The week that was

Party turmoil in Victoria and Queensland, state and territory seat entitlements for the next federal parliament determined, and more polling on attitudes to demonstrations in the United States.

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.

Author: William Bowe

William Bowe is a Perth-based election analyst and occasional teacher of political science. His blog, The Poll Bludger, has existed in one form or another since 2004, and is one of the most heavily trafficked websites on Australian politics.

1,922 comments on “The week that was”

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  1. Leroy says:
    Monday, June 22, 2020 at 4:40 pm

    https://www.watoday.com.au/national/high-court-inquiry-finds-former-justice-dyson-heydon-sexually-harassed-associates-20200622-p5550w.html

    High court inquiry finds former justice Dyson Heydon sexually harassed associates
    By Kate McClymont and Jacqueline Maley
    June 22, 2020 — 4.29pm

    Former High Court Justice Dyson Heydon, one of the nation’s pre-eminent legal minds, sexually harassed six young female associates, an independent inquiry by the court has found.

    Haydon, where have i heard that name before:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Commission_into_Trade_Union_Governance_and_Corruption

  2. “The legal profession’s dirtiest and darkest secret is no more,” said Mr Bornstein, a Melbourne principal with law firm Maurice Blackburn. “His repeated sexual harassment of young women who were starting out their legal careers was and is known to many people.”

    If that’s the case then why is this the first people are hearing of it? It isn’t like Heydon is some unknown, faceless barrister. He led a politically charged, very high profile Royal Commission only a few years ago.

  6. Sure to please the bludgers for a quiet evening in pulling the scab off the climate policy ulcer of Australia, that’s been festering for at least the last 12-13 years.

    From Giordano at Juice Media an interview with Adam Bandt, in response to his previous podcast with Malcolm Turnball

    Some bludger talking points straight from the lips of Malcolm is sure to please a few, but the obvious idiocy of ignoring the actual later law changes during the Gillard govt, which Greens and rural indies were part of, gets to attention it deserves.

    Are The Greens to blame for our lack of climate policy?
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBRf4bTsHRc

  8. I can still see Heydon there as his wracked his conscience and endured a hideous mental struggle before finding himself clear of any impropriety or conflict of interest regarding that Liberal Party fundraisier during TURC.

    He really DID think he was untouchable!

  9. No changes to our state border, thankfully.

    Mark McGowan
    2 hrs ·
    It has been 16 days since Phase 3 came into effect here in WA and Western Australians have once again been outstanding.

    People have enjoyed the new freedoms, supported local businesses and continued to listen to health advice around physical distancing and good personal hygiene.

    Thanks to our relaxed restrictions, WA is already the most economically free and active State in Australia.

    And today I can announce that as of this Saturday, those restrictions will be easing even further.

    In line with expert health advice, Phase 4 will commence this Saturday 27 June.

    It will allow even more activities to recommence in WA, and continue to make our State the envy of the nation, and the world.

    But before I outline those changes, it’s important to acknowledge that our hard border has been in place unashamedly to protect the health and well-being of Western Australians.

    It has allowed us to confidently ease restrictions more than any other State and open up our local economy.

    Having to reimpose restrictions in WA would be absolutely catastrophic.

    I won’t undo the good work of all Western Australians and rush to open the border against our health advice.

    As part of Phase 4, from Saturday, the follow changes will occur:

    • All existing gathering limits and the 100/300 rule will be removed. Gathering limits will only be determined by WA’s reduced 2sqm capacity rule;
    • The 2sqm rule will include staff only at venues that hold more than 500 patrons;
    • Removal of seated service requirements at food businesses and licensed premises, meaning Western Australians can once again enjoy a beer while standing at a pub or bar;
    • No requirement to maintain patron register at food businesses and licensed premises;
    • All events will be permitted except for large scale, multi-stage music festivals;
    • Unseated performances will be permitted at venues such as concert halls, live music venues, bars and pubs;
    • Gyms can operate unstaffed, but regular cleaning must be maintained; and
    • The casino gaming floor reopening under agreed temporary restrictions.

    For WA’s major sport and entertainment venues, a 50% capacity rule will apply. Therefore, under Phase 4 the temporary capacity of Optus Stadium will be 30,633 for sport events (35,000 for concerts), HBF Park can hold 10,150 (16,500 for concerts), RAC Arena can hold 7,150 (8,250 for concerts).

    Today we’ve also outlined Phase 5 of easing restrictions – which is expected to take effect on Saturday 18 July.

    Phase 5 will include removing ALL State restrictions except for the hard border with the eastern states and travel restrictions for remote Aboriginal communities.

