The site has been grappling with a few technical issues over the past day or so, which are hopefully now resolved. Perhaps this was the reason yesterday’s post following the count for the New South Wales state by-election for Northern Tablelands, which as expected was a lay-down misere for the Nationals, attracted a grand total of zero comments. Or perhaps not. Looking ahead, I believe we have a quiet week coming up on the polling front, unless The Australian treats us to quarterly Newspoll aggregates with state and demographic breakdowns, which are about due. Other than that, there is likely to be only the weekly Roy Morgan until the three-weekly YouGov poll, which past form suggests should be with us on Friday.
Much of this week’s preselection news relates directly or indirectly to the federal redistributions, which I discussed with Ben Raue of The Tally Room in a podcast you can access at the bottom of this post:
• The West Australian reports former state Nationals leader Mia Davies has confirmed approaches from “senior Nationals in the eastern states” to run in the proposed new seat of Bullwinkel, which partly corresponds with the state seat of Central Wheatbelt that she he has held since 2013. The idea has been talked up by party leader David Littleproud, and not ruled out by Davies. Davies led the Nationals from the defeat of the Barnett government in March 2017 and held the title of Opposition Leader after the party emerged from the 2021 election landslide with more seats than the Liberals, before stepping aside in January 2023 and announcing she would not contest the next election. She became a figure of controversy within the party when she called for Barnaby Joyce to resign in 2018 over sexual harassment allegations.
• Paul Sakkal of the Sydney Morning Herald reports “teal sources not permitted to speak on the record” say Nicolette Boele, who was gearing up for a second run as an independent in Bradfield, remains keen despite expectations Kylea Tink will seek to move there with the mooted abolition of her seat of North Sydney. Boele came within 4.2% of unseating Liberal member Paul Fletcher in 2022. Reports last week suggested former state Treasurer Matt Kean, who announced his impending departure from state parliament on Tuesday, might challenge Fletcher for Liberal preselection, but Sakkal reports party sources saying he will only seek the seat if Fletcher retires. Alexandra Smith of the Sydney Morning Herald reports any path to preselection for Kean in Bradfield would be complicated by the fact that the redistribution leaves his “Liberal branch enemies” within the redrawn seat.
• Aaron Patrick of the Financial Review reports Hunters Hill mayor Zac Miles has been lobbying for the NSW Liberal Party to reopen the preselection process for Bennelong, after the proposed new boundaries made it more favourable to the party by adding territory from abolished North Sydney. Such a move would come at the expense of Scott Yung, a tutoring business owner who came with 1.8% of deposing Chris Minns from his seat of Kogarah at the state election in 2019, who was preselected unopposed last October. A source is also quoted saying Gisele Kapterian, who had been preselected for North Sydney, also canvassed for support for Bennelong, but has decided not to proceed.
• Annika Smethurst of The Age reports on resistance in local Labor branches to a Socialist Left faction fait accompli that appears set to deliver preselection for the outer northern Melbourne seat of Calwell, which will be vacated with the retirement of Maria Vamvakinou, to Basem Abdo, a communications specialist born in Kuwait of Palestinian parents. Sensitivities are heightened by the fact that members only had preselection rights restored to them a year ago after a three-year takeover of the state branch by the national executive following branck-stacking scandals, with some reportedly threatening to back a “Dai Le-style campaign”.
• Blake Antrobus of news.com.au reports Queensland Liberal Senator Gerard Rennick has failed in his court bid against his preselection defeat last year, the court having ruled that the Liberal National Party was within its rights to set a 60-day time frame for lodging an appeal which Rennick failed to meet.
The nuclear shambles rolls on, and on, and on…
Rick Wilson, the Liberal Member for O’Connor, host of the proposed Collie small modular reactor, like those that don’t exist anywhere in the world, said the other day that an equivalent gas powered generator would be 19 times cheaper.
Now the West Australian has a headline “WILSON CLUELESS ON COST OF COLLIE REACTORS. (Note the plural)
“As many as three nuclear reactors planned for Collie as Rick Wilson admits he has no ‘actual numbers’ on cost”
Let’s have an election.
C@tmomma says:
Thanks. It looks like you can already purchase those. So the amendment is about taking away the GPs right to prescribe them which Labor wanted to give them? But if they’re already available? I’m confused.
________________________________
Yes, prescription only but hard to get and fairly limited in Drs prescribing Thats changed now you can get prescriptions on-line or an app so anyone with a medicare card and $60.
