The government introduced four electoral reform bills to parliament yesterday. Antony Green offers a good overview that notes what’s missing from the recommendations of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters’ inquiry into the 2019 election: the particularly contentions measures of voter identification and optional preferential voting, and arrangements for handling an election during the pandemic, which will presumably have to follow at a later time.
To summarise:
• The most striking is a bill to triple the number of members required of a registered political party to 1500 and to disallow the registration of parties whose names contain, with limited exceptions, words already used in the name of a pre-existing party. The former requirement does not affect the significant exception that exists for parties with seats in parliament, as applies to Katter’s Australian Party, the Centre Alliance and the Jacqui Lambie Network (Antony Green notes it also helped Fraser Anning’s Conservative National Party to both register and blag free ABC air time before the last election, not that this proved notably helpful to them). Parties will have three months after the passage of the bill to either pass muster or face deregistration, in which case they will not be identified on ballot papers or eligible for public funding. This would appear to be one in the eye for the Liberal Democrats, who this week confirmed Campbell Newman as their Senate candidate in Queensland.
• A bill encompassing “counting, scrutiny and operational efficiencies” gives effect to JSCEM’s recommendation that the pre-poll voting period should be cut from three weeks to two, which the Coalition, Labor and Greens members were all on board with. It also allows for pre-poll votes to be pre-processed in the two hours before polls close so the actual counting of the votes can begin without delay, which should address an issue of recent election nights in which election day booths are mostly in by 8pm but pre-poll voting centres often aren’t until 11pm to midnight. Similarly, the bill allows for postal votes to be pre-processed so more of them can be counted on Sunday.
• An “electoral offences and preventing multiple voting” bill includes a measure to prevent those suspected of multiple voting from persisting in doing so, and one to target behaviour the Liberal Party has complained of being subjected to by GetUp! activists, specifically “violence, obscene or discriminatory abuse, property damage and harassment or stalking”. Former electoral administrator Michael Maley wonders if the latter measure might capture heckling or asking difficult questions; electoral law expert Graham Orr notes it brings the activities of FriendlyJordies to mind.
• A bill to lower the threshold for which third parties campaigning at elections will have to register as political campaigners, requiring them to file annual financial disclosure returns. The current six-figure threshold does seem on the high side, but the cause of “public confidence in Australia’s political processes” would surely be better served by lowering the threshold for declaring donations to political parties.
Other news:
• The Australian Electoral Commission has published the full panoply of reports and data relevant to the now finalised federal redistributions of Victoria and Western Australia. Antony Green has worked his estimated margins into a finalised 2022 federal election pendulum.
• Rachel Siewert, Greens Senator for Western Australia, announced on social media this week that she will resign her position in the Senate next month. This will allow the party’s preselected lead Senate candidate, Dorinda Cox, to build her profile ahead of next year’s election, a common practice for the Greens.
It is not now, nor ever was, a joke. Simply a demonstration that, most of the time, you have little real understanding of that about which you prattle. It is an absolutely serious question. You just do not know what the question means, it seems.
Roy
Sounds like an Aussie song.
This chap avoided getting an Arsehole of the Week Nomination from BK but has to resign himself to second prize of being banged up for 10 years in Ken Behra instead.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-17/canberra-publican-joshua-leemhuis-sentenced-to-nearly-ten-years/100385058
yabba @ #3151 Tuesday, August 17th, 2021 – 9:24 pm
Sorry, I will admit to many faults, but I cannot be held responsible for your lack of a sense of humour.
Mavis @ #3144 Tuesday, August 17th, 2021 – 9:13 pm
If you were at all a recorder of the blog, as you style yourself to be, you would have noted that, too many times people have attempted to do just that, only to be confronted with characteristic gobshite behaviour from Player One, in return. Or, in other words, a personal attack. have you not read any of the slimy ripostes Player One directs at me, knowing that only others can see them? I fail to understand why you never mentioned that side of the equation.
Not to mention that no one is under any obligation to debate with Player One, as you seem to be suggesting be the case. Possibly this has to do with the predictably bizarre nature of the positions Player One takes and which are beyond reason.
So, no Mavis, I won’t be taking up your suggestion. Although I admit, I can’t stop you wasting your days away doing same.
“ Sorry, I will admit to many faults, but I cannot be held responsible for your lack of a sense of humour.”
Riddle me this, P1: who exactly do you think is laughing along with you and your sense of … humour?
C@tmomma @ #3155 Tuesday, August 17th, 2021 – 9:29 pm
Since you have apparently never seen them, how would you know? And why would you care?
