Federal election plus three-and-a-half weeks (open thread)

Some post-election polling on motivation and timing of vote choice, a Labor Senate vacancy filled in Tasmania, and talk already of a looming federal by-election.

With Labor’s win confirmed yesterday in Calwell, Labor can lay claim to 94 seats in the House of Representatives, shattering its previous record of 86 at the 1987 election. In seat terms, the only result that bears comparison for Labor is the wartime election of 1943, when Labor under John Curtin won 49 in what was them a chamber of 75 seats. As covered on the dedicated late counting thread, the only seat that remains seriously in doubt is Bradfield, where the Liberals hold a 14-vote lead over the independent in the early stages of a recount – a partial recount begins today in Goldstein, though something fairly extraordinary would have to turn up to overturn the 260-vote Liberal lead. If nothing changes from here, the Liberals will have 29 seats, the Nationals nine, independents nine, and the Greens, Katter’s Australian Party and the Centre Alliance one each.

Some further random points of note:

• JWS Research has produced a “post-federal election survey report” along the same lines of a similar effort after the 2022 election, but has been sparing with details thus far. The Financial Review reports it found 49% of Labor voters identified a favourable view of the party as the main motivation for their choice, followed by 23% for the leader, 18% for policies or issues and 7% for the local candidate. Among Coalition voters, 56% named the party, 20% policies or issues, 13% the local candidate and only 9% the leader. The pollster further relates a finding that 16% decided on the day they voted and another 39% during the campaign period, which didn’t differ greatly from the 2022 results. The poll was conducted Tuesday to Wednesday in the week after the election from a sample of 1000.

• Josh Dolega, an officer at the Australian Taxation Office in Burnie and organiser with the Left faction Community and Public Sector Union, has been preselected to fill the Labor Tasmanian Senate vacancy created by Anne Urquhart’s successful move to the lower house seat of Braddon. Sue Bailey of The Mercury reports the field also included Unions Tasmania secretary Jessica Munday, Meander Valley councillor Ben Dudman, former party state secretary Stuart Benson, Australian Education Union state president David Genford, and Burnie councillor and disabilities worker Chris Lynch. Dolega has a distinctly low profile, but had backing from Urquhart and her power base in the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union.

• By way of refuting suggestions that Labor’s low primary vote raised questions about Labor’s legitimacy or mandate, national secretary Paul Erickson noted in his National Press Club address last week that the party recorded a higher vote in the Senate than the House of Representatives, which he attributed to tactical voting in the lower house. While the distinction was fine – Labor recorded 34.6% of the vote in the House and 35.1% in the Senate – the last occasion I can identify where the two were matched at concurrent elections was in 1958.

• On the subject of Paul Erickson, Nine Newspapers reports on suggestions he could contest a by-election for the Melbourne seat of Isaacs should Mark Dreyfus react to his dumping as Attorney-General by quitting politics, the odds on which would seem rather short.

Author: William Bowe

William Bowe is a Perth-based election analyst and occasional teacher of political science. His blog, The Poll Bludger, has existed in one form or another since 2004, and is one of the most heavily trafficked websites on Australian politics.

2,664 comments on “Federal election plus three-and-a-half weeks (open thread)”

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  1. Paul Erickson! What a great choice to replace Mark Dreyfus.

    …Panic mode comment: I hope they have someone great to replace him at Head Office and Campaign HQ!

  2. From the previous thread:

    The Albonator @ #2714 Tuesday, May 27th, 2025 – 9:49 pm

    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/27/anti-musk-sentiment-runs-high-in-australian-city-as-95-of-submissions-oppose-land-sale-to-tesla

    We’d rather keep our contaminated poisoned land just the way it is, thankyou very much. No Maga here

    I predict this will never happen. Musk will be forced to accept unions into the giga factory and he notoriously hates unions. If he accepts unions into the factory then it will have a ripple effect into his other facilities around the world. So, maybe it could be okay. 😉

  3. Morning all. Thanks for the lead-in article William. There was a lot of talk about “soft voting intentions” in the lead up to the election but this survey suggests things were in reality no different to 2022. So in other words the Labor lead shown in many polls prior to polling day was accurate.
    “The pollster further relates a finding that 16% decided on the day they voted and another 39% during the campaign period, which didn’t differ greatly from the 2022 results.”

    Cat

    I agree re Paul Erickson. He did a great job and has earned his chance.