There is also what I think is rather tragic news in the West:
“WA Labor Senator Fatima Payman weighs up future as pro-Palestine stance leaves her on the outer.”
I hope the powers to be come to their senses and bring her back into the tent ASAP.
Okay, I have the details here:
‘Plain-packaged vapes will be sold over the counter at pharmacies as a therapeutic tool under amendments to the Albanese government’s crackdown on vaping products.
Greens amendments to the model, which will now allow access to vapes as a medical product without a prescription, also include an eight-month amnesty period after concerns about criminalising users.
The legislation is expected to pass parliament with the Greens’ support this week, shortly before the new system comes into effect on 1 July.
The Greens claim the government’s original model, which would have required a GP appointment and prescription to access vaping products, would have created prohibitive costs for some users and potentially encouraged people to access vapes on the hidden market. The party’s health spokesperson, Jordon Steele-John, said the Greens had been concerned about a “prohibition” approach to the product.
“No one should be penalised for personal use of vapes. The prohibition of drugs has failed,” he told Guardian Australia.
The health minister, Mark Butler, said the amendments came through “constructive engagement with the crossbench”.
“Our world-leading laws will return vapes and e-cigarettes to what they were originally sold to the Australian community and to governments around the world as: therapeutic products to help hardened smokers kick the habit,” he told Guardian Australia.
“From Monday next week, it will be unlawful to supply, manufacture, import, and sell a vape outside of a pharmacy setting.”
The list of amendments negotiated includes permitting vapes to be sold at chemists as a schedule 3 medication for adults aged over 18, from 1 October 2024. The wider parts of the plan come into effect from 1 July.
In the period between July and October, recreational vapes will be banned, and therapeutic products only permitted with a prescription. It’s understood the gap between July and October is required to change the classification on the poisons schedule.
Flavoured vapes or those in colourful packaging will continue to be banned. Only plain-packaged products in mint or menthol flavours, alongside tobacco, will be available. Guardian Australia has been told the framework would see a chemist discuss the product with the buyer at the point of sale, similar to conversations around buying quantities of pseudoephedrine, to talk about the health harms of the product.
Details of vape purchasers would not be recorded, the Greens said, but people would have to show identification. There would be limits on the concentration of nicotine.
Vapes will be restricted to access with a GP prescription from 1 July, meaning that would be the only model of access until pharmacists become eligible on 1 October.
GPs can continue prescribing therapeutic vapes and could prescribe those products to people under 18 if it’s deemed medically necessary.
The Australian Medical Association’s president Prof Steve Robson said it was a “sensible” compromise that pharmacists would need to discuss health options with purchasers. But the Pharmacy Guild said it strongly opposed the change.
“Pharmacists are healthcare professionals who dispense medication that provides a proven therapeutic benefit. No vaping product has been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration based on its safety, efficacy or performance. No vaping product is listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods,” a spokesperson for the guild said.
“The Senate’s expectation that community pharmacies become vape retailers, and vape garbage collectors, is insulting. The Senate is about to make a bad decision. We urge the Senate to change course.” ‘
(The Guardian)
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/jun/24/medicinal-vapes-sold-pharmacies-labor-greens-deal
Why are our Govts doing this ???
Lordbain says:
Monday, June 24, 2024 at 6:55 pm
Griff, just calling it like I see it
CAT, thats rich coming from the party of big business and donors … and of course home owners.
Good to see the narrative against the greens RE vapes got convoluted… makes for a good read after dinner
________
Sounds like you didn’t think on it. Oh well. If you want some light bedtime reading, this might be of interest 🙂
https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003057680-10/overconfidence-radical-politics-jan-willem-van-prooijen
How brilliant is the appointment of Matt Kean, instant payoff as he buries Dutton & the Nuclear Brain Fart
Not good to see that Fatima Payman feels like she needs to make that sort of choice… its almost like Labor takes certain things for granted
Is Fatima Payman being frozen out of Labor or managed out of Labor ..?
http://www.sydneysymposium.unsw.edu.au/2020/chapters/van%20ProoijenSSSP2020.pdf
Thanks for that Griff; it does make for interesting reading.
Because I would argue im hardly the most confident one here… I mean, i rely on the findings of experts in the field, and I constantly highlight those that think they already have it in the bag have learnt nothing.
