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
Good evening all.
victoria if you are still around. I had a gorgeous risotto at lunch today (oven-roasted salmon) which has inspired me to try my hand at making risotto – something I’ve always felt too scared to try. Any secret family short-cuts which might ease me into it?
by confessions on Jul 24, 2011 at 8:26 pm
Just on these new business ads on the Carbon Tax, didn’t the advertising body refuse to run the Getup ads against Harvey Norman because they couldn’t establish that they were telling the truth? So How is it that big business gets let thru with BS ads of their own???
by Dario on Jul 24, 2011 at 8:26 pm
fess
The three main things
1. Use arborio rice (vialone nano or carnaroli are better though)
2. Homemade or low salt stock
3. Have the mixture at a gentle simmer and stir almost constantly
by Diogenes on Jul 24, 2011 at 8:30 pm
And use a cast-iron saucepan.
by Diogenes on Jul 24, 2011 at 8:31 pm
drake
A misundermistanding I am sure. Not being a legal eagle chap I am sure that I misinterpretate the true meaning of many legal terms. Anyway, it is all good and them NT chaps and chapesses were silly to reject statehood .
by poroti on Jul 24, 2011 at 8:31 pm
confessions
dio has given some excellent advice re risotto!
Dateline on SBS right now re globial warmmg and Murdoch.
by victoria on Jul 24, 2011 at 8:31 pm
Dario,
What’s the history behind the non-competitive final stage of the TdF?
Only really got interested this year and last. Fascinating race steeped in history.
by drake on Jul 24, 2011 at 8:32 pm
Stutchbury is a fool!
He says that having a privacy tort would be an attack on free speech.
Someone may want to tell him that Australia doesn’t have free speech protected in our constitution, except in a very narrow sense.
by ShowsOn on Jul 24, 2011 at 8:36 pm
Dio:
Thanks!
The chef came to our table after lunch and had a drink with us. He said he can ‘flip’ his risotto into the air and have it land back in the saucepan in a single stream. (!!!) Who can do that?! I am in awe of these people who have such skills.
by confessions on Jul 24, 2011 at 8:37 pm
Poroti,
Those terms exist to make people like me seem much smarter than we really are.
A big con-job I’m afraid.
by drake on Jul 24, 2011 at 8:39 pm
gusface,
Good to see that I can at last catch you out with my patrticular code. You catch me too often.
Dio loves easy targets to hammer mercilously. He’s hit the jackpot tonight with the furious digging of JohD who seems to have struck an old shaft and disappeared without trace now.
by scorpio on Jul 24, 2011 at 8:40 pm
Gotta like the professionalism of the ABC:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-07-24/pm-signs-historice-peace-deal/2808132
by rishane on Jul 24, 2011 at 8:41 pm
confessions
Agreed. My hero is this guy and his Truffles Gala Menu is to die for.
http://www.loosebox.com.au/cms/default.asp
by poroti on Jul 24, 2011 at 8:42 pm
fess
Who would even think of doing that!! It’s hard enough with a crepe!!
by Diogenes on Jul 24, 2011 at 8:44 pm
drake
And damned good luck to you. If peeps are happy to pay the money then who are you to argue ?
by poroti on Jul 24, 2011 at 8:45 pm
A three part tweet by Ketil B. Stensrud from Norway (joined together)
His tweetstream located here – http://bit.ly/o8efNk
by Dan Gulberry on Jul 24, 2011 at 8:50 pm
Poroti,
I’m only a student at this stage. A sparky by trade.
by drake on Jul 24, 2011 at 8:51 pm
Blimey, I thought the ousting of Kevin Rudd and replacement with Julia was a blindingly quick change-over, but this one takes the cake.
Have they announced the new premier of Tasmania yet?
by scorpio on Jul 24, 2011 at 8:51 pm
poroti:
I’ve met Alain and his wife Elisabeth. They grow their truffles at Toodyay of all places, which is hot and dry, most unlike the French climate.
Having said that though, Toodyay apparently gets frosts which is said to be good for truffle growth.
by confessions on Jul 24, 2011 at 8:53 pm
Dio:
I can’t even toss a salad!
by confessions on Jul 24, 2011 at 8:54 pm
Dan Gulberry
Wonder what Bolt has to say?
by victoria on Jul 24, 2011 at 8:54 pm
So those Loose Box truffles are grown in WA?
I thought Tassie was the only place growing them. Are they the black winter truffles?
