A lot of news at the moment concerning matters pertinent to this blog, with Christian Porter announcing yesterday he will not contest the election, Greg Hunt universally expected to follow suit with today’s last parliamentary sitting day of the year, and voter identification legislation scuttled after a deal between government and opposition.
• Annabel Hennessy of The West Australian reports a nominee has already come forward for Liberal preselection in Christian Porter’s loseable northern Perth seat of Pearce: Miquela Riley, a former naval officer and current PwC Australia manager who performed a thankless task as the party’s candidate for Fremantle at the March state election. Other potential nominees identified are Libby Lyons, former director of the Australian Government’s Workplace Gender Equality Agency, and Alyssa Hayden, who held the state seat of Darling Range from 2018 until her defeat in March and was earlier in the Legislative Council from 2009 to 2017.
• The most widely named successor to Greg Hunt as Liberal candidate for the Victorian seat of Flinders is Zoe McKenzie, an NBN Co director and former chief-of-staff to Abbott-Turnbull government Trade Minister Andrew Robb. The Age reports other potential starters are Mark Brudenell, chief-of-staff at Latitude Financial and former adviser to Malcolm Turnbull as both Communications Minister and Prime Minister, and Simon Breheny, former Institute of Public Affairs policy director.
• A deal between government and opposition has resulted in the abandonment of plans to introduce voter identification at the coming election. In exchange, Labor has agreed to support a bill that will halve the expenditure threshold at which third parties will have to file disclosure returns, over the objections of critics who argue the associated red tape will discourage charities from political campaigning. It appeared unlikely the voter identification bill would have gained the required votes in the Senate, with Jacqui Lambie having announced yesterday she would vote against it.
• Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats are pursuing a High Court action against recently enacted legislation that will prevent parties other than the main ones having words like Liberal and Labor in their name. Absent a favourable outcome, this will presumably result in formal challenges against the Liberal Democrats and the New Liberals, the latter of whom have withdrawn their application to change their name simply to TNL.
Firefox @ Friday, December 3, 2021 at 9:24 pm
Why stop there? Should we really be a democracy when 90% of Australians are wRONg? 😉
Andrew_Earlwood:
Friday, December 3, 2021 at 9:06 pm
[‘You sit as a cancer on the corporeal flesh of the Labor movement. An unasked for and undeserved malignant melanoma.’]
Thank the Lord that you’re not one for overstatement.
“It’s Labor’s mission to take outer suburban seats while at the same time defending those under attack by the Greens. ”
Whilst the former is definitely the mission – and IMO no quarter should be given to the junk (THERE Bowe – I said it!) in the inner urbs – I for one am prepared for Labor to risk bohobostan in order to bring back outer urban seats (and regionals) into the broader tent. Something that the Greens would never contemplate: the greater good …
Years ago I knew a Librarian who hosted swinger nights and sure she was hot, and I was tempted to go but ultimately couldn’t. I’m the only bull in my paddock.
‘“Labor [is too close to the Greens] and cannot be trusted”
Scott Morrison.’
***
Another obvious lie from Morrison.
Labor is far closer to the Coalition than they are to the Greens.
Firefox. Labor’s policies don’t go far enough for you, so you vote for someone who matches or at least come closer to what you believe should be done. Fair enough. However, when you number your preferences, you have to choose who gets your vote should your preferred candidate be eliminated from the count, as he or she almost certainly will be in the House.
Labor, on the other hand, needs to garner the votes of some of the
greedyaspirational and many of those who are disengaged. In this, the perfect is the enemy of the good. Always, 80% of what is needed is better than 100% of nothing. So is 50%.I am not quite sure what you are trying to accomplish here. Are you trying to gain converts to the One True Green Faith from among the Bludgers? Same-same won’t do it. Do you post on Liberal blogs and try to convince the denizens there? Try to expand the pie? That might do more good.
“and IMO no quarter should be given to the junk (THERE Bowe – I said it!) in the inner urbs”
***
AE is fast becoming the political lovechild of The Artist and Comrade Boerski! 😛
Just checking SportsBet odds on the next election
Labor 1.70
LNP 2.1o
Other 51.00
Bandt is ok. I don’t quite get the angst against him.
I once had a coffee with him at Hobba in Prahran, I thought he was the waiter.
“Years ago I knew a Librarian who hosted swinger nights and sure she was hot, and I was tempted to go but ultimately couldn’t. I’m the only bull in my paddock.”
Sacrebleu, a raconteur like yourself unable to broaden your horizons. Must come of being a lifelong Collingwood supporter: everything is black and white and in stripes in your universe. …
As a Crown Prosecutor of my acquaintance was fond of saying, when trying to explain the inexplicable degree and extent of the sexual shenanigans and mis-adventures in the Riverina: ultimately ‘Zebras fuck Zebras …’
Andrew_Earlwood says:
Friday, December 3, 2021 at 9:32 pm
I for one am prepared for Labor to risk bohobostan in order to bring back outer urban seats (and regionals) into the broader tent.
________
Fair enough, and that is what the Greens want to happen.
The Ultimate aim for the Greens is to take about 10 seats. Say 7 from Labor and 3 from Liberal. That would give them BOP after any close election.