I would also point out that the study does very little to define “extreme” ideologies (indeed, calling BJ a centre right poli is an amusing definition that I would argue is up for debate)
But hey, would love to hear your thoughts Griff… i mean, it nots like you just found something that appeals to your world view… because wouldnt that just be ironic 🙂
Edit, it does give a definition for “extremist left”… “Unsurprisingly, participants supported the inclusionary solution more to the extent that they were more strongly left-wing, and
they supported the exclusionary solution more to the extent they were more
strongly right-wing. ”
So the definition of “extremist” left wing is inclusionary policies for the out groups (the key example of the study being immigrants)
Griff Griff Griff…
Another breakout from that recent Fox News poll:
This suggests that the conventional wisdom about this debate — that it’s more important for Biden — is wrong. A June 14-17 Fox News poll shows why: It gives Biden a two-point lead, but he is up by five points among the three-quarters of voters who say it matters “a great deal” to them who wins (they are more likely to vote) and by 11 points among the “double haters” who have an unfavorable view of both candidates.
Gerard Rennick may join his soulmate Malcolm Roberts in One Nation.
The crackpot wing of the QLD political albatross around Dutton’s neck
Granny Anny says:
Monday, June 24, 2024 at 7:06 pm
There is also what I think is rather tragic news in the West:
“WA Labor Senator Fatima Payman weighs up future as pro-Palestine stance leaves her on the outer.”
—————————
I don’t see anyone saying Ed Husic is on the outer. And he has made serious comments about this issue. But within the umbrella of the policy of the government of which he is part.
Payman needs to remember that she should put Australia and not just fellow Muslims first. And she needs to remember that she is only in the Senate because she was selected to represent the policies and values of the party that put her there.
I just got polled on my phone! I think it was the Liberal Party testing my support for policies they may run with and, of course, if I support nuclear. I say I think it was the Liberal Party because one of the questions asked me if crime was one of the issues that was important to me. 🙄
Picassos down the dunny?
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/article/2024/jun/24/mona-picasso-painting-womens-toilets-ladies-lounge-exhibition-ruling
C@tmomma says:
Monday, June 24, 2024 at 7:06 pm
Okay, I have the details here…………………
__________________________
It is pretty sensible if a sledgehammer to crack and egg. The root of the vaping problem was the permitting and at best the blind indifference the import and sale of those Chinese disposables.
Up till then if you wanted vape to stop smoking cigarettes – you had to buy everything separate, the device, batteries, accessories and the liquid to go in (not cheap). And then, to get the nicotine one had to import it as nobody would sell the concentrate.
So there was a bit of a learning curve and expense and all the assembly that was a pretty effective barrier to the recreational users going to the corner shop.
From what I can tell on social media, the Dutton son allegation is a Murdoch tabloid long bow stretched – and if so, I hope they get their pants sued off.
Can’t tell if it is deep fake – the photo is cropped so it may well be – but someone is wanting to dump the dirt on the Spud.
Lie down with the Murdoch tabloids, and hope all you end up with is fleas.
https://murdochroyalcommission.org.au/
Shame this never got the support it deserved…
Monday, June 24, 2024 at 7:34 pm
Based on nothing more than intuition, I think Miles will save some furniture. Crisafulli is such a small target that he can hardly be seen – Queenslanders I think wary of another Newman clone.
C@tmomma says:
Monday, June 24, 2024 at 7:25 pm
I just got polled on my phone! I think it was the Liberal Party testing my support for policies they may run with and, of course, if I support nuclear. I say I think it was the Liberal Party because one of the questions asked me if crime was one of the issues that was important to me.
____________________________
We received a ‘electorate issues/consultation survey’ just prior or after the last election with a list of community concerns and Nuclear power was included. I am in a National electorate so they have had at least 2 years to get the details right but it has to be more as they idea must have been floated before then to make the list.
Dr Fumbles Mcstupid @ #965 Monday, June 24th, 2024 – 7:33 pm
You wouldn’t believe the number of vape shops that sprung up in my neck of the woods! Almost one on every corner! I’m glad it will become a more restricted exercise now to get a hold of them.
So, on to the next nicotine product the tobacco industry are pushing, nicotine pouches for the mouth.
AMA View
https://www.ama.com.au/media/vaping-ticking-time-bomb-must-be-defused
“Pharmacists are healthcare professionals who dispense medication that provides a proven therapeutic benefit. No vaping product has been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration based on its safety, efficacy or performance. No vaping product is listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods,” a spokesperson for the guild said.
