After a particularly eventful week, a whole bunch of electorally relevant news to report:
• The last official population updates have confirmed next month’s official determination of how many seats each state and territory will be entitled to in the next parliament will cause the abolition of seats in Western Australia and the Northern Territory, and the creation of a new one in Victoria for the second consecutive term. Antony Green offers detailed consideration of how the redistributions might look, suggesting Victoria’s will most likely result in the creation of another safe Labor seat in Melbourne’s outer north-west, while Western Australia’s could either mash together Hasluck and Burt in eastern Perth, or abolish the safe Liberal south-of-the-river seat of Tangney, with knock-on effects that would weaken Labor’s position in Fremantle and/or Burt.
• In the wake of the 60 Minutes/The Age expose on Adem Somyurek’s branch stacking activities on Sunday, Labor’s national executive has taken control of all the Victorian branch’s federal and state preselections for the next three years. Steve Bracks and Jenny Macklin have been brought in to serve as administrators until January, and an audit of the branch’s 16,000 members will be conducted to ensure that are genuine consenting members and paid their own fees.
• Ipsos has published polling on the recent demonstrations in the United States from fifteen countries, which found Australians to be supportive of what were specified as “peaceful protests in the US” and disapproving of Donald Trump’s handling of them, although perhaps in slightly lesser degree than other more liberal democracies. Two outliers were India and Russia, which produced some seemingly anomalous results: the former had a strangely high rating for Trump and the latter relatively low support for the protests, yet both were uniquely favourable towards the notion that “more violent protests are an appropriate response”.
• The Tasmanian government has announced the periodical Legislative Council elections for the seats of Huon and Rosevears will be held on August 1, having been delayed from their normally allotted time of the first Tuesday in May.
In Queensland, where the next election is a little over four months away:
• After floating the possibility of an election conducted entirely by post, the Queensland government announced this week that the October 31 state election will be conducted in a more-or-less normal fashion. However, pre-poll voting is being all but actively encouraged, to the extent that Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath says there will be an “election period” rather than an election day. This will mean “more pre-poll locations, longer pre-poll hours, and more pre-poll voting days in the two weeks prior to the election”.
• The Liberal National Party opposition was thrown into turmoil last week after the Courier-Mail ($) received internal polling showing Labor leading 51-49 in Redlands, 52-48 in Gaven, 55-45 in Mansfield and 58-42 in inner urban Mount Ommaney. The parties were tied in the Sunshine Coast hinterland seat of Glass House, while the LNP led by 52-48 in the Gold Coast seat of Currumbin, which it recently retained by a similar margin at a by-election. Frecklington’s supporters pointed the finger at the state branch president, Dave Hutchinson, who was reportedly told by Frecklington that his position was untenable after Clive Palmer hired him as a property consultant in January. The party room unanimously affirmed its support for Frecklington on Monday, as mooted rival David Crisafulli ruled out a challenge ahead of the election.
• The Queensland parliament this week passed an array of electoral law changes including campaign spending caps of $92,000 per candidate and limitations on signage at polling places. The changes have been criticised ($) by the Liberal National Party and Katter’s Australian Party, who complain that union advertising will now dominate at polling booths, and that the laws was pushed through with indecent haste on Tuesday and Wednesday.
@peggymel2001 tweets
Government spends ‘unlawful’ billions | The Saturday Paper
Scott Morrisons Regime is using mechanisms to bypass the senate and spending $billions of public money in ways that may be unlawful. https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2020/02/22/government-spends-unlawful-billions/15822900009418
Rakali
I believe they’re usually spotted as a ripple in the water as they dive!
lizzie @ #1486 Monday, June 22nd, 2020 – 12:41 pm
Sorry, I’ve been out enjoying the company of my son. Real human interaction with family members, nothing like it. 🙂
The fed gov, from 2013 especially, though from 2007 talked but dropped it, doesn’t seem to have a vision/ policy for advancing Australia, fair, just maintaining the money/ pollyTICs/ media spin cycle, even returning through the Enlightenment, pause in 1788, keep going through the Dark Ages, pause at 0 common era, then say hello about the time dinosaurs roamed and watch space rocks light up the sky.
Despite Wuflu, fires, flooding …
It is pretty obvious that on the iHDI, Scandinavia seems to do okay, other parts of Five Eyes like America or the quaint island off the coast of Europe not so well, though there seems hope for Canada or New Zealand
Or may be the SDG’s could help, so may be the time has come to learn from places that may not speak English?
Though on the latest update Australia seems to have scored 38th, which sound like the national broadband score.
Australia is currently performing very well in SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). Australia is on track to achieve these goals for the 2030 Agenda.
However, Australia is stagnating in other goals such as SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 4 (Quality Education), while showing only minor improvements in goals like SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality).
