I’ve been a bit lax in keeping up on federal preselection developments of late, which have naturally been gathering pace as the big event gets closer. To keep things manageable, I will focus in this post on developments in New South Wales, which is where most of the action has been.
Things have been particularly lively in the Liberal camp, where Scott Morrison finds himself in the thick of factional warfare between his centre right faction and its principal numbers man, Mitchell MP Alex Hawke, and an alliance of the moderate and the hard right factions. As Mike Steketee at the Saturday Paper relates, the latter have accused the former of obstructing the process so as to avoid rank-and-file ballots that may not go their way, potentially endangering Hawke himself. Steketee reports expectations that the end game will be a deal that leaves all sitting members undisturbed, with ballots to proceed in a number of important seats where it may have been prudent to have had candidates in place quite a bit sooner.
• Jim O’Rourke of the Daily Telegraph reports the failure of Scott Morrison’s seemingly desperate attempt to recruit Gladys Berejiklian in Warringah leaves Jane Buncle, a “high-flying junior barrister who believes in climate change”, as the favourite to run against independent Zali Steggall. However, James Massola of the Sydney Morning Herald reported party polling tested the prospects of Berejiklian, Buncle, former Premier Mike Baird and management consultant Alex Dore (who according to the Telegraph is still considering running), and found only Berejiklian would win the seat.
• In a particularly helpful account of the broader state of play, Linda Silmalis of the Daily Telegraph reports three candidates have nominated in Parramatta, which the party is hopeful of knocking over with the retirement after 17 years of Labor member Julie Owens. These are Maria Kovacic, co-founder of Western Sydney Women; Felicity Findlay, acquisitions manager for property investment firm Merc Capital; and Charles Camenzuli, engineer and unsuccessful candidate for the seat in 2010 and 2019. Silmaris notes the party has extended nominations in the hope that a stronger candidate might come forward. Former Parramatta councillor Martin Zaiter is “being wooed”; efforts to interest Geoff Lee, who holds the state seat of Parramatta, have come to nothing.
• One of the preselection challenges Alex Hawke is keen to head off is that against Environment Minister Sussan Ley in Farrer, where she is threatened by Christian Ellis, a public relations specialist who has made a name locally campaigning for water rights. Linda Silmaris’s report says “Mr Ellis’s supporters believe their candidate has the numbers, triggering panic among those backing Ms Ley”.
• Hawkesbury councillor Sarah Richards has been preselected to run against Labor member Susan Templeman in Macquarie, where she fell short by 371 votes on her first attempt in 2019.
On the other side of the aisle:
• Sarah Martin of The Guardian offers a revealing account of the complex state of play in Labor’s preselection for Parramatta. Local branches are dominated by the soft left faction associated with Laurie Ferguson, which duly favours a rank-and-file ballot. However, the faction is split between supporters Julia Finn, member for the state seat of Granville, and Durga Owen, criminal lawyer and Western Sydney University lecturer, neither of whom are “seen as acceptable to the federal executive”. This would appear to include Anthony Albanese, who may be about to sanction a push for the executive to take matters into its own hands due to familiar concerns about branch stacking. Albanese’s own branch of the Left favours Abha Devasia, legal director of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union. However, the Right seemingly wants in as well, demanding compensation for the selection of the unaligned Daniel Repacholi to replace Joel Fitzgibbon in Hunter.
• Also noted in Sarah Martin’s article is that a rank-and-file ballot to choose Sharon Bird’s successor in Cunningham is expected to be won by Alison Byrnes, a staffer to Bird and the wife of state MP Paul Scully.
• Labor’s candidate for Lindsay, which Melissa McIntosh won for the Liberals from Labor in 2019, will be Trevor Ross, a firefighter of 36 years.
Saving it for a better time Mavis
Lars Von Trier:
Saturday, December 18, 2021 at 9:42 pm
If Morrison wasn’t so shonky, I’d agree with you.
Lars
Didn’t the PR people clue you in to how the PM’s security detail cleared all non essential people from the scene of his promotion effort?
Looks like you are on the outer.
You need to try harder.
Jesus, it’s actually true.
What is wrong with this man?
Lars Von Trier @ #1349 Saturday, December 18th, 2021 – 9:42 pm
That depends.
That the families get consolation is an assumption, not borne out by past Morrison appearances, eg the bushfire tragedies. The last person I would turn to for some empathy is Morrison, and you’re correct, I don’t presume to reflect the families’ response, and neither should you.
There is also the assumption that he went to provide consolation, for the families, and not his polling numbers, not borne out by reports of manipulating the scenes to his photographic advantage.
BB:
Someone made an excellent point earlier on social media that I didn’t even consider: where was Scomo when that Sudanese couple lost four children in a house fire a little while back?
Ray
“Two-week’ Christmas lockdown looms – Boris set to thrust new rules on UK after SAGE plea”
—–
I strongly suspect that ScoMo the Incompetent and Perrottet the Unready have, together, sown the wind and will reap a whirlwind.
