Things are starting to crank up as the election moves closer into view, such that I can offer a second detail-packed post for the week. On the polling front:
• DemosAU has polling of both federal and state voting intention in Queensland, the former being relatively cheering for Labor, with a 53-47 two-party lead to the Coalition suggesting a 1% swing in their favour since 2022. The primary votes are Labor 31% (27.4% in 2022), Coalition 39% (39.6%), Greens 12% (12.9%) and One Nation 10% (7.5%). The state numbers show little change from the October election on two-party preferred, with the Liberal National Party leading 54-46 (53.8-46.2 at the election), from primary votes of LNP 40% (41.5%), Labor 30% (32.4%), Greens 12% (9.9%) and One Nation 10% (8.0%). The poll was conducted February 10 to 14 from a sample of 1004, with the pollster reporting an effective margin of error of 4.2%.
• A survey by the Australian Population Research Institute leads its principals, Katharine Betts and Bob Birrell, to conclude that voters support neither the “neoliberal agenda”, the “progressive values agenda”, nor a “big Australia”. Evidence for the first includes 67% support for protection of manufacturing “using tariffs if necessary”, with only 15% favouring the wholesale abandonment of tariffs; 47% support for higher taxes on high-income earners and big business, 18% for maintaining current tax rates and 24% for lower taxes across the board; 53% support for “subsidies for energy bills, solar projects and the like”, with 29% wanting them curbed; and 70% support for governments building “a large number of homes, both for rent and for sale”, with only 19% opposed. For the second, 53% disagree that “a woman is anyone who identifies as a woman, regardless of their sex when born”, with 25% agreeing, and 59% agreeing that migration policy should take into account “a migrant’s ability to fit into the Australian community”, with 28% opposed. Eighty per cent would favour lower immigration in some degree, with 11% wanting “the high numbers to continue”. The survey was conducted December 12 to 23 from a sample of 3023.
• Peter Brent at Inside Story has a useful piece on two pollsters tweaking the formulas by which primary votes are converted to two-party preferred, the conventional method of using preference flows from the previous election generally being thought to flatter Labor. YouGov’s polling going forward will apply a result combining “historic flows”, presumably from more than one election, with the respondent-allocated preferences it recorded in its massive sample MRP poll. This credits Labor with 79% of Greens preferences (compared with 85.7% in 2022), 59% of independent preferences (63.8%) and 31% of One Nation’s (35.7%). However, the “others” flow to Labor would appear to be higher now: YouGov says 49%, whereas I calculate the 2022 result at 42%. All we are told of Newspoll is that the 64.3% flow of One Nation preferences to the Coalition from 2022 has been increased, guided by Antony Green’s calculation that their share at the October state election in Queensland was 73.8%, compared with a Queensland figure of 66.9% in 2022.
• A new election forecast model by John Collins, based on machine learning models making use of polling, demographic and economic data, is on the bullish side for Labor as these things go, estimating a 27.4% chance it will retain a majority.
Other news that’s been accumulating over the past few weeks:
• Clive Palmer again plans to impose himself on a federal election through a new party modestly called Trumpet of Patriots, a name pointing to an explicitly Trumpian agenda, will full-page advertisements already to be seen in the nation’s newspapers. The party has inhabited the shell of an entity that has in the past contested elections as the Country Alliance and the Federation Party, following the failure of Palmer’s High Court bid to overturn a law that prevented him from re-registering his United Australia Party, which he voluntarily deregistered it after the 2022 election. On Wednesday he announced the party would contest “all lower house teal and Liberal-held seats and potentially many Labor electorates”. Palmer himself will not be a candidate, the party’s mooted leader being Suellen Wrightson, who will contest the seat of Hunter.
• Paul Karp of the Financial Review reports that “Liberals believe they are close but behind in Mackellar and Warringah, but privately concede Allegra Spender is unbeatable in Wentworth”.
• The Financial Review reports that Emma King, senior manager at Orica, is likely to be chosen as Liberal candidate for Shortland ahead of cardiologist and perennial bridesmaid Michael Feneley. The southern Newcastle seat has been historically safe for Labor, but the party’s position has weakened in recent times and its post-redistribution margin is 6.0%. The report notes concern among local Liberals that the party has left the redistribution too late.
• In a report on a Nationals plan to keep Barnaby Joyce confined to his own electorate, Paul Sakkal of Nine Newspapers notes the party faces a number of “hard contests” against independents, among them “well-known farmer James Gooden”, who is challenging former leader Michael McCormack in Riverina. The party is “bracing for a loss” in Calare, which Andrew Gee hopes to retain as an independent after quitting the party, and Pat Conaghan again faces teal independent Caz Heise in Cowper, who came within 2.3% of a surprise win in 2022.