Most alarmingly, Australia has performed worst in SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
And there seem to be deliverables due in 2030 (rather than say 2050) …
My turn.
Looks like Evans is patting the tracker on the head, there’s a good boy.
Isn’t it great when you make someone’s day? 🙂
mikehilliard @ #1504 Monday, June 22nd, 2020 – 10:56 am
I was thinking that earlier, you could quite easily replace the tracker with a dog.
Brilliant Moir.
Barney in Tanjung Bunga @ #1507 Monday, June 22nd, 2020 – 1:00 pm
I was thinking the statue could be improved if they removed the negatively-stereotyped Indigenous man from it.
Morrison always seems to hit the wrong note. Never gives any praise away, but holds it all for himself. He never wanted elimination of the virus.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-22/coronavirus-victoria-restrictions-melbourne-pm-morrison/12379158
Pegasus says:
Monday, June 22, 2020 at 12:04 pm
“Because there are some who can’t stop blaming the protests (despite authorities not tracing cases back there) Jenny Mikakos says:
I don’t think so, I really don’t think so.”
” But I don’t think the Black Lives Matter protest has contributed [to it]”
I definitely think the lack of action by the Governments to stop the protests or prosecute the participants who clearly breached the requirements has lead to many people saying if it’s good enough for them to do whatever they want then it’s good enough for us to do whatever they want.
It’s a lot like the climate change debate – when those that are telling us that there is an emergency actually start behaving like there is one then we will take notice. Otherwise we will get on with our lives as best we can.
Incitatus
“I definitely think ”
Who needs actual evidence when one can think so definitely!
Further Incitatus:
when those that are telling us that there is an emergency actually start behaving like there is one
__________________________________
In fact there are many examples of those who do – most outstandingly Greta Thunberg. But right wing idiots and corrupt crooks are deaf, dumb and blind to facts.
The Vic govts messaging since the days leading up to the protest has been all over the shop.
Bucephalus
The protectors did nothing more tan Morrison has been advocating for week. Morrison and the low rent Victorian opposition could do us all a favor and shut up.
I am strongly of the opinion that if someone who is required to isolate is found to be not complying then they ought to be detained.
Taylormade @ #1325 Monday, June 22nd, 2020 – 1:11 pm
Rubbish.
They have been clear to all who are prepared to listen.
There needs to be a zero tolerance for those not complying with isolation requirements however.
mikehilliard says:
Monday, June 22, 2020 at 9:01 am
“Not sure about a survey which ranks trust in the Guardian down the bottom with the Tele.”
Heh. Must be wrong. Obviously. Who would think that their left wing biases that completely ignore half of the electorate would lead to that?
Strange that the Daily Telegraph is so untrusted but according to most here is all powerful in causing voters to vote LNP.
TPOFsays:
Monday, June 22, 2020 at 1:09 pm
Get back to me when Greta is elected and is a Minister in a Government.
frednk says:
Monday, June 22, 2020 at 1:12 pm
“The protectors did nothing more tan Morrison has been advocating for week.”
Where has he called for mass protests (or even not protest) with tens of thousands coming together to ignore the existing laws on numbers and distancing?
Bucephalus @ #1329 Monday, June 22nd, 2020 – 1:17 pm
Newscorp is powerful because they appeal to and massage the types of people who’d sell off their grandmothers life for higher company profits
TPOF says:
Monday, June 22, 2020 at 1:07 pm
““I definitely think ”
Who needs actual evidence when one can think so definitely!”
I trust you provided the same feed back to Pegasus? No?
Rex Douglassays:
Monday, June 22, 2020 at 1:16 pm
“Rubbish.
They have been clear to all who are prepared to listen.”
Their words don’t matter. Actions matter. If they were serious then they would have called up every available Police Officer and started handing out fines to every single protester.
‘Rakali says:
Monday, June 22, 2020 at 12:51 pm
lizzie
Rakali
Smile please, you’re on candid camera.
Colin Trainor
@DrColinTrainor
·
16m
One min of Rakali Water rat feeding on a yabbie at Lake Wendouree, Ballarat, Vic this morning, while perched on some reeds #Wildoz – usually not this obliging with clear views
———
Thank you that’s wonderful. I’ve never actually seen Rakali in the wild!’
Around about where do you live?
https://www.crikey.com.au/2020/06/22/workers-compensation-domestic-violence/
Rex Douglassays:
Monday, June 22, 2020 at 1:21 pm
“Newscorp is powerful because they appeal to and massage the types of people who’d sell off their grandmothers life for higher company profits”
Call me elitist but I doubt many of those responsible for company profits read the Tele or Herald for anything but the Footy and Racing – they would read the AFR which isn’t Newscorp.
