Writing in the News Corp papers, Phillip Hudson of Bondi Partners summarises the election date situation so I don’t have to:
The first choice the PM needs to make is whether to allow parliament to go ahead as scheduled for the first two weeks of February or to visit Governor-General Sam Mostyn to call the election … Might Albanese break convention and surprise us all by ending the guessing game — and catching almost everybody off guard — by calling an unlikely poll in mid-January for February 22? … The attraction of a March election is made difficult by the Western Australian state election scheduled for March 8, which is also a long weekend in the southern half of the country, while March 15 clashes with the Formula 1 Grand Prix. March 29 and April 5 are a possibility, especially if there’s a February rate cut. April 12 is emerging as a red hot option as the WA election would be over on the weekend it needs to be called. That scenario would allow for parliament to be dissolved without having a budget … If he waits any longer he will have to deliver another budget as there’s no chance of an election on April 19 or 26 due to a later than usual Easter then Anzac Day commemorations. The final window is May 3, 10 or 17.
Also of note:
• This week’s Roy Morgan poll has the Coalition’s two-party lead at 51.5-48.5, in from a 53-47 blowout last week that was entirely due to an aberrant result on respondent-allocated preferences from Greens voters. Labor is in fact down a point on the primary vote to 30%, with the Coalition steady on 40.5%, the Greens up half a point to 12.5%, and One Nation up one to 4.5%. The two-party result based on 2022 election preference flows is 50.5-49.5 in favour of the Coalition, compared with 50-50 last time. The poll was conducted Monday to Sunday from a sample of 1721.
• A keenly fought Liberal preselection will be held on Saturday to choose a successor to Paul Fletcher in the northern Sydney seat of Bradfield, where the party is under pressure from teal independent Nicolette Boele. This is largely shaping up as a battle between moderates who favour Gisele Kapterian, international trade lawyer and former staffer to Julie Bishop, and conservative backing Warren Mundine, who among other things was one of two Indigenous spearheads in the campaign against the October 2023 Voice referendum, together with Senator Jacinta Price. Kapterian’s backers include Joe Hockey, Nick Greiner, Barry O’Farrell, Gladys Berejiklian and Sussan Ley. Mundine has been endorsed by Tony Abbott, John Anderson and Jacinta Price, but faces the difficulty of being 68. Also contesting the preselection are local councillor Barbara Ward and cardiologist Michael Feneley.
• The Nationals have announced that their candidate for Hunter is Sue Gilroy, registered nurse, founder of a business coaching company and past candidate for Shooters Fishers and Farmers. The seat is held for Labor by Dan Repacholi on a post-redistribution margin of 4.9%.
habby says:
Sunday, January 19, 2025 at 4:32 pm
So, as my son’s business bookkeeper”, I’ll have to go through all the entertainment/meals tax invoices (up to $20,000 worth!!) and separate out food from alcohol!!
Talk about red tape!!
I suspect there will not be too much alcohol listed and the $100 lamb roast the Liberals promised an election ago will become a reality.
If Dutton intended emulating the Trump rallies as a way of boosting his profile, he’d be hoping the Australian media would emulate their American counterparts by giving him wall to wall coverage.
I’d forgotten he had a Melbourne rally last weekend as I saw no coverage of it, and the same with Brisbane today. Just the taster about his tax on lunches policy mentioned it, otherwise I’d never have known it happened.
Nothing at the Oz, which is still deep in Trump worship.
Apparently there’s about 5.4 million registered motor vehicles in Victoria.
Public Transport Victoria bring in over $6m in fare revenue.
So just apply a $5/yr levy to vehicle rego’s and do away with PT fares/Myki and add some extra services.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that a ceasefire in Gaza scheduled to begin at 8.30am local time (5.30pm AEDT) would not commence unless Hamas provided a list of hostages to be released, with the militant group saying the delay was due to “technical reasons”. “The prime minister instructed the IDF (military) that the ceasefire, which is scheduled to take effect at 8.30am, will not begin until Israel has received the list of released hostages, as Hamas has committed to providing,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement. Earlier, Mr Netanyahu said he is treating the ceasefire as temporary and said the country retained the right to continue fighting if necessary.
dave
Yep the middle eastern suburbs of Metro Melbourne are beautiful. Even better with the SRL.
