• Newspoll’s latest cumulative results from the last fortnight with state-by-state breakdowns can be viewed at The Australian. Roy Morgan has performed the same exercise with its data from October, providing both Senate polling and state-by-state lower house figures. Of note are ACT Senate figures suggesting Greens candidate Kerrie Tucker should easily win a seat at the expense of Liberal incumbent Gary Humphries.
• Malcolm Turnbull has been thrown a lifeline in Wentworth with the emergence of doubts about the validity of Labor candidate George Newhouse’s nomination. Newhouse’s resignation from the New South Wales Consumer Trader and Tenancy Disputes Tribunal – an “office of profit under the Crown” – was not received until the day of the formal declaration of nominations, when it appeared to be required by noon the day before. However, Imre Salusinszky of The Australian today reports on legal advice Newhouse has received from John McCarthy QC that the date of his resignation is irrelevant, because “NSW legislation stipulates that the office of any member of the tribunal becomes automatically vacant if he or she nominates for a federal seat”. Emma Alberici of the ABC says that “if history is any guide, Mr Newhouse won’t have too much to worry about” if his election is declared void, citing the electorate’s confirmation of Jackie Kelly in Lindsay and Phil Cleary in Wills. However, these episodes involved oversights that came to light after they were elected, with the voters in Lindsay taking revenge on a sore-loser opposition that had dragged them back to the polls. The Liberals would surely have the sense to take caution from this precedent, although they are currently talking tough to keep the threat of a by-election in the air. Democrats Senator Andrew Bartlett sees the controversy as “a reminder of the need to reform outdated provisions in our constitution”.
• Kevin Rudd’s campaigning this week has provided a clear pointer to very strong Labor polling in Queensland. Yesterday he campaigned in the Brisbane seat of Bowman and will today head north to Dawson, respectively held by the Liberals and Nationals on margins of 8.9 per cent and 10.2 per cent. The Dawson venture should give Kevin Rudd the opportunity to take advantage of member De-Anne Kelly’s discomfort over the Auditor-General’s damning report into the Regional Partnerships program.
• Former Labor member for Hinkler, Brian Courtice, has appeared in Coalition television commercials attacking Labor’s union influence. Quoth Courtice: “Kevin Rudd couldn’t go three rounds with Winnie the Pooh, so there’s no way he can stand up to the union bosses. They’ve thrown $30 million at this campaign to buy the election. This is about a brutal grab for power. It’s too big a risk to risk Rudd.” Courtice first made his displeasure felt a fortnight ago when he appeared at a press conference with Workplace Relations Minister Joe Hockey,
• John Wiseman of The Australian points to a $20,000 press advertising campaign as evidence that Labor is still hopeful of winning Boothby, in spite of everything. Nicole Cornes is “the only Labor candidate to have expensive press advertisements running in Adelaide’s daily newspaper, The Advertiser”.
• Labor’s candidate for Eden-Monaro, Mike Kelly, received unwelcome late-campaign publicity on Wednesday after he described as “ridiculous” the private school funding formula which Labor decided to retain when it ditched Mark Latham’s “private schools hit list”.
• In an overview of the campaign for Bass, Sue Neales of The Mercury reports that “Liberal Party strategists concede that Labor candidate and former Launceston deputy mayor Jodie Campbell has already got Bass ‘in the bag’”.
• Ewin Hannan of The Australian writes that Labor’s candidate in Deakin, Mike Symon, has “failed to persuade his party to commit to fixing a contentious local road project”. This refers to the “loathed” bottleneck at Springvale and Whitehorse roads in Nunawading, to which the Coalition has promised to commit $80 million. In other Coalition road promise news, Mark Vaile has announced that funding for completion of the dual carriageway upgrade to the Hume Highway, variously costed at $752 million and $992 million.
• I am once again approaching my monthly bandwidth limit. Donations to the cause are as always more than welcome, and can be made through the PayPal link on the sidebar. I should note that I invariably get more than I need whenever I make this appeal, but you might feel I deserve some pocket money for my efforts.
641 Comments
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Why has Brendan Nelson disappeared completely during this campaign?
Doing numbers presumably, though perhaps not for Bradfield!
Except for the fact the Liberal candidate for Makin is the biggest H.R. Nicholls society hack of all time.
You idiot. Unions helped build the economy. People like Bill Kelty encouraged the government to reduce the tariff wall, in exchange for social policies like Medicare and supperannuation.
