Yesterday’s tabling of a proposed parliamentary schedule for new year resulted in another spin of the election date speculation wheel, the consensus being that it will be held on either May 7 and 14. The government has, as they say, pencilled in March 29 as the date for the budget, although “sources close to Mr Morrison” tell The Australian he may make use of his eraser if his polling improves over summer, such that March is “still a live option” for the election. That would presumably lead to South Australian Premier Steven Marshall exercising his option to delay the March 19 state election by up to three weeks in the event of a March federal election, a matter Scott Morrison denies having discussed with him.
Other election news, federal and state:
• Scott Morrison told the Liberal federal executive he was considering asking it to exercise powers to override state divisions in preselections to impose his preferred candidates in key New South Wales seats, including state MPs Andrew Constance in Gilmore and Melanie Gibbons in Hughes (Alexandra Smith of the Sydney Morning Herald reports state Police Minister David Elliott is resisting entreaties to run in Greenway). Such a move would be “seen as a declaration of war by key members of the NSW state division”, specifically its conservatives and moderates.
• Sarah Martin of The Guardian reports Natalie Baini, who until recently was a cultural diversity manager at the Australian Football League, has withdrawn her preselection challenge against Liberal MP Fiona Martin in Reid and will instead run as an independent, complaining the party had failed to act on her complaint against “inappropriate conduct of some senior members of the party and the government”.
• Alexandra Smith of the Sydney Morning Herald reports Labor will yield to the insistence of local party branches and field a candidate in John Barilaro’s seat of Monaro, despite Labor leader Chris Minns rating it an “impossible task”.
• John Ferguson of The Australian reported last week on “intense speculation” that a Victorian state by-election could be on the cards in Kew, whose embattled Liberal member, Tim Smith, had been “linked with potential job prospects in Britain, where he once lived”. Sunday Herald Sun columnist “Backroom Baz” rates that Smith will linger until the election if the preselection goes to his ally David Davis, the Shadow Treasurer and Opposition Leader in the Legislative Council, but would be disposed to inflict the by-election on the party if it instead goes to Jess Wilson, a former staffer to Josh Frydenberg and current policy director at the Business Council of Australia. Also in the field are Lucas Moon, former soldier and commercial manager of construction company Winslow, who has been endorsed by Tim Costello; Monica Clark, a family lawyer; Felicity Sinfield, a police officer and Boroondara councillor; and Michael Sabljak, a former electorate officer to federal MP Michael Sukkar.
Roy Orbison
Very subtle. 🙂
The three detainees who absconded from Howard Springs have been caught.
”
Greensborough Growlersays:
Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at 11:40 am
The latest National accounts. The economy has contracted by 1.9% last quarter.
https://twitter.com/latingle/status/1465841951169675265/photo/1
”
Jim Chalmers:
“You listen to the prime minister & treasurer always wanting to talk about international comparisons, well of all the countries that have reported so far, Australia is expected to be absolutely last when it comes to economic growth.”
I note that it refers to “people” working in Parliament House, not women specifically. I would like to know how many of them were men.
The only surprise in Porter’s portended resignation is that it took this long. Once the allegations of rape received widespread exposure, he was very damaged goods. Let’s see how he goes at the NSW Bar.
Hollie Hughes casting doubt on the Jenkins report.
“I haven’t experienced it… this refers to incident over many many years.”
Bystander,
I think it is 40/26 Female/Male in the report.
Hollie Hughes is on Sky News. She very nicely fits the nasty Liberal woman template.
“I haven’t experienced it… this refers to incident over many many years.”
Oh well in that case, why worry? If 1/3 of my co-workers was sexually harassed “over many many years”, and I’m part of the 2/3 who wasn’t – then there isn’t a problem. Right? Isn’t that how statistics works?
This was only a matter of time:
[‘CNN has suspended Chris Cuomo indefinitely after details emerged about how he helped his brother, the former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, as he faced accusations of sexual harassment.
Questions have hovered over the CNN anchor’s future since the release of documents by New York’s attorney general on Monday indicated a greater involvement in his brother’s efforts than the network previously knew.
The new evidence showed that the primetime host used media contacts to glean information about women accusing his brother, the then New York governor Andrew Cuomo, of sexual harassment – then sought to make his sibling aware of forthcoming coverage.
The network said on Tuesday: “We have suspended Chris indefinitely, pending further evaluation” as a result of the new details.’] – The Guardian
A bit of a shame as his and Lemon’s coverage of the last US election was mandatory viewing, moving CNN’s rating above those of FOX, but after the election, they tanked. He had his brother, Andrew, on a few times and they were cringe-worthy.
I didn’t see it get a run here, but Barbados just ditched the monarchy, Charles the adulterous meddling Prince decried (sugar) slavery, and Rihanna garnered National hero status. That’s what that clip was about; nothing about the legs, or the bum, or the heels, or the boobs even, nor nath’s unfulfilled dreams. Just a new national hero in a black mask in a New Republic.
