We continue to await the return of Newspoll for the year, which I imagine might be forthcoming ahead of the return of parliament next week. With Essential Research having an off week in the fortnightly cycle, this leaves me with nothing to report on the poll front. Two bits of electoral news worth noting are that the Liberals won the supplementary election for the Victorian state seat of Narracan as expected on Saturday, confirming lower house numbers of 56 for Labor, 19 for the Liberals, nine for the Nationals and four for the Greens; and that Northern Territory Chief Minister Natasha Fyles has announced that the by-election for the seat of Arafura, following the death of Labor member Lawrence Costa on December 17, will be held on March 18. With that, over to you.
Mostly Interested says:
Friday, February 3, 2023 at 10:46 am
According to the Party Room podcast Senator Lidia Thorpe isn’t at/didnt attend the Greens retreat to decide their position on the Voice referendum.
So how does that work if they don’t have their FN spokesperson in the room to decide such an important FN matter?
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Fair question imo. What this does suggest, in the absence of any other information or facts, is that there is no clear position on The Voice in the Greens. There isn’t necessarily even a suggestion of significant support for The Voice. That there is no indication at least suggests some reasonable level of disunity in The Greens compared with what polls suggest the public appears to think is a fairly clear issue. I think many would find this surprising.
While the reports from Bludgerville’s RCWatch have been enjoyable and often very LOL there is a depressing thought.. The likelihood of these unfortunate goats being tossed into the Robodebt volcano are just the ‘unlucky’ ones. Should a similar penetrating gaze be cast upon any number of areas of government administration we’d probably see and hear all the same tales.
Former prime minister Scott Morrison’s decision to stop a controversial gas field from being explored off the NSW coastline is set to be overturned, after the federal government and the gas companies agreed to end a looming court battle.
The federal government and the two gas companies, Asset Energy and Bounty Oil & Gas, applied to the Federal Court for consent orders to end the legal action which, if granted, would nullify the Morrison government’s decision.
Asset and Bounty took the federal government to court claiming that the decision made by Morrison, who secretly swore himself in as resources minister, was “infected by actual bias”. The government denies the claim.
Re the bountiful Self Managed Super Funds. You’ll probably find Salary Sacrifice is the cause of a lot of it. My son was even offered it and he’s just a lowly NDIS Carer. 🙂
That’s a blow about PEP11. Hopefully the Environment Minister knocks it back.
Greggery has been harsher with this witness than with almost any other witness. Well deserved too.
Alpo says:
Friday, February 3, 2023 at 11:09 am
Open for comments in The Guardian:
“The no side in the voice referendum has misread the mood among migrants”
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/feb/03/the-no-side-in-the-voice-referendum-has-misread-the-mood-among-migrants
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Well, that side of politics are nothing if not extraordinarily consistent, they misread the mood of the majority of Australians all of the time.
Often those who know the truth about egregious behaviour and say and do nothing about it are viewed very dimly indeed by those who prosecute crime.
I think Mr Jason McNamara will be getting an invitation to Hearing Block 4 after PwC has recorded him of saying WTTE the government is only interested the money and doesn’t care how they do it as long as there are no silly political problems.
“Two Russian missiles struck Kramatorsk on Thursday, after an apartment block in the eastern Ukrainian city was hit on Wednesday night, killing at least killing three people and injuring 20. The latest strikes resulted in civilian casualties, said the head of the regional military administration, Pavlo Kyrylenko, but it was not clear how many. In addition, two people were killed by Russian shelling in the southern Kherson region.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/03/russia-ukraine-war-at-a-glance-what-we-know-on-day-345-of-the-invasion
For an in-depth report from Kramatorsk itself, listen to Roland Oliphant’s section of the latest episode of the (UK) Telegraph’s podcast Ukraine: The Latest (from about 2:00 to about 18:00)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=le6ABeXU0G8
IF you are very proficient at one area of your job description, so say lobbying, but not proficient in another area (so engagement with constituents), what is the ultimate outcome?
And these COO’s do not work 9-5
As does not any COO
Cronus
Sure that’s one reading.
Or they knew they could not get consensus with Senator Thorpe in the room. So have tacitly all agreed to reach a ‘party position’ without her.