• Carol Berry, chief executive of a Wollongong disability support non-profit, has been confirmed as Labor’s new candidate in the Illawarra seat of Whitlam, following Stephen Jones’ recent retirement announcement. Berry is a formal national secretary of the Greens who was twice a lower order Senate candidate for the party and, as Ben Raue notes on BlueSky, “came very close to being preselected” to a winning position on the party’s state upper house ticket in 2003. Keely O’Brien, general manager of corporate affairs for the Council of Australian Life Insurers, also nominated, but factional arrangements were widely reported as guaranteeing the seat for Berry’s Left faction rather than O’Brien’s Right.
• Having hitherto kept his cards close to his chest, Russell Broadbent has announced he will seek re-election as an independent in Monash. The 74-year-old Broadbent has served in parliament with a few interruptions since 1990, and quit the Liberal Party in November 2023 after suffering a heavy preselection defeat at the hands of Mary Aldred.
Thanks, William.
I get the general sense that if the worm has not quite turned it may have adopted a horizontal position.
Have we reached Peak Dutton, and now we’re in the self sabotage phase?
What next, the refugees that have fled to Australia from Gaza are eating the cats, they’re eating the dogs!?! 😆
Dude cannot pull off the full Trump experience, of that I am 100% sure.
When you have an Albanese Labor government.
From the Alliance for Gambling Reform:
‘It’s footy season again soon.
Unfortunately, it means that we will all, and most tragically our kids, be again inundated with endless gambling ads.
There is no better symbol of just how our major football codes have sold their soul to gambling than the fact the NRL is again holding its opening round in Las Vagas – the symbolic, global capital of gambling.
Australians are subjected to a million gambling ads every year and many of them are reaching our kids through sports advertising as well as being cynically and directly targeted at them through social media.
As a result, many young kids are gambling. I spoke to one teacher who asked his class of 14 year olds how many had gambled on their phone or knew a friend who had gambled? Every hand in the class went up.
Research shows us by the time kids reach 18 they are now part of the fastest growing group (18-25 year olds) of sports gamblers in the country and already one in five have a gambling problem.
How can we continue to let this happen?’
When you have an Albanese Labor government is how it still happens.
Vote Labor last on the bottom of your ballot paper.
Not to mention Clive Palmer and The Vuvuzela of Parrots. 😆
When you have an Irene shilling for the Liberals, she writes this while trying to diss Australia’s favourite winter pastime, the footy:
Vote Labor last on the bottom of your ballot paper.
I’d call Irene a wowser, but I think she’s just a Gaslighter for the Liberals, dressed in Green.
”Not to mention Clive Palmer and The Vuvuzela of Parrots. ”
The Clarion of the Clewless…
I’m sure I read recently that Barnaby was being wooed by Pauline.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/02/20/kash-patel-fbi-senate-confirmation-vote/
Hope springs eternal – Albo has saved the best for the last 7% of the term apparently.
He’s more like the panicked student who after having a good time all year realises final exams are upon him and he doesn’t have enough time to do well.
Angus Taylor still hasn’t come out of hiding after his disastrous blunder response to the interest rate cut
”…but I think she’s just a Gaslighter for the Liberals, dressed in Green.”
I’ve wondered if a few posters here and elsewhere are Liberals following US Republican tactics used to persuade Democrat voters to stay home, adapted for a mandatory preferential voting system.
David Crowe continuing the SMH expose of Dutton’s unfitness to be seriously considered as PM.
This article on his poor judgement regarding the ‘explosive laden caravan’…
Peter Dutton did not wait to seek political advantage. Within hours of the leak, the opposition leader wanted to know when Albanese was told of the caravan. Albanese should be up front about this fact, but it is hardly the dominant concern. The police did not believe there was an imminent threat to the community.
Now, a few weeks later, some of the political rhetoric looks unguarded. The political noise probably made the investigation more difficult. It is possible the caravan was planted by criminals so they could reveal the explosives to police in exchange for a “letter of assistance” that would help one of their own get a shorter prison sentence. If that was the case, nobody should help the criminals by jumping at shadows.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/when-a-murky-caravan-becomes-a-toxic-bandwagon-it-s-time-for-restraint-20250220-p5ldu7.html
From the previous thread:
enjaybee @ #1099 Thursday, February 20th, 2025 – 10:56 pm
You only look like an 84-year-old.
And the growing round up of ‘anti-semitic’ graffiti and firebombers is accelerating – and it turns out they are not religiously motivated citizens – but mules recruited by…. We have yet to have this revealed.
But it’s not these arrested low lifes…
Leon Sofilas and Adam Moule were neighbours in a shabby block of inner-city flats, known for its fights, shouting and rubbish. Both were in their 30s. Both came from complicated families. Both had criminal records, and spent time in jail.
They didn’t have work, much of an education or any interest in the conflict in the Middle East. “If you asked him who the prime minister of Australia is, he probably couldn’t tell you,” said Sofilas’ brother, Michael.
Tammie Farrugia and Scott Marshall lived in a Liverpool flat. They, too, were broke; Marshall had a criminal record and a debt, while Farrugia was on a disability pension. They cadged money off mates. One, who gave them food, blankets and the odd $20, said the inseparable but troubled couple knew little about geopolitics.