Dutton’s Out To Lunch Tax
habby @ #1498 Sunday, January 19th, 2025 – 4:32 pm
No, it’s Liberal Blue Tape. 😐
Confessions @ #1493 Sunday, January 19th, 2025 – 3:48 pm
A lot have continued to be on TikTok with VPNs.
Lars Von Trier @ #1456 Sunday, January 19th, 2025 – 1:48 pm
You’re hopeful that the PM and Treasurer will be that stupid!?! Good luck with that.
From the ABC
Peter Dutton promises tax-free lunches, accuses Labor of ‘sugar hit’ policies
Small businesses could claim a tax refund for staff lunches or client golf trips under an election policy Peter Dutton says will address the cost of living.
Mr Dutton last week said that (energy bill) relief was a “sugar hit” and has pledged to address inflation by “cutting government waste,” singling out the jobs of 36,000 public servants hired under Labor.
____________________
The Liberals, tackling the cost of living one client Golf holiday at a time.
The man is going full Trump, tax free Golf trips, cutting government waste/job cuts and unspecified immigration policies except it is a pretty bad copy like a photo sent though a fax machine. Who is he going to announce as his government efficiency Tsar, Dick Smith??
steve davis @ #1468 Sunday, January 19th, 2025 – 2:06 pm
That’s the Liberal donor, steve davis. Some small businessman, hey? 🙄
I think you might be missing a few zeroes there.
Dr Fumbles Mcstupid @ #1510 Sunday, January 19th, 2025 – 5:28 pm
Gerry Harvey. The Liberal Go To guy.
Jeez, who can even afford a set of golf clubs and a golf club membership, let alone a ‘golf trip’ (and what is that when it’s at home? A conference junket? A trip to fawn over Donald Trump at one of his golf clubs? A trip to get some personal tuition from noted Liberal and Republican fan boy, Greg Norman?)
Talk about out of touch with the every day man and woman. It’s pandering to the Elites on steroids.
Yeah sorry that doesn’t work doesn’t it. Back to the drawing board.
@Cat, yep it was the example used in the ABC story but I assume it covers all sorts of client entertaining expenses but you add the Staff element there is another huge level of employee/staff development expenses that can be included too.
Talk about out of luck, Channel 7 could have claimed all of the big Bruce’s ‘entertainment’ as the hookers and coke are not alcohol.
Rex Douglassays:
Sunday, January 19, 2025 at 5:15 pm
dave
Yep the middle eastern suburbs of Metro Melbourne are beautiful. Even better with the SRL.
_____________________
Take your word for it I guess.
Jammed in like sardines. Not my cup of tea.
How long does it take you to go for a dip in the ocean ? Not the disgusting Bay which is full of E Coli, but the actual ocean. How many hours we talking ?
I would go nuts.
Dr Fumbles Mcstupid @ #1516 Sunday, January 19th, 2025 – 5:40 pm
😆
Cat
“ Dutton’s Out To Lunch Tax”
How about: “Forget housing affordability. Save the five star restaurants.”, says Pete “Grange for lunch” Dutton.
Socrates @ #1519 Sunday, January 19th, 2025 – 5:44 pm
Yes, it’s quite strange to be encouraging being spendthrift rather than frugal so you can save for a house or something more tangible than a fancy meal?
Not Grange Soc. -alcohol not covered. But Duttons tax deductible Lobster Lunch sounds good.
First – Peter Dutton ” Thought Bubble Hold another Referendum ”
Second -Peter Dutton ” Thought Bubble Nuclear Energy ”
Third – Peter Dutton ” Thought Bubble Original Stage 3 tax cuts ”
Fourth- Peter Dutton ” Thought Bubble Supermarket watchdog ”
Fifth- Peter Dutton ” Thought Bubble Tax- free Lunches “
Tm
I grew up in the eastern suburbs, now living a bit further out on a bit bigger patch of dirt.
Melbourne’s eastern suburbs provided a magical family and community culture back in the day. Going to the beach down your way or the MornPen was something different. All the variety added up to make a great lifestyle. I was very lucky. Im sure things haven’t changed that much except for the traffic. The SRL will make a huge difference.
Set up for the inauguration has begun in the Capitol rotunda!