    That will include the removal of the 2sqm rule and the 50% capacity rule for our major venues.

    This will be a significant moment for our State.

    Phase 4 is another giant step for WA – we’re confident it’s the right step, at the right time.

    However, Western Australians must continue to keep up physical distancing where possible and good personal hygiene to better protect themselves and the general health of our community.

    We need to remain vigilant. We must take nothing for granted.

    We need to all understand that if you are unwell, don’t try be a hero and still go to work. It’s simply not worth it.

    Because if we have an uncontrolled outbreak, we will have to place restrictions back on.

    And I cannot be clearer on this – I don’t want to even contemplate that scenario.

  10. Quoll I am sure Adam Bandt put he best spin on it he could, but people my age lived through the sorry affair. Things will move forward when it can be done without the Greens.

  11. Well I don’t know if the greens are concerned with climate policy. They just yap at the edges like Pomeranians. Greens are dilettantes.

  12. Confessions :’If that is the case then why is the first people are hearing of it? It isn’t like Heydon is some unknown, faceless barrister. He led a politically charged, very high profile Royal Commission…..’

    Confessions, this is a very naive statement and could only be made by someone who has never found themselves in a similar situation where there is a huge power imbalance and there is a lot to be lost by calling it out.

  13. Catherine (Rollison) Williams
    @catrollison
    ·
    3m
    It’s the ‘open secret’ bit that is the most galling. These women, in the formative years of careers with great potential, had as much right to have that career protected as their “all powerful” abuser. All colleagues of #Heydon – who knew and did NOTHING should feel shame.

  15. PeeBee @ #1671 Monday, June 22nd, 2020 – 3:24 pm

    Confessions :’If that is the case then why is the first people are hearing of it? It isn’t like Heydon is some unknown, faceless barrister. He led a politically charged, very high profile Royal Commission…..’

    Confessions, this is a very naive statement and could only be made by someone who has never found themselves in a similar situation where there is a huge power imbalance and there is a lot to be lost by calling it out.

    It’s true I’ve never been sexually harrassed by a powerful person.

    But shame on the man’s colleagues who it would seem sat on this “dirty secret” and did SFA to address his behaviour.

  16. lizzie @ #1672 Monday, June 22nd, 2020 – 3:28 pm

    Catherine (Rollison) Williams
    @catrollison
    ·
    3m
    It’s the ‘open secret’ bit that is the most galling. These women, in the formative years of careers with great potential, had as much right to have that career protected as their “all powerful” abuser. All colleagues of #Heydon – who knew and did NOTHING should feel shame.

    My thoughts too.

  17. In 2018, the legal beagles said this of the creep..

    This insightful, rewarding and highly readable volume is a generous selection of the best of Dyson Heydon’s speeches and papers. Most have a legal theme, although the book is of broader interest. As the Hon Ian Callinan observes in his foreword, in these papers the author “combines the arts of the essayist, historian, orator, obituarist, reviewer, critic, teacher and advocate”.

    “The Honourable J D Heydon AC QC was a Rhodes Scholar for New South Wales, elected Dean of the University of Sydney Law School (aged 34), practised as a barrister (including as Queen’s Counsel after practising as a junior for a mere 8 years), before being appointed a Judge of Appeal and Justice of the High Court. He was the Commissioner of the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption in 2014-2015.

    “Any reader of the Papers will be struck by the depth and width of the author’s scholarship. There is not one of the Papers that is not rich in unaffected literary, historical and legal allusion. They are a mine of interesting facts and intelligent fresh insights” (from the Foreword by Ian Callinan).

    From the Book Launch, 15 August 2018:

    The Hon Tom Bathurst AC, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales
    “There is much to say about Dyson Heydon’s achievements to date. This is attested to not just by the 800 pages comprising this book, but the fact that it represents a mere drop in the ocean of legal writing that Dyson has contributed both to this country and abroad. … To put it simply, this book stands out because of the breadth of the subjects the author has covered, and most extraordinarily, the depth to which he covers them. It reveals unparalleled ability in innumerable subjects including criminal, constitutional and comparative law. It also shows his ability to reflect deeply on the lives, habits and peculiarities of others, manifesting an understanding not just of the law, but of people – which some might say is a rare phenomenon in a lawyer.” Read Launch Speech…

    Mr Rodney Cavalier AO
    “Each chapter is devoted in good measure to a love of words – composing and arranging, sometimes meandering into tangents characteristic of an address, but always driving the thesis with purpose. The register does not matter: speaking, writing, conversation, advocacy, dissertation, book, chapter, judgment, letter. Whimsy or solemn. Dyson loves words. For that reason, he loves books (every element of them) and he loves the private library, the essential statement of a thinking person. What he admires is not secret, they permeate the consideration of every profile, living and dead – writing and scholarship, proficiency in other languages, war service, assuming leadership.” Read Launch Speech…

  19. PeeBee

    Confessions, this is a very naive statement and could only be made by someone who has never found themselves in a similar situation where there is a huge power imbalance and there is a lot to be lost by calling it out.

