West Australia result
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9:45 am, March 15th, 2021 - 8 comments
Categories: australian politics, elections -
Tags: west australia
The weekend state elections in West Australia are astonishing. On top of nearly a 13% two party swing swing for Labour in 2017, there appears to have been about a 17% swing to Labour in the weekend election in preliminary results.
In 59 seat lower house, this has left the Liberals with 2 seats with one other still in contention – they have dropped 11 seats. The Nationals with 3, dropping 2, and currently the opposition party. Labour look to have grown by 10 or more seats.
In the upper house, it looks like Labour have 23 of 36 seats. They probably giving them outright control over both houses.
Reading through the analysis of the inevitable blame game of the Liberals post-election, it appears that an array of former WA Liberal leaders aren’t exactly happy with the result. The young election Lib leader, Zak Kirkup, was catapulted into place just 16 weeks before the election primarily as a result of power broker backroom politics in an already untenable position.
Former Liberal leader Mike Nahan — who described the result as a “disaster” and a “shocking outcome” — called for a “no-holds-barred” review of the outcome, saying it would be wrong to believe the wipeout was simply a product of COVID-19.
“If it was a six per cent or seven per cent swing I would accept that … but this is just a wipeout,” Dr Nahan said.Get up to speed on the WA electionThe politics, the policies and the people. We’ve collected all our coverage on the election campaign here.Read more
The retiring Dr Nahan, whose former seat of Riverton has fallen into Labor’s hands, said there were significant campaign missteps.
“The energy policy was a debacle,” he said.
“And I think, in the end, you will see his statement that “we have lost”, that we had no chance of winning, just was not right.
“You don’t give up and you never give up.”
ABC News: “WA election: Former Liberal MPs lash out as party takes stock amid poll wipeout“
The energy policy referred to was to the Liberals under Zak Kirkup making a commitment to getting to zero carbon emissions by 2030, closing coal powered stations within 4 years, and investing heavily in renewable sources of energy. Two and half weeks before the election Zak Kirkup pointed out that the opinion polls were running heavily against the Liberals and shifting to a balance of power argument about not giving Labour complete control of the state houses.
Zak Kirkup denied his decision to concede defeat two weeks out from the election had driven voters away and said he wished he had made the comments from “day one” of the campaign.
“I wish we’d done it sooner because for the last two-and-a-half weeks, we’ve had a single message about what would happen with Labor’s risk, but of course in the last two-and-a-half weeks it’s a challenging media environment, there’s a lot of competing issues that came up,” he said.
“People were really worried about checks and balances and I wish I had longer to prosecute that [argument].”
Mr Kirkup also rejected suggestions the party’s green energy policy was a mistake and said there was less of a swing against the Liberals in the coal mining electorate of Collie-Preston than in his own electorate of Dawesville.
“I think it will be convenient for people to blame the new energy jobs plan, rather than to accept the fact that actually we were up against a juggernaut in Mark McGowan,” he said.
The former MP also said he did not think there was an issue with powerbrokers in the party.
“When I look at my own circumstances, there were no deals done for me to become leader of the party, I didn’t seek any deals or anything like that — I got the confidence of my partyroom and that was that.”
ABC News: “WA election: Former Liberal MPs lash out as party takes stock amid poll wipeout“
The opinion polls relate to the new standard that appears to be creeping into state politics in Australia. There appears to be a trend for less straight party line voting, and far more strong polling and electoral support for straight competency in dealing with covid-19. This has obvious implications for the Federal elections as the Roy Morgan analysis pointed out last month.
Primary support for the L-NP is now at 40% (down 2% points since November) compared to the ALP on 34.5% (up 0.5% points). Greens support has also increased and is now at 13% (up 1% point).
Support for One Nation is down 0.5% points to 3.5% while support for Independents/Others has increased 1% point to 9%.
Federal Voting Intention by State shows benefit of strong State Governments
Voting analysis by State shows the swing to the ALP is built on swings to the ALP since the last Federal Election in the three States with an ALP State Government – Victoria, Queensland and WA.
