The first poll since the election is the regular fortnightly Essential Research, but it does not feature voting intention, which was presumably considered superfluous in the week after the real thing. We do get leadership ratings for Anthony Albanese, who gets a six point post-election bump on approval to 50% with disapproval down eight to 39%, and, a little redundantly, for Peter Dutton, who gets insult added to injury with a ten point drop on approval to 29% and an eight point hike on disapproval to 59%. The “national mood” has improved for one reason or another: 37% now rate the country as headed in the right direction, up six from late April, with wrong track down ten to 42%.
Out of the few who had an opinion on the matter, Sussan Ley scored highest for preferred Liberal leader at 16%, followed by Angus Taylor on 12% and Dan Tehan on 7%, with 45% unsure and 20% for none of the above. The apparent swing to Labor as the election approached appears not to have reflected a dramatic change in national priorities, with 53% rating cost-of-living the most important determinant of vote choice. It is arguably telling that “wanting a stable government in an uncertain world” came second with 12%, but the result was scarcely different from 11% for health policies and 9% for energy policies and “not liking Peter Dutton”. The poll was conducted Wednesday to Sunday from a sample of 1137.
Re the vote count numbers being down….
A lot will be voters living overseas and not voting…….i have 3 in my house hold alone
Singapore ..New York ..Montreal….couldthey have voted …yes but it would have taken time and effort….so no vote for them…
I’m sure their are more to add to the list..
From late counting: week 2 thread
”
Upnorth – A Labor Partisansays:
Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at 9:21 pm
C@tmomma says:
Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at 9:06 pm
Who’s the Independent in Watson that Tony Bourke is being counted against?
中华人民共和国
BASYOUNY, Ziad by the looks of it has pushed the Liberals to third.
”
Significant number of Muslim voters in Watson(14.9%) and Blaxland(19.2%) have voted for “Muslim Independent”. That Greens, even with a Muslim candidate in Blaxland, did not make any difference with their pro-palestinian stance is noteworthy
Is there an ABC reporter curse?
Looking and Zoe Daniels and Maxine McKew, both ex-ABC reporters, both oncers. Anyone else know enough about ABC reporters who entered federal politics to know if this is common?
Rex – She is indeed an interesting character. But is that enough to change votes? Or to calm the rapid masses in the Liberal party? The latter is perhaps going to be more important.
”
slackboy72says:
Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 3:33 am
“talent” is a very strange way of describing them.
”
Is “right wing reactionaries ” correct description?
Mostly Interested I remember the weatherman had a tilt at North Sydney that was pretty unsuccessful.
Such passionate and heartfelt words.
An open letter to The Greens by Sawsan Madina, former Head of SBS Television
https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/05/an-open-letter-to-the-greens/
“Preferences oust half a Liberal ministry of talent”
This was the title in an article in the Australian. And? If this article is complaining about the preferential voting system then all I can say is tough shit.
I have distinct recollection of Nick Minchin on an ABC election night panel complaining ( after yet another loss) about the preferential voting system & how it should be done away with.. obvious reason Nick saw the end on the Liberal Party in the future.. it arrived sooner than he expected.. & not before time..
The Liberal & Country Party have gamed the democratic system for too long.. standing as 2 parties with a secrete agreement between them.. otherwise know as fraud
@Griff
I think most people would agree with you re the importance of compulsory voting & compulsory preferences in picking the party that is trying to find consensus vs the parties to the left and right that are trying to polarise. The behaviour seems to go against Hotelling’s Law though. You would think the middle party should be squeezed out because the Greens could maximise their share of the left vote by being only just a wee bit to the left of Labor, and the Liberals could maximise their share of the right vote by being only just a wee bit to the right of Labor. Instead, both of them seem to run off into the fringes. Our system does reward first preference share a bit – we don’t pick the condorcet winner if no one gives them a 1 – but not nearly as much as their strategies require.
To that, I wish to add that from a historical perspective, the result looked more like a state election than a federal election. Labor usually just squeaks in, then gets a landslide. My guess is that has to do with information availability and a risk aversion in our culture. Australians seem to be much more risk averse than Americans in general, while the news seems to be unreliable about who the trustworthy team is. So when a trustworthy team gets into government, they experience a swing as first-hand evidence tells you that they’re okay. But as long as the trustworthy team is in opposition, risk aversion and the unreliability of the news prevents you from taking a risk. Also, I think the media is really enjoying this, because it’s so much more fun to talk about the parties that are running around like headless chooks.
