Thursday miscellany: Greens and Liberal Senate vacancies, etc. (open thread)

Victorian Greens Senator Janet Rice to call it a day, Warren Mundine withdraws from contention to replace Marise Payne, and Josh Frydenberg confirms he will sit out the next election.

Apart from a few Indigenous Voice snippets, which I’m holding back for a dedicated post, the only polling action this week has been the regular Roy Morgan result, which has Labor leading 54-46, unchanged on last week, from primary votes of Labor 32.5% (up half), Coalition 35% (up half) and Greens 14% (down one-and-a-half). On the preselection front, there is the following to relate:

• Victorian Greens Senator Janet Rice has announced she will retire from parliament in the first half of next year. James Massola of The Age reports her successor will be chosen by a vote of 2000 to 3000 party members in November. The front-runner is Steph Hodgins-May, who has run three times for the party in Macnamara (known as Melbourne Ports up to 2016) and came within an ace of winning the seat in 2022. Other potential nominees are Monash councillor Josh Fergeus, academic and unionist Apsara Sabaratnam and lawyer Sarah Jefford.

• With Warren Mundine’s withdrawal last week from the preselection race to fill Marise Payne’s New South Wales Liberal Senate vacancy, the position is now thought likely to go to Andrew Constance, former state government minister and unsuccessful candidate for Gilmore at last year’s federal election. However, the Sydney Morning Herald reports he may face competition from one of a number of factional conservatives: “Mina Zaki, an Afghanistan-born, anti-Taliban activist and cyber expert at consulting firm KPMG; barrister Ishita Sethi; lawyer Pallavi Sinha; Monica Tudehope, who has previously worked as Dominic Perrottet’s policy director; and former NSW Liberal MP Lou Amato”. Mundine has opted to remain in the business sector, but the Sydney Morning Herald further noted he had “caused angst” among hitherto supportive conservatives by defying the no campaign line on the desirability of a treaty or a changed date for Australia Day. The Sydney Morning Herald earlier reported the preselection was not likely to be determined until November.

• Josh Frydenberg announced last week he will not seek to win Kooyong back from teal independent Monique Ryan at the next election. Rachel Baxendale of The Australian says this has left Liberals questioning who might take over as leader if circumstances demand it after the next election, with Andrew Hastie “described by several as the party’s best hope, despite his relative inexperience”. Amelia Hamer, director of strategy at tech start-up Airwallex, has been mentioned as a likely contender for the Liberal preselection in Frydenberg’s absence, while a report in The Age put forward a number of familiar names as potential starters: “Lucas Moon, an anti-pokies campaigner at Hawthorn RSL, Melbourne councillor Roshena Campbell, former candidate Georgina Downer, Caroline Elliot, or past Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chair Karyn Sobels”.

• Alexi Diemetriadi of The Australian reports Hunters Hill mayor Zac Miles has resigned from the Liberal state executive ahead of a run for Liberal preselection in Bennelong, and that Shoalhaven councillor and former deputy mayor Paul Ell is “understood” to be considering running in Gilmore, where he stood aside in favour of Andrew Constance before the last election.

• The Australian’s Feeding the Chooks round-up of Queensland politics relates that long-serving Labor members Graham Perrett and Shayne Neumann are under pressure to make way for female candidates in their seats of Moreton and Blair, with former state secretary Julie-Ann Campbell favoured by the Left in Moreton and state Ipswich MP Jennifer Howard “weighing up her options for a tilt at Blair”.

• Poll Bludger contributor Adrian Beaumont has a new post at The Conversation on developments in the campaign for the October 14 election in New Zealand.

Author: William Bowe

William Bowe is a Perth-based election analyst and occasional teacher of political science. His blog, The Poll Bludger, has existed in one form or another since 2004, and is one of the most heavily trafficked websites on Australian politics.

1,617 comments on “Thursday miscellany: Greens and Liberal Senate vacancies, etc. (open thread)”

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  1. Key opponents of the Indigenous Voice have switched sides in the final weeks of the referendum to back the Yes case after rising fears that a No victory would align them with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton or One Nation leader Pauline Hanson.

    The moves reveal the concerns among “progressive No” activists who initially rejected the Voice in favour of stronger action – such as a treaty first – but have moved away from the hardline stance taken by Indigenous senator Lidia Thorpe.

