Reflections on the Miracle of Democracy at Work in the Greatest Nation on Earth

Sunday Mail: 64-36 to SA Labor in Adelaide

Adelaide’s News Limited Sunday tabloid, the Sunday Mail, today carries a poll with a small sample of 483 showing state Labor with a two-party lead of 64-36 among Adelaide voters. Remarkable as that might sound, Antony Green calculates it’s in the same ballpark as the 2006 election, when the Adelaide two-party result was 62.6-37.4. Antony further observes that the Sunday Mail article absurdly compares this purely metropolitan result with the statewide two-party figure from 2006 to conjure a 7 per cent Labor swing that would cost the Liberals eight of their 14 seats. In reality, the poll points to a roughly status quo result, although that’s quite bad enough for the Liberals given the scale of Labor’s win in 2006.

271 Comments

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  1. 151
    ShowsOn
    Posted Sunday, July 5, 2009 at 7:33 pm | Permalink

    They also said that Griffiths will be running again for deputy leader.

  2. 152
    bob1234
    Posted Sunday, July 5, 2009 at 10:37 pm | Permalink

    Monday 6th June… (even though it still isn’t, but who knows what they put in the water at the Tiser…)

    THE Liberal leadership ballot is shaping up as a two-horse race - with the winner to become the state's first female head of a major political party.

    Legal affairs spokeswoman Isobel Redmond and former environment spokesman Mitch Williams yesterday declared they would stand against former deputy leader Vickie Chapman for leadership of the party.

    Incumbent leader Martin Hamilton-Smith is increasingly likely to announce this morning he will not stand, because party sources say his support is switching to Ms Redmond.

    Ms Redmond was elected deputy leader in Saturday's vote in which Mr Hamilton-Smith beat Ms Chapman for the leadership – by only one vote (11 votes to 10).

    Party sources said Ms Redmond could count on at least 10 votes, with at least three of Ms Chapman's votes – considered "anti-Marty" votes rather than "pro-Chapman" – expected to swing behind Ms Redmond.

    This would leave Mr Williams with a slim coterie of votes, and either Ms Redmond or Ms Chapman as the state's first female leader of a major political party.

    http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,25731562-5006301,00.html

    Still no mention of Williams?

  3. 153
    bob1234
    Posted Sunday, July 5, 2009 at 10:37 pm | Permalink

    I speak too soon.

    Mr Williams said he would stand for the leadership in an attempt to bring an end to the destabilisation of the party.

  4. 154
    ShowsOn
    Posted Sunday, July 5, 2009 at 11:31 pm | Permalink

    I speak too soon.

    You left out the funny bit:

    My view always was that if Martin Hamilton-Smith did not stand I would," he said.

    "However, even at this stage, even if Mr Hamilton-Smith was going to run again I would still stand. (This) should have been resolved two weeks ago."

    What I think they should do is ALL stand, and every week ONE person is voted out, until there are only 2 left, then home viewers get to choose. The winner can be announced on Stateline S.A.

  5. 155
    bob1234
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 12:24 am | Permalink

    http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25737091-16382,00.html

    The media really really really need to stop treating the Sunday Mail 64/36 metro poll as if it were statewide.

  6. 156
    ShowsOn
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 12:56 am | Permalink

    The media really really really need to stop treating the Sunday Mail 64/36 metro poll as if it were statewide.

    Yeah, but isn’t it kind of funny that the Liberals are having a complete meltdown when the poll result was bad, but not any worse than at the last election?

  7. 157
    bob1234
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 1:20 am | Permalink

    Yeah, but isn’t it kind of funny that the Liberals are having a complete meltdown when the poll result was bad, but not any worse than at the last election?

    They cared more about the impression the poll gave. Well timed by the Sunday Mail… it was just the last nail in the coffin, after Dodgy-gate, and the disaster that was the Frome by-election, where they went backward on the ALP v Lib 2pp, and lost the seat after preference distribution to an independent.

  8. 158
    bob1234
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 1:22 am | Permalink

    http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25737957-5006787,00.html

    http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25738101-601,00.html

    SOUTH Australia's Opposition Leader Martin Hamilton-Smith is likely to stand down today, claiming he is a victim of a "factional stitch-up".

