The mercurial Roy Morgan organisation put out a newsletter this week saying its fortnightly poll had Labor leading 56.5-43.5 and would be published in full within 48 hours, but nothing more was heard. However, there is no shortage of other electoral news to relate, even without getting too deep into the developing situation of the New South Wales Liberals’ federal preselection tangle, which was covered in depth here. Note that I also have a separate post dealing with the imminent Super Saturday of four New South Wales state by-elections.
• The Liberals in New South Wales have at least resolved their dispute to the extent of proceeding with plans for a preselection ballot for Bennelong, which David Crowe of The Age reports is likely to be held in March. The candidates are Gisele Kapterian, former chief-of-staff to Michaelia Cash and current executive at software company Salesforce; Craig Chung, a City of Sydney councillor; and Simon Kennedy, a former partner at McKinsey.
• Labor also has a few loose ends in New South Wales, having yet to choose candidates to succeed retiring members Sharon Bird and Julie Ovens in Cunningham and Parramatta. A membership ballot for Cunningham will be held on February 19 between Misha Zelinsky, Australian Workers Union assistant national secretary and former criminal defence lawyer, and Alison Byrnes-Scully, staffer to Sharon Bird (and wife of state Wollongong MP Paul Scully). Zelinsky has been in the news over social media posts and an e-book he co-authored nearly a decade ago which featured jokes denigrating women. The Guardian reports that Labor is struggling to find a candidate in Parramatta that the party hierarchy considers up to standard, having lately been rebuffed by Cameron Murphy, prominent barrister and son of Lionel Murphy.
• Northern Territory Senator Sam McMahon, a Country Liberals member who sat with the Nationals in Canberra, resigned from the party last week and is leaving open the possibility of contesting the election either for a different party or as an independent. McMahon lost her preselection last June to Alice Springs deputy mayor and conservative media identity Jacinta Price.
Noteworthy matters of electoral law and administration at state and territory level:
• A headache looms in South Australia ahead of its March 19 state election, with no contingency in place for voters put in COVID-19 isolation who are unable to meet the deadline for a postal vote application. A bill to allow for voting to be conducted over the phone in this circumstance was passed by the lower house and amended in the upper, and the lower house had not considered the amendments when it rose in early December. The Advertiser reports that Labor says it would be a simple matter for the house to reconvene and agree to the amended bill, but Premier Steven Marshall says there is not enough time to pass legislation before the government enters caretaker mode ahead of the election. Marshall blames Labor for supporting the amendments, but it appears to me that the government chose to sit on the bill for the last three days of the session.
• The Canberra Times reports Labor has “indicated a willingness” to support a Greens bill to make voting compulsory for 16 and 17 year olds in ACT elections, notwithstanding the local electoral commission’s evident horror at the resulting administrative burden.
• Remy Varga of The Australian reports the Victorian government is taking a stand against the pernicious practice of political parties handling postal vote applications so they can harvest data from them.
Puffy,
I have a reverse Mohican.
David Crowe
@CroweDM
·
16m
Labor leader Anthony Albanese rules out deals with “fringe” parties after Greens demand fossil fuel moratorium.
On The Drum Kerry Chik vowed that she didn’t believe the tweet on Scott’s character because when he was State Director he was completely accurate in his advice to her on supporting numbers and other stats.
I don’t see how this is relevant to his habit of twisting facts to support his position when in power.
Political Nightwatchman at 2.32pm re Tim Gartrell, Albo’s chief of staff…
Part of Albo’s genius is putting the right people in the right place.
I don’t have any inside knowledge, but I suspect Albo made recruiting Gartrell a priority.
Another example…when Fitzgibbon left the ministry, the re-shuffle enabled Albo to shift Bowen into Environment (with a focus on green job creation, blunting Coalition scare tactics), Keneally into ‘govt accountability’ (a publicly assertive woman taking on Dutton, for example) and Butler into health (who’s been taking it up to the govt on vaccine failure etc).
Labor’s current strong position (clearly stronger than 3 months out from 2019 election) is not an accident. In the early does of his leadership, Albo did what had to be done – listening tours, reduction of the policy target size, discipline etc; during the bushfires, he was a welcome visitor; early in the pandemic, he continued charting the only course possible – constructive/supportive (unlike the Matthew Guys of this world); this year, he has used his accumulated credibility as a base from which to attack Morrison’s many weaknesses.
Albo couldn’t have predicted how events would turn out when he assumed the leadership, so what is happening is not a master plan. What he has done is to make consistently good choices, unlike his opponent.