“
never mentioned Israel or Palestine,” said a friend.
These are some of the people accused of carrying out separate but similar antisemitic crimes in Sydney, which have fuelled fear within the Jewish community.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/wouldn-t-have-the-brains-the-low-level-crooks-linked-to-sydney-antisemitic-attacks-20250220-p5ldtw.html
Albanese gave an impassioned speech in Whyalla yesterday, reminiscent of the stump speeches of a bygone era.
That’s pretty scientific!
It would be cheaper to give everybody in Whyalla 500k and relocate them to Melbourne then try and keep the thing going.
The problem here is the ABC and the Liberals tried to pretend it was something more. It will be a long time before I feel anything but contempt when watching the 7.30 report.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/wouldn-t-have-the-brains-the-low-level-crooks-linked-to-sydney-antisemitic-attacks-20250220-p5ldtw.html
World News & Politics Patrol:
Trump Gave Europe Three Weeks to Sign Off on Ukraine ‘Surrender’: MEP: https://www.newsweek.com/trump-europe-troops-ukraine-peace-deal-2033823
US opposes calling Russia aggressor in G7 statement marking 3rd year of full-scale war in Ukraine, FT says: https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/02/20/7499285/
Breaking: US Reportedly Halts Weapon Sales to Ukraine: https://www.kyivpost.com/post/47529
Ukrainian female POWs tortured and paraded naked through the snow by Russian troops: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/women-and-girls/ukrainian-female-pows-tortured-and-paraded-naked-by-russian/
‘Transatlantic relations are over’ as Trump sides with Putin, says top German MP: https://www.politico.eu/article/transatlantic-relations-over-donald-trump-sides-vladimir-putin-top-german-mp-michael-roth/
Terrorist attack in central Israel: 3 buses exploded in succession: https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/02/20/terrorist-attack-in-central-israel-3-buses-exploded-in-succession/
Farage backs Trump’s call for Ukrainian election – and denies UK didn’t hold one during WWII: https://news.sky.com/story/politics-latest-labour-starmer-ukraine-war-russia-paris-us-trump-europe-zelenskyy-12593360?postid=9138559#liveblog-body
Moscow demanded NATO withdrawal from eastern Europe during US-Russia talks, FT reports: https://kyivindependent.com/moscow-demands-nato-withdrawal-from-eastern-europe-in-us-russia-talks-ft-reports/
Ex-presidents’ silence on Trump dismays some Democrats: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5153858-former-presidents-trump-actions/
Elon Musk Talks Over Trump in Humiliating Sean Hannity Interview: https://newrepublic.com/post/191736/elon-musk-talks-over-donald-trump-sean-hannity
Mitch McConnell Finally Announces He Won’t Run Again. Good Riddance: https://newrepublic.com/post/191756/mitch-mconnell-leave-senate-wont-run-reelection
Trump Kicks Off Legal Chaos by Revealing Elon Musk Actually Runs DOGE: https://newrepublic.com/post/191739/donald-trump-elon-musk-runs-doge-legal-chaos
Senate Democrats Regret Voting For Some Donald Trump Cabinet Nominees: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-nominees-democrats-regret_n_67b65a82e4b0cc5d77996261
Bannon: ‘Oligarchs’ will abandon Republicans: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5154889-steve-bannon-oligarchs-republicans/?tbref=hp
The ISS should be deorbited ‘as soon as possible,’ Elon Musk says: ‘Let’s go to Mars: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/international-space-station/the-iss-should-be-deorbited-as-soon-as-possible-elon-musk-says-lets-go-to-mars
Scoop: U.S. and Ukraine discuss “improved” minerals deal after Trump raged at Zelensky: https://www.axios.com/2025/02/20/us-ukraine-rare-earth-minerals-agreement
D.C. plane crash victim’s family files $250 million legal claim against FAA and U.S. Army: https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/dc-plane-crash-victim-family-legal-claim-casey-crafton/
Senate confirms Kash Patel as FBI director in 51-49 vote: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kash-patel-fbi-director-senate-confirmation-vote/
Former NFL player Chris Kluwe arrested after attacking ‘corrupt’ Maga movement: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/feb/20/chris-kluwe-nfl-punter-arrest-maga
Grand jury recommends Alabama police department be ‘immediately abolished’: https://abcnews.go.com/US/hanceville-alabama-police-department-officers-indicted-grand-jury-abolish/story?id=118989336
Lars Von Trier says:
Friday, February 21, 2025 at 8:01 am
It would be cheaper to give everybody in Whyalla 500k and relocate them to Melbourne then try and keep the thing going.
Ya maybe, but then the asset is gone and it may never come back. As it stands there is a chance it will be part if the future. People like you may not like it but the world is changing, renewables matter and Australia has abundant resources. It just needs people with a little bit of vision. That is not Lars or the Liberal party.
Lars Von Triersays:
Friday, February 21, 2025 at 7:14 am
That’s about as silly an analysis as is possible given that the Labor government during Albanese’s first term has been as steady as politics can be, with clearly defined fiscal and monetary objectives, and successful outcomes.
