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
What complete and utter Twaddle.
Your recent posts would suggest otherwise.
by Frank Calabrese on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:38 pm
I only have respect for people who can read and understand facts. “Good” and “bad” are loaded terms and meaningless in the endeavours of factual research, scientific experiment, statistical analysis and conclusions based on empirical evidence.
by george on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:39 pm
Yes Evan it l be a fine idea for Gillard to visit Rudd in hospital. It would in no way whatsoever be a godsend to cartoonist and headline writers everywhere to cut loose with finish the job and knife jokes.
by Goshome on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:40 pm
Glen,
Neither have you asked me where I agree or disagree with the policies of the present government nor have you paid any attention to all the posts I have made which reflect my opinions about present government policy – and some of those have been critical.
In other words, you make shit up. Just like your hero, Abbott.
by cud chewer on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:41 pm
Frank you’re the worst offender. I’ve never seen you admit any mistake Labor has made ever.
George I just gave facts to Dave to prove my point about the disingenuous ACTU ad campaign in 2007 against Workchoices and he cried about it.
by Glen on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:42 pm
Glen: well said!
You can be at heart a Labor supporter or a Liberal supporter, yet have an open mind about things and be critical of your side of politics, when it’s warranted.
There’s far too much cheerleading here for Julia Gillard, to the point that it gets very frustrating trying to express an alternative point of view.
by evan14 on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:42 pm
lol re Lord Monckton on 2GB atm:
http://www.2gb.com/listenlive/index.php
by Frank Calabrese on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:43 pm
Labor make mistakes. We all know that and its enemies turn backflips to make sure all know it. Its mistakes are to try to do too much, at times too quickly.
The libs mistakes are to suck up to those with money and make sure they get more.
The libs, once upon a time they might have been libs, Menzies wouldn’t know them now. Abbott has surrendered to the *the end justifies the means* ie pragmatism over *policy purity* as he sprouted recently.
We hear the murdoch media asking what does Gillard or Labor stand for ? But they already know abbott/ libs stand for nothing. Just as in 1975 the libs policy was solely to get back into power that is what it is now.
Assisted by murdoch 100%.
by dave on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:43 pm
cud
i respect your right to disagree
because you bring facts to the table
whilst i dont always agree, at least you enable discussion, not diatribes
where is the reasoned fiberal?
by gusface on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:43 pm
Nope, read through the post. You didn’t. But don’t mind me, I just made a simple statement.
by george on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:44 pm
Sorry Glen but those anti-discrimination and work / life balance provisions were WEAK AS PISS.
They are token gestures that have no legal weight whatsoever.
by ShowsOn on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:44 pm
As Joe Cocker sang:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMwXPueu-RM
by Frank Calabrese on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:44 pm
Plan B for Evans will be go bat out of hell at bottom of Alpe d’Huez – 15 ks. He’ll have his team with him.
by This little black duck on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:45 pm
Have you read the article by Prof. Allan, referred to in William Bowe’s introduction?
by charlton on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:45 pm
ooohh now there is a No Carbon Tax and Election Now March 31st July in Sydney.
by Frank Calabrese on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:46 pm
Evening all. After watching Adelaide painfully turn over the ball for four quarters tonight I just saw the news headlines the Mary Jo Fisher was arrested for shoplifting in December. Clearly the spirit of free enterprise runs deep in Mary Jo, though not necessarily fair trade.
To anyone who knows, my obvious question is, why did this only get publicised now? She was charged by summons on May 5 and in court on July 12. Why the delay?
Also I haven’t read the whole thread but I saw earlier references to depression. What was that based on, bizarre dance moves aside?
by Socrates on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:46 pm
How many times do I have to say I don’t like Tony Abbott?
Cud I don’t like Tony Abbott…period!
It would be nice to read a post of yours if it wasnt filled with saying how much of a liar I am.
by Glen on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:46 pm
Wow.
by confessions on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:46 pm
George,
agreed. All I care about is the question of if the Liberals got into power, what would actually happen. Versus, if Labor continued in power, what would actually happen.
In other words I care about actual policy details (and lack thereof).
And given all the things I could say about the present government policy where I could justifiably say “I’ve got a better idea”, the above comparison between a government that is actually giving good governance versus its alternative which is almost certainly going to be populist, vision-less and geared towards the privileged. What can I say? Lay down misere.
Doesn’t mean I would never vote for a Liberal government. But it would mean they’d have to abandon their basic selfish-individualist doctrine. Hardly likely.
by cud chewer on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:47 pm
frank
just tried the 131873 number
told lass my name
she hung up
I iz infamus
by gusface on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:47 pm
Ring and call yourself glen and that you admire Bruce Bbilson
by Frank Calabrese on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:48 pm
Malcolm still throwing soft grenades then?
by george on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:49 pm
I reckon his team will blow themselves up getting him to the base and them wish him all the best. Andy and Contador are having to do all the work now, so they may be feeling it by the time they get to the Alpe. We saw how Contador blew up at the end of yesterday… he isn’t as good as he used to be.
by Dario on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:49 pm
lol@Wilshire saying that Getup fight dirty and below the belt.