”
Mostly Interestedsays:
Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 9:29 am
Is there an ABC reporter curse?
Looking and Zoe Daniels and Maxine McKew, both ex-ABC reporters, both oncers. Anyone else know enough about ABC reporters who entered federal politics to know if this is common?
”
Ms. Kate Thwaites , Jagga Jagga MP on ALP ticket.
ABC reporter in past.
Political Nightwatchman opined:
First past the post like the UK system is a truly awful system. Where there are some voters who know they can’t vote for a particular party because if they do, it will waste their vote. It will have the obvious consequences of a representatives being elected that wasn’t the majority wishes because the vote was split.
–
I could probably figure it out myself, but does anyone happen to know what the new parliament would look like if we had a FPPT system in place?
King OMalley, I enjoyed reading your Howard thesis. I doubt whether you’ll need to revisit it in ’28, given he’ll be close to 89. On the occasions I saw him campaigning at this past election, he looked the worse for wear. I suppose they could wheel him out, but I think he’d be too proud to be seen in a wheelchair.
I’d be interested to see a statistical analysis of the Brethren’s presence at pre-poll and on-the-day booths (noting they were out in force during pre-poll)
My hypothesis based on anecdotal reports is they were a big negative influence for the coalition.
But did they actually serve? Has there been an ABC staffer who was successful in holding a seat for multiple terms (federal)?
#metaphorsonPB
Was it a race though?
Rather, was it that we chose,
those that we prefered?
So, talking to you.
You special, elected few.
It wasn’t a race.
We weighed it all up.
And then our trust was given.
Now don’t stuff it up.
Hey, Ross Gittins recognised the impact of the interest rate cut and the subsidence of inflation on the election campaign.
Have a cookie, Ross, welcome to the team.
Unions launch ad blitz against NSW government’s proposed workers’ comp changes
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-14/unions-nsw-campaign-against-government-workers-comp-changes/105287482
“Unions NSW is demanding the government rethink its proposal, while Business NSW supports the reforms.”
@Mostly Interested – “But did they actually serve? Has there been an ABC staffer who was successful in holding a seat for multiple terms (federal)?”
Sarah Henderson.
First Nations leaders urge ‘bold’ reforms on truth, treaty and closing the gap
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-14/first-nations-leaders-urge-labor-reforms-truth-telling-treaty/105287716
“Greens senator from Western Australia, Dorinda Cox, will reintroduce her bill for a Truth and Justice Commission later in the year.
:::
With the Greens expected to hold the sole balance of power in the Senate, Ms Cox said Labor could not be “hiding behind the couch anymore and blaming crossbenchers and blaming the opposition for not being able to pass legislation that is progressive and delivers First Nations justice.”
Thanks Arky, yes she broke the curse. And who also remembers ‘The Investigators”? As a family who only got ABC TV due to analog reception issues in the 80s we all crowded around the TV to watch this one.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Henderson
““Preferences oust half a Liberal ministry of talent”
This was the title in an article in the Australian. And? If this article is complaining about the preferential voting system then all I can say is tough shit. ”
I read that and thought that a plug for FPTP voting was a very strange kite to fly. Pretty much reinforced that the Murdoch media is very much out of touch with voters in Australia.
Maybe more directed at audiences in jurisdictions where they are trying to change from FPTP? Its a bit of a trend in the US ….. an article for MAGA morons to reference??
Or …… The Australian is having a sulk.
Senator Sarah Henderson
One of the ABC’s finest https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Henderson
Woodside’s proposed changes to Browse gas development explained as public consultation opens
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-14/woodside-browse-gas-development-explainer-environmental-fears/105286166
“WA Premier Roger Cook likes the plan.
:::
But environmental groups went for the jugular, claiming the changes were tinkering at the edges without reducing the risk to the environment.”