In Victoria the ALP now leads strongly on a two-party preferred basis: ALP 55% cf. L-NP 45%, a swing of 1.9% to the ALP since the 2019 Federal Election. There is one seat the L-NP holds in Victoria on a margin of less than 1.9% which is Chisholm (0.6%).
In Queensland the LNP is still in front on a two-party preferred basis but its lead has been significantly reduced: LNP 52% cf. ALP 48%, a swing of 6.4% to the ALP since the 2019 Federal Election. The LNP currently holds 23 out of 30 seats in Queensland compared to only 6 for the ALP.
The LNP holds five Queensland seats with a margin of less than 6.4% including Longman (3.3%), Leichhardt (4.2%), Dickson (4.6%), Brisbane (4.9%) and Ryan (6%).
In WA there has been a big swing with the ALP now marginally in front on a two-party preferred basis: ALP 50.5% cf. L-NP 49.5% – a swing of 6.1% to the ALP since the 2019 Federal Election. The Liberals currently hold 11 out of 16 seats in Western Australia compared to only 5 for the ALP.
Roy Morgan: 19th Feb 2021 “ALP (50.5%) gains lead over L-NP (49.5%) on the back of strength in Victoria, Queensland & WA“
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- Release: Smoking numbers up under Costello’s watch
National’s repeal of Labour’s smokefree legislation has taken New Zealand further away from achieving a Smokefree 2025 and a smokefree generation. ...2 days ago
- Release: Call for Palestine recognition by NZ, Australian and Canadian MPs
Parliamentarians from Australia, Canada and New Zealand have written an open letter to their respective Prime Ministers calling on them to recognise Palestine. ...2 days ago
- Justice Select Committee opens floor for Treaty Principles submissions
Today, the Justice Select Committee has decided to officially open submissions for the controversial Treaty Principles Bill. ...3 days ago
- Power of the people on full display as hīkoi approaches Parliament
Today, Hīkoi mō te Tiriti arrived in Wellington, with thousands gathering to march in unity against the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...3 days ago
- Hypocrisy as Te Whatu Ora contractor bill balloons
Te Whatu Ora’s bill for contracting and consulting staff has ballooned by nearly 20 percent under the National Government, breaking a promise they made during the election campaign to cut contractors. ...4 days ago
- Release: Growing pressure to scrap Section 7AA Repeal Bill
The newly released Section 7AA Repeal Bill's select committee report is further evidence that the Government should scrap it. ...5 days ago
- Government’s move to monetise access to nature a slippery slope
The Green Party is voicing serious concerns over the Government’s proposal to charge for access to public conservation land, released today. ...1 week ago
- Green Party condemns the passage of Treaty Principles Bill
The Green Party condemns the passing of the Treaty Principles Bill at first reading, and is clear that the fight is not over. ...1 week ago
- Stand Up for Te Tiriti
Te Tiriti o Waitangi is our country’s founding document. It forms the basis of the relationship between Māori and the Crown – and the Aotearoa New Zealand we live in today. ...1 week ago
- Release: Over 15,000 sign Labour’s open letter to Luxon
As the hīkoi to Parliament continues, Labour has sent an open letter to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in a last-ditch attempt to get him to kill the Treaty Principles Bill. ...1 week ago
- Fast Track Bill threatens environment, climate and reputation
The fast-track legislation passing its second reading in Parliament is another step towards environmental ruin. ...1 week ago
- Greens join King’s Counsel in calling for Treaty Principles Bill to be abandoned
The Prime Minister must answer the call from a group of senior lawyers of the King’s Counsel to abandon the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...1 week ago
- Chris Hipkins’ apology statement to state and faith-based care survivors
...1 week ago
- Release: Labour formally apologises to state and faith-based care survivors
Labour joins with the Government in unreservedly apologising for the abuse, neglect and trauma including torture in state and faith-based care and for ignoring the voices of survivors for too long. ...1 week ago
- Green Party stands in support of survivors of abuse in care
Today, the Green Party stands alongside the survivors of abuse in state care and faith-based care as the Government issues an historic apology. ...1 week ago
- Green Party calls for conscience vote on Treaty Principles Bill
The Green Party has written to the Speaker of the House requesting he enable a personal vote on the Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt move to exclude journalist risks chilling effect
The Green Party is alarmed by the Government’s move to exclude a journalist from covering this week’s apology for the survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care. ...2 weeks ago
- Without action, an apology will be empty air
For tomorrow’s apology to survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care to hold any water, the Government must not pursue the same policies that drove the abuse in the first place. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Concerns remain over tobacco interference
Concerns about the tobacco industry’s ability to interfere in government policy making remain, despite the inability of the Office of the Auditor-General to investigate the Government’s decision to halve the excise tax on heated tobacco products. ...2 weeks ago
