Recent developments relevant to the looming federal election, mostly involving the Liberals in Victoria:
• House of Representatives Speaker Tony Smith announced this week he would retire from politics at the election, after holding the seat of Casey on Melbourne’s eastern fringe since 2001. Phillip Coorey of the Financial Review reports “leading contenders” for the Liberal preselection are David Lau, a manager with medical supplies company Ebos Group, and Aaron Violi, a manager with a company that provides online ordering services to restaurants. Both have form as political staffers, Lau with Senator Sarah Henderson and Violi with Senator James Patterson. The “controversial comments on Facebook related to abortion” that caused Lau to quit his job with Henderson appear not to have done him any harm with the party membership. Smith retained Casey by a margin of 4.6% in 2019, which has not changed with the redistribution.
• The Victorian Liberals have preselected former Geelong mayor Stephanie Asher for Corangamite, where Labor’s Libby Coker unseated Sarah Henderson in 2019, and lawyer and one-time Survivor contestant Sharn Coombes for Dunkley in Melbourne’s south-east, which Labor gained after a favourable redistribution in 2019. Brodie Cowburn of Bayside News reports other candidates for Dunkley included Chris Crewther, who held the seat for the Liberals from 2016 until his defeat in 2019, and Donna Hope, who as Donna Bauer held the marginal local state seat of Carrum for a term from 2010 to 2014.
• Queensland’s Liberal National party has preselected Colin Boyce, who has held the state seat of Callide since 2017, as its new candidate for the central Queensland seat of Flynn, held for the party on a margin of 8.7% and to be vacated at the election with the retirement of Ken O’Dowd. Matthew Killoran of the Courier-Mail reports Boyce “convincingly” won a local party ballot over Mitchell Brownlie, Ron English and Tracie Newitt.
DN
I thought that (given the proponents) being an ‘independent thinker’ means ‘slagging off at other posters whilst making no substantive contributions yourself.”
Ah well, I’m used to getting things wrong.
Lars
Which is why you keep comparing the Coalition in Australia to Labour in New Zealand, of course.
Should I prepare for their invasion?
This is most unfair to Morrison. Every Prime Minister needs one press secretary for curries, one for chook sheds, one for pretending to drive trucks, one fancy dress like lab coats and hi-vis, one for boozing and one to tell lies when he disappears for days on end.
Lars going with the old chestnut that the operation is a total success. But, unfortunately the patients died.
Students of history can tell you that studying the past gives you insights to the future. So what makes you think that the Federal Government’s total stuff up of vaccine procurement and distribution will not continue to manifest itself in the future?
If you keep finding yourself polishing turds…. you clearly have a thing for turds. Lars claim to independence doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.
But this thread is more than a little one sided so I have higher tolerance for the stirring by Lars and nath. Yet lately it comes in such large doses it takes over the blog and most take their leave for more pleasant pursuits.
Much appreciation for today’s news BK!
zoom
According to Lars, you can tell who is thinking independently by checking whether or not they think the same thing as Lars. If they do then they are, otherwise not.
No wonder Lars is so frequently disappointed in others! You gotta forgive them. Their cynical and jaded snark is just an expression of that disappointment.
Lars Von Trier @ #50 Friday, July 16th, 2021 – 8:24 am
No, it’s called being perceptive and not a blinkered partisan. You should try it sometime.
I, for one, welcome our NZ overlords.
When can we get them in? The earlier the better.
Speaking of history!
Tony Windsor
@TonyHWindsor
History repeats time and again… now Dr Chant, who allowed the politicians to warp health advice is now being trashed by the same politicians. She is now defenceless as her credibility has been trashed by the same people. The joys of public service.
Simon Katich @ #56 Friday, July 16th, 2021 – 8:38 am
Yes, it’s all a bit TOO obvious.
And here is the twist. There are independent posters who don’t sh!t stir and troll. One of them recently got hounded off the blog. Make of that what you will.
Hmmm….Tony Smith announces his retirement and suddenly Morrison is best mates with Victoria…..
Our LNP sponsored posters here also posted some whoppers last night about climate change and the looming threat of tariffs on Australian exports. One even suggested the WTA might not permit it when the WTA has already ruled carbon price related tariffs legal back in 2020.
So like their PM, if they lie about things that can be factually proven, they will lie about matters of opinion readily. When there is no good news to give about the government’s performance, you make it up. That is the Scomo way.
Here is Today Show host Karl Stefanovic questioning the treasurer over how it feels to have to play buddy-buddy with the Victorian government after a week of Frydenberg and Andrews being at each other’s throats over support payments.
Stefanovic:
It must really burn you Josh, after really giving it to [Victoria] earlier this week. Now you’re actually going to have to give it to them.
Stefanovic:
Earlier in the week, you couldn’t have been stronger in your vocals against Daniel Andrews, and pretty much he has jammed you, hasn’t he?
And this faux politeness stuff from Lars von Trier ain’t convincing me that the Liberal leopard has changed its spots.
GG
Kerry Chant looks to be a person under sustained extreme and probably unfair pressure. I hope she doesn’t succumb to it.
I find the comparisons with other countries ‘odious’.
