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reports Natalie Baini, who until recently was a cultural diversity manager at the Australian Football League, has withdrawn her preselection challenge against Liberal MP Fiona Martin in Reid and will instead run as an independent, complaining the party had failed to act on her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.
Albo endorsing the Uluru Statement of the Heart, whilst not unexpected and definitely a good move, makes the relationship with the Greens interesting, given that, with Lidia Thorpe as their spokesperson on indigenous affairs, the Greens have shifted ground on this.
https://www.crikey.com.au/2020/10/16/greens-uluru-statement-position/
‘Bandt said the order of the reforms in the Uluru Statement should be changed from Voice, Treaty, Truth and retrofitted to the Greens’ preference of Truth, Treaty, Voice.’
‘…This policy shift represents a broken 2019 election commitment…’
‘…his commitment has now been jettisoned in favour of the Greens’ new position that has been developed without any serious engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people…’
The Coalition just want to protect the biggest trolls of all. Themselves.
z
It is excellent news that the Labor Party has endorsed the Statement of the Heart.
I see that the Greens have managed to turn something that the Greens ought to agree with into a wedge.
I assume that the right wing ratbags will be rattling on about sovereignty in our parliament – having hardly noticed that our parliament hardly sits, lacks all accountability and passes no legislation other than wedgies, secrecy Acts and regulations designed to give licence to their mates and to quell any notion of speaking truth to their sick power.
He doesn’t want to be asked awkward questions so he hands the task to smooth-talking Simon.
Player 1: ”I also said that I would decide whether to put Liberal above Labor or vice-versa based on the local candidates in the next election. Which were not known at the time, and are still not.”
How you vote is your decision of course. However, you need to realise that any Liberal candidate is equivalent to Barnaby Joyce or Peter Dutton. Regardless of their own beliefs or principles, they will have an identical voting record, apart from rare “conscience” votes, should they be elected. You need to consider this when deciding which of Liberal or Labor to preference first because, except in a handful of electorates, one if them will be elected. If you prefer, say, Peter Dutton, to, say, Tanya Plibersek, then by all means, preference the Liberal higher.
I wouldn’t say Simon Birmingham is ‘smooth talking’, rather ‘less inarticulate’ than the rest of the government members.
Sohar
Well, he pours out words like a dose of soothing syrup and seems to have an endless supply.
lizzie@9.26:
The response to the Kate Jenkins review will happen at the same time as Scotty is chairing the National Cabinet, an excellent avoidance strategy.
“Cat”, the transition thru life can result in higher remuneration – courtesy of change in vocation
In terms of financial stability, live within your means and embrace compounding as the wealth creation tool (so not how much your home is worth because you require a home – leaving aside that some rent for the reasons they do)
And in regards compounding we have the tax incentives attaching to superannuation contributions and earnings (whilst in accumulating phase then no tax in pension phase)
Some real “People’s Front of Judea” vibes here.
Observer says:
Tuesday, November 30, 2021 at 9:35 am
In terms of financial stability, live within your means and embrace compounding as the wealth creation tool
________
Observer would you care to give us an update on your fortune? A list of all stocks, bonds, funds, real estate and collectables.
Bennelong Lurker
Thanks. 🙂
Although with Scott’s ability to perform miracles, he should be able to be in two places at once.
After all, when he’s in QT he’s also making his presence felt on his phone.
Oh dear
S@#thead is at it again targeting another poster, this time Observer.
lizzie
Don’t have any actual information on the timing of the matter. Should have said that the SB press conference would probably be so timed, thus giving miracle man an out.
sorry.
Player One @ Tuesday, November 30, 2021 at 9:06 am
“I also said that I would decide whether to put Liberal above Labor or vice-versa based on the local candidates in the next election. Which were not known at the time, and are still not.”
Why yes you said this as well, PlayerOne. You have said multiple things that do not align. It is most enjoyable to watch and even help you out every now and then 😉
Asha
As the article says, the order matters to First Nations people.
”
Last week Scott Morrison and Peter Dutton competed to confirm the conclusion previously reached by Paul Keating, Max Suich et al: Domestic political purposes are running our China policy, opines Michael Pascoe.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2021/11/30/michael-pascoe-wombat-warriors-china/
”
Domestic political purposes are running our China policy like Trump did last year. However, our “allies” gobbling up our trade losses as detailed by below study.