- Urgent wake-up call on climate
The Climate Change Commission’s latest advice indicates Aotearoa needs to be stepping up on climate action. ...2 weeks ago
- Green MP’s Meme-ber’s Bill set to save the world
Break out the punchlines and dust off your meme folder: Green Party MP Kahurangi Carter’s Copyright (Parody and Satire) Amendment Bill was pulled from the Ballot yesterday. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Poroporoaki: Ta Robert (Bom) Gillies
Kua hinga te manawa kairākau o Te Rua Tekau Ma Waru Tiwhatiwha te po! Kakarauru i te po! Ka rapuhia kei hea koe kua riro! Haere e te Ika a Whiro ki o tini hoa kua ngaro atu ki te Pō ...2 weeks ago
- Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principles Bill
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principle...
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- NZ must pursue independent foreign policy
The Green Party says the need is greater than ever for Aotearoa New Zealand to pursue an independent foreign policy. ...2 weeks ago
- Appointments strengthen Predator Free 2050
The latest Predator Free 2050 Board appointments will help to strengthen biodiversity efforts across Aotearoa New Zealand, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says. Mr Potaka today announced two appointments to the Board of Directors of Predator Free 2050 Limited, a key player in the wider Predator Free 2050 Programme. “The Predator ...2 hours ago - New facility in Christchurch will improve the lives of young New Zealanders
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey today opened Kahurangi, an innovative and much-needed facility for Canterbury’s Child, Adolescent, and Family Mental Health Services. “The new state of the art outpatient facility opened today will be a gamechanger for the way mental health is delivered for young people in Canterbury,” says Mr ...2 hours ago
- Driver safety screens to be installed on Auckland buses
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news from the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) that bus driver protection screens will be installed across Auckland’s bus fleet by 2026.“The Government is committed to improving the safety of working environments for bus drivers, and Budget 2024 allocated $15 million of Crown funding over ...3 hours ago
- Government action provides Southland farmers more time to meet plan requirements
The Government is taking action to ensure Southland farmers and growers are not affected by unreasonable regional farm plan deadlines, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard say.“Cabinet has agreed to provide more time for farmers and growers to comply with regional rules ...19 hours ago
- Bill reaffirms Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending
The Oranga Tamariki (Responding to Serious Youth Offending) Bill had its first reading at Parliament today. The Bill reaffirms the Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending, Minister for Children Karen Chhour says. “In recent years we have seen an unacceptable spike in youth offending. “This Bill makes ...20 hours ago
- Critical milestones for earthquake buildings review
Fairer, more sensible rules about managing earthquake risks are a step closer with the passing of legislation and the appointment of an independent chair to provide expert advice, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The Government is committed to reinvigorating our cities and regions to support economic growth, ...20 hours ago
- State of the art radiology machine for Auckland
People in Northland and Auckland will benefit from a new machine for cancer treatment installed at the Regional Cancer and Blood Service at Auckland City Hospital. The MV5 linear accelerator, or LINAC machine, officially opened today targets cancer tumours with pinpoint accuracy. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says this new, ...20 hours ago
- Foreign Minister to visit Europe
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Europe for high-level talks with France, Germany and the United Kingdom next week. "Since taking office almost a year ago, the Coalition Government has emphasised the importance we place on New Zealand's traditional and likeminded diplomatic and ...21 hours ago
- First arrests made under gang patch ban
Police have made their first arrests under the new gang patch legislation, with two gang members arrested, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “Just before 11 this morning, Police in Wairoa apprehended a gang member for wearing a patch to the supermarket. He has been arrested and will now face enforcement ...22 hours ago
- Better support for victims of sexual violence
The Government is proposing two major changes to name suppression laws that will put the views of victims of sexual violence first, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “We are committed to restoring law and order and these two proposed changes will help ensure the victims of crime are put at ...23 hours ago
- Government moving forward with Regional Deals
Cabinet has agreed to invite all regions to submit proposals for Regional Deals between central and local government that drive economic growth and deliver the infrastructure our country needs, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop say. Inviting all regions to propose a Regional Deal that boosts ...23 hours ago
- MSA pilot participant update