For example, insisting that vaccinations are not effective because of the millions of deaths in other countries, which all have incredibly higher populations than Aus.
This seems to be the theme by conservative thinkers who would rather see no vaxes and let the virus run free. They say “What are you fussing about, we’ve had few deaths so far?” (Changing to shock horror over the Aged Care deaths to blame Labor)
Can’t they ever think forward? It’s not just deaths, it’s the time spent sick, the frequency of long covid and long term effects on memory and functionality. It’s the clogging of hospitals with the covid sick, when even the current incidents have put pressure on our health system, and the consequent effects on all other treatments, not to mention the stress on health workers at all levels.
Winner who paid $30m for space flight with Bezos won’t go due to ‘scheduling conflicts’
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/jul/15/jeff-bezos-space-flight-guest-new-shepard
”
C@tmommasays:
Friday, July 16, 2021 at 7:10 am
Lizzie @ #17 Friday, July 16th, 2021 – 7:01 am
This far along the pandemic Morrison has decided that standardisation of compensation in lockdowns might be a good idea. WTH?
I think the thing we need to understand is that Scott Morrison conducts his politics in the eternal present. So every day is a new day and it comes with a rosy picture to suit today’s narrative.
The past is catapulted down the memory hole, hopefully never to return to the consciousness of the electorate at election time.
”
1. For first part of paragraph, Yesterday Morrison himself said that changing of financial payment rules shows that the government is listening and adapting to circumstances.
2. Gold fish memory rule is applied to The second part of paragraph, which is not a surprise.
Ven
“I’m listening,” is Morrison’s latest sales schtick.
BK,
I can feel for the person and the alleged demands by the NSW Treasurer to forgo some her salary because of the lockdown recommendation is a disgrace if true.
However, as pointed out, Chant was always happy to provide the advice the NSW Government wanted to hear and so, she has to be accountable for that. The lacksadaisical approach to lockdown has clearly allowed the virus to spread rampantly and I don’t see any signs that NSW is any further down the road of re-opening than at the start of this outbreak.
It’ll be interesting to see if the Victorian lockdown works and is lifted next Tuesday as planned and NSW continues to wallow because of poor decision making by their political Leaders.
Greensborough Growler says:
Friday, July 16, 2021 at 8:42 am
Speaking of history!
Tony Windsor
@TonyHWindsor
History repeats time and again… now Dr Chant, who allowed the politicians to warp health advice is now being trashed by the same politicians. She is now defenceless as her credibility has been trashed by the same people. The joys of public service.’
________________________________
EVERY.SINGLE.THING.
Victoria records 10 new local COVID cases as the state’s lockdown begins
Victoria has recorded 10 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases, including four that were announced in press conferences yesterday.
All 10 are linked to the current outbreaks, Victorian health authorities said. It takes the state’s current outbreak to 24.
The results were detected among 33,129 tests received on Thursday, and there were 17,188 vaccine doses administered at state-run sites.
Victoria is today waking to its fifth lockdown and there are more than 120 exposure sites now listed.
More areas of the MCG have been listed as Tier 1 sites, and the ABC understands a positive case also attended the rugby international between Australia and France at AAMI Park on July 13.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-16/vic-covid-cases-and-restrictions-friday-july-16/100298084
Simon Katich @ #63 Friday, July 16th, 2021 – 8:44 am
Thankfully another, Quasar, is back.
However, I am still hopeful that jt1983 will reconsider.
Most comparisons with other countries are careless.
Those countries are not managing discrete, sporadic outbreaks. They have ongoing, widespread circulation with individuals regularly exposed to the virus.
We have a prime minister who has room in his conscious ‘understanding’ of the world in which he lives, for the absolute conviction that the universe came into being around 7,000 years ago, and that at some time quite soon he and his fellow ‘saved’ believers will fly up into the sky to ‘heaven’, while us rational, non-delusional humans will be submitted to eternal torture. (Think about that. He actually believes that ridiculous garbage.) His mind is cluttered with this delusional nonsense, which pours forth as such exudations as ‘speaking in tongues’ and garbled, gallimaufric press conference announcements.
He does not have the mental furniture needed to analyse facts, assess alternatives, perceive patterns, draw conclusions or conceive strategies, all of which are needed to formulate plans and initiate action. He is a drivelling, pathetic failure, and a fuckwit, in the real meaning of the word. He is utterly incapable of thinking straight, and we are suffering because of it. He will not get any better, because his wit is permanently fucked.
I said from the very beginning that Dr Chant’s behaviour was suspect and Oakeshott Country derided me for that and said that she is an independent doctor of integrity who would never let politicians tell her what to do or say.
Well, what say you now, OC?
Now the head of WHO is essentially accusing China of hiding the samples and the data:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-16/who-urges-china-to-share-more-information-about-covid-source/100297904
The CMO postion is incredibly important- every clinician in NSW has a clinical/professional line to this person. They rely on the CMOs 100 percent medical integrity at all times…as do the general public….Dr Chant must never speak or act against evidence based medicine-to do so is a slippery slope.