    Indeed. She has said many times wtte why didn’t they say something at the time.

  20. Confessions

    I had a LOL at what the police guy said.

    Police commissioner Chris Dawson said he had told the AFL to “carefully consider which clubs will come over here”.

    Teams that will beat the Dockers or Eagles need not apply for entry ? 🙂

  23. Mike Carlton
    @MikeCarlton01
    ·
    3m
    A few years ago, was at a posh SCG Test cricket lunch seated next to Dyson Heydon.
    “You’re that left-wing columnist at the SMH,” he sniffed.
    “And you’re the token fascist on the High Court,” I replied cheerily. He tried a wintry smile, but there was not much to say after that.

  24. Just imagine the media and foreign media controlled and own Liberal/National party members , if Labor set up a royal commission to get your political opponents . And this person was the choice to be the commissioner

    High Court inquiry finds former justice Dyson Heydon sexually harassed associates

  25. The climate- and ecological crisis can no longer be solved within today’s political and economic systems. That’s not an opinion. It’s just simple maths.#ClimateEmergencyThe 75min English podcast I recorded is now available athttps://t.co/aW6zPlSKBQ andhttps://t.co/JZFuNAS269 pic.twitter.com/wJEbpnpTld— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) June 21, 2020

    https://sverigesradio.se/avsnitt/1535269
    https://t.co/JZFuNAS269?amp=1

    All arguments used to "criticize" the podcast is brought up and debunked in the podcast itself.Like "overpopulation, go to China instead, nuclear power, our emissions have reduced" etc… So if you feel the urge to comment, it would help if you actually listened to it first:)— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) June 22, 2020

  27. Sally McManus
    @sallymcmanus
    ·
    4m
    Dyson Heydon was the person handpicked the Abbott Government got to conduct the Royal Commission into unions, a waste of $ designed to demonise us. I’ve got huge respect for all the brave women who stood up to this man despite his power & connections.

  28. Labor should call for an RC into the court about Dyson and who knew what when! It’d be a good opportunity to clear out some skeletons from the HC

  29. It can be difficult to write wrongs in a toxic environment because at the centre of that toxic culture will be one or more people that are well connected usually to some politician and those people will publicly say all the right things but behind closed doors are entirely different.

  32. Current Chief Justice Susan Kiefel said “we’re ashamed that this could have happened at the High Court of Australia.”

    Best reason for more balance between males and females at the top of the pile.

  34. @PerrettReport
    ·
    2m
    Interesting to remember that Heydon was appointed to the High Court in 2003 by the Howard Government despite objections he was replacing the only female Mary Gaudron. Ironic that today it was a female Chief Justice who said she was “ashamed” that this went on at the High Court.

  35. imo anyone who thinks Heydon is the only powerful man using his position to sexually assault women is kidding themselves.

  36. nath says:
    Monday, June 22, 2020 at 5:40 pm
    With Heydon being so occupied by other things perhaps another Royal Commission into Bill Shorten is warranted.
    ____________________
    You make a very valid point!

  37. Lizzie
    I am not so sure more women would change much because what i find with toxic cultures is the women or men that might challenge are weeded out so the real issue is how to break the clinky groupings.

  38. Bushfire Bill says:
    Monday, June 22, 2020 at 5:20 pm
    I can still see Heydon there as his wracked his conscience and endured a hideous mental struggle before finding himself clear of any impropriety or conflict of interest regarding that Liberal Party fundraisier during TURC.

    He really DID think he was untouchable!
    ___________________
    What about people who renovate their houses whilst on workers compensation? Do you think they ought be untouchable?

  39. Lars Von Trier @ #1685 Monday, June 22nd, 2020 – 5:45 pm

    nath says:
    Monday, June 22, 2020 at 5:40 pm
    With Heydon being so occupied by other things perhaps another Royal Commission into Bill Shorten is warranted.
    ____________________
    You make a very valid point!

    You two make very puerile points. I do wish you’d give us some grown-up opinions for a change.

