As a new financial year dawns, it’s all happening on Poll Bludger — in addition to this post, there is:
• A new post by Adrian Beaumont on Britain’s Batley and Spen by-election, French regional elections and the New York City mayoral election;
• A post on the new draft state redistribution for Victoria, including my calculations of party vote shares for the new boundaries;
• A post on the federal redistribution for Victoria, which has now been finalised, and which likewise comes with an accounting of party vote shares under the new boundaries, and some analysis of how the changes affects the Greens prospects in Macnamara and Higgins; and
• The regular bi-monthly donation drive.
Further developments:
• The Northern Territory Country Liberal Party has preselected Jacinta Price as its Senate candidate at the expense of incumbent Sam McMahon, who came to the position at the 2019 election. Price is the deputy mayor of Alice Springs Council and head of indigenous research at conservative think thank the Centre for Independent Studies, and ran unsuccessfully for the CLP in Lingiari at the 2019 election. McMahon was in the news last week after her unsteadiness while in the Senate chamber prompted allegations she was drunk, although she insisted she had in fact been suffering symptoms of severe hypertension.
• The mayor of Alice Springs, Damien Ryan, has been preselected by the CLP as its new candidate for Lingiari, which will be vacated with the retirement of Labor veteran Warren Snowdon. Labor’s new candidate is Marion Scrymgour, former Deputy Chief Minister and current chief executive of the Northern Land Council.
• Federal parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters has published the report from its inquiry on the future conduct of elections operating during times of emergency situations. After considering the recent experiences of Queensland council elections, the Eden-Monaro by-election and general elections in Tasmania and the Northern Territory, it offers fairly modest recommendations: to give the Electoral Commissioner the power to extend pre-polling periods and allow for no-excuse postal and pre-poll voting (which exists de facto in any case) should the circumstances demand it, and to change the Electoral Act to change the date of an election in an emergency, giving better effect to a power that already exists under the Constitution.
• July 24 has been set as the date for Queensland’s Stretton by-election, which will fill the vacancy created by Labor member Duncan Pegg’s resignation after a terminal cancer diagnosis in May, followed weeks later by his death. The by-election will be contested for Labor by James Martin, a former electorate officer to Pegg, and for the Liberal National Party by Jim Bellos, a police officer and former Queenslander of the Year. Labor’s margin in the seat is 14.8%; I’ll be publishing a guide to the by-election soon-ish.
Re Lizzie @4:07 PM.
It is truly shameless. We are degenerating into a corrupt oligarchy aided and abetted by a huge whack of the mainstream media.
That was in response to John Hewson’s tweet, also worth repeating:
”What hope do we have for good responsible government when Finance Minister actually defends blatant pork barrelling-no integrity, no merit, no accountability- just what they perceive it takes to win government. New slogan – we’ll be as corrupt as we need to be”
https://twitter.com/JohnRHewson/status/1411491131800522752
This guy is a reporter for channel 9. Why did he include shops. Wasnt the limo driver responsible for passing it on to people in outdoor cafe setting?
See new Tweets
Conversation
Chris O’Keefe
@cokeefe9
Don’t worry about people in parks, at beaches, playing golf, enjoying some winter sun, going to the shops. If people aren’t catching Covid in these settings- who cares? #Sydneylockdown
1:52 PM · Jul 4, 2021·Twitter for iPhone
Steve777
I’m cold, I’m tired and depressed about the whole political game. It’s hard not to feel that the conservative media are winning.
davidwh
We have a long way to go. Which is why we should be patient and why we should aim to have a booster, before taking risks with quarantine
The way to get high vaccination rates (80+) is to explain to ordinary people why herd immunity is worth going to that bit of extra effort. Not just fudging figures and giving up.
“The Truth Behind the Super Hornet UFO Encounters”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6z1lQ9Gp8Vk
———————
Interesting. Logical. But…… He mentions the Pentagons penchant for slight of hand. Yet he doesn’t mention that it could all be smoke and mirrors pitched at Near Peers.
davidwh
Put another way..
Selling vaccines as ‘personal protection’ rather than explaining herd immunity and selling ‘this is for everyone’ is a great way to end up with a lot of younger people not getting vaccinated.
Re ItzaDream @4:16 PM.
“ And why did two men who were at a beach within the permitted travel zone fined $1000?”
It’s not clear to me from reading the rules. If they are interpreted to mean you must “exercise” when you leave home (or shop for essentials, etc) then sunbathing wouldn’t count. The beach is within “Greater Sydney” as defined for the lockdown and I believe the men were from greater Sydney, so travelling wouldn’t be an issue.
The rules need to be clearer.
