The Queensland State Election

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1. Macro 1

   31 January 2015 at 7:15 pm

   For a really insightful analysis of the Queensland election look no further than here:
   http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jan/29/-sp-its-hot-its-queensland-theres-an-election
   As to the dilemma now facing Australian cartoonists after the Abbotts latest blunder there is no better description than this:
   http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jan/27/its-over-its-now-impossible-to-satirise-tony-abbott
   • mickysavage 1.1

     31 January 2015 at 7:27 pm

     Thanks Macro. Absolute gold!

     I particularly enjoyed “science says it is now impossible to satirise the PM as his own stupid behaviour has become a black hole of stupid. He has transformed from a nasty bumbling dunderhead into a laughing stock and accordingly is to be formally declared an Official Australian Embarrassment. However the best is yet to come. The all powerful Loughnane/Credlin/Abbott “axis of terrible” and the concomitant Rudd Gillard “can’t knife a serving PM syndrome” means they can’t even get rid of Tony. It’s either 18 more farcical months of Prime Minister Clownshoes or a bloody #spill that will make the ALP’s factional boffo look like a pillow fight.”
     • Macro 1.1.1

       31 January 2015 at 7:37 pm

       Yes I particularly liked that bit too! The First Dog is one of my “must visits” each day.
   • Wensleydale 1.2

     31 January 2015 at 7:27 pm

     And for insightful and hilarious insight into what sort of knuckle-dragging philistine Campbell Newman is, go here:

     http://youtu.be/rrFAOj8JVzo

     Jordan’s video commentaries on Australian politics are comedy gold. And surprisingly informative.

     [Thanks, very entertaining, have added it to the post – MS]
     • Macro 1.2.1

       31 January 2015 at 7:58 pm

       Yeah! Bozzo’s all round. What impresses me most is the power, both in NZ and Australia, the respective “Ministry’s of Truth” have had over the past few years in getting complete and utter idiots elected! Certainly, the Abbott is a complete fool , and Key is little more than a jester :(. At least the Australians have held their work conditions a little more firmly than us, either thru stronger Unions or a govt that didn’t go quite so hard on neo-liberal idiocy as ours did. So the left has a stronger base in Australia, even now, and this latest flirtation with the right is likely to be short lived.
       • mickysavage 1.2.1.1

         31 January 2015 at 8:01 pm

         The Aussies seem to see through their fools quicker than Kiwis. We seem to be far too trusting and forgiving and their greater level of intellectual brutality is actually a good thing.
         • Kiwiri - Raided of the Last Shark 1.2.1.1.1

           31 January 2015 at 11:08 pm

           Hehe. May well look like more folks in Queensland have brains and heart than those in Zealand.
     • Draco T Bastard 1.2.2

       1 February 2015 at 12:37 am

       That video reminded me of National’s ‘economic’ plan.
       • newsense 1.2.2.1

         1 February 2015 at 9:33 pm

         that rowing boat did look awfully familiar
2. joe90 2

   31 January 2015 at 7:49 pm

   Surprise surprise.
   /

   There are multiple reports of people being turned away from voting due to lack of identification, despite the law allowing them to cast a vote.
   The Townsville Bulletin has reported that people have been turned away in Burdekin, and itself misreports the story by claiming that ID is compulsory.
   Here at the Tally Room I’ve received an email from a woman in Hervey Bay discussing people being turned away there, and I understand there are other reports.
   GetUp! (disclaimer: I’m employed by GetUp!) are running a hotline to collect stories of these laws being implemented incorrectly, and to answer questions.
   Just to clarify, while it is slightly easier to vote with ID, you can still vote without it.

   http://www.tallyroom.com.au/
   • mickysavage 2.1

     31 January 2015 at 8:02 pm

     Yep really scary. I can understand election observers being needed in some third world nations but Australia?
     • Wensleydale 2.1.1

       31 January 2015 at 8:18 pm

       It’s the Right, Mickey. I believe their motto is “If we can’t win fairly, we’ll cheat… and just hope no one notices, or they’re too apathetic to care.” Which is all too true of New Zealand sadly.
       • Draco T Bastard 2.1.1.1

