Comments on: Westpoll: 54-46 to Labor in WA

By: Paul Nash

Paul Nash — Wed, 28 May 2008 11:26:10 +0000

As a Queenslander Possum Comitatus I grew up under a zonal system that cared for Regional communities as I come from Toowoomba originally. When one vote one value came into force in Queensland under the Goss Labor Government Regional people up and down the coast were told that it would disenfranise the so called cow cockies west of the Great divide. The lastest redistribution in Queensland abolishes one electorate in North Queensland and another in central queensland and in WA only 14 of the 59 seats is outside Metro Perth and its immediate southern strip. This system tends to divide states that are large and could see the rise of seperate states movements.

By: Possum Comitatus

Possum Comitatus — Wed, 28 May 2008 11:00:16 +0000

Paul said “…the Nationals are the big losers with regard to the new redistribution on a so called fair one vote one value principle”

I’ve never got the whole notion of one vote one value not being fair. To my mind it’s always reeked of some group wanting to overcome their political handicap of not actually having many supporters – leading to pleas of electoral affirmative action.

Is it the nature of the new boundaries that make you dubious Paul or something else?

Honest question.

By: Paul Nash

Paul Nash — Wed, 28 May 2008 10:44:16 +0000

These polls tend to skew what could be happening in WA outside metropolitan Perth. While I acknowledge that the Nationals are the big losers with regard to the new redistribution on a so called fair one vote one value principle. The fact that the Liberals have changed leaders three or four times since the last election(Barlett/Birney/Omondei/Buswell)voters in country WA who have always been loyal to the Liberals must be asking questions on which conservative party is the most stable. The seats i’ll be watching will be Moore and Eyre. In Moore Grant Woodlands will fight in a notional Liberal seat but this guy surprised everyone last time by winning Former Liberal Premier Sir David Brands seat for the Nationals. In Eyre Susie Williams who incites controvery over a coon issue should go down will in this country electorate where people are tired of Liberal Party political correctness.

By: Paul Nash

Paul Nash — Wed, 28 May 2008 10:44:15 +0000

By: Stewart J

Stewart J — Tue, 27 May 2008 09:20:57 +0000

For those interested, I note that Phil Pendal, former MP for South Perth, has just died:
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23768380-29277,00.html

By: mr orange

mr orange — Tue, 27 May 2008 07:39:24 +0000

Thanks for the feedback Antony, I was trying to make sense of the WAEC fact sheet to no avail…..much appreciated.

By: Antony Green

Antony Green — Tue, 27 May 2008 06:33:57 +0000

If the election is held before September, and the government is silly enough to have the first Parliamentary sitting before 1 September, then the term of the Legislative Assembly is backdated to January this year. This means the next WA Legislative Asembly election would have to be held in the first three months of 2012, giving the government a term of under 3.5 years. It also means the Assmbly election must be held out of step with the next Council election, which by fixed terms would still not be due until early 2013.

Needless to say, if the government does go to a very early election, you can be absolutely sure it will not use a date that forces it to face Parliament before 1 September. And if for some unkown reason the government did call an election and did sit before 1 September, I’m happy to say it would be one of the most politically stupid things ever.

By: Stewart J

Stewart J — Mon, 26 May 2008 01:35:20 +0000

Okay, probably everybody is away looking at the other threads, but I’ve got to ask – what is it about WA pollies??? This from the Oz today (and i also saw it in the Tele):
“Threesome minister was asked to leave party for being drunk”
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23757077-2702,00.html

By: mr orange

mr orange — Thu, 22 May 2008 23:57:54 +0000

Hi Antony and William

I know its rather late in this thread, but I was wondering can you please explain the implications of when the WA state election is called upon the duration of the Legislative Assembley?

I have heard that under one scenario the elected Govt will get an over 4 years term, and under another scenario they will only get 3 years. Is this true?

By: mr orange

mr orange — Thu, 22 May 2008 23:32:41 +0000

But the New Right weren’t complete losers, Vincent Cantania did get pre-selected for Fred Riebling’s seat.

From what I understand Vince Catania is aligned with the Centre these days…