DisplayName @ #77 Friday, July 16th, 2021 – 9:01 am
Not only that but as we can see in Australia our responses vary from state to state and territory to territory. Broad brush generalisations are facile at best and meretricious.
On a lighter nore, my son showed me this guy on Tik Tok who does a post there every day predicting what NSW’s infection numbers will be the following day, before anyone knows, based upon some mathematical algorithm he has figured out and you’d be amazed how accurate he has been!
yabba
An even greater problem is that he thinks he is so magnificent that he doesn’t need anyone around him except spinners to protect him. Never takes any notice of advice by real experts, and never appoints/supports anyone smarter than himself. And here we are.
Are we approaching end times????? Curries and sheds are out, dogs are in.
”
Can you believe this? The Heral-sun declares, “Victorians have been here before. But there’s something different about this lockdown — it’s a chance to show our NSW neighbours how it’s done.”
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/susie-obrien/why-victorians-will-embrace-fifth-lockdown/news-story/272ac111c280489a50f0435991e2705f
”
I see it but I don’t believe it. 🙂
Has oakeshott country had much to say about the NSW WAVE? I recall how much he had to say about Victoria.
Meanwhile the pathetic arsewipe that is the treasurer of this country. Did anyone remind him we had a delta strain to combat barely a month ago. We had an initial one week lockdown for the leak from SA quarantine, and the second week for the delta .
And I guess he supports this lockdown cos we got it from NSW, and they are the gold standard. You know it makes sense. Sheesh.
———–
Benita Kolovos Tiger face
@benitakolovos
·
6m
“If this works better than NSW, there’s the template for the rest of the country for the rest of the Delta problem,” Mitchell says.
“Yeah,” Mr Frydenberg replies. Says he hopes NSW gets on top of their outbreak. “A strong NSW or a strong Victoria means a stronger Australia.”
Show this thread
Benita Kolovos Tiger face
@benitakolovos
·
17m
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has told
@3AWNeilMitchell
that he supports Victoria’s latest lockdown. “Obviously we’re dealing with a much more contagious and dangerous strain,” he says.
C@t
Check it out here. All the numbers freely available from their gov. Handy dandy tables and graphs for all these topics. They even track how many vaccines are on hand.
.
.
Summary
Vaccinations against plan
Vaccination plan for DHBs
Vaccinations by day
Vaccinations by DHB
Vaccinations by group
Stock on hand
Vaccinations by ethnicity
Vaccinations by age
Vaccinations by gender
Trained vaccinator and active vaccinator
Vaccinations by group
Details of vaccination data
Adverse events from immunisations
COVID-19 vaccinations:
https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-data-and-statistics/covid-19-vaccine-data
I am fascinated by why many companies and managers encouraged office workers back to CBD offices (see BKs links). I chat to people about it regularly and everyone has ideas.
It is a big culture shift for many conservative companies and managers and staff. And so many companies are conservative creatures of often inefficient habits. And there are other reasons – some companies own their office space… some have long term leases. And some teams just simply need to be together in an office – zoom meetings are great, to a point.
So If it changes it will be slow. Progressive companies are jumping on board and if they get an advantage from it, it will eventually take hold elsewhere.
It could enliven the outer and inner burbs. Even regional areas. As many, like me, still prefer an office away from home – just not necessarily a CBD office tower.
This ABC article exposes the hypocrisy about what is “essential” under Gladys’ lockdown.
”
alfred venisonsays:
Friday, July 16, 2021 at 7:54 am
fyi, scott “dilbert” adams backed trump in 2020 & voted for him. just google “scott adams trump”. -a.v
”
Hypocrite. A supporter of Trump you would expect.
This is a very pointed Tweet.
“How is it that the NSW Government can let 3 removalist drive to SA during a lockdown to deliver furniture, but can’t let 2 police officers come to Adelaide to take a statement from Kate? “
Thanks for that, poroti. I will inspect it when I get back from paying my ‘essential’ rent at the bank. 🙂
Ven at 9:11 am
Even Mordor Media can no longer maintain the bullshit that Gladys + NSW = Gold Standard . So it is back to one of their fave drums ‘nationalism’ or in this case ‘Interstate rivalry’ . With luck it is a sign that Gladys has been turfed under the bus by the Rupertariat , which would also mean by Scotty .
lizzie @ #85 Friday, July 16th, 2021 – 9:11 am
citizen
Isn’t that the store where Scotty does all his shopping for announcements ?
Good Morning
@TimDunlop tweets
Scott Morrison is officially at the “has the support of Kyle Sandilands” stage of his decline.
There is no coming back.
Is Scotty losing Sydney, yesterday 2GB shat in pants publicity, today a feature in the Daily Tellsmecrap about his mutt. Desperation much
@ChrisReason7 tweets
#BREAKING Whispers an Australian Olympian has tested positive or been deemed a close contact. AOC press conference in 45 minutes, we’ll know more then. #Olympics #tokyo2020 #7olympics
This excuse is also used by Morrison as to why he is backflipping on criticism of states like Victoria and changing financial assistance arrangements. It’s as if there was never a Covid emergency until now. At least some people in Australia have better than a goldfish memory.
Is Gwandalan part of the Central Coast? (Not Lake Macquarie)