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.
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Categories: Federal Politics 2010-, Western Australian Politics
Shows, I don’t think Obama is in to playing dirty, but perhaps he ought to be. He needs a solid team of economists like Krugman behind him. Then he has the option of taking them at their word about spending cuts. They ought to be able to target defence contracts in Republican-held areas and slash them from the budget.
The military-industrial complex is so interwoven that he’d risk damaging some Democrat votes with defence cuts, but I’d bet there’d be a lot more Republicans take a hit. In addition, he can explain that is his only option when the Republicans won’t consider tax increases for the wealthy.
Don’t even put Health-Education-Welfare on the table.
by Gorgeous Dunny on Jul 23, 2011 at 11:51 pm
As Meatloaf sang:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fAPEUWowEc
by Frank Calabrese on Jul 23, 2011 at 11:51 pm
glen – I have read about it daily for months. You’re wrong wrong.
For heavens sake please gather some facts before making your mind up and posting rubbish.
Please. Do some homework on this first.
by dave on Jul 23, 2011 at 11:54 pm
Big time gaps in the TT so far… that should favour Cadel
by Dario on Jul 23, 2011 at 11:55 pm
and rather ironic considering Glenn is allegedly a Teacher.
by Frank Calabrese on Jul 23, 2011 at 11:56 pm
Gosh
I wasn’t lying.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20082266-503544.html
Both sides have demands however right or wrong they are for having them.
by Glen on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:01 am
Gorgeous Dunny & Others
A default by the US would pretty much finish them, I think. In many ways the place is already reeling, but the inevitable severe tightening of foreign credit that would follow such an event would just bust the place wide open.
by smithe on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:01 am
As I have been intimating here, it is no loss for the Dems, Obama has about pissed off his own party enough by giving in to the Repubs on all manner of tax and tea party demands, in his negotiations, to get his package through to those wreckers (same as Abbotts pee party)
if he doesn’t say take it or leave it, he will be in some strife with his Dems…he is showing his lack of experience and acceptance of guidance from Dems who have been in the same situation when zipper was the President…it appears he is about to tell the Repubs to take it or leave it on Sunday…bit late for his critics in the Party, however they will support him, he is still a winner next year. Sadly the evolution from young Senator to President hasn’t worked too well.
Obamas ace card as the nominee is the Democrats are confident in hanging on to the Presidency, the opposition has no opposition.
by david on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:02 am
Gosh
I wasn’t lying. You were saying the Republicans had no compromise or no demands well they do.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20082266-503544.html
Both sides have demands however right or wrong they are for having them.
by Glen on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:03 am
Contador is stoned.
by ShowsOn on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:03 am
Looked like an early mark out of the gates I think
by Dario on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:05 am
shows
literally or figuratively
or both
by gusface on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:05 am
THe Republican approach to negotiation reminds me of that scene in Mel Brooks’ History of the World part 1 where the black sheriff, when confronted with a racist crowd intent on lynching him, places a gun to his own head with the threat: “Stop of the nigger gets it.”
The ‘nigger’ in this case is the entire country.
by smithe on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:06 am
The Republicans are DEMANDING that there aren’t ANY tax increases, and they are refusing to budge from that position!
They clearly aren’t willing to compromise.
by ShowsOn on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:06 am
Blazing Saddles
by ShowsOn on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:07 am
Obama isn’t willing to consider them whatsoever = deadlock.
You cant call one side out when both are to blame for this mess.
by Glen on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:07 am
My sympathies go out to those in Norway affected by the attacks. With the attacker appearing to be a right wing extremist, I found this description of him on the BBC interesting:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14259989
Sadly I’m not surprised.
Good luck Cadel Evans. Conditions look good far a fast time trial. I think Andy Schleck is still the favorite though.
by Socrates on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:09 am
He was indeed, Dave, and a standout even then. It might have even been him who came up with that – I really can’t remember.
by Gorgeous Dunny on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:09 am
glen
if obi had atrill in the bank, thins would be dandy
sadly shrub blew it on chasin ey rabs and tally bans
by gusface on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:09 am
Gosh – analysis based on one article. Heaven help our kids if thats the standard of teachers going around.
But why *bother* you had made your *mind* up even before your found the article OR read it.
FFS -thats how abbott does it.