Pegasus @ #67 Wednesday, May 14th, 2025 – 9:45 am
It is not a virtue, in and of itself, for Unions to not support a policy proposal and for business to support it. Or, only if you’re a myopic individual hell bent on ignoring the basis for the Labor state government investigation of the issue and proposals that will put it on a sustainable financial footing. Especially if you’re a Victorian Greens’ fangirl who’s only interested in finding any superficial reason to knock Labor.
Energy Australia is in court accused of greenwashing. What is the case about and why is it significant?
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/14/energy-australia-is-in-court-accused-of-greenwashing-what-is-the-case-about-and-why-is-it-significant
“The case is significant because it is the first one in the country to be brought against a company for “carbon neutral” marketing. It is also the first time an Australian energy retailer has faced legal action for alleged greenwashing.”
Looks like The Greens are going to revivify their opposition to the Labor federal government, overwhelmingly elected unlike The Greens, unless they get their way on THEIR policies. Plus ca change…
And Labor looks forward to taking more of their voters back after another 3 years of this malarkey.
Yep, The Greens’ court stenographer is back on the tools. 🙄
I guess with the failure of other Greens agit prop outlets they have nowhere else to turn. 😐
Given OC and Cat’s posts this morning, re-posting from previous thread….
Bec Carversays:
Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at 11:12 pm
C@tmommasays:
Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at 10:03 pm
Bec Carver,
I can see both sides of the argument about WorkCover-a financially unsustainable program that needs to be modified to make it sustainable versus the rights of Workers to be able to claim compensation for workplace injury, psychological or physical. Can you?
Cat, perhaps it’s time you climbed down off your hobby horse. And rethought your relentless shitposting. Being able to “see” both sides from 1000 miles away through a wine-glass is hardly informed debate.
If you think you’re the only one who can see both sides of any issue you’re not critically reading what I posted. I’ve lived the various Workcover schemes 7 days a week for 20 years, from BOTH sides. Including talking injured workers off bridges at 3am. Somehow, I doubt you can say the same.
All you ever see is the red rag of war. But nothing is emptier than the fake acclaim from those few who only ever agree with you. If all you crave is constant reinforcement, start your own fucking blog.
If you’re claiming workers should be denied their rights when injured at work solely to bail out Labor govts it’s time for you to cross the aisle. The vast majority of those we represent have been screwed already without the likes of you impugning their motives.
Perhaps if these “Labor” governments (and yes, I’m guilty too, I worked for Hawke/Keating) properly taxed the rich, and the corporates there’d be plenty of money for workers’ rights.
Bullshit sprung from the mouths of politicians, Labor or not, is still bullshit, no matter how much people seeking acclaim on the internet try to polish it.
Pegasus says:
Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 9:33 am
Such passionate and heartfelt words.
….text that reads like a condolence oration/hagiography at the internment of a corpse…
There was a poll published at PB yesterday. The poll findings were that 58 % of voters want Labor to proceed as planned. 42% want Labor to go faster.
The Greens very clearly intend to ensure Labor goes more slowly. The forces that will most approve of this are the Reactionaries. We can see this coming. ThecGreens will serve the Reactionaries, as they invariably do.
The Greens and their Reactionary siblings in the Senate will use their numbers to obstruct the Peoples’ House – the Representatives. A DD is in the works. I very deeply hope the Reactionaries lose another dozen seats and the Greens lose most of their Senators – Senators elected in many cases with Labor prefs. This cannot come soon enough for me.
The Brown gambit has come to the pointy bit. Voters will eventually be required to choose between Labor and the Greens and the Greens will lose. Voters could have chosen the Green manifesto on May 3. They didn’t. They spurned it.
”
Princeplanetsays:
Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 6:30 am
King O’Malley’s John Howard analysis is long overdue – well done!!! I’ve watched the old fella wheeled out at various by elections and campaigns all to no avail. I’ve often wondered if his presence caused a further swing away from the LNP or whether they sent him into battle when things looked dire. Anyway my favourite Howard anecdote was when Bill Hayden addressed a question to big Mal Fraser – John piped up and tried to answer, Hayden said ” I’m asking the organ grinder not the monkey”.