         1 February 2015 at 12:38 am

         +111
   • Olwyn 2.2

     31 January 2015 at 9:15 pm

     But you are legally obliged to vote in Australia! The people being turned away are open to being fined, to add insult to injury. I should add that people were being turned away from some booths in our last election too, if they did not have easy vote cards.
     • greywarshark 2.2.1

       1 February 2015 at 9:24 pm

       Voters being turned away – how often and why? It shows we cannot afford to carry on being reliant on well-run ethical voting procedures here. We need observers who follow up the people who are turned away and see if they are entitled to special votes etc. and get figures and follow-ups to see that it stays at a minimum and people have the right facilities to make legitimate late votes. Observers at all polling booths, from the left particularly as we have the most to lose.

       And note what Olwyn says about NZ without easy vote cards being turned away!!
       Once is too much. Shouldn’t happen. But if there is confusion and they can’t identify themselves with usual IDs like rate demand in their name, whatever, they should be told that they can come back with info and vote before 7pm or whatever.
       edited

       And I made an edit and had it go back up as a separate second comment. Then I deleted my first comment, and had the edited one go back up at the end of the post.So I deleted that and inserted it back in the sequence where it makes sense hopefully! So I’m hoping it will find its place in the discussion now.
       • Olwyn 2.2.1.1

         2 February 2015 at 12:00 am

         Sorry for the late reply Greywarshark. Voting is compulsory in Australia, so turning people away under that circumstance is doubly shocking. Not only does it betray democracy, which is bad enough, it also puts people in the position of acting illegally. There have been complaints made to the electoral commission about people being turned away here, so hopefully those running the polling booths will be better informed next time.
3. ScottGN 3

   31 January 2015 at 8:31 pm

   Courier Mail is headlining a Channel 9 exit poll which forecasts an ALP win of 54% to 46%. Most likely a late attempt to motivate LNP voters who might otherwise have said bugger you to Campbell Newman and stayed at home.
4. ScottGN 4

   31 January 2015 at 8:42 pm

   The Channel 9 poll suggests an extraordinary statewide swing of 16.8% with the ALP just winning the primary vote and getting strong preferences on the two-party preferred vote.
5. Colonial Rawshark 5

   31 January 2015 at 8:48 pm

   So, is the Centre Right Labour Party in Queensland going to defeat the Far Right Coalition?
   • mickysavage 5.1

     31 January 2015 at 8:53 pm

     A relatively good result as long as they do not sell any assets!
     • ScottGN 5.1.1

       31 January 2015 at 8:59 pm

       And quit the swingeing budget cuts and stop laying off public servants and discontinue their assault on the Great Barrier Reef. God it’s all so depressingly familiar.
       • Colonial Rawshark 5.1.1.1

         31 January 2015 at 9:04 pm

         It’s like having to choose between Sarah Palin and Hilary Clinton for President.
         • ScottGN 5.1.1.1.1

           31 January 2015 at 9:07 pm

           That choice seems pretty stark to me.
   • Te Reo Putake 5.2

     31 January 2015 at 9:46 pm

     Some folk took Cunliffes’s defeat harder than most, apparently. See if this lot looks centre right to you: http://annastacia.com.au/labor-policies/
     • Ad 5.2.1

       31 January 2015 at 10:29 pm

       Nice easy policy layout there.
       And great bunch of bold policies – especially re solar.

       NZ Labour could take note.
     • Naturesong 5.2.2

       1 February 2015 at 12:28 am

       I wish that was the home page of http://labour.org.nz/

       🙁
6. Anne 6

   31 January 2015 at 9:02 pm

   Only in Queensland
   Queensland Liberal Country Party Premier Campbell Newman has claimed that the Queensland Labor Party is funded by gangs because some people have told him so. Yet he refuses to acknowledge the urgency of climate change even though pretty well every climate change scientist in the world is telling him it…

   Oh dearie me… Can you just see it coming? Andrew Little, former union boss is being funded by gangs associated with the unions. When John Key was asked where the information came from he said ” I don’t reveal my sources”.
7. swordfish 7

   31 January 2015 at 10:07 pm

   ABC News suggests neck-and-neck.