Realpolitik on behalf of Bande?
poroti says:
Friday, February 3, 2023 at 12:12 pm
While the reports from Bludgerville’s RCWatch have been enjoyable and often very LOL there is a depressing thought.. The likelihood of these unfortunate goats being tossed into the Robodebt volcano are just the ‘unlucky’ ones. Should a similar penetrating gaze be cast upon any number of areas of government administration we’d probably see and hear all the same tales.
_________________________________
One of the key objectives of this commission, I hope, will be recommendations that can apply across the whole of the APS. It has certainly revealed fundamental problems with the way the Commonwealth government does its legal business.
However, I have never come across any government program which has had such an adverse impact on such a large number of fairly helpless people on such poor administrative and legal foundations. I hope I never see such a thing again. And it was all about money and votes by demonising a segment of society.
“Holdenhillbilly says:
Friday, February 3, 2023 at 11:58 am
Albanese says National Cabinet also discussed mobilising superannuation funds into housing supply.”
I am not sure what’s impeding Super Funds from investing in the building of new homes right now.
I think there is much more to this robodebt scandal to come.
There was legal advice that said it was illegal that no one knew about. They didn’t want to know I reckon.
I believe cabinet members knew. An Emeritus Professor in Administrative Law who worked part time at the AAT said it was illegal. He should have been routinely reappointed at the end of his term but the cabinet decided not to. WHY?
Cabinet deliberations are supposedly secret. Much of government practice relies on tradition and precedent. In 2014 Abbott gave the Pink Batts Royal Commission access to cabinet material in order to damage the ALP. Albanese should return the favour.
porotisays:
Friday, February 3, 2023 at 12:12 pm
Should a similar penetrating gaze be cast upon any number of areas of government administration we’d probably see and hear all the same tales.
_____________________
Yep. We saw exactly the same thing in Victoria with the Hotel Quarantine Inquiry.
Bk
I’m sure you’ll recall McNamara from earlier.
His approach to the commission could best be described as confident.
Including his pride at nobbling the ombudsman.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-12-05/qld-robodebt-scheme-government-royal-commission-reports/101644614
Rossmcg
Yes I do. He was excused as I recall but not immune to being served another bluey.
A Ukrainian perspective on how the war currently ravaging his country should ultimately be resolved:
“[Biden and Scholz] risk losing sight of the reality: There are only two possible outcomes of Russia’s war against Ukraine. Victory or Defeat.
Any notion of a solution at the negotiating table ignores the facts that the Ukrainian nation will continue to fight long after the Ukrainian state has been forced to compromise and that Russia – a country that has grown for centuries at the cost of its neighbours – will never change.
In the words of former foreign minister of Poland and now EU lawmaker Anna Fotyga:
“Russia has not changed over the centuries. It is driven by the same imperial instincts, repeating the same scheme: conquest, genocide, colonization, and then seeking a silent acceptance of the status quo, bribing the international community through a mirage of economic cooperation or the illusion of a vast Russian market. We cannot be misled into thinking that Moscow is a part of the solution to any global problems.”
Limited and conditional support to Ukraine does not reduce the risk of a broader confrontation between Russia and NATO. Nor does slow, incremental and halfhearted support.
The present strategy increases the risk that the ongoing broader confrontation will continue to escalate.
Why? Because it is fundamentally reactive, leaving the West to respond to Russia’s next escalation.
It is time to acknowledge that Russia is waging a hybrid war against both NATO and EU members and act accordingly.”
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/11760
I couldn’t agree more.
Mr Greggery is now publicly embarrassing Mr West.
sprocket: “The older you are, the longer you live – is statistically proven.”
A thing I learned many years ago is just how little life expectancy has increased over the past two centuries when you remove the radical reduction in infant mortality. In the past couple of centuries, if you got to age 21, your life expectancy has gone up by about 15 years, while in statistical terms, it will have increased by about 35 years.
Rossmcg
From memory, but being in my ninth decade it might be deficient, McNamara was not “excused” after his initial appearance. Very evident today why so, if so.
Edit : added if so
BL
That’s interesting – and typical of Mr Greggery’s long game approach.
BK
I’m not certain, but…..
Labor are moving to approve fossil fuel projects that even the Liberals were planning to block. Combined with setting an emissions reduction target that will be delivered by BAU/State Government action, and acting to ensure polluters can use dodgy offsets to meet the mediocre targets. The climate wars are well and truly over. Global warming has won.
