As you’re all no doubt aware, the Prime Minister has just held a press conference announcing the election will be held on November 24. Didn’t hear the whole thing, but after all the justified outrage about the government’s changes to electoral laws, I am surprised to learn that the legal formalities will be conducted on a timetable that will leave the rolls open until October 22.
UPDATE: Those who have had time to think about this point out that the writs will be issued on Wednesday, so the deadline for new enrolments is 8pm that evening. The October 22 date invoked by the Prime Minister is the closing date for amendment to existing enrolments.
UPDATE 2: An AEC press release announces: “If you’re not on the electoral roll and you’re entitled to enrol, you must fill in an enrolment form immediately and return it to an AEC office by 8pm, Wednesday 17 October. If you’re already on the roll but still need to update your address details, to ensure your vote you must complete an enrolment form and return it to an AEC office by 8pm Tuesday 23 October”.
726 Comments
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477
jasmine_Anadyr Says:
October 14th, 2007 at 7:44 pm
hmmm while we are in chat from decades ago
LMAO
……
and, for the inexpressible: !@@#$%^
Graeme @ 491
Very good point. The latest Workplace Authority add could be changed to a union ad simply by putting a union logo at the end. The things they argue they are there to do are mostly things unions have been doing for a lot longer [and on a more 'liberal' user-pays system rather than all taxpayers footing the bill!]
Of course the free to air stations will broadcast it. If they don’t, Rudd and Howard wouldn’t bother turning up.
Testing -
Spiers would have been Howards choice. He’ll favour Johnny for sure.
What happened to another week in Parliament - the key weapon in the government’s arsenal against Rudd?
Given the attacks on Beazley for getting names wrong…remember those “senior moments”?…why hasn’t anyone picked up Howard for calling Grace Grace “Mister Grace”?
Spiros,
It was bulldust.
I know that may surprise you.
Still Snakeboy it was better than Rudd saying he would stay as PM for ‘1 year’ and then smacking the microphones lol!
And now the drought will break!!
Snakeboy, I glad you mentioned the Grace Grace comment. I was sure he said “Mister Grace”, but when I read no commentary on it, I thought I must have misheard. I suspect the Courier Mail will mention it….as a “gaffe”.
Howard is probably a big fan of “Are You being Served?”, with “young Mr Grace” and “old Mr Grace”. Though I doubt he was a fan of Captain Peacock.
And KT…stop it. All smiley faces should be quarantined on Nauru.
Antonio -
(sorry, I’ll try to restrain myself in the future)
As for David Spiers - since somebody else in my household insists on continually watching Sky News, I am constantly exposed to him and Kieran Gilbert attempting to do political commentary. Of course, they can’t restrain themselves and in the end, they sound like a pair of Liberal schoolboys engaging in political fellatio. I’m not a fan of debates (they’re typically insufferably tedious), and I am most definitely avoiding this one now.
La Nina, remember that Bob Hawke broke the 82-83 drought. and history shows that Australia has been in drought more often in the last 30 years under Coalition governments than under Labor governments.
I wonder if a change of Liberal leader, eg Costello, could break the drought, without the need for a change of government. While the current government is handing out so much drought relief, it’s in the drought’s interest to continue.
well that’s 500 comments of rants, facts and interesting opinions - with most focus on change, or lack there of, I wonder of a certain man who might make this an interesting election…
Nick Xenophon
He certainly made SA 2006 an interesting election… perhaps that’s why they call it a festive state. Any predictions on this man getting a Senate spot? [He's quite the SA upper house and in 2006 polled just over 20% of the upper house vote. I bet Bob Katter would be jealous of that number for him and his coalition of independants.]
