I had a paywalled article in Crikey yesterday considering the implications of coronavirus for the electoral process. For what it’s worth, the New York Times today reports that research finds no evidence that elections act as vectors for disease. Apropos next Saturday’s local government elections and state by-elections in Queensland, my article had this to say:
According to Graeme Orr, University of Queensland law professor and a noted authority on electoral law, it is still within the power of Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe to postpone the council elections. The byelections for the state seats of Currumbin and Bundamba could also theoretically be called off if the speaker rescinded the writs. Since a state election will be held in October in any case, it might well be argued that filling the latter vacancies for a few months is not worth the bother. However, the official position is that neither pre-poll nor election day booths will experience activity amounting to a gathering of more than 500 people, as per the latest advice of the chief medical officer — advice that will surely be showing its age well before next Saturday.
In other by-election news, the Liberal National Party has put Labor last on its how-to-vote cards in Currumbin and Bundamba, and thus behind One Nation, a move that has evidently lost its taboo since the issue of One Nation preferences tore the state’s Coalition parties apart around the turn of the century. This could potentially be consequential in Bundamba, where it is conceivable that One Nation could outpoll the LNP and defeat Labor with their preferences.
Elsewhere:
• The Federal Court has dismissed a Section 44 challenge against Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s eligibility to sit in parliament on grounds of dual Hungarian citizenship, to which he was allegedly entitled via his Hungarian-born mother. The petitioner, Michael Staindl, initially pointed to Australian documentation suggesting her family arrived in Australia in 1950 with Hungarian passports, having fled the country the previous year as the post-war communist regime tightened its grip. However, it was established that this arose from loose definitions used at the time by the Australian authorities, and that what the family actually had was “a form of single use emigrant exit passport”. This led Staindl to twice reformulate his argument, eventually settling on the contention that Frydenberg’s mother was left with the “shell” of a citizenship that had been emptied only by the communist regime’s arbitrary and capricious “pseudo-law”, a factor that ceased to apply with its demise in 1989. This did not impress the court, which dismissed the petition and ordered Staindl to pay costs.
• The Age/Herald has polling results from Newgate Research on which aspects of coronavirus are of greatest public concern. The results are reasonably consistent across the board, but top of the list is “the overall economic impact”, with which 41% express themselves extremely concerned, 36% quite concerned, 19% slightly concerned and 4% not at all concerned. “Regular health services not being available” produces similar results of 35%, 32%, 25% and 8%. There are slightly more moderate results for other questions on health impacts and “shortages of food, toilet paper and other essentials”, although in all cases the combination for extremely concerned and quite concerned is well above 50%. The poll is an “online tracking study of more than 1000 Australians, taken between Wednesday and Saturday last week”.
• The West Australian ($) also has a WA-only coronavirus poll, which finds 66% supporting cancellation of large sporting events, 45% for night venues, 35% for cinemas and theatres, 34% for gyms and leisure centres, 29% for schools, 28% for universities, 22% for shopping centres and 16% apiece for restaurants and cafes and public transport. Fifty-one per cent of respondents agreed the government had been fully open and honest about the risks and implications of the virus, with 25% disagreeing. The poll was conducted Friday and Saturday by Painted Dog Research from a sample of 890.
• The count for the Northern Territory’s Johnston by-election was finalised on Friday, with Labor’s Joel Bowden winning at the final count over Steven Klose of the Territory Alliance by 1731 votes (52.6%) to (47.4%), in the absence of any surprises in the full preference count. With no candidate polling more than 29.9% on the primary vote, the latter was always an abstract possibility, but the result after the previous exclusion was not particularly close, with Bowden on 1275 (38.7%), Klose on 1110 (33.7%) and Greens candidate Aiya Goodrich Carttling on 907 (27.6%). It seems unlikely that preferences would have favoured the Greens even if it had been otherwise. My live results facility now records the final numbers – there will be more where this came from on this site with the Queensland elections on Saturday week, certainly with the state by-elections, and perhaps also for the Brisbane City Council elections, depending on how things go.
Note also two new posts below this one, one dealing with a new poll of state voting intention in Tasmania, the other being Adrian Beaumont’s latest contribution on the Democratic primaries in the United States.
