Before proceeding with the latest preselection news, I have a still-active post with daily updates on the progress of Tasmanian state election count; a live results feature that I can’t promote often enough, since it remains by some distance the most detailed source of results data available; and a lengthy plea for cash from Friday from which I’m still vaguely hopeful of squeezing another donation or two.
On with the show:
• The long-awaited Liberal National Party Senate preselection has allocated top position on the Queensland ticket to James McGrath while relegating Amanda Stoker to third, maintaining an impressive bipartisan run of preselectors never getting anything right. Michael McKenna of The Australian relates that McGrath secured a sweeping 212-101 win from the “biggest ever turnout for a State Council Senate vote”. The second position is designated to the Nationals, and is duly a lock for Matt Canavan.
• Paul Starick of The Advertiser reports that Leah Blyth, who has the backing of the South Australian Liberal Party’s conservative faction to replace the retiring Nicolle Flint in the Adelaide seat of Boothby, may be poleaxed by the Section 44 of the Constitution. Blyth’s efforts to renounce a dual British citizenship even this far out from the election could fall foul of extended processing times arising from COVID-19, although others quoted in the report express doubt that it will really be a problem. Rival contenders include Rachel Swift, moderate-aligned proprietor of a health consultancy firm, and Shaun Osborn, a police officer who ran in the seat of Adelaide in 2019. However, Osborn is hampered by the optics of putting a man forward to replace Flint, whose experiences have been a key element in Liberal efforts to parry suggestions that disrespect for women is particularly a problem on their own side of politics.
• John Ferguson of The Australian reports dissension within Victorian Labor over the likelihood that former state secretary Sam Rae will secure preselection for the new seat of Hawke on Melbourne’s north-western fringe. The report says a draft preselection agreement reserves the seat for the Right faction Transport Workers Union, which remains associated with party powerbroker and former Senator Stephen Conroy. While Conroy evidently backs Rae, “other parts” of the Right are said to favour the position going to a woman, specifically Natalie Hutchins, the Andrews government Corrections Minister and member for the seat of Sydenham.
• Matthew Denholm of The Australian reported last week that “wholesale ALP federal intervention” loomed for the party’s Tasmanian branch, “barring a shock win for the party” at Saturday’s state election – which, for those of you who have just joined us, didn’t happen. The concern is that Left unions use their excessive weight within the branch’s affairs to do foolish things like deny preselection to Dean Winter, who was able to achieve his thumping win in Franklin on Saturday only because the national executive intervened to give him a place on the ticket. This would appear to be relevant to Labor’s preselections for the federal seat of Bass and Braddon, which it lost at the 2019 election, and also to the fate of twice-defeated state leader Rebecca White. The aforesaid Left unions are apparently keen on replacing her with David O’Byrne, who was outpolled in Franklin on Saturday by the aforesaid Dean Winter.
• The Liberal Party has done tellingly extensive research for its submission opposing the registration of a party under the name New Liberals, which included CT Group polling indicating that 69% of respondents believed a party thus named sounded like it had a connection with the other Liberal Party.
Sohar says:
Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 11:18 am
“Interesting that the case in NSW is a close contact of a top Liberal in the state.”
They ate in the same restaurant. Is that political now?
Travel from India, how do we compare ?
.
WORLD NEWS
Covid-19 travel ban: These countries have restricted flights to and from India
US President Joe Biden signed a proclamation last week restricting travel from India, with some exceptions,……………..
Taiwan: The island nation placed a ban on arrivals from India on May 3.
Nigeria: Travellers who visited India within 14 days preceding travel will be denied entry into Nigeria from May 4.
Bangladesh: Restriction for entry of Indians into Bangladesh from India through air/rail/land with certain exceptions has been extended till May 9
Nepal: India’s neighbour banned all domestic flights from Monday midnight and all international flights from Wednesday midnight until May 14 amid a surge in Covid-19 cases. It also banned transit movement from India starting April 28.