    It really is rich of MHS, considering how he got in to parliament in 1997, and how he unsuccessfully challenged Kerin for the leadership, then Evans. He can dish it out but he can’t take it.

  9. 159
    bob1234
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 1:24 am | Permalink

    Mr Hamilton-Smith was giving nothing away when told by The Australian that most Liberal MPs were expecting him to stand down today.

    "Oh really, oh really?" he said. "We'll just have to wait and see.

    "Do not believe anything anyone is telling you other than what you hear from my mouth, because people have been feeding you (the media) a whole lot of shit for several weeks to suit their own factional agenda."

    HAHAHA, shit huh? That language doesn’t suit a leader of a major party!

    :D

  10. 160
    bob1234
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 1:26 am | Permalink

    Senior Liberal Party sources said Mr Hamilton-Smith, a former SAS commander, appeared shellshocked when Saturday's result came in 11-10, with one anonymous MP abstaining. He immediately told the fractured partyroom he would stand down.

    But veteran MPs Ivan Venning and Graham Gunn talked him out of that move, which would have delivered the leadership to Ms Chapman.

    The conservatives are furious!! :D

  11. 161
    The Heysen Molotov
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 2:14 am | Permalink

    Redmond is my local member and whilst I do not in any way support her or her policies and put her second to last at the previous election, based on my dealing with her i’d have to say she seems like quite a nice lady (although i think i remember hearing something about her being involved in some dodgy litigation), far better than Downer (scum of the Earth) or his replacement (junior scum hack import bugger who in no way represents me in Canberra, which is why we need PR). I was also impressed with her efforts to prevent the banning of ‘hookers’ (not prostitutes but those pipes that catapillas and Arabs smoke. Are they spelled the same?). However I do not want to see her leader for two reasons 1: selfishly I don’t want the opposition leader as my local member because that will make it harder to remove her and 2: If I have reasonbly favourable opinion of her then it would follow that others would too and so she could do well for the Libs at the election.

  12. 162
    bob1234
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 2:24 am | Permalink

    Yes, Heysen is the best lower house seat for the Greens (as it was for the Democrats) and Redmond as Liberal leader would most likely help her. Though what i’m hoping for, and what may well come true, is that Redmond has almost the same level of intelligence that Chapman has. If Redmond does gain the Liberal leadership, I hope she stuffs up big time when the election campaign proper rolls around, and causes a bundle of votes to go to the Greens in protest, and win the seat.

    To have the other side take a leader’s seat is one feat, but for a minor party to unseat a leader, now that’s something!

  13. 163
    bob1234
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 2:26 am | Permalink

    Oh come on William, how on earth in anything I said in reply have caused it to be locked in awaiting moderation? I honestly can’t see a single word in it that might have caused it. Sigh.

    Come back later to read my reply Molotov.

  14. 164
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 2:57 am | Permalink

    The spam filter just catches innocent comments sometimes. Nothing to do with me.

  15. 165
    The Heysen Molotov
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 3:49 am | Permalink

    Bob123

    If Redmond does gain the Liberal leadership, I hope she stuffs up big time when the election campaign proper rolls around, and causes a bundle of votes to go to the Greens in protest, and win the seat.

    For that to work it would have to be a stuff up of MHS-ian proportions. One day it will be a Greens seat but i don’t think it will be at the 2010 election – either 2014 or 2018.

  16. 166
    steve
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 5:16 am | Permalink

    Bob, the funny thing is that Joh Bonkers- Petersen found himself in a very similar position years ago when he was considered weak and incoherent as Premier leading to a challenge to his leadership. He phoned people all night before the vote which was drawn but gave himself the casting vote and went on to be an extreme and incoherent Premier for years.

    It isn’t over till the votes are counted and absolutely anything could happen with this amount of heat and pressure. Thanks for the updates so far, it has been like someone commentating at a circus, very entertaining all weekend with yet more to come.

  17. 167
    The Heysen Molotov
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 5:30 am | Permalink

    Ahh, catapillers and Arabs suck on smoking hot HOOKAHS ;)
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hookah

  18. 168
    steve
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 5:32 am | Permalink

    Mr Hamilton-Smith was giving nothing away when told by The Australian that most Liberal MPs were expecting him to stand down today.