I visited Tweeed Haeds today to get urgent items for my renovation.
Probably 10% of people had masks. No QR check-ins.
It’s all over, according to the neo-libs, laissez-faire intellectually challenged and amoral rulers of the Rum Corp State/Oztraylya.
I hope the coming whirlwind does not take too many innocents with it, but does deliver a deserved comeuppance to the evil gang currently ensconced in Canberra..
Asha says:
Saturday, December 18, 2021 at 9:53 pm
BB:
Someone made an excellent point earlier on social media that I didn’t even consider: where was Scomo when that Sudanese couple lost four children in a house fire a little while back?
___________________________
The politics of Disaster raises another conundrum.
When I mentioned the Politics of Disaster a couple of years back in relation to Shortens’ activities at Beaconsfield I was scoffed at for introducing a weird concept.
Strange how ever since then it’s been pretty much the Politics of Disaster non stop.
Excellent article in the NY Times about liberty, and the different things it means to different people, especially in today’s anti-vaxxer times:
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/17/opinion/freedom-liberty-racial-hierarchies.html
There is no evidence that Morrison’s security detail cleared out family members.
The people moved back may have been local ruffians. It’s possible.
Local ruffians???
Seriously??
You have exposed yourself right there.
Grub!
It’s the problem Morrison has that he’s such a spiv, that even the average punter sees through him. Pepys.
Jimmy D
“Excellent article in the NY Times about liberty, and the different things it means to different people, especially in today’s anti-vaxxer times:”
—–
Yankees writing about “liberty” is like the Soviet Nomenklatura writing about “workers rights”.
As I said earlier, I don’t think politicians should involve themselves in tragedies like this. But I see no difference between Morrison’s intervention and McGowan with his teddy bear.
nath
First you tried the false equivalence/bandwagon argument, and now you’re claiming the Sydney Morning Herald is reporting “fake news”?
If I didn’t know better, I’d accuse you of being an apologist for Morrison.
Morrison is known as Scotty from marketing, so anything he tries to associates with just looks suspiciously opportunistic.
I really don’t understand why this particular tragedy needed the PM to get involved, a statement was more than enough.
JimmyD @ #1365 Saturday, December 18th, 2021 – 10:10 pm
Can you imagine the squealing from the little piggie if a PM Shorten’s security detail had done the same thing?
What?
Teddy Bear for a happy result, as opposed to the tragic situation in Devonport.
Tell me you are trying to be serious.
Stop digging.
b says:
Saturday, December 18, 2021 at 10:13 pm
What?
Teddy Bear for a happy result, as opposed to the tragic situation in Devonport.
Tell me you are trying to be serious.
Stop digging.
__________
I forgot about the shamanic power of teddy bears to dispel political opportunism.
So what if they did ? Who should get first priority , the grieving friends , relatives and community or SfM ? Well it sure as hell isn’t SfM getting photo ops for the news cycle.
Interesting and unusual
In a shop today, the shop assistant (older age group) was remarking about covid and the new and stupid NSW “let it rip” policies and he then raised the issue of the incompetence (vaccinations) of ScoMo and what an appalling liar he was.
Rikali
Absolutely. I won’t argue with that given the legacy of Dred Scott and the tyranny imposed by the second amendment.
I did however appreciate the point that people on the left and right approach the concept of liberty from different points of understanding.
EDITED for spelling (I’m a terrible speller)
I wonder if nath ever tires of being a shill for Scott Morrison? Anyway, here are some of the ‘local ruffians’:
nathadamus forgotten what sock he’s got on ?
All I can say is that I’m glad it was Paul Keating and not Bushfire Bill that gave the Redfern Address.
Nath needs some time out.
Take it Nath, it’s been a long day for a lot of people.
You’re not alone.
I suppose Morrison thinks the mourners in Devonport, like the March 4 Justice protesters at Parliament, should be thankful that the security detail didn’t just shoot them.
JimmyD
Absolutely. I won’t argue with that given the legacy of Dred Scott and the tyrany imposed by the second amendment.
__
I partly appologise… I was feeling a bit stroppy as I “accidently” watched part of uSBS news tonight which seemed to have 50% of it given over to US Disaster Porn, as is its want.
The most crucial piece of World news to uSBS is always the fact that in a country far far away a policeman/woman shot a black person in their community.
I object to my taxes being used to pay for this childish pretend news service which has contempt for Australia and its context. It’s become a woke version of what I imagine US Fox network.
For those who may still believe in SfM’s tears and sincerity, he posed with his wreath out for minutes until the photos were all taken.
Who else does that?
I see nath and LVT are reinforcing their reputations this evening. Sad cases really. 🙁
9:58.
10:00
10:08
10:14
10:23
Just on this page, so far
Some life, hey?
Who are these people, nath and Lars, you speak about? 😀
JimmyD @ #1364 Saturday, December 18th, 2021 – 9:10 pm
I know those words but that sentence makes no sense. 😆
a r – it doesn’t? How so?
Poland has passed laws limiting foreign ownership of the media.