Israel: Israel has temporarily barred its citizens from travelling to India citing high Covid-19 infection rates. The regulation came into force on May 3 and will remain in place until May 16……………………
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/covid19-travel-ban-these-countries-have-restricted-flights-to-and-from-india-101620125693859.html
Dictatorship if this was a Labor premier
Those who are caught in the Sydney area where restrictions start after 5pm without a mask will be fined
More opportunities for Stewie. No wonder they’re smiling.
lol lizzie
“Bucephalus says:
Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 11:38 am
Everyone who flys to a COP conference.
Kerry
Thunberg”
I believe you will find that Greta Thunberg refuses to fly and travels via net zero emissions methods or the lowest carbon footprint possible.
Who is the poster on this blog who keeps saying “Stop making shit up”?
Maybe there should be a penalty imposed, eg complete and unequivocal mea culpa or receive a temporary ban, on anyone making shit up? But it’s not my blog.
I also realise it could be part of the Liberal Party membership terms and conditions (I don’t know, I’m not a member) that you are allowed to make shit up. Who knows?
Yes, many countries have banned travel from India – it’s threatening their own citizens which sets Australia apart.
But punishing people for lying violates their right to free speech. Or some such nonsense like that.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/05/world/europe/americans-murder-italian-police-officer.html
ROME — Two American men were found guilty of murder on Wednesday and sentenced to life in prison for the street-corner killing of an Italian military police officer on an early summer morning, when the two young San Francisco natives were vacationing in Rome.
After deliberating for about 11 hours, a jury found Finnegan Elder, 21, and Gabriel Natale Hjorth, 20, guilty of the murder of Deputy Brig. Mario Cerciello Rega.
Gasps were heard across the courtroom as the verdicts were announced. The officer’s widow leaned against her lawyer and sobbed. Mr. Elder’s mother collapsed against her husband, as the court imposed the harshest penalty possible under Italian law.
Geno,
You know it is the Conservative way (not just LNP) to:
a) Never concede anything
b) Never admit a lie
c) Never acknowledge the opposition
and most importantly
d) Never apologise
This is possible, of course, due the ongoing, albeit declining, influence of worldwide mainstream media.
So don’t be expecting miracles. Nice to have the management do something about it once in every while, though.
Could you imagine what a US court would have given to a couple of Italian teenagers for murdering a cop in drug case?
Gene Milessays:
Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 11:55 am
“I believe you will find that Greta Thunberg refuses to fly and travels via net zero emissions methods or the lowest carbon footprint possible.”
She made a big deal of sailing to the USA and back. The crews of those boats fly either to get on the boat – like the skipper of her return voyage – or to get home after the crossings. The carbon costs of her showboating was multiples of her just flying herself around.
Now, do you want to do John Kerry flying on private jets and the attendees of Davos all flying in – they almost run out parking spots for all the jets.
Mmmm….
https://amp.smh.com.au/politics/federal/government-diverted-cash-from-31m-safer-communities-grants-to-ineligible-projects-20210503-p57oem.html
The SmearStralian is eating its own dog food – after pumping all week the ‘failures’ in the Victorian hotel quarantine system, what should happen?
A breakout (probably) from NSW’s gold standard hotel quarantine, which in part have affected close contacts at the Azure cafe at Fox Studios.
Will the Smear pivot and megaphone ‘failure’ at GladysB?
Sydney Swans coach John Longmire and his assistants are awaiting the result of COVID-19 tests after visiting a Moore Park cafe on Monday in the same timeframe as a man who was infectious with the virus.
It comes as players and staff from the Sydney Roosters were also sent for testing, putting this weekend’s AFL and NRL fixtures on a knife’s edge.
The man, in his 50s, attended the Azure Cafe at the Entertainment Quarter in Moore Park on Monday, May 3 between 12.30pm and 1pm.
The cafe is popular with Roosters and Swans players, given it is close their respective headquarters.