  41. Yes Frednk

    The interview with Adam Bandt is a rebuttal to Turnbull’s interview. No doubt with your open mind you will listen to the latter’s spin and accept it but wont bother listening to Bandt.

  42. imo anyone who thinks Heydon is the only powerful man using his position to sexually assault women is kidding themselves.

    I don’t think anyone believes Heydon is aka Pat Malone, Horsey.

    But let us just savour the moment tonight. We can solve the World’s problems tomorrow.

  43. nath

    A silly comment. I doubt that Heydon gave the women he harassed more than a moment’s thought. They were just bodies to him.

  44. THE circumstantial evidence is overwhelming — Tony Abbott and Dyson Heydon could be twins born a generation apart. But that alone might not be enough to force Mr Heydon to stand down as head of the trade union royal commission, a decision he must makeon Friday.

    Labor and the ACTU want him gone, claiming he created the apprehension of bias by initially accepting an invitation to speak at a Liberal Party function.

    Mr Heydon pulled out when it became clear it was also a fundraiser held while the royal commission was still running, and it would be difficult to condemn him for not attending a political event.

    But there also is a union-based concern Mr Heydon is doing the bidding of Prime Minister Abbott, the man who used his “captain’s pick” to give him the royal commissionioner’s job.

    Certainly a stack of evidence indicates the two are close despite their 14-year age difference, and have been for years.

    OVERSEAS BIRTH

    Abbott London, 1957; Heydon Ottawa, 1943.

    SPORTSMEN

    Abbott Rugby union and boxing; Heydon cricket, including stint as 12th man in the Prime Minister’s Eleven, 1964.

    LAW DEGREES

    Abbott Sydney University (Law School dean Dyson Hayden), Oxford University

    Heydon Sydney University, Oxford University.

    RHODES SCHOLARS

    Abbott 1980; Heydon 1964 (he was also on the panel which approved Abbott’s selection).

    THE LIBERAL PARTY

    Abbott advised party leader John Hewson, elected Liberal MP; Heydon’s father was private secretary to Robert Menzies in his first period as Prime Minister.

    MONARCHISTS

    Abbott headed Australians for a Constitutional Monarchy in the 1999 referendum campaign and Heydon provided legal advice.

    ON THE RUDD GOVERNMENT

    Abbott’s verdict: “The most incompetent government in Australian history”;

    Heydon’s: It did “non-substantive things like make speeches and appoint committees and hold summits and so forth”.

    https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/leaders/tony-abbott-and-dyson-heydon-twins-born-a-generation-apart/news-story/e3c58a81d9d7cb7ab9b07ba07c222d56

    Interesting comments re the Rudd government, in the light of THE most work shy federal government in Australia’s history, which we are burdened with at this point in time.

  46. What always baffles me is that when this sort of thing occurs at an institution where forensic examination is the modus operandi, why can’t they ever spot the criminal in their own midst?

  47. The worrying spike of coronavirus infections in Victoria has done little to deter people from heading out to crowded shopping centres – sparking fears among retail workers.

    The staff concerns come after weeks of reports of packed shopping centres and little social distancing as coronavirus measures have eased.

    Now the SDA, the union for retail workers, says scores of people have been seen leaving testing centres at some of Melbourne’s biggest shopping malls and heading straight for the shops.

    In other cases, the SDA said, people have gone shopping first and then gone to get a coronavirus test. Both practices defy state and federal health directions for people who think they have COVID-19 symptoms to leave home only to get tested, and then to isolate until their results are in.

    https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/coronavirus/2020/06/22/shopping-centres-coronavirus/?utm_source=Adestra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=PM%20Extra%20-%2020200622

  48. Lars, showing his naivety now…

    What about people who renovate their houses whilst on workers compensation? Do you think they ought be untouchable?

    When you’re put on suspension with full pay, allowances and accrued leave, with entitlements, pay rises and long service seniority all progressing, for 22 months, 12 of them without any communication – verbal or written – at all from the employer, then you’re allowed to do anything you like with your time away from the workplace.

    It’s THEIR problem, Lars, not the employee’s. Look it up, idiot.

  49. Lizzie
    The political establishment seems to attract its fair share of shady people who will go out of their way to attack a potential threat while telling the world how progressive or compassionate they are. There are plenty of sincere and nice people in politics but the cockroaches find a way to survive.

  50. What always baffles me is that when this sort of thing occurs at an institution where forensic examination is the modus operandi, why can’t they ever spot the criminal in their own midst?

    Another naive comment. Doesn’t baffle me in the slightest.

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