This is comedy gold.
by Frank Calabrese on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:49 pm
If only Turnball was leading a Liberal Party purged of Abbott, Barnaby Joyce, Eric Abetz, Dennis Jensen, Sophie Mirabella, Conchetta Ferranti Wells etc.
And Rudd was leading an ALP purged of Shorten, Arbib, Farrell, Swan, Gillard, Howes etc.
Alas……it’ll never come to pass!
by evan14 on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:50 pm
Shows it in the legislation how much clearer does it have to be?
It’s your opinion as to their strength but they’re there and you cant argue otherwise.
by Glen on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:50 pm
evan
That simply ignores that deep in the heart of these are fundamental philosophical differences that actually matter when applied. Its like saying that you can be an open minded scientist or an open minded climate denier. One is possible.. the other merely imagineable.
This is what I’ve suspected about you for some time. You’re so interested in the petty personality politics, you’ve lost sight of the very real differences that really do matter.
by cud chewer on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:50 pm
It would be even better if you didn’t lie so much.
by dave on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:50 pm
soc
there is an unwritten convention among the parties that until a matter reaches court, it is left in abeyance
also JG has principles
re the depression comments
spec on whether she owuld use it as a defence
by gusface on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:51 pm
To wit – The Legislation ain’t worth the paper it’s written on.
by Frank Calabrese on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:51 pm
Looks like it.
by confessions on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:51 pm
I tried to, but it contains a mistake at the start, it says:
1) It isn’t a tax, it is a fixed price ETS
2) It can’t be a “carbon dioxide tax” because it is on all green house gases, it is simply measured in CO2 equivalence.
The other claims are just hilarious. He seems to base most of his claims against asserts ions of people being unwilling to bet their houses that he is wrong and assertions.
He also gives no consideration for the fact that it would take basically all of 2014 to create double dissolution triggers. Does he really think people are going to be worried about the ETS once it has been operating for ~2.5 years?
by ShowsOn on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:52 pm
Your opinion…not fact.
by Glen on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:53 pm
evan,
Given a choice between Rudd and Turnbull (now, I don’t agree with the basic premise that personality matters over and above policy, but heck I’m asking you this knowing you are obsessed with “people”)..
Who would you vote for?
by cud chewer on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:53 pm
A lot. It actually has to have teeth. It has to mandate certain responsibilities of things that MUST happen, instead the language used is about things that would be good if they happened if the world was perfect, but it doesn’t say what MUST occur.
by ShowsOn on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:53 pm
cud @226, yep, agreed.
by george on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:55 pm
It’s true! They use unfair tactics like FACTS, and SCIENCE!
by Dario on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:55 pm
gusface
Thanks that explains it. Fair enough on the convention, and pleased to see it being honored. Very strange incident though. Even if reports of depression are true, it isn’t obvious what about that makes you want to shoplift and then try to escape from security. The latter behaviour sounds more based on fear of consequences than depression.
by Socrates on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:56 pm
bastiches… no fair!
by george on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:56 pm
#ohmike’s webpage
http://www.2gb.com/index.php?option=com_homepage&id=19&Itemid=246
that petition can be made to look stupid
by Frank Calabrese on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:56 pm
Glen@240
Just one example -
dave@1157 on Newspoll: 55-45 to Coalition | The Poll Bludger
You lied, trying to stich Simon Crean up on a very important matter.
You Lied!
by dave on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:56 pm
It’s been reported she has been suffering from depression for a while now. Frankly this just raises more questions, esp in light of Robb’s leave with depression.
by confessions on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:57 pm
Illness is not really a laughing matter, imo, even when the victim is a political target. There have been many political figures who have had their lives harmed by depression. Geoff Gallop, Nick Cherry, Andrew Robb are just the first few names to come to mind. If she is unwell, she is entitled to look for treatment and support, and should not be made an object of ridicule. Depression is common, stubborn and can be very dangerous , as I’m sure you are aware.
by briefly on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:57 pm
It doesnt matter what I say anymore whatever I post the only kind of response I get is that I am a liar…
by Glen on Jul 22, 2011 at 11:57 pm
fess et al
mary jo shoplifted it seems
why and wherefore is upt o the courts
personally i feel sad and angry for her
by gusface on Jul 23, 2011 at 12:00 am
And again you lied -
OzPol Tragic@1432 on Essential Research: 55-45 to Coalition | The Poll Bludger
by dave on Jul 23, 2011 at 12:00 am
You have run out of rope !
Withdraw !
by dave on Jul 23, 2011 at 12:01 am
briefly
I would not argue that depression, or any other diagnosed mental illness, is not serious. I was just wondering where the claim came from. I had not seen any references to depression in the The Advertiser story on Fisher’s arrest. Hence I couldn’t understand the basis of the discussion.
by Socrates on Jul 23, 2011 at 12:02 am
Voeckler’s shot
by Dario on Jul 23, 2011 at 12:02 am
And it is written by one of the most senior legal academics in the State, born in Canada & has only bee in Australia some 6 years.
He ends his article in the OO with ‘Your heard it here first.’
The mind boggles.
by charlton on Jul 23, 2011 at 12:02 am