    "Oh really, oh really?" he said. "We'll just have to wait and see.

    This sounds like a typical hardcore Tory who is about to make a fool of his friends at News Ltd. It would be stranger than fiction for a leader to stand down two days after being elected leader. It sounds to me like someone who is going to try and tough it out against the odds as his fearless leader is trying to do at a national level.

  19. 169
    ShowsOn
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 10:30 am | Permalink

    News Radio reported about 20 minutes ago that Martin Hamilton Smith WILL run for the leadership.

    However, ABC local radio Adelaide sayd that MHS still hadn’t decided, and would make an announcement later today.

  20. 170
    ShowsOn
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 10:40 am | Permalink

    ABC local radio Adelaide just said they believe Iain Evans will be running for leader too!

  21. 171
    ShowsOn
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 10:43 am | Permalink

    Christopher Pyne:

    The state Liberal party and the federal Liberal party are very different entities

    What a moron, he can’t even stick up for his political party!

  22. 172
    ShowsOn
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 10:53 am | Permalink

    (Former Labor Senator) Chris Schacht:

    The best result for the Labor party would be MHS re-elected after 6 ballots, including 4 drawn votes, and a few picks out of the hat.

    No one in the Adelaide metro area knows who Mitch Williams is.

  23. 173
    ShowsOn
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 10:59 am | Permalink

    Martin Hamilton-Smith will be doing a press conference in 32 minutes.

  24. 174
    steve
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 11:03 am | Permalink

    Will he announce the Leadership Meeting is canceled or his resignation?

  25. 175
    ShowsOn
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 11:09 am | Permalink

    Will he announce the Leadership Meeting is canceled or his resignation?

    The Australian and NewsRadio think he will announce he is a candidate on Wednesday.

    ABC Local Radio and The Advertiser think he will announce that he is resigning and won’t re-contest.

  26. 176
    steve
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 11:11 am | Permalink

    Why would he be a candidate when he has just been chosen leader? It makes no sense.

  27. 177
    steve
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 11:21 am | Permalink

    He’ll be on live here I hope.

    http://www.abc.net.au/adelaide/radio/player.htm?winstream=http://abc.net.au/adelaide/onair/891stream.asx&ramstream=http://abc.net.au/adelaide/onair/891stream.ram

  28. 178
    ShowsOn
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 11:32 am | Permalink

    Why would he be a candidate when he has just been chosen leader? It makes no sense.

    Because he wants to win the leadership with more votes.

    I’m starting to think that he will announce his resignation in order to help Mitch Williams win.

    The Australian are now reporting he is likely to stand down, even though he previously said such reports were “shit”:
    http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25738101-601,00.html

  29. 179
    ShowsOn
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 11:33 am | Permalink

    MHS has JUST announced that he wont be standing as leader.

  30. 180
    steve
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 11:36 am | Permalink

    ShowsOn he might be trying to do a Troy Buswell. Become Shadow Treasurer or something.

  31. 181
    ShowsOn
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 11:37 am | Permalink

    ShowsOn he might be trying to do a Troy Buswell. Become Shadow Treasurer or something.

    Good point. Maybe he has decided to support Redmond as long as she makes him Shadow Treasurer.

    Maybe that will be enough to give her more votes than Chapman.

  32. 182
    steve
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 11:42 am | Permalink

    Press conference on local radio now.

  33. 183
    bob1234
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 1:29 pm | Permalink

    Martin Hamilton-Smith won't say who he wants to replace him as South Australian opposition leader.

    http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/sa-liberal-leader-stands-down-20090706-d9jj.html

    I bet he won’t! When the only conservative faction MP running for the leadership was the earliest MP to say you should go, and then resign from your cabinet, you’re not left with much choice are you!

    Good riddance to bad rubbish. Though I will miss seeing what other seats would have fallen to Labor under MHS.

  34. 184
    ShowsOn
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 2:58 pm | Permalink

    Well, I interpreted his lack of endorsement as a confirmation that he is currently battling behind the scenes for a plum job, e.g. shadow treasury.

    It is quite possible that whoever he votes for will win the contest, because he would have a few factional friends who will be willing support whoever he supports.