Pascoe: ”
Now a new study from the UTS Australia-China Relations Institute shows we have already been left on a trade rock. The US and other “allies” have happily grabbed the economic opportunities our wombat warriors created for them.
ACRI’s James Laurenceson and Thomas Pantle have dug through the statistics to confirm what was widely expected.
Professor James Laurenceson.
Rather than “standing with us” and “having our back”, they’ve been eating our lunch.
“Australia’s strategic friends have offered useful rhetorical support for Australia’s predicament,” Professor Laurenceson and Mr Pantle write.
“But outcomes demonstrate a parallel commitment to advancing their own commercial interests, including by snapping up lost Australian sales and trading more with the PRC.
“In January-September 2021, the PRC’s imports from Australia of 12 disrupted goods fell by $US12.6 billion ($17.3 billion), compared with 2019. The biggest beneficiary was Australia’s security ally, the US, which increased sales of the same goods to the PRC by $US4.6 billion ($6.3 billion). Canada and New Zealand increased their sales by $US1.1 billion and $US786 million, respectively.”
And the figures find our strategic friends haven’t significantly stepped up their purchases of the Australian goods disrupted by the PRC freeze. We’ve done better redirecting trade to the likes of Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam”
Asha says:
Tuesday, November 30, 2021 at 9:37 am
‘Bandt said the order of the reforms in the Uluru Statement should be changed from Voice, Treaty, Truth and retrofitted to the Greens’ preference of Truth, Treaty, Voice.’
Some real “People’s Front of Judea” vibes here.
Junk as usual. Tony Abbott would be proud.
Griff @ #65 Tuesday, November 30th, 2021 – 9:41 am
I cannot be held responsible for your inability to understand a fairly simple concept.
The West Australian today has a full page advertisement with a near life size photograph of Craig Kelly’s head under the heading “Our next Prime Minister”
The media must love Clive Palmer. All that advertising revenue.
And he has plenty to spend.
In the business section there’s a report that Palmer is in line for a new royalties windfall from his Pilbara iron ore interests.
A new deal with the Chinese conglomerate that runs the mine could see him collect $US140 million up front and as much as $250 million a year once the new starts.
He already gets $1 million a day from exisiting operations.
Simon Birmingham, the go to guy for the government when they need someone to supply 5-10 minutes of continuous meaningless ‘white noise’.
The Nuclear Option : background music – My Corona [My Sharona]
Frustration had been building in the NSW division over the failure of the party to finalise pre-selections in a raft of seats in NSW, including Hughes, Gilmore, Parramatta, Warringah, Bennelong, Dobell, Eden-Monaro, Fowler and Greenway.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet were at loggerheads over potential candidates, with Mr Perrottet resisting attempts to poach more state MPs and thus trigger more State Government by-elections. [Australian, SMH].
Morrison favoured Andrew Constance has quit State politics to run for the Federal seat of Gilmore and Mel Gibbons has resigned to run for the seat of Hughes, currently held by UAP sell out Craig Kelly. Police Minister David Elliot rejected a request to run for the Federal seat of Greenway and Skills Minister Geoff Lee rejected a request to run for the Federal seat of Parramatta [SMH]
According to the SMH, Morrison centre-right Liberal power broker Alex Hawke threatened a dramatic federal intervention in NSW that could lead to candidates being imposed in key seats across the state, during a heated meeting of the party’s state executive on November 21st.
The moderate and conservative factions of the State executive teamed up to back a motion for nominations for federal seats to close on December 3, despite the actual preselection process being slated for February next year. An ally of Mr Hawke’s, who asked not to be named so they could discuss internal party matters, said that
“federal intervention is now being actively discussed because the PM and the Premier were rolled” by the passing of the preselection timetable.
[The Sun-Herald and The Sunday Age].
In response, Scott Morrison went to the Federal executive on November 25th and told them he was considering asking it to exercise powers to override state divisions in pre-selections to impose his preferred candidates in key New South Wales seats, according to The Australian.
The nuclear option of using Federal executive powers to over-ride the NSW State executive is a big call, one that Morrison is prepared to make on the grounds that his best chance of winning the election depends almost entirely on NSW marginal ALP seats flipping to the Coalition. There wont me much joy for him in other States where sandbagging Coalition seats will be the modus operandi.
The gloves are off, tis election time. Bring it on !!
‘The nuclear option of using Federal executive powers to over-ride the NSW State executive is a big call, one that Morrison is prepared to make on the grounds that his best chance of winning the election depends almost entirely on NSW marginal ALP seats flipping to the Coalition.’
