First up, please note two other important posts above and below this one: the former asking for money, the latter offering an opportunity for on-topic discussion about the Senate election to mark the happy occasion of the publication of my new Senate election guide, complementing the already published seat-by-seat guide to the House.
With that out of the way, three new items of federal election news to ring in the new year:
• State MP Andrew Constance is now effectively confirmed as the Liberal candidate for the key seat of Gilmore on the New South Wales South Coast, which forms a major part of the government’s re-election strategy given its hope that Constance can recover a seat that was lost in 2019. His main rival, Shoalhaven Heads lawyer Paul Ell, withdrew from the race last week, saying he had formed the view that Constance was best placed to win, a view that was backed by a Liberal source quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald based on party polling. Others to withdraw over the past fortnight were Jemma Tribe, a charity operator and former Shoalhaven councillor, and Stephen Hayes, a former RAAF officer and staffer to Christopher Pyne, who said he was concerned he would face Section 44 issues due to his business dealings with the government.
• The Liberal candidate to succeed Christian Porter in the northern Perth seat of Pearce is Linda Aitken, a nurse and Wanneroo councillor who has run unsuccessfully three times for the state seat of Butler. Peter Law of The West Australian reports Aitken won a ballot of local party members ahead of Miquela Riley, a former navy officer who ran unsuccessfully for the state seat of Fremantle in March, by 31 votes to 23. Aitken is a member of the Victory Life Church, founded by tennis champion and noted social conservative Margaret Court. Riley had conservative credentials of her own, with earlier reports suggesting she had support from The Clan, the factional group that achieved notoriety after an extensive WhatsApp discussion between its principals was leaked to the media.
• Elizabeth Henson of The Advertiser reports a uComms phone poll of 828 respondents for the Australia Institute suggested Centre Alliance MP Rebekha Sharkie to be headed for another comfortable win in her Adelaide Hills seat of Mayo, with a 58.5-41.5 lead over the Liberals on two-party preferred, compared with her 55.1-44.9 winning margin over Liberal candidate Georgina Downer in 2019. The primary vote figures quoted are 30.9% for Sharkie, 30.8% for the Liberals, 13.3% for Labor, 7.7% for the Greens, 6.5% for One Nation, 3.3% for the United Australia Party and 3.0% for independents, with the spare 4.5% presumably being undecided. As reported on the Australia Institute website, the poll also found overwhelming support for an integrity commission and truth in political advertising laws.
Whereas the Flushing Meadows crowd will let players know how it feels about them, Oz tennis fans are far more sedate. This could change when Novax steps onto the centre court. Also, the Serbs are quite vocal about their champion, which could prove interesting.
The ACT is:
(1) putting mild Covid cases in with the general ward for their primary condition (eg orthopedics)
(2) going to a three tier system of definitions: high, moderate and low. Definitions given and expectations for each laid out.
There is a possible outbreak in aged care centres in the ACT.
Yesterday and today new infections were each the equivalent of 1 per thousand of the population.
Masks mandatory inside. I had to do some shopping yesterday and I think that the masking wearing was at a rate around 99%.
Three immediate impacts: individuals seriously pissed off, socialization now minimized, acquaintances either infected or very crook with it, back to some serious child minding as the child care centre closes.
We’re lucky this is happening during school holidays.
Morrison, Hunt, Frydenberg, Perrotet and their right wing urgers now have what they want. I trust they enjoy their ‘victory’.
That’s great news, Itza! Jason Yat-sen Li is a class candidate and I’m also glad he has gone from the unwinnable 3rd spot on the NSW Labor Senate ticket to a winnable electorate in the NSW State parliament. 🙂
I can’t find an reference to RATs on the Harvey Norman website today. It previously said they were out of stock. A huge company like HN would have little trouble sourcing RATs so perhaps they stopped selling them due to adverse publicity. We shouldn’t expect an explanation from Gerry Harvey however.
I think the thing about Morrison is that he’s political Superman when he’s able to talk about anything other than himself and what he’s doing. Back in his boat stopping days he was able to make even discussion of ‘on water matters’ verboten. To this day there is no clarity about what sort of shenanigans went on. It’s just wasn’t and probably never will be spoken of.
He was largely able to pull the same trick in Social Services and Treasury. Robodebt could easily have blown up under him, but he never spoke about it so no one in the media much did either.