Of Labor’s signature policies this term, most are about style over substance. The only one that will actually deliver on what’s promised is Labor’s policy of huge, unaffordable tax cuts for millionaires
“Voice Endeavour says:
Friday, February 3, 2023 at 12:40 pm
… The only one that will actually deliver on what’s promised is Labor’s policy of huge, unaffordable tax cuts for millionaires”
Here, inform yourself before writing all that nonsense:
The ALP offered Scomo to divide the tax bill into two parts: tax cuts for poor and middle class, that the ALP supported, and S-3 for the rich and famous that the ALP didn’t support. S-3 was to be decided upon after the federal election. But Scomo rejected the proposal and instead offered an omnibus bill: tax cuts for everybody now or tax cuts for nobody. Had the ALP rejected the omnibus bill they would have been accused by Scomo of denying the poor and middle class much needed tax cuts. Result: the ALP might have lost the 2022 federal election and Scomo would still be our PM. Thankfully, Albo was smart, supported the omnibus bill and the Coalition lost the election!!
Now, S-3 will be only effective for one year, the last year of the current ALP government term, and it’s ridiculous for the ALP to backtrack on their promise, as they will be obviously accused by Dutton, Murdoch and the 9-Network of being LIARS (remember the JuLiar campaign?), thus jeopardising their chances at the next federal election. Instead, they should simply offer a new taxation regime to the voters at the next federal election and, if they win (and the ALP will win), then introduce the changes that will now have the full support of the majority of Australians.
How difficult is all that to understand?
Shane West seems very contrite & forthcoming..
Alpo: “I am not sure what’s impeding Super Funds from investing in the building of new homes right now.”
Certainty of returns.
‘Voice Endeavour says:
Friday, February 3, 2023 at 12:40 pm
Labor are moving to approve fossil fuel projects that even the Liberals were planning to block. Combined with setting an emissions reduction target that will be delivered by BAU/State Government action, and acting to ensure polluters can use dodgy offsets to meet the mediocre targets. The climate wars are well and truly over. Global warming has won.
Of Labor’s signature policies this term, most are about style over substance. The only one that will actually deliver on what’s promised is Labor’s policy of huge, unaffordable tax cuts for millionaires’
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The Labor Government is behaving exactly as it promised to do during the election campaign. It was elected to majority government so to do.
It has legislated 43/30 as per the election promises.
It is now beginning to deliver on the legislative and major program package required to deliver 43/30.
If you don’t like that, tough titty. Based on past bitter experience Dutton and Bandt will join forces to delay progress, putting the 43/30 outcome in doubt.
I suggest the Greens sort themselves out on their 14 Voice positions before they start snarking at the Labor Government doing what it promised.
Cronus
”
Alpo says:
Friday, February 3, 2023 at 11:09 am
Open for comments in The Guardian:
“The no side in the voice referendum has misread the mood among migrants”
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/feb/03/the-no-side-in-the-voice-referendum-has-misread-the-mood-among-migrants
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Well, that side of politics are nothing if not extraordinarily consistent, they misread the mood of the majority of Australians all of the time.”
It is hard to know the mood of the majority, when you only mix with and care about the interests of a shrinking minority (church going older Australians of anglo saxon descent)
@Alpo – your argument is that it’s ok for Labor to be a year in, only have one real impactful policy, and for the policy to be this terrible. That’s all fine, because they were tricked by an idiot into agreeing to the policy.
That’s just not good enough.
It’s Labor’s policy, it’s shit. That’s all that matters.
Being government is about doing what needs to be done for the good of the country. Government by focus group and three word slogan is just more of the same shit we lived through under the Coalition
In terms of life expectancy correlated with age, would not some aged 90, say, have a better chance of attaining 91 than someone merely 60 have of reaching 91? In other words, “The older you get the longer you live.” is kinda obvious.
Edit: spelling
Holdenhillbilly says:
Friday, February 3, 2023 at 11:57 am
PM: He starts off giving more details about the statement of support for the voice, which the state and territory leaders have signed: Today, all first ministers, in recognition of our commitment for constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as Australia’s first Peoples, and also with a voice to parliament being enshrined in our constitution, recommitted and signed up to a statement of intent to secure a successful referendum in the second half of this year.