The panic is all Liberals/Dutton, having thrown all at Labor, assisted by a media with only one aim and a complete disregard for honesty, find themselves on the cusp of an inglorious defeat.
The “own goal” nuclear is what done it.
frednk @ 8.02am
My wife and i jettisoned the ABC for news, years ago.
The only news service, we view and listen, with confidence, is SBS World News.
I was surprised and astounded that our viewing of the wonderful serias on Mozart, was interrupted by a promo for Q & A.
I thought that this tired and dreary format was well past its time.
US Cartoons:
Holdenhillbilly
It’s a f**king mess, how do you do it without getting totally depressed.
Steve777
Yes, absolutely. It has been a very successful strategy for the Coalition in Australia, and one that they have pursued for many years.
It started as “A plague on all their houses, they are all politicians, and are therefore untrustworthy.” But this was just to suppress the youth vote, that had previously favoured the left.
It has now morphed into “Vote for an Independent”, implying that you need think no further than that.
The Coalition has a far stronger rusted-on vote than does Labor – with probably a base level of 35 – 40% Coalition support, except in a very bad year (such as 2022).
So the vote 1 for an independent, implying that this is all you need to do, no thought about how you are going to rank your preference for the major parties, will advantage the Coalition.
Why? Because the Coalition has a significantly larger share of the rusted-on vote. So, there are fewer votes to be harvested from those who voted Coalition in 2022 that can be directed towards Independents.
Why is this important?
Because for Labor, with a significantly smaller rusted-on vote, any 2022 Labor voters that can now be convinced to vote Independent, without thinking about where their second preference goes, will see at least some of their votes flow to the Coalition.
So we get Irene with her Gish Gallop
, insisting that of course we should prefer an Independent, but lately saying very openly that Labor should be put last.
She presents as being from “The Left”, but gives herself away as really being from the conservative side of politics when she feels the need to defend things like negative gearing.
Other posters here do similar things, but are more subtle.
This strategy worked brilliantly for Advance in defeating The Voice referendum. Advance set up three webpages: One for those in favour of reconciliation – which explained why the Voice would set that cause back, one for the undecided, explaining why The Voice was a bad idea, and one for those against it, explaining how to use social media to fight it.
Do not assume that any poster here who claims to be “progressive” actually is.
The Gish gallop is a rhetorical technique in which a person in a debate attempts to overwhelm an opponent by presenting an excessive number of arguments, with no regard for their accuracy or strength, with a rapidity that makes it impossible for the opponent to address them in the time available. Gish galloping prioritizes the quantity of the galloper’s arguments at the expense of their quality.
The term “Gish gallop” was coined in 1994 by the anthropologist Eugenie Scott who named it after the American creationist Duane Gish, dubbed the technique’s “most avid practitioner”.
Scottsays:
Friday, February 21, 2025 at 7:14 am
The media responsible for the LNP election campaign have decided to keep the entire LNP under wraps till election night to avoid anymore Tayloresque contorted nonsense lest the whole pack, including Michaelia, Barnaby, Sussan, Bridgit or the mannequin get out of the enclosure. Not to mention the time delayed responses from their leader.
Yeah retaining a rust bucket steel plant in Whyalla – there’s the future.
And in my view the ABC and the Liberals stand responsible for this sort of shit, oh and of cause channel 9 for deliberately causing trouble:
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/feb/19/melbourne-woman-charged-over-two-alleged-islamophobic-attacks-at-shopping-centre-ntwnfb
Lars Von Trier says:
Friday, February 21, 2025 at 8:24 am
Yeah retaining a rust bucket steel plant in Whyalla – there’s the future.
They all look like rust buckets. The real asset in all these things is the human resources
Mavissays:
Friday, February 21, 2025 at 7:54 am
Albanese gave an impassioned speech in Whyalla yesterday, reminiscent of the stump speeches of a bygone era.
_____________________
Generous.
I heard it. Disjointed as usual.
Lars
I do not think you are really this ignorant. Rather I think you are using what is a technological discussion to advance your political agenda.
The problem with prosecuting a purely political agenda, which ignores reality, is that after you obtain your short-term political objective, reality is still there to mug you.
See below:
All this data shows that the reality is not like what the extreme-left on this site think, that the swing to the Coalition is concentrated in Queensland. Rather, it is concentrated in the suburbs of Melbourne and Sydney and surrounding regional cities. A 51-49 result will almost certainly result in a Coalition majority.
In fact, the median voter in the nation now has views much closer to the median voter in Queensland.
The idea that Victoria is a “progressive” state akin to Massachussetts is simply a myth.
Not long now.
D&M
Yes, the masquerading as an Independent to cloak the LNP intent is prevalent across all social media.
And has always been thus – I still remember the old talk back radio leading up to elections, where the call went something like:
‘long time listener, first time caller. I’ve voted Labor all my life – but (insert PM/Loto) has lost me because they are (insert negative) and I can’t bring myself to vote Liberal, so I’ll be looking at a minor party or independent. But I’m done with Labor because (insert negative)’.