I was expecting him to be difficult to defeat once he became PM (but to be defeated). But I remember in his early days thinking ‘this bloke just needs to shut up’. Early doors he was just talking about himself and basically making Shorten’s job easier. But he recovered his mojo unfortunately and if Shorten and Labor made any particularly glaring errors it was to give Morrison enough to talk about them all the time and never about himself and what he’s doing. He obviously doesn’t need much to work with here, but Albo does seem to realise the danger (although the boat and fast train announcements strike me needlessly offering Morrison an opening – as small as it may be).
At the moment due to his incompetence becoming impossible to hide Morrison is talking about himself and what he’s done or is doing. This NEVER goes well for him (because he and his government’s fucking useless). He ALWAYS gets defensive. He ALWAYS looks to deflect and blame someone else. It ALWAYS looks terrible. I was serious when I said he should have just gone on holidays to Hawaii. It couldn’t possibly have done him more harm than he’s currently doing himself.
Which isn’t to say he can’t recover. But he desperately needs something to break his way so he can start talking about ANYTHING other than him and his government. If he does get that break we know he’s able to talk under wet cement and he will run hard on whatever he can cobble together. Credit where it’s due – 2019 was a masterclass in deflection. With everything feeling like it’s turning to shit at the moment though he’s the centre of attention and that’s a losing position for him.
After all this fevered discussion, Morrison still doesn’t give a rat’s.
Qld takes todays prize for positivity rate. 50 percent!
I expect State Premiers will run with free RAT to all that NEED them.
This is obviously Morrison’s chosen escape route.
“oh I never said anyone who NEEDED a test would have to pay, bullshit, bullshit, bullshit”
Who knows, it might even work. If in a few days the testing lines have people coming along and offering a RAT and only those who return a positive move along to the PCR test it might go similarly to how the fast pace of the vaccines uptake once delta hit took a bit of the edge off the anger at slow start.
He won’t deserve the break, but he’ll make the most of it if he gets it.
Mark McGowan will be feeling very satisfied with the wisdom of his ‘look at what NSW is doing and do the opposite’ strategy this morning.
No doubt he’s planning how and when to announce that WA won’t foolishly be opening up to be swamped by the virus on Feb 5 and is quietly eying off the last couple of Liberal held seats…
This is no surprise
Karren andrews conceded its only Border Force and the federal government who allow International Australian open tennis players permission to play in Australia
Not the Victorian governent
Scott
But Morrison said…
As of yesterday, Harvey Norman is only selling rapid antigen tests as part of a package deal. With every purchase of a Migliore Queen Sofa Bed, customers are eligible to purchase a maximum of two tests at a total extra cost of $100. All test purchases are cash only and undocumented (for privacy reasons).
The Migliore sofa bed, by the way, is custom designed for easing COVID recovery (it is the ‘best’ for this purpose).
If the virus is of the long variety, customers are invited to consider Harvey Norman’s COVID companion product range, including items such as the LG Cinema Series 4K Smart TV and the Dimplex Freestanding Evaporative Cooler.
lizzie says:
Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at 3:34 pm
Scott
But Morrison said…
Morrison once again has been caught out lying this time by one of his own ministers
Also the Victorian Lib/nats Leader and deputy leader once again have egg on their faces , and should resign
I’m picking number 5.
”
Victoriasays:
Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at 1:49 pm
Yep. Has this question been answered?
—–
How many reporters have asked how Novax got his visa? He wouldn’t even be allowed in the country unless the Morrison Government gave him the green light, so he’s either fully vaccinated, or someone bent the rules to let him in. https://t.co/5UxyZahbqw
”
Morrison points finger at Victorian government.
https://www.news.com.au/sport/tennis/should-be-ashamed-australia-disgusted-as-djokovic-receives-vaccine-exemption/news-story/ad9c957c0d8cfec6bc6fc0098ba02bca
So the tennis player has provided evidence from an independent Doctor, he paid, that he cannot get the vaccine for medical reasons, and an independent panel, within Border Force who never ever lied about anything, like in a press release to do with refugee detention, with no idea who he was or why he was coming granted him the exemption.
I hope he is excluded from the tournament by Victorian rules.
“3- A Covid-19 diagnosis that means vaccination cannot be made for six months”
This could be a legit reason.