Test
Edit. Or just add #image.jpg at the end
Greensborough Growler @ Monday, February 7, 2022 at 7:56 pm
Using the word “fringe”is clever. Diminishes the risk the public. Signals the power inequity to the media. Pricks a green coloured ego bubble to boot. Albo is playing chess while the rest are playing checkers 🙂
Edit: what Snappy Tom said!
It’s a pity that Nath has an uncontrollable tendency to shit in his own nest. IMO he has shown himself to be fairly knowledgeable about politics and when he puts the smart arsery away he can actually be a half decent contributor. Albeit with an anti Labor bias.
BK,
How about a head massage? 😉
Bystander at 8:05 pm
I don’t think nath was anti Labor. It seemed more about pricking a few balloons and sacred cows of the Labor Right. Some may say ‘trolling’ them.
C@tmommasays:
Monday, February 7, 2022 at 7:01 pm
So, anyone prepared to place a bet on how long nath will be ‘gone’ for this time? I bet the first begging email to be let back in has been written and sent already. The first of many.
He will last longer than your self imposed exile. Did you even make 24 hours. sheesh.
Bystander,
My observation is he has misogyny and anger issues which he directs against older women who post on the blog, specifically cat and zoomster.
He has a visceral antipathy towards Z who’s style is to correct and counsel him on his more outrageous comments.
Maybe he’ll grow up. But, I wouldn’t hold your breath.
Sam Maiden clears up the supposed “ban” on Coalition polly’s attending the Grace Tame-Brittney Higgins NPC gig this week
Tweets
Conversation
@samanthamaiden
I am told this relates the MPs, Liberal senators are going. If Liberal backbencher want to go
@AlboMP needs to offer them a pair. Same for ALP backbencher (no I’m not blaming Albo just saying govt claims NO BAN on Tame-Higgins speech
—
Fair enough.
”
Steve777says:
Monday, February 7, 2022 at 7:22 pm
Re Late Riser @7:03. Peter Dutton’s been to Ashley and Martin?
”
Although someone told us not to talk about his bald head it isn’t actually bald is it.
”
Andrew_Earlwoodsays:
Monday, February 7, 2022 at 7:32 pm
LR @7:03
– the Dutton makeover makes him look like a villain in Cardinal Richelieu’s guard in a Four Musketeers adaptation.
Rakishly evil.
It might actually work for him …
”
Or James Bond ‘ Ernst Stavro Blofeld’
Bring back Nath. We someone had to ask. 🙂
On a more serious note Australia will have finally scraped the bottom of the barrel if Dutton becomes the temporary PM.
” Or James Bond ‘Blofeld’”
Blofeld doesn’t look evil enough.
Dutts always struck me a Lex Luthor from Superman
”
Lizziesays:
Monday, February 7, 2022 at 7:56 pm
On The Drum Kerry Chik vowed that she didn’t believe the tweet on Scott’s character because when he was State Director he was completely accurate in his advice to her on supporting numbers and other stats.
I don’t see how this is relevant to his habit of twisting facts to support his position when in power.
”
That was reason why Kerry C was such a successful LOTO. Carr had his biggest landslide victory against her. 🙂
With Advisors like him who needs……..
GG
Thanks!
Dutton’s more of a Telly Savalas “Blofeld”:
Who is actually my favorite Blofeld, funnily enough.
Steelydansays:
Monday, February 7, 2022 at 8:21 pm
C@tmommasays:
Monday, February 7, 2022 at 7:01 pm
So, anyone prepared to place a bet on how long nath will be ‘gone’ for this time? I bet the first begging email to be let back in has been written and sent already. The first of many.
He will last longer than your self imposed exile. Did you even make 24 hours. sheesh.
____________________________________________________
Which one was the 24 hr one ? Was that the latest one with a covid scare thrown in ?
There has been so many i have lost track.
This was posted sometime this morning. Leaving aside Bob Carr’s confident opinion, has this been updated at all?
I was LOL on Asha Blofeld post and the ‘sheesh’ by Steely.
Could always give Dutton and Frydenberg the Benny Hill treatment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEVYsmpcbvk
Whatever you may say about Dutton and Frydenberg, their hairstyling choices are hell of a lot better than their boss’s.
Watching 4 Corners, our voters give our leaders a huge amount of leeway ie Morrison is not malicious. It is ok there is a new process in place for reporting sexual abuse – how comfortable would anyone be reporting a sexual assualt incident to Morrison? Nope
Most of the voters still give the Coalition the plus on the economy even when we are in more debt than ever and money has not been recouped from multi million dollar businesses re jobkeeper
In your Guts you know Duts Nuts!