  4. It will never happen,you have to have the market. Tesla already has overproduction.
    https://sherwood.news/business/elon-musk-tesla-extra-inventory-satellite-imagery/
    China is building better cars and offering more choice. Australia will not be introducing tariffs.
    Tesla sales down 50+%
    https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/mar/06/australian-tesla-sales-plummet-elon-musk

    electric car sales up

    https://electricvehiclecouncil.com.au/uncategorized/2024-sets-new-record-for-ev-sales-in-australia/

  6. Moira Deeming has launched legal action to potentially sue some of the biggest names in the Victorian Liberal Party, including former premiers Jeff Kennett, Ted Baillieu and Denis Napthine, in a bid to recoup $2.3m in court costs against former opposition leader John Pesutto.
    In an extraordinary letter that dramatically deepens the crisis engulfing the party in the wake of Mr Pesutto’s emphatic defamation defeat, Mrs Deeming’s lawyers have signalled new legal action against nine Liberal figures.
    In the letter, dated May 21, Mrs Deeming’s lawyer, Giles/George principal Patrick George, warns Mr Pesutto’s lawyers the firm is preparing a legal barrage against those who helped fund Mr Pesutto’s failed defence if he cannot pay the $2.3m bill by Friday.
    The six-page letter states: “We make the following observations about these donors: Ted Baillieu is a former Liberal Party premier of Victoria and former state member of parliament for the Liberal Party. Mr Baillieu joined with former Liberal Party premiers of Victoria, Mr Jeff Kennett and Mr Denis Napthine, to announce publicly that they were contributing funds to Mr Pesutto’s defence.
    https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/moira-deemings-legal-thunderbolt-threat-to-sue-three-expremiers-over-23m-john-pesutto-bill/news-story/85bf11407e71e0c5926c47d5d94a43d1?amp

  7. Independent senator Fatima Payman has disclosed that she was subjected to sexually suggestive and racially insensitive comments by an older male parliamentary colleague, leading to a formal complaint through the Parliamentary Workplace Support System (PWSS).
    Senator Payman told triple j hack that the comments were made by a senior colleague who she alleges “had had too many drinks” at a social function she attended through the course of official parliamentary business.
    Comments included sentiments like “let’s get some wine into you and see you dance on the table”, Senator Payman said.
    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-28/payman-inappropriate-comments-article/105344452

  8. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Tuesday that his agency would no longer recommend the coronavirus vaccine for healthy pregnant women and healthy children — a rare move that bypasses the traditional system of vaccine recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    In a 58-second video posted on X, Kennedy said the vaccine had been removed from the CDC’s immunization schedule for those two groups of people.

    “I couldn’t be more pleased to announce that as of today the covid vaccine for healthy children and healthy pregnant women has been removed from the CDC recommended immunization schedule,” Kennedy said. “Last year the Biden administration urged healthy children to get yet another covid shot despite the lack of any clinical data to support the repeat booster strategy in children.”

    Currently, the CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older receive the coronavirus vaccine annually.

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/05/27/covid-vaccine-children-recommendation-rfk/

  9. World News & Politics Patrol:

    Russian Bots Roast ‘Clown’ Donald Trump After Putin Comments: https://www.newsweek.com/russian-kremlin-bots-roast-trump-putin-attack-2077301

    Trump considers new sanctions on Russia as he grows more furious with Putin: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/27/politics/russia-sanctions-trump-ukraine-war

    Putin calls to ‘strangle’ Western companies still operating in Russia: https://kyivindependent.com/putin-calls-to-strangle-western-companies-still-operating-in-russia/

    Trump says Putin is ‘playing with fire’ as Kremlin continues assault on Ukraine: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/27/trump-putin-attack-ukraine-00370919

    Israeli troops open fire as aid group loses control of distribution centre: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/27/israeli-troops-open-fire-aid-group-loses-control-distribution-centre

    Liverpool parade crash latest: Man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and drug-driving as 11 in hospital: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/liverpool-parade-car-crash-incident-arrest-crowd-latest-news-b2758199.html

    Police released race and ethnicity of Liverpool parade suspect ‘with unprecedented speed’: https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/uk/police-released-race-and-ethnicity-of-liverpool-parade-suspect-unprecedented/

    Pete Hegseth Hit With Stunning Illegal Wiretap Allegations: https://newrepublic.com/post/195718/donald-trump-pete-hegseth-illegal-wiretap-leaks

    GOP fears Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ is ‘debt bomb’: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5316940-trump-bill-fiscal-concerns-republicans/

    Rep. Jasmine Crockett Says Dems Will Investigate Trump If They Reclaim The House In The Midterms: ‘We’ll Do What We’re Supposed To Do’: https://www.latintimes.com/rep-jasmine-crockett-says-dems-will-investigate-trump-if-they-reclaim-house-midterms-well-do-583793

    MAGA Erupts Over ‘60 Minutes’ Correspondent’s Viral Warnings About Trump: https://www.thedailybeast.com/maga-erupts-over-60-minutes-correspondent-scott-pelleys-viral-warnings-about-trump/

    Trump team pauses new student visa interviews as it weighs expanding social media vetting: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/27/trump-team-orders-stop-to-new-student-visa-interviews-as-it-weighs-expanding-social-media-vetting-00370501

    RFK Jr. says Covid-19 shot will no longer be recommended for healthy children and pregnant women: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/27/health/covid-vaccine-pregnant-women-children-recommendation

    Trump pardons former sheriff convicted of bribery: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwynp1lw0l7o

  10. Texas lawmakers are close to passing a bill to require public schools to exhibit the Ten Commandments in classrooms starting this fall, a victory for the religious right that critics say blurs the line between church and state.