If you grew up and had a less black and white view of the world you’d be able to construct more persuasive arguments.
Does this mean you are committing suicide next Sunday?
Mark Vaile is trying to bite the referee over their slush fund! My god, they have no shame, no idea, and no hope.
Vale Vaile, you deserve political oblivion.
I thought KR was weak and would be ruled by the unions? Now you’re saying KR’s running things and will “rule”?
Which is it? I wish you Libs would make your minds up.
282 Red wombat, see 274 He is going to explain his reliance on pork, nominate where the other 23 nuclear power stations are going besides Bribie Island and Port Stephens, apologise for all his inflationary tax cuts, confirm the apology over never ending interest rate rises, and apologise for his under funding of hospitals for years,
Rgee,
I suggest you start looking for another job urgently or apply for a Labor staffer job if they get in. Your union will probably be insolvent within 2 years.
No 299
The fallacy of that rather aged diatribe is that there have been three elections in the meantime, all of which John Howard won.
We don’t have a collectivist I.R. model. We have a democracy that allows collectivisation. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t be a democracy.
ESJ, I thought they were coming back?
Just about the latest Nielsen. Even the most drooling, one-eyed Labor supporters must see that this poll – which habitually underestimates the Coalition vote – has their primary at 43%, and that therefore their support has not collapsed. If Workchoices was really loathed then the Government’s vote would be much lower. What’s apparently happened is that Labor under Rudd has received a boost to its primary, but it’s clear the Government and the PM are not on the nose.
297 Edward StJohn Says: November 16th, 2007 at 12:03 pm
que? Like what? What couldn’t have been managed through a common-law contract? And so the solution to this imaginary problem is achieved by removing an employees right to nominate someone to bargain for them?
WorkChoices is poison. A vote for the coalition will be seen as a mandate to continue the legislation, just like they’ve done with bulk-billing.
ESJ – “there is no turning back the clock comrades” … I agree with you. I know in some union circles there have been discussions for a preference Reith’s 1996 Act, rather than Rudd’s proposed system.
Econocrat,
I think KR wants to have as long as possible as PM, I suspect when Medicare Gold and the others get into their limos and the like they will too – hence bye bye union movement. If you want to preserve unions vote Green like Albert Ross suggests!
The way GP replies to posts sounds very similar like Robert Candelori. I wonder if they are related? No offence intended GP, just a casual observation.
GP
Your answer misses the point to my post on IR – an economy/society are one – the are interconnected – the economic and social affect one another – you cannot separate it
You are one dimensional to the RIght GP – and the fact that you will not give an inch to other people’s good points says it all. Everyone on this site sees what you see, they just do not think that your good points outweigh the bad points..
Stephen Kaye – starting the climbdown already? Where’s your gumption! Hold the line man!
# 307 Generic Person Says: November 16th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
Proof that we should expect WorkChoices mark II, eh?
ESJ (249) You just don’t get it do you? Working paople know when they are being screwed and they don’t have to prove anythng to right wingers like you. All they have to do is walk into a ballot box next week and vote this bunch of crap out.
If you want some facts and figures have a look at how the ultimate example of “workchoices” operates in the US. Their minimum wage is a pittance and hasn’t risen in years. People have to work two and three jobs just to survive. And all that in the richest country in the world. It’s a bloody disgrace.
You can protest all you like that it would never happen here, but it is based on the same ideology that underlies workchoices – an ideology that believes the more the rich get, the more they are entitled to – and the more that workers struggle, the more it shows they are not working hard enough. Sadly, in America the workers actually believe that crap. But unfortunately for Mr Howard and people like you, Australian workers can recognise a crock when they see one.
Rowan (#5) postal acceptance rule only applies to acceptances of offers – not a resignation which is the opposite. Newhouse would be stuffed if he relied on a back-dated letter. Fortunately for him there is a provision hidden in the Tribunal Act that says you automatically vacate your Tribunal post if you nominate for any Parliament.
The Liberals have advice that the Court might overrule that provision, arguing ‘nominate’ here means a valid nomination, which means no office of profit at that instant. I think they’re wrong. ‘Nominate’ here means the physical act of lodging a nomination. Otherwise the provision has no work to do. And the High Court has no reason to stretch the Constitution to override a state law about its own Tribunal.
Still very fishy that undated letter. Would love to know if it was a panic or cock-up.
Pancho,
Yes “there coming back” is the Libs line but I believe KR will be the undertaker! but hey he will be the undertaker with a smile at least!
