We’re not likely to see anything on the polling front this week, but there is other electoral news to relate following recent parliamentary vacancies and party defections:
• The Sydney Morning Herald reports preselection nominees to fill the late Jim Molan’s New South Wales Liberal Senate vacancy are likely to include Andrew Constance, former state minister and unsuccessful candidate for Gilmore, and Fiona Scott, who held the lower house seat of Lindsay from 2013 to 2016, together with reported front-runner Dallas McInerney, chief executive of Catholic Schools NSW. Constance and Scott are associated with the moderation faction, while McInerney is a conservative. Mary-Lou Jarvis, lawyer and Woollahra councillor, has also written to senior party figures staking her claim as a qualified woman and the third candidate on the ticket at last year’s election, while also criticising the party’s apparent intention to leave the position vacant until after the state election on March 25.
• The Australian reports the Liberal hierarchy’s hopes of fielding a female candidate for the Aston by-election stand to be complicated by the entry into the field of Emanuele Cicchiello, who is rated a strong chance by sources close to eastern suburbs conservative powerbroker and Deakin MP Michael Sukkar. However, other unidentified sources, “including some with strong Right faction allegiances”, rubbished the notion. Cicchiello is deputy prinicipal of Lighthouse Christian College, a former mayor of Knox and contestant for the seat of Bruce in 2013 and numerous preselections since. All other noted contenders have been women with the exception of Andrew Asten, a former staffer to Alan Tudge, who has since ruled himself out. Anthony Galloway of the Age/Herald reports the matter could be determined by a plebisicite of local members, which have lately proved resistant to female candidates, if the by-election is set for a date that allows sufficient time.
• Victorian Senator Lidia Thorpe’s resignation from the Greens last week marked the first change to party representation in parliament since the election, with the Senate numbers now at Coalition 32, Labor 26, Greens 11, One Nation two, Jacqui Lambie Network two, United Australia Party one and two independents, namely Thorpe and David Pocock. This leaves the government needing two extra votes when the Greens are on board and the Coalition are not, where formerly it needed only one. Thorpe was elected to a six-year term at the election last May, which will extend to the middle of 2028.
Pi, who’s fantasizing? I haven’t seen anyone here do that. I have seen people here report on Russians KIA, and follow President Zelenskyy in hoping more Russians who won’t drop their arms be KIA sooner rather than later. What, have you been fantasizing about this? I can’t think who else’s mind you have the necessary access to for a statement like that.
BK Dawn Patrollers
The RBA does not want to admit there’s an important dimension of inflation that’s beyond the direct control of the central banks, writes Ross Gittins who suspects what’s worrying Lowe is his fear that our big firms will be able keep raising their prices even though his higher interest rates have greatly weakened demand.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
While my observations may not be exactly what is inferred above, I believe most price rises anywhere, especially noticeable at the supermarket is caused by greedy companies who have raised their prices not just by the inflation rate but something extra to that, thinking that any price rise will be seen by the buyer as caused by inflation.
I know that all of us on PB would have examples of this price gouging, but a couple of the following examples are just unexplainable except for a rip-off.
For years I have been buying 224 packs of tissues for 99 cents. They are now $1.67. Yes I know COVID made them hard to get and inflation @ 7.8% in the last year should have added 8 cents.
Picks brand 380g of peanut butter never cost more than $5 but last week it was $7.50 at the supermarket.
Make no mistake everyone is jumping on the inflation bandwagon.
If producers and retailers stuck to the bare minimum price increases we would all be better off, not only in the wallet, but in our minds as well.
HELLO!
Albo has learnt the art of the ‘drop’ – ahead of Cabinet going to Port Headland in WA this week…
98.6 @ #2754 Monday, February 20th, 2023 – 2:25 pm
Party size bag of Twisties went from $3.50 to $5.30.
I’m outraged …!
“Party size bag of Twisties went from $3.50 to $5.30.”
S&V potato chip inflation has been unbearable.
Waste of taxpayers money taking cabinet on the road.
Listening and acting on local members needs and recommendations is all that’s required.
98.6says:
Monday, February 20, 2023 at 2:25 pm
I saw the same thing 50 years ago during Whitlam era, landed imported cost marked up dramatically “to stay ahead of the game”.
Considered smart business practice.
Rock star Albo out-doing Morrison on PR so far.
I hear ya DM.
Who ever is advising Charlie Teo on PR strategy is nuts… It has zero influence where it counts, if anything is likely counter productive & in reality makes him look “guilty”
Rex, why shouldn’t people who live in the remotest parts of the country have an occasional opportunity to interact with their Government, something that city dwellers take for granted?
Granny Anny @ #2763 Monday, February 20th, 2023 – 3:01 pm
It’s a PR stunt. Waste of money.