Prime Minister for NSW.
”
zoomstersays:
Tuesday, November 30, 2021 at 9:05 am
‘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..’
Cue outrage re lack of diversity, robbing the locals on the ground of choice, etc etc etc.
”
Nah. What are you talking about. Morrison is God sent and Miracle man. He can do anything he wants. He is exception to the rule.
Player One @ Tuesday, November 30, 2021 at 9:51 am
Oh I understand the concept of a swinging voter. I am one myself.
I also understand that repetitive responses to criticism by presuming intellectual impairment in one’s antagonists, is suggestive of a fragile ego. As those with a fragile ego typically need get the last word in, I shall leave our conversation now. You’re welcome 😉
Simon Birmingham, the go to guy for the government when they need someone to supply 5-10 minutes of continuous meaningless ‘white noise’.
______
poroti
His favourite song – Johnny One Note.
”
Victoriasays:
Tuesday, November 30, 2021 at 8:45 am
Taylormade
You read all 520 pages of the report. That was quick
”
Yeah why not. Working from home. Hanging around doing nothing. Remember. So there is lot of time to read. 🙂
CC from last thread: “I think you’d show good faith and answering these.”
***
I did, most directly and pointedly in fact.
My default position is always to be nice to people, as I used to be to you. Respect and being treated in good faith are things that are earned though. They can also be completely lost when a person reveals their true selves. If you wish to be treated with respect and taken seriously, I suggest that you should do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Well I for one think that yapping at China like an annoying miniature poodle will really have Xi and company quaking in their boots…
…actually, I don’t really think that
Fracking In The Beetaloo Basin Will Go Ahead After The Senate Gave It The Green Light
A motion has fallen through in Parliament to stop controversial federal fracking funding in the Northern Territory’s Beetaloo Basin from continuing.
Despite the cross bench and Greens showing overwhelming support to axe the grants, Labor sided with the Coalition to get the projects started. Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe attributed the decision to the major parties receiving donations from fossil fuel companies, according to the AAP.
“Parliament’s vote today to green light a $50 million handout to help the gas industry frack the Beetaloo Basin is an unmitigated disgrace,” said GetUp First Nations Justice Director Larissa Baldwin. “The Morrison Government voted to give their gas industry donors free rein to desecrate the Beetaloo — against the express wishes of Traditional Owners.”
It was announced in August that the federal government would allocate $50 million worth of grants to gas and mining corporations to set up exploratory drilling projects in and around the Beetaloo and wider McArthur River Basins — despite concerns of lack of consent from First Nations communities. An estimated 60 Indigenous groups live around the area, and both the land and water at risk exist within sacred sites.
https://junkee.com/beetaloo-basin-vote/315907
Griff @ #71 Tuesday, November 30th, 2021 – 10:03 am
Vote 1 Griff! 😀
zoomster @ #69 Tuesday, November 30th, 2021 – 9:58 am
I don’t get how he thinks a few has-beens from the NSW Coalition State government is going to be his key to success? 😆
Herald Sun 30/11
Barton’s vote is the crucial piece needed to ensure the state government’s legislation gets over the line before state of emergency powers end on December 15.
“I’ve been forced into a position to have to deal with this at this late stage,” he said.
“It shouldn’t’ have come to this.
“All of these concerns would have been dealt with if they’d been more transparent and open.”
Mr Barton said a framework of some kind was needed for the benefit of healthcare workers and vulnerable Victorians, but criticised the government for botching the way the laws were rolled out.
“The sell of the message has been appalling, they’ve lost control of the narrative and this has been the problem,” he said.
_____________________
Wow. He didn’t miss there. That is a massive spray.
Am being picky but he could have also mentioned the 3 crossbenchers who seem willing to pass anything the govt puts up No questions asked.
Nevermind, as a result of this mess, all Victorians now have a real insight into the govts cosy relationship with Patten, Meddick and Ratnam.
poroti @ #67 Tuesday, November 30th, 2021 – 9:53 am
That man is the epitome of human pablum.
Griff @ #75 Tuesday, November 30th, 2021 – 10:03 am
As you so clearly need it, I am happy to give you this “win”. You’re welcome 😉
Asha,
This is a piece Bandt and Thorpe wrote in December 2020 on the issue.
https://greens.org.au/magazine/justice-first-nations-people-means-truth-treaty-and-voice
EB says:
Tuesday, November 30, 2021 at 9:54 am
The Nuclear Option : background music – My Corona [My Sharona]
Frustration had been building in the NSW division over the failure of the party to finalise pre-selections in a raft of seats in NSW, including Hughes, Gilmore, Parramatta, Warringah, Bennelong, Dobell, Eden-Monaro, Fowler and Greenway.