One of the ten young men selected to participate in the Military-Style Academy Pilot has allegedly reoffended. Children’s Minister Karen Chhour is disappointed but says it would be naïve to think that none of these young men would reoffend. “I’m saddened that this young person has not taken this opportunity ...1 day ago
- Fighting for Kiwis in Trade
Delivered at Auckland Trade and Economic Policy School Good morning and thank you Deputy Vice Chancellor Lithander for your warm welcome and for inviting me to open Auckland Trade and Economic Policy School today. A Special thanks to the University of Auckland, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and ...1 day ago
- Attendance rates increase, again
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that school attendance is continuing to rise. In Term 3 of 2024 51.3 per cent of students attended school regularly, an increase of 5.3 percentage points from 46 per cent in Term 3 of 2023. “This Government has prioritised student attendance and it is ...1 day ago
- Improving the lives of young New Zealanders
Ensuring New Zealand is the best place in the world for children and young people is the vision at the heart of the Government’s new Child and Youth Strategy, Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston says. “Childhood represents a huge opportunity to set people on a positive path towards living ...1 day ago
- Government continues work to reinstate livestock exports by sea
The Government is reinstating the trade of livestock exports by sea while ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare, says Associate Minister of Agriculture Andrew Hoggard.“The Government will introduce legislation changes to reinstate the trade, enhance oversight, and strengthen requirements for exporters to identify risks and manage the welfare of ...2 days ago
- Speech to the National Quality Forum 2024
Tēnā koutou katoa – it is a pleasure to be here today. I would like to begin by acknowledging the important leadership role you all play in ensuring a quality health system New Zealanders can trust. There is enormous clinical expertise in this room covering a wide range of disciplines. ...2 days ago
- New Zealand’s COP29 National Statement
Tēnā koutou katoa. Mr President, Excellencies, Delegates. New Zealand, and all nations represented here today, are already dealing with the impacts of climate change. Our households, businesses, and economies are bearing the costs of its effects. The choices we make now will shape the severity of these impacts for generations ...2 days ago
- Latest Quarterly Investment Report released
The Government has released its second Quarterly Investment Report (QIR) which shows substantial work still to be done by agencies to improve investment reporting and meet the Government’s expectations, Infrastructure and Acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “New Zealand has significant infrastructure and investment needs. The Government is determined to get ...2 days ago
- New Zealand supporting loss and damage fund
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced New Zealand will contribute NZ$10 million to the new Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage while at the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. “New Zealand is joining the global effort to address the significant challenge of responding to ...2 days ago
- Gang crackdown begins at stroke of midnight
The free ride for gangs is over when the clock strikes midnight tonight, with tough new laws officially coming into effect, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Police Minister Mark Mitchell say. “Gang patches will no longer be able to be worn in public. To earn the right to wear a ...2 days ago
- LGFA increases borrowing capacity to support high growth councils
The Government is welcoming the decision by the Local Government Funding Agency to increase access to financing tools for fast growing councils to support greater investment in critical infrastructure, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says.“Communities across the country are facing an infrastructure deficit and significant population growth is projected in ...2 days ago
- Temporary Traffic Management costs revealed
The Government has revealed that over the past three years, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has spent an eyewatering $786 million of taxpayers’ money on road cones and temporary traffic management (TTM), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“When I became Minister, I was surprised to learn that that NZTA did ...2 days ago
- Jurisdiction of Disputes Tribunal to double
Legislation that will double the financial jurisdiction of the Disputes Tribunal from $30,000 to $60,000 has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith. “We need to improve court timeliness and access to justice so that Kiwis and get on with their lives. Court delays affect everyone, the ...3 days ago
- Protecting New Zealand from foreign interference
Legislation that will specifically criminalise foreign interference and strengthen espionage offences has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “It is normal and appropriate for states to interact and work to influence one another. This encourages cooperation and can have mutually beneficial outcomes. “However, the reality ...3 days ago
- Significant milestone for Canterbury Road of National Significance