    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/blak-sovereignty-leaders-switch-to-yes-isolating-lidia-thorpe-20230926-p5e7tk.html

    Glad to see some of them are seeing sense. At the end of the day voting No is voting No. There are not different categories of No on the ballot paper for you to select from.

    Voting No is saying you don’t believe our constitution should be amended to reference our country’s First People.

  2. Dawn Patrollers
    I won’t have time to make a good fist of the Dawn Patrol this morning as I have animal duties to perform before getting ready for departure for an early dental appointment on the flatlands.

    And William, if you are around, did you see what caused yesterday’s Dawn Patrol to be stuck in moderation?

  3. Daniel Radcliffe has led tributes to his late Harry Potter co-star Michael Gambon whose global star rose after he played wizarding headmaster Albus Dumbledore in the popular films.

  4. Holdenhillbilly @ #3 Friday, September 29th, 2023 – 6:37 am

    Daniel Radcliffe has led tributes to his late Harry Potter co-star Michael Gambon whose global star rose after he played wizarding headmaster Albus Dumbledore in the popular films.

    This was required viewing at our place:

    The Singing Detective is a BBC television serial drama, written by Dennis Potter, starring Michael Gambon and directed by Jon Amiel. Its six episodes are “Skin”, “Heat”, “Lovely Days”, “Clues”, “Pitter Patter” and “Who Done It”.

    The serial was broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC1 in 1986 on Sunday nights from 16 November to 21 December, with later PBS and cable television showings in the United States. It won a Peabody Award in 1989. It ranks 20th on the British Film Institute’s list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes, as voted by industry professionals in 2000. It was included in the 1992 Dennis Potter retrospective at the Museum of Television & Radio and became a permanent addition to the museum’s collections in New York and Los Angeles. There was co-production funding from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The series was released on DVD in the US on 15 April 2003 and in the UK on 8 March 2004.

  5. I’ll wait and see what BK does put up for the Dawn Patrol and then fill in the gaps. I’m sure Holden Hillbilly will do that also.

  6. ‘Wat Tyler says:
    Thursday, September 28, 2023 at 9:06 pm

    Of course Boerwar is pro-FPTP’
    —————————-
    For the record, I prefer preferential voting.
    My original point was that FPTP is a benefit to Starmer.

  8. It’s all gone very quiet. (apart from the XL Bullies on the other thread)

    A portent of things to come perhaps ?
    If you knew polling
    Like I know polling
    Oh!Oh! Oh! what a poll….

  9. If the denizens of the Downer dynasty’s own seat rejected Princess Georgina (twice!), what would the good people of Kooyong make of her candidacy?

  10. Of course, Michael Gambon’s first global star rising came after playing the very nasty
    protagonists in the film “The Cook, the thief, his wife, and her lover” but sunk after he starred in
    the utter bomb “toys”. It’s good to see Potter gave him the send-off he deserved 😀

  14. The “progressive No’s” need to heed to lesson of the Republic. Rejection of that Referendum killed the Republic dead for a generation (so far). Also the carbon price, that’s not coming back. As far as Reconciliation goes, the Voice is the only game in town right now. It’s the only measure that could survive a period of Right Wing Government.

  15. I would have thought that the so-called progressive No campaigners have done their damage, and that switching to Yes at this late stage won’t absolve them from sharing some of the blame for what happens.

    I have always been surprised at how many intelligent people can’t seem to get their minds around the concept that half a loaf is better than nothing at all.

  18. C@tmommasays:
    Friday, September 29, 2023 at 7:09 am
    Okay, BK. On it.
    _____________________
    Can you include anything you come across on the new Bush Fire warning system please.

  20. I have always been surprised at how many intelligent people can’t seem to get their minds around the concept that half a loaf is better than nothing at all.

    It may not be “intelligent” but there can be a very human dignity in refusing an offer that is insulting despite being profitable

  22. C@t made this hilarious comment in the old thread:

    However, I have it on the highest authority (my future daughter-in-law), that the thing that is really pissing off the Brits right now and turning them off Rishi Sunak, is the banning of XL Bullies. As long as Keir Starmer doesn’t go through with that he’ll win in a landslide.