SACA’s much improved this season. Have the edge on the Vics at present in the shield match.
The tankies will not like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=um-SEQDQidM&t=809s
Whenever the cabinet goes on the road it reminds me of the democrabus.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lozEUcjWByo
Rex, why shouldn’t people who live in the remotest parts of the country have an occasional opportunity to interact with their Government, something that city dwellers take for granted?
_______
I’m looking forward to seeing random Perth locals walking in on Cabinet and making pertinent interjections.
People seeing the government work, instead of it being far removed from them, is what good governments do. But for people who have no interest in what the public thinks, it’s a stunt.
Pi @ #2769 Monday, February 20th, 2023 – 3:09 pm
A-list Albo doesn’t need all these PR stunts. Just do the work, like his mate Dan has shown.
Ministers will be furious Albo didn’t schedule Cabinet for Margaret River.
Andrews is the premier of the second smallest state in Australia, a third of the size of the next largest. If people want to view the parliament, they can get on a train and be there by lunch time, from any part of the state.
I forgot to mention this article when I first saw it but I liked it: Marles and Conroy overruled Defense in releasing the reasons why Pacific Island Patrol Boats were not working properly.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/feb/20/labor-overruled-defence-advice-not-to-publicise-problems-with-pacific-patrol-boats-documents-show
Defense consistently uses “national security” as an excuse to boost job security by hiding when things fail. We need to get more transparency and a culture of honest reporting into Defense. Pretending that it is a security issue not to report why Austal produced faulty patrol boats didn’t secure anything. The Pacific Island recipients were only too well aware of the problems.
Pi says:
Monday, February 20, 2023 at 3:17 pm
Andrews is the premier of the second smallest state in Australia, a third of the size of the next largest.
___________
Victoria is not small, we are appropriately sized.
With regard to price gouging, pet food has jumped in price. Where I am a bag of dry kibble for dogs has risen from about $24 to $34 for a 7kg bag. The usual cheap meats for dogs, chicken necks, chicken feet etc went from $3.30 to $5.50 per kg.
I can absorb this but I am cutting down on my discretionary goods, btw which have also risen in price. I will forgo them just to lower the profits of the supermarket. I just refuse to buy.
People on lower incomes will be downgrading the quality of the pet food they buy under the current conditions.
And there is no way it is not greed.
Rex Douglas @ #2767 Monday, February 20th, 2023 – 3:14 pm
People will realize that Albo can walk and chew gum at the same time.
I cooked a bit of Scotch Fillet for my dog the other night. He looked at me like ‘you’ve been holding out on me big time!’
Pi @ #2090 Monday, February 20th, 2023 – 2:12 pm
* No one is making you read it. Install C+ if you want to avoid it.
* You have been told the reasoning around expressing a desire for the troops of a murderous tyrant to be killed before they kill more innocent civilians. You are constantly ignoring that and instead choosing to characterise it in your own blunt, self-serving way.
* You aren’t the moderator of this blog.
* No one else appears to agree with you.
Everyone is forgetting that WA delivered Albo to the lodge.
Socrates @ #2114 Monday, February 20th, 2023 – 3:18 pm
I agree 100%. Just another example of the Defence bureaurocracy thinking they can wrap the new Defence Minister around their little finger. Such a pity it’s the Defence Minister that gets rotated frequently and not the Defence mandarins. Anyway, good to see the government going for transparency.
c@t: “No one is making you read it.”
Follow your own advice.
south @ #2120 Monday, February 20th, 2023 – 3:30 pm
I haven’t forgotten. And neither has he.
Pi @ #2122 Monday, February 20th, 2023 – 3:31 pm
Okay, I will, as I don’t think you contribute much of intellectual worth anyway. 😐
Cronus:
Monday, February 20, 2023 at 2:15 pm
[‘Mavis
Following our discussion about Alzheimers last week I thought you might find this article interesting.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/feb/19/could-alzheimers-be-caused-by-an-infection?CMP=oth_b-aplnews_d-3'%5D
Thanks, Cronus. It’s a very interesting article. As you’re probably aware, if you’re over 70 you’re eligible for a free shingles vaccination, which according to the article ‘seems to lessen their risk of developing Alzheimer’s.’ I would’ve had one by now but I’m on an immunosuppressive drug so it’s not recommended as it’s a live attenuated (herpes zoster) vaccine. If it is established that Alzheimer’s is linked to a bacterium or a virus, you’d think it would be easier to treat than with the new drug lecanemab, which is only marginally effective.
Port Hedland in February will certainly get Cabinet ministers out of their comfort zone.
Albanese has visited WA more times I’d reckon than Turnbull and Morrison did in their whole time as PM
They knew where they were not welcome. He doesn’t feel he has a problem.