   Early days but currently ALP on track to win 36 seats, Coalition 33.

   Currently a 12.3 swing to ALP in Campbell Newman’s seat.
   • swordfish 7.1

     31 January 2015 at 10:25 pm

     Newman expected to lose seat (currently 14 % swing there) (ALP’s Kate Jones needs less than 6 % swing to win)

     Seems to be a 10 point overall Queensland-wide swing to ALP at moment.

     “Clearly we are seeing a major backlash against the Newman Government.”

     Fringes of northern and southern Brisbane as the seats to watch.

     Swing uneven – Over 10 % in Brisbane, Ipswich and North Queensland but less than 4 % in some regions.

     ALP needs 12 % swing to win power in Queensland. Latest projection – ALP 41 seats, Coalition 36.
     • swordfish 7.1.1

       31 January 2015 at 11:03 pm

       Not only has Newman lost his seat but the man tipped as the frontrunner to replace him as Lib-Nat Party Leader – Queensland treasurer Tim Nicholls – currently trails the ALP candidate in his own seat.

       ALP strategists are suggesting a hung Parliament is most likely, though haven’t ruled out clear victory.
       • swordfish 7.1.1.1

         31 January 2015 at 11:13 pm

         LNP strategists, in contrast, suggest outright ALP victory most likely
         • Colonial Rawshark 7.1.1.1.1

           31 January 2015 at 11:25 pm

           Surely it’s a bit late to be setting expectations high…
   • Bearded Git 7.2

     1 February 2015 at 8:50 am

     The results are still being counted and are are here:

     http://www.abc.net.au/news/qld-election-2015/results/seats-in-doubt/

     Cool that the Greens got 8.4%
     • Naturesong 7.2.1

       1 February 2015 at 9:24 am

       Unfortunately the support hasn’t translated into seats.
8. ScottGN 8

   31 January 2015 at 10:16 pm

   Ex-Premier Peter Beattie has just made the observation on the channel 9 coverage that early results would seem to be in line with the Galaxy exit poll.
9. ScottGN 9

   31 January 2015 at 10:33 pm

   Peter Beattie has just called it for Labor on Channel 9.
10. Kiwiri - Raided of the Last Shark 10

    31 January 2015 at 11:46 pm

    A bit challenging to find news about Queensland’s election from our two main NZ online news websites? Are our journalists still on holiday? Or not encouraged to cover developments? Thank goodness for being able to access the Aussie news directly.
    • Naturesong 10.1

      1 February 2015 at 9:29 am

      Stuff has it up as at 8.17 this morning: Stuff: Labor in stunning return to power in Queensland.

      And the herald at 9.10 am:
      Queensland: Labor on cusp of return to power

      I imagine that they just don’t have the staff on to deliver news in a timely fashion – overheads will have been cut to the bone.
      And most of their writing staff seem to be opinion makers rather than reporters.
11. millsy 11

    31 January 2015 at 11:57 pm

    Looks like Queenslanders keep their power grid after all….

    Well done ALP.

    Now onto NSW in 2 months time.
12. Ovid 12

    1 February 2015 at 12:26 am

    Abbott is proving to be quite toxic and Queensland’s result must be taken as some reflection on his leadership at the federal level. Surely his days are numbered – although the ALP would probably be quite happy if he saw out the term and led LNP into the election.
    • Kiwiri - Raided of the Last Shark 12.1

      1 February 2015 at 12:50 am

      Abbott’s colleagues have become aware of the toxicity too:

      http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/mal-brough-urged-to-challenge-tony-abbott-for-leadership-20150131-132rfe.html
13. Murray Rawshark 13

    1 February 2015 at 8:38 am

    Yeeha! The toxic little imitation of a man, Campbell Bjelke-Newman, has gone. Now I’m hoping for a reconstituted Crime and Misconduct Commission to put a few of the corrupt inbreds in prison.
14. Pat O'Dea 14

    1 February 2015 at 8:56 am

    Strangely two very important words are missing from this post.