I reckon 3 situations will happen in the Senate Race for South Aus…
3 Labor 2 Liberal 1 - Xenophon
2 Labor 2 Liberal 1 Green 1 - Xenophon
2 Labor 3 Liberal 1 Green
It could be the ‘X’ factor is all hype… which will see the Greens pick up the protest and minor party vote pushing them into 5th spot with FF preferences pushing Liberals 3rd Candidate into 6th spot - which is the last scenario. However, if the Liberals are terribly on the nose in SA and the ‘X’ factor pulls through, expect one of the first two scenarios with 3rd Labor Candidate and a Greens candidate fighting it out for 6th spot.
379
Dario Says:
Abbott - Journalist
Abbott has an economics/law degree.
Another lawyer, and a Jesuitical one at that.
Wash your mouth out possum (454), Vaile and Gleeson are both left footers - they went across the road from Wingham Brush.
This is the most likely scenario. Xenophon has killed off any chance of the Greens winning the last seat. I don’t think he will get 20% of the vote, but 15% isn’t out of the question.
Xenophon is anti-WorkChoices as well, so he could be out there endorsing Labor candidates, especially Mia Handshin in Sturt.
In fact, Premier Mike Rann and attorney general Michael Atkinson were important in convincing him to run for the senate.
The Liberals win the moronic TV advert award. They have sent their adverts to the TV station in non-anamorphic format, so they play at the middle of the screen, instead of filling the entire frame.
Oaky at 516, what, they went to school in a big log?
Well they’d be in good company…. did so myself!
ShowsOn - then who is left to fill his spot in the SA UpperHouse? Just out of curiosity. I agree that is the most likely situation - hence i put it first. Would be nice to see Nick in the Senate. Pity he won’t be joined by Andren. Mind you, for the seat of Macquarie, I do think Labor might have a chance with Bob Debus. I was shocked to see his campaign posters in Bathurst shop windows… when he was only recently A-G of NSW. It will be close. I think it’ll be a swing of about 6-9% which in the latter will just knock off Bartlett.
Macquarie is now a notional Labor seat, so a swing of 6-9% would be a comfortable victory for Debus
Possum
you were lucky- you had a big log
we had hole in ground
Politics_Obsessed, Macquarie has been redistributed and is now a notionally safe Labor seat. Bob Debus should have no problems being elected.
Any links to the comments made by David Briggs today?
If Briggs is saying that the Libs have a 10% chance of winning, they’re well and truly stuffed.
Rudd came across the best ive seen him in his 60 mins interview, he was relaxed, laughing and well— normal/human, nothing studied or formal, he didnt shirk the hard questions, he took them all honestly with good grace, it certainly wont do him any harm.
will we know whats in Galaxy tonight? ok, i know i’m addicted.
Does anyone know which union Alan Griffin used to work for?
i know sorry fellas - i got mixed between my two seats that were split over calare - but still i reckon there’s a swing around that high with some people I’ve talked to in and around Bathurst ..
The talk in the local papers is that the S.A. state constitution is so ambiguous that the government could appoint whoever they want (i.e. a Labor candidate), because they have the numbers at the joint sitting of both houses.
HOWEVER, the conventional approach (setting aside 1975) is that the goverment should endorse whoever Xenephon nominates. This is currently the 3rd candidate on his 2006 ticket, John Darley, a former valuer general in the S.A. government.
Howard wants a debate next sunday.
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=305484
I do hope that announced debate structure is not finalised. An Audience free single debate hosted by a Sky News political commentator? I look forward to questions such as “Mr Rudd, just how much do you love Terror - To the bottom of your heart, or just heaps and heaps?” And “Mr Howard, your campaign seems to have the momentum of a runaway freight train…”
Howard will one and only one debate, so he can’t be accused of dodging, and he will want it early, so that there will be time for people to forget if he gets thrashed, which he probably will.
One question I do have - Is is standard that the government of the day elects the conditions that the debate is held under? While not overestimating the importance of the debate, surely it would be better to have an agreed upon standardized format each election?