“Variant IHU” = B.1.640.2
Thread: https://twitter.com/PeacockFlu/status/1478118173903839237
WWP
I think he was anti-vaxx more then 6 months ago.
“WWP
I think he was anti-vaxx more then 6 months ago.”
I am pretty sure you are right, but if he got covid in the last few months, or again perhaps just got an independent Dr he paid to say he did, it would be pretty hard to argue against.
Another incompetence day for the federal and NSW, VIC Lib/nats today
rapid antigen test not being free , or freely available or affordable prices
vaccine/booster supplies are limited the farce by the federal government continues
Novak Djokovic allowed into Australia by the federal government
I suppose the Nat Cab announcement, as usual, will be a complete anti-climax.
WeWantPaul at 3:44 pm
It seems a bit too long ago for him to still have that up his sleeve.
.
.
Novak Djokovic tests positive for Covid-19 amid Adria Tour fiasco
Tue 23 Jun 2020 22.19 AEST
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/jun/23/novak-djokovic-tests-positive-for-covid-19-amid-adria-tour-fallout
WeWantPaul at 3:50 pm
He caught covid in June 2020.
lizzie at 3:52 pm
SOP is the ‘announcement’ is followed 1/2 to 48 hours later by a series of Premiers explaining the many ways they are not doing what SfM ‘announced’ .
“WeWantPaul at 3:50 pm
He caught covid in June 2020.”
I don’t think it is likely, but then again I don’t think finding a Dr to fudge the truth would be that hard for him, and he is dumb enough to have caught it again in Oct 2021!
WTH does Scotty mean?
There’s no silver bullet. Working together we will push through.
”
Victoriasays:
Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at 3:17 pm
Qld takes todays prize for positivity rate. 50 percent!
”
Victoria
I don’t understand how you arrived at 50% positive rate for QLD
COVID-19 update
Queensland COVID-19 statistics
View more statisticsLast updated: Cases & tests 5 January 2022. Vaccination data 5 January 2022
6,781New cases (last 24h)
10Currently in ICU
29,418Tests (last 24h)
86.9%Fully vaccinated
“There’s no silver bullet.”
Translation: Many of you will get sick, some of you will die, some of you will suffer life long injuries, but don’t blame me I don’t hold a stethoscope mate.
I’ve seen Yat-Sen Li on The Drum several times, and he is quite impressive. He surely wins Strathfield, and I think will be a great addition to the ALP ranks at Macquarie Street. Good to have someone with his kind of business experience in the team.
If Melanie Gibbons does in fact resign from Holsworthy to contest Hughes, you’d think that Labor would be a big chance to pick it up in the current environment. The margin is from memory 3.5%, so quite achievable. In fact Chris Minns had better get a win there, or his job security might become a bit questionable. You’d think Labor would get healthy swings in Bega and Monaro, but hard to see them winning them given the margins. I doubt they’ll run a candidate in Willoughby.
Has anyone heard anything about the dodgy former Liberal cross-benchers, John Sidoti (Drummoyne, ICAC troubles) or Gareth Ward (Kiama, sexual assault allegations)? Are they expected to hang around until the general election in March 2023, or will they go earlier?
Covid chaos has again rocked the Big Bash League with the clash between the Heat and Sixers called off after 10 Brisbane players and five support staff have tested positive to the virus.
The cricket is off because it is raining so I am contemplating the outcome of the National Cabinet meeting today. The problem with that is
(a) I won’t believe a thing the Prime Minister says and
(b) it could be just 24hours or less before he shifts the goal posts again and comes up with something else like last time when they went from positive cases being required to test on day six (albeit a RAT not a PCR anymore) to not having to do a test on day 6 and leaving self isolation on day 7 if you are feeling better.
They keep changing things so much you have to read the latest information every damned day and hope you haven’t missed anything. Worse still, what Morrison says and what the Premier’s say thereafter is often inconsistent. What a bloody mess.
Oh the cricket is back on. Thank God for that.
“Covid chaos has again rocked the Big Bash League with the clash between the Heat and Sixers called off after 10 Brisbane players and five support staff have tested positive to the virus.”
They should just give the Scorchers the title now and send everyone home to their families.
