
I’m very interested to hear what he has to say. Possible class action?
briefly @ #2459 Tuesday, September 17th, 2019 – 11:18 am
Consequently it’s a waste of fucking time for you to be posting the same thing over and over again in between posting ridiculously personal insults to guytaur that I thought were against the policy of this site. I note that guytaur never responds in kind, though he has plenty of material to work with.
People seem to have a high tolerance of your self-indulgent blatherings round here, but as far as I’m concerned you can just piss-off.
“’m not sure of the benefit to Iran from instigating hostile activities. The US, Israel and Saudi Arabia all have incentives for blaming Iran for starting a war which will draw all 3 of them (plus their lickspittles like the UK and Australia) together.”
There is that. 🙁 And, anyone who wants the oil price to jump benefits. Over $1.60 / l in Perth today which is slightly on the high side for this time of the week.
From Murpharoo on the Grauniad blog:
‘imacca says:
Tuesday, September 17, 2019 at 12:03 pm
“False flag looks good to go!”
BW, i find it hard to fathom that a facility of such importance, in that region, would not have some sort of local air defense. You would really have to use missiles and hit incoming drones / bombs at some distance so as not to drop hot shrapnel into the facility (own goal anyone??). Iranians use TorM1 for that and the Israelis us Iron Dome. FFS, did they really not see them coming or were they let through??’
Defence against the sort of missiles used is technically doable, IMO. They look like an older type, slow, non-agile but with some modern guidance added. Images of the models are easy to find when you Google something like ‘Iran + missiles’
The problem for the defence is that you have to defend hundreds of sites over a huge area and thousands of kms of pipes. It is all thin skinned. It pretty well all contains the means of its own destruction if you can get it to leak and set it on fire.
Plus, as soon as you have the defences in place to protect against old and slow along comes a swarm of something that goes faster than the speed of sound, is highly manoeuvrable in the final attack phase, which is equipped with decoys, which is painted with radar absorbent paint and which is ground hugging, etc, etc, etc.
Danama Papers
You beat me! I like the idea that Shorten is attacking the gov on its soft belly. 🙂
guytaur,
Do not put the responsibility for this solely on the shoulders of labor.
Your beloved greens are up to their armpits in the swamp of responsibility for where Australia is at this time.
Get that clearly in your mind.
The greens stand shoulder to shoulder with every other political party and independent member of federal Parliament over the last ten to fifteen years.
No excuses. No bull shit arguments.
“Last week, in a little noticed matter of public importance debate, Shorten flagged concern that robodebt might be unlawful.”
Good. 🙂 If Shorten fronts anything like this the Govt will go all nasty / ridicule because its Bill. Which just emphasizes how cruel nasty and out of touch they are to prioritize nasty politics and “Kill Bill”over fixing the robodebt issue.
doyley
They are not my beloved Greens. I just point out to you Labor partisans that blaming the Greens for Labor’s loss is to miss entirely the election result. It also shows you are ashamed of the successful Carbon Price.
We now know it worked the evidence is in.
Lower Electricity Prices and Lower Emissions. Labor should have made that the headlines around the country when that report came out. Instead Albo is in hiding defending a new coal mine.
@ClaireMallinson tweets
Congratulations to Greta Thunberg on winning Amnesty’s highest human rights award @amnestyOz https://au.news.yahoo.com/greta-thunberg-wins-amnestys-highest-human-rights-award-013208901–spt.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=tw via @Y7News
Dio
Motivations?
Assuming that Iran did it, here are the Iranian motivations:
1. They did a deal and the deal was broken by the US. No trust so no rules.
2. The oil and finance sanctions are really hurting inside Iran. The peeps are getting unhappy. A bit of war mongering and sabre rattling is good. Regime at some degree of heightened threat.
3. They hate the Saudis.
4. To demonstrate that they can close down 15% of the world’s oil supplies at will.
Assuming that the Israelis did it.
1. To get a war going with Iran.
2. To get Netanyahu re-elected.
Assuming that the Houthis did it.
1. To help their Iranian patrons.
2. They are fighting a hot war with Saudi.
Assuming that the US did it.
1. Increase the value of US oil exports.
2. Get Trump re-elected.
3. Just another big fuck up.
Hey! I ask the questions.
When is the QLD state election?
Peter Hartcher’s view on who was responsible for the Saudi drone attacks:
[‘The source of the attack, whether directly or indirectly, is Iran, the great regional and religious rival to the Saudis. And this is a clash that is still escalating, with the US standing behind Saudi Arabia. The potential for much more serious oil interruption is large.’]
He, of course, could be wrong too. In any event, as he (Hartcher) further writes:
[‘Australia, with its pathetically inadequate three-week supply of oil, is exposed.’]