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news that the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board has approved funding towards pre-implementation and early works on the State Highway 1 (SH1) Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass Road of National Significance (RoNS). “Reaching this significant milestone is a reflection of our Government’s ...3 days ago
- Health survey results to help drive change
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says findings from the annual Health Survey highlight the need to continue driving better health outcomes for New Zealanders. The New Zealand Health Survey is an annual snapshot of key metrics measured from July 2023 – July 2024. Findings released this morning include: In 2023/24, ...3 days ago
- Final push needed to get to Smokefree 2025
A renewed effort to get people to quit smoking will build on what has worked to date and target the groups who most need support, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said today. “The latest New Zealand Health Survey results show the daily smoking rate at 6.9 per cent and we ...3 days ago
- New diplomatic appointments
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced four new diplomatic appointments. “Our diplomats play an important role in ensuring New Zealand’s interests are maintained and enhanced across the world,” Mr Peters says. “It is a pleasure to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign ...3 days ago
- Next steps for Regulatory Standards Bill
Regulation Minister David Seymour has today announced the next steps in the Government’s plan improve the quality of regulation by opening consultation on a proposed Regulatory Standards Bill. “New Zealand's low wages can be blamed on low productivity, and low productivity can be blamed on poor regulation,” says Mr Seymour. ...3 days ago
- Red Tape Tipline goes live
Minister for Regulation David Seymour has today announced that the Ministry for Regulation’s Red Tape Tipline is now live. “We want to hear about your red tape horror stories. From today, New Zealanders will have a say on how they are regulated through an online portal,” says Mr Seymour. The ...3 days ago
- Youth Parliament 2025 announced
The Minister for Youth Matt Doocey has today announced the eleventh Youth Parliament will be taking place in 2025. “Youth Parliament offers a unique youth development opportunity to young people from across New Zealand to experience the political process and learn about how government works,” says Mr Doocey. “The two-day ...4 days ago
- Police stats show promising change
After nearly a year in Government, Kiwis have seen significant change across law and order with promising early results shown across some Police statistics, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “In August 2023, I told New Zealanders that if they had not started to see a change in public safety within ...4 days ago
- Better coordination of anti-scam efforts
With the launch of Fraud Awareness Week, the Government is committing to new coordination efforts across industry and government to combat online scams, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Online financial scams are a growing problem for New Zealand. New data released today shows that Kiwis lost nearly ...4 days ago
- Minister to consider 7AA select committee report
Minister for Children Karen Chhour will consider the recommendations made by the Social Services and Community Committee in its report back to Parliament on the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill. “I want to thank the people who made submissions and those who appeared before the committee in ...4 days ago
- Defence Minister to attend ASEAN meeting
Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Vientiane, Laos. “We need to take every opportunity to engage with our international partners, given the increasingly unstable geo-political situation,” Ms Collins says. “New Zealand has a long-standing commitment to this ...4 days ago
- Launching the White Ribbon Ride
The Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, Karen Chhour, was on hand to wish riders well at the start of the North Island leg of the White Ribbon Ride in Whakatāne this morning. The ride helps mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, ...5 days ago
- Construction to begin on next stage of Papakura to Drury
Construction on the next stage of the SH1 Papakura to Drury project will begin early next month, with the contract for works awarded to Fulton Hogan, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. "SH1 Papakura to Drury is a key project that will drive economic growth and productivity, reduce congestion, and enable people ...6 days ago
- NZ signs trade deal with Costa Rica, Iceland and Switzerland
Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has signed a pioneering trade agreement that prioritises New Zealand’s sustainable exports at a ceremony during APEC in Peru today. “The Agreement on Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS), between Costa Rica, Iceland, and Switzerland was concluded in July of this year and opens up significant ...6 days ago
- Government and iwi work together on aquaculture
Five new Aquaculture Settlement Areas will help ensure Ngāi Tahu shares in the opportunities aquaculture offers for Southland’s economy, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. “The Aquaculture Settlement Areas (ASAs) I’m announcing today set aside space so the Crown and Ngāi Tahu can assess their potential for aquaculture development. ...7 days ago
- Justice Committee Makes Further Decisions About Submissions Process For The Principles Of The Treaty...