    “There’s no doubt about the historical and cultural foundations and the significance of the Ten Commandments for our heritage and systems of law,” said Jonathan Saenz, president and attorney for Texas Values, a Christian legal and policy advocacy group supporting the measure. “There’s value for students to have an awareness of those things.”

    Opponents vow to fight the requirement if Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signs it into law as expected. They say mandatory posting in public classrooms would be a violation of First Amendment protections of freedom of religion and barriers to state establishment of religion.

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/05/27/ten-commandments-texas-public-schools/

    And amazingly Texas isn’t the first state to do this. Ridiculous.

  11. Confessions @ #8 Wednesday, May 28th, 2025 – 6:53 am

    Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Tuesday that his agency would no longer recommend the coronavirus vaccine for healthy pregnant women and healthy children — a rare move that bypasses the traditional system of vaccine recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    In a 58-second video posted on X, Kennedy said the vaccine had been removed from the CDC’s immunization schedule for those two groups of people.

    “I couldn’t be more pleased to announce that as of today the covid vaccine for healthy children and healthy pregnant women has been removed from the CDC recommended immunization schedule,” Kennedy said. “Last year the Biden administration urged healthy children to get yet another covid shot despite the lack of any clinical data to support the repeat booster strategy in children.”

    Currently, the CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older receive the coronavirus vaccine annually.

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/05/27/covid-vaccine-children-recommendation-rfk/

    When Presnit Donald J Trash’s MAGAts realised that they are the next pieces of shit to be hurled (possibly after next year’s mid-term election produces a Dem House majority & Senate parity, giving the Never Trumper GOPs still in the Senate a chance to stick P. Trash with impeachment to save their worthless hides), the vicious cooker thugs & vandals that P. Trash has imposed on Health & Human Services will be the first to be prosecuted for crimes against humanity. Rat Fucker Kennedy should be first up but Bhattacharya, Prasad & Makary should follow. There will be consequences for collaboration.

  12. ‘Surge in anger’ as grassroots Labor members urge Albanese to impose sanctions on Israel over Gaza blockade
    Local branches to debate motion calling for sanctions after targeting of schools and killing of aid workers and journalists in Gaza
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/28/gaza-israel-sanctions-grassroots-labor-members-urge-albanese-ntwnfb

    Notwithstanding this (in my view, righteous) anger among many grassroots ALP members, the following should also be noted about the Albanese Government’s response thus far to Netanyahu’e illegal and cruel genocide against Palestinian civilians:

    The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, on Monday levelled his strongest criticism yet at Israel over its actions in Gaza, branding a weeks-long blockade of aid “an outrage” and calling the Israeli government’s “excuses” for stopping critical food and medical supplies “completely untenable”. He said he had last week told Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, of Australia’s deep concern.

    Labor MP and former cabinet minister Ed Husic told ABC radio on Tuesday Australia must “progress from talk to action”, including ramping up aid into Gaza, as well as call in Israel’s ambassador. He also praised the “strength” of Albanese’s comments.

    Husic said the government should be “actively considering” targeted sanctions against Israel, a step he said was “probably under consideration”, and join international efforts from allied countries to “exert maximum international pressure to stop this blockade”.

    Australia will attend a UN conference in mid-June on the recognition of Palestinian statehood. It is understood the government is awaiting further information before settling on whether Wong or another representative attends.

    I anticipate that our Government will be saying and doing much more to exert pressure on the Netanyahu Government in the coming days and weeks.

  13. Morriscum has a monkey see, monkey imitate, Trumpy moment:

    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/morrison-calls-for-aukus-space-pillar-to-combat-china-russia-rise-20250527-p5m2hc.html

    I wonder which country would build his fantasy at the cost of untold billions for us? Why build a dome, doesn’t he have a direct line to the sky fairy via his photo of an eagle? All he has to do is pray and, hey presto, we’ll be safe from all forms of attack.

  16. Scott:

    Queensland Nationals MP Colin Boyce has unloaded on party leader David Littleproud, refusing to support his leadership and saying he misled colleagues over the scope of demands made during the split with the Liberals.

    In comments that increase the chances of a Nationals’ leadership spill when parliament returns in late July, Boyce said he was “100 per cent disappointed, furious in fact” about how the Coalition split played out.

