We’re entering the final week of the Tasmanian election campaign, with a hotly contested by-election for the South Australian state seat of Dunstan to be held the same day. On the federal polling front though, it’s likely to be a quiet week. There is the following federally relevant electoral news to relate:
• Arch-conservative South Australian Liberal Senator Alex Antic, who was elected in 2019 from third position on the party ticket, will be the lead candidate after a preselection vote on Saturday that will reduce fellow incumbents Anne Ruston from first to second and David Fawcett from second to third. Paul Starick of The Advertiser reports Antic won the ballot for top position ahead of Ruston by 108 votes to 98. This was despite Ruston’s greater seniority within the parliamentary party as Shadow Health Minister, and Peter Dutton reportedly “using his personal authority” to protect her. A conservative challenger, Leah Blyth, lost to Ruston by 118 votes to 82 in a vote for second position and to Fawcett by 106 to 103 in the vote for third.
• New South Wales Nationals Senator Perin Davey, who made headlines last month after a tired and emotional performance at Senate estimates, narrowly survived a preselection challenge at a party ballot held on March 8. Andrew Clennell of Sky News reports Davey scored 42 votes against 37 for Juliana McArthur, the party’s federal secretary.
• Liberal sources cited by Paul Starick of The Advertiser say Nicolle Flint has been declaring interest in returning to the Adelaide seat of Boothby, which Labor won when she vacated it in 2022. Flint “appears to have effectively ruled out” a run for the state seat of MacKillop, which it was long thought she was planning in pursuit of leadership ambitions.
• It was reported last week that Labor is developing legislation to place caps on political donations, to be balanced by greater public funding. This would be most consequential with respect to Clive Palmer, whose company Mineralogy gave $117 million to his United Australia Party before the last election, and businessman Mike Cannon-Brookes, who donated $1.2 million to Climate 200. The cap is “likely to be in the tens of thousands of dollars”, with the government concerned it be able to survive the kind of High Court challenge that Palmer says he is “absolutely considering”. It is also proposed that a cap be imposed on the amount that can be spent on campaigning in any given electorate, which teals and the Greens complain would disproportionately affect those who target small numbers of the seats. Any changes would not take effect until after the next election.
“”The sainted Paul Keating also left school at 15, did he not?””
I thought I read he left in the year he turned 14?
Which is still legal in Qld, with a Magistrates okay.
I recall a girl applying for and getting a Commonwealth Scholarship but going to work after Junior anyway.
Forgotten the details, but it must have been a pretty good job offer.
Susan Kiefel left at Junior in Qld, made it to Chief Justice.
Ainslie Gotto quit at Junior, was P.M. Gorton’s Chief of Staff at 21.
‘Pied Piper. says:
Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 8:12 pm
The problem with the lib premier is he is lousy at negotiating and compromising.
So if he does not win a majority big chance labor will compromise and negotiate better than Rocky who’s failure to negotiate or compromise caused this in my opinion avoidable early election.’
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A bit harsh. Apparently he is prepared to go for the world’s smallest chocolate fountain if that is what it takes to get him over the line.
Oliver Sutton says:
Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 4:55 pm
I used to live around the corner in Silkstone and remember when the Marsden’s first opened said shop – the best fish and chips in town. I also was served by Pauline herself, who was wearing a standard “blue” uniform dress. She also did the cooking. What I find particularly amusing is that Hansen sold the shop to an Asian family after she was elected to the House of Representatives.
Oliver Sutton says:
Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 4:55 pm
I used to live around the corner in Silkstone and remember when the Marsden’s first opened said shop – the best fish and chips in town. I also was served by Pauline herself, who was wearing a standard “blue” uniform dress. She also did the cooking. What I find particularly amusing is that Hansen sold the shop to an Asian family after she was elected to the House of Representatives.
BW:
Of course it isn’t. And it wouldn’t be any more okay if she came from money or had a Harvard education or whatever. Her background is irrelevent to the fact that she made nasty, classist, racist statements.
Nope, Pauline is engaging in snobbery too (and, rather worse than that, racism), and deserves all the criticism that warrants.
Even in the early 70s in NSW only about 30% went past year 10
I’d like to know why my comment was deleted and whether there is now a ban on using that word.
Oliver Sutton says:
Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 8:00 pm
Indeed, Asha.
The sainted Paul Keating also left school at 15, did he not?
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Albert Einstein dropped out at 15.
Richard Branson left school at 16.
Most of my classmates who left school at year 10 are now making a hell of lot more money right now than I am.
Panfers conducting a clinic
(My current favourite football cliche)
It should be perfectly obvious to any grown-up of normal intelligence why that comment was deleted.
Is L’arse still ok to be used?
Shut the fuck up, Nath.
I think the story on Hanson’s Fishmongrelry is that she’d been divorced, she needed dosh, and a late opening all nite Fast Food business is a very good earner if you know the business.