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So the Federal Government and all State Governments are in agreement. The Federal Opposition is the only group therefore that is in outright apparent disagreement. I suppose it’s statistically possible that the Coalition and the No vote are on the right side of history ….. but probably not.
“Labor announces $750m Medicare boost”…
Step by step we keep moving forward… Never ever retreat!
“It is now beginning to deliver on the legislative and major program package required to deliver 43/30”
There is no legislative and major program package required to deliver 43/30. It’s like when governments commit to create x number of jobs in the term of government, when x is just equal to the number of jobs that would naturally be created based on our increasing population.
Albo from Marketing is following in the footsteps of his predecessor.
VE: ” it’s shit. That’s all that matters.”
Perhaps you should be looking closer to home for your opprobrium and reflect on the Greens voice policy.
Taylormade says:
Friday, February 3, 2023 at 12:31 pm
porotisays:
Friday, February 3, 2023 at 12:12 pm
Should a similar penetrating gaze be cast upon any number of areas of government administration we’d probably see and hear all the same tales.
_____________________
Yep. We saw exactly the same thing in Victoria with the Hotel Quarantine Inquiry.
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LOL Taylormade
From Rick Morton: “Greggery dispatches PwC’s Shane West who is so thoroughly re-arranged by that inquisition he is now North. “
BW
I suggest the Greens sort themselves out on their 14 Voice positions before they start snarking at the Labor Government doing what it promised.
_________________________________
It is always easier to point out others’ flaws than to deal with your own problems.
The only good thing about Ms Thorpe’s outbursts are that they will have very little impact on votes for the voice and a lot more on the Greens continuation as a serious political party.
Voice Endeavour says:
Friday, February 3, 2023 at 12:58 pm
‘….
Albo from Marketing is following in the footsteps of his predecessor.
….’
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Unlike the Greens who can only stunt, shout and delay, Labor is delivering substance on climate action. I can see why the Greens hate that.
Why are you deflecting from your Voice policy trash?
Bandt needs to be managed out.
@Pi – Labor put up a shit proposal, the Greens are busy studying it with a microscope to determine if it’s 1/10th of a step forward or 1/10th of a step backwards. They will order a new microscope and finalise a position when they can determine whether it’s worth supporting or not.
Meanwhile, they will continue to push Labor to take real action, and Labor will continue to back their ally Dutton in opposing action.
BK
people might like to know that google tells me that before PwC Mr West was in financial management and analysis at Defence Dept.
And we have an insight into how that works.
Oh, sorry, I thought it was the Greens siding with Dutton to oppose action – we are discussing the Voice, aren’t we?
” Labor put up a shit proposal, the Greens are busy studying it with a microscope to determine if it’s 1/10th of a step forward or 1/10th of a step backwards. They will order a new microscope and finalise a position when they can determine whether it’s worth supporting or not.”
So more details? That’s the Peter Dutton response.
Anyone else been able to cast the robodebt stream to their TV? I’m not seeing any way to do it.
All this talk of PwC’s fine partners and I walk past one on the way to a meeting. I wonder if I was the only one to chuckle in his general direction today.
Why would super funds invest in housing and carry risk for a 3-4% return? Basically the government needs to kick in or give a tax concession worth another 3-4% to make it worth their while.
Why they allow foreign ownership of residential housing who knows? I think Howard allowed it in – its an obvious one to change I would have thought – but then people like observer’s kids wouldn’t get rich on capital gains.
You are absolutely right Torchbearer and it is an absolute disgrace that the Italian government has not taken responsibility for the denial of the rights of barbarians committed by the Roman Empire
Without Thorpe present or uninvited it does give the Greens the opportunity to discuss possible replacements.
Anyone else been able to cast the robodebt stream to their TV? I’m not seeing any way to do it.
_______
Asha
1. You need a smart TV that is connected to your wi-fi network
2. Your computer, phone, etc that you use must also be connected to your network
3. You must use Google Chrome browser
4. Bring up the livestream on your device
5. At the top right of your Chrome browser there are three dots arranged vertically. Click on this for a dropdown menu to appear and chose “Cast”. It will than show you the available TVs to which you can cast. Select the one you want
6. Voila!