”
Couple of things:
1. Peter Dutton repeatedly referenced Howard government years during election campaign period. He never talked about ATM years other than his ministerial gigs as Defence Minister and Homeland security minister (but not as Health minister) as if they are some individual constructs during ATM period.
2. If JWH is metaphorically called as ‘monkey’, can all other L-NP colleagues in his government and ATM governments as roaches, not that I will call them that?
Rex have you considered approaching Ley’s office to work in the capacity as a part-time advisor?. Could be just the tonic they need.
Bowen confirmed as climate and energy minister, Watt gets environment
https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/05/bowen-confirmed-as-climate-and-energy-minister-watt-gets-environment/
“The Bob Brown Foundation was not impressed with the appointment of Watt, describing it as a “Trumpian” decision akin to appointing fossil fuel booster Lee Zeldin to the role of EPA administrator in the US.
“This ministry is set to send young Australians into even greater despair. Albanese has achieved that with this appointment,” Brown said in a statement. “Watt backs native forest logging, salmon cage pollution, woodland clearance of two million hectares in five years and koala killing, as well as more global heating and coral bleaching.
“The only good thing coming out of Watt’s appointment is that it will create many more jobs in environmental activism.””
@Peg – this is bordering on spam.
MI
Sarah Henderson and Dai Lee are both ex-ABC.
Eston Kohver
Brethren were all over the Parramatta prepoll which didn’t help the Libs.
Pegasus people who agree with C@tmomma do so spontaneously, they don’t need to organise a “be there at 7” troll raid. Surely this can be done without such over the top personal vitriol.
Can someone enlighten me: Who is the real Bec Carver? I am not suggesting that the person posting here is actually that person, but curious anyway.
From Wikipedia:
“ When Ley was 19 she enrolled in flight school and gained her commercial pilot’s licence when she was 20. She has worked as a waitress and department store cleaner, and trained as an air traffic controller, but did not pass the entrance exam. She became a commercial pilot, and was later a farmer and shearers’ cook.”
I think it’s a wonderful thing that aspiring air traffic controllers who fail the exam can still work in the field by way of becoming a commercial pilot instead.
I’m sure Sawsan Madina strongly believes each word they’ve written, but as for me, I don’t think we’ll get the compromise necessary for genuine progress until the people who have been likely to join the Greens in the last generation go back to joining Labor and the centre-right opposition, whatever it happens to be. If there’s one way to kill a good reform, it’s to talk about it during an election campaign, and if that doesn’t work, then you can let the Greens think there’s opportunity in it and it will be deader than a doornail. I don’t really think this election result signals the beginning of their decline, but I wish it did.
Upnorth – A Labor Partisan says:
Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 10:12 am
Hi Ven if you pick this up.
I did post yesterday cobber – but I’m currently blocked and my VPN goes on and off and it didn’t post.
Re your arthritis matey – there are much smarter people here who have given sage advice. My old Nana had terrible arthritis. She used Goanna Oil and it seemed to help relieve some of the symptoms. I don’t they use real Goanna Livers anymore for the oil but it certainly helped my Nana.
Good luck cobber – wish there was more I could offer.
jt1983
I presume you do not remember her first iteration here?
The scroll wheel is your friend!
Optional Preferential Voting > Compulsory Preferential Voting.
Highly undemocratic to be forced to number every candidate, and even moreso to not have your vote even count if you don’t number every box.
Many people would rather not put any number against certain political parties rather than have to place an obligatory “7” or “8” just to have their vote count.
NSW has the balance right between FPTP and Rank-Choice voting. If you want to preference everyone you can, if you don’t you don’t have to.
The main criticism I hear is that OPV increases the vote wastage but that in and of itself is part of someone’s democratic right. It should not be the AEC’s concern to “protect” voters from wasting their vote.
Anyway, that’s my 2 cents (if the copper coins were still minted)
Pegasussays:
Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 10:04 am
Bowen confirmed as climate and energy minister, Watt gets environment
https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/05/bowen-confirmed-as-climate-and-energy-minister-watt-gets-environment/
“The Bob Brown Foundation was not impressed with the appointment of Watt, describing it as a “Trumpian” decision akin to appointing fossil fuel booster Lee Zeldin to the role of EPA administrator in the US.