    Hilarious, because this is literally the single only good thing Sunak has ever done

  23. Marnus Labuschagne has been sensationally recalled into Australia’s final 15-man squad for the ODI World Cup. The star batter was earlier this month dropped from the Aussie squad and was only able to get a look back into the team as a concussion substitute during Australia’s Tour of South Africa.
    Now he has roared back into the final squad with selectors rolling the dice with Adam Zampa as the only front-line spinner in the squad. It is a particularly massive gamble given the spin-friendly conditions in India for the World Cup — leaving part-timer Labuschagne, injured batter Travis Head and allrounder Glenn Maxwell as Australia’s back-up spinners. Labuschagne has snuck into the squad after Ashton Agar on Thursday pulled out after suffering a calf injury.

  25. Good Morning Bludgers, here’s your news round-up for this morning!

    Grattan on Friday. Michelle Grattan is describing the Albanese government as ‘ordinary’. “Ordinary”, not as in “bad”, but “ordinary” in the sense of a government facing a host of problems. In the second half of this term, Albanese will need to concentrate on delivery:

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-29/anthony-albanese-will-need-to-focus-on-delivery-grattan/102915422

    David Crowe analyses the big lie at the heart of the ‘No’ campaign, that the Voice will divide us by ‘race’:

    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-big-lie-that-just-won-t-die-in-the-voice-contest-20230928-p5e87q.html

    A parliamentary committee investigating the government’s rejection of extra Qatar Airways flights, headed by Bridget Mackenzie, is increasing its rhetoric in a bid to land high-profile witnesses. It is likely to fail to do so:

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-28/transport-department-heads-face-senate-airline-inquiry-grilling/102911242

    More than 20 farming organisations have joined together to write to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and plead for the Australian government to abort its plans to ban live sheep exports.

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2023-09-29/farmers-lobby-anthony-albanese-rethink-live-sheep-ban-nff-prices/102914050

    Key opponents of the Indigenous Voice have switched sides in the final weeks of the referendum to back the Yes case after rising fears that a No victory would align them with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton or One Nation leader Pauline Hanson.

    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/blak-sovereignty-leaders-switch-to-yes-isolating-lidia-thorpe-20230926-p5e7tk.html

    The disability royal commission has split over the future of special schools, with some commissioners to recommend they be phased out completely over the long term. On Friday, the government is expected to release the final report of the $599 million royal commission.

    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/disability-royal-commission-split-over-future-of-special-schools-20230928-p5e8b4.html

    The Herald editorial says, the fluid digital world of mobile phones, the internet and social media makes us more connected, but loss of privacy is the entry fee. The Albanese government’s attempt to help people protect their privacy is a timely reform.

    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/new-privacy-law-gives-shelter-and-unintended-consequences-20230928-p5e89c.html

    Pep Canadell in The Conversation, says the green energy surge still isn’t enough for 1.5 degrees. We’ll have to overshoot, adapt and soak up carbon dioxide. However, in a rare bit of good news, The International Energy Agency this week released its latest net zero roadmap, showing it was still just possible to hold global heating to 1.5℃.

    https://theconversation.com/the-green-energy-surge-still-isnt-enough-for-1-5-degrees-well-have-to-overshoot-adapt-and-soak-up-carbon-dioxide-214463

    This is a lovely historical essay in The Conversation: ‘I hope eventually to become a woman’ – trans life in Australia from the 1940s to 1970s.

    https://theconversation.com/friday-essay-i-hope-eventually-to-become-a-woman-trans-life-in-australia-from-the-1940s-to-1970s-212775

    From NSW Premier Chris Minns has lashed Anthony Albanese and the federal Labor government for “imposing” ambitious housing supply targets on NSW, demanding taxpayers get their “fair share from the Commonwealth” in return.

    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/minns-lashes-albanese-for-imposing-housing-supply-targets-on-nsw-20230928-p5e8c4.html

    From Victoria Labor MPs say Daniel Andrews erupted in anger in his final party room meeting as brawling over his old job threatened Jacinta Allan’s ascension, before a peace deal stopped a potentially months-long public factional battle in Victorian Labor.

    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/victoria/he-exploded-it-was-nuclear-the-andrews-meltdown-that-silenced-bickering-labor-mps-20230928-p5e8dw.html

    From Queensland, that old chestnut: Two-thirds of Queenslanders would support the introduction of daylight saving, what’s described as the first comprehensive national survey on the issue has found.