The USA official response:
The United States is deeply troubled by the passage in Poland today of a law that would undermine freedom of expression, weaken media freedom, and erode foreign investors confidence in their property rights and the sanctity of contracts in Poland,
————
So security cleared a path for morrison to hold up his bible?
Trump would be so proud.
The USA already has laws limiting foreign ownership of their media, what is their problem with Poland.
The Polish government has been doing a bunch of ugly stuff with respect to their judiciary and press. Bash the USA all you like, but I would treat anything the current Polish government does with extreme suspicion.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015%E2%80%93present_Polish_constitutional_crisis
https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/08/12/poland-targets-tv-channel-limits-press-freedom-and-pluralism#
JimmyD @ #1384 Saturday, December 18th, 2021 – 10:14 pm
It was a joke. Guess it didn’t work. 🙂
Anyways, now at Pfizer / Pfizer / Moderna. Booster given 6 months to the day.
Side effects so far about the same as for the first Pfizer dose, plus a generally shitty feeling similar to being mildly sunburned and slightly dehydrated. That part is new, though also possible that I’m just mildly sunburned and slightly dehydrated.
Good luck, everybody else.
I’ve been a Liberal voter most of my adult life but politicizing the tragedy in Tasmania left me cold. Morrison should have stayed away. The last thing those parents and families needed was politicians holding a cringeworthy press conference.
I honestly don’t believe Morrison has a clue what the ordinary Aussie values.
He needs to go. 🙁
Can’t believe how quick Aldi and Colesworths were to absolutely remove every QR Code check in from their stores.
It was almost within seconds of the midnight December 15th time.
Used to love Aldi, Colesworth not so much.
Absolutely disappointed in the whole lot of them.
Eager to please the NSW Government or more worried about having to close shop due to close contacts ?
Profits before people?
Aldi…let me down…. Colesworth… don’t care, never go there!
Meanwhile Foodworks, IGA etc still doing the right thing by locals.
a r – sorry about that. I must admit humour does sometimes go over my head, much to the amusement of others.
I had my booster shot Saturday, and I am feeling very sore and shitty.
‘Trump Rioter Who Attacked Cops With Fire Extinguisher Gets Longest Jan. 6 Sentence Yet’
‘A Florida man who attacked law enforcement officers on Jan. 6 while wearing a distinctive American flag sweatshirt emblazoned with the name of former President Donald Trump was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison, the longest sentence handed out in connection with the Capitol riot so far’
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/capitol-riot-sentence-trump-robert-scott-palmer_n_61b94c34e4b06621e42bfe72
ETA – There are others charged with much more violent attacks than in this case, I think some of them are looking at 10-15 years
davidwh:
Sunday, December 19, 2021 at 12:21 am
[‘He needs to go.’]
Yep!
Look-a-like Rees-Mogg expurgates deadwood:
[‘NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet is poised to introduce a fresh-faced frontbench that rewards a younger generation of MPs, as two of the state’s longest-serving ministers announced their resignations on Saturday afternoon and a third was dropped.
Arts Minister Don Harwin and Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock resigned from the NSW ministry ahead of Mr Perrottet’s long-awaited cabinet reshuffle. Water, Housing and Property Minister Melinda Pavey, the state’s longest-serving Nationals MP, was also dropped from cabinet.
Don’t look back: NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet is leaving some of the longest-serving ministers behind to install the next generation of cabinet.’]
Nath writes:
It wasn’t my community. I didn’t know any of the victims. There was no apparent malice. I have no “trigger” incidents in my past. Therefore, to me it wasn’t “unutterably sad”, or “an unbelievable tragedy” (as some have put it), and I’m not going to cry tears that I don’t have for these unfortunate children, their families, friends and townspeople.
The idea that the news media, in concert with publicity hungry politicians and their PR hangers-on should dictate to me what I find sad, tragic, or outrageous, is quite repellent. I refuse to go into mourning every time a new tabloid disaster hits the front pages.
Tragic accidents happen every day to kids – on the roads, in fires, from violent attacks – without the nation going into mass mourning, and without national leaders visiting the scenes or the grave sites, turning their deaths into a grotesque, prayerful photo op, drowning in crocodile tears.
Where was Morrison when hundreds died needlessly because he made an empty boast about obtaining vaccines and then couldn’t admit his mistake? Or those aged and infirm people at St Basil’s, for which his government had responsibility? Or all those boat people who have died incarcerated, in despair? Where was he when the bushfires wiped out lives, fauna, property, hope and futures, while he made empty promises of assistance that were never delivered?
Today was a new low for Morrison, so don’t try to deflect it onto me nath.
As I said some moons ago, nath, I find you’re interesting.
davidwh
Morrison’s whole preachy attitude is pissing me off because he is trying too hard.
New thread.
With overseas countries starting to lockdown again
Nsw Lib/nats and federal Lib/nats let the virus rip through and to live with the virus doesnt matter how many cases or people who gets sick or unfortunately die , Australia is once again a laughing stock and behind the world