I’m no tech head but…
I’m no economist but…
I’m no scientist but….
by dave on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:10 am
Soc
sobering
figure
if the event happened in the USA
5000
yes
5000 peeps would have died
sorta puts it into the proper perspective
by gusface on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:10 am
Cadel to the starting house… here we go!
by Dario on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:11 am
WHAT! Obama is willing to agree to $3 trillion worth of spending cuts, and all he wants in return is the closing of $1 trillion worth of tax loop holes including ending hand outs to the coal, gas, and oil industries!
Obama is willing to agree to things that no Democratic administration has ever agreed to, including cuts to entitlement programs.
Any SANE person would say the way to balance a budget is to BOTH lower spending and increase revenue. Obama is willing to mainly cut spending but also increase revenue, whereas the Republicans want to simply close the budget deficit by cutting spending, that is insanity!
by ShowsOn on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:11 am
davidlen2 davidlen
@news_com_au when can the country expect an apology from Bolt a news ltd employee for his crap that muslims were the murderers in Norway!!!
by david on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:12 am
Really Shows, save your fingers. It’s a wind up.
by Goshome on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:14 am
GD – I remember him on abc tv current affairs in the late 1960′s doing political analysis and interviews. I was close to SA in those days.
Then he went on to be a great Labor Federal Minister.
by dave on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:15 am
More details on Malaysia: http://www.smh.com.au/national/refugees-to-get-right-to-work-in-swap-deal-20110723-1hu6g.html
by rishane on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:16 am
http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/07/no-deal-debt-ceiling-talks-between-obama-boehner-break-down.html
by Glen on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:17 am
#ohmike now reading an email calling on Butchers to put signs saying they sell no halal meat.
by Frank Calabrese on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:19 am
frank
mike is the same as last night
oh weel
just add it to the list
by gusface on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:19 am
Ta, shows
by smithe on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:21 am
#ohmmike speaking to a reporter in Norway.
http://www.2gb.com/listenlive/index.php
by Frank Calabrese on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:23 am
Cadel Evans would go faster if he had spokie dokies:
by ShowsOn on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:25 am
Bolt has an update on his blog ending with the eprds “Another Bryant”.
The vicious bastard is trying to distance the crime from right wing christian racist extremists by implying it is the work of a demented apolitical madman.
Next he’ll be suggesting we blame it on depression.
by Fulvio Sammut on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:26 am
Dario,
Cadel only 42 secs behind now… according to the computer… which has been erratic.
by Tobe on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:26 am
eprds=words – but of course you knew that.
by Fulvio Sammut on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:27 am
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-07-23/gunman-questioned-after-norway-carnage/2807456
Bolt gets punched in the face by reaility, again.
by lefty e on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:27 am
Its another McVeigh, Bolt.
by lefty e on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:28 am
1395
No what bike racing needs is square wheels.
by Tom the first and best on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:28 am
It’s another Bolt, Bolt.
by Fulvio Sammut on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:30 am
Bolt will go down the lone loon road and tie it in with how the left have been gleeful that it was a Christian. He will pretend the utterly shameful behaviour of both him and his moderators over this issue never even happened. NewsLtd ethical and moral – my ass.
by Goshome on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:30 am
The Niorwegian reporter on #ohmike did mention it was a fertiliser bomb like McVeigh used.
by Frank Calabrese on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:31 am
Too much Ayn Rand and Ron Paul, then with maybe a little Lyndon LaRouche thrown in for good measure.
by smithe on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:31 am
tom_watson “he conducted espionage on labour extremism” http://bit.ly/qEZf3m
ha
tom is a good man
by gusface on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:32 am
Hi all finished work early to watch Evans win this race hopefully.
I saw the start of the TDF a few years ago in London and was in Paris when Evans came 2nd after winner disq for drugs.
by Paul_J on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:32 am
Meanwhile in WA:
http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/first-electricity-then-gas-now-water/story-e6frg14c-1226100340046
by Frank Calabrese on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:34 am
It saddens me greatly that scores of young men and women seeking a better society now lie cold and lifeless on the shore and among the trees.
I weep for them.
by drake on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:35 am
gianni @ 1234
Sums it up pretty well. In the US the powers that be went after them in a big way. The framing and execution of Sacco and Vanzetti was perhaps the most spectacular one, albeit these blokes were insignificant anarchists and hardly mattered in the industrial scene. There were much nastier direct attacks and murders of mining union leaders.
Great post from you earlier, by the way. Should have commented.
by Gorgeous Dunny on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:35 am
Frank, Barnett will be blaming his price hike on the high cost of carbonated water.
by Fulvio Sammut on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:37 am
Cadel now only 27 secs behind.
by Tobe on Jul 24, 2011 at 12:37 am