Her parents ran a hugely successful business of that type, for at least 20 years, so she didn’t start on the ground floor without a clue.
meher baba at 5.38 pm
You did not seem to check what Winston Peters has been ranting about. See first quoted para below at:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-68603815
Here are three short paras from the BBC report:
‘He [Peters] also appeared to compare shared decision-making between Māori people and the Crown – known as co-governance – to the race-based theories of Nazi Germany. But he later attacked the media for “misreporting” this part of his speech.
New Zealand’s prime minister Christopher Luxon has said he had a “private conversation” with Mr Peters over his comments.
Former PM and Labour leader Chris Hipkins accused Mr Peters of “using racism and anti-media rhetoric to divide our country”, adding “Kiwis deserve better than a deputy prime minister who behaves like a drunk uncle at a wedding”.’
Peters is always attacking the media. It would be real news in NZ if he didn’t attack the media. In that respect, although not others, he is a baby Trump.
For a recent commentary by a Kiwi journo, listen at:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350221670/tova-podcast-peters-versus-punks-and-police-speak-out
Peters’ recent speech at Palmerston North is at:
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2024/03/new-zealand-first-leader-winston-peters-full-state-of-the-nation-speech.html
He took direct aim at the idea of a partnership between the NZ Crown and Maori iwi (tribes), which has had significant recognition in public policy (including at times by the National Party in government) since a Court of Appeal decision in 1987.
Peters does not actually propose solutions. Rather, he fosters anger and resentment and directs those feelings against those with least power in NZ society.
E.g. during the election he called for the GST to be taken off food. Now, as Deputy PM, he has become silent about that, because Luxon rejected it. So, instead of a solution to the problems that poor Kiwis are facing, what did Peters suggest? “Strengthen the powers of the Grocery Commissioner.” Pathetic.
He is much more coherent and flamboyant than Hanson, but regarding solutions, equally clueless.
For future reference, it is not okay to call women politicians in particular “gaping arseholes”, or to piss and moan and act like a child when your attempt to do so doesn’t make it through. Nath is gone, likely never to return.
meher baba:
My personal situation is quite serious, but hopefully not dire.
I do hope you’ve managed to navigate whatever personal situation you were facing a few weeks ago.
Paul Keating left school at 15, as was pretty standard at the time (1959). In NSW, there was the Intermediate Certificate at the end of year 9 (age 15) and the Leaving Certificate two years later. Most students completed the Intermediate Certificate and left school to either get a job, go into an apprenticeship or, mostly for girls, go to business college for a year. The Intermediate Certificate was sufficient quaifications for most entry-level jobs, apprenticeships and other vocational training.
Many left school the day that they attained age 14 years nine months (then minimum school leaving age) and got a job, normally unskilled, within a short time, there being little or no unemployment back then.
In the later 1960s a year was added to the high school curriculum, with the School Certificate at the end of year 10 (age 16) effectively replacing the Intermediate Certificate and the Higher School Certificate (year 12 – age 18) replacing the Leaving Certificate. The School Certificate remained the basic qualification for most entry level jobs and vocational training into the 1970s.
The situation in other States before about 1975-80 would have been similar.
Pauline Hanson turns 70 in May. She is from the generation that normally completed school at age 15 or 16.
Hanson is a boomer – you can understand the resentment they feel at the accusations of inter-generational unfairness when they were expected, if working class, to be earning their living at 14 and 9 months while millennials have extended adolescence to 25.
When I passed year 12 in 1983 about 50 percent obtained year 12 in Victoria.
Somewhat concerning news in the US Senate polling is that former Republican governor of Maryland, Larry Hogan has launched a campaign for nomination for the candidacy, since the incumbent 3-term Democratic Senator Ben Cardin has declared he’ll retire.
Many polls have since been released that have Hogan (R) leading very comfortably against likely challengers Angela Alsobrooks (D) and David Trone (D). So with that development, the Republicans are in the game to flip that Maryland Senate seat to them.
The primary for those Senate candidates is set for 14 May.
All the best Confessions. Whatever it is I hope it turns out ok for you.
‘Oakeshott Country says:
Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 8:50 pm
Hanson is a boomer – you can understand the resentment they feel at the accusations of inter-generational unfairness when they were expected, if working class, to be earning their living at 14 and 9 months while millennials have extended adolescence to 25.’
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Ah. The generations. We weren’t working class but we worked hard on the farm as kids. We became competent at lots of things. By the age of 12 I could milk the herd, put a penicillin dose in if a cow had mastitis, check on a calving cow to see if the vet needed to be called, get a bulling heifer into the bull paddock, feed the hay, clean the dairy, feed the silage, and use (and service) all the farm equipment for cutting, baling and bringing the hay in. I could fix a broken fence. OTOH, I could not boil an egg for love nor money. The gender divisions on our farm were tight. We didn’t get to the footy, restaurants, films or the beach. I can’t ever remember us buying a single cup of coffee. It was typical first gen migrant drive to make good.