Andrew_Earlwood @ #3156 Tuesday, August 17th, 2021 – 9:29 pm
And I’m buggered if I can remember Player One ever admitting to any faults either?
Andrew_Earlwood @ #3156 Tuesday, August 17th, 2021 – 9:29 pm
You know what is really difficult? Explaining what ‘a sense of humour’ is to those who don’t have one.
This was alluded to earlier today..
NSW Health has decided to stop publishing Covid exposure sites in greater Sydney, unless they are high risk, after the list ballooned to thousands of locations over the past week.
The La Trobe University school of psychology and public health Associate Prof Hassan Vally said the decision was a marked departure from what the public had come to expect – and was “surprising”….
“There is a concern that you erode confidence and people believe that there’s some ulterior motive. It is better in this sort of crisis situation to give people all the information ….
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/aug/17/nsw-stops-publishing-low-risk-sydney-covid-exposure-sites-due-to-high-volume
It’s just Gladys just improving the mushroom farm
“ You know what is really difficult? Explaining what ‘a sense of humour’ is to those who don’t have one.”
like the rest of humanity, you mean.
Poor ole’ P1 – no one else really measures up to your standards do they. What a hoot you would be to meet in person. I’m sure you keep your eco tourist clients in stitches, regaling them with how you sent poor old Trog to an early grave. Over gas peakers! Lols.
Not to mention just how droll you are with your ‘the gibbons’ and ‘elevators’ little jokes. Everybody on the board was in stitches over those ones. Such wit.
Regarding Hitler, World War II and what might have been.
I doubt Hitler wanted the French to move into the German Rhineland after the German army re-occupied it, against the terms of the hated Treaty of Versailles. The German army wasn’t yet up to fighting a protracted war and Hitler suddenly backing down and withdrawing troops from German territory, would have been a terrible loss of face.
It might have crippled his support among his generals and the German public to the point where further military moves would have been out of the question.
Hitler gambled, wanting propaganda victories, then real military conquests in Austria and Czechoslovakia before waging a wider war of conquest across Europe.
Hitler more than likely could have been stopped earlier; in the Rhineland and at Munich.
Had that happened, would historians today laud the western powers for standing up to fascism, or would they accuse them of over-reacting to a dictator who probably only wanted to shore up his country’s wounded pride?
Are people suggesting that they wouldn’t go somewhere that was an exposure site?
If you weren’t there at the time of the exposure, then it would pose no more risk than any other similar venue.
The information is only relevant in regards to contract tracing and potential cases.
C@tmomma:
Tuesday, August 17, 2021 at 9:29 pm
Whatever, as the young tend to say. If that’s not to you’re liking, sobeit. But let it be known that you don’t sit on the fence, and I respect you for said quality.
That is something I’ve wondered about Exposure Sites. How long are they ‘radioactive’ with the Delta Variant for after someone has visited the site?
Creator and ‘godfather’ of Sudoku dies aged 69
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-17/sudoku-creator-dies/100385554
Sir Henry Parkes:
Tuesday, August 17, 2021 at 9:46 pm
I trust not an invocation of Godwin? By the way, are you familiar with ol’ Clem Lloyd, Gough’s press secretary, latterly a professor of journalism (1994) – surely a contradiction of terms? In point of fact, dear old Clem used to say, “Mavis, you’re verbosity is only exceeded by your verbosity.
Almost three years after famously declaring he has no ambitions to run the country, Scott Morrison says nothing has changed.
“I was very clear back in August 2018 that I had no intention to lead this country, and that is still my position today. I’m a man of my word,” Mr Morrison told journalists today. “I said it then, and I’ll say it again now – I’ll leave the running of the country to others. I’m happy in my current position”.
Sources within the Liberal Party confirm Mr Morrison has been true to his promise. “There have been rumours that he’s been working behind the scenes, but that’s simply not the case. He’s done nothing,” one senior Liberal MP said.
Another said he had seen no signs that Morrison wanted the job. “He’s had plenty of opportunities over the past three years to take control, but he’s been content not to. He’s been good to his word”.
Asked if he may have ambitions to lead the country in the future, Mr Morrison said, “Absolutely none”.
Courtesy of the Shovel
Jaeger @ #3166 Tuesday, August 17th, 2021 – 8:01 pm
I’ve always loved number puzzles like sudoku and one of the great discoveries of the pandemic is a YouTube channel called Cracking the Cryptic. Hours of enjoyment watching two Pommie guys solve some amazing sudokus.
Many are blindingly difficult, some videos are more than an hour long, but the logic of the solves is a beauty to behold and there is great satisfaction where on occasions you solve a puzzle before watching the video for a hint.