Just having a look at electoral success, from a position of the government or the opposition from 1922 onwards, the statistics suggest that the likelihood of both major political parties’ electoral success appears to be remarkably similar!!!
Thanks GG
BK
She says she has been unable to read the report because it’s so long, but has never witnessed any of the incidents in it, and anyway many of them are historical accounts and wouldn’t happen now.
Not a very convincing fibber.
BK
“Hollie Hughes is on Sky News. She very nicely fits the nasty Liberal woman template.”
Surely she can’t be any worse than Amanda Stoker – nasty, snide, and condescending.
Lizzie
Some people will tell you that putting women in the room will fix the problem while forgetting that Brittany Higgins was hung out to dry by two women ministers.
lizzie
“but has never witnessed any of the incidents in it,”
I never witnessed Brutus stab Caesar. But I’m still pretty sure he did it.
Mexicanbeemer
Just so.
sprocket_ @ #708 Wednesday, December 1st, 2021 – 1:01 pm
—
But “my Mum was a nurse” you know !! Good riddance to the man who stuffed up getting COVID19 vaccines so badly many people got sick and died when they might not have.
Surely she can’t be any worse than Amanda Stoker – nasty, snide, and condescending.
_____
Kahuru
She’d give Stoker a good run! But Stoker would start favourite.
Ha! Shields and Alcorn are matching editorial bookends at the SMH and The Age.
Greg Jericho@GrogsGamut· 3h
Congrats to the new editor of the SMH!
I tentatively suggest it wasnt the allegations that damaged him.
Good to see Barbados join the republic club. Of course, if monarchist hyperbole is to be believed, the Barbadian Hitler, now free from the fear of intervention from Buckingham Palace, is making plans to take over the country and begin a reign of terror!
Seriously, good for them. I notice they went with the final Governor-General as their inaugural President, which is also a good idea and worth considering if ever we go down that avenue (which I imagine will happen some time in the 23rd century at the current rate of momentum.)
[‘How Anthony Albanese ruthlessly trolled Scott Morrison with a basket of VERY carefully chosen Christmas gifts for Kmart Wishing Tree charity appeal.’]
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10260859/Anthony-Albanese-trolls-Scott-Morrison-Salvation-Army-Kmart-Wishing-Tree-charity-gifts.html
BK – the only time Stoker would be a favourite. 😉
You would think a federal integrity commission would be prioritise over trolls on social media
Simon Katich:
Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at 2:07 pm
[‘I tentatively suggest it wasnt the allegations that damaged him.’]
Fair enough. What do you think it was – the not so blind trust?
Scott @ #667 Wednesday, December 1st, 2021 – 1:18 pm
Nah. Christian Porter. He’s a Sandgroper.
Thank you for your thoughtful reply, Ven. 🙂
EB
“But “my Mum was a nurse” you know !! ”
My grandfather was a bus driver. He died peacefully in his sleep. Unlike his screaming passengers.
(An old joke. But my grandfather was indeed a bus driver.)
Darwin Award nominee. I am not sure why this particular instance was rated as ‘tragic’.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/nov/30/life-tragic-death-john-eyers-fitness-fanatic-who-refused-covid-vaccine
nath:
What’s the worst that can happen – Briefly and Boerwar turn up to bore you senseless in person?
The Comrades would probably have been thinking that all they have to do is hunker down and let the deflections do the rest. Just like they did, successfully, with the Wuhan labs:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-01/eu-wants-proof-of-tennis-star-peng-shuai-safety-in-china/100663846
‘caf says:
Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at 2:26 pm
nath:
Did Yabba just put his name and address on PB? Mensa is not all it’s cracked up to be it seems.
What’s the worst that can happen – Briefly and Boerwar turn up to bore you senseless in person?’
=====================================================
Personal abuse.
Lol @ frydenberg slipped and said labor taxed lower than the lib/nats
😆
If Greg Hunt pulls the pin that makes Flinders a borderline “in-play” seat. It has a 5.6% margin but the population is somewhat older than your average electorate, so it is likely to remain more conservative than other Melbourne Metro seats.
Morrison’s election inspired war on social media might have some unintended consequences. His church in the Shire, Horizon, uses Facebook and Instagram. Australian Christian Churches (aka Assembly of God and the umbrella organisation for the happy clapper churches) uses Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Australian Christian Lobby uses Facebook and Twitter.
Perhaps Morrison thinks that his religious discrimination bill will let these organisations say what they like about others, no matter how horrible or defamatory, while all others are drawn over the coals.
On the other hand, the majority of Australians may consider the situation somewhat discriminatory.