Confessions
Best wishes.
‘Caged egg farmers are preparing for a legal stoush against the Victorian government if their industry is shut down.
Victorian Farmers Federation egg group president Brian Ahmed, who produces eggs at Werribee, south-west of Melbourne, said
“The caged egg farmers have engaged our lawyers and we’re looking at what our rights are and what we can do…We’ve got family businesses, employ a lot of people, we’ve been doing it for 60 years or more.”’
abc.net.au
I’d like to stick this bloke in a cage until he’s covered in shit and all his feathers fall out. This phase out is not to be completed until 2036, which gives him plenty of time to adapt to a new world that doesn’t accept businesses that make their money out of animal cruelty.
This ‘family business’ cry for sympathy gives me the shits. Roger Drake, who owns Drakes Supermarkets, is always banging on about being a family business and he’s just joined the billionaires club. He’s also the dick who labelled Woolworths ‘Wokeworths’ when they didn’t stock Cheap Invasion Day crap. I bet plenty of the people running the slave trade were also family businesses. Certainly, Elizabeth 1 and her Royal family were.
But back to eggs. I get it that people are doing it tough and caged egg are cheap, but at what price? (see what I did there?). If we used that kind of argument, we’d still have kids little kiddies sweeping our chimneys.
I’m of convict descent but I spent every Saturday afternoon between ages 10 and 17 working in my father’s corner shop.
Confessions, best wishes from me too. I hope that everything works out for you.
We should ban caged eggs and live sheep / cattle exports for the same reason that we banned dog fighting and bear baiting.
Have you considered announcing a reversing of all the bans on those you have implemented in the past 48 hours?.
I think if you did this- along with stating that any future breaches would result in permanent bans would be a good start in preserving the dynamic and passionate debate at PB.
I fear that not allowing those to return may result in the defection or abandonment of the forum by several prolific and high profile contributors.
Confessions,
If you need help in any way, let me know.
Kirsdarke,
I’ll be able to give you an on-the-ground report about the Maryland Senate race when I’m there in about a month and a bit.
Oh well, at least you can discount Larry Hogan running for No Labels now.
Hanson is a boomer – you can understand the resentment they feel at the accusations of inter-generational unfairness when they were expected, if working class, to be earning their living at 14 and 9 months while millennials have extended adolescence to 25.
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You must be hanging around well off and poorly adjusted young adults.
Just picking up my 15yo after she spent the night washing dishes.
Comments like yours remind me to never hold back sticking it to boomers. The boomer entitlement is the thickest vein of BS begging to be mined.
@Irene
Einstein never “dropped out of school”. He graduated from high school aged 16 with the Matura (same as what in Germany today is called the Abitur, equivalent to the HSC, VCE etc in Australia), then went into the Polytechnic.
The complete nonsense stories people tell about Einstein are astounding…
C@t,
That would be appreciated. From what I know of Larry Hogan is that he’s regarded as a respectable “moderate” Republican in the style of Mitt Romney that would be electable in a blue state like Maryland, and I am somewhat concerned in these initial polls having him leading in double digits against Democratic challengers Alsobrooks and Trone.
Oh no ‘fess. Get better soon you.
Your daughter works 40 hrs a week washing dishes? How much board do you charge her?
All the best, Confessions.
Hoping for the best outcome for your situation, Confessions.
Agreed. It’s just out and out cruelty.
Entropy says:
Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 1:59 pm
Rainmansays:
Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 1:54 pm
================================================
While i don’t disagree with much of what you say here. It doesn’t do much for your self described lefty credentials. To be constantly defending a rich, powerful and conservative institution all the time
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James Henry Scullin (18 September 1876 – 28 January 1953) was an Australian politician and trade unionist who served as the ninth prime minister of Australia from 1929 to 1932. 1932. He held office as the leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP)
Joseph Benedict Chifley (22 September 1885 – 13 June 1951) was an Australian politician and train driver who served as the 16th prime minister of Australia from 1945 to 1949. He held office as the leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP)
Paul John Keating (born 18 January 1944) is an Australian former politician who served as the 24th prime minister of Australia from 1991 to 1996, holding office as the leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP)
Anthony Norman Albanese is an Australian politician serving as the 31st and current prime minister of Australia since 2022. He has been leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) since 2019.
Wikipedia
Asked it was the Irish in him that made him dislike the monarchy, Keating said no. “It’s probably, in some respects, the Catholic in me”
Asked about his support for the Voice referendum, Albanese said,
“I think that Catholic social justice position is one of the things that is driving my support for constitutional recognition.”
“I bet plenty of the people running the slave trade were also family businesses. Certainly, Elizabeth 1 and her Royal family were.”