The committee plans to hold hearings in the week starting Monday, 27 January and the weeks starting 10, 17 and 24 February 2025. ...1 hour ago - Watch live: Christopher Luxon faces questions during power station visit
It comes as Labour accuses National of not listening to evidence about boot camps. ...1 hour ago - Survivors of abuse in care know how redress should work – will the government finally listen?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Winter, Associate Professor in Political Theory, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images When Prime Minister Christopher Luxon stood in Parliament last week to apologise to survivors of abuse in care, his words were among many fine speeches by ...2 hours ago - Review: The Day of the Jackal is a riveting and ridiculous ride
Eddie Redmayne’s globe-trotting assassin thriller on TVNZ is worth putting your phone down for. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. This is a vulnerable thing to say as someone who often writes about television for a job, but boy am I really ...2 hours ago - RNA editing is the next frontier in gene therapy – here’s what you need to know
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Flora Hui, Research Fellow, Centre for Eye Research Australia and Honorary Fellow, Department of Surgery (Ophthalmology), The University of Melbourne IoanaB/Shutterstock The United States Food and Drug Administration has just approved the first-ever clinical trial that uses CRISPR-Cas13 RNA editing. Its ...3 hours ago
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- Humans are killing off the old and wise animals that hold nature together. Here’s what must change
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Keller Kopf, Senior Lecturer in Ecology, Charles Darwin University Laxmikant Ameenagad, Shutterstock In humans and other animals, ageing is generally associated with a decline in biological function. But scientists are now discovering older animals perform vital roles in populations and ecosystems. ...3 hours ago
- A man scouring Google Earth found a mysterious scar in the Australian outback – and now scientists...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matej Lipar, Adjunct Research Fellow, School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Curtin University Author provided/Google Earth Earlier this year, a caver was poring over satellite images of the Nullarbor Plain when he came across something unexpected: an enormous, mysterious scar etched ...3 hours ago
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Annette Greenhow, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, Bond University Linda George/Shutterstock The ten-year anniversary of the death of much-loved Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes falls on November 27. The 25-year-old’s life was tragically cut short in 2014 when a bouncer ...4 hours ago
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephanie Gomes-Ng, Senior Lecturer of Psychology, Auckland University of Technology Getty Images Former New Zealand prime minister John Key has three white rabbits painted on his helicopter, a nod to his “massively superstitious” habit of repeating “white rabbits” three times at ...6 hours ago
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The coalition has "absolutely no intention of listening to the evidence that comes out of their experiment", Labour MP says. ...6 hours ago
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Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp');Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions.The post Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 22 November appeared first on Newsroom. ...7 hours ago
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Bill Shorten has declared himself “a proud moderate” in a valedictory speech declaring parliament has the responsibility to ensure the extremes of left and right do not set the terms of political debate. Shorten, ...18 hours ago
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Beat me to it. A remarkable result.
With three states now having strong Labour leaders, Annastacia Palaszczuk (QLD), Dan Andrews (VIC) and now Mark McGowan (WA) – this is going to have Federal implications for certain.
Also latest poll (done by the generally conservative Australian) has come out with a rubbish result for Morrison.