Here is a statue that some Bludgers might appreciate:
https://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0717/462965-gaddafi-compound-to-be-turned-into-park/
https://www.crikey.com.au/2020/06/16/news-corp-moral-panic-culture-war/
Ch9 – so what’s the diff?
Bucephalus
The Morrison’s sin is the continual war against the state premiers calling for the easing of restrictions and opening of borders. That has done more damage to the response than a few thousand ignoring their premier and following Morrison’s initial advise, protesters can protect. It took him a day to change that tune and condemn what was going on.
As I said we would al be better off if he would just shut up.
Bucephalus @ #1334 Monday, June 22nd, 2020 – 1:26 pm
Only 9 people hospitalised and only 19 deaths tells me most have heard the message.
The handful who don’t want to listen should be detained.
Rex
At minimum. The same standards must be applied in Victoria as what NSW did to the case of the NRL player visiting family in breach of ISO.
Some national shaming is a good thing sometimes
Hmmm… about a million ticket requests for Trump’s Tulsa Triumph?
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-22/did-tiktok-users-kpop-fans-really-troll-donald-trump-tulsa-rally/12378768
Lizzie
There is a big difference because and while papers are different but this reminds me of the “Yes Minister” clip – the papers with the AFR being similar to the Financial Times and the Herald Sun / Daily Telegraph more aligned to the Sun.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGscoaUWW2M
Is a large second wave virtually inevitable in Australia?
I’m inclined to believe so, based on almost daily direct observations of patterns of behaviour.
Mexicanbeemer
Oh, I know there’s a difference. I occasionally read AFR articles. I don’t appreciate Adam Creighton however.
If you have a favourite mass murderer, and the ready, where there is a will, there is a way.
http://www.asianews.it/news-en/North-Korea-is-world%E2%80%99s-largest-manufacturer-of-statues-of-dictators–30647.html
Lizzie
Creighton is from the Australian but the AFR can be pity as seen by its carry on over the restrictions.
I used to like The Age best when it had a variety of opinions on both sides. Before an election it would sum up all the policies. That seems long ago now.
Mexicanbeemer
Oooops!
John Nobel could probably do with accumulating some HECS debt in the Arts.
boerwar @ #1347 Monday, June 22nd, 2020 – 1:44 pm
The captains of industry will NOT allow the Govt let a second wave disrupt their profiteering.
The harshest of draconian social measures will be implemented if necessary.
Mexicanbeemer says:
Monday, June 22, 2020 at 1:43 pm
The description of Guardian Readers is still accurate even in Australia.
Bucephalus
LOL noticed that.
Here he is!
Such a kindly smile!
https://www.scoopnest.com/user/fion_li/604992965010849792-hk-chief-statue-along-w-those-of-china-xi-jinping-macau-fernando-chiu-taiwan-ma-yingjeou-at-umbrella
C’mon boerwar say the name …you know you want to…
If you want to get topped, or re-educated until you wished you were going to get topped, try pouring some red paint over THAT bust!
I think NSW should close its border with Victoria at least, especially given Victoria now appears to be the country’s coronavirus epicentre.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-22/report-supports-queensland-and-western-australia-border-closures/12378410
Greens Ellen Sandell via email:
“With community pressure building for action on Aboriginal deaths in custody the Greens are backing First Nations communities’ calls to reform our bail and sentencing laws.
Since the Andrews Labor Government came into power in 2014, First Nations incarcerations rates in Victoria have increased by 70%. This is due to a race to the bottom by the Labor and Liberal parties as they try to out-do each other on a “tough on crime” agenda.
One of the solutions that First Nations organisations have been pushing for is to fix Victoria’s bail laws, so that people aren’t sitting in prison for a minor offence waiting for their court date because they couldn’t get bail.
In Parliament last week, we called on Premier Andrews to take action on bail reform, which he refused.”
——
No bail, more jail? Breaking the nexus between community protection and escalating pre-trial detention
https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/publications/research-papers/download/36-research-papers/13893-no-bail-more-jail-breaking-the-nexus-between-community-protection-and-escalating-pre-trial-detention
”
Victoria is experiencing an ‘incarceration crisis’,[footnote 1] caused by an unprecedented growth in prisoner numbers. The key driver of this growth is the increasing number of persons who are denied bail and remanded into custody.[footnote 2] As of 31 May 2019, 38 per cent of adult prisoners in Victoria were being held on remand.[footnote 3]
The increase in the remand population is gendered, with higher rates for women—nearly half the women in Victorian prisons are now being held on remand.[footnote 4] It is also contributing to the incarceration crisis with indigenous offenders, as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are disproportionately represented among those remanded.
Moreover, there are signs that pre-trial detention in Victoria is increasing. In 2017–18, Victoria had the largest increase in prisoners held on remand of any Australian State or Territory. Recent reforms to bail law are likely to further contribute to this trend by further restricting eligibility for bail.”