They even have their own software where you can to try solve them as well.
Vale Maki, you left your mark.
I am not surprised that Victoria is ahead of the pack with indigenous vaccinations purely because of the size of the state. They don’t have to deal with the tyranny of distance.
Yep.
https://www.themonthly.com.au/today/rachel-withers/2021/17/2021/1629179827/empty-words
Scott Morrison. The Master of the Empty Gesture.
Barney in Tanjung Bunga:
Tuesday, August 17, 2021 at 10:17 pm
[‘Vale Maki, you left your mark.’]
Indeed!
The Dirty Wars..
Afghanistan 2013
Documentary
https://thoughtmaybe.com/dirty-wars/
Some background …. on the mess.
Ditto, and thanks for the heads up re the youtube channel.
Sudoku is so relaxing, for me. Every night (or every day after a sleepless night) when I get into bed, I can’t help myself, I have to do Sudoku. It doesn’t matter how tired I am, I have to solve a puzzle. Often I awake to find a pencil in one hand and a sudoku booklet in the other. And I’m immediately back into it.
My younger son has become concerned with my obsession. His OH’s aunt, a retired biology teacher, also has this affliction. She recently bought a property and now has an almond plantation to prevent her continuing in this manner.
I’m seriously trying to wean myself.
Someone’s been leaving these cards in letterboxes around here (business card size):
There’s nothing on the back, no identification. Just a message that it’s going to be OK and an origami bird.
C@t
“That is something I’ve wondered about Exposure Sites. How long are they ‘radioactive’ with the Delta Variant for after someone has visited the site?”
Not that long really. Ignoring for the moment the possibility of viable virus sitting on surfaces, a few minutes in a well ventilated environment. Half an hour or so in a really dodgy unventilated place. As for surfaces, they usually get a “deep clean”, but of course that might be days later when someone finally figures out where someone has been. At which point the virus has long gone.
The whole process has become a bit of a farce really.
And did I hear that today, NSW Health is giving up on issuing exposure site warnings for big public places like shops because they just can’t handle the workload and prefer to focus on homes/workplaces?
Thanks for that, Cudly. 🙂
Yes, you are correct in thinking that the NSW government will no longer be listing every exposure site. There’s just too many now. I believe there’s an interactive map that lists them for your local area. I’m only going on short term memory from comments made earlier today here though.
Wow, that’s amazing, Steve777! I want one! However, it’s given me an idea. I have chalk and I might surreptitiously put the same message on the ground somewhere around here. 🙂
It’s a moot point whether or not we should ever have been in Afghanistan in the first place. I supported our involvement at the start. But our Government’s failure to evacuate so many Afghani nationals who worked with our forces, abandoning them to the Taliban, is shameful.
Katy Gallagher just posted on Facebook that her young daughter Evie tested positive to Covid in Canberra today (one of the 17) and is feeling unwell. Katy and the rest of the family tested negative but are in quarantine.
Very sad 🙁
Old Clem also used to emphasise, “Mavis, check your grammar, syntax, spelling, punctuation but above all, the veracity of your sources”.
“ Katy Gallagher@SenKatyG
This morning we were advised that my gorgeous daughter Evie has tested positive for COVID-19. One of Canberra’s 17 positive cases today.
My full statement is available on this link or on my Facebook page. “
https://katygallagher.com.au/news/media-releases/personal-statement-on-covid-19/
Steve777 @ #3179 Tuesday, August 17th, 2021 – 10:45 pm
Australia has form when it comes to hating on migrants and refugees. Especially when they come from the Middle East. Or are we changing that now? I think you’ve got the wrong party in charge Federally if you’re looking for change.
I’ve been musing/thinking about this all last night and most of today.
Different sides of the same coin.
In the West, women are (mostly) still regarded as sex objects. The solution in the West is to maximise the titillation, and thereby reduce status. Just check your nearest billboard.
In Afghanistan, women are (mostly) still regarded as sex objects. The solution in Afghanistan is to minimise the titillation, and thereby reduce status. Just check the public stonings.
On both sides of the coin, women’s achievements are minimised.
And FFS, men, on here, don’t take offence. I’m merely thinking out loud. I’m not talking about you, I’m thinking of the likes of incel, etc.
And I’m thinking about the women who were never given recognition for their achievements, but of the men who took the accolade for a woman’s discovery, like Irishwoman Jocelyn Bell Burnell, the woman who discovered pulsars.
