Comments on: Fremantle by-election live

By: William Bowe

William Bowe — Thu, 21 May 2009 06:23:02 +0000

Can future discussion please be directed to the WA Newspoll thread.

By: William Bowe

William Bowe — Thu, 21 May 2009 04:08:50 +0000

I was about to say the difference between the two is too big for that – there’s usually little more than a dozen exhausted votes – but on closer inspection it’s only 49. No doubt though the result is almost final. However, it’s still only notional – not until we get the preference distribution will we have a definite two-party result.

By: luke

luke — Thu, 21 May 2009 03:59:23 +0000

the number of 2PP votes is still lower than primaries

This may be accounted for by those that exhaust before getting added to either of the final two.

By: William Bowe

William Bowe — Thu, 21 May 2009 03:39:20 +0000

I’m surprised that’s been updated – but no, the number of 2PP votes is still lower than primaries, and in any case the count will finish with publication of the full distribution (i.e. each candidate’s exclusion and the number of votes distributed to candidates still in the count).

By: bob1234

bob1234 — Thu, 21 May 2009 02:02:58 +0000

The two-party figure was changed from 54.01% to 53.92% for the Greens at http://www.waec.wa.gov.au/elections/state_elections/2009_Fremantle_By-Election/District_of_Fremantle/notional_distribution_of_preferences.php

As it says “THIS RESULT WILL NOT CHANGE UNTIL THE FULL DISTRIBUTION IS COMPLETED”, does this mean counting has been completed?

By: Stephen Luntz

Stephen Luntz — Wed, 20 May 2009 14:02:49 +0000

“Look, obviously Green commenters here are getting a laugh out of stirring the possum”

I object. I love Possum and have never stirred him in my life. Stroke perhaps, not stir.

By: William Bowe

William Bowe — Wed, 20 May 2009 11:45:00 +0000

I would have thought one could quite reasonably use the term to describe the endorsement of Martin Ferguson in Batman, Greg Combet in Charlton or Bob Hawke in Wills. None had any connection with their electorates that I’m aware of, but they were unarguably “Labor”. It depends entirely on how you choose to define it, of course. I guess the bottom line is that I take Robert Taylor’s point – that the “parachuting” of Tagliaferri can’t reasonably be explained in terms of the factional system, which by my definition involves networks of patronage which serve their own ends – and you don’t, because define the term more broadly.

By: Bule

Bule — Wed, 20 May 2009 11:40:55 +0000

The critique probably falls down a bit. I’m not sure if in such an analysis Rita Saffioti’s preselection, for example, would constitute parachuting or not. Long time member, dedicated servant of the government, no particularly strong factional backing as far as I know.

In any case, I think it’s pretty safe to say that the then Premier actually thumbed his nose at the factional system in order to hand pick his own candidates.

So I guess, in a way, that’s the evidence you’re looking for of preselections that sit outside the normal factional process.

By: Bule

Bule — Wed, 20 May 2009 11:22:18 +0000

William, perhaps I’ve been unclear.

I was criticizing the application of the term ‘parachuting’ if it is used to describe someone who is not preselected from outside the party. ‘Parachuting’ and ‘not-so-Labor’, I was suggesting, is a tautology.

Of course the party is factional. I’m somewhat bemused that you would think that I would suggest anything else.

By: Frank Calabrese

Frank Calabrese — Wed, 20 May 2009 11:22:06 +0000

Radisich was not ditched, effectively or otherwise. Her seat was Swan Hills, it was one of the least affected electorates under the redistribution, and nobody was preventing her from recontesting it.

Exactly, as I’ve said on many occasions, Radisich and Carpenter have always had problems with each other ever since Carpenter was Education Minister and Jaye was actvely campaigning for a High School in Elenbrook.