Comments on: Murdoch by-election preview

By: William Bowe

William Bowe — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 10:39:14 +0000

My “coverage” has finally begun, so this thread is closed.

By: feral sparrowhawk

feral sparrowhawk — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 10:34:44 +0000

Looks like I’ll have to do this one myself. They’ve added another 6000 votes. Libs down to 63%, 10% to the two far right parties and 26 to the Greens. Its a bit like calling the last quarter of a football match where one side is more than double the other’s score.

Trying to find something interesting to look at – what would be a good result for the losing parties: Maybe if the Greens can get above 25% primaries (likely) and 33% two party preferred (unlikely)?

For the CDP and One Nation I guess the aim is to stay above 10% between them.

By: feral sparrowhawk

feral sparrowhawk — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 10:24:35 +0000

William said he’d be half-hearted in his live blogging of this by-election, but I’d say this is zero hearted. Can’t blame him though. Not only is it a walkover (as expected) but after no results went up for ages they gave us 3500 without breaking them down by booth, and now we’ve half an hour with no update. Even an election junkie like me doesn’t consider this a fix.

By: Terrance

Terrance — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 07:24:04 +0000

Just to add, the Liberals have had a strong showing today. The number of Lib volunteers handing out HTV’s has been large and looking well organised at all booths.

By: Terrance

Terrance — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 06:38:06 +0000

Well polling is over half way through.
Voter turnout has looked a tad low at the booths I visited, a view shared by the WAEC staff I’ve had the chance to speak with, likely in part due to the short period of time between the untimely passing of Trevor Sprigg and today.

By: luigi

luigi — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 01:33:10 +0000

What a strange little cabal I have discovered, meeting in a metaphorical phonebox on the aether!

Cast your attentions to John Langoulant’s plans to become the future Premier of this State, having done his bit with CCI, Treasury, even selection of the next grand sporting stadium – and now, a sojourn with Kerry Stokes.

Check his career out here (public sources only) –

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,22918801-951,00.html
http://www.nqc.tvetaustralia.com.au/board_room/john_langoulant

From PerthNow, 13Dec2007 (what an impeccable source):

“Mr Langoulant said he was leaving the CCI after three-and-a-half years to further participate in investments Australia-wide and internationally.

“The opportunity to move to a very large corporate entity which has very diverse investment activities, which has strong visions and principles and values, which align with my values and principles,” Mr Langoulant told reporters in Perth today.

Mr Langoulant, who spent nine years as WA’s under treasurer, said there was a “strong chance” his successor would come from within the CCI.

He would not comment on potential future business moves by Australian Capital Equity.

There has been previous speculation Mr Langoulant may enter state politics as the Liberal leader, but he today again said he was not interested in such a move.

WA Opposition Leader Paul Omodei said Mr Langoulant would be a welcome addition to the Liberal Party if he was to consider a career in politics in the future.

“Where there’s life there’s hope, you never know he may see the light yet,” Mr Omodei said.

“He would be an excellent addition to the Liberal Party team and there’s been some speculation about that but you never know, time will tell.”

In the light of recent developments, that article needs a severe re-evaluation.

By: Warren Porter

Warren Porter — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:01:35 +0000

I am the Uncle of Christian, Chillas’ younger brother. Our Father, Charles Porter, was the Secretary/Director of the Qld Peoples Party when Robert Menzies aproached then leader Bruce Pie to join his new Liberal Party. The three worked together to achieve this result. Charles was then The Director for many of the Qld Liberal Party years before entering Parliament. After initially clashing with the then Country Partry, thus Joh. later he became an admirer of Joh, for many reasons, and was a Cabinet Minister before retiring at about age 70. He was regarded as an honest and upstanding M.L.A. and a brilliant speech maker.
From the very earliest age Christian has desired to be part of the political scene, The fact that he is Chillas son had but a small part in the current situation.

By: Frank Calabrese

Frank Calabrese — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 07:53:00 +0000

Since the 2 threads on the redistribution are closed, here are the final versions of the maps of the revised redistribution boundries.

http://www.boundarieswa.com/2007/Final-Boundaries/Quick-Links-2007/

By: Fulvio Sammut

Fulvio Sammut — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:00:30 +0000

Marcia, I don’t understand where you are coming from. I assume you have been upset by my reference to the familial progression which seems to take place within the Liberal Party. To be fair it also takes place to a lesser extent within Labor ranks.

It is the apparent expectation of such nepotic advancement that annoys me, not antipathy to any particular aspirant. Mr. Porter is not known to me either personally or by reputation so I am hardly in a position to make personal criticism of him.

I too prefer not to have my point of contact with my local member at a free piss up, but regretably I can only speak from experience.

Finally, I can say that my father’s successes in life, large or small as they may be, have had precious little to do with opening up my life pathways, except for the advantages of support and encouragement, but I can’t complain about the benefits of a reasonable education provided at his expense. Mr, Porter may well be able to say the same thing, and if so he will have my respect.

By: VPL

VPL — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 07:51:02 +0000

Oh Marcia – I should add that elected representative do not RULE – they (attempt to) govern.