Peter Csays:
Sunday, January 19, 2025 at 2:46 pm
To correct a contribution to this site, Bruce donates to both sides of politics and always has
Unfortunately he is currently unwell
And, just to add, post the influence of Howard on the Liberal Party, and Malcolm Fraser saying the Liberal Party is no longer a liberal party, I have not voted for them
And I am not alone
I start from who I will not vote for and work up to see who is left
My personal view is that the Liberal Party should learn from the support the Teals receive before they are engulfed further by these Independents
=====================================================
Sounds like you are a former Liberal moderate. Which the party left you. Davidwh on the site seems to be very similar in his position too.
Sorry there seems to be some on this site unfairly targeting you. Just keep posting your opinion and don’t let it rattle you. Advice i sometime fail at too.
I have no problem myself with someone who is well off and is very content with their lot in life. It is rich whingers that i can’t stand. People who are doing better than everyone else yet still whinge constantly about taxes etc. Expecting handouts when they clearly don’t need them.
Entropy @ #1525 Sunday, January 19th, 2025 – 6:00 pm
+1
Bravo, Entropy. Well put.
I also am finding the targeting of Peter C. by the usual suspects particularly tawdry as well.
Sorry yes I am aboriginal/indigenous (don’t know what term to use, but I prefer indigenous).
Shit makes me outraged. I also don’t know what right others have to suggest somebody frustrated with such a heinous law which would allow the removal of aboriginal children with no concern or regard for their safety, no mental health assessments which mean to be made, and even without the input of family members, and can even just ship them off to even more remote communities where they may have no connections at all, which I suspect is the whole point of the change.
It feels like yet another fucking indignity, another spit in the face, just everyone line up, bash the aboriginals because you don’t have any other policies, no alternatives, just rile up the whites and run us out of town. It’s disgraceful, and if the government had any spine they would do everything in their power to shut this bullshit in their territory down. Senator McCarthy is a good minister and I think she’ll do her best but to even have to deal with it in the first place says a lot about the dismal state of our society.
The debate about tax deductibility of lunches takes me back to the early 80s in Perth when Bondy and his mates would gather at the ‘Med’ in Subiaco for the raucous long lunches to end all long lunches.
What a cast of characters including Laurie ‘Last Resort’ Connell am9ng others.
Just saw the Clive Palmer ad again in the 7 news.
He is laying the groundwork for something
IDF Chief Spokesperson R.-Adm. Daniel Hagari announced at 8:30 a.m. local time on Sunday that the ceasefire that was meant to go into effect has been delayed as Hamas has failed to provide the names of the three hostages that are meant to be released on the same day. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced earlier that the ceasefire would not begin until Hamas provided the names.
Bob lynch
Was having same memory.
Did go to a lunch there once, years after that era. Was a nice spot.,
It seems Adam Bandt’s decree to lay off critiquing Labor, with the threat of Dutton looming, has fallen on deaf ears.
This is the sort of stuff circulating on social media..
Cost of living measure is a tax deductable lunch. What a charlatan he is.
sprocket_,
Jon Kudelka, the wealthy Greens supporter. Bloody typical. Is he feeling a tad guilty including ‘Tree Tories’ in his Bingo card because he IS one? Doesn’t he own a Whisky Distillery in Tasmania?
Beansays:
Sunday, January 19, 2025 at 6:22 pm
Sorry yes I am aboriginal/indigenous (don’t know what term to use, but I prefer indigenous).
===============================================
I thought i remembered you posting you were of indigenous Australian heritage, just wasn’t a 100% sure. I’m sorry you got verballed by the right wingers cultural war cry. If you don’t accept our ideological beliefs in the flag and Australia Day you should consider leaving the country. Nasty when directed at anyone but particularly so at an indigenous Australian. I did note “Bystander” did an apology post for it and to be fair it was not in character for Bystander to be running far right ideological attack lines like that. I hope he isn’t going down a right wing rabbit hole?
C@tmomma @ #1543 Sunday, January 19th, 2025 – 7:01 pm
No – but he does have glioblastoma multiforme (one of the nastiest brain tumors) which probably changes his perspective of what is important.
sprocket:
You can flip all of those around to the Greens and it mirrors everything we’ve seen posted here by Greens bovver boys.
Good article by Tingle.
Dutton has no bottom.
