Matters related thereto
Roy Morgan has spared the government a new set of poll results this week, presumably holding over last weekend’s face-to-face results for a combined two weeks’ result to be published next week. So here’s some stuff that has accumulated during my recent period of indolence:
• The federal parliament’s Joint Standing Committee of Electoral Matters brought down its report into the 2010 federal election a fortnight ago. One noteworthy innovation is a less pompous report title, “The 2010 Federal Election: Report on the conduct of the election and related matters” replacing the traditional formulation of “Report on the conduct of the (insert year) federal election and matters related thereto”. Antony Green summarises its recommendations here; now that my holidays are over I’ll shortly get around to reviewing it and will have more to say after I’ve fully absorbed it.
• One of the majority report’s recommendations was that the federal government follow the example of New South Wales and Victoria in allowing government records such as drivers licences, vehicle registration and Year 12 school enrolments to be used to automatically update the electoral roll. However, this is opposed in the dissenting JSCEM report from the committee’s Coalition members, for reasons I do not find persuasive. Antony Green has reviewed the impact of such measures in New South Wales since their introduction last year, observing that only 12 per cent of the 70,000 people whose enrolments have been added or updated have taken the trouble to enrol the old-fashioned way for the federal electoral roll. His conclusion: “On the evidence so far, by the time of the next commonwealth election in the second half of 2013, there could be as many as 200,000 voters enrolled for NSW elections and eligible to vote at commonwealth elections who will be missing from the commonwealth roll or be enrolled at the wrong address.”
• Draft electoral redistribution boundaries have recently been published for both our nation’s territory parliaments. Antony Green surveys the results for the Northern Territory here and the Australian Capital Territory here. An ACT redistribution would normally be of minor interest, as the territory is only divided into three electorates for purposes of a regionally based system of proportional representation, but Antony asserts that in this case the changes are radical enough to be of substantial interest, and in particular to put at risk the fourth seat the Greens won at the 2008 election. For the Northern Territory, Antony has calculated new margins for each of the 25 seats, with the caveat that the enormous sitting member factors which result from pocket-sized electorates of 4000 to 5000 voters make party-based margins less reliable than usual.
• There has been much talk lately about the possibility of an incoming Coalition government calling an early double dissolution election should it meet Senate resistance from its efforts to abolish a carbon tax. Tony Abbott’s argument to those concerned about the resulting uncertainty and expense is that opposing its repeal in the Senate would be politically suicidal for a defeated Labor Party, a case pursued by Queensland legal academic James Allan in The Australian.
There was a fair bit of material I had been compiling on Western Australian matters to coincide with a looming quarterly state Newspoll, but I was caught on the hop when it was published a month earlier than I’d anticipated.
Page 1 of 2 | Next page
Categories: Federal Politics 2010-, Western Australian Politics
They couldn’t lie straight if their lives depended on it.
by Cuppa on Jul 23, 2011 at 5:58 pm
smithe
It was actually rummy
by gusface on Jul 23, 2011 at 5:59 pm
So it appears that the horrific events in Norway has once again been perpetrated by a Religious fundamentalist.
by Dr Phibes on Jul 23, 2011 at 5:59 pm
ok, thanks learned lemur.
by smithe on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:00 pm
Gus, as Kamahl once mournfully asked “Why people are so unkind”
by The Finnigans on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:00 pm
BW – You might be interested in Jeremy Grantham’s latest Newsletter. Its 15 pages but well worth printing off. Free registration and they will automatically forward new newsletters if to elect that option. I just use a throw away email etc for this type of stuff.
He is excellent value and main stream financial press pick his stuff up in a week or two etc.