    These are the two words that the New Zealand Labour Party seems to having some trouble with.

    They are the two words that are mostly responsible for Abbot and Newman’s downfall.

    As I have been maintaining for sometime, as the crisis becomes more apparent and threatening, climate change can make and break political parties. (and politicians).

    The effects are everywhere apparent globally, particularly in Australia. Scorching record breaking heatwaves, bush fires, ravaging the country, more frequent storms and floods, 50% of the Great Barrier Reef has been destroyed, half of this damage has been caused directly by climate change. In the far north coral bleaching caused directly by high water temperatures, in the rest of the reef by storm damage. Coral reefs are fragile things and storm damage is natural, (a bit like pruning a tree), but increased frequency and more powerful climate change fueled storms are not giving the reef the chance to recover.

    Abbot and Newman are both big proponents of the coal industry the most dangerous fossil fuel to the climate.

    Though this post doesn’t dare breath these two words, it is hinted at in the video where opening up a massive new coal mine in Queensland is cited as one of the main reasons for Newman’s unpopularity.

    The fact is, that those who support opening new coal mines in the age of climate change are seen as inhabiting the lunatic fringe.

    When Australian fire fighters in uniform are mounting protests against climate change, you know you are in trouble.

    In this country when Russel Norman admitted in the Minor Party Debate that he would agree with Labour over Deep Sea Oil Drilling to get cabinet seats in a Labour led government, politiically he was a dead man walking before he got off the podium.

    Make no mistake climate change is a make or break issue.

    In this country if the Labour Party think that they can fight a by-election in Northland without mentioning climate change and while supporting deep sea oil drilling, then they are heading for a fall as precipitous as the Australian Torrys.

    Disclosure: Pat O’Dea is the Mana Movement spokesperson for climate change issues
    • Naturesong 14.1

      1 February 2015 at 10:26 am

      To be fair to Russel, any coalition deal involving the Greens would has to be put to the membership for approval.
      As a result, there are no bottom lines that the Leaders can make, it’s not their decision.

      I would however, be very surprised (think stunned mullet surprised) if the membership gave a big thumbs up to deep sea oil drilling. Particularly given the Greens explicit policy of banning the practice.

      I do agree that Russel didn’t handle the question particularly well. It looks like rather than get bogged down by explaining the internal processes of the Green party he decided to address the climate change portion of the question and detailed the Greens Climate Protection Plan (the carbon tax).

      The ban on deep sea oil drilling policy (Protecting our beaches from oil spills) comes from a risk management angle – small risk, potentially catastrophic damage.
      Climate change is not the main driver for this policy,

      This happened again just before the election day where TV3 (I think?) asked that a bottom line be given with regard to working with National.
      Again, there isn’t a bottom line, the Greens are happy to work with National to achieve Green policy goals.
      With day to day legislation MP’s engage in honest debate and critique, and will vote for legislation on its merits, and if the legislation doesn’t measure up, the reasons why are clearly articulated.
      For a formal agreement, such as a coalition with National (snort!) or memorandum of understanding (see cycleway, home insulation et al) all you need to do is convince the membership to give it the OK.

      In an alternate universe, where Labour and the Greens sat down to discuss a coalition after the 2014 election, the conversation around deep sea drilling would probably have gone something like this:

      Cunliffe: “Deep Sea drilling is a bottom line, you have to sell this to your members”
      Norman: “Sure, we can take deep sea drilling to the membership, as long as you understand that the membership will reject it, coalition talks will fail and the electorate will punish you.
      But, on the off chance that a majority of the membership vote to accept deep sea drilling, the party will then will rip itself to pieces, we’ll be gone and with it the coalition, and the electorate will punish you.”
      • Pat O'Dea 14.1.1

        1 February 2015 at 11:17 am

        Succinct and accurate summation.

        It also explains why a pragmatist politician like Russel Norman, prepared to compromise on this, no longer fits the current situation.
        • Naturesong 14.1.1.1

          1 February 2015 at 11:31 am

          Just in case you missed it: “To be fair to Russel, any coalition deal involving the Greens would has to be put to the membership for approval.
          As a result, there are no bottom lines that the Leaders can make, it’s not their decision.”