Morrison is no democrat.
Bloos @ #87 Tuesday, November 30th, 2021 – 10:18 am
What happened in Gilmore in the last election could happen all over the state in this one.
This is a real gift for Labor.
Prime Minister for NSW.
I don’t get how he thinks a few has-beens from the NSW Coalition State government is going to be his key to success? 😆
Shows you how desperate he is to find a rabbit in the hat huh
EB @ #85 Tuesday, November 30th, 2021 – 10:21 am
They’re coming up Myxo. 😐
EB,
My guess is that the State MPs already represent some of the area already. So, it won’t be an unknown against an unknown in the seat at the Election. The State MPs will also have a base of locals to form their campaign team.
bakunin says:
Tuesday, November 30, 2021 at 10:18 am
The Junk strategy is always the same: Divide and Lose. The Junk are expert splitters….so adroit with a hammer and a wedge. Invariably, absolutely invariably, the Junk put Separatism first.
Do you ever wonder where the Freedumb Marchers get their organisational cues and tactics from? Other than a couple of prominent Jewish families who are playing with fire, because I’m sure there’s world-wide co-ordination going on here:
https://www.thebulwark.com/meet-the-texas-secessionist-movement-brought-to-you-by-russia/
As above in America, so below in Australia. And I don’t think I’ve lost the plot by saying so.
Excellent development in Victoria.
Greensborough Growler @ #87 Tuesday, November 30th, 2021 – 10:31 am
And some of them, like Constance, don’t even come from the electorate and have upset the locals, again, by being seen to have been imposed on them. So the support may be there but it may very well end up being tepid again.
Player One says:
Tuesday, November 30, 2021 at 10:20 am
Bloos @ #87 Tuesday, November 30th, 2021 – 10:18 am
EB says:
Tuesday, November 30, 2021 at 9:54 am
The Nuclear Option : background music – My Corona [My Sharona]
Frustration had been building in the NSW division over the failure of the party to finalise pre-selections in a raft of seats in NSW, including Hughes, Gilmore, Parramatta, Warringah, Bennelong, Dobell, Eden-Monaro, Fowler and Greenway.
Morrison is no democrat.
What happened in Gilmore in the last election could happen all over the state in this one.
This is a real gift for Labor.
The dysfunction within the Reactionaries is unmistakeable. They hate each other. Even more than usual, they’re unfit for purpose. Hopefully it will all turn to dust for them.
Rex Douglas says:
Tuesday, November 30, 2021 at 10:33 am
Excellent development in Victoria.
Kieran Rooney
@KieranRooneyCM
·
1h
A Covid mRNA vaccine candidate has now successfully been manufactured in Victoria. It now has to go through approvals and trials process.
@JaalaPulford
says the feat means Victoria is now part of a small list of places that can manufacture this tech. #springst #auspol
Good news. Very good news.
I see Daniel Andrews continuing to get things done by negotiating once again with the crossbench to get the numbers to pass the pandemic legislation.
This Govt has a long record of getting legislation passed through negotiation – and will no doubt continue to do so, despite the socially divisive rabble rousing by R/W corporate media/politicians.
‘We understand some within the First Nations community will be pushing for ‘Voice’ to come first…’
The ‘some’ referred to here are those who went through an exhaustive consultation process with First Nations people, and came out with a plan very different from the one they were ‘supposed’ t0 (which suggests the consultation was very genuine).
They have been over ruled by ‘one’ (Thorpe) who walked out on these negotiations when they didn’t go her way.
The article I posted earlier explains why the change in order matters and why ‘some’ of the indigenous community have been put offside by the Greens’ switch in stance.
It is extremely worrying when the policy approach of a party appears to be dictated by the views of one individual, particularly an individual who it is clear is out of step with the First Nations community on this.
‘As above in America, so below in Australia. And I don’t think I’ve lost the plot by saying so.’
No. You only have to look at some of the placards at the protests.
A few years ago, it was common to see posts on facebook which were clearly ‘shared’ from American sites, with apparently no realisation that they had nothing to do with Australia (they’d refer to positions in Parliament which we don’t have, for example).