More affairs of state

More evidence of a tight contest looming in Queensland while Mark McGowan reigns supreme in Western Australia; and a parliamentary committee in Victoria kicks the upper house electoral reform can down the road.

Not every state this time, but half:

Victoria

The Victorian parliament’s electoral matters committee has tabled the report of its inquiry into the 2018 state election, of which the greatest item of interest is a full chapter devoted to reform of the upper house electoral system. Together with Western Australia, Victoria is the last hold-out of the group voting ticket system that is electing ever-increasing numbers of preference-harvesting micro-party candidates. This reached a new height at the 2018 election, at which parties other than the Coalition, Labor and the Greens won 10 out of the 40 seats in the Legislative Council, including two elected with less than 1% of the vote. However, the report recommended only that a further parliamentary inquiry be held into the matter. The report also recommends no change to the two-week period for pre-polling, which the Liberals and Nationals called to be shortened.

Queensland

Polling of the marginal state seats of Currumbin, Mansfield and Aspley by YouGov for the Australian Conservation Foundation shows a combined two-party result of 52-48 for Labor, compared with an almost exact 50-50 for these three seats in 2017. The primary votes are Labor 37%, LNP 37%, Greens 10%, One Nation 4% and 10% don’t know, compared with 2017 election results of Labor 41.2%, LNP 38.4%, Greens 10.6% and One Nation 8.5%. The poll was conducted from August 17-19 and targeted 200 respondents in each of the three electorates.

Western Australia

A poll for The West Australian by Painted Dog Research showed Mark McGowan with an approval rating at 91%, up four from an already stratospheric result in June. Support for the state’s border closure was at 92%, up from 89% in May. The poll was conducted from a sample of 837, with field work dates not provided.

Northern Territory

As related in the dedicated post, the CLP sneaked home in an eighth seat in the Northern Territory election as the count concluded last night, producing a final result of Labor 14, CLP eight, Territory Alliance one and independents two.

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.

1,560 comments on “More affairs of state”

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  2. Fred NK

    I can agree with that and not be in Pelosi’s camp regarding debates.

    Note her argument was not cognitive ability. Just that it’s senseless debating an idiotic fantasist in a debate. I have some sympathy with the argument.
    I just don’t think Biden can give the gift of no debate to Trump.

  4. C@tmomma @ #326 Saturday, September 5th, 2020 – 7:45 pm

    Itza,
    I would have thought Pete Buttigieg would have been great at DOD. I don’t know who Elissa Slotkin is. And if not Pete Buttigieg, then what about Tammy Duckworth? Still, it’s only one guy’s dream team and they are there for us to discuss. 🙂

    As far as Mitt Romney goes, I reckon that would be a good choice. Obama had moderate Republicans in his team and it would be one in the eye for the Trumpists. 🙂

    There’s no choice for AG either. I’d choose Val Demings.

    More than a few off my limited radar. Glenn Kirschner (DA) gets a mention. We watch some of his regular virulently anti-Trump youtubes. Where’s this from anyway – there must be a zillion Dream Teams out there.

  9. Where’s this from anyway – there must be a zillion Dream Teams out there.

    Just some guy on Twitter that posts a lot about American politics. 🙂

  16. Although this site was most interesting today – eg, zoomster, guytaur et al – it seems to have lost its luster in the absence of dear old BB & dear old GG. If there’s no improvement, I’ll perhaps give it a second chance?

  18. Bushfire Bill:

    Saturday, September 5, 2020 at 9:08 pm

    [‘I see you’re acting silly again, Mavis. How unsurprising.’]

    Yes, dear – you’d be the best judge. Is there any more to come? Nice to have you back.

  19. Joe Biden has had an incredibly successful life, while managing a stutter.

    As a stutterer, he has almost surely developed a range of tricks and tactics for dealing with times when he can’t get a word out (put very imprecisely).

    He’s now past 75, and is probably having a few word-finding problems. This typical of even the sharpest person of his age.

    My guess is that he is responding to this feeling by using his tactics for dealing with his stutter, which have worked effectively for him all his life. That’s is all.

  20. I agree with Guytaur on the debates. Biden would be a fool to skip out on them, especially with all the nonsense being spread by the Trump camp about Biden being too afraid to debate him.

    Pelosi’s a very clever backroom operator, but she really needs to learn how to shut the fuck up and stop helping, because she’s been handing free kicks to Trump left and right lately. I think her (understandable) loathing of the man is increasingly impairing her judgement.

  21. Sorry to be repeating what everyone else just said – should read right through before getting itchy fingered.

    Early night here. Must be ready for Ms Westacott of the BCA on Insiders.

  23. I’m in my early thirties and have never had a stutter (reasonable sure I’m not suffering from dementia, either), and regularly suffer from Biden-esque brain-farts when I speak.