The Herald observed Longmire and several of his assistants, including Dean Cox, Jarrad McVeigh and Don Pyke, at the venue just after 1pm – approximately an hour before Longmire’s weekly press conference was held nearby at the SCG.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/roosters-to-undergo-covid-testing-after-potential-cafe-exposure-20210506-p57pc1.html
Bucephalus @ #1309 Thursday, May 6th, 2021 – 10:07 am
What’s the problem?
You don’t believe in man made climate change!
We are really going to see how good the NSW test and trace system is. I would much prefer the city lockdown approach when there is unknown transmission.
At least with a city lockdown you know you are stopping transmission and not praying and hoping.
The only positive thing about the current Sydney outbreak is it is not one of more virulent strains (so only spreads fast; not super fast).
Roy Orbison @ #1275 Thursday, May 6th, 2021 – 10:34 am
Imagine what a good opposition leader could do to this clown.
Bucephalus says:
Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 10:41 am
Confessions says:
Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 7:54 am
“How often does the saying ‘do as I say not as I do’ apply to the OTT religious types who are quick to cloak themselves in their religion while behaving contrary to the judgement they cast upon others.”
Just like all the CO2 Preachers flying around the world, living in magnificent homes and hotels and telling us all not to.
I’ll believe there’s a crisis when those telling us there’s a crisis start acting like there’s a crisis.
In fact….really, needless to say….those who can see what otherwise lies ahead for us all are indeed trying to shift the world economy’s energy systems from carbon-intense technologies to carbon-free technologies. Change is upon us though you might snivel about it. Too bad. You are the past.
Your response is to declare you’d prefer CO2 emissions to increase. This is the 21st century equivalent of Marie Antoinette’s infamous reference to rebellious, starving Parisians: “Let them eat cake.”
This is the lingo of the haughty and the reactionary. You too will be brought down to size. We will not be eating cake. We will have a carbon-free energy system driving the world economy and it will be more productive, more sustainable, safer and more equitable than the one it will replace.
Too bad for the ancien regime. You’re fucked.
An important development in getting vaccination happening worldwide.
@AmbassadorTai tweets
These extraordinary times and circumstances of call for extraordinary measures.
The US supports the waiver of IP protections on COVID-19 vaccines to help end the pandemic and we’ll actively participate in @WTO negotiations to make that happen.
Gladys spins the chamber and puts the gun to NSW’s head and……. Stay tuned to see how her game of Russian Roulette turns out.
.
.
“Unlike other premiers, we’re not shutting down the city,” she said, encouraging people to still attend Mother’s Day bookings at restaurants on Sunday.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/nsw-treasurer-dominic-perrottet-isolating-after-visiting-cbd-cafe-20210506-p57pcn.html
Well, let’s all hope that this time they can find the ‘missing link’.
Barney in Tanjung Bunga says:
Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 12:10 pm
I can’t stand hypocrites.
Damned Liberals. They are indeed the enemy…the enemy of reason, justice, progress and truth. Fuck them.
poroti @ #1322 Thursday, May 6th, 2021 – 12:17 pm
It’s Gladys vs the world …!!
Bucephalus says:
Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 12:19 pm
Barney in Tanjung Bunga says:
Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 12:10 pm
I can’t stand hypocrites.
Self-loathing is not necessary.
a r says:
“But punishing people for lying violates their right to free speech. Or some such nonsense like that.”
I used to be a moderator of a blog/forum. I had no hesitation in banning obvious trolls or smartarses. The blog/forum ran quite well. I owed them nothing in terms of free speech. That’s for the govt to owe them. I owed the rest of the members on that blog/forum a reasonable place to conduct conversations and share ideas without constantly being trolled.
Bucephalus says:
“She made a big deal of sailing to the USA and back. The crews of those boats fly either to get on the boat – like the skipper of her return voyage – or to get home after the crossings. The carbon costs of her showboating was multiples of her just flying herself around.”