It's my reading that much of the energy in Australian politics resides in the economic split between rural and urban electorates – but as this last NZ election showed – it's entirely possible for the left to do well in the regions if it plays a sane and sensible platform. Which to it's credit the ALP is doing at present.
At a Federal level Labor have been out of power since 2013, and it's a tough leap from State to Federal contests.
It will be hard for either Labor or Liberals to overcome a fear of strong energy policies when it appears partially causal in this West Australian landslide.
Can Coronavirus blame win the epistemic crisis that has infected Australian politics within the climate debate?
Australia kept the Liberals in power in no small part because a majority of Queensland people backed the Andani coal mine and damn the environmental consequences. From the polls cited it still looks really tight there.
And yet in boardrooms right around Australia, well before most people had heard of the novel coronavirus, and in Zoom rooms throughout the crisis itself, one issue keeps calling out: Australia's longstanding energy policy paralysis and its consequences for business costs and investor certainty and rural community sustainability.
It's been a very long 9 years.
fear of strong energy policies
Australia is one of the relatively few places on earth where renewables work really well, both technically and economically. No-one wants to build new coal plants in Australia and as the existing fleet retires SWB renewables will almost certainly step up.
This will be a huge test case for the technology.
Australia kept the Liberals in power in no small part because a majority of Queensland people backed the Andani coal mine and damn the environmental consequences. From the polls cited it still looks really tight there.
But not hopeless. The issue in regional QLD is very real, the divide between Brisbane and the rest is pretty damned stark and successive govts have failed dismally to reduce it. Now is their opportunity to push some real developments that don’t rely on coal into the regions.
That was what really showed in the 2019 federal election. The house federal elections in recent decades tend to get results that are within the 2-3% margin of polling error between the rather rigid coalitions on the right and Labour on the left. Which makes the federal election campaigns far more important than they have been here recently (our elections are largely determined by what coalitions are possible).
Australian federal Labour have tended to lose the election campaigns mostly for the visible factionalism has been easy to sling mud at during the election campaigns to sway floating voters. Especially (as you and RL say) due to the voting urban / region splits over employment related to emissions.
That debate will eventually peter out as renewable power becomes even cheaper than thermal coal power worldwide. This as much as the anti-mine campaign is why Adani's Carmichael project has been steadily scaled back and scaled back again over the last decade.
The remaining coal market is likely to be in a specific lower volume areas like high carbon steel making where it is harder to remove the technical need.
I am surprised as to how little coverage this has had in the MSM given that the opposition now "fits in a toyota corolla" per one commentator. I will be interested to see if the good covid response which has been driven by state premier,s while ScoMo fiddles around contributing less than nothing, rubs off on ScoMo in the federal elections in a positive or a negative way.? Or will the rest of ScoMo's unattended scandals do him in?
BTW Lprent I spent a couple of days with a 504 no access error which suddenly vanished. Running firefox laptop windows 10 plus i use the firefox option to route searches so the ISP does not have a list
It would be great if there could be an Australia Watch appearing regularly here. They are veering in a direction that is unnerving to watch and some cool heads analysing what is going on so we are up with the play would be good. We have some Australia-knowledgables who write here, Red and Scud come directly to mind.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/438459/norfolk-island-council-s-suspension-extended-by-a-year This is latest in news abut Norfolk Island governance and Australia. They have had their democratic systems disrupted, money problems etc and Australia has just taken them over, and they protest their lack of democracy and oversight. We have had similar internally when NZ government take over Ecan enabling it to override controls to water allocation for irrigation that has made some people very rich and the country with a growing problem of foul waterways. How much reliable sovereignty do we have left after the great powers have a go, and we have signed a lot away with trade treaties that end up with the rest of the world getting first bite out of anything we get going?