    “How David Littleproud’s leadership pans out in the long term is unknown. I can’t support a man who misleads the party room,” Boyce said.

    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/100-per-cent-disappointed-furious-nationals-mp-says-littleproud-misled-the-party-20250527-p5m2ko.html

    I can’t see how Littleproud can remain leader.

  18. Confessions

    Agree, Littleproud will likely be replaced as federal national party leader, doubt it will be Canavan who is a senator .

  19. Ross Gittins on Labor’s superannuation policy.

    And that brings us to the massive tax concessions attached to superannuation, which cost the government almost $50 billion a year in lost revenue. The concessions are worth far more per dollar saved to high income-earners than lower earners.

    But they also favour the old rather than the young. The old earn more than the young, find it easier to save, and get the benefit from super sooner than the young. That’s why, in the government’s efforts to collect more tax, fixing the super concessions is a good way to reduce the tax system’s bias against the young.

    Two-thirds of the value of super tax concessions go to the top 20 per cent of income earners. The concessions are intended to ensure people have enough income to live comfortably in retirement, but a fifth of withdrawals from super go as bequests to the superannuant’s children.

    Treasury estimates that the share of withdrawals going as bequests will rise to a third by 2060. In other words, the concessions are so great that super has become a taxpayer-subsidised inheritance scheme. Meanwhile, other taxes must be higher to cover the cost of this inheritance scheme.

    https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/don-t-let-rich-old-men-tell-you-the-planned-super-tax-is-terribly-bad-20250527-p5m2l1.html

    Apparently only 80,000 people will be affected.

  20. Moira Deeming is beginning to exemplify something I gleaned from some of my ex-pupils who’s main aim in life, so they often told me, which was to experience some sort of work related (or other) injury that would lead to a compensation payout, meaning they wouldn’t have to work again and get paid for it.

  21. Good Morning! Here’s Your Daily News and Views Roundup.

    Australia’s youngest-ever senator Charlotte Walker has a lot to learn but says she is ‘not naive’
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/28/charlotte-walker-youngest-australian-senator-21-labor-south-australia

    Leading tax expert calls out ‘confected outrage’ of wealthy Australians over Labor’s $3m super plan
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/27/labor-super-plan-leading-tax-expert-calls-out-confected-outrage-of-wealthy-australians

    Don’t let rich old men tell you the planned super tax is terribly bad. By Ross Gittins
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/don-t-let-rich-old-men-tell-you-the-planned-super-tax-is-terribly-bad-20250527-p5m2l1.html

    The Reserve Bank’s latest interest rate cut is too little, too late By Stephen Koukoulas
    https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/the-reserve-banks-latest-interest-rate-cut-is-too-littletoo-late,19778

    Labor gains a Senate seat from the Liberals in South Australia, while Jacqui Lambie is re-elected
    By Adrian Beaumont
    https://theconversation.com/labor-gains-a-senate-seat-from-the-liberals-in-south-australia-while-jacqui-lambie-is-re-elected-257532

    Jacqui Lambie celebrates re-election as Senate results confirmed for Tasmania and NT. Malarndirri McCarthy and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price also win seats, with Labor expected to improve its position in upper house. Lee Hanson, the daughter of the One Nation founder Pauline, was unsuccessful in her attempt to win a Senate seat in Tasmania.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/27/jacqui-lambie-celebrates-re-election-as-senate-results-confirmed-for-tasmania-and-nt

    Pat Dodson wants Anthony Albanese to forge ahead with Indigenous treaty and truth telling
    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-26/pat-dodson-wants-indigenous-treaty-and-truth-telling/105336660

    Liberal insiders say Voice triumph confused Coalition’s election priorities. By Patricia Karvelas
    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-27/liberal-party-voice-referendum-coalition-four-corners-decimated/105338378

    John Frew: Sussan Ley’s impossible task – Leading a party at war with its future
    https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/05/leys-impossible-task-leading-a-party-at-war-with-its-future/

    Nationals on brink of hammering out revised deal with Liberals while insisting ‘we did not blink’
    David Littleproud will ask colleagues to accept some tweaks to the party’s policy demands to clear path for unveiling of shadow cabinet
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/28/nationals-revised-deal-coalition

    Queensland Nationals MP Colin Boyce has unloaded on party leader David Littleproud, refusing to support his leadership and saying he misled colleagues over the scope of demands made during the split with the Liberals. By James Massola
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/100-per-cent-disappointed-furious-nationals-mp-says-littleproud-misled-the-party-20250527-p5m2ko.html

    Federal politics live: Bridget McKenzie rejects claim Nationals leader David Littleproud ‘misled’ party
    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-28/federal-politics-live-may-28/105344638