One year I’ll have to go to Perth for that truffles gala. They are my favourite food.
by Diogenes on Jul 24, 2011 at 8:57 pm
drake
OMFG !!! Crikey Bloke/Blokess the money that a “mere” sparky can earn in W.A. up north is truly envy inducing as my sparky nephew recently discovered. As a former BLF chappie we still hate youse guys. So go for it and you will be well rewarded. I mean you will be able to earn at least as much as Tony Abbott for a start !!
by poroti on Jul 24, 2011 at 8:58 pm
It’s slow at the moment so:
Ninemsn is currently conducting one of its unscientific polls.
The question is:
‘Is Cadel Evans’ Tour win the greatest ever sporting success by an Aussie?’
The result are fairly even:
Yes – 32,040
No – 32,705.
Although no doubt a great achievement, my vote would go to Margaret Court-Smith:
62 Grand Slam wins: 24 singles; 19 doubles; and, 19 mixed doubles.
She is the greatest ever winner of Grand Slam tennis titles – male or female.
Next on the list I would place Heather McKay who won 16 consecutive British Open squash titles and 2 world titles and was undefeated between 1962 & 1979.
Cadel Evans has a lot of catching up to do in my view compared to Smith & McKay, though I will give him his due.
by charlton on Jul 24, 2011 at 9:00 pm
[Prime Minister Julia Gillard signed the historic heads of agreement with Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings in Hobart today.
"We have put cold hard cash on the table to get it done," Ms Gillard said.
"This is a very significant step forward in a process that is aimed at trying to end the conflict that has caused so much conflict, for so many, for decades in this State," Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings said]]
so so good, this path started with BB so many years ago, in the franklin river.
i have not agreed with all that has happened over the years.
but this is a very good conclusion, we can now start to heal the wrongs and the rights of all the past, and move on to a new sustainable future.
i do hope more is put in by private enterprise in the the tourism area. and we can get if of the red tape and the bureaucracy and the nay sayers
there has been for years a suggestion of a modern chair lift to mount wellington and bringing back the rail ways for tourism i do hope all this happens,
when i read our pm was here doing the negotiating i new it would happen
thanks julia
by my say on Jul 24, 2011 at 9:01 pm
when i was visiting our son i was reading his I pad, yes checking in on you all and there was something about the greens not acception the package.
is this what the top remark is about.
by my say on Jul 24, 2011 at 9:03 pm
Dio:
The Loose Box truffles are grown in Toodyay. Alain and Elisabeth took the advice of Manjimup Truffle Co. (THE biggest truffle growing company in WA) when they set up their operation.
There are also truffles being grown in south coastal WA. As I understand it however, the frost is what truffles need, which they don’t get on the south coast of the state. For this reason the Faberges might have more success in Toodyay, despite the dry hot summers.
In the end, we’ll see.
by confessions on Jul 24, 2011 at 9:05 pm
Diogenes
I can only say read the menu and weep. The companion wine list is pretty damn fine as well.
http://www.loosebox.com.au/cms/default.asp
The trufles are locally produced. We even have a festival. I be there next week !!
http://www.mundaringtrufflefestival.com/Pages/default.aspx
by poroti on Jul 24, 2011 at 9:07 pm
You’re a good man Poroti – I like you.
by drake on Jul 24, 2011 at 9:07 pm
drake
Well back in the day before sparkies became CUB’s ( Cashed Up Bogans) they were all CFMEU types or as we called them “Can’t Fecking Make Em Work Unuion”
by poroti on Jul 24, 2011 at 9:12 pm
vic
He’ll find some way of saying that the white, right wing christian terror network is just a front for al-qaeda, and that brown skinned heathens are behind it.
by Dan Gulberry on Jul 24, 2011 at 9:13 pm
Numbnuts is reported to be in Townsville tonight and no doubt it will be a private dinner with party faithful and security on the door.
No announcements where he will visit tomorrow so i don’t know where to go to say Giday and rattle off Boerwars list of his achievements.
He will no doubt show up somewhere and tell us all that Castle hill will become an island when the sea levels rise because of Global warming or the cost of electricity will rise on Magnetic Island because the dugongs are eating all the seagrass in Cleveland Bay before they have to pay a carbon tax on it.
If i hear where he is going i will go for a look.