What social media provides is the opportunity to do this at scale.
Taylormade:
Friday, February 21, 2025 at 8:34 am
_____________________
To your partisan ear, yes. And while not saying mine isn’t biased, you should give credit where credit’s due. While Albanese’s speeches don’t set the world on fire, the one in Whyalla was a vast improvement on previous addresses and would have struck a chord with waverers in the lead-up to the election.
“All this data shows that the reality is not like what the extreme-left on this site think”
The “extreme left on this site” mostly squeal against Labor too.
There is one squealler (Irene) who is pathologically incapable of criticising the LNP without concluding with a labor bashing / government death riding
You must be profoundly blinkered yourself if you are referring to pro-Labor posters here as “extreme left”
Good Morning! Here’s your Morning News and Views Roundup.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has accused Labor of fast-tracking Australian citizenship for people who fled Gaza to win votes in marginal seats at the upcoming election, even though nobody who has fled the war-torn strip since 2023 is eligible for citizenship. A Home Affairs spokesperson said applicants must be lawful residents of Australia for four years before they could apply for Australian citizenship, precluding any people who arrived in the country later than 2020, including the Gazans who arrived after October 2023.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/dutton-wrongly-says-labor-is-fast-tracking-citizenship-for-gazans-to-win-votes-20250220-p5ldv2.html
Peter gives fair play the cold shoulder with promise to pare down public service
By Robin Tennant-Wood
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/peter-gives-fair-play-the-cold-shoulder-with-promise-to-pare-down-public-service,19451
‘Wouldn’t have the brains’: The low-level crooks linked to Sydney antisemitic attacks.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/wouldn-t-have-the-brains-the-low-level-crooks-linked-to-sydney-antisemitic-attacks-20250220-p5ldtw.html
When a murky caravan becomes a toxic bandwagon, it’s time for restraint says David Crowe.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/when-a-murky-caravan-becomes-a-toxic-bandwagon-it-s-time-for-restraint-20250220-p5ldu7.html
The ASIO threat assessment is a dark outlook for Australia’s security. Are our laws up to the task?
https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/opinion/2025/02/20/asio-threat-australia-security
Hamas returns remains of Israeli hostages, including Bibas children. They killed babies. 😡
https://www.smh.com.au/world/middle-east/hamas-returns-the-remains-of-israeli-hostages-including-bibas-children-20250220-p5ldr9.html
The UN’s human rights chief has slammed the “abhorrent and cruel” parading of hostage remains as Hamas handed over the bodies of four Israelis — including two young children. Israeli brothers Kfir and Ariel Bibas, aged 9 months and 4, were the youngest captives taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023 and are among the most potent symbols of the trauma inflicted that day.
https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/world/2025/02/21/hostage-bodies-gaza
Waleed Aly says that we’re right to be outraged about the profane Sydney nurses – but let’s be careful about why.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/we-re-right-to-be-outraged-about-the-sydney-nurses-but-let-s-be-careful-about-why-20250219-p5ldjt.html
I looked at 35 years of data to see how Australians vote. Here’s what it tells us about the next election by Intifar Chowdhury, Lecturer in Government, Flinders University
https://theconversation.com/i-looked-at-35-years-of-data-to-see-how-australians-vote-heres-what-it-tells-us-about-the-next-election-249368
A $2.4 billion bailout has been promised for the Whyalla steel mill as governments seek a buyer to revive the failing South Australian plant as a green facility and the federal opposition launches an attack on the prime minister’s manufacturing vision(of course 🙄 ), before the upcoming federal election.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/whyalla-steel-2-4b-bailout-as-albanese-seizes-extraordinary-opportunity-20250220-p5ldnh.html
What went wrong in Whyalla? And why is the government getting involved?
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/what-went-wrong-in-whyalla-and-why-is-the-government-getting-involved-20250220-p5ldnt.html
Grattan on Friday: Dutton doesn’t pull his punches on Trump while Albanese plays it safe. The government finds itself having to speak softly with an administration it hopes to get a concession on tariffs from. While Peter Dutton doesn’t have that problem.
https://theconversation.com/grattan-on-friday-dutton-doesnt-pull-his-punches-on-trump-while-albanese-plays-it-safe-250386
Hopes the Reserve Bank will follow up its first interest rate cut in four years with another during the election campaign are fading after new figures revealed a surge in people getting full-time jobs or waiting to start paid work. As the bank’s deputy governor said holding interest rates steady may have driven inflation too low, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed an extra 54,000 full-time positions were created across the country in January.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/hopes-fade-for-another-rate-cut-as-jobs-growth-strengthens-20250220-p5ldmx.html
Young Australians are the victims of “wilful acts of bastardry” from governments, voters and powerful vested interests, former senior public servant Ken Henry has claimed, accusing federal governments of overseeing a tax system that is failing the country and future generations.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/wilful-act-of-bastardry-henry-condemns-tax-system-for-crushing-young-australians-20250220-p5ldoj.html
The case of Australia’s missing family-size apartments.