Relax, strech your legs, walk a while, FIRE
I think the real problem with workchoices is that it makes productivity growth difficult. By implementing this deregulated system, it makes wage reduction the easiest way to increase profits, rather than producitivity increase. This is of course, problematic to long-term national productivity growth in the national economy.
So regardless of the social problems outlined above, i’m more concerned about its macroeconomic impact.
Journal of Australian political economy (www.jape.org – issue 56) has a great piece outlining this.
http://www.jape.org/component/option,com_remository/Itemid,26/func,fileinfo/id,18/
ESJ – Doubtful, people will continue to unionise no matter what. Just like your friends at the BCA, AIG, ACCI, MBA, HIA, etc. etc.
this is gusfaces better half
for those who believe workchoices is good then tell me what is good about having to go home and tell your family that you no longer have a job – put yourself in that position before u say how great workchoices are. I lost my job the day after workchoices came in. I was told that i wasn’t need anymore, that was it, not even given 1 weeks notice. I am a mother, wife, daughter and sister and I had the humiliating task of telling my family that not only was I now unemployed but that there was no money coming into the house hold for that week. to those pro-workchoices just think if that happend to u, how would u feel. I don’t know how Mr howard thinks that “Australians have never had it better” he does not know me or my circumstances. Mrs gusface
Darn,
Yes of course, but why has KR adopted it?
You should start looking for other employment too! There will be a heap of staffer jobs coming up – get out before they are all taken!
No 315
You’re one dimensional to the left, so your point is once again worthless.
ESJ, thats a good point re:Insolvency of unions – they began their decline during the Hawke/Keating years when the new economy was first put together. Unfortunately it contradicts the Unions will Stuff our economy tagline.
The single biggest problem with the Liberals this campaign is the lack of any sort of consistent narrative. The attacks have been coming from all angles and they just lack credibility.
On one hand we have GP saying the ALP hates business and the economy, and on the other we have ESJ saying Kevvy has stitched up the business community and Workchoices will basically stay. I’d suggest the two Tories on this blog are showing about as much coherence as the Liberal party war room.
Another case in point – the Nationals are running a campaign about the ALP’s ‘razor gangs’, yet the Liberals are bagging Rudd out as being a fiscal conservative in name only… Which is it people? Are they going to spend or slash?
Are we facing a Tsunami or is Howard still an optimist?
Are wages going to blow out under the ALP or will they decline like the did during 1983-1996?
Is it all a case of me too, or will the world end if Labor get in?
321 Yo ho ho Says: November 16th, 2007 at 12:11 pm
WorkChoices hurts people, and hurts the country’s long-term prospects, for a short-term gain in profits.
It is the quintessential liberal policy.
No 323
Instead of having a bitch about it, take the initiative, get educated and get another job. You’re always looking for someone else to blame instead of taking personal responsibility.
Steven Kaye
The full impact of W/c will be seen when there is a recession – it will be a double whammy when the balance of power goes back to the employer, when they already have most power.
Its the long term ramifications – most people would not be aware of the ideologically gravity of it….but they may change in 5 years time…all the IR specialists know this
Yep, did anyone notice how ill Howard looked yesterday…..he’s lost a lot of weight and his face looked drawn. He’s agitated, wounded and about to cry look at the press conference after the Labor Launch really gave him away.
I think Rudd taking the high ground on the economy and the headlines this generated has really hurt the old bugger. In the last 10 months he’s seen everything go down the drain. What was an expected lovely waltz into the history books and Liberal pantheon is now a tawdry pathetic crawl to electoral oblivion.
But as he lays awake at night one thing has consoled him…the economy. The fact that the macro economic data has miraculously flowed his way for the last 10 years has legitimised his prime ministership and acted as a firewall against the dogs breakfast of incompetance and mediocrity served up in all the areas where his government does actually exercise some control. The economy is where his legacy lies and he knows it.
So what happens when that upstart Rudd walks in and rips the mantle off him. And worse still he gets headlines like “rudd takes the economic high ground’ etc in the Murdoch media. He goes into melt down. You can criticise anything about Howard but keep your hands off the economy. If it goes, so does his whole legacy. Whats left is tampa and children overboard and AWB etc etc…Without the economy he really doesn’t have any clothes..
That i think is why Howard looked so flat and unwell yesterday. He was mortified by Rudd’s reverse wedge on the economy. Throw in the regional grants rorting and I expect him to age another decade in the next week. Can’t say i have any sympathy..
