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.
While nobody really wins by bagging actions taken to deal with CV, the events in Sydney where “NSW is the Gold Standard” crap originated might allow a bit of time for egg to be wiped of sundry faces…..
It is likely the LNP will discover that a Labor supporter from Melbourne took the infection into NSW…or something equally silly.
Calls to “Come out from under the doona!” will disappear without trace from Morrison…
@AlboMP tweets
Soon, I’m giving my pre-Budget address at @McKellInstitute – laying out Labor’s values and what’s required from #Budget2021.
Quarantine. Aged care. Child care. Secure jobs.
After eight long years of the Liberals and Nationals, Australians need a government that’s on their side.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/may/06/coalition-vetoes-funding-for-wind-and-battery-farm-in-northern-queensland
The corrupt parliamentary fossil fuel cartel is such a danger to Australian society and our economy.
Goodness I had been under impression from some bludgers that NSW were the gold standard when it came to health.
ABC News
@abcnews
Doctors beg Health Minister to meet them about ‘appalling’ conditions at Sydney hospital
Doctors beg Health Minister to meet them about ‘appalling’ conditions at Sydney hospital
Dozens of medical staff at Canterbury Hospital in Sydney’s south-west are pleading with the NSW Health Minister to visit the facility and see the “appalling” conditions they say desperately need…
abc.net.au
11:12 AM · May 6, 2021·Microsoft Power Platform
Masks on in NSW till Monday 12.01am.
Some ‘Gold Standard’. 😐
@NewtonMark tweets
Scott Morrison, the stupidest man to have held high office in Commonwealth history, has told hundreds of journalists who were individually emailed Greg Hunt’s press release that Greg Hunt didn’t talk-up fines and prison sentences and journalists stirred it all up themselves. 1/2
Later, he will use his high-pitched emotions-out-of-control panic voice to attack those same journalists when they ask normal and expected questions about this act of dishonesty in his press conferences, because he’s a fucking idiot. 2/2
N says:
Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 12:30 pm
“We should take note of the methods of Howard, Costello, Abbott and their kin. They won elections by promising to change nothing.”
GST.
Carbon Tax gone.
The Greens were formed in 1992, after Bob Hawke left office. Richardson saw an opportunity to court the youth/environmental vote and did so. He expressly could not favour the Greens because they did not exist at the time. The environment was the winner. The Greens were formed with the intention of capturing this support and turning it against Labor. This has been their MO ever since.
The Greens have always been a parasite brand. An anti-Labor brand. They are LINO. They hope to help bring about the defeat of Labor at all time and in all places. This is a specific political goal. Ask them. They will not deny it. This is a campaign goal enunciated by Bandt himself in recent weeks.
Apparently Morrison was interviewed on 3aw this morning. Was asked about funding for quarantine facilities as requested by the vic state govt. Appears no firm commitments given as yet.
Vic,
They don’t call him (our NSW Health Minister) ‘Health Hazzard’ for nothing!
C@t
Well there you go! Some bludgers from NSW spend an awful lot of time reporting on how bad vic health is, dont know how I missed hearing about Health hazzard.
Lol!
@StephenJonesMP tweets
$25M in JobKeeper funds flows directly from taxpayers to the profits of Best&Less.
Tell me again how the Coalition are great at managing money.
Bucephalus says:
Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 12:44 pm
N says:
Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 12:30 pm
“We should take note of the methods of Howard, Costello, Abbott and their kin. They won elections by promising to change nothing.”
GST.
Carbon Tax gone.
Yup. Burned on a Green pyre.
N
Keep lying to yourself.
I think Labor people are starting to wake up about your fantasy.
Victoria @ #1359 Thursday, May 6th, 2021 – 12:46 pm
Because Murdoch ignores it maybe? And all the rich people go to Private Hospitals. Simples!
Rex Douglas says:
Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 12:39 pm
“The proponents, Neoen Australia, estimated the development could reduce electricity prices for Queensland consumers by $461m over the life of the project….”
If it’s commercially viable then they should be able to easily do it without Government funding.
Still waiting for all the renewable energy to reduce my power bills. At least I’m not in the ACT on 100% renewable energy with the highest prices in Australia.
We seem to have an outbreak if Bucellosis today.
BK
The LNP are suffering political damage.
There are reasons why there have been LNP election losses playing the regions against the inner city latte elites ( or whatever term they are using today) in the past.
BK @ #1365 Thursday, May 6th, 2021 – 12:52 pm
When his name popped up yesterday I checked his LinkedIn profile and may I just cheekily say he mustn’t be getting many customers through the door then. 😉
Breaking news.
China makes diplomatic freeze official. Suspending an agreement on meetings.
Two men are in ICU with clotting most likely linked to the A-Z shot.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/queensland/queensland-man-in-icu-with-clots-after-astrazeneca-vaccination-20210506-p57pgi.html
________________________________
I received the first shot of A-Z at Burleigh Cove this morning. Very well organised and suffering no ill-effects. Second jab due in 12 weeks.
Bu
“I can’t stand hypocrites.”
What are your thoughts on the ostentatious piety of Mr Scott Morrison?
So how many HQ breakouts have their been? A handy list…
Kakuru says:
Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 1:02 pm
You’ll need to give me some examples.
BK
Another name for Brucellosis is Undulant fever. It also comes in waves of fever .
Heard Morrison on News Radio using the word “pause” rather than “ban” re. India ban about a thousand times. Maybe he’s received legal advice.
