Groom at the top

Eight LNP candidates nominate to fill John McVeigh’s vacancy in the Queensland seat of Groom; and the federal government says it will act to retain the Northern Territory’s two seats in the House of Representatives.

Miscellaneous developments from the past week:

• The Toowoomba Chronicle reports eight candidates have nominated for Liberal National Party preselection for the Groom by-election, of whom the front-runners are Rebecca Vonhoff, a Toowoomba councillor; Garth Hamilton, a businessman; Sara Hales, former general manager of Wellcamp Airport; and Shane Charles, former Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise chief executive. Also in the field are “Elders Rural Services’ Andrew Meara … race car driver Daniel Cassidy, Australian Lot Feeders president Bryce Camm and Doctor David van Gend”, the latter being a firebrand social conservative whom the outgoing member, John McVeigh, defeated for preselection when he succeeded Ian Macfarlane in 2016. Notably absent from the list is Senator Matt Canavan, despite a decision by the state executive to leave it to the branch membership whether the seat should go to a Liberal, as it has since 1988, or a National. The date of the by-election is yet to be confirmed.

• Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said on Thursday that the government would introduce a bill that will ensure the Northern Territory retains its two seats in the House of Representatives, though by what mechanism is unclear. A Labor-sponsored bill currently before the Senate provides a crude guarantee of a second Northern Territory seat (without extending the courtesy to the Australian Capital Territory, albeit that its population is such that the question does not arise), but when the same issue emerged before the 2004 election, it was dealt with through a technical tweak to the population statistics used to determine seat entitlements. The bottom line is that the Labor-held seats of Solomon and Lingiari, created when the territory first became entitled to a second seat in 2001 and respectively covering Darwin and the rest of the territory, will continue to exist despite enrolments of less than two-thirds the national norm. It also means the House of Representatives

• The Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters is conducting an inquiry into the “future conduct of elections operating during times of emergency situations”, encompassing “restrictions arising from a health pandemic”, “access to polling places during times of natural disasters”, “other potential drivers of social restrictions, such as future civil unrest, or international conflict” and “alternative voting methods including early, remote and postal voting”.

• The West Australian has a Painted Dog Research poll of 932 respondents in WA showing 64% want the state’s hard border maintained beyond December, with 36% favouring a resumption of travel with the eastern states.Hou

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.

590 comments on “Groom at the top”

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  2. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-10/qld-state-election-2020-scott-morrison-joins-capaign-labor-lnp/12748066

    “If Deb Frecklington’s elected, then I tell you what, it’s really going to change things up here in Queensland because we’re going to be able to get moving,” he said.

    “You will find us joined at the elbow and at the hip when it comes to our economic policies and getting Queenslanders working again.”

    Another misstep?

    I don’t think it will be enough to help the LNP in Qld, and crikey, it could build some resentment towards Morrison to be making statements like this!

  3. “If Deb Frecklington’s elected, then I tell you what, it’s really going to change things up here in Queensland because we’re going to be able to get moving,” he said.

    “You will find us joined at the elbow and at the hip when it comes to our economic policies and getting Queenslanders working again.”
    ______________
    What a lot of shallow bullshit!

  4. BK @ #153 Saturday, October 10th, 2020 – 4:12 pm

    “If Deb Frecklington’s elected, then I tell you what, it’s really going to change things up here in Queensland because we’re going to be able to get moving,” he said.

    “You will find us joined at the elbow and at the hip when it comes to our economic policies and getting Queenslanders working again.”
    ______________
    What a lot of shallow bullshit!

    Easily surpassed by another load –

    “By far, the LNP’s biggest election promise is a mammoth $33 billion, 15-year plan to expand the Bruce Highway. Asked whether he would stump up the Federal Government’s share of the funding, Mr Morrison said he was looking at it.

    “We are getting ready to ensure we understand the full costs and what’s involved,” he said.

    We
    are
    getting
    ready
    to ensure
    we understand

    No wonder the Aged Care died alone in their Aged Care beds.

  7. This morning I did some doorknocking for Michael Berkman, the Member for Maiwar. It was heartening to find that many residents of Fig Tree Pocket, a high-income western suburb of Brisbane, like the extra accountability that Michael Berkman brings to the Queensland Government and the Brisbane City Council. The Labor State Government and the LNP Local Council have made commitments to infrastructure upgrades, a new school for the western suburbs, and increases to public services that they were dragging their feet on for a long time because they previously didn’t feel any pressure to make these commitments. Now they do, and that is a great result.

  10. Nicholas says:
    Saturday, October 10, 2020 at 2:46 pm
    – Biden could get sick
    – The Ukraine nonsense could unearth something actually momentous
    – Harris could say something that scares the pants off Republicans swaying towards Biden

    The third on this list is my great fear.
    Very unlikely to happen. Kamala Harris one of the most scripted and vapid politicians on the scene today.

    Scripting is a very idea in this context. Politics is not a stand-up comic act. Knowing what you have to say, saying it and being remembered for that is a plus in a campaign.