ItzaDream @ #826 Sunday, July 4th, 2021 – 4:19 pm
What he failed to say:
1. The Australian people thought they were getting the promised car parks not simply an election promise.
2. They didn’t think they were rewarding liars.
Here is a heartwarming story for Display Name to appreciate, care of Xi’s mouthpiece:
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202107/1227689.shtml
lizzie @ #820 Sunday, July 4th, 2021 – 4:07 pm
I heard a great saying about this today:
‘Democracy is lost little by little, then all at once.’
Keep fighting the good fight, boerwar.
Pork Barrelling: it’s only leading to the end of democracy when the Liberals do it. When Labor does it, that’s harden up princess, that’s how politics works.
boerwar @ #871 Sunday, July 4th, 2021 – 5:44 pm
boerwar,
Just making you aware that a part of Xi’s propaganda effort is directed at getting his critics to publicise the articles that are put into English language media arms of the Chinese State, so as to get them out into Western media and social media, one way or the other. It’s why I never do it. It makes you just as much of a willing Xi stooge as someone who does it consciously. Consciously or unconsciously aiding Xi, he doesn’t mind.
In Gladystan, there are no rules. People instinctively know what to do and simply do it.
Therefore the police don’t need a reason to fine people, they can just do it if they feel that they want to.
It’s the vibe.
Recon says:
Sunday, July 4, 2021 at 5:48 pm
Pork Barrelling: it’s only leading to the end of democracy when the Liberals do it. When Labor does it, that’s harden up princess, that’s how politics works.
_______________________________
Yup – the ALP talking about political transparency – hilarious!
Recon @ #874 Sunday, July 4th, 2021 – 5:48 pm
Goodness me, how could I forget Labor, when they were in government, giving $444 Million to their mates in Queensland to ‘save’ something they had no idea how to save, or over a Billion to Labor electorates for sports grounds, car parks and Rural and Regional gewgaws. And shamelessly refusing to resign over it? What’s more, celebrating the fact!
Because. It. Never. Happened.
c@t – you still defend the NSW ALP.
C@tmomma says:
Sunday, July 4, 2021 at 5:53 pm
Because. It. Never. Happened.
_________
Well it certainly does happen. Perhaps not much at Federal level since Labor have only had a majority government for 3 years since 1996. Plus, you need to really be in for a while to start shoveling pork. It comes from a mature government typically. At state level there is plenty of Labor pork, plenty of maaates with their hands out. Same. Same.
Lars Von Trier @ #879 Sunday, July 4th, 2021 – 5:54 pm
And? They conducted a wholesale clean up of the party post Kaila Murnain. As the Treasurer of my local branch I know exactly how rigorous with money we have to be now.
Btw, it’s too easy to craft a snappy but essentially meaningless one-liner as you do. Is that the best you’ve got?
Recon @ #880 Sunday, July 4th, 2021 – 5:57 pm
Do tell. Put up or shut up.
Don’t worry about the car parks 45 out of 47 car parks that haven’t been built yet. They can be reannounced for the next election.
Recycling at its best
C@t you’ve promised us each time the current NSW Gen Sec was the reformer we have been waiting for each time, until they are no longer in the post – and then the next NSW Gen Sec is the reformer we have been waiting for and so it goes….
It’s time for the 6 o’clock swill with nath and Lars von Trier again. The deux frotage du blog.
I have better things to do with my precious time than waste it on a couple of clowns (literally in one case).
C@tmomma says:
Sunday, July 4, 2021 at 5:58 pm
Do tell. Put up or shut up.
______________
AUDITOR GENERAL EXPOSES LABOR’S PORK BARELLING
The Auditor General has revealed the $800 million Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program has been used by Labor as a pork barrelling vehicle to funnel money into its own seats.
The Auditor General’s report released today found the approval rate for projects located in Labor held seats was 42.1 per cent. The approval rate for projects located in Coalition held electorates was just 18.4 per cent – less than half the ALP rate (p24).
The Rudd – Gillard Government handed out a total of $550 million of the program funding without following its own assessment guidelines.
https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22media%2Fpressrel%2FKUKX6%22;src1=sm1
Recon Pork Barrelling: it’s only leading to the end of democracy when the Liberals do it. When Labor does it, that’s harden up princess, that’s how politics works.
No, you’ve got that the wrong way around. If the Rudd or Gillard Governments had tried something similar we’d have screaming headlines, constant media attention and calls for an enquiry day after day in until the responsible Minister was hounded from office. For the Coalition? There’s no mention on the landing page of today’s Daily Rupert.
Yes, her plea this morning at her news conference for people to stay home, don’t go to indoor shopping centres etc and then when asked why her govt doesn’t just mandate that these venues be closed, replied that there is no need to provide greater clarity of the lockdown rules because the people of Sydney behave appropriately.
This truly has been a remarkably botched effort by the NSW govt.
c@t does a runner, when her hypocrisy exposed!
Lars Von Trier @ #884 Sunday, July 4th, 2021 – 6:02 pm
It would be nice if you could spell ‘there’.