Lucky that the average Australian couldn’t give a tinker’s about ME politics lest there could be panic buying.
Simon Katich @ #2479 Tuesday, September 17th, 2019 – 11:35 am
Yeah. However, the Coalition and The Greens believe that everything old is new again. 😐
Still in denial about the perception problem I see. Its going to be such a great campaign poster for the Greens if they decide to use it. Only the Greens fighting for the environment. Has quite a ring to it for those seats the Greens want to win.
Perceptions do matter.
The ALP are not just going to put distance between themselves and the Greens. They are also going to put pressure directly on them. This is a concerted effort, both work in tandem to increase their primary vote. The only way this will work is if they keep generally to their previous election policies on the environment and climate but without the grandstanding. We will see if this happens.
guytaur says:
Tuesday, September 17, 2019 at 12:03 pm
doyley
When one party doesn’t defend it’s proud successful Carbon Price when proven then yes its no wonder climate change and energy politics are so toxic.
And over in the corner we have the impotent Greens whining again. Pity people wasted their vote for this, but that is they way it goes.
guytaur @ #2510 Tuesday, September 17th, 2019 – 12:13 pm
That will set a few of the old white males bloviating! 😉
frednk
Yeah the Greens so impotent they have a Greens Minister in the ACT.
That fact continually eludes you. As does the impact of all these public posts about Labor walking back on its climate targets (I note Cat has not conceded this is happening and has not disputed that perception is indeed a problem)
The problem for Labor is to argue its fighting for Climate Change it has to show its actually doing that.
The perception is that its not no matter what you post here while Adani is going ahead due to Queensland’s Labor government potency.
Edit: Cat I mention you in this post to be fair to you. I am trying not to put words in your mouth. I do this because I have named you specifically in a few posts.
Sarah Martin
Another opportunity for critics of Labor to shout same-same, deliberately ignoring any nuance because they can only recognise black or white. And most of the MSM is the same.
guytaur @ #2519 Tuesday, September 17th, 2019 – 12:26 pm
Yes. Political parties ignore political symbolism at their own peril.
Simon Katich
Labor need to do the things that matter; things they can like reducing demand in states that have Labor Governments. They need to have nothing to do with the stuff that is a waste of time, like exporting coal jobs to the USA by restricting Australian supply at a time when there is reducing demand for coal.
Showing just how impotent the Greens are (all they offer is Labor should do this stunt and Labor should do that stunts) is surely a bonus.
lizzie
People want to see Labor opposing. That means not supporting legislation until the conditions are met not saying you are giving conditional support. That tells the government they have won.
Thats the basic bottom line.
Fair enough if thats Labor’s position just don’t complain when critics point it out.
Leaving aside the NT, the ACT and Tasmania, there are 34 regional seats. Of these 0 are held by the Greens, 4 are held by Labor, and 3 by Indies. The Indies tend to the right. 27 are held by the Coalition.
Deducting the Labor votes and adding the Indy votes to the Coalition gives the Coalition a head start of 30 in the Reps.
The Greens War on the regions, along with the Coalition being able to tar Labor with the Greens brush in the regions is fundamental to the Coalition getting the numbers to form government.
@JermeyPoxon tweets
ah, the golden land of the fair go where we force 200k disabled australians to live on the lowest unemployment benefit in the OECD https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/200-000-australians-with-a-disability-struggling-to-get-by-on-newstart-report-20190916-p52rt6.html
Player One @ #2462 Tuesday, September 17th, 2019 – 11:22 am
P1, your ‘counterpoint’ is tired. It’s repetitive to the point of inanity. Also ineffectiveness. You may use one of BK’s links as your jumping off point but your so-called ‘defence of the indefensible’ quickly de-evolves on a daily basis to the same old, same old, with your patented droll snark.
Honestly, for someone allegedly so right on about Global Heating I’m surprised you haven’t discussed the issue of the day, how Saudi Arabian oil fires contribute to Global Heating and by how much these things are a negative for the Climate, added to which would be the climate catastrophe of another Middle East war.
But no, same old, same old. Decrying a coal mine that hasn’t even gone into the production phase yet. And criticism after criticism of Labor. Who are nowhere near government and unlikely to be for at least 3 years.
Way to prove your irrelevancy. Just like guytaur and The Greens.
To keep the Adani flag flying the Greens are now claiming they have spies on companies that might tender for the work. The pantomime is branching into comedy. So sad.
I would prefer to see them governing.
Bill Shorten’s obsession with his political hero Napoleon Bonaparte continues to occupy a significant portion of his time:
he does spend his time painting miniature historical figurines.