          Which is why he gave no bottom lines.
15. Skinny 15

    1 February 2015 at 9:23 am

    Aussies are not mugs like Kiwi’s, this result is a rejection of proposed asset sales.

    The Australian Labor Party should be sending John Key a can of sardines as a big thank you.

    Why sardines you may ask, because he is a performing show seal.
16. Wayne 16

    1 February 2015 at 10:36 am

    Trying to pretend that John Key is just like Newman is a fools errand.

    The reason why John Key keeps winning is because he demonstrably does not govern like Newman. And as I have noted here before, a lot of Liberal Party supporters in Australia wish they had a leader like Key rather than their current incumbent.

    You can reasonably sure there will be a lot of centre-right parties wanting to learn why John Key keeps winning in apparently so easy a fashion. It is no accident that he is the chair of the IDU. They want to learn from him
    • Karen 16.1

      1 February 2015 at 11:13 am

      You are right Wayne. John Key isn’t as dumb as Campbell Newman (although it seems he used the same advertising agency looking at the election ads cut in the “Campbell Newman’s Dumbest Idea” clip in Mickey’s post).

      However, I think the reason John Key keeps winning is more because NZ does not have a strong television public broadcasting with investigative journalists, or any quality newspapers, or a strong union movement.
      Key has been given a free ride by sycophantic news people, and his numerous gaffes and National’s policy failures seldom get more than cursory coverage in the MSM. Coupled with the prominence given to anything produced by the Dirty Politics crew of Slater, Farrar and Williams, then it is hardly surprising that Key has managed to fool so many people for so long.
      • The Murphey 16.1.1

        1 February 2015 at 12:20 pm

        The primary differential is the absolutely corrupted corporate media in NZ and the lack of regulatory bodies policing the corrupt practices in the perceived second least corrupt country

        Key as chair of the IUD is reward for carrying out his sock puppet duties as directed nothing more
        • Wayne 16.1.1.1

          1 February 2015 at 12:44 pm

          Pretty impressive to be so corrupt that we can con the various people who measure corruption that we are almost the least corrupt country in the world. Just goes to show how deeply and successfully imbedded the corruption is among the power-elite.
          • One Anonymous Bloke 16.1.1.1.1

            1 February 2015 at 12:52 pm

            What does that say about the rest of the world, considering everyone from the Law Society to the winners of the Prime Minister’s science prize can see your party turning everything to shit and yet we still only drop one place on the index.

            You always did set a low benchmark, Dr. Mapp.
          • The Murphey 16.1.1.1.2

            1 February 2015 at 1:40 pm

            Q. What is the definition of the word perceive ?

            Q. Is your comment to be interpreted as an endorsement for the endemic corruption in NZ ?

            Wayne Mapp meet Pete George
            • Wayne 16.1.1.1.2.1

              1 February 2015 at 3:42 pm

              Well, you work out whether I was being ironic.

              But to go by much of the commentary on this site, the current govt is the most corrupt and venal in New Zealand’s history. It is only maintained in office by the connivance of an extreme right wing media, in thrall of the neo-liberal agenda, that clearly lies at the heart of the govt.

              But to get voted in three times, they have had to have the masquerade of being moderate, although that is easily seen through by commenters on this site. However, national voters are so self-serving and self-absorbed they readily fall for the masquerade.

              And to top it all, the various international agencies blithy accept at face value that New Zealand is one of the least corrupt countries, when self evidently that is not true. If Kim Dotcom can see the truth, why can’t everyone else.

              It is all part of a fantastic Right Wing conspiracy to cover up the truth.
              • McFlock …

                1 February 2015 at 9:08 pm

                The government is corrupt.
                Most NZers are still pretty decent.