    There is nothing so vapid as the whinging of the faux. In fact, the whinging is a script too. It consists of the cliches of the petty-Trumpers.

  11. Nicholas has a point on the Rudd and Gillard government because neither of them were good at arguing the case with Gillard’s only cut through being the sexist speech but the rest of the time the ALP were poor communicators.

  12. Nicholas says:
    Saturday, October 10, 2020 at 4:30 pm

    This morning I did some doorknocking for Michael Berkman, the Member for Maiwar.

    The Faux campaigning against Labor, as usual. The reason given to re-elect the Faux is basically “to standup to Labor.” This will surely be a winner in a high income precinct. The Faux have dropped the premise. They are an anti-Labor voice reaching out to the bourgeoisie.

    No news in Brisbane.

  14. Remember that to communicate you have to have a channel to enable it.

    Gillard’s speech went largely unreported in Australia due to ‘the context’.

    It took off via social media and media overseas.

    The media basically refused to report anything that would put Labor in a positive light, going so far as to not report at all on key policy announcements.

  15. Mexicanbeemer

    I think the ALP are often poor communicators because they don’t have a feral attitude to Libs. They think too much. They’re basically “decent chaps”. Unlike Keating, who could turn it on and off.

  16. Been catching up on the Rugby League semis. impressive stuff. Wondering why I still bother watching the wobbly Wallabies and Waratahs. Then realised I have pretty much already stopped bothering.

  17. Lizzie
    Don’t know about that because we Victorians have had a string of strong communicators in Bracks Brumby and Andews and other state ALP leaders have been impressive at getting their message across but you are right on the Rudd and Gillard era being too nice.

  18. I see Lindsay Graham is finding new depths to sink to. No barrels bottom is safe with Lindsay around.

    Is there a 25th A for an entire political party?

  21. Thérèse Rein
    @Therese_Rein
    ·
    1h
    Parliament House needs to radically boost the capacity of its web server otherwise it will be party to dampening democracy.

    As if it hasn’t already!

  22. I think Rudd believed too much in the intelligence of the electorate. He thought that there was no need to ‘sell’ policies, that if you’d achieved good things that that would be obvious to everyone.

  23. lizziesays:

    Mexicanbeemer

    Lack of confidence for Gillard, I think. Unless she was fired up with indignation!

    It was a very noticeable change when she got the top job. A previously fairly confident speaker suddenly sounded like they would hedge their bets if asked if it was day or night.

  25. “Been catching up on the Rugby League semis. impressive stuff. Wondering why I still bother watching the wobbly Wallabies and Waratahs. Then realised I have pretty much already stopped bothering.”

    Fun fact. The Waratahs, since Gladys knocked down a perfectly good stadium and associated facilities so that her mates could add a hotel to the rebuilt buildings, have moved their base to the UNSW fields, literally around the corner from me. I have watched them train from time to time (obviously not now) and I can see why play like they do. They spend most of their time standing around. By contrast, Easts (Roosters) have also moved nearby (for the same reason) and Souths have always trained at Redfern – just up the road a bit. Seen them both train up close and the difference isn’t just next level. It is several levels of intensity and it’s the way they both play like they do. Rugby Union play to play. League play to kill.
    Used to see the Swans train at Moore Park as well but I don’t know enough about AFL to comment.

  26. that if you’d achieved good things that that would be obvious to everyone.?

    That is the problem, some 40 percent of the electorate are not too bright!.

  29. Rudd was leading with Labor 52-48 in the polls when he was chopped down…..I was not a great fan of Rudd, but the Oz electorate, and I was with them at the time, took the attitude that Rudd was “elected” by them and they wanted to decided whether he should stay or go.
    The stupidity of Labor, at times, is beyond understanding – even to its supporters. And I don’t buy the “Rudd was hard to get on with” line as a reason to have him cut down……..

  30. Knowing people that have meet Gillard say that she was as tough as nails when she needed to be and in person she seen as friendly and approachable but many people do put a workface on which masks their non-work personality.

  34. Another afternoon wasted talking about Labor’s alleged inadequacies both historical and current. Labor are not the Government implementing policies atm. People should focus on where the real problem is, the Morrison Liberal Government.

    Nicky gets credit today for actually getting off his arse and walking his talk. Doesn’t mean I agree with him. But, he’s at least moved beyond keyboard warrior mode.

  35. It’s Time @ #182 Saturday, October 10th, 2020 – 6:05 pm

    citizen @ #181 Saturday, October 10th, 2020 – 5:01 pm

    The parliament house IT crew are working flat out to fix the computers following K Rudd’s complaint.

    <a href="” rel=”nofollow ugc”>” rel=”nofollow ugc”>

    Malcolm says “Stick it in a socket.” No, he doesn’t say which one. You know he’s not into detail. Then turn the internet back on.

    Did they try to turn off and on?