    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/queensland/as-southerners-prepare-to-wind-clocks-ahead-most-queenslanders-want-the-same-20230927-p5e83x.html

    From WA: Abortion decriminalised in WA under sweeping reforms.

    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/western-australia/abortion-decriminalised-in-wa-amid-sweeping-reforms-20230921-p5e6m9.html

    Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan will unveil a new cabinet early next week, as she faces her first sitting week in parliament as leader of the state. Allan said she would have conversations with her cabinet colleagues over the long weekend to announce the reshuffle before state parliament resumes on Tuesday.

    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/victoria/new-premier-jacinta-allan-stands-by-her-major-project-budget-record-20230928-p5e8a0.html

    Two sources within the foreign policy community said Scott Dewar, currently serving as a senior foreign policy adviser to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, is widely expected to fill the role when current ambassador Graham Fletcher returns to Australia from Beijing in the coming months.

    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-anti-pezzullo-aukus-veteran-tipped-for-china-ambassador-20230926-p5e7tl.html

    Emma Brockes at The Guardian muses on John Fetterman’s cataclysmic effect on the US Senate: Thanks to self-described slob John Fetterman, standards are slipping for US politicians. If only the rest of society could follow suit.

    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/sep/28/us-senate-dress-code-john-fetterman

    For Taylormade 🙂
    As part of a new Australian Warning System, the way we display incidents has changed.
    The Australian Warning System is a new national approach to information and warnings during emergencies like bushfire, flood, storm, extreme heat and severe weather.
    The System uses a nationally consistent set of icons, like those below.

    https://www.australianwarningsystem.com.au/

    Don’t forget, vote early and vote often (within the rules) in the 2023 Guardian/BirdLife Australia poll:

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2023/sep/25/australian-bird-of-the-year-2023-vote-the-guardian-bird-life-australia-poll

    The voice debate has been a long fight – and the blows have landed hardest on First Nations people:

    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/commentisfree/2023/sep/29/the-voice-debate-has-been-a-long-fight-and-the-blows-have-landed-hardest-on-first-nations-people

    Further to the ongoing prescription debate, Rural Australians want cheaper medicines – but they don’t want their pharmacies to close:

    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/29/60-day-prescriptions-rural-pharmacies-impacts-closures

    Rising risk of heatwaves and bushfires means politicians will be put to the test about the effect of the climate crisis. Already, some have roundly failed:

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/commentisfree/2023/sep/28/what-is-the-climate-crisis-doing-to-australias-weather-extremes-a-coalition-frontbencher-gets-it-patently-wrong

    Temperatures to soar 8C above average as ‘heat bubble’ brings scorcher to Australia’s east coast this weekend. Sydney could reach 35C on Sunday for the NRL and NRLW grand finals and Melbourne 29C for Saturday’s big AFL clash. Will this give the Brisbane teams an advantage?

    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/29/australia-east-coast-weekend-weather-heatwave-sydney-melbourne-brisbane

    Grog sensibly says: The Reserve Bank shouldn’t be spooked by Australia’s imported inflation.
    If you look at what’s increased most in price over the past year, such as petrol, there is little that higher interest rates would change:

    https://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2023/sep/28/rba-reserve-bank-australia-cpi-inflation-figures-interest-rates

    Stephen Bartholomeusz discusses the Amazon paradox: Can anti-competitive practices produce consumer benefit?

    https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/the-amazon-paradox-can-anti-competitive-practices-produce-consumer-benefit-20230928-p5e87h.html

    Yerevan, Armenia: The self-proclaimed state of Nagorno-Karabakh’s long and bloody dream of independence will end at the end of the year after its leader announced the ethnic Armenian breakaway state in Azerbaijan will cease to exist.

    https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/by-decree-nagorno-karabakh-will-cease-to-exist-20230928-p5e8gw.html

    Finally, one for nath. Loving Collingwood is about the heart and not the head – and my grandfather’s story helped forge my emotional connection
    Paul Daley

    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/sep/28/afl-grand-final-collingwood-bob-burke

    And now for some cartoons 🙂

    Alan Moir

    Jim Pavlidis

    Shout out to Marija Ercegovac for her fantastic graphics accompanying the Pezzulo series of revelations:

    Andrew Dyson

    Simon Letch

    Cathy Wilcox

    Fiona Katauskas

    I hope that’s enough. 🙂

  27. So they drop the announcement of the retirement of the Taipan helicopters on grand final eve.

    If I’m a family member of the recently deceased personnel I’m screaming for an independent investigation into why these lemons were still flying.