Scott @ #783 Wednesday, December 1st, 2021 – 1:30 pm
He really comes across very badly when he starts yelling. Someone should tell him. Nah, don’t bother
Anti-Troll Bill A Relief To Govt MP’s As They Can Stop Hanging Out Under Bridges
https://theunaustralian.net/2021/12/01/anti-troll-bill-a-relief-to-govt-mps-as-they-can-stop-hanging-out-under-bridges/
Tasmania joins the ACT is having 80% of its whole population first dose vaccinated – NSW and Vic are 79%+
Mavis,
Taking defamation actions against the ABC and Milligan was unfathomable. He played the victim even when reaching out to the parents of the recently deceased woman. They way his media mates then took to his defence was pretty pathetic too. And then the lack of interest by him, his political party, its leader and, I would argue, the police to investigate further gave oxygen to claims this was yet another example of a culture that wants to sweep this sort of thing under the carpet.
Porter was finished because he became a figure head for all the sexual abuse that was never allowed to see the light of justice. I believe he had an opportunity to avoid that.
Politicians can move beyond these things in the modern media cycle. In my opinion he could have claimed innocence, stayed in his job, but supported scrutiny via an independent inquiry. It may have effected his chances of becoming PM (although I am not sure of that) – but he certainly could have continued a long career in serving the public as a MP and senior minister (assuming he is innocent). That may be unfair to him (again, assuming he is innocent). But that pales in comparison to the combined experiences of a very large section of the community fully aware of how little fairness there is in sexual abuse.
I sincerely trust that Albanese is not playing with Dutton’s & Morrison’s heads. “Sit down Boofhead” to Dutton yesterday, and assorted gifts for the SA gift box, which included a solar windmill, a fire truck, and an Eifel Towers. Who said Albanese hasn’t got the mongrel in him(?).
If the overwhelming majority of Australians had any interest in viewing the HOR question time during the fewer and fewer parliamentary sitting days, they would be aware that the parliamentary system is broken.
Integrity, honesty and good manners are sadly missing, question time now a sad reflection of past governments and the respect they often generated.
As I observe question time, the PM ably demonstrated his lack of integrity by attempt to blame the opposition for not supporting “a proposed piece of ICAC legislation” which has not been presented to parliament to be debated.
The overwhelming majority of Australians are quite rightly correct by ignoring the amateurish “hams” appearing during question time.
Then the Member for Yass talks some talk!!!!
Integrity!!!
jt1983 says:
Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at 11:24 am
“Win from opposition” is just a stat touted for people to have an excuse for pessimism.
Incumbency, even for pretty shit governments, state and Federal, is hard to crack. While it is difficult, it does eventually happen. Labor tends to be brought down by its own internal bullshit and the Libs get too comfortable in office and either become useless or starts to overreach.
But history isn’t necessary going to be your best metric … the political dynamic is a lot more fractured.
The pundits very consistently over-rate Labor’s chances. The win/lose record is very discouraging for Labor. Consider the period from 1917 until 1972. Labor won from Opposition just once during that period, and that was in 1929. The Scullin Government did not last 2 years. Curtin – the great, the unequalled, the extraordinary Curtin – could not win from Opposition.
Gough won in 1972 at the peak of opposition to the Viet Nam War. Labor was split at that time but was not as badly split as the reactionary hegemony, and Gough eked out a win. His Government was destroyed within 3 years.
The pro-Labor plurality is very deeply split now, and a significant section of that plurality is in the hands of Senators who will make it their business to help to destroy the next Labor Government, whenever one might be elected. This is the reality. Those who hope for reform in this country should first recognise the reality of our circumstances.
Extreme weather again in Melbourne. It’s becoming the norm.
Climate change is real. So too is the need to vote strategically and get rid of the parliamentary fossil fuel cartel.
A majority LNP or majority Labor Govt is a win for the parliamentary fossil fuel cartel. We can’t afford them winning again. Vote strategically.
Bloos – Victoria – once the jewel in the Liberal crown…
About to have all bar 10 years out of the past 40 with the ALP in government.
It also isn’t about the length of time you are in, it is what you do in the time given to you.
Goll, do you mean Kristy?
B.S. Fairman says:
Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at 2:31 pm
If Greg Hunt pulls the pin that makes Flinders a borderline “in-play” seat. It has a 5.6% margin but the population is somewhat older than your average electorate, so it is likely to remain more conservative than other Melbourne Metro seats.
——————-
It’s the sort of seat that is usually only won by the ALP at high watermark elections – which 2022 could be. Possibly its demographics might have shifted a little as a result of city voters moving to the Peninsula during the pandemic. The ALP last held it, as I recall, in the 80s for a term, though it’s gone close on other occasions.
I wonder if Julia Banks might run again? I understand Voices are still looking for a candidate. I heard confidentially about a well known person who was approached by Voices and was initially interested, but who ultimately declined.