Morrison is showing the hypocrisy and stupidity of whether the corona virus is as deadly as claimed
There should be no exception of one place being exempt and another place is not exempt
if you going to bring in banning of 100 or more mass gathering bring it in every where and not have exemptions if you were seriously worried about the health of people
https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/govt-to-step-up-information-campaign-after-facing-criticism/12065720
Guests:
Professor Tania Sorrell, Director, Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity
Dr Rob Grenfell, Director of Health and Biosecurity, CSIRO
Dr Harry Nespolon, President, Royal Australian College of GPs
Included vexed issue of whether to close schools or not.
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/singapores-response-to-coronavirus-outbreak-praised-by-experts-and-observers
A few of the items in today’s “The Australian.”
There are some oldies on their electric scooters who drive them extremely dangerously through shopping centres. Perhaps these oldies were hoons when younger.
A speed limit (walking pace) is needed and the things should be required to make a sound to warn of their approach.
Morrison is now outlining new restrictions on visiting aged care homes
Homes and visitors now must:
Limit visits to short times
Limit to two visitors at one time, per day
Visits should be conducted in a resident’s room rather than communal areas
There should be no large group visits or gatherings – including social gatherings or entertainment
No school groups allowed to visit
He says that in the case of a resident nearing the end of their life, a home will have discretion to make special arrangements for family to visit them.
That will be done on a facility-to-facility basis, that will still accomodate social distancing.
lizzie @ #100 Wednesday, March 18th, 2020 – 9:23 am
I think 2 metres would translate to the length of the regimental shotgun times two. 😇
Morrison not happy. Now talking about giving strength to the safety net.
That’s how the LNP refers to social security. Policy announcements to come in future.
Naturally the spivs are not going to waste a crisis:
They want to use it to get rid of compulsory Super.
They want to use it to get rid of regulations.
They want to use it to reduce tax.
What Morrison needs to do is to employ Hockey to tell all the wannabe business leaners out there to fuck off.
Frankly, I wish he’d shut up.
Most of society’s rewards go to this very kind of person, it is the terrible world we have built ourselves.
Listening to Morrison there is a bit of childishness in how trusting he is when it comes to people.
It will be the economy that fucks Morrison in the end.
Stop Hoarding. It’s UnAustralian. Sell your investments properties now.
I thought Morrison was the best he’s ever been in telling people to stop hoarding. Not a high bar though.
Boerwar @ #109 Wednesday, March 18th, 2020 – 6:34 am
Which is why so many of them don’t mind a recession. They use that as the excuse to have a good ‘clean up’ which is code for eroding away workers’ entitlements.
Mexicanbeemer
Laughter.
He trusts us to believe every word of his.
He’s been practising speaking in endless garbage for years.
citizen @ #105 Wednesday, March 18th, 2020 – 9:29 am
My normal home delivery order being cancelled, I am going to try the pensioner hour on Friday. I am already anxious as it will be very hard work for me (I am only 4’6″ tall). Not planning to drag my hubby out at that hour but someone else has already offered to meet me and assist. I suspect hubby would not cope anyway.
Also hearing lots of stories of stores being stripped further and further out. Friend in Wondonga said alot of their shops and been stripped of meat and milk
Nath
I will pay him that but at the same time it sounded a bit naive
Peter Van Onselen notes Singapore has temperature checks at schools.
nath
One of his few simple sentences. “Stop hoarding”.
Still SIX state Health web sites, plus the Commonwealth web site.
Health measures announced. Societal measures announced.
And no ONE place to find them listed.
Where can we easily find the document that supports what the PM just said?
Or do we rely on HUNDREDS of newspapers, broadcasters, web sites, blog sites, twitter, Facebook and the rest for unbiased and uncolored information?
Where is the Coronavirus App?
I’m thankful I don’t have young children.
“Send them to school unless they’re unwell.”
“Children will probably not show symptoms.”
BB
It’s a good idea. One problem. The government has a history in running apps. That’s when they have time to develop it.
One way or another we have to put a stop to the panic buying.
Lizzie
Kids are smart enough to work out that if they want the day off just tell mum they are not feeling well.
A rough guide for estimating 2 m for the average-heighted Aussie male (175cm) is to fall flat on your face with your arms upstretched.
Put some chalk on your shoe tip and some chalk on your finger tips.
Fall forward while maintained a rigid plank*. Bear in mind that bending or writhing could ruin the Plan.
The distance on the pavement for the two chalk marks, ie from your toes to your finger tips, is around 2 m.
The average Aussie female has a height of 161 cm and would therefore have to make a constant addition of 14 cm for body height plus an additional statistical smidge for shorter arm length. Say 20 cm to be on the safe side, the Virus being the Virus after all.