    As the energy transition ramps up, Australia risks becoming a more unequal society. Here’s what needs to change. Governments must help households to make the switch to cleaner energy, and change the rules so that the benefits and costs are fairly shared. By Dominic Jones
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/may/27/energy-transition-australia-risks-becoming-a-more-unequal-society-here-is-what-needs-to-change

    Senator Payman says an older male colleague made comments during an official work event that made her feel uncomfortable and singled out. She was happy with the Parliamentary Workplace Support Services’ swift response to a formal complaint made about the incident.
    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-28/payman-inappropriate-comments-article/105344452

    Coalition’s climate splits echo Labor’s dragging divisions over refugee policy. By Annabel Crabb
    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-28/labor-refugees-coalition-climate-splits-structural-issues/105341780

    The NSW workers’ comp scheme is broken. Minns and Mookhey deserve credit for tackling it
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/the-state-s-workers-comp-scheme-is-broken-minns-and-mookhey-deserve-credit-for-tackling-it-20250527-p5m2gc.html

    Rosehill was going to ease Sydney’s housing woes. Enter the mysterious ‘Plan B’
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/rosehill-was-going-to-ease-sydney-s-housing-woes-now-we-need-a-plan-b-20250527-p5m2ld.html

    Details of alleged assaults heard during opening statements in Gareth Ward trial
    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-27/gareth-ward-trial-details-alleged-assaults-heard/105343304

    What you need to know about the Tasmanian government’s fast-track legislation for the Macquarie Point AFL stadium
    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-28/hobart-macquarie-point-stadium-legislation-explained/105343576

    Tax relief and home ownership at heart of Victorian opposition budget pitch, but savings lacking.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/victoria/tax-relief-and-home-ownership-at-heart-of-opposition-budget-pitch-but-savings-lacking-20250527-p5m2lq.html

    ‘Path towards unity’: Victorian First traditional owners group seeks individual treaty
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/victoria/path-towards-unity-first-traditional-owners-group-seeks-individual-treaty-20250527-p5m2jy.html

    Police make court bid to stop cycling ‘Extinction Rebellion’ protesters blocking Brisbane’s Story Bridge
    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-27/police-challenge-protesters-over-story-bridge-blockade/105343068

    ‘Surge in anger’ as grassroots Labor members urge Albanese to impose sanctions on Israel over Gaza blockade. Local branches to debate motion calling for sanctions after targeting of schools and killing of aid workers and journalists in Gaza.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/28/gaza-israel-sanctions-grassroots-labor-members-urge-albanese-ntwnfb

    ‘The time is right’: Labor luminary, Gareth Evans calls for Netanyahu sanctions, Palestine statehood
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-time-is-right-labor-luminary-calls-for-netanyahu-sanctions-palestine-statehood-20250527-p5m2gu.html

    Former Israeli PM Ehud Olmert says his country is committing war crimes. Leader from 2006 to 2009 says Palestinian victims are at ‘monstrous proportions’ and Netanyahu heads a ‘criminal gang’
    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/27/former-israeli-pm-ehud-olmert-says-his-country-is-committing-war-crimes

    White House stunned as Hegseth inquiry brings up illegal wiretap claims. Exclusive: Trump advisers lose confidence in Pentagon leak investigation Hegseth used to justify firing three top aides
    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/27/hegseth-pentagon-leak-investigation-wiretap

    Trump has ‘never evolved, which is dangerous’, his niece Mary Trump says. Mary Trump tells Hay-on-Wye book festival in Wales that her uncle, the US president, ‘isn’t close with anybody’
    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/27/trump-never-evolved-niece-mary

    ‘White genocide’ and the consequences of Trump’s conspiracies. – Full Story podcast
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/audio/2025/may/27/white-genocide-and-the-consequences-of-trumps-conspiracies-full-story-podcast

    John Menadue Our retreat from Asia has become a rout. On almost every measure, Australia has gone backwards on engaging with our region, and particularly with China, and it is time to do something about it.
    https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/05/our-retreat-from-asia-has-become-a-rout/

    The anti-woke warriors used to defend free speech. Now they make McCarthyism look progressive. These people once said they cared about ‘cancel culture’. But look at how they are trying to cancel the children’s YouTuber Ms Rachel for featuring a toddler from Gaza on her channel. Arwa Mahdawi
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/may/27/the-anti-woke-warriors-used-to-defend-free-speech-now-they-make-mccarthyism-look-progressive

    Australian housing costs have surged, due in part to a shortage of homes relative to a rapidly increasing population. But what if you could build 12 per cent more homes each year than we are currently with no extra workers? Both the federal government’s Productivity Commission and the Committee for Economic Development in Australia (CEDA) believe that is possible by improving efficiency in the construction sector.
    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-27/construction-small-businesses-cut-productivity-raise-costs/105342166