https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/finance/property/2025/02/20/missing-family-size-apartments
The NSW government’s contentious hate speech laws have cleared the first hurdle despite MPs questioning how they would explain themselves to constituents excluded from the “two-tiered” legislation.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/the-hate-speech-laws-have-cleared-the-first-hurdle-this-is-why-mps-are-worried-20250219-p5ldco.html
Queensland Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie has taken advice on how to manage a personal conflict of interest over the Sunshine Coast rail project.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/queensland/bleijie-declares-conflict-of-interest-over-sunshine-coast-rail-project-20250219-p5ldcl.html
An international ratings agency has issued a “negative outlook” for Queensland government finances and called on the Crisafulli government to outline its plan to stabilise the budget. Shortly before parliamentary question time on Wednesday, S&P Global formally revised Queensland’s outlook from stable to negative, while maintaining other key ratings.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/queensland/hang-your-head-in-shame-government-lashes-labor-over-ratings-downgrade-20250219-p5ldie.html
Victoria’s finances are under new management. This is the clear message from Treasurer Jaclyn Symes, who has moved to bring government spending under control in three ways.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/victoria/jac-the-knife-new-treasurer-signals-major-budget-surgery-20250220-p5ldrz.html
Victorian Opposition Leader Brad Battin has offered Premier Jacinta Allan bipartisan support for proposed hate laws currently before parliament if she agrees to remove four words from the legislation.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/victoria/the-four-words-blocking-the-government-s-hate-speech-laws-20250219-p5ldif.html
Woman charged with assault of Muslim pair previously attacked woman in hijab, court hears. The magistrate observed that Gonulalan was considered a vulnerable adult under the Bail Act, as she had mental health disorders that had developed after a car crash when she was 21.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/woman-charged-with-assault-of-muslim-pair-previously-attacked-woman-in-hijab-court-hears-20250220-p5ldwb.html
It is difficult to convey how silly political press conferences have become in Victoria, where in the dog days of a Labor government, the premier and her ministers cling so rigidly to the morning’s talking points you may as well be quizzing an automated message.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/victoria/some-people-should-never-dance-this-victorian-pair-are-two-of-them-20250218-p5ld5f.html
WA Nationals to break ranks with Liberal colleagues and get election promises costed by treasury.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/western-australia/nationals-to-break-ranks-with-liberal-colleagues-and-get-election-promises-costed-by-treasury-20250220-p5ldvx.html
Swan River cities plead for help as they lose fight with mosquitos. They have my sympathy.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/western-australia/swan-river-cities-plead-for-help-as-they-lose-fight-with-mosquitos-20250219-p5ldj7.html
Who is going to help struggling first home buyers most; and is Mark ‘State Daddy’ McGowan here to save a few seats? Running Mates is your weekly guide to Western Australia’s state election on March 8.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/western-australia/running-mates-a-new-side-to-premier-roger-cook-and-scarborough-s-socials-star-20250220-p5ldum.html
At last: A serious attempt to fix retirement phase of super By Andrew Podger
https://johnmenadue.com/at-last-a-serious-attempt-to-fix-retirement-phase-of-super/
It’s been months of partying for the global right since Donald Trump’s election victory in November. And the latest unmissable jamboree is Canadian psychologist and incel fave Jordan B. Peterson’s Alliance for Responsible Citizenship conference, happening in London this week. Look who’s there from the Liberals and Nationals:
https://www.smh.com.au/cbd/nsw-liberals-skip-parliament-for-jordan-peterson-s-london-conference-20250219-p5ldes.html
Experts warn that for Trump, tariffs are not only a means of geopolitical leverage but a key source of funds for his tax-cutting agenda. This means they will be here for the long run.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/the-real-reason-trump-is-waging-a-global-trade-war-20250217-p5lckw.html
Tariff politics, then and now.
https://johnmenadue.com/tariff-politics-then-and-now/
Stephen Bartholomeusz says Elon Musk may be on the verge of a Houdini-like escape from the financial morass that was his $US44 billion ($69 billion) acquisition of Twitter. According to Bloomberg, Musk is seeking to raise new equity for the social media platform now known as X, at a valuation of … $US44 billion. At face value, that would appear delusional.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/elon-musk-is-set-to-escape-his-twitter-trap-he-can-thank-donald-trump-20250220-p5ldna.html
Rio Tinto boss Jakob Stausholm has contradicted the Trump administration’s claim that Australia broke a promise to limit aluminium shipments to the United States, revealing the White House made a plea for Australian suppliers to boost exports after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/the-us-had-asked-australia-to-ship-more-aluminium-says-rio-tinto-ceo-20250220-p5ldq7.html
‘Misleading’: Gina Rinehart’s mining firm breached environmental code with ‘clean gas’ job ad, panel rules. Ad Standards Community Panel upholds complaint over Hancock Prospecting’s promotion in the Weekend Australian.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/feb/21/gina-rinehart-hancock-prospecting-breached-environmental-code-with-clean-gas-job-ad-panel-rules-ntwnfb
After becoming the wealthiest man in the world, Elon Musk has his sights on U.S. domination, using Donald Trump as his puppet, writes Dr Norm Sanders.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/elon-musks-plan-to-take-over-america-revealed,19459
‘Provocative’: Australians warned to get used to Chinese ships off the coast.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/provocative-australians-warned-to-get-used-to-chinese-ships-off-the-coast-20250220-p5ldtf.html
Australia’s Navy and Air Force are monitoring Chinese warships spotted about 300km from Sydney on Thursday, as Beijing sends a strong message. Defence Minister Richard Marles described the activity as “unusual” but not unprecedented, stressing the Chinese vessels were not a threat as their conduct was in accordance with international law.