“The Senate’s expectation that community pharmacies become vape retailers, and vape garbage collectors, is insulting. The Senate is about to make a bad decision. We urge the Senate to change course.” ‘
(The Guardian)
To really screw things up you need the greens.
The 5 issues I can remember from the poll:
Roads, crime, hospitals, cost of living, the environment.
Mavis – would it have been different if Cameron Dick or Fentiman got the gig? I have the feeling someone smarter – especially with the awkward nukes issue for the Nats could have snuck a narrow win?
Young Dutton now has a headline in the West Australia. I didn’t bother to read the article.
As much as I detest Dutton, this is a family matter and no one’s business but theirs.
A very confident appearance by Bowen on “7.30” tonight. Gone, it seems, was his belligerent attitude to certain taxes. I get the drift that Labor thinks it’s on a winner with the nuclear debate.
BREAKING: https://twitter.com/JacintaAllanMP/status/1805172671770231089
C@tmomma says:
Monday, June 24, 2024 at 7:41 pm
You wouldn’t believe the number of vape shops that sprung up in my neck of the woods! Almost one on every corner! I’m glad it will become a more restricted exercise now to get a hold of them.
So, on to the next nicotine product the tobacco industry are pushing, nicotine pouches for the mouth.
_________________________
I totally agree, we had 4 in this town appear 3 exclusively selling black market tobacco and vapes as ‘gift shops’ and one a hole in the wall with vapes.
Its really scary about the sale of those pouches and snuff and other smokeless tobacco. It is something that as never an issue in this country but with this new generation of addicts with no access to vapes what will they turn to.
I would love to blame Big Tobacco for this as there will be a shift to cigarettes but big Tobacco failed multiple times to get into vapes.
The winners will be Big Phama – with nicotine replace products but people get addicted to those as it is swapping one delivery system for another.
Things got nasty all of a sudden re Dutton Jr.
Newscorp?
Dutton has said his son’s baggy issue is a family issue. No denial.
First time I have ever agreed with Dutton on anything.
I hope the lad gets whatever help he needs.
I also hope dutts gets clobbered at the next election so the country can get the help it needs.
Bizarre that the Murdoch press is running with it. Surely they haven’t had an outbreak of journalism?
The long term trend for the Tories is troubling…
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/06/24/world/europe/uk-conservatives.html
Lars Von Trier:
Monday, June 24, 2024 at 7:46 pm
I’ve said it before & I’ll say it again, my preference was Dick, principally due to his knowledge of tying the Windsor knot, though noting on recent public appearance, Miles doesn’t wear a tie. Pepys.
Mabwm says:
Monday, June 24, 2024 at 8:07 pm
Dutton has said his son’s baggy issue is a family issue. No denial.
First time I have ever agreed with Dutton on anything.
I hope the lad gets whatever help he needs.
I also hope dutts gets clobbered at the next election so the country can get the help it needs.
Bizarre that the Murdoch press is running with it. Surely they haven’t had an outbreak of journalism?
__________
No they haven’t. They might be cutting Dutton loose.
Granny
So what, do you think, would Constable Dutton have said to a young person who when asked about the bag of white powder in his pocket responded “It’s a family matter, no comment.”
Mabwm says:
Monday, June 24, 2024 at 8:07 pm
Bizarre that the Murdoch press is running with it. Surely they haven’t had an outbreak of journalism?
_________________________
More likely Dutton has let the side down so badly on the Nuclear issue that Gina has rung Murdoch HQ and told them Dutts has to be replaced.
lol, love it deep state conspiracy theory re Dutton and the son story.
Bizarre that the Murdoch press is running with it. Surely they haven’t had an outbreak of journalism?
You said it was a family matter about 20 s. ago.
It’s the old story:
When a Federal [or State] Labor Government looks to be in trouble, Murdoch will always slither to the rescue.
Read: Power Without Glory
And more Resolve polling dribbling out….
Energy sources deserving of subsidies
Q: Governments have often subsidised or invested in power sources … Which, if any, of the following do you think deserves subsidies or investment by taxpayers?