    A Lowy Institute report has found that China’s role for the world’s developing countries — including Pacific nations — has changed from capital provider to debt collector.
    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-27/lowy-report-chinese-debt-repayments-developing-pacific/105343880

    EU to approve Bulgaria’s euro bid. The country could join the single currency on Jan. 1, 2026, even as local concerns over adoption persist.
    https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-approve-bulgaria-euro-currency/

    Trump says Putin is ‘playing with fire’ as Kremlin continues assault on Ukraine
    https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/27/trump-putin-attack-ukraine-00370919

    Trump’s new pardon attorney personally reviewed application for Jan. 6 ringleader Stewart Rhodes
    During his first full week in office, Trump’s pardon attorney has reviewed applications for Jan. 6 rioters and a former state senator prosecuted by Jack Smith’s onetime unit.
    https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/27/ed-martin-stewart-rhodes-jan-6-pardon-00371222

    Message from King Charles: Canada is the ‘true north … strong and free’
    Parliament returns with pomp, ceremony and some subtle messaging for President Donald Trump.
    https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/27/king-charles-canada-true-north-00369957

    ‘No support, no housing, no job’ – the vicious cycle pushing more women into prison
    https://theconversation.com/no-support-no-housing-no-job-the-vicious-cycle-pushing-more-women-into-prison-257218

    The ‘3 day guarantee’ for childcare starts next year. The challenge could be finding quality care
    https://theconversation.com/the-3-day-guarantee-for-childcare-starts-next-year-the-challenge-could-be-finding-quality-care-256905

    Cartoon Time!

    Alan Moir

    Cathy Wilcox

    Matt Golding

    Joe Benke

    Dionne Gain

    Simon Letch

    Fiona Katauskas Is Chicken Little Australia’s super hero?

    Rebecca Hendin on Donald Trump, King Charles and Canada

    Sarah Akinterinwa on political red flags

    From the Internet!

    Enjoy!

  23. 95% of companies have reported so far on USA exchange 76% have increased earnings this round.AI Trump all in is booming all good.

    Kennedy is addressing real health issue and that’s Sugar he will have more good than other health ministers.

    Err how many Americans were killed by black men ?Hispanics?

    Musk is going well.

  24. Holdenhillbilly; I assume Libs will give Moira Deeming a federal seat so she stops causing so much trouble at the state level.

  25. rhwombat @ #17 Wednesday, May 28th, 2025 – 7:38 am

    Confessions @ #15 Wednesday, May 28th, 2025 – 7:24 am

    rhwombat:

    RFKJ has done nothing about the measles outbreak in parts of the country. It is gross negligence.

    RFKJ can do nothing about the measles outbreak in parts of his country but is actively trying to normalise it. The antivaxxers have blood on their hands.

    There’s also this:

    HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. threatened to bar government scientists from publishing in major medical journals, saying on a podcast that three top journals were “corrupt” and influenced by pharmaceutical companies.
    https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/27/rfk-jr-nih-scientists-medical-journals-jama-lancet-nejm-00371349

    And this:

    This man is insane!

  26. pied piper @ #23 Wednesday, May 28th, 2025 – 8:08 am

    95% of companies have reported so far on USA exchange 76% have increased earnings this round.AI Trump all in is booming all good.

    Kennedy is addressing real health issue and that’s Sugar he will have more good than other health ministers.

    Err how many Americans were killed by black men ?Hispanics?

    Musk is going well.

    Nah, it’s brainwashed feckless idiots like you that’s keeping the economy afloat in the US:

  28. ”
    Holdenhillbillysays:
    Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at 6:42 am
    Moira Deeming has launched legal action to potentially sue some of the biggest names in the Victorian Liberal Party, including former premiers Jeff Kennett, Ted Baillieu and Denis Napthine, in a bid to recoup $2.3m in court costs against former opposition leader John Pesutto.
    In an extraordinary letter that dramatically deepens the crisis engulfing the party in the wake of Mr Pesutto’s emphatic defamation defeat, Mrs Deeming’s lawyers have signalled new legal action against nine Liberal figures.
    In the letter, dated May 21, Mrs Deeming’s lawyer, Giles/George principal Patrick George, warns Mr Pesutto’s lawyers the firm is preparing a legal barrage against those who helped fund Mr Pesutto’s failed defence if he cannot pay the $2.3m bill by Friday.
    The six-page letter states: “We make the following observations about these donors: Ted Baillieu is a former Liberal Party premier of Victoria and former state member of parliament for the Liberal Party. Mr Baillieu joined with former Liberal Party premiers of Victoria, Mr Jeff Kennett and Mr Denis Napthine, to announce publicly that they were contributing funds to Mr Pesutto’s defence.
    https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/moira-deemings-legal-thunderbolt-threat-to-sue-three-expremiers-over-23m-john-pesutto-bill/news-story/85bf11407e71e0c5926c47d5d94a43d1?amp
    ”