Elizabeth I managed to get a licence from Phillip II of Spain for two slave ships from Africa. The Slave trade at that time was run by the King Spain and sanction by Rome. No slave ships were allowed without King Spain’s say so. As he was in charge of the operation thanks to papal decree.
“Pope Nicholas V in 1452 gave the right to enslave anyone who was not practicing the Christian religion, known as the Dum Diversas. The Spanish government created the Asiento system, which functioned between the years of 1543 and 1834. The Asiento allowed other countries to sell people into slavery to the Spanish.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_in_Spain
Note: Phillip II, with the backing of the pope, attempt to enslave England failed when his armada was destroyed by them and the forces of nature.
Tas….. lambie group will win 2 to 3 liberals round 15 mark. Alp Max of 11. Greens Max of 4
Ind 2 to 6. It is quite possible that no two parties can get 18 seats between them. Eg libs 15 plus 2 still need an independent support
“I was never a Union member and I never will be.”
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Why’s that Ven?
Do you negotiate your own pay rises and working conditions with your employer.
Or do you just ride on the back the back of the Union and it’s members?
It’s just too easy for so many people to claim the benefits but not pay, very selfish indeed.
Also shows a big lack of social conscience.
Unfortunately, there are a lot like you out there.
The lot of you should be ashamed of yourselves!
Team Katich at 9.31 pm
“The boomer entitlement is the thickest vein of BS begging to be mined.”
Mined for what? Plays, novels, etc. Is there some writer like Patrick White capable of doing that now?
Rainmansays:
Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 9:44 pm
Entropy says:
==============================================
You don’t even like Albanese so what is your point?.
All those people you list were more like centre left. Hardly examples of left ideology.
”From what I know of Larry Hogan is that he’s regarded as a respectable “moderate” Republican in the style of Mitt Romney that would be electable in a blue state like Maryland…”
These days, US politics is as partisan as ours, perhaps even more so. That wasn’t the case 30 years ago. Party discipline was fairly loose and individual Congressmen and Senators were very much in control on how they vote. However, party discipline has been tightening over the years. Now, with Trump having effectively taken over the Republicans, a vote for any Republican, no matter how moderate, sensible, honourable or sane, is a vote for Trump. The Democrats need to hammer this message. Republican control of either Chamber effectively shuts down any Democrat legislative program and renders a Democrat President a lame duck.
Major unions are pressing the federal government to reduce the ability of “clueless activists” to frustrate and delay multibillion-dollar offshore gas projects, in an unlikely alliance with resources giants that seeks to tighten consultation rules exploited by project opponents.
Accusing gas development critics of “demonising gas as the new coal”, the right-wing Australian Workers Union and the left-wing maritime union have told a government review that deficiencies in the rules setting out who must be consulted prior to works on an offshore resource project need to be fixed.
AWU national secretary Paul Farrow said the “unity ticket” with employers might be seen as a surprising development but action was needed because the exploitation by activists of the existing rules was putting the job security of union members at risk.
In response to a number of successful legal cases brought by environmentalists that have delayed mega projects including Santos’s $5.3bn Barossa LNG development, Mr Farrow said current limits on the consultation process were “so vague that they have the potential to continue indefinitely”.
“Our members exploring for, extracting, processing, and transmitting gas play a hugely important role in Australia’s energy needs and yet they are being demonised by clueless activists who are only interested in making themselves feel somehow superior to the real world,” Mr Farrow told The Australian.
He said it was non-negotiable that companies engaged in extensive, proper and genuine consultation, especially with traditional owners, about new projects. “But when we know bad faith activists just want to pour sand in the gears we shouldn’t be leaving the bonnet open indefinitely,” he said. “Consult properly and thoroughly and then conclude finally: that should be the guiding principle under which our system operates.”
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/union-bid-to-curb-clueless-gas-project-opponents/news-story/452e96dc0c849c17c89dcc4aa77d9c73?amp
”
Been Theresays:
Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 9:48 pm
“I was never a Union member and I never will be.”
==========================================================
Why’s that Ven?
Do you negotiate your own pay rises and working conditions with your employer
”
Yes, I did, wherever I worked. Infact I was naive enough to accept the working conditions provided by the employer. Never complained to them.
Expat @ #1433 Thursday, March 21st, 2024 – 9:33 pm
Einstein ran away from the Munich Gymnasium join his family in Italy at 16. He was 17 when he was awarded his Matura & entered the Swiss Federal Polytechnic School.
Kirsdarke @ #1434 Thursday, March 21st, 2024 – 9:33 pm
Name recognition and familiarity gets you a long way in American politics. He was a good Governor with crossover appeal. However, I’d like to see him defend his leader and the Republican nominee for President, Donald Trump, going forward in the campaign. I fully expect the Democrats will apply that blowtorch to his belly.