                For example:
                Your average cop would arrest you for attempting to bribe them.
                Your average ACT MP would tell you how to do it (although that case has been kicked back to trial, if I recall correctly).
              • The Murphey …

                1 February 2015 at 9:43 pm

                Q. Why do you frequent this site Wayne ?

                Despite some simplistic flaws in your commentary it is an effective and efficient explanation of the circumstances leading to the present state in NZ

                No need to mention conspiracy when the corruption and fraud is barefaced internationally and is mirrored nationally while instinctively seeking to subvert and deflect

                It’s self evident and you know it
              • Barfly …

                2 February 2015 at 7:04 am

                “out of the mouths of babes and fools”

                he speaks the truth yet knows it not!
          • tricledrown 16.1.1.1.3

            1 February 2015 at 4:26 pm

            Wayne That was the story until Keys govt got into power.
            We have slipped several places Wayne.
      • Clemgeopin 16.1.2

        1 February 2015 at 1:15 pm

        +1
        Completely agree. Not only is Key cunning and deceptive, the MSM biased and inefficient, but as per the election results, 47% of the voters are pretty selfish unthinking gullible foolish simpletons.
    • Olwyn 16.2

      1 February 2015 at 2:48 pm

      Wayne this is what I make of John Key. Unlike some who comment here I do not think he is a psychopath, but I do think he is ruthless. The two-track method described by Hager allows him to put a distance between his ruthlessness and his image. He has the salesman’s gift of mirroring the people to whom he is talking to an extraordinary degree, and he seems to be able to do cost-benefit calculations at lightning speed, perhaps a legacy from his money-trader days. His success lies in his winning over much of the middle class both with his sales technique, and in allowing them to be cushioned by inflated property values in the aftermath of GFC. This has allowed him to remain in office and to press on with the right wing program he and his admirers favour without provoking widespread rebellion.

      His weakness lies in his lack of interest in the broader public good and in those whose votes he doesn’t need – in this sense, he has a wheeler-and-dealer’s mind more than a politician’s. His wife, in marrying him, enlisted herself for an amazing adventure. That adventure could well include his texting his resignation from a plane when his luck here looks to have run its course.
      • Topcat 16.2.1

        1 February 2015 at 11:47 pm

        Don’t worry Key’s time will come, the GFC has exposed Neo-liberalism as a worthless philosophy and Australia and the rest of the world are catching on fast. Only in the U.S. do they keep voting for this nonsense. NZ will catch up with the pack soon enough.
17. tc 17

    1 February 2015 at 10:38 am

    Abbott is in deep trouble now, could it be Turnbull time again, as is Clive Palmers PUP that seems to have run it’s race after the Lambie federal fallout.

    Newman threw the dice when he stated he’d punish marginal seats who didn’t put the liberal candidate in, backfired now as it did in the 90’s when Kennet tried that on in Victoria.

    NSW will be very interesting in a few months now.
18. les 18

    1 February 2015 at 10:48 am

    trawling aussie sites ,looks like the ALP will be 1 short…44.
    • Naturesong 18.1

      1 February 2015 at 11:08 am

      Looks like Ferny Grove is likely to return to ALP
    • Murray Rawshark 18.2

      1 February 2015 at 12:17 pm

      Katter will support Labor because Bjelke-Newman upset the farmers with his support of fracking and diversion of water for mining. I just wish Labor had been a bit stronger about getting rid of the anti-association VLAD laws immediately, rather than saying they’d leave them in place until they decide what to replace them with. That is a very weak position.
19. les 19

    1 February 2015 at 11:20 am

    Crosby Textor strategy …a big flop for the LNP.
20. greywarshark 20

    1 February 2015 at 1:20 pm

    When you only have a choice between Tweedledum and Tweedledee you really are in a
    desperate situation. Two bloody awful choices for government, which is the best and on what basis to make this fine judgment? Perhaps go the whole neo lib way and tender for the top rep’s position. This is what you will get if people keep voting mainly on a wallet and self-interest, anti-social and anti-community status quo.
21. Richard McGrath 21

    1 February 2015 at 8:53 pm

    Please… the main reason Labor in Queensland were smashed in 2012 was because the party was riddled with corruption and the electorate were sick of it.
    • Richard McGrath 21.1

      1 February 2015 at 9:09 pm

      Not that Newman’s government was any better:

      http://kangaroocourtofaustralia.com/2015/01/25/premier-campbell-newman-returns-qld-to-the-corrupt-joh-bjelke-petersen-days/
22. greywarshark 22

    1 February 2015 at 9:57 pm

    Some interesting bits I noted while looking at the links to Australia.

