Below this post is a live commentary thread on local and regional elections in the United Kingdom from regular guest contributor Adrian Beaumont; I myself am overdue for new posts on late counting in Tasmania and the looming Upper Hunter by-election on May 22, so stay tuned for those over the next few days. Other than that:
• A report by Max Maddison of The Australian suggests the pendulum may be swinging back to a federal election sooner rather than later, due to “the turmoil of the start of the year dissipating and the rate of vaccinations slowly increasing”. This is said to be reflected in the New South Wales Liberal Party’s commencement of preselection proceedings this week for 13 seats, for which nominations will close on May 21.
• The Age reports that Victoria’s Supreme Court will today consider a last-minute bid by ten unions to prevent the Labor national executive from choosing a candidate for the new federal seat of Hawke on Melbourne’s north-western fringe. The national executive had been expected to vote today to endorse former state secretary Sam Rae as part of a deal between elements of Rae’s Right faction, notably federal front-bencher Richard Marles, and the Socialist Left. This freezes out the rival Right forces associated with Bill Shorten and the Australian Workers Union, who favour the rival claim of state minister Natalie Hutchins, who is also invoking the cause of affirmative action. The legal action seeks to establish that the federal party organisation had acted improperly in taking over the state branch in response to the Adem Somyurek branch-stacking scandal.
• The Australian National University’s Centre for Social Research and Methods has published results from a survey of 3459 respondents on “attitudes towards and experiences of retirement and social security income during the COVID-recession and initial recovery”. Among other things, it finds 55.0% support for an increase in compulsory superannuation from 9.5% to 12% as per current legislation, with 20.8% thinking it should be lifted even higher. Only 20.4% said it should remain at the current level, and only 3.8% believed it should be lowered or eliminated altogether.
frednk @ #1494 Monday, May 10th, 2021 – 4:04 pm
Ultimately what it means is a better, cleaner, saner, safer and wealthier world.
boerwar @ #1498 Monday, May 10th, 2021 – 4:07 pm
Except for the part where I never said that, I guess. 🙂
It really is like some tedious bores and apparent Labor stooges spending their days here so often, running the Dutton and LNP lines eh, lamenting the fate of their supposed party, why does Labor even bother running , when it seems evident they’ve either given up already, are not really trying or are just going to parrot the LNP lines so often anyway.
The biggest waste of taxpayers money is obviously the well over half a billion Smoko and Co are giving to carbon capture, brown hydrogen and gas. Their billionaire oligarch mates.
Crickets from Labor on that of course.
Because they’re fully on board with that, even have old mate Mar’n Ferguson leading up the CO2 CRC boondoggle.
I’m sure aside from something in defence there would have not been such an enormous and useless waste of taxpayers money over decades as CCS.
Labor stooges here are really wishing very hard that climate change isn’t an election issue and it doesn’t come up, as are the LNP.
Students from School Strike 4 Climate will be striking on May 21st again, so look away or start carping about all those ill-informed and stupid grandkids of you old bludgers.
Any readers that aren’t the cynical and arrogant old bastards that appear to suffer some delusion that they own PB could drop them some $ to help.
https://chuffed.org/project/supportschoolstrikers
‘frednk says:
Monday, May 10, 2021 at 4:04 pm
People are starting to look at what a declining population means.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/may/09/world-needs-babies-better-rethink-what-we-need-from-mothers‘
This is not a very inspiring article on population policy, IMO. Global biodiversity desperately needs a breather from too many H. sapiens. The correct frame for the article should be on policies to reduce populations faster. We already know that global warming is going to drastically reduce the globe’s carrying capacity.
a r
[It is hard to take your view seriously when you leave out the implied responsibilities completely.
Why? In this particular case, there’s an explicit responsibility that’s relevant. The Federal government is responsible for handling quarantine-related matters. That’s something the Constitution does say.
If the government executed its Constitutional responsibilities properly, there’d be nothing to debate here.]
It is a power, not a responsibility.
When exercised, it not just for the benefit of people who are overseas but those who are here now which Justice Thawley (son of Michael for those who are interested) is just about to decide.
I see that quoll is doing his daily drive by of personal abuse.
I think it is part of the new Greens plan to bludgeon people into submission to the One True Way using nuanced moral suasion.
Quoll @ #1503 Monday, May 10th, 2021 – 2:11 pm
Yep, that must be why he lost he’s position in Shadow Cabinet, he was so in tune with Labor’s position.
shellbell
Thank you. FWIW, I was focused on personal responsibility.