The world is imperfect. It will never be perfect. Somebody representing the country I am a citizen of murdered someone in cold blood and committed a war crime. It doesn’t mean I am not doing my best to be a good citizen of that country nor am a bad person nor am responsible.
And, like all of your ilk, you totally miss the point. It’s not that flying is impossible in a lower carbon world or that we have to go back to living in caves. It’s that if we use the renewable energy sources as much as possible then whatever carbon footprint we still use will not be as damaging. We may never have a totally carbon-footprint-free world. But one where we utilise renewable sources instead of fossil fuels will be a far better one.
I was watching an old Doctor Who episode recently, from way back in 1974, with Tom Baker. And a scientist on that episode had a vision of a time when humankind will be using the ‘free’ energy from the sun to power everything and we will no longer have to dig up fuels. 1974, FFS!!! And on a BBC TV series with cheap sets that they probably bought from a $2 shop!
Innovation and imagination. Something that is supposed to be part of the pro-business political party but is somehow lacking in the politicians representing that party.
@brucehawker2010 tweeted 3 hours ago
The latest community infection from Covid shows the folly of hotel quarantine. Hotels are not equipped to contain virulent viruses. Transport drivers, hotel and security staff are vulnerable. @GladysB Berejiklian put up a purpose built facility away from Sydney now.
@cheryl_kernot tweets
And stop using the excuse that it has to be in CBD close to hospitals. Patients are transferred by helicopter every day!
@MargLeaWall tweets
An island resort close to Townsville or Cairns would make a lot of sense. Just pay to rent it at full capacity. Several owners would probably grab the chance.
N @ #1325 Thursday, May 6th, 2021 – 12:19 pm
You could add the Labor right in with that as well.
I’m not a huge fan of Greta Thunberg – I find her quite grating. Unlike Bucephalus I don’t use my personal feelings as a reason to deny the reality of anthropogenic climate change.
I also find Richard Dawkins annoying. But I don’t use my personal dislike as grounds to deny the reality of evolution.
Either you accept the science, or you don’t. Bucephalus obviously doesn’t, and the reasons he provides are spurious and/or downright false.
guytaur @ #1329 Thursday, May 6th, 2021 – 12:20 pm
It is Morrison who should stop cowering away from responsibility and get on with the job of building purpose built quarantine facilities in every state/territory.
Just as well as this missing link hasnt occurred in Melbourne.
The media and the fiberals would be screaming blue murder by now.
Rex Douglas says:
Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 12:21 pm
N @ #1325 Thursday, May 6th, 2021 – 12:19 pm
Damned Liberals. They are indeed the enemy…the enemy of reason, justice, progress and truth. Fuck them.
You could add the Labor right in with that as well.
Well, you would…..in your endless campaign for the re-election of the LNP…
Change begins by changing the government. You are opposed to this. You are on the same team as Bucephalus/Compact Crank.
Only a denialist could be triggered by Greta, because she speaks the direct truth.
N says: about Bucephalus
“Your response is to declare you’d prefer CO2 emissions to increase.”
Well, if I’d known that then I wouldn’t have bothered wasting my time typing my last response to him.
That’ll teach me (D’oh!)
The Murdoch cancer — how one country is trying to cure itself
“We are drowning in lies”
Imagine if the toxic nature of Rupert Murdoch media’s lies and bullying became so overpowering in America that a bipartisan movement sprang up against it. Imagine if former presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush came together to demand a Congressional inquiry into Fox News and the danger Murdoch poses to our democracy.
That’s what recently happened in Australia, when former Prime Ministers Kevin Rudd and Malcolm Turnbull — occupying different parts of the political spectrum — joined forces to denounce the Murdoch media cancer that’s eating the country. They’re urging the government to take steps to diversify media ownership and to break up the dangerous coalition that now exists between right-wing politicians and the Murdoch press, which serves as an unaccountable, but extremely powerful, entity in Australian politics.