I think all of you guys are being a bit harsh on David Speers and Sky News - from my opinion, they seem to at least try to be objective. Speers has always come across as a reasonable commentator - not a subjective hack but not spectacular either (but I don’t think that’s a necessary prerequisite to someone being an effective political commenator)
The Legend Of The Rainbow Rodent
Once upon a time in our Great Southern Land there lived a creature with the body of a snake and the head of a rat. Behind its two flashing incisors(one gold-rimmed) lurked a forked tongue.
When the Rainbow Rodent parted its jaws to speak, it emitted a sound ‘twixt a hiss and a squeak.
I really don’t know much about this Xenophon chap, apart from the fact he doesn’t like pokies and he seems pretty popular in S.A.
Can someone please give me the potted version on where he stands on major issues like education, the environment and health?
Thanks!
{Prime Minister John Howard wants to debate Labor leader Kevin Rudd just one week into the election campaign.
He is proposing the live audience debate take place in the Great Hall of Parliament House next Sunday, moderated by Sky News’ political editor David Speers.
ADVERTISEMENT
In a letter to ALP national secretary Tim Gartrell, Liberal Party federal director Brian Loughnane queried Mr Rudd’s availability for the debate and set out the terms under which it would occur.
A panel of five senior journalists, chosen by both parties and the National Press Club, would take part but there was no indication audience participation would be involved.}
http://au.news.yahoo.com/071014/2/14o7f.html
Very interesting day. Rishworth corflutes are YR@W orange which makes it look like shes part of it. Richardson is now calling me a union ALP stooge and not a true Green! Considering that i have been a member of the Greens for approx 6 years and was a Democrat before that dont know where hes coming from. If i was a ALP stooge you would think i would be getting help from them or that other ALP front the YR@W group but im not.
Game ON!
It’s Spiers, right? My television appears to have attached itself to the ABC and resists any attempt at change. It has never heard of Sky. I imagine this important event in our political history will be covered by our national broadcaster, for nix.
Surely there must be an audience, if only so there can be a ‘worm’? Surely there will be a national outcry if the ‘worm’ is silenced?
I do hope Rudd pushes back and demands two debates the second well into the campain. If Howard refuses every shadow minister can accuse howard of being scared and wanting to get the debating over quickly.
I don’t know why Richardson bothers. He might as well spend the campaign in Tahiti.
Lom,
Here’s his web page:
http://www.xen.net.au/html/why.html
Mr X seems to be pushing the SA water barrow. A certain vote winner.
And here’s his namesake:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenophon
Rudd should only agree to it if he can have another two debates on his terms at the end of week 3 and the end of week 4.
Yep Derek, and with the debate you’ll be getting only slightly less than what you paid for it (is it still 8c a day?)
I believe it was an explicit condition of the Liberals that there be no worm for the debate - I guess it wouldn’t look good for the worm to fall whenever Howard talked about himself!!!
I wouldnt be surpised if Morgan runs a post-debate Morgan Reactor worm over it the next day.
Actually, why does Rudd need a debate? He’s the one with the huge lead in the polls, he’s got a high profile in the electorate and isn’t the Government the party going around claiming that Rudd is a policy lightweight? Surely, Rudd has the stronger bargaining position in regards to the debate(s)?
So Howard wants the worm silenced! Gives a clear indication of how he expects the debate will go.
Also a 90 minute debate in the first week - its as if its designed not to be seen by the 18-30 demographic.
Yes, we’re apparently all union bosses now.
And I agree with the consensus, given today’s opening performances, Rudd should push for several more debates (with no infantile Sky News people either).
It’s just Howard trying to look as though he is on the front foot and leading the debate right from the start of the campaign.
Personally, I don’t think Howard will be able to keep up with Rudd if he sets the pace and agenda of the campaign. Howard’s age and stamina would be sorely tested and I think he will start to fade fairly quickly.
If that is the case, he is likely to become increasingly desperate and more likely to make mistakes which open the door for Rudd to take full advantage of.
Grilled Rodent for the Snake Man.
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