https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2025/02/20/china-navy-ships
A defence treaty with PNG might seem like a ‘win’ for Australia. But there are 4 crucial questions to answer.
https://theconversation.com/a-defence-treaty-with-png-might-seem-like-a-win-for-australia-but-there-are-4-crucial-questions-to-answer-250396
Mexico to reform constitution in wake of US terrorism designations.
https://apnews.com/article/mexico-us-cartels-terrorism-trump-cc70d0ea7b0332b889da820bec1629bb
Trump says Ukraine started the war that’s killing its citizens. What are the facts?
https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-trump-war-zelenskyy-putin-7fe8c0c80b4e93e3bc079c621a44e8bb
Trump’s America is Putin’s ally now. Europe and Ukraine are learning how little the U.S. cares, as the new president aligns himself with their greatest enemy.
https://www.politico.eu/article/donald-trump-america-vladimir-putin-ally-war/
Trump’s America Is in a Free Fall—Not a Slippery Slope—to Tyranny. He is instilling fear not just among lawmakers but every sector of society that dares to criticize him or hold him accountable.
https://www.theunpopulist.net/p/trumps-america-is-in-a-free-fallnot
Will Ukraine turn into WW3? Macron doesn’t rule it out. The French president’s comments came during a live appearance on his social media channels.
https://www.politico.eu/article/emmanuel-macron-war-in-ukraine-russia/
Ukraine rallies around Zelenskyy after Trump’s vicious attack. Kyiv blasts back at the U.S. president after he ridicules Ukraine’s leader — and demands the war-ravaged country hold an election.
https://www.politico.eu/article/donald-trump-volodymyr-zelenskyy-president-ukraine-russia-war-white-house/
Elections a ‘poison’ for Ukraine if held now, Kyiv mayor says. Vitali Klitschko warns millions of Ukrainians would be disenfranchised if elections were held while war rages.
https://www.politico.eu/article/kyiv-mayor-vitali-klitschko-war-in-ukraine-elections-donald-trump/
Slava Ukraini!
The key global issue is not the clash of north and south: it’s who supports international law and who doesn’t. We say the defining question is this: do nations work for peace and order or embrace the notion of power by force? Jean-Noël Barrot
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/20/jean-noel-barrot-france-international-law-global-north-south
Hold your breath and look to Germany: its election could decide the fate of Europe – and the UK. If the country holds out against the Trump-assisted AfD, it shows rightwing populism can be resisted in Europe’s heartland. Martin Kettle
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/20/germany-election-europe-uk-trump-afd-populism
When the pope is sick, Italians always gossip about who comes next – even before ‘Conclave’.
https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-health-hospital-vatican-3bab1220b31d00cf37d183f45ad287ae
Cartoon Time!
Alan Moir
Cathy Wilcox
Jamie Brown
Matt Golding
Dionne Gain
Fiona Katauskas
Mark David
Dan Jensen
From the Internet
Molly Jong-Fast @mollyjongfast.bsky.social
They’re going to try and prosecute their political enemies
Secular Talk @kylekulinskishow.bsky.social
The new FBI director is a scam artist who sold fake pills to ‘reverse the vaxx’
Enjoy!
Of course, if you vote independent, you still have to decide which of the Labor or Coalition candidates you have to preference above the other. In 90% of electorates (based on 2022 outcomes), your vote ultimately goes to the main party candidate placed higher.
Hence the urging to place Labor “at the bottom of the ballot paper”, or more nuanced suggestions like “choosing the better local member”. Maybe some demoralised voters end up voting informal, by accident or intent. Maybe some stay home. Then of course many Green / Teal / Independent votes drift over to Coalition candidates who were placed second last.
sprocket_says:
Friday, February 21, 2025 at 8:50 am
D&M
Yes, the masquerading as an Independent to cloak the LNP intent is prevalent across all social media.
And has always been thus – I still remember the old talk back radio leading up to elections, where the call went something like:
‘long time listener, first time caller. I’ve voted Labor all my life – but (insert PM/Loto) has lost me because they are (insert negative) and I can’t bring myself to vote Liberal, so I’ll be looking at a minor party or independent. But I’m done with Labor because (insert negative)’.