Scout
I made a conscious decision to avoid this 4Corners and the next. Lightweight stuff.
Yeah -BK – have gone with the household viewing wishes.. this is part 1 part 2 will most likely be a hatchet job on Labor
The especially farcical part about voters rating Morrison ok on the economy is that our debt doubled (the Rudd/Gillard Labor debt) under the Liberals before covid, in large part while Morrison was Treasurer, then our debt increased again by more than Labor’s debt from the Rudd/Gillard years while he has been PM.
So Morrison has been a double failure as economic manager. He has tripled our debt.
Malcom @ #1186 Monday, February 7th, 2022 – 9:13 pm
As long as we don’t have to nibble them. 😉
I think I first started visiting this blog around 2006, or maybe 2007. I have seen lots of people come and go over that time, but I do sincerely hope that Nath’s departure is now in the “Frank” category – that is, never to be seen again. Thank you Mr Bowe.
C@tmomma @ #1184 Monday, February 7th, 2022 – 9:17 pm
No you don’t have to nibble them. You obviously are confused, Dutton is a knob, not a nobby…
I thought the 4Corners was reasonable. The voters they had on waxed and waned, but all had doubts on Scomo’s character and trustworthiness.
Taylormade @ #1180 Monday, February 7th, 2022 – 8:48 pm
Oh look, the Private School flogs ganging up on the little old lady. Were your uniforms all white at school?
🙂
I mean, your chosen political party likes to make an art form out of character assassination. Just because it makes you feel superior. Bravo, guys!
So thus far, Moses has suggested that Person 41 is motivated by his jealousy of Roberts-Smith; and, Person 14 had inter alia “rehearsed” his evidence, a claim that if true could give rise to a breach of ethics on the part of the respondents’ legal team.*
When Bensanko does his summing up it will be interesting to
hear his summation of the credibility of the respondents’ (The Age, SMH, Canberra Times) witnesses.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/sas-soldier-denies-rehearsing-damaging-evidence-about-roberts-smith-20220207-p59uau.html
* See (b)
https://www.fedcourt.gov.au/digital-law-library/judges-speeches/justice-griffiths/griffiths-j-20140304
BK @ #1181 Monday, February 7th, 2022 – 8:13 pm
Andrew Elder on Twitter puts it well
Ask a facile question, get a facile answer #4corners
Ashasays:
Monday, February 7, 2022 at 9:06 pm
Whatever you may say about Dutton and Frydenberg, their hairstyling choices are hell of a lot better than their boss’s.
Watch it there Asha, Albo’s hairstyle is a Hitler see through come over on the right angle. That is one head that could not do bald.
No character assassination just the facts, you get caught out take your ball and go home, vowing never to return then lo and behold with the usual sick note your back the next morning.
Yet another tin-eared move from Morrison. Stand by for the excuses from the usual suspects (minus one)
https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/brittany-higgins-reveals-she-hasnt-been-invited-to-parliaments-apology-to-victims-of-alleged-sexual-assault/news-story/43bf9d2e0f9c0c8f8e7f34dbe0570963
Whilst surely insensitive, if Nath’s comment is the standard for being evicted then i’ve seen plenty as bad go unpunished… i wouldnt know if in this circumstance he’s on parole with thin leeway perhaps
At least a few celebrating his suspension are doing so because they dont like his politics, which is pretty sad
Expat Follower,
It’s got nothing to do with his politics and you know it.
I’m not quite sure if tonight’s “Four Corners” is a hatchet job or hagiography. One thing I do know is that Grahame Morris’ wig
is one of the best I’ve seen.
Momma
It was William who has either told you to apologise or pull your head. No character assassination just pulling up appalling behaviour from you.
He did get into me about my comments re the French but they are “Cheese-eating surrender monkeys”
+one else
But Nath assured us he was voting Labor, so his politics are those of the majority here.
You’re not questioning his integrity are you?
Talk about kicking a man when he’s down!!
The Credlin and Molan comedy show on Sky. They are still aboard the Bullshit Man Bus. Press are all hyperventilating blah blah and “absolute psycho” is just banter. Molan saying just because she described her pilates coach after a hard session an absolute psycho doesn’t mean she doesn’t respect them. Couldn’t take any more after that. 😆
Pretty vomitous 4 Corners. Those interviewees are incredibly tolerant toward Morrison. Yes, but…
And Graeme Morris. I’ve put this up before but he reminds me of a line from My Fair Lady:
“Oozing charm from every pore, he oiled his way around the floor”.