  29. C@tmomma says: Friday, September 29, 2023 at 8:22 am

    Good Morning Bludgers, here’s your news round-up for this morning!

    ************************************************

    FANTASTIC round up C@tmomma !!! : )

  32. ‘Rex Douglas says:
    Friday, September 29, 2023 at 8:25 am

    So they drop the announcement of the retirement of the Taipan helicopters on grand final eve.

    If I’m a family member of the recently deceased personnel I’m screaming for an independent investigation into why these lemons were still flying.’
    —————————————
    +1

  34. davo says:
    “Good to see bridget fighting for the little guy, qatar!”

    Good to see the Sports Rorter insisting on accountability in government decisions.

  36. Trump dealt yet another blow in New York fraud case

    Donald Trump’s attempt to have his civil trial for fraud delayed was rejected by an appeals court Thursday, the Associated Press reported.

    The trial, brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James is now set to begin on Oct. 2. The non-jury trial will be presided over by Judge Arthur Engoron.

    ” Trump is listed among dozens of possible witnesses, setting up a potential courtroom showdown with the judge. The fraud ruling Tuesday threatens to upend his real estate empire and force him to give up prized New York properties such as Trump Tower, a Wall Street office building, golf courses and a suburban estate,” the AP’s report stated.

    Earlier this week, the judge entered a partial summary judgment that found Trump liable for fraudulently manipulating the value of his assets. His lawyers have argued there’s little point in the trial now that that significant aspect of it has been decided.

  37. Morning all. Thanks for the roundup Cat.

    I can but agree with others on the Taipan grounding decision. I hope we do not end up with a similarly tragic loss of the crew of a Collins class sub in the next decade.

  41. ”
    The voice debate has been a long fight – and the blows have landed hardest on First Nations people:

    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/commentisfree/2023/sep/29/the-voice-debate-has-been-a-long-fight-and-the-blows-have-landed-hardest-on-first-nations-people
    ”

    I understand “The Guardian ” is pro-Voice but they did not come out swinging in support of ‘Yes’ vote like SMH. ABC got themselves mired in the stupid in the ‘balanced’ reporting instead of reporting the lies and flaws of ‘No’ side.

  43. Looks like Bird of the Year is coming down to a battle between the Tawny Frogmouth and the Peregrine Falcon.

    I have to say, I’m Team Peregrine.

  45. What’s that, C@t, you prefer a hawkish candidate?

    You’ll knock Lars over with a weather with that declaration

    Just kidding around.

  46. ”
    Finally, one for nath. Loving Collingwood is about the heart and not the head – and my grandfather’s story helped forge my emotional connection
    Paul Daley

    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/sep/28/afl-grand-final-collingwood-bob-burke”

    Heart: Victim blaming when opponents of Collingwood are concussed and/ or badly injured and condoning Collingwood player behaviour.
    Or being a catholic like Keating.

    Head: see through the boorish behaviour of Collingwood players, administration and fans.
    🙂

    Don’t take me on my word. Why does every other team supporters single out Collingwood? It is not as if Collingwood are reaching GF every year and/or winning it.

    I know I am cultivating a ‘powerful enemy ‘ against me.

  47. Noisy Miner for me.
    By far the most interesting bird from an social evolution perspective.
    They are the species that most closely resembles what happens when social media is unconstrained.

  48. Thanks for the link c@t.
    https://www.australianwarningsystem.com.au/

    Of the six categories, five are weather related, the sixth is “other”. That 5 to 1 ratio, with “other” placed last, highlights our dependence on a benign planet. It also points to the largely peaceful existence we enjoy.

    I have a question though for anyone here who is colour blind. Can you distinguish between the yellow and orange symbols? And would you recognise which colour symbol was being shown if it was shown by itself? I hope the graphic designers didn’t miss something important.

    These are the bushfire symbols.

    The others are similar.

  50. C@t @ 8:22 “I hope that’s enough“.

    That’s plenty. Thank you.

    Regarding the Simon Letch cartoon, he’s drawing a false equivalence showing “Yes” and “No” with Pinocchio noses, lie against lie.

    Only one side is lying.

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