What I think Scott said:
Now whilst many of you listening into what I have to say now will be wondering about later what it is that I had to say I want you to remain safe in the knowledge that when you vote for me that there will be no silver bullets being handed around. Such matters as bullets whether they be silver, gold or your traditional lead have no place in just being handed around. Indeed if you look at the record of this government and indeed myself as the Prime Minister then it will only be after a considered period of getting to understanding of what Australians are saying to us that we will respond. Now there are those that oppose us that would offer what seems like an easy path out of what we face but they don’t take into account the deep needs of all stakeholders of the nation. They don’t understand the needs of all groups from your struggling multi national to your successful small business cafe owner. Now as the Prime Minister I have the duty to hand over to the states the responsibility of delivering the Commonwealth mission. The bullets that they therefore use I can not dictate but suffice to say I am often unhappy with their choices. In a functioning Federation though I am obliged to fully support the State leaders once I’ve voiced this displeasure.
I hope this clears everything up and have a good day and God bless you as he blesses me constantly.
Was I close?
ParkySP
Did you have a cooling ale after that brainstorm? 😆
ParkySP (AnonBlock)
Wednesday, January 5th, 2022 – 4:27 pm
Comment #3237
What I think Scott said:
.Close but you need to remove all the full stops and replace them with “I mean”….I mean…I mean….
lizzie @ #3239 Wednesday, January 5th, 2022 – 3:59 pm
To go with the curry?
Hmmmmm, matter of fact….
How many elderly pensioners, welfare recipients, veterans and the unemployed will want to wade into the swamp of government websites to prove eligibility and apply for cash payments for RATs?
Australia smells a rat.
https://youtu.be/JWA3cgKy5JY
WTH does Scotty mean?
“There’s no silver bullet. Working together we will push through.”
He means that the God-awful mess is not his fault.
@lizzie says:
Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at 4:34 pm
How many elderly pensioners, welfare recipients, veterans and the unemployed will want to wade into the swamp of government websites to prove eligibility and apply for cash payments for RATs?
_________________________
Standard SfM plan, announce a payment solution but make the process so difficult that nobody will prove eligible. Bushfire grants anyone, homebuilder rorts, SOP for these shysters
“I am not about pissing off the French people,” the president said in an interview with readers of Le Parisien daily on Tuesday. “But as for the non-vaccinated, I really want to piss them off. And we will continue to do this, to the end. This is the strategy.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/04/macron-declares-his-covid-strategy-is-to-piss-off-the-unvaccinated
Lizzie.
Yep a cold shower and a beer to snap me out of it!
I’m going to sue Sean Kelly if this keeps happening
Perrottet might be incredibly confident but has he consulted Omicron?
‘Incredibly confident’: Premier says kids will be in class on first day of school
Premier Dominic Perrottet said rapid antigen tests and masks will play an important role in keeping schools safe during first term (SMH headline)
You cant make this shit up re dkojovic……
———‘
Morrison himself attempted to point the finger at Daniel Andrews at a doorstop presser, only for his own Home Affairs minister Karen Andrews to release the update which contradicts the PM just moments later. It seems the PM has mixed up his Andrews’.
Re Parramatta Moderate at 4.07 pm
Margin in Bega in 2019 was just under 7%. In five elections Constance got a significant swing once, that being 13.6% in the 2011 landslide. The swing against him in 2015 was 10%.
By-elections are different. Remember Miranda in 2013? Margin there after the 2011 landslide was 21%. Yet Labor won with a 26% swing.
The Liberal candidate in Bega is Fiona Kotvojs, who lost in Eden-Monaro twice, in 2019 and 2020. In the largely coastal areas of the Bega seat that overlap with Eden-Monaro, she lost about 5% or more in the 2020 by-election, compared to 2019. She has the pedigree to lose the Bega by-election. The Labor candidate is a respected doctor from Moruya, and health will probably be the main issue.
What a Liar:
“ Prime Minister Scott Morrison was asked about the decision to grant Djokovic an exemption on Wednesday and pinned responsibility on the Victorian government.
“Well, that is a matter for the Victorian government. They have provided him with an exemption to come to Australia, and so we then act in accordance with that decision,” he told reporters.”
And yet, THIS (obviously correct) statement from the relevant Government Department in HIS (federal) Government:
“ Any individual seeking to enter Australia must comply with our strict border requirements.
While the Victorian Government and Tennis Australia may permit a non-vaccinated player to compete in the Australian Open, it is the Commonwealth Government that will enforce our requirements at the Australian border.
…
Australian Border Force will continue to ensure that those who arrive at our border comply with our strict border requirements.”