  35. 185
    bob1234
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 3:04 pm | Permalink

    Well he definately won’t support Chapman or Williams, and the fact that those who voted for MHS are giving their vote to Redmond is rather telling.

  36. 186
    ShowsOn
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 3:09 pm | Permalink

    Well he definately won’t support Chapman or Williams, and the fact that those who voted for MHS are giving their vote to Redmond is rather telling.

    Williams ultimately voted for MHS remember, I guess because it made it harder for Chapman to win.

    I think MHS would vote for Williams if it increased the chance of Chapman losing.

  37. 187
    ShowsOn
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 3:14 pm | Permalink

    I think it would be funny if each candidate (Chapman, Redmond, Williams) gets 7 votes and there is one abstention.

    What do they do then? Play again on Saturday? :D

  38. 188
    bob1234
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 3:21 pm | Permalink

    Williams ultimately voted for MHS remember, I guess because it made it harder for Chapman to win.

    I think MHS would vote for Williams if it increased the chance of Chapman losing.

    Why not Redmond? That’s where the MHS votes are going to apparently.

  39. 189
    ShowsOn
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 3:31 pm | Permalink

    Why not Redmond? That’s where the MHS votes are going to apparently.

    Because Redmond effectively challenged him on the day she became deputy leader? :D

    I still think we need some Game Theory experts to explain all the permutations. :D

  40. 190
    ShowsOn
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 5:51 pm | Permalink

    Fumiest news story background image ever!
    http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/3788/liberalcrack2.jpg

  41. 191
    bob1234
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 6:06 pm | Permalink

    Nice! :D

  42. 192
    ShowsOn
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 6:55 pm | Permalink

    Adelaide A Current Affair promo:

    Just who is Isobel Redmond?

    Exactly. :D

  43. 193
    bob1234
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 8:13 pm | Permalink

    Crikey’s take.

    http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/07/06/news-flash-another-lib-leader-bites-the-dust/

  44. 194
    bob1234
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 8:28 pm | Permalink

    http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,6704435,00.jpg

    That’s got to be the best photo i’ve ever seen of Isobel Redmond. I’m sure now that MHS has gone, the ‘Tiser will fully swing behind the Liberals again.

  45. 195
    ShowsOn
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 10:49 pm | Permalink

    I’m sure now that MHS has gone, the ‘Tiser will fully swing behind the Liberals again.

    The Tiser didn’t support Iain Evans.

  46. 196
    bob1234
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 10:59 pm | Permalink

    The Tiser didn’t support Iain Evans.

    Why would they? He was hopeless right from the beginning, and before that.

  47. 197
    bob1234
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 11:17 pm | Permalink

    TWO former ministers from the last Liberal government Iain Evans and Rob Lucas are set to be promoted if challenger Isobel Redmond wins tomorrow's leadership ballot.

    Mr Evans was relegated to a minor frontbench role under Martin Hamilton-Smith's leadership while Mr Lucas, who was a former Treasurer, lost his frontbench role entirely.

    Ms Redmond has told The Advertiser she would want to "re-include talent like Mr Lucas and Mr Evans" if she won the ballot, saying: "That talent has been wasted."

    Liberal sources said late yesterday they expected the ballot to be "closer than people think".

    They said there was a groundswell of support for Mitch Williams because many male members of the party were worried about having a female leader.

    http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,25731562-2682,00.html

  48. 198
    ShowsOn
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 11:51 pm | Permalink

    Liberal sources said late yesterday they expected the ballot to be "closer than people think".

    They said there was a groundswell of support for Mitch Williams because many male members of the party were worried about having a female leader.

    Fantastic! Both of these comments suggest that a 7 – 7 – 7 split with one abstention is a possibility!

    Then they can have another leadership spill on Saturday!

  49. 199
    bob1234
    Posted Monday, July 6, 2009 at 11:56 pm | Permalink

    Fantastic! Both of these comments suggest that a 7 - 7 - 7 split with one abstention is a possibility!

    Then they can have another leadership spill on Saturday!

    Even an 8-7-6 split would crush the party. A three-way leadership contest, with such a small caucus, is never a good idea.

  50. 200
    bob1234
    Posted Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at 12:21 am | Permalink

    http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25742263-5006787,00.html

    Another fairly decent wrap-up.

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