  37. Tricot @ #179 Saturday, October 10th, 2020 – 5:39 pm

    Rudd was leading with Labor 52-48 in the polls when he was chopped down…..I was not a great fan of Rudd, but the Oz electorate, and I was with them at the time, took the attitude that Rudd was “elected” by them and they wanted to decided whether he should stay or go.
    The stupidity of Labor, at times, is beyond understanding – even to its supporters. And I don’t buy the “Rudd was hard to get on with” line as a reason to have him cut down……..

    No, Rudd was a flop.

    When leadership was required for the greatest moral challenge of our time, he capitulated.

    He failed the leadership test – and his Govt became paralysed.

    His actions after his removal as PM should be enough proof for you thathaving him as leader was a catastrophic appointment.

  38. Greensborough Growler @ #184 Saturday, October 10th, 2020 – 6:08 pm

    Another afternoon wasted talking about Labor’s alleged inadequacies both historical and current. Labor are not the Government implementing policies atm.

    Yeah, nup.

    We’ve been around this at least twice already. Labor has demonstrated in the last few days that it can drive public policy discussion from opposition. They just mostly choose not to do so. Why? Well, one reason is that on many issues (e.g. taxes cuts, climate, energy, security) they basically agree with the government. Or at least a significant part of the party does, and the rest are too afraid to rock the boat.

  40. gnath:

    Well that may be the case, but it is not my assertion but arose from Ross Fitzgerald’s biography of Theodore where he states that the “bulk” of the wages “paid” to Fijian miners were actually deposited in the treasuries of the Catholic and Methodist churches.

    R Fitzgerald. The Life of E.G Theodore, p. 369

    I have 100% of my wage deposited into a bank, and I understand this is common. Perhaps you do too?

    The colonial banks in Fiji did not allow Fijians to establish bank accounts, unless they had a European guarantor. The (racist) result was that very few Fijians could establish bank accounts.

    Hence the Methodists (and I presume the Church of Rome) operated as a bank for their parishioners.

  42. Player One @ #188 Saturday, October 10th, 2020 – 6:20 pm

    Greensborough Growler @ #184 Saturday, October 10th, 2020 – 6:08 pm

    Another afternoon wasted talking about Labor’s alleged inadequacies both historical and current. Labor are not the Government implementing policies atm.

    Yeah, nup.

    We’ve been around this at least twice already. Labor has demonstrated in the last few days that it can drive public policy discussion from opposition. They just mostly choose not to do so. Why? Well, one reason is that on many issues (e.g. taxes cuts, climate, energy, security) they basically agree with the government. Or at least a significant part of the party does, and the rest are too afraid to rock the boat.

    The glib one arrives. How unsurprising.

  45. Nicholas @ #147 Saturday, October 10th, 2020 – 3:05 pm

    While it was happening the pink batts issue could easily have been defended. Rudd’s decision to acquiesce was the beginning of the end of his government.

    100 percent true. The Rudd Government should have argued that the home insulation program brought a higher standard of safety to a sector that previously had terrible standards. And that in a free society it is not possible for the government to prevent every single act of recklessness by shoddy contractors. And that the government was committed to raising safety standards and forcing shoddy contractors out of business.

    Does anyone believe that the government has a Minority Report style of precognition technology that permits it to predict the future and prevent every single horrible event from happening? The Rudd Government allowed the media and its enemies to hold it to this impossible standard of care.

    The learned helplessness of Labor runs deep. That helps to explain why Rudd responded as he did to the pink batts story.

    Federal Labor has no clue how to sell it’s policy to the masses ie. pass the pub test.

    Sadly, the Libs have mastered the language required to pass the pub test.

  46. EGT

    I have 100% of my wage deposited into a bank, and I understand this is common. Perhaps you do too?

    The colonial banks in Fiji did not allow Fijians to establish bank accounts, unless they had a European guarantor. The (racist) result was that very few Fijians could establish bank accounts.

    Hence the Methodists (and I presume the Church of Rome) operated as a bank for their parishioners.

    Interesting.

    I was in Chile in 2010 when the requirements for opening a bank account were made similar to those in Australia: i.e. All that is required is proper ID, and a parent or guardian to sign if you are under a certain age.

    We waited in line behind a whole proud class of primary school students who marched up to the Banco de Chile with their piggy banks, to open accounts. They were so excited!

    Before 2010, unless you earned around $USD 30K per year, you could not have a bank account. It was a cash economy.

    Was this sort of “needing a job” or “needing to be a white man” common in many places 100 years ago?

  49. Mexicanbeemer @ #167 Saturday, October 10th, 2020 – 5:05 pm

    Lizzie
    Don’t know about that because we Victorians have had a string of strong communicators in Bracks Brumby and Andews and other state ALP leaders have been impressive at getting their message across but you are right on the Rudd and Gillard era being too nice.

    Andrews’ language and delivery style passes the pub test extremely effectively.

    How those who thought he was just a seat warmer couldn’t see that still amazes me.

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