Honestly, corruption on a grand scale from the Coalition government and the many fundraising arms of the Liberal and National Parties and not a peep from you in protest. Says it all.
Go away you annoying flea. Go and rub up against nath. He likes it.
What’s all this negativity from you swine about Australian pig products. Ham fisted Chinese propaganda? I reckon you could really bring home the bacon if you directed your grunting at Xi’s pork instead. Happy as, that guy is.
Pathetic nath: recycling Liberal Party press releases hardly passes muster.
Lars Von Trier @ #889 Sunday, July 4th, 2021 – 6:05 pm
Bullshit. Though, what more did I expect but another snappy one-liner, a mile wide and an inch deep.
I see nath hasn’t come back with any actual proof of his assertion. But you’ll give him a pass, won’t you because that’s not the point of your presence here is it?
C@tmomma says:
Sunday, July 4, 2021 at 6:05 pm
Honestly, corruption on a grand scale from the Coalition government and the many fundraising arms of the Liberal and National Parties and not a peep from you in protest. Says it all.
____________
Not at all. It would just be nice to have their actions placed in the right context rather than ranting about the end of democracy and ludicrous assertions that when it comes to Labor.’….it…never…happened.’
L’arse and his bestie nath doing their best ‘whataboutism’ … something I recall them criticising Sprocket for just a couple of months ago.
Andrew_Earlwood says:
Sunday, July 4, 2021 at 6:07 pm
Pathetic nath: recycling Liberal Party press releases hardly passes muster.
___________
Yes it was, but did they lie about the Auditor General’s report?
Wow, a whole 42% as opposed to 80-90%, depending on the pork rort, for the Coalition. I should be abashed. Except the comparison speaks for itself.
You can find it here, on Crikey’s list of famous rorts:
https://www.crikey.com.au/2020/01/16/australian-politics-rorts/
Andrew_Earlwood @ #895 Sunday, July 4th, 2021 – 6:09 pm
And just now calling ME a hypocrite! 😆
It’s not whataboutism. It’s just pointing out to myopic political hacks that they are wrong when they claim their side is pure.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-04/nsw-covid-19-aged-care-outbreak-spreads-three-infected/100266238
Has anyone asked our prime minister why it wasn’t mandatory for staff in facilities to be vaccinated?
Or perhaps they tried, but he was otherwise engaged taking selfies with his dog.
Let’s condemn all pork barrelling. I’d sign that pledge.
Recon @ #898 Sunday, July 4th, 2021 – 6:11 pm
Five to the Coalition. Which now is at least Six.
And One to Labor.
Yet which party do you have a whinge about? Certainly not the most guilty party.
I will certainly be voting for a change of government at the next election but I wont be doing so slavishly. I am my own man. No party can contain me. I’m a fucking force of nature.
The problem is that once one side has porked their seats, the seats that missed out will need a future injection of bacon. Naturally, those seats left over will mostly be from the other swine… so an incoming change of government practically has *no choice* but to pig out. To be fair.
Clearly there’s no way out of the neverending cycle of porcine hell. We’re eternally stuck in the mud (at the bottom of the barrel) and the only happy people are the politicians.
“ Yes it was, but did they lie about the Auditor General’s report?”
Tripping down amnesia lane, but I feel that Andrew Robb (remember HIM) was spinning the auditor general’s report rather heroically. You should also look at the quantum of the alleged bias amounting to the rort. Then compare it with Every. Single. Thing. This bunch of pirates have funded.
Remember the much maligned school halls BER program? Multiples of billion dollars spent- and just over half spent in coalition seats. THAT would never happen under these pirates.
This is not an apples with apples game. Not by a long shot. You actually know this, but your ‘whataboutism’ is another variant of ‘same/same’. Its only outcome is to disengage people from believing that government can be a positive force for good in the community and hence promote a culture of ‘what is in it for me’ being the only valid metric upon which to place a vote. the only beneficiaries of THAT are coalition governments who rightly believe that they can brazenly bribe their way back into office without consequences. You know that too, I suspect.
Like I said C@t. Labor haven’t been in goverment at the Federal level. But we can all recall the Sport Rorts of 1993?
Count me in on the pledge too!
Let’s take back our politics from the corrupt 2 party duopoly!
A legend in your own sausage roll.
Recon @ #900 Sunday, July 4th, 2021 – 6:12 pm
Charming.
But no, I simply expect a reasonable perspective from twerps like you. Laughable I know. Though I imagine in the real world you’d be scared stiff to criticise someone from the Liberal Party to their face for their cynical abuse of taxpayers’ money. Far easier to seem like the hard man to a little old lady on a blog, eh?
I’d agree with most of what you said. Perhaps it’s just with C@t as the shrieking spokeswoman it puts a few off. 🙂