“This ministry is set to send young Australians into even greater despair. Albanese has achieved that with this appointment,” Brown said in a statement. “Watt backs native forest logging, salmon cage pollution, woodland clearance of two million hectares in five years and koala killing, as well as more global heating and coral bleaching.
“The only good thing coming out of Watt’s appointment is that it will create many more jobs in environmental activism.””
______________________
The Bob Brown Foundation is anti-wind farm, while Labor has supported wind farm development, so that wouldn’t help either.
American CEOs tag along with Trump to Middle East for a sweet cash grab
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/5/13/2322151/-CEOs-tag-along-with-Trump-to-Middle-East-for-a-sweet-cash-grab?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=top_news_slot_1&pm_medium=web
“While President Donald Trump’s current trip to the Middle East has certainly been profitable for him, what with the promised free plane and all, it’s not just Trump who is benefiting. Though he may be the only person who will patronize the mobile McDonald’s the Saudis built for his four-day visit, his family and Big Tech pals are all getting new opportunities to line their pockets.
Billionaire Elon Musk is in a unique position to profit from the administration’s total disregard of conflicts of interest. Helming the so-called Department of Government Efficiency has allowed him to stack cash by steering billions of taxpayer dollars toward his private companies.
But Musk isn’t interested in siphoning just American dollars. This swing through the Middle East gave him a chance to get Starlink, his satellite internet service, approved in Saudi Arabia for aviation and maritime use. One might think a country wouldn’t want to put its vital communications in the hands of a guy who can single-handedly turn off access to Starlink if he disagrees with them, but apparently, that’s no deterrent.
To be fair, Musk didn’t need to go abroad to get countries to cut deals with him. He had reportedly already used the heavy hand of the American government to get India, Vietnam, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bangladesh, and Pakistan to use Starlink as well, as a way to shelter themselves somewhat from the pain of Trump’s tariffs.
Riding along with Trump and Musk to the Middle East was a veritable who’s who of the most overcoddled CEOs that corporations have to offer, including Sam Altman of OpenAI, Alex Karp of Palantir, and Jensen Huang of Nvidia. Also joining were executives from BlackRock, IBM, Boeing, Amazon, Google, Halliburton, Citigroup, and more.
I didn’t know much about Sussssan’s background. Amy’s article in the New Daily suggests she is a more accomplished back flipper than Dutton.
https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/australian-politics/2025/05/13/sussan-ley-liberal-leader-2?ahe=084886acadf30c66cc1f39d5c37ba6cda49cd4f68ae7f1c295efb96dfa9e6308&acid=3312373&utm_campaign=Morning%20News%20-%2020250514_WA&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Adestra&lr_hash=
Mostly Interested says:
Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 9:29 am
Is there an ABC reporter curse?
Looking and Zoe Daniels and Maxine McKew, both ex-ABC reporters, both oncers. Anyone else know enough about ABC reporters who entered federal politics to know if this is common?
******
Sarah Henderson? Won Corangamite 2013. Lost 2019. Now hiding in the Senate
Make ICE Take Off Their Masks
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/5/13/2322093/-Make-ICE-Take-Off-Their-Masks?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=trending&pm_medium=web
”
George Takei
@georgetakei.bsky.social
Follow
Why are ICE agents masked to begin with? Our law enforcement officers shouldn’t be anonymous. Ever.
https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:y4zs4cabaezzwx3bz2e5nnj2/post/3loyzuk2adm2s?ref_src=embed&ref_url=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.dailykos.com%252Fstories%252F2025%252F5%252F13%252F2322093%252F-Make-ICE-Take-Off-Their-Masks
“
My mind turns to those who did pass the air traffic controller exam such as Erin ‘cooking with mushrooms’ Patterson
Here I was having a great day even with COVID onboard and then Pegasus pops up with the I want…I want…I want….
I thought to myself I have seen that character somewhere……oohh that’s right..
It’s Veruca Salt from willy Wonka…..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pqsy7V0wphI
Here’s a thought …..piss off and leave us in peace to enjoy our great victory…
Big fan of compulsory preferential voting. If you can’t see yourself through to write 8 against a candidate who isn’t going to get your vote, you’re way too angry. 8 PHON, 9 ToP is no endorsement.