Rooftop solar 62%
Renewables in general such as wind and solar 49%
Home batteries 39%
Large-scale solar farms 38%
Hydro-electric energy from dams 37%
Large-scale wind turbines on land 28%
Large-scale wind turbines off the coast 28%
Nuclear-powered electricity 26%
Natural-gas-powered electricity 24%
Large-scale batteries 23%
Coal-powered electricity 14%
None of these 5%
Undecided 10%
n=1003
In a more detailed question about subsidies, reported here for the first time, voters favoured government support for rooftop solar above all other options.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/former-liberal-minister-s-new-climate-role-heightens-federal-energy-clash-20240624-p5jo48.html
Lordbain says:
Monday, June 24, 2024 at 7:15 pm
http://www.sydneysymposium.unsw.edu.au/2020/chapters/van%20ProoijenSSSP2020.pdf
Thanks for that Griff; it does make for interesting reading.
Because I would argue im hardly the most confident one here… I mean, i rely on the findings of experts in the field, and I constantly highlight those that think they already have it in the bag have learnt nothing.
I would also point out that the study does very little to define “extreme” ideologies (indeed, calling BJ a centre right poli is an amusing definition that I would argue is up for debate)
But hey, would love to hear your thoughts Griff… i mean, it nots like you just found something that appeals to your world view… because wouldnt that just be ironic
Edit, it does give a definition for “extremist left”… “Unsurprisingly, participants supported the inclusionary solution more to the extent that they were more strongly left-wing, and
they supported the exclusionary solution more to the extent they were more
strongly right-wing. ”
So the definition of “extremist” left wing is inclusionary policies for the out groups (the key example of the study being immigrants)
Griff Griff Griff…
________
My thoughts are that “Because I would argue im hardly the most confident one here… I mean, i rely on the findings of experts in the field, and I constantly highlight those that think they already have it in the bag have learnt nothing.” is suggestive of a feeling of superiority. It is all clear from up there 🙂
And my second thought is well done for having a read! I think it reasonable to consider refugee policy as a useful example. I see it as a complex issue. It appears you consider the policy solution as simple.
You’re a strange fellow, Badthinker, combining as you do a good deal of historical knowledge about Australian politics accumulated over an evidently long life with — I do not say this lightly — the most astoundingly stupid opinions ever expressed on this forum.
Apparently Trump is announcing his VP pick live during the Presidential debate on Thursday.
There are a number of contenders for that title William.
Griff, I just find it telling that it defined extreme left based on a social policy that fits within the acceptable realm of debate, as opposed to… actual outside the box/extremist views.
I mean I miss the days when people actually earned the title by being communists or eco anarchists… not arguing about using market or capitalist market driven solutions in modern neoliberal/centrist democracies.
Hell, when people complain the greens are too extremists… they still support the modern capitalist system.
Honestly, posers the lot of them 😉
Mavis : my gut feeling is that you are right. Crisifulli really only has crime and while important it is not a first order issue. He has identified 3 other crises – health, cost of living, housing. Health is highly contestable and was in actual crisis last time LNP was in, Miles and ALP are throwing the kitchen sink at COL, housing is a problem in plenty of other places as well and Miles is chucking a lot at this issue as well. People are starting to wonder what solutions the LNP have up the sleeves and still remember the Cando Newman debacle that Mr Crisifulli was a big part of . Don’t get me wrong I don’t think the odds are good that ALP will hold the line but my instincts ( which could be well wrong) are saying it will be closer that 57-43. It may end up being really close.
Though having said that, the conviction of some here that it’s somehow surprising that News Corp papers wouldn’t hush up a story about an Opposition Leader’s son being photographed with suspicious white powder is no better.
William Bowe at 8:24 pm
the most astoundingly stupid opinions ever expressed on this forum
That’s a Mt Everest scale bar, William.
Can we agree that without Murdoch assistance in suppressing news, many Labor Governments wouldn’t have got out of the starting blocks.
You recall Hawkie’s Mrs Gandhi joke?
A front runner for a nomination for a 2024 PollBludger Award perhaps
William, can we get personalised roasts for donations?
Not only can we not agree on that, it’s one of the dumbest things I’ve ever heard.
I do not, and with what I’m sure is very good reason.
BK says: at 5:38 pm
When I was teaching second year thermodynamics, which I really loved doing, I was told that I must teach classical thermodynamics. And I do understand how cool those laws and equations of classical thermodynamics are.
But, to pretend that 20th century particle / quantum physics did not happen? and to leave the students puzzling over entropy?
I remember grumbling to colleagues and suggesting if I needed to teach the classics before we touched on modern theories, that I should start with phlogiston theory!