A recent report said an offender pinched a carton of alcohol and that NZs offenders are being badly treated. Of course that happens here also. Can we improve treatment in both countries? A news item relating to a 'trash' comment by Australia's 'Deathshead' Dutton gave coverage to the situation. <i>Two days ago she spoke to a 20-year-old who has been in a detention centre for two and a half years for the crime of stealing a six-pack of bourbon. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/438241/trash-row-time-for-nz-to-act-on-harsh-demoralising-detention-centres-advocate</i>
Australia's finest! https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/438183/australia-501-deportees-trash-says-dutton |
But let's give the deportees something to get started, and a friendly hand. https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018787533/501-deportees-say-they-ve-got-a-lot-to-offer-if-we-let-them
Then it appears to me that we are being treated by Oz as Mexico is by the USA. Our people are like 'wetbacks'; Oz is putting up a type of barrier against us, treating us with disrespect, while at the same time making a lot of money for themselves similar to the way USA exploits Mexico.
Australia has taken on the role of 'Sheriff of the Pacific' and is alongside the USA. The two of them are pretty brutal to whoever disagrees with them. They are training army personnel here and perhaps our police are getting included. For the situation of vulnerable countries next to dominant and over-bearing neighbours, think of Ireland, its famine, and Britain so close and with such a footprint over that considerably-sized island. Remember how Brit transported their people after minor crimes to Australia and now Oz seems to be reverting to past history.
I see there is a need for our over-stretched airport connected businesses to have a travel bubble with Australia, or go out of business, They could cope with another outbreak of Covid19 as they would not be financially responsible for a costly outbreak which would be borne by the government and citizens. It would be interesting to see if there was Australian money in the Auckland Airport's finances, and the businesses connected with it. https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018787597/we-re-ready-as-businesses-hang-on-for-trans-tasman-travel-deal-auckland-airport-ceo
We are tied in to Australia, and must remember it is like wrestling an anaconda! See: Nigel Marven wrestles an enormous anaconda -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szF6iZthvvQ
An AusWatch? I've thought about it from time to time – I might give it a go.
For the time being how about this rather interesting article.
It may be a tad optimistic – but it's certainly a positive take on their economy and a big vote of confidence. And one that NZ should be looking toward as well.
Some background on NZ's past history with Oz and some important Australians and on how we can be mistaken to let our guard down.
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/allies-not-friends-new-zealand-and-australia
One agency's opinion: The Lowy Institute is an independent think tank founded in April 2003 by Frank Lowy to conduct original, policy-relevant research about international political, strategic and economic issues from an Australian perspective. It is based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Location: Sydney Formation: 2003
Lowy Institute – Wikipedia
About: Sir Frank P. Lowy AC (born 22 October 1930) is an Australian-Israeli businessman of Jewish Slovakian-Hungarian origins and the former long-time Chairman of Westfield Corporation, a global shopping centre company with US$29.3 billion of assets under management in the United States, United Kingdom and Europe.
Frank Lowy – Wikipedia
Reminds me of Peter Abeles.
Sir Peter Emil Herbert Abeles, AC (25 April 1924 – 25 June 1999) was an Australian transportation magnate. A refugee from Hungary, he became a businessman in Australia, and was knighted in 1972.
Born: 25 April 1924, Vienna Died: 25 June 1999, Sydney
Peter Abeles – Wikipedia
Abeles has interesting connection with NZ 'Both Abeles and Murdoch jointly controlled the airline as Ansett's joint …' In September 1992 he left TNT to concentrate his efforts on the ailing Ansett, but just two months later he stepped down from the airline as well.
In February 2000, Air New Zealand acquired full ownership of Ansett, buying out News Corporation's stake for A$680 million, surpassing Singapore Airlines's A$500 million bid.
4 March 2002 Ansett Australia/Ceased operations
Flights operated by the Ansett Australia Group ceased from midnight on Monday 4 March, 2002. This site now provides information regarding the Ansett Australia Group administration.
https://www.ansett.com.au/
Also https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/ansett-storm-leaves-pm-clark-stranded/2NQRNXZRUEDJCLZRP3VKNOIE5M/
2001 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/sep/17/patrickbarkham
I think this is the informative book which details events: https://www.penguin.co.nz/books/mayday-how-warring-egos-forced-qantas-off-course-9780670078370