Boerwar
Quoll should stay away from political campaigning because they would lose more votes than they would ever win.
The Toorak Toff @ #1485 Monday, May 10th, 2021 – 3:57 pm
Nah! Labor are just consistently adopting the Albo “small target” strategy across the board – show up 5 minutes before the nominations close, toss in a candidate no-one has ever heard of before, announce a bunch of policies while no-one is listening, then just sit back and watch the votes pour in!
boerwar says:
Monday, May 10, 2021 at 4:12 pm
‘frednk says:
Monday, May 10, 2021 at 4:04 pm
People are starting to look at what a declining population means.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/may/09/world-needs-babies-better-rethink-what-we-need-from-mothers‘
This is not a very inspiring article on population policy, IMO. Global biodiversity desperately needs a breather from too many H. sapiens. The correct frame for the article should be on policies to reduce populations faster. We already know that global warming is going to drastically reduce the globe’s carrying capacity.
You might not like what works, educate the women, remove religions that do not treat them with respect ( which includes most Abraham religions).
It does however not alter the facts, the world is going to be very different, including you pet topic, China.
Shellbell @ #1505 Monday, May 10th, 2021 – 4:13 pm
How can it not be both? Spiderman says it’s always both.
Unless you either can’t afford it or an evil fascist creep, donate generously to Shane Bazzi’s defence fund.
https://chuffed.org/project/the-people-v-peter-dutton-legal-fund
frednk @2:51
Interesting article. But it still makes the mistake of stating that a dollar spent by the Federal government is and must be a dollar taxed or a dollar raised in debt.
This is not so.
‘Mexicanbeemer says:
Monday, May 10, 2021 at 4:18 pm
Boerwar
Quoll should stay away from political campaigning because they would lose more votes than they would ever win.’
Logically, you would have to say that Quoll is probably some Liberal’s sock puppet.
But – but- Gladys was saying today that it’s urgent. She just woke up from a long sleep?
As if the years of tedious boring verballing others on PB has got Labor or Australia on the right track eh.
How many time have the LNP been beaten into the ground by the original lucid and well formed opinions of the bludgers is that now?
William Bowe @ #1513 Monday, May 10th, 2021 – 4:22 pm
Done!
‘Frednk says:
Monday, May 10, 2021 at 4:19 pm
…
You might not like what works, educate the women, remove religions that do not treat them with respect ( which includes most Abraham religions).
It does however not alter the facts, the world is going to be very different, including you pet topic, China.’
1. In previous discussions on the world demography topic I have been a strong proponent of empowering women, particularly those in third world countries. Having control over their bodies is major part of this.
2. One of my suggestions for the Taiwan Question is for everyone to hang around for a couple of generations. Their TFR is close to the lowest in the world.
Quoll @ #1516 Monday, May 10th, 2021 – 2:25 pm
Well the actual Green Party has just as an impressive record and they’ve been around even longer.
‘Quoll says:
Monday, May 10, 2021 at 4:25 pm
As if the years of tedious boring verballing others on PB…’
You start every single post with abuse.
It is claimed that Boothby is the only marginal seat in SA.
Not so. Sturt would be a chance too with a good candidate and a decent campaign. The Liberal member – name please? (no cheating) – is no Chris Pyne, who won election after election on the cargo cult promise of mystical submarines that would save the SA economy.
Sturt’s a bit of a sleeper which Labor has won twice since 1949. A big Italian community at one end, lots of rich born-to-rule people at the other.
‘a r says:
Monday, May 10, 2021 at 4:10 pm
boerwar @ #1498 Monday, May 10th, 2021 – 4:07 pm
Your view that citizens have rights but no responsibilities is absurd.
Except for the part where I never said that, I guess. ‘
You were 100% silent on responsibilities. Which is why your original post was, and remains, hard to take at all seriously.
lizzie @ #1516 Monday, May 10th, 2021 – 4:23 pm
Similar situation where I am. I am beginning to wonder if the plan is to get people to book in, hold the election, and then let them discover their bookings have had to be cancelled because there is no actual vaccine available.
Or am I being too cynical? 🙁
https://www.pollbludger.net/2021/05/07/miscellany-election-timing-victorian-alp-turmoil-compulsory-super/comment-page-31/#comment-3603992
With the risk of a swing to the Coalition in NSW, the ALP should be putting resources into both Boothby and Sturt.