Dandy Murray says:
Monday, February 20, 2023 at 2:53 pm
“Party size bag of Twisties went from $3.50 to $5.30.”
S&V potato chip inflation has been unbearable.
中华人民共和国
Grilled Water Rat and Sticky Rice has gone from just over 50 Baht (depending on condiments) to 70 Baht in the space of a year. You guys have First World problems.
There is no value in having cabinet meet anywhere, but there are huge potential benefits to democracy having the cabinet front up and do a community consult, clearly local members of Parliament should be doing a lot more a lot more often.
I live in a marginal and outside of election campaigns neither party mps have bothered with well adverised broad community consult
I have no way of knowing if they do a lot of narrow cast select audience consults unless I’m.in the target group.
Would give both sides a fail.
WWP: “There is no value in having cabinet meet anywhere”
Sure there is. Making sure that cabinet ministers, aka the decision makers in our government, are familiarized with all parts of Australia.
Herald Sun 20/02
Monty
1 hour ago
I can only assume he’ll catch a train from Delhi to east asia where he’ll be closer to Darwin for a shorter flight to avoid any unnecessary carbon emissions… there he’ll get in a solar powered car to drive back to Sydney….
_____________________
Some funny comments in the Herald Sun on the Cummins return.
Taylormade says:
Monday, February 20, 2023 at 3:37 pm
Herald Sun 20/02
Monty
1 hour ago
I can only assume he’ll catch a train from Delhi to east asia where he’ll be closer to Darwin for a shorter flight to avoid any unnecessary carbon emissions… there he’ll get in a solar powered car to drive back to Sydney….
_____________________
Some funny comments in the Herald Sun on the Cummins return.
中华人民共和国
LOL Taylormade like you on PB!
“Waste of taxpayers money taking cabinet on the road.
Listening and acting on local members needs and recommendations is all that’s required.”
@Rex Douglas
Queensland Labor premiers have made good use of regional cabinet. It gives a forum for locals in regional/rural locations to ask questions to ministers and be listened too. It also combats the crap of minor party politcians trying to polarize the electorate for political purposes (North Queensland seperate state etc). Glad to see Anthony Albanese is doing it.
Political Nightwatchman: “Glad to see Anthony Albanese is doing it.”
It should be pointed out that Albanese has a good relationship with all of the state premiers. That’s the first time that has happened in a while.
Political Nightwatchman says:
Monday, February 20, 2023 at 3:40 pm
“Waste of taxpayers money taking cabinet on the road.
Listening and acting on local members needs and recommendations is all that’s required.”
@Rex Douglas
Queensland Labor premiers have made good use of regional cabinet. It gives a forum for locals in regional/rural locations to ask questions to ministers and be listened too. It also combats the crap of minor party politcians trying to polarize the electorate for political purposes (North Queensland seperate state etc). Glad to see Anthony Albanese is doing it.
中华人民共和国
Beattie also introduced regional Parliaments in Cities like Townsville, Cairns, Mackay and Rockhampton.
Maybe they could blow up the Canberra Bubble and meet in Caboolture?
“Queensland Labor premiers have made good use of regional cabinet. It gives a forum for locals in regional/rural locations to ask questions to ministers and be listened too. It also combats the crap of minor party politcians trying to polarize the electorate for political purposes (North Queensland seperate state etc). Glad to see Anthony Albanese is doing it.”
To agree and summarise my point it is an excellent use of taxpayers money and excellent for democracy to have the members of the executive meet the public in community forums.
I couldn’t careless where the actual secret cabinet meetings are held.
“Maybe they could blow up the Canberra Bubble and meet in Caboolture?”
Surely Burpengary would be a better location.
WWP: “I couldn’t careless where the actual secret cabinet meetings are held.”
I want all cabinet ministers in Australia to be exposed to all parts of Australia. More importantly, all of the people of Australia. Their ministerial portfolio’s aren’t generally referenced to specific locations in Australia.
That news reporting site of great integrity, news.com.au, has their hands on a letter from the late Senator Kimberley Kitching refuting Senator Linda Reynold’s claims about Labor using the Bruce Lehrmann rape case allegations as a political tool against the coalition.
So who’s lying?
“Maybe they could blow up the Canberra Bubble and meet in Caboolture?”
“Surely Burpengary would be a better location.”
Waiting for Shellbell to recommend Hope Is.
WeWantPaul at 3:47 pm
There is better place ‘just down the road’ from Hedland – “Useless Loop”.
Debacle ..!
I hope there is plenty of security at Cabinet in case the Bikies charge in.
Rex Douglassays:
Monday, February 20, 2023 at 2:53 pm
Waste of taxpayers money taking cabinet on the road.
Listening and acting on local members needs and recommendations is all that’s required.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
They do it to keep the restless natives at bay.
Who cares what it costs?
Just do it!