“AE is fast becoming the political lovechild of The Artist and Comrade Boerski! ”
We will always have China and the ChiComms, comrade commissar!
Bandt is like that annoying office boy, who after one stuff up too many gets sacked.
Everyone else feels overwhelming relief.
The imperative – the existential imperative – for the Greens is very simple. To prosper they must work to disable Labor. Of necessity this makes them into the allies – the auxiliaries – of the Reactionaries.
And this necessarily means the values and goals of the Greens will never be given effect.
They are the Party of Futile Hope. They have wrecked reformist politics in this country.
Firefox,
The majority of Australians don’t want anything to do with the Greens in the Lower House, that is the reality. And they certainly don’t want them to hold the balance of power in the Lower House.
We don’t need a minority ALP government.
You need to negotiate positions, you don’t always get what you want. If you want another 3 years of Coalition then go ahead continue as you have been.
“Labor, on the other hand, needs to garner the votes of some of the greedy aspirational and many of those who are disengaged. In this, the perfect is the enemy of the good. Always, 80% of what is needed is better than 100% of nothing. So is 50%.”
***
Labor needs to stop bullshitting to the disengaged that this kind of garbage is good enough to address the climate emergency because it’s not. What don’t you lot get about that? We are literally actually fucked as a planet if we don’t take more urgent action NOW.
There is no perfect being the enemy of the good. It’s either good enough or it’s not good enough. Labor’s policy is not good enough and will lead to catastrophic climate change.
I thought the ultimate aim of the Greens was to form government.
Good to see they’re getting more realistic about their chances.
I don’t know what popular culture you are referring to in that diatribe. But it bears no resemblance to the one I live in. If your’s is really that bad perhaps you should consider moving into another neighbourhood.
Oh Dear. Did I break Firefox? What is wrong with a Green dictatorship I ask you? 🙂
“I thought the ultimate aim of the Greens was to form government.”
***
Oh it certainly is – it is only a question of time – but the balance of power will do for now.
Or perhaps a Green monarchy? Can we sustain a noble class that is 10% of the population? The serfs will have to work hard!
Nath and the Librarian:
Seemed like a good idea at the time…
“South Australia’s Covid-19 chiefs will on Saturday consider an emergency borders crackdown with NSW, the ACT and Victoria over fears about Omicron, as the state records its first mysterious local case in 19 months.
In a major development less than a fortnight after borders reopened for the first time in 153 days, authorities will debate urgent SA Health advice on a growing NSW outbreak linked to the new variant of concern.
The crisis directions committee will likely rule that borders with NSW, ACT and Victoria should close for at least the next fortnight. Authorities are considering closing borders from 7am Monday to prevent the highly infectious strain spreading in SA.
It is understood the crackdown will ban all but essential travel to SA, while fully vaccinated returning SA residents would be required to quarantine for seven days. Unvaccinated residents would have to isolate for a fortnight.
https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/coronavirus/sa-health-is-set-to-announce-the-covid-situation-after-yesterdays-norwood-cluster-announcement/news-story/409fa8042bfdb90aaeb03250908ec07f
sprocket_ @ Friday, December 3, 2021 at 9:52 pm
Home quarantine? Not that helpful if that is the case. But it is a start. Omicron is pretty much the death knell for the Federal Government. Shoulda gone early.
FoxxyLove
“Labor is far closer to the Coalition than they are to the Greens.”
I think Labor would be quite happy with that interpretation.
nath
Years ago I knew a Librarian who hosted swinger nights and sure she was hot, and I was tempted to go but ultimately couldn’t. I’m the only bull in my paddock.
———-
nath sees himself as a silverback!!
Wrong primate!
rhwhombat,
If you are about, thank you for the paper on boosters. I am now looking forward to data on sustainability and the impact, if any, of early booster regimens.
Firefox says:
Friday, December 3, 2021 at 9:
***
Labor’s policy will lead to catastrophic climate change.
This is pure Labor-Phobia. It is complete bullshit. It is Junk politics from the Greens – from the party whose own prosperity depends on defiling Labor. They can get lost. Labor did not cause the climate emergency. The Greens cannot prevent it. This is an epic tragedy reduced to political farce by the frauds and the charlatans that run the Greens.
“Labor’s policy will lead to catastrophic climate change.”
Just how many sharks is Firefox prepared to jump? Can we just be a little honest? With a modicum of perspective? No carbon emissions policy in Australia – whether Labor, Liberal or the Greens will lead to either ‘catastrophic climate change’ or ‘climate change salvation’. For someone so preachy about ‘the science’ Firefox shows utter contempt for basic scientific principles.
nath
“Years ago I knew a Librarian who hosted swinger nights and sure she was hot, and I was tempted to go but ultimately couldn’t”
I’m 99% sure that was just a porno you watched.
Bludging Bloos @ #1128 Friday, December 3rd, 2021 – 9:07 pm
That much is true. All paths lead to catastrophic climate change at this point. Got nothing to do with Labor. Even a majority Greens government wouldn’t be able to stop it.
If the Greens leader gets sacked who replaces him as Leader in the House of government?