Bear in mind that these are averages and that body length and arm length can have quite a variation in range.
Plus if your are not a perfect ‘O’ blood type you might want to add a smidge margin for that as well.
To work out 1.5 m might well require self decapitation. A personal cost benefit analysis is indicated.
*Bear in mind that any surface is a potential fomite. Check that nobody else did the 2m trial on your selected bit of pavement.
mikehilliard
Unfortunately Morrison has confirmed today that the situation will last for at least six months. That probably won’t soothe the hoarders.
‘mikehilliard says:
Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 9:43 am
One way or another we have to put a stop to the panic buying.’
There is panic buying and then there is organised hoarding with a view to profit. It is now patently clear that the latter is driving at least some shortages in some areas.
I’m sure he outlined in convincing detail how he was going to make sure that hording wasn’t necessary and ensure ongoing supplies to supermarkets, and to the homes of people in seclusion to protect their community. I’m sure he also outlined a detailed and convincing case that he was going to ensure noone would be worse off because of the virus.
It’s six months minimum.
Boerwar
Thanks for that. No one said it would be easy. 😆 😆
“Cud Chewersays:
Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 1:56 am
Blobbit
On a related issue. The government could invest massively into its own pumped hydro. Energy storage is one thing we absolutely need in spades.”
I quite like hydrogen as a storage medium. Do pumped hydro where it suits, but that’ll run into limits.
We may return to the days of a gasometer outside each town.
bw
It’s all pretty disgusting.
To repeat for clarity.
It’s 100 people indoors.
500 people outdoors.
Why would anyone believe a word morrison says? He has a long history of outright lies, deflections, coverups and corruption.
I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could spit a rat.
He has modeled himself on that lying conman trump.
No doubt the colour coded spreadsheet is being dragged out again to channel more pork to the mates.
Question about Liberal party donor that got infected after contact with Dutton.
[It’s 100 people indoors.]
Ergo my and Mrs Shellbell’s party is off.
Can we still ask for presents?
‘It’s 100 people indoors.
500 people outdoors.’
FMD.
500 outdoors is the political face saver.
100 indoors is to placate the medical professions at large.
Indoor gatherings restricted to 100 people, Australians told not to leave the country, as Government ramps up coronavirus response
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-18/federal-government-cabinet-coronavirus-gatherings-aged-care/12065822
Kronomex @ #43 Wednesday, March 18th, 2020 – 7:30 am
That depressing thought had occurred to me. “We have to catch up for lost time.” And no doubt with self-regulation to keep things “efficient”. The only lining is that it won’t be deniable that drastic measures are possible.
Boerwar
It was why I was always pretty Grrrrr re the “toilet roll rush” . People selling things online is quite a thing ‘these days” and a lot of people do it as a business. There would ,from the start, been plenty of those profiteering feckers “panic buying”.
‘shellbell says:
Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 9:52 am
[It’s 100 people indoors.]
Ergo my and Mrs Shellbell’s party is off.
Can we still ask for presents?’
If your original guest list was 200, do the party in two tranches of 99.
Tell guests that it is a fancy dress party and that they MUST come in hazmat outfits.
That should ensure that there will no Virus transmission.
This is starting to make Trump’s response look good.
No mention of temperature checks etc. if we are going to do the Singapore model we need to do the Singapore model.
Eryk Bagshaw, The Age
The national security committee has declared a human biosecurity emergency, giving the government the power to enforce quarantine measures.
“We are going to keep Australia running. We are going to keep Australia functioning,” Mr Morrison said at a press conference on Wednesday morning. “It won’t look like it normally does but it is very important that we continue to put in place measures that are scalable and sustainable.”
Mr Morrison said Australia should prepare for “at least six months” of disruption as health authorities attempt to get on top of the coronavirus.
“The idea that you can just turn everything off for two weeks and then turn it all back on again and it all goes away, that is not the evidence, that is not the facts, that is not the information and it is not our way through this,” he said.
The Prime Minister reiterated that for most Australians, the illness would be mild, but the for the more vulnerable, for the elderly and those who have other health challenges, “this is a far more serious condition for them”.
phoenixRED
Chicken, meet egg.
“Everyone’s got a role to play” in getting information out.
THAT is EXACTLY the problem.
Sarah Martin (I think) asks about the difficulty of getting information on government websites.
Morrison snaps back. That’s your view.