He hasn’t. He has adopted a system that isn’t biased for or against collective agreements.
WorkChoices is completely biased in favour of individual contracts.
That is a fundamental difference between the two systems.
Rudd accepting things like secret ballots for strikes is excellent, it enhances workplace democracy. But your continuous repetition that Rudd’s system is the same is a load of garbage. You haven’t even defended the claim, you just repeat it over and over.
GP – That’s just wrong mate. I hope mummy and daddy’s restaurant sold for a lot and you pick up one of those Mercs you love so much. Seriously, dude.. that was low. You ask for someone’s experience of workchoices and it is given to you and you come out with vitriolic stuff like that. Seriously, grow up.
Are you rehearsing what you are going to say to all the Liberals set to lose their seats?
No 331
It was John Howard who spruiked the idea of secret ballots, not Kevin Rudd.
So…they’re not coming back? Or is the fear campaign not based on fact? It’s all too complicated for a simple fellow like me.
ESJ – as we’ve explained before, its true the unions arent ecstatic with KRs alternative IR policy, but its a fundamental change from Workchoices.
Main difference is that employers can’t insist on 100% union coverage before collectively bargaining. Only has to be a majority of employees.
That would bring Australia into line with basic international human rights standards. Workchoices breaches these.
You’ll also find that the thousands of pages of nasty anti-union reregualtion of the workplace will no longer be necessary. This will be a simpler system.
Effectively, its a return to keating’s system – with a couple of extra bones thrown to employers.
Nonetheless, your resort to the “imitation as permanent ideological victory” trope is a gratifying general concession of imminent electoral defeat
No GP:
I am weighing both the right and left sides up GP – and then coming down with a decision, like most other people
Wow, good luck with your life GP…
ND,
You assume opinions are monolithic.
Sure I agree unions are not going to be revisiting the 1970’s – with the possible exception of the CFMEU, but if you look back at my comments my views have been entirely consistent all year.
Unions were present at the beginning – federation. There passing was always going to be traumatic. The irony is that ultimately Labor under Rudd will be the undertaker for them! It will be a mercy killing out the backyard – like a sad loyal dog being led out by the treacherous and selfish owner!
I think after 12 years Labor getting in is not going to be stupid enough to tie their fate up to the lame dog! Maybe I will be wrong on that point – but if they do they will be torn apart like Whitlam.
In many ways unions did represent part of the Australian ethos of a fair go but really what is left is sentiment, the fair go in many ways disappeared years ago – after all we dont really bat an eyelid at CEO’s who receive millions in pay (workchoices or no workchoices) do we?
No 332
I have no idea what your blabbing on about.
I didn’t ask for anyone else’s experience, I merely said that Workchoices was a necessary reform.
Thanks for that Generic Moron, but you completely missed my point.
gp
I am not blaming anyone I am putting forward my circumstances, and for your information (brethren) I do have an education and I have got a degree and I did get another job but please don’t go around with blinkers on thinking everything is ok!
mrs gusface
ps tony abbott is a knob
Geriatric Person-if you are going to prevent the Unions coming back or whatever it was you said over your dead body can you let us know when and where this sacrifice will occur? I’d like to see it. Actually I’d even pay to see it.
# 328 Generic Person Says: November 16th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
ah… what a breath of fresh-air!!!
The lack of empathy amongst liberal supporters is congenital I believe. And they wonder why they’re on their way to oblivion.
No 337
Good luck to you as well.
That aside, most other people aren’t weighing up both sides, they’re toeing th party line.
That never stops you from posting anything.
You’ll be proven wrong on Saturday week.
Steven Kaye,
Your statement that Neilsen favours Labor is incorrect. Remember that it was ACN that was the only poll to overstate the Coalition’s support in the last week before the election in 2004 (they had the Coalition up 54/46).
Mrs Gusface @ 323 has put in very real terms why the Tories are dead, and have been for a long time. Well said Mrs.
No 340
I don’t recall there being a point to miss.
That’s what you’re doing, so what the hell is your point?
My cousin used to work on the counter at a BP service station. As he approached the end of his 6 month probationary period, his boss called him into his office. He was accused of stealing Vodaphone credit from the company and immediately fired. No proof whatsoever was given of this claim. Police were not informed of the allegations.
Since then, my cousin has found out that several other people experienced the exact same situation.
Needless to say, the claims are completely untrue and unsubstantiated. Thanks to WorkChoices however, my cousin has no legal recourse.
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