Resource Limitations 2: Separating the Dangerous from the Merely Serious
Jeremy Grantham – Published 22/07/2011
Part 1 of Jeremy Grantham’s 2Q Letter is a continuation of last quarter’s discussion on running out of resources. Here, he looks at three specific areas: energy, metals, and agriculture.
http://www.gmo.com/
by dave on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:00 pm
finns
cos they are farging barstitches
by gusface on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:01 pm
A Religious fundamentalist is a Religious fundamentalist is a Religious fundamentalist.
by Scarpat on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:01 pm
WTF
this stuff in Norway
not good, not good at all
by gusface on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:02 pm
And that, shows, is how civilised people communicate.
No rudeness…no Yawns…no yr a f*wit.
Got it?
Good.
by smithe on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:02 pm
Gotta Go
Dave, thanks for link.
We get 15 wise sayings from Chairman Abbott – will add the rain and the unscripted remarks one.
Thanks to contributors.
You put those 15 sayings together and you realize that we have a screwloose nutter as LOTO. He is good for a laugh as LOTO, but we don’t really need someone like that as PM.
Next, puhlease.
by Boerwar on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:03 pm
How about Abbott’s pure of heart comment about Bernie Banton or his thats bullshit when he turned up late for his own debate?
by ruawake on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:04 pm
smithe
shows is cool
there is a certain rite of passage here sometimes
just move on
we sure aint a knitting club
*except when my say etc delve into those areas*
by gusface on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:05 pm
YAWN
by ShowsOn on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:14 pm
With bells on and a cherry on top. Give em heaps Showy ya f*wit.
by ruawake on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:19 pm
*[except when my say etc delve into those areas]
well came in here have a coffee do some hand sewing.
what have i done now
by my say on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:21 pm
“If you want to put a price on Carbon, then the best way to do that is with a Carbon Tax” – Tony Abbott 2009
by MickGCollins on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:24 pm
This post makes no sense.
by ShowsOn on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:24 pm
Nothing at all, my say, nothing at all. gusface is just being gusface.
by This little black duck on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:24 pm
i am wondering if the MT thing is sort of being conducted from afar you know
orchestrated.. for ex. do somethink tone cannot win becauce he is tone
he is the tool and mt is the one. any thoughts
by my say on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:24 pm
Does to me. :p
by ruawake on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:26 pm
After Dinosaurs ate everything on Earth, they dug deep into the ground to search for food. Sadly, they became trapped in the holes, which is why their skeletons are found undergound today
by gusface on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:26 pm
you know the old saying, you leave the room and what happens.,
laughing of course. so funny i had not intended to even look tonight but old habbits
its the only place i get the news from.
so met some lovley people from canberra ducky who have come here to make their home such nice people, our dogs introduced us
by my say on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:27 pm
Turnbull is managing to upset some in the Coalition by stating facts. For this he has been attacked, told to leave the party etc.
He did not contest the last election for nothing, Malcolm has an agenda – to become PM. It is his destiny and he thinks it will happen.
by ruawake on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:30 pm
DON’T BE ABUSIVE IT LOWERS THE TONE OF THE FORUM AND HINDERS FREE AND FAIR DEBATE!
by ShowsOn on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:31 pm
googled told me nothing about the above how unusual
by my say on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:31 pm
Boerwar:
Have just seen your comment. To that you can add:
- The poor will always be with us.
- Are you suggesting to me that when it comes from Julia,’no’ doesn’t mean ‘no’?
by confessions on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:33 pm
If you missed the humour sorry. It was a joke joyce.
by ruawake on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:33 pm
Maybe Gus, maybe. But having a civilised conversaton with him is a bit like trying to have a civilised meal with Mr. Creosote.
I wouldn’t mind so much, but the spew keeps dripping down inside the sou’wester I put-on special, like for the occasion.
No sweat. Just trying to larn ‘im is manners.
Think I’ve made my point.
by smithe on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:35 pm
Yes.
Labor has eschewed the shallow pursuit of winning the soundbite war under Gillard’s leadership. We hear from more ministers and parly secs than we did when Rudd was leader, and even with leading a minority government, Labor is getting its bills and its agenda through the parliament thanks to the negotiation skills of the current PM.