Bill Shorten’s diorama depicting Napoleon’s retreat from Moscow was captured on camera and Shorten explained:
Bill Shorten
@billshortenmp
Lots of inquiries about my diorama in background of Sky interview. I’m a history hound. It’s a lifelong passion. This one’s the 1812 Retreat From Moscow.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EEjXzqHU4AAe8rj?format=jpg&name=small
Simon Katich @ #2528 Tuesday, September 17th, 2019 – 12:34 pm
Exactly. Opposing, Opposition. Same same.
SK
Well yes. Queensland can show its opposing Climate Change by making sure its regulations are not a green light for Adani. For example not extinguishing native title.
Adrian:
Tuesday, September 17, 2019 at 12:05 pm
You’re not one to mince words.
I just knew nath would pick up the Napoleon reference. Being predictable never makes a person interesting.
Maybe Shorten should have spent some of the past six years developing some policy instead of leaving it all to Chris Bowen. But there were important miniature figurines to paint. Oh to be an MP!
guytaur
I stir you because your posts highlight my basic theses. The Greens are impotent, they best they have to offer is Labor should do this and Labor should do that. Keep up the good work.
See what I mean about the tired dirge that emanates from guytaur which just gets repeated ad nauseum? We are back to the glorious Greens Minister in the ACT.
Not only has guytaur refused to accept the entirely rational point that the ACT is different to just about any other place in Australia, but he just flat out ignores this reality.
Sad.
frednk
If you think thats a winning argument no wonder Labor is losing elections.
guytaur,
If you carefully read my post you will see I lay the blame at the feet of the whole political system in this country over the last ten to fifteen years.
Everyone must share the blame equally whether they be labor,liberal, national or green.
Read what I have posted and do not simply go all “ Pavlov’s dog” and rant on about labor partisans blaming the greens.
Everyone shares the blame and if you cannot accept that then so be it. Enjoy life in your little cocoon.
Enough said. Time to move on.
lizzie @ #2533 Tuesday, September 17th, 2019 – 12:38 pm
And from 1pm on, guess what he will vomit up for the rest of the day? Kill Bill.
Cat
Ignoring the ACT when someone says the Greens are impotent and will never be in government.
Sad!
Shorten should combine his collection with Richard Markes’ world famous snowglobe collection to demonstrate to Australians the kind of idiosyncratic past times being a well paid MP can provide.
Back in the box, guytaur, with all the other pointless contributors not worth the time of day. Enjoy your glorious impotence and irrelevance. I have better things to do than indulge it.
Kevin Andrews reviewing Family Court is a bad thing for which the only hopeful bit is his general incompetence and inability to achieve anything.
This should also apply to elderly politicians.
C@tmomma @ #2526 Tuesday, September 17th, 2019 – 12:33 pm
For someone as irrelevant as I am, I surely do appreciate your taking so much time to respond 🙂
doyley
Have you considered you may be in a Labor cocoon?
All I said was if you think blaming the Greens for Labor’s election loss you are sorely mistaken.
Ditto the Climate failure.
I pointed out to you one very successful period. Yet instead of being proud of that here you are again blaming the Greens. Labor has an existential crisis on its hands if it keeps it up and will end up being the LNP and The Greens as the two major parties.
Stop blaming the Greens for Labor stuff ups and Labor just might win elections. That means don’t listen to Murdoch or the LNP saying its the Greens wot lost you the election.
Labor should vote against the Greens at every possible opportunity. The more visible and vocal their separation from the Lib-kin the better it be for Labor and its goals.
Cat
I see you are back with the back in the box stuff when its pointed out to you that its a fact that the Greens are actually in government in Australia.
So sad!
shellbell
He’ll probably advise more counselling and face to face meetings, all of which can be destructive.
Silly question, but why do they appoint biased pollies to review laws? Amy thinks it’s a bone for Pauline Hanson.
Never in the field of blogging have so few contributed so much BS and inanity about the Greens
It seems according to the Laborite illuminati around here Teh Greens! are both totally impotent and entirely responsible for the state of the country and the world. At the same time.
Greens unite. Who ever knew you could be so effectively and totally controlling of the unfolding crisis and at the same be so irrelevant that some petty and apparently unemployed ALP drudges spend their days here, every day, trying to construct more fantastical stories.
Actually I find some of the ALP trolls the best advertisiment against the ALP and for the Greens these days. This place appears to be one long messy advertisment about how screwed up the ALP is over climate and many other matters.
If our current situation is everyone’s fault, who are the people and parties willing to push and demand some action and changes right now in parliament to do something different?
ALP or LNP? No
Greens? Yes
A cheap shot to try and deflect from the duopoly incompetence over recent decades? Unable to stitch up even a dodgy deal between themselves, the duopoly parties are struggling a bit to deal with the reality and our changing climate and circumstance. If Australia is flailing about in response to climate change and ecological emergency, it is the duopoly of the major parties who’ve being playing games with themselves, each other and the planet here.