Confessions @ #1547 Sunday, January 19th, 2025 – 7:13 pm
Exactly. Elites like Jon Kudelka, even if he won’t admit it to himself, are just hypocrites at the end of the day.
rhwombat @ #1546 Sunday, January 19th, 2025 – 7:09 pm
😯
One talking point that I love is the idea that, if someone gives the slightest shit about anybody else but themselves, they must be wealthy and out of touch. Because everyone knows, if there’s one group that is well known for their empathy, it’s the rich.
I know it stems from the fact that quite a few American socialist voices (i.e. from some podcasts, YouTube channels and left wing publications) are wealthy trust-fund kids and Harvard grads (usually you can tell who they are because their specific definition of socialism seems to be more something that allows the upper middle-class to enjoy hedonistic luxury and idleness at no cost) but, in the usual ‘American politics invading all other countries’ discourse’, it’s been expanded to mean anybody who expresses any empathy must be wealthy.
However, people who own multiple properties and gouge their tenants? They’re honest, salt of the earth every day people who are just trying to make ends meet and, if you criticise them, you’re punching down on because you’re jealous of the success of their hard work.
‘Liberals dangle tax breaks for business lunches as leaders target marginal seats
Small businesses would be able to claim tax deductions on food and entertainment expenses for up to $20,000 under a Coalition policy’
================
Dutton really has a COL tin ear. Fat cats can get a tax break to wallow in luxury while ordinary mums and dads struggle to put food on the table.
As a rule old money people don’t talk about wealth but there’s nothing indecent about talking about investment strategies.
Speaking of moderate liberals, I’ve used some of my birthday money to buy a copy of the biography of Victorian Premier Dick Hamer.
Despite the fact that he was Premier for 9 years I barely know anything about him, yet he was quite progressive for a Liberal (as opposed to figures like Bolte and Rylah) and also was popular enough to comfortably win 3 elections in a row in 1973, 76 and 79. So I’m curious as to what he was all about.
Oh, should have double-checked. 1979 was something of a more “bare 1 seat majority” than a “comfortable victory” for Hamer.
Mexicanbeemersays:
Sunday, January 19, 2025 at 7:22 pm
===================================================
I wasn’t on this site much in December. So you probably have read far more posts than i of his. My moderate Liberal statements mainly based on this statement he made today.
“And, just to add, post the influence of Howard on the Liberal Party, and Malcolm Fraser saying the Liberal Party is no longer a liberal party, I have not voted for them”
Kirsdarkesays:
Sunday, January 19, 2025 at 7:50 pm
Oh, should have double-checked. 1979 was something of a more “bare 1 seat majority” than a “comfortable victory” for Hamer.
————–
Yep winning St Kilda an area that should be better for them today than it was back then.
If Albanese had committed to tax breaks for lunches for businesses with turnover of $10 million the Murdoch tabloids would find a couple of “battlers” with a business turning over $11 million to complain that Labor is stopping them getting ahead.
Entropy says:
Sunday, January 19, 2025 at 6:32 pm
He is an ex-liberal moderate voter. Whose old party no longer represents his values. I probably want agree with all his ideology but it is hardly an extreme ideology like some on here have.
He is not an ex liberal turncoat though. The Liberal party has become more far right and deserted its moderate Liberal base. It is not his fault the party no longer represents his values though.
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Labor seems to think it can sit pretty being a Labor party in name only and one step to the left of the Liberals thus attracting all the votes of the Peter C’s of the world to get it into govt. The problem with fully embracing the status quo and liberal economics is that the increasingly precarious working classes then start abandoning you en masse. Labor is disconnected from their actual broad base of potential voters. Yes they face difficult conditions but such times require a bold and reformist government which addresses these problems head on, as opposed to the meek leadership of Albo, his do nothing bold strategy was never going to work in this context. His whole pre PM persona was of a Tory fighting leftist as well, so he’s either a fraud or a limp dick based on his performance as PM.
Entropysays:
Sunday, January 19, 2025 at 7:51 pm
Mexicanbeemersays:
Sunday, January 19, 2025 at 7:22 pm
===================================================
I wasn’t on this site much in December. So you probably have read far more posts than i of his. My moderate Liberal statements mainly based on this statement he made today.
“And, just to add, post the influence of Howard on the Liberal Party, and Malcolm Fraser saying the Liberal Party is no longer a liberal party, I have not voted for them”
—————–
Could read him that way but he might have been here earlier under a different name.