Oh for the good old days when there were free for alls at the local town hall and you knew who and when they would be there.
by Gaffhook on Jul 24, 2011 at 9:14 pm
Dan Gulberry
I expect nothing less from thr esteemed Bolt. (vomits)
by victoria on Jul 24, 2011 at 9:16 pm
At least get within earshot of him and shout out “dickhead”. He’ll be expecting it.
by It’s Time on Jul 24, 2011 at 9:18 pm
If you are into truffles Dio, then plan your trip to the Loose Box to coincide with the Mundaring Truffle Festival – in the past Alain had a special truffle degustation menu for the event, and I’m sure he still does. The Loose Box have gorgeous accommodation as well, so you can indulge and stay the night.
by confessions on Jul 24, 2011 at 9:18 pm
Gillard vs Howard Sattler Round 2.
http://www.6pr.com.au/blogs/6pr-perth-blog/gillard-v-sattler-round-2/20110721-1hqby.html
by Frank Calabrese on Jul 24, 2011 at 9:19 pm
Gaffhook
If you had the opportunity, You would do an excellent job of putting Abbott back in his box, and I would gladly pay to see that!
by victoria on Jul 24, 2011 at 9:21 pm
Not disappeared, I just can’t see why I should argue a mysterious ‘point’ and deny you your ‘victory’. You know, like shooting fish in a 1cm barrel.
As far as I can make out, you think I don’t get that this guy is a ‘Christian Conservative’, and that it is why he did it. The argument actually morphed from ‘that is why he did it’ – for which there is no evidence, to ‘it contributed to his mindset’ which is hard to argue with since anything, and everything, probably contributed to his mindset. I find it hard to swallow ‘OBL was out to make the world rabid Islamist’ though.That one takes the cake.
Am I missing the point?
That aside, seems like the guy is a self-described ‘cultural Conservative’. What is a “cultural Conservative’? A bit of a puzzle. From what I can make out, it seems to be a conservative that is liberal otherwise, except when it comes to ‘Culture”and immigrants that subvert it. He is a ‘Liberal Conservative’. hard to place exactly.
I can’t for the life of me understand how, if he is supposed to be loony right-wing religious christian wing-nut, he hates homophobes, they are supposed to love homophobes.
Mmmmm …
this from his manifesto
Nothing about godless heathens there. Sounds like something he plagiarized from the Atheist Andrew Bolts blog. A lot of what he says could come from Andrew Bolts blog.
Have a look
it is a small list (over 1,000) of his posts translated into English.
by JohD on Jul 24, 2011 at 9:25 pm
JohD
Have you seen post at 2515?
by victoria on Jul 24, 2011 at 9:27 pm
SkyNewsBreak Sky Sources: Six people arrested in Oslo following Police raid, Police trying to access two chemical containers at same address
Hmmm
by gusface on Jul 24, 2011 at 9:29 pm
I seriously doubt Anders Behring even regularly attended Church. He does not talk religion at all, except when he ranting about Islam.
by JohD on Jul 24, 2011 at 9:31 pm
link to support or not this supposition?
by Scarpat on Jul 24, 2011 at 9:33 pm
johd scarps dio scorps
umm
religion is a different beast in the scands
not sure where this is heading or going?
by gusface on Jul 24, 2011 at 9:35 pm
fess and poroti
We’re looking at going to Broome and the Kimberleys next year. I’ll try and persuade Mrs D to let me go to the Truffle Dinner on the way. She’s not a truffle fan at all though.
by Diogenes on Jul 24, 2011 at 9:36 pm
gus
The whole thing is really weird; it’s like there were two crimes.
One being the bomb, carefully planned and normally involving a few people, and then the spree killing which is almost always a solo crime of someone who has snapped and lost it completely.
by Diogenes on Jul 24, 2011 at 9:38 pm
For goodness sake, does one have to justify, verify, and provide authority for any self held belief expressed on this blog?
JohD is stating his view, not proving a mathematical theory.
by Fulvio Sammut on Jul 24, 2011 at 9:38 pm
Yes Victoria, just noticed it.
This guy moves in very creepy circles. This is no right-wing religious nut. Even the casualties figures are horrifying. It takes an icy cold person to kill so many people in cold blood.
by JohD on Jul 24, 2011 at 9:40 pm
Fulvio, no but it helps.
by Scarpat on Jul 24, 2011 at 9:40 pm
I gave them the link Flavio, they don’t want to read, they want to shoot fish in a barrel.
by JohD on Jul 24, 2011 at 9:41 pm
You’re no fun at all, Scarpat.
by Fulvio Sammut on Jul 24, 2011 at 9:42 pm