Like this: I Changed Astronomy Forever. He Won the Nobel Prize for It. | ‘Almost Famous’ by Op-Docs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDW9zKqvPJI&ab_channel=TheNewYorkTimes
And I’m wondering, what’s so different now.
Re my post earlier on the Dirty War
There is some harrowing footage there..
I had to stop watching.. I will get back to it.. I’ve never seen anything like this in my life. I feel compelled … their suffering has to be acknowledged. Sorry
I shouldn’t have posted link without a warning.
All I can say is fuck them all Biden, Obama, Clinton, Bush.. all of them.
” Australia has form when it comes to hating on migrants and refugees. Especially when they come from the Middle East. Or are we changing that now? I think you’ve got the wrong party in charge Federally if you’re looking for change.”
You’ve said aloud what I was thinking… that maybe it’s not just another instance of incompetence.
kezza2:
Tuesday, August 17, 2021 at 11:04 pm
[‘I’ve been musing/thinking about this all last night and most of today.
Different sides of the same coin.
In the West, women are (mostly) still regarded as sex objects. The solution in the West is to maximise the titillation, and thereby reduce status. Just check your nearest billboard.’]
I find your post sexist.
Sceptic
Obama was such a disappointment. I don’t think he was a great orator, at all. When pressed, he can barely get two words together in a fairly coherent fashion. I think he only got there because he was a good looking dude. But, he kept to the status quo, and that’s all that matters to the prodigious American diet for continual patriotic-flag campaigning.
I’m sure you do. That’s why I took pains to relieve your inevitable findings.
Like this: I Changed Astronomy Forever. He Won the Nobel Prize for It. I heard her being interviewed on the ABC during a long drive (The Science Show?). An impressive lady.
kezza2:
Tuesday, August 17, 2021 at 11:25 pm
[‘Mavis says:
I find your post sexist.’]
kezza2 says:
[‘That’s why I took pains to relieve your inevitable findings.’]
I still consider your first post sexist – call me old-fashioned if you will. Pepys.
Whatever, Mavis,
You obviously don’t want to think about what I’ve argued. You just want to cling on to the first sentence. And take your angst from there. And that’s what I pre-empted. That’s your prerogative.
Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.
Mavis
Have a look at yourself.
You, who laughs at a nephew for being so naive as to not want to be yelled at, in joining one of the armed forces. Your nephew obviously wants some respect. You seem to think that respect is a repellent aim.
And that’s probably what happened to you. You don’t get to think for yourself when you are obeying commands at all times.
P1 sees himself as a maverick, as being cleverer than the rest, as being an ‘individual’. I bet he has one of those really stupid modern christian names too, probably Maverick, or Ace or some such. In reality he’s just a twit!
I haven’t been here for many months…….
But., i read this:
“kezza2
Different sides of the same coin.
In the West, women are (mostly) still regarded as sex objects. The solution in the West is to maximise the titillation, and thereby reduce status. Just check your nearest billboard.
In Afghanistan, women are (mostly) still regarded as sex objects. The solution in Afghanistan is to minimise the titillation, and thereby reduce status. Just check the public stonings.”
—–
The same coin? a picture on a billboard and the stoning to death of a real woman is the same???
What obscene moral turpitude.
All the best, I may catch up in a few months. Maybe by then the coins will have different sides.
P.S. I always thought kezza was a woman, but maybe ‘wokeness’ overrides “sex”.
The Army strips you of humanity. It wants to turn you into a killer (kill or be killed).
I have first hand knowledge of this. My best friend’s fiance was called up in the death throes of the Vietman War. From a warm, loving person, he turned into a tyrant, from his training at Puckapunyal.
And he didn’t get to Vietnam, thankfully Whitlam put a stop to it.
But he abused my friend, badly. She loved him. Had four kids before she could no longer take the abuse.
Those kids are pretty much f*d, but slowly making a go of it. She’s re-married to a wonderful guy. However, those kids are forever scarred.
I have absolutely no sympathy for warmongers, or those who extol the virtues of the armed forces.
kezza2
Incel types are not representative of men and are the sort of men that women should stay clear off but saying western women and women in Afghanistan are treated the same is silly.
yabba @ #3023 Tuesday, August 17th, 2021 – 6:57 pm
By the way, have you managed to research why i matters in relation to electricity distribution?
i imagine i know, although an electrical engineer would probably call me j. It’s possibly too complex for P1
There’s something seriously wrong when I’m accused of saying that “western women and women in Afghanistan are treated the same”.
They’re not.
Otherwise there wouldn’t be fame on the one hand, and death on the other.
I’m beginning to think men aren’t as smart as they think they are.