    So Moira D is suing the last 3 Liberal
    Victorian Premiers for combined period of 11 years of last 42 years because they helped Pessutto.
    What for ever reason they saw fit to help Pessutto and not Moira D. I emphasise again they were the only Liberal Premiers of last 42 years. They were leaders of Liberal party and she is suing them. This is madness. Moira D is poison to the party and Brad Battin, whom nath saw fit to be a leader, allowed her entry into the party after he tore down first term opposition leader with in 2 1/2 years based on this issue.

  30. John Pesutto merely attempted to avoid the state liberal party becoming a cray party with the likes of Moira Deeming.

    It backfired spectacularluly

  31. I hope Charlotte Walker has some external guidance and support lined up to help her.

    She’s about to learn some very uncomfortable life lessons.

  32. The man who wrote the history of tax reform in Australia has called out the “confected outrage” surrounding Labor’s plan to trim concessions for wealthy Australians with super balances over $3m.

    Paul Tilley, the author of Changing Fortunes and a former senior Treasury official, said it was “well understood” that there were equity issues within the super system that needed to be addressed.

    “The problem is high-income earners would have to pay more tax, and they don’t like it. This confected outrage is just because when you have a big tax concession and you pull it back, of course those who are benefiting from it are going to scream,” he said.

    A Grattan Institute study concluded that “tax-free retirement earnings turn super into a taxpayer-funded inheritance scheme”.

    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/27/labor-super-plan-leading-tax-expert-calls-out-confected-outrage-of-wealthy-australians

  33. C@tmommasays:
    Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at 5:11 am
    Paul Erickson! What a great choice to replace Mark Dreyfus.

    …Panic mode comment: I hope they have someone great to replace him at Head Office and Campaign HQ!
    ===============================================================
    So, does Paul Erickson live in Isaacs, or are we looking at another tin-eared Kristina Keneally fiasco?

  36. HH dp
    ”
    Russian Bots Roast ‘Clown’ Donald Trump After Putin Comments: https://www.newsweek.com/russian-kremlin-bots-roast-trump-putin-attack-2077301
    ”

    What Russian bot posted on social media and the beauty of it is that Trump cannot even post retaliatory posts on his own social media, EXQUISITE:
    ”
    Comments from the Russian bots accused Trump of “acting like a child” and “getting so mad early in the morning, as if he wasn’t given what he wanted.” Others said, “He’s really lost his mind” and “wants to sit on two chairs”—a Russian idiom for trying to play both sides.

    One bot wrote: “It’s not Putin who’s gone crazy, but Trump. Apparently, dementia comes as a hereditary gift for all U.S. presidents—along with the [presidential] chair.”

    Another bot mocked Trump as a “showman,” while others dismissed him as a “clown.”

    “What can you expect from a clown who threatens Russia instead of taking care of his own country?” one wrote.”

  37. HH DP
    ”
    Police released race and ethnicity of Liverpool parade suspect ‘with unprecedented speed’: https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/uk/police-released-race-and-ethnicity-of-liverpool-parade-suspect-unprecedented/
    ”

    ”
    Merseyside Police confirmed they had a arrested a 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area around two hours after the incident that left dozens of people including four children hurt.

    The force was criticised in the wake of the Southport murders last summer for not releasing more information after false rumours were started online that the killer was a Muslim asylum seeker.

    Former Metropolitan Police chief superintendent Dal Babu said this morning: “What we do have, which is unprecedented, is the police very quickly giving the ethnicity and the race of the person who was driving the vehicle… and it was Merseyside Police who didn’t give that information with the Southport horrific murders of those three girls, and the rumours were that it was an asylum seeker who arrived on a boat and it was a Muslim extremist and that wasn’t the case.”

  38. Ven @ #28 Wednesday, May 28th, 2025 – 8:34 am

    So Moira D is suing the last 3 Liberal
    Victorian Premiers for combined period of 11 years of last 42 years because they helped Pessutto.
    What for ever reason they saw fit to help Pessutto and not Moira D. I emphasise again they were the only Liberal Premiers of last 42 years. They were leaders of Liberal party and she is suing them. This is madness. Moira D is poison to the party and Brad Battin, whom nath saw fit to be a leader, allowed her entry into the party after he tore down first term opposition leader with in 2 1/2 years based on this issue.

    Religious zealots are like that. 😐

  39. 3 years 8 months of Trump and then another for 4 years of Vance.

    Winning!

    Labor has hooked us up to China a human rights destroyer silence from labor luvvies more concerned about massively voted in democratically elected Trump who is doing well.