    One was a very ordinary looking, prosaic couple who didn’t look likely to be flashy players in the news over pornography. (This was in October 2014.)
    The wife of dumped LNP Redlands MP Peter Dowling, who gained international media attention for sending pornographic text messages to his mistress, has publicly backed her husband, saying he is not “perfect”.
    http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-26/wife-backs-dumped-sexting-qld-mp-peter-dowling/5842212

    Some background on the run-up to the present election results.
    http://www.theage.com.au/comment/campbell-newmans-campaign-and-the-ghost-of-joh-bjelkepetersen-may-haunt-election-night-20150130-131u49.html
    Queensland’s trend unemployment is 6.6 per cent, significantly worse than the 5.5 per cent rate when Newman came to office, and better only than Tasmania’s performance. Regional variations could be influential, too: with unemployment running at 8 per cent in the key cities of Townsville and Cairns (and youth unemployment at a very high 21 per cent in the former), where the high dollar has hit the tourism industry.

    Other measures are also worrying. Gross domestic income fell 1 per cent over the 2013-14 financial year, the second-highest decline in the country. Overall, the CommSec State of the States January 2015 report rates Queensland fifth for economic performance among the eight states and territories.

    Undeterred, the government promises a rosy economic future based on coal seam gas exports, but its predictions on that front seem overly optimistic. It claims, for example, that new coal mines in the Galilee Basin will directly reate 27,000 new jobs, but an Australia Institute analysis puts the likely figure at 9280.…

    The current Australian electorate is grumpy and volatile and Queenslanders have a history of being among the most volatile of all.

    Federal issues played a part in the defeat of the Coalition government in Victoria last November. A Courier-Mail Galaxy poll published on January 12 reported that “almost one in three voters are poised to vote against the LNP… because of federal factors” –
    especially suggestions that the GST be broadened – and this was before the Prime Minister’s mad monarchist moment sparked unhelpful leadership speculation.

    Queensland is relying on coal seam gas, and tourism was already down with Townsville youth unemployment at 21%, and yet the vid on Newman said he wasn’t protecting the Barrier Reef. I think we had better reorganise our social welfare policies for settling Australians to match those of Oz for we Kiwis. Otherwise we’ll be coming the raw prawn or whatever Barry Humphries used to say.
23. ghostwhowalksnz 23

    2 February 2015 at 9:12 am

    Where did you get the idea prince Phillip was ‘nazi supporting’.
    Im not a monarchist, but just because his sisters married someone else with connections to the nazi party doesnt taint them as well.

    When you consider Phillip Mountbatten was an officer in the Royal Navy, who was obviously fighting against the nazis, it gets a bit ridiculous.
    Then there was his mother, who despite her royal connections, had stayed in Athens during the nazi occupation and helped in the rescue of Jews.
    • greywarshark 23.1

      2 February 2015 at 11:09 am

      @ ghost
      Haven’t a ghost of an idea whos you are addressing about Prince Philip and Nasties?
      • ghostwhowalksnz 23.1.1

        2 February 2015 at 11:32 am

        Its in the post
        “His decision to award a knighthood to a former Nazi supporting member of the British Aristocracy on Australia Day ”

        Key had beaten Abbott to the gong some years back.

        Its just my thing about what is nazi connected and what is not. The main one is the myth of the poor germans badly treated by the Treaty of Versailles. That is a straight out nazi propaganda, but has surprising traction even today
        • greywarshark 23.1.1.1

          4 February 2015 at 2:03 pm

          ghost
          The nastie supporting royal could have been the one who abdicated and married wallis simpson. Saying Prince Phillip had a connection isnt right surely and ist’s certainly not the Queen. It seems a nasty little smear more than anything.

          And the treaty of versailles did set high reparations on the war damaged germany didn’t it? Perhaps it would be more correct to say it played a large part in the ability of hitler to advance and advantage himself and his thugs with the NP arising to prominence.

          what do you say?

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