They’re at it again! David Crowe reports that the federal government redirected cash from a $31 million safety program into a selected group of churches and cultural events after a key minister rejected department advice that ruled the projects ineligible. The intervention of Jason Wood is mentioned.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/government-diverted-cash-from-31m-safer-communities-grants-to-ineligible-projects-20210503-p57oem.html
C@tmommasays:
Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 12:56 pm
I don’t have anything to do with customers walking through doors? Unless I’m one.
Rex
“Only a denialist could be triggered by Greta, because she speaks the direct truth.”
I wouldn’t say I was ‘triggered’ by Greta. But she does prompt me to reach for the remote.
I doubt she’s won over anyone to her cause. This is unfortunate, because she does speak the truth.
The Plague has been good for one thing.,Influenza.
.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/flu-has-disappeared-worldwide-during-the-covid-pandemic1/
Prior MMR or Tdap vaccination may reduce risk of severe COVID-19
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20210505/Prior-MMR-or-Tdap-vaccination-may-reduce-risk-of-severe-COVID-19.aspx
@StephenMcDonnell tweets
Chinese officials have announced the suspension of the “#China-#Australia Strategic Economic Dialogue” saying Australian officials had “launched a series of measures to disrupt the normal exchanges and cooperation between China and Australia out of Cold War mindset…”
You really shouldn’t hate yourself.
Just try and be a better person.
No doubt about it, Matekeeper was designed to include massive amounts of taxpayer monies transferred to Lib mates and donors.
Simply, a gigantic theft from ordinary Australian taxpayers by the Libs.
guytaur @ #1380 Thursday, May 6th, 2021 – 1:12 pm
I blame boerwar.
Victoria
As someone who is currently caring for someone with dementia in the home I fully understand how difficult and stressful this is. The last 20 years of my career was in aged care and my area of interest was dementia, I knew how demanding this type of care is but until I had to provide it I didn’t really understand how draining it is.
If I could give any advice to someone who is dealing with these issues it would be to get as much support as you can and protect your own health.
Contact an Alzheimers Support group and get advice and ideas for how to deal with individual issues.
Look at noise as a trigger for increased confusion, and that involves all noise, things like muting the TV when talking to your relative will make a difference. In communicating don’t use open ended questions and directions , as this will increase confusion and frustration for you both. I am personally finding that Motion sensors that alert me when my husband moves from one room to another also makes life easier as a don’t have to constantly check what is happening.
Most importantly be kind to yourself and draw on as much assistance as you are offered.
lizzie @ #1382 Thursday, May 6th, 2021 – 1:19 pm
Morrison and the Libs are severely damaging Australian businesses.
They’re greatly harming our economy and our national standing on the global stage.
“Ten Victorian unions have written to ALP national secretary Paul Erickson warning they will mount a legal challenge against the party unless the Friday preselection deadline is delayed.”
“In The Australian on Thursday, CFMEU national political organiser Elizabeth Doidge — a close ally of Anthony Albanese’s union nemesis John Setka — said unions were ready to take on the ALP.
“We are ready to lodge in the Supreme Court. We are just going to send that letter and give them one last chance,” Ms Doidge said.
“Albo’s actions explain the real reason behind the intervention, so he and his mates who didn’t have any real power or support could run things their own way from behind closed doors.””
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/unions-give-final-warning-to-alp/news-story/a116eb31d3473efcfc76f7c38d57023c
The best thing for Labor is to double down on preselecting manufacturing aligned candidates at the expense of fossil fuel aligned candidates.
I am confused, what’s new, about some of the NSW restrictions.
If you have a large wedding and only twenty people on the dance floor, when they sit down and another twenty get up to dance what stops then inhaling the droplets, especially aerosol sized exhaled by the previous dancers.
Masks will help but at a wedding, with alcohol do we really believe that people will all be wearing well fitting masks, and they will be taking them off to eat and drink.
I don’t see how this is scientific.
Rex
With the China suspension of coal coal miners are out of the picture.
There is a silver lining to the pain Morrison is causing to our coal exports falling.
Assantdj
Appreciate your comments and personal experience in this area.
My dad is living with mum. He is mentally sharp, but no longer mobile without an aide.
I together with my siblings, are on a roster system to manage each morning afternoon and evening.
We have had lots if information provided by the geriatrician as well as dementia support Australia. She has also been assessed by aged care.
Mum’s cognition and behaviour is becoming more challenging now and I’m not sure she will be safe much longer in a home environment.
Victoria
Best wishes for you and your family managing the difficult decisions and management process.
Guytaur
Cheers
https://apnews.com/article/australia-science-health-4e350d5ea3906cf4c946dd2774fa3775
Science brings truth.
guytaur @ #1390 Thursday, May 6th, 2021 – 1:30 pm
Yes, you have to wonder whether Morrison will have the chutzpah to send Taylor to other countries to tout for Coal business?
Assantdj @ #1389 Thursday, May 6th, 2021 – 1:29 pm
It’s not but Gladys Berejiklian obviously doesn’t want to go the full monty.
This is the advice I imagine Buce gives people on how to make money:
To make money, you should never spend it, because that reduces your balance. Obviously a rookie mistake!
RonniSalt
@RonniSalt
·
4h
That’s because Morrison & his team work by this philosophy & this alone:
White small square
Leading the country is not about doing what’s best for the country – it’s about doing what’s best for the leader.
White small square
Understand that.
Follow that.
And you’ll never be shocked by anything he does again
Quote Tweet
Malcolm Farr
@farrm51
· 5h
Savva in The Oz
Morrison has had 14 months to expand existing or build new quarantine facilities. Instead, he handballed the problem to the states. He’s had a year to plan the vaccination rollout. He’s been forced to handball that to the states