  25. Yes, dear – you’d be the best judge. Is there any more to come? Nice to have you back.

    Another one who thinks the blog is his own personal sandpit. Talk about “delusions of grandeur”.

  27. C@tmomma:

    Saturday, September 5, 2020 at 9:00 pm

    [‘Don’t say completely unfounded obnoxious things about Joe Biden and I won’t get angry. Simple, really.’]

    I’d be the last person to engender anger, deferring to old BB & old GG, their satellites.

  29. You thinking of becoming a politician, Asha Leu?

    Ha, I have genuinely considered it as an option in a decade or two, but definitely not any time soon. I like having spare time, and I’m actually not sure I could ever really deal with that level of public scrutiny. Assuming I actually ever got elected rather than ending my career before it even started by saying something astonishingly stupid on the campaign trail – which isn’t hard to imagine knowing what I’m like when speaking off the cuff sometimes.

  30. Bushfire Bill:

    Saturday, September 5, 2020 at 9:26 pm

    [‘Another one who thinks the blog is his own personal sandpit. Talk about “delusions of grandeur”.’]

    Really, cobber, after your verbosity, do you really construe I’m disillusioned? If so, I think it’s you who’s near as disabused as your close pals. Take a shower, a lie down.

  31. Davidwh:

    Of course, but that doesn’t mean you’re never going to say something dumb or have a brain-fart. And Biden’s always had a propensity for saying dumb stuff and having brain-farts. I think he’s actually been remarkably disciplined and on-message since clinching the nomination, certainly more so than he was during the primaries.

  32. Mavis, do you think you could perhaps try speaking in English? Deciphering your last few posts has left me wondering if I’m suffering from a cognitive decline!

  33. Asha Leu:

    Saturday, September 5, 2020 at 9:47 pm

    [‘Mavis, do you think you could perhaps try speaking in English? Deciphering your last few posts has left me wondering if I’m suffering from a cognitive decline!’]

    You are dear. Seek help asap. It’s said that domapine reuptake (eg, Kinson) is efficacious.

  36. BB:

    Yes, dear – you’d be the best judge. Is there any more to come? Nice to have you back.

    Another one who thinks the blog is his own personal sandpit. Talk about “delusions of grandeur”.

    Delusions of Adequacy , Bill, Delusions of Adequacy…

  38. Stephanie Kelton for Treasury Secretary. Warren Mosler for Chair of the Federal Reserve. Randall Wray for Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors. All excellent choices that Joe Biden would never make.

  42. Tony Abbott can NOT be a misogynist because he has 3 daughters
    so he can’t be one
    He also can’t be a homophobic because his sister is gay so he can’t be one

  43. If I were Biden I would leave Romney in the Senate. I think Biden would find a moderate Republican in the Senate to be of far more use than a moderate Republican in his Cabinet.

  45. ‘DESPICABLE’: RETIRED GENERALS FUME

    Goldberg’s article was met with silence by the United States’ current military brass, but it has provoked outrage from a number of retired officers.

    General Mark Hertling, a Purple Heart recipient, described Mr Trump as “incredibly toxic” and said the President had “no understanding of service or sacrifice”.

    “It’s tough to speak out right now if you’re an active duty, serving officer. They can’t do that. They have to support and defend the President,” he told CNN.

    “The veterans I’ve talked to tonight – and I’ve talked to both low-ranking and high-ranking, retired ones and some active duty – they are furious about this. And they can’t understand why people are still supporting this individual.”

    General Michael Hayden, a frequent critic of Mr Trump, retweeted comments calling the President a “thoroughly despicable human being”.

    He pointed out that conservatives, including Mr Trump, had slammed NFL player Colin Kaepernick for “disrespecting” the US military by taking a knee during the national anthem in protest against police brutality.

    General Paul Eaton posted a video online reacting furiously to the article.

    “I’ve got to tell you, it was a tough read,” Gen Eaton said.

    “You have the President of the United States call the American military ‘losers’ and ‘suckers’, particularly those who gave their lives.

    “When he met with the (former) chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General (Joseph) Dunford, his comment was, ‘That’s a smart guy. Why is he in the military?’

    “I’m pretty unhappy with you, Mr Trump. So I’m going to keep this short, for your famous short attention span.

    “You have shown disrespect to the military on countless occasions. I am stunned that anyone in the United States military would consider you anything but a loser or a sucker.

    “You’re no patriot.”

    Gen Eaton held up a dog tag that belonged to his father, who died in the Vietnam War.

    “My father was a patriot. Well-educated. He was a wise man. The best men and women in the United States of America are found in the armed forces,” he said.

    “Brave men and women. They’re not just brave, they’re smart. And they’re wise.