What social media provides is the opportunity to do this at scale
_______________________
Other than the narrow issue of climate change, the Teals have far more in common with the LNP than Labor:
– loosening workplace protections
– lowering taxes for the wealthy and business, while households pay more GST
– protecting super tax concessions.
I maintain that in a minority gov situation the teals will largely side with the LNP. The Libs will drop nuclear power for the deal, but in reality it would be a go-slow and muddled energy policy for the next 3 years.
And progressives will celebrate while real wage growth falls and the share of national income swings back to capital.
Thanks, HoldenHillbilly and Alpha Zero. 🙂
It started as “A plague on all their houses, they are all politicians, and are therefore untrustworthy.” But this was just to suppress the youth vote, that had previously favoured the left.
Douglas and Milko,
You may be interested in the data analysis contained in this article from The Conversation today:
https://theconversation.com/i-looked-at-35-years-of-data-to-see-how-australians-vote-heres-what-it-tells-us-about-the-next-election-249368
It’s says, basically, that the Gen Z vote will likely be pivotal this election.
No need to wonder then why Irene focuses her attention on issues pertinent to them…and then, as the election gets nearer becomes more blatant with her direction to put Labor at the bottom of the ballot paper. 😐
Vengeful Trump fanboy is confirmed as FBI chief
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/2/20/2305084/-Ultimate-Trump-fanboy-is-confirmed-as-FBI-chief?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=top_news_slot_1&pm_medium=web
”
Conspiracy theorist Kash Patel was confirmed to lead the FBI on Thursday, cementing President Donald Trump’s grip on federal law enforcement.
Senate Republicans confirmed him by a vote of 51 to 49, with two GOP defectors. Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined all 47 Democrats in voting “no,” citing deep concerns over Patel’s partisan loyalties and potential abuses of power.
“
here is a compelling need for an FBI Director who is decidedly apolitical,” said Collins in a press release announcing she would not confirm his nomination. “Mr. Patel has made numerous politically charged statements in his book and elsewhere discrediting the work of the FBI, the very institution he has been nominated to lead. These statements … cast doubt on Mr. Patel’s ability to advance the FBI’s law enforcement mission in a way that is free from the appearance of political motivation.”
Since Republicans have 53 senators, it has given Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Mitch McConnell the room to vote as they want without incurring much of Trump wrath.
It is still possible that Trump may take revenge on them for not repeatedly his backside.
Note that not a single Trump is rejected by majority Republican Senate.
This disgusting tactic in Parliament seems to have backfired mightily on Dutton and Sukkar:
Douglas and Milko @ #25 Friday, February 21st, 2025 – 8:17 am
I would put it slightly differently and say that you need to think at least as far as that. Far too many people do not.
Because it scares the crap out of the bipartisans. That would be enough of a reason for many.
But there is a better reason, of course – which is that if you want to change the country, you have to change your vote. And I think most people would agree that this country needs change.
”
C@tmommasays:
Friday, February 21, 2025 at 7:03 am
When you have an Irene shilling for the Liberals, she writes this while trying to diss Australia’s favourite winter pastime, the footy:
Vote Labor last on the bottom of your ballot paper.
I’d call Irene a wowser, but I think she’s just a Gaslighter for the Liberals, dressed in Green.
”
C@tmomma
Not person with left leanings will preference Liberals over Labor.
No doubt Irene is a Liberal attacking with Greens talking points.
Supporters of Greens political party
Please note that if Dutton becomes PM, he will have try to destroy Greens political party. Not only that he will reverse what ever the impact environmental bills that have been passed
#weatheronPB
The clouds have gathered,
but there’s room for a few more.
Some blue is unfilled.
Elon Musk seems to be a sort of Grand Vizier to Trump, effectively Prime Minister to King Donald I.
citizen,
But has the Coalition’s most senior Jewish MP, Julian Leeser, apologised to Mark Dreyfus? That is the question that needs an answer.
The Teals need to consider the fate of the UK Liberal party after they joined a Coalition with the Tories in 2010. Firstly they were dudded by their “partners”. Then, at the first opportunity, their erstwhile voters turned on them.
If the Teals support the Coalition, they will (a) be greatly disappointed as the Coalition weasels their way out of any commitments made, and (b) be unceremoniously booted out in 2028.
One month after his second inauguration, President Trump remains in positive net approval on the fivethirtyeight averages.
Approve: 48.3%
Disapprove: 47.0%
Net approval: +1.3%
Numbers Joe Biden could only dream of
”
sprocket_says:
Friday, February 21, 2025 at 7:49 am
And the growing round up of ‘anti-semitic’ graffiti and firebombers is accelerating – and it turns out they are not religiously motivated citizens – but mules recruited by…. We have yet to have this revealed.
”
I have a fair idea where the 4 low lifes got their money and orders for ‘anti-semitic’ activities.
Couple of things are common about their identities
1. They are poor
2. They are not Muslims.
3. They had prison record/ criminal activity record.
But what glaring about Egypt cafe incident was that Murdoch rag was bent communal discord.