    Someone went Fatima eh. …

    Err umm geez what were they thinking …. Or on?

  40. At last! A Democrat gets it with a ground-breaking, for them, idea:

    In a recent interview with POLITICO, Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin suggested a novel way for her party to oppose the Trump administration: create a “shadow Cabinet,” similar to the ones that opposition parties around the world use to coordinate strategy and hone their message.

    But Slotkin’s suggested raises another question: Who would fill such a Democratic shadow Cabinet? In a new piece in POLITICO Magazine, contributing writer Bill Scher puts forward one possible lineup: Lina Khan for Treasury secretary, Mark Cuban for Commerce secretary and Jon Stewart for Veteran Affairs secretary, among others.

    Love the idea or hate it, a shadow Cabinet would at least be something to help the Democratic Party get back on track, Bill argues. His advice to Democrats if they move forward with it: “Don’t limit members to professional politicians. Pitch a big tent. Don’t draw rigid ideological lines.”

    https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/05/27/democrats-shadow-cabinet-brand-00353690

  41. Taxpayers foot the bill for Sam Groth and wife’s luxury hotel stays

    Taxpayers have shelled out thousands of dollars for Liberal deputy leader Sam Groth and his wife to stay in hotels after major events like the Australian Open and the AFL Grand Final.

    Alex White
    and
    Exclusive
    3 min read
    May 28, 2025 – 5:00AM

    Victorian Deputy Liberal Leader Sam Groth slams the Victorian Labor government’s inability to manage money. “Every single Victorian is paying for a Labor government that cannot manage money,” Mr Groth said. “It is the responsibility of the government to deliver a responsible budget.”
    Liberal deputy leader Sam Groth has been called out by parliamentary colleagues on both sides of the house for staying in plush Melbourne hotels on the taxpayer after attending high-profile sporting events.
    https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/taxpayers-foot-the-bill-for-sam-groth-and-wifes-luxury-hotel-stays/news-story/61ee04f27861f4c6c188956a5b3cf173
    _____________________

    The Vic Libs aren’t improving their election chances…

  42. pied piper @ #38 Wednesday, May 28th, 2025 – 8:48 am

    3 years 8 months of Trump and then another for 4 years of Vance.

    Winning!

    Labor has hooked us up to China a human rights destroyer silence from labor luvvies more concerned about massively voted in democratically elected Trump who is doing well.

    Someone went Fatima eh. …

    Err umm geez what were they thinking …. Or on?

    Getting into the Kool Aid early this morning. Thank god you’re just one voter. Most of whom are sane and rational and not brainwashed like you.

  44. From today’s Guardian

    ‘Bridget McKenzie denies reports Nationals discussed shadow cabinet solidarity as part of coalition negotiations’

    They are eating themselves alive.

  46. “…national secretary Paul Erickson noted […] that the party recorded a higher vote in the Senate than the House of Representatives, which he attributed to tactical voting in the lower house.”

    Or, to spin it the other way, tactical voting in the Senate. Personally, I expressed my policy views through LH independents, while voting to shift the balance of power towards Labor in the Senate, and I imagine there were others who voted similarly.

  47. I seriously doubt that Erickson, who is a major player in the Left of the Labor party, is going to take Issacs which is a safe seat that is Labor Right territory. Internal party politics would then result in the Left having to give up a safe Left seat at someone’s expense.
    He always liked the behind the scenes stuff more than the limelight. There is also the matter of what his other half would like to do to.

  50. @tmomma says:
    Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at 8:39 am
    The man who wrote the history of tax reform in Australia has called out the “confected outrage” surrounding Labor’s plan to trim concessions for wealthy Australians with super balances over $3m.

    Paul Tilley, the author of Changing Fortunes and a former senior Treasury official, said it was “well understood” that there were equity issues within the super system that needed to be addressed.

    “The problem is high-income earners would have to pay more tax, and they don’t like it. This confected outrage is just because when you have a big tax concession and you pull it back, of course those who are benefiting from it are going to scream,” he said.

    A Grattan Institute study concluded that “tax-free retirement earnings turn super into a taxpayer-funded inheritance scheme”.

    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/27/labor-super-plan-leading-tax-expert-calls-out-confected-outrage-of-wealthy-australians

    ————————–

    Of course it is confected outrage. Having 3 mill in super is an outrageous amount, meaning you would own your house and have very little in way of outgoings.

    It is pure unadulterated greed from the rich who bang on about socialism bad, but then when their socialist benefits are threatened have a hissy fit.
    My wife and I are retired, own our home, have solar, have a seniors card and therefore have minimal bills. We can easily live on 100k a year for the next 20 years and are nowhere near 3 million.
    It is total bollocks these rich Tory parasites are going to be hindered by one less concession

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