America and Australia remain uniquely plagued by the Murdoch cancer.
MORE : https://pressrun.media/p/the-murdoch-cancer-how-one-country
N
You have to take some of your own advice.
Stop denying reality. The Greens have a role on the left and do not campaign for election of LNP government as you pretend.
Victoria @ #1333 Thursday, May 6th, 2021 – 12:23 pm
Imagine the hysteria from Neil Mitchell ! He’d be going apoplectic !!
Yup, interesting that there appears to be an outbreak in NSW. Smoko will no doubt take the opportunity to go all blame blame on Gladys if she shuts down (oops, she already is going there….https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2021/may/06/morning-mail-covid-sydney-nsw-wastewater-contact-tracing-community-transmission-gladys-berejiklian-heath ) 🙂
“No singing or dancing in indoor venues, including places of worship and entertainment venues. ”
So Smoko, keep your Tongues and Laying on of Hands to yourself pal. 🙁
“Compulsory mask-wearing at all public indoor spaces, including public transport, supermarkets, hospitality venues and any indoor event.”
Annoying but absolutely appropriate response. 🙂
Anyway, had my first AZ jab this morning. At work (with a mask on…in W.A.) and feeling fine so far. 🙂 Ok, wont have any realistic immunity for a couple of weeks, but am on my way. 🙂
Starting to think that Frytheplanet better have put $ in the budget for expanded, dedicated quarantine facilities, AND….. mRNA vaccine production facilities / assistance / subsidies to industry to build such.
Going to become very important over the next 2 years in terms of the agility to produce booster shots capable against changing variants of Covid….and / or whatever virus gets thrown at us next. Which WILL happen. Govt had better listen to the warnings people or they will be out on their arses.
We should take note of the methods of Howard, Costello, Abbott and their kin. They won elections by promising to change nothing. Then they proceeded to change whatever they could. They were utterly determined on this.
guytaur says:
Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 12:27 pm
N
You have to take some of your own advice.
Stop denying reality. The Greens have a role on the left and do not campaign for election of LNP government as you pretend.
Oh, go and get lost, g. The Greens campaign 24/7 against Labor. This is the very reason for their existence. They are a prop for the decadent and the corrupt LNP.
They are LINO. Left in name only. They are the hand servants of the LNP.
N
Go and get lost idiot.
I have posted Adam Bandt tweets personally that only attack the LNP and not Labor.
So you are denying reality.
Edit: You are also actively aiding the climate denialists in the Murdoch media whose aim is to destroy the Greens for pointing out the reality of science on carbon emissions
Bucephalus @ #1324 Thursday, May 6th, 2021 – 12:19 pm
Wait a minute. Kerry is a hypocrite because he flies, and Thunberg is a hypocrite because she doesn’t?
Please make up your mind before posting such nonsense again.
Rex Douglas
The Oz yesterday had a story on front page. Of course, Neil Mitchell and and rest of media following suit. Paying out bit time on our infection control person for not washing hands or some such ridiculous thing.
And of course the opposition here were given their marching orders to make a big song and dance about it in parliament.
Beyond ridiculous to say the least.
They should all be ashamed of themselves.
guytaur says:
Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 12:33 pm
N
Go and get lost idiot.
I have posted Adam Bandt tweets personally that only attack the LNP and not Labor.
So you are denying reality.
The Greens are an anti-Labor gizmo. They came into existence in Tasmania as an anti-Labor/anti-union expression. They hate Labor. Thru and thru. They hope for Labor’s defeat and work for it at all times.
Of course, if and when enduring changes to the energy system are introduced in Australia, this will have nothing to do with the Greens. Such changes will come in spite of them, rather than because of them.
N
You are in denial.
You are doing complete fantasy on the role of the Greens in Tasmania.
Bob Hawke and Graham Richardson specifically did not buy your fantasy.