    “So, Mr Trump, come November 3, we’re all voting for a real patriot. Joe Biden. And everybody who hears this, please take notice, and please vote. Vote Democratic. Our country’s honour depends on it.”

  46. Good morning Dawn Patrollers. Sorry, this is all I could dredge up.

    Katharine Murphy explains how Scott Morrison went from Artful Dodger to political shapeshifter.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/sep/05/scott-morrison-how-he-went-from-artful-dodger-to-political-shapeshifter
    According to Matt O’Sullivan, more than 75 per cent of a $400 million community grants scheme has gone to seats in rural and regional NSW held by Nationals or Liberal MPs over the past three years. Surely not!
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/coalition-seats-big-winners-from-state-s-council-grants-scheme-20200903-p55s2f.html
    Labor has demanded the Morrison government explain how former prime minister Tony Abbott will manage conflicts of interest as he advises the United Kingdom on trade deals with countries including Australia. Rex Patrick says Abbott should register himself as a foreign agent!
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/labor-questions-tony-abbott-s-conflict-of-interest-on-new-uk-trade-role-20200905-p55so6.html
    Mellissa Cunningham explains how experts are imploring Victorian authorities to adopt statewide benchmarks including hard deadlines that ensure positive cases and their close contacts are interviewed, tested and quarantined within two days.
    https://www.theage.com.au/national/top-infectious-disease-experts-call-for-a-48-hour-turnaround-of-contact-tracing-in-victoria-20200904-p55sc1.html
    The Daily Telegraph and Sky News asked the Snowy Monaro regional council for $15,000 in cash and services to help pay for the newspaper’s “bush summit” conference in Cooma last week, according to council documents.
    https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/sep/05/indebted-rural-council-asked-to-help-pay-for-news-corp-bush-summit-documents-show
    JobKeeper will drop to $750 a fortnight for workers who do less than 20 hours a week, which will affect many in industries like accommodation and hospitality, reports Nick Bonyhady.
    https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/one-two-punch-for-part-time-workers-in-hard-hit-industries-when-jobkeeper-drops-20200905-p55sow.html
    Peter FitzSimons has another task for Abbott while he’s in England.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/here-s-something-else-tony-abbott-could-do-while-he-s-in-london-20200904-p55sh3.html
    Jacqui Maley backgrounds Abbott for the Poms.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/here-s-something-else-tony-abbott-could-do-while-he-s-in-london-20200904-p55sh3.html
    Wendy Touhy adds to the Abbott pile-on.
    https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/mr-abbott-i-ll-take-policies-that-protect-our-cherished-elders-any-day-20200904-p55sh5.html
    Australia has never been good at acknowledging its troops have been guilty of acts of inhumanity, writes Paul Daley.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/sep/05/australia-has-never-been-good-at-acknowledging-its-troops-have-been-guilty-of-acts-of-inhumanity
    ABC News is operating on an outdated business model that needs to be revised in order to build a larger audience, writes Jeff Waters.
    https://independentaustralia.net/business/business-display/abc-news-needs-to-find-a-new-way-to-chase-ratings,14279
    Kamala Harris has said that she would not trust Donald Trump’s word on the safety of any coronavirus vaccine approved for use in America before the November election.
    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/sep/05/kamala-harris-covid-vaccine-safety-trump-election

    Cartoon Corner

    Matt Davidson

    Reg Lynch

    Matt Golding






    Mark David

    From the US



  49. Mr Abbott, who was prime minister from 2013 to 2015, will use his influence to help advocate for free trade internationally as Britain renegotiates its trade relationships post-Brexit but will have no direct role in striking deals, the UK government said.

    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/labor-questions-tony-abbott-s-conflict-of-interest-on-new-uk-trade-role-20200905-p55so6.html

    All pomp and ceremony, no real responsibility. All mouth, no actual hard work on the nitty gritty.

    The perfect role for Toned Abs.

  50. Thanks BK for today’s Dawn Patrol.

    Jacqui Maley backgrounds Abbott for the Poms.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/here-s-something-else-tony-abbott-could-do-while-he-s-in-london-20200904-p55sh3.html

    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/abbott-s-uk-gig-calls-for-diplomacy-and-respect-for-experts-have-they-met-him-20200904-p55shy.html

    The protests yesterday reminded me that one of my sons in law is a flat earther, no moon landings, WTC destruction etc adherent.
    When I asked my daughter what’s the go with him she simply said that there’s plenty more like him.

    I guess the misinformation, disinformation and just plain lies promulgated courtesy of TV, newspapers and Parliaments have given the OK to be a ratbag and proud of it.

    Newcastle weather
    Currently 14℃ – projected to of 20℃
    Winds ESE at 15 to 25 km/h

    Cure for lower back pain. Rest, ibuprofen and ☕☕

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