At least the Liberal Party in WA have one other option
And, among the Greens, who are the Shadow Ministers and what portfolios are they responsible for?
And, if there is an under performer among their Shadow Ministry, who steps up to assume the portfolio from among their backbench members?
A lot of noise
No relevance
Did our invitee to a Swingers Party change hands at 99?
In fact, can (presumably) he count to 99?
Which is where the problem may be
What a ridiculous and totally avoidable mess this has turned into:
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/dec/03/liberal-senator-alex-antic-taken-into-sa-hotel-quarantine-and-denies-misleading-pm-on-vaccination
The best part about it is that Scomo could well be telling the truth here, but his reputation is such that no-one will believe him anyway!
Griff @ #1128 Friday, December 3rd, 2021 – 10:06 pm
So am I. There is a high likelihood of a strong “founder effect” with Omicron in the Southern African cohorts – and the air hubs like Doha & Hong Kong. Based on the emergence of Delta in India (which is not necessarily a good analogy) I doubt that any coherent epidemiological signals from Omicron will be distinguishable from noise for at least 1-2 months. The clinical outcome(s) will probably take at least 3 months. That won’t stop the speculation or the panicked responses.
Observer,
Im fairly sure triggering the Labor Right OAP army isn’t a reason for The Greens to sack a leader.
Talking to the Greens here about action on climate change is like talking to a Pentecostal about god’s will. No logic or rationality in the world will change their basic beliefs one iota.
Waste of time. All they have done is convince me they are poison. Which is more than Briefly and Boerwar’s incessant bashing of them has never achieved.
So what happens to the Adelaide Test Match?
NSW, hey?
Again
And they want the secret girlfriend of the disgraced former MP to stand in the Federal election
“Don’t tell me that. I do not want to know”
And once that was played to her she resigned – forthwith
So what was said to result in that response?
Because there must have been something said to see that response – including her resignation
And it was not the “rorts” he referred to
It was using his position as a MP to feather his nest and to provide for his post political life
And what he was doing with whom to feather that nest and to provide for himself (and her?) post his parliamentary career
At least now he only has to provide for himself – or so we assume
Because who knows?
“That much is true. All paths lead to catastrophic climate change at this point. Got nothing to do with Labor. Even a majority Greens government wouldn’t be able to stop it.”
***
The Greens are really the only option for those who accept the science of climate change and understand the urgent need to take action.
”
Griffsays:
Friday, December 3, 2021 at 9:28 pm
Firefox @ Friday, December 3, 2021 at 9:24 pm
Why stop there? Should we really be a democracy when 90% of Australians are wRONg?
”
You can imagine steam coming out of his ears. 🙂
With all due respect, that was NOT the question
Asha
Yes he’s quite hard done by isn’t he? Governing is a such a nuisance when rebellious MPs, omicron, toxic climate politics, and the odd world leader all get in the way of a nice Hawaiian holiday!
Climate change is a world wide crisis, but in Australia we have a tsunami of social problems courtesy of a cruel and corrupt government. Tossing them out must be a priority.
Moving from inner city Melbourne to Wagga Wagga at the start of this year*, reading this board has been interesting.
Bandt to McCormack my head hurts with it.
Firefox. I love your passion but seriously 2PP 70, 30 for the Riverina electorate at the 2019 election for the Nats. I know where the enemy lies and it aint the ALP. The conditions in the poorer suburbs here are a disgrace and yet they’ll still vote Nationals. They are voting Greens in about 2 centuries from now. That is the country in which you live.
*No, I didn’t “escape” Melbourne I moved for my wife’s job. I’m down as much as I can from now.
Asha @ #1134 Friday, December 3rd, 2021 – 10:19 pm
Morrison’s explanation just sounded like another one of his pretzel logic justifications for what he tried to get away with saying last week. He does it all the time. He gets caught out being economical with the facts and then has to fit some new ‘facts’ around his justification that, what he said last week was actually, true! 🙄
Adelaide Test still okay coz the Queensland border won’t close.
SA Health has trumped itself in its idiocy by opening early, managing it terribly, not planning for Covid cases in the community and then trying to blame it on Omicron, which was around when we opened the borders.
”
Kakurusays:
Friday, December 3, 2021 at 10:12 pm
nath
“Years ago I knew a Librarian who hosted swinger nights and sure she was hot, and I was tempted to go but ultimately couldn’t”
I’m 99% sure that was just a porno you watched.
”
🙂
Can Silverbacks pole vault – absent the pole?
Imagine the invitee to a Swingers Party pole vaulting across multiple suburbs to arrive at the venue for the event
Minus the pole, of course
The mind boggles!!!!
bakunin @ #1136 Friday, December 3rd, 2021 – 10:25 pm
You know you’re saying the quiet part out loud about the modus operandi of The Greens, don’t you?
“You can imagine steam coming out of his ears.”
***
I’m not sure why you’d think that exactly. If it’s what Griff is ranting about, I already addressed our plans in my response to Zoomster. The balance of power is our goal for now. Yes, a lot of people are voting for the wrong party when it comes to what’s required to address the climate emergency, you’re definitely right about that. The Greens are the only real option for those who take it seriously.