‘Quoll says:
Monday, May 10, 2021 at 4:25 pm
As if the years of tedious boring verballing others on PB has got Labor or Australia on the right track eh.
How many time have the LNP been beaten into the ground by the original lucid and well formed opinions …’ of the Greens.
Get back to us when the original lucid and well formed opinions of the Greens gain them government. Actually, get back to us when you manage to get off your flatlining base of 10%.
William Bowe @ #1513 Monday, May 10th, 2021 – 4:22 pm
Thanks. I have made a donation.
I was in deadly fear of becoming known as an …
although I’m not sure that one cannot both donate and also be an EFC.
boerwar @ #1523 Monday, May 10th, 2021 – 4:32 pm
Please feel free to construe my silence on that subject as anything other than an outright disavowal of it. 🙂
ar
Carrying on about your version of one side of the equation – the rights – as if that decided it for you – comes to the same practical outcome: lots of selfish vectors with no personal compunctions about the national pandemic consequences.
Will bookmark and donate later this week when I have a bit more money to throw around.
Speaking of LNP sock puppets, tedious bore who has spent years and years disabusing and trying to so disingenuously verbal many others, permanently and persistantly carrying on about ‘teh Greens’, regularly running Duttonesque lines and boosting the worst of LNP attitudes, like beating Duttons wars drums so loudly and tediously, seems far more like a stooge than anyone else. At least to me and I do believe my contributions bring a laugh or smile to some.
At least I don’t foist my verballing, insanely disingenuous and fixated positions onto others, many many times, day after after tedious day.
KayJay
The real trick would be getting Dutton to donate.. 🙂
A R
“How can it not be both? Spiderman says it’s always both.”
Generally, it cannot be made to exercise the power.
Is anybody running a book on:
A. How long it will be before Theo will be along with a new sock puppet? (he/she has had so many name changes I can’t remember the first)
B. How long does the newest iteration lasts before once again being booted?
My answers:
A. Before the end of the week
B. Another couple of weeks
This person really has got a problem. He/she needs help.
I’ve got a lucid well formed idea: let’s run with a trillionaire’s tax.
It’s bound to pay off in the polls.
It is going to be very interesting to see how the Left are going to use Thunberg now that she has publicly abused the Land of Xi.
boerwar says:
Monday, May 10, 2021 at 4:47 pm
You called that a Mining Tax last time – didn’t go so well in both execution or popularity.
We had trouble organizing our jabs through our GP’s so booked through a medical hub. Able to book online and it took a week. Because it was so easy we then decided to get our flu jabs the same way with the same result.
Even able to book second jabs at same time we booked the first.
Sturt is definitely a seat Labor can make inroads into and, who knows, could get a surprise win out of. However, at a 6.9% 2PP margin and its eastward creep, it’s not incorrect to omit it from any immediate discussion of marginals.
I do agree with any assertion that Labor should preselect good candidates for the seat who want to win (not just some random branch member or someone from Young Labor to purely be a name on the ballot), if just to help build those inroads and maybe strengthen that Senate vote, as well as lay foundations in the area for state electoral successes.
dwh
Every additional jab is good, IMO.
davidwh
What do you mean by a medical hub?
Flu infections have risen since masks are not so mandatory. Who knew?
BW
I see you call a complaint abuse well done.
Btw China’s debt trap tactics and obvious economic coercion of countries like Australia does not mean you are right on China.
You over egging is music to the ears of the Chinese government who are claiming Australia overrates their influence.
As a Middle power we have much more influence through soft power than the Chine government wants to admit. However Beating the Drums of war do made those Chinese government claims look right
Greta is a champion of the environment who has embarrassed and shamed many world leaders who seem insanely determined to turn our planet Earth paradise into a dustbowl.
True BW. Anyone in the northern area of Brisbane I recommend the Morayfield Health Hub. You won’t be disappointed.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/johnsons-lesson-for-labour-politics-is-not-a-consumer-product/ar-BB1gyrWE?ocid=msedgntp
Why is 10 billion for infrastructure over 10 years being reported as anything other than a pitifull gimmick?
CC they are a comprehensive medical facility offering a full range of medical services.
Didn’t Morrison deliver a labor budget while treasurer under Turnbull
It didn’t work out too good for turnbull
Quoll @ #1614 Monday, May 10th, 2021 – 4:25 pm
At least Labor doesn’t sit at the knee of the Liberal Party in order to learn how to defeat The Greens, like The Greens’ candidates do so they can try and defeat Labor.
What is it they say about preferring to die on your feet than live on your knees?