It isn’t up to the electorate to elect labor’s leader.
by confessions on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:38 pm
is reneckery as you put it a left over from the days of the red coats and the rum trade
i actully read that some where
by my say on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:38 pm
dave 1023
Agree with you entirely. Discipline, unity, and staying on message is essential for the rough times ahead. Labor activists must remain just that – active – and not submit to all this bile.
I feek sick to the guts reading what that cretin Jones has said about Julia. The hate and vindictiveness of this creature is beyond the pale. Surely it’s defamatory, to say the least.
I think referring to Abbott as the Leader of the Opposition, and not by name, in the media will isolate him in some ways.
by feeney on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:39 pm
i would say that ms Gillard is a much better pm than Howard ever was
becauce she does things, now this upsets people, of course if you do nothing your sweet with every one
by my say on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:40 pm
No matter how many times you remind people, they still think we’re voting for a president
by george on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:40 pm
Rua I got your joke to Shows and I was ROFL!
by Glen on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:42 pm
does any media do that often, i agree it puts him back in box, he is not pm nor is he likely to be
by my say on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:42 pm
winstons back
nigh all
by my say on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:42 pm
Agree. The PM should never mention the man by name.
I was wondering the other day whether ministers and backbenchers should start referring to him as ‘Tony’ by way of mocking the way the opposition refer to the PM as Julia.
by confessions on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:44 pm
Glen is an attention seeker and stirrer, best ignored. Wading through his dross for bits of sanity is a waste of time.
by This little black duck on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:47 pm
A certain Australian politician once said, “if you can’t run a meeting, wreck it”.
And I’m going to point the finger at certain conservative posters here. Relentless negativity.
by cud chewer on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:52 pm
my say 1098
I was meaning we, the Labor movement, and the PM in particular, should not mention him by name.
It was a very successful tactic used by Bob Carr against Kerry whatever-her-last-name-is did in one NSW election. It is one way of not acknowledging your opponents or their legitimacy.
In fact I think Carr referred to them as “our opponents” throughout the entire campaign and did not mention her by name, title, or the Opposition.
We should start doing that here and in the media. I abhor absolutely references to “Tone” “Tony” etc on this site. It acknowledges him as some one of standing. Perhaps I’m wrong here.
Anyway, fortwith I’ll be referring to Abbott as the LOTO. At least, it will make me feel better!!
by feeney on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:57 pm
That said, his post earlier today about potential leaders in either party was pretty decent.
by rishane on Jul 23, 2011 at 6:58 pm
Hard to know how we can keep going with this do-nothing government (sarcasm alert)
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/environment/pm-out-to-broker-forestry-deal-20110723-1htzp.html#ixzz1SuvzyT1z
by lizzie on Jul 23, 2011 at 7:01 pm
_____________________________________________________________________
And just to add to my last paragraph: polls this far out from an election do not constitute evidence of the kind I’m referring to.
by charlton on Jul 23, 2011 at 7:02 pm
rishane i think I have been neither an attention seeker nor a stirrer on PB today.
by Glen on Jul 23, 2011 at 7:02 pm
Howard would say ‘my opponent’ to refer to the LOTO, and later to Maxine McKew.
I call him Tone as a put-down – he isn’t worthy of any respect, authority or legitimacy. He’s just a boofhead stag night invitee who’s out-stayed his welcome.
By contrast I cringe seeing references to ‘Mr Abbott’ here as it gives him a respect he isn’t worthy of. Each to their own I suppose.
by confessions on Jul 23, 2011 at 7:03 pm
Glen:
I missed your comment about leaders. Are you able to link to it again pls?
by confessions on Jul 23, 2011 at 7:04 pm
Glen, most times you are not but there are times where I would question this statement of yours.
by Gary on Jul 23, 2011 at 7:05 pm
rishane,
As I said.
by This little black duck on Jul 23, 2011 at 7:06 pm
I call the boofhead Mr Abbott out of respect for the office he holds.
by ruawake on Jul 23, 2011 at 7:07 pm