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
Dario
they are in paree?
by gusface on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:08 am
Woooooow
by Paul_J on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:09 am
Champers for BMC on tomorrow’s ride.
by This little black duck on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:09 am
He’s still gotta avoid crashing in Paris yet…
by cud chewer on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:10 am
Puuuuufyyyyyyyyyyyyy
i hope you appreciate that i scarify my beauty sleep to cheer #Cadel
by The Finnigans on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:10 am
As I said last night: “You wouldn’t be dead for quids!”
by This little black duck on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:10 am
From a kiwi, great win Evans it is the ultimate in cycling…well done all power to you.
by david on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:10 am
(It is the Tour de FRANCE, after all
by Puff, the Magic Dragon. on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:10 am
Ah body fat. We dreamed of having body fat. Best we could do was scrape lanolin from outside of wool bales.
by Fulvio Sammut on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:11 am
Cud,
As Fonzie said: “Sit on it and spin!”
by This little black duck on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:11 am
No, they’d all stop and wait for him to go by in an ambulance.
Evan on way to say Rudd would have congratulated him better than Gillard.
by Goshome on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:11 am
Hiostory,
Australia II Wins the America’s Cup.
Cadel Evans Wins the Tour De France.
Both under a Labor Govt.
Memories of 1983:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oPC0lYVakA
by Frank Calabrese on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:11 am
To clarify.
for all PBers cheering Cadell tonight. 
1520 was a general
by Puff, the Magic Dragon. on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:12 am
Might have to buy the highlights DVD.
by This little black duck on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:12 am
tomorrow
by Dario on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:12 am
Thefinnigans The Finnigans
Where is that Hawkie’s jacket, give it to Gillard #TDF #auspol
13 seconds ago
by The Finnigans on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:12 am
Puff,
Right back at you!
by This little black duck on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:12 am
peeps
has cadel won
or is h in the winning seat?
he aint gone down the c elysee
by gusface on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:12 am
Unbelievable! Congratulations Cadel!
by victoria on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:13 am
Someone send Julia to Paris for tomorrow’s finish.
by This little black duck on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:14 am
Thefinnigans The Finnigans
PM Gillard should call an election tomorrow #auspol
8 seconds ago
by The Finnigans on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:14 am
I will remember this as I do the Americas cup…
by Tobe on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:15 am
ducky
full pessimist shield up
i will wait till he is soaked in moet
by gusface on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:15 am
The French will suck him dry with the number of blood samples they’re going to insist on.
by Fulvio Sammut on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:16 am
I’m so glad Andy beat Alberto the Bad!
by This little black duck on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:16 am
AND ITS OFFICIAL!
by Dario on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:16 am
Gus,
Stop worrying.
by Puff, the Magic Dragon. on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:16 am
He’s effectively won. Stage tomorrow will not see racing for the yellow jersey.
by Dario on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:17 am
sorta being phasing in aout to the TDF
pls can someone clarify
unless he literally falls over-
he has won the TDF?
by gusface on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:17 am
Evans beat Contador by a minute!
by This little black duck on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:17 am
Thefinnigans The Finnigans
Any boss who sacks his/her employee on Monday is a BUM!!!!!!!!!!!!! #auspol
16 seconds ago
by The Finnigans on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:17 am
hahahahaha
by Dario on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:17 am
Gus,
Take a risk, celebrate.
by Puff, the Magic Dragon. on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:17 am
Its official – Evans wins!
Cadel even beat Contador by a minute.
by Socrates on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:18 am
Cadel – we are very proud of you – well done
by dave on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:18 am
gusface,
Unwritten rule: you do not attack the yellow on the last stage. Has not been done in living memory.
by This little black duck on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:18 am
@1522,
Was the fonz talking about riding a bicycle?
by cud chewer on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:18 am
PUff
just v angryand cranky at the mo
if C Evans wins (and it seems he will)
I might just do a jig
by gusface on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:19 am
Thefinnigans The Finnigans
i am going to have fried Froggies for dinner later tonight and i will enjoy them much much more #auspol #tdf
8 seconds ago
by The Finnigans on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:19 am
cud,
I .. don’t .. think .. so!
Frank would know.
by This little black duck on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:20 am
duckie,
I assume if one does, one ‘accidentally’ falls off a mountain?
by Puff, the Magic Dragon. on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:20 am
See, he’d do it with gravitas.
by rishane on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:20 am
Evans leads by 1:34. Only sprints tomorrow which won’t change the result by more than 10 seconds. He has won it.
by Socrates on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:21 am
Puff,
191 riders plus support are saying nuffink!
by This little black duck on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:21 am
There are no time bonuses for sprints.
by This little black duck on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:21 am
Who’ this Cadel Evans again, and what’s his claim to fame?
by Fulvio Sammut on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:22 am
Thefinnigans The Finnigans
@JuliaGillard Dear PM, #TDF is won under LABOR!!!!!!!!!!! STOP THE GLOAT #auspol
13 seconds ago
by The Finnigans on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:22 am
finns
frog legs in garlic
snails in mushrooms
profiteroles
followed by a dom?
by gusface on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:22 am
FS,
No f’ing idea!
by This little black duck on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:22 am
Gus,
I understand. I had to go to the quack for something so I can sleep, but enough of that.
This is something to be enjoyed.
by Puff, the Magic Dragon. on Jul 24, 2011 at 1:22 am