VEC Fallout

The Pollbludger has done a fantastic job covering the Victorian state election and I am looking forward to his coverage of the NSW state election. What has been even more interesting has been the comments thread where the psephology community has gone ga ga over the VEC stuff up of the upper house result. Anyone interested in election statistics should read the comments pages on Pollbludger. However, if you are interested in just a brief rundown on the Vic election then you should read this from the democratic audit. It does not look favourably on the VEC.

In the end, after what seemed like a poor outcome, the Greens had an ok outcome. We won 3 upper house seats, had a small swing towards us in the overall vote, and narrowly missed out on 2 lower house seats and a fourth upper house seat. A good outcome overall.

However, the biggest loser out of the Vic election was the Christian right. Family First (FF) did not win a thing and only got 4% of the vote. Two reactions to this. First, the electorate has woken up to FF for what they are: a bunch of evangelical radicals that don't deserve parliamentary representation. Second, what was probably predicted, FF suffered from what the Greens suffered after a shock win (yes Steve Fielding was a shock in the Senate), the other political parties refuse to preference you. The challenge for FF, like it was for the Greens, is to increase ones vote to secure further positions, The Greens have done it, but I don't think FF will since the Liberals are recruiting from the Christian right. Good riddance.

Technical Issues

There seems to be some tech issues with the site. Trying to fix them.

If I can't get it running before monday I will say merry XMas to all now.

See you on the flip side.

FInally some coverage on 'private equity'

We have been hearing in the media of late about how 'private equity' firms have been aggressively acquiring businesses in Australia (Qantas being the latest victim). It's been mentioned a few times of late by friends and family. Basically, they have asked 'what's with these private equity firms, and who are they?' These are good questions but no one in the media seem to be taking a bite at this story. However, Ross Gittens has piece on private equity in the SMH today.

And so it continues...

With the elevation of Garrett to the shadow environmental portfolio I was willing to admit I was wrong and congratulate Labor for allowing the (former) environmental activist to have some power to do some good. Yet it doesn't seem like things have changed.

On Rudd's meet and greet tour of Australia Rudd took Garrett with him to all states except the latest stop, Tasmania. Stupid move on Rudd's part because it is too conspicuous and the papers have been all over it. It has made Rudd and Garrett look like the cowards that they are. But it also continues to embolden my claim that Garrett is nothing but a cardboard cut-out to be wheeled out when the Labor want to look like it has some environmental credibility.

Rudd has also come out saying that Latham's pro-forest policy in the last election campaign would be overturned and would rather stick with the current policy that allows old growth forests to be destroyed for profit. Where was Garrett? He is the shadow environment minister, isn't he? Well he had no comment today. Coward.

At the same time, Bob Brown has won a landmark court case in Tasmania that will serve to help protect Tasmania's forests.

Greens win 3rd seat and control of the Vic LC

Reports have come out today that the Victorian Greens have won a third seat in the Victorian State Upper House. Congratulations to all the Victorian Greens who toiled for a wonderful victory. Initially, it was thought that the Democratic Labor Party had taken 2 seats, but have instead won only one. So the make up of the Victorian Upper House is as such:

Labor - 19
Liberals - 15
Greens - 3
Nationals - 2
DLP - 1

The Labor Party will need to negotiate with the Greens and DLP if they are wanting to pass any legislation. This is a time for the Greens to assert their new found power with wisdom and maturity. An exciting time for Victoria.

Racism alive and well

There are few issues that get my blood boiling, one of them is racism. Just over a year ago I wrote a blog piece here about the Macquarie University lecturer who went on ACA spouting his racist views. Little did I know that the Cronulla riots were just around the corner. In fact its almost a year to the day since the cronulla riots.

At the time of the riots I underestimated what a huge ordeal it was until I saw the news that night. A black day for Australia but a day of truth also where it was finally revealed to the world the racist underbelly of Australian culture. The fallout of the Cronulla riots was a sight to behold. It quickly became a hunt for the Muslim extremist who retaliated rather than the hunt for justice. Then came one of the most ridiculous election promises I have ever heard:

In the January 14 Sydney Morning Herald, Debnam accused the ALP of being “indebted” to certain ethnic groups and “Middle Eastern gangs”, and said that this was the reason the police had not arrested those involved in the revenge attacks. Three days later, Debnam was quoted in the Herald demanding that the NSW Labor government “lock up 200 Middle Eastern thugs” whom he alleged were involved. By January 18, Debnam had upped his hit-list to 1000.

Unfortunately, it hasn't ended there. The Prime Minister and his cronies have pandered to the racists in the electorate with regular outbursts against muslims.

A year on from the Cronulla riots and a political opportunist rears her head to take advantage of the racist underbelly. Pauline Hanson has threatened to run against the sitting Liberal member for Cook, Bruce Baird (who ironically worked with Petro Georgiou to help tone down the draconian and racist refugee policies of their party). If she runs, she will lose dreadfully, the racists are too spread out and not only concentrated in Cook. Nevertheless, this does not bode well for the tone of next years federal election. I sincerely I hope a repeat of either 1998 or 2001 will not happen in 2007. Australia has been embarrassed by this woeful woman more than enough.

Musical Chairs

Rudd has his new shadow frontbench, which were all predictable. After reading this article, this is what I have gathered:

Kevin Rudd - Opposition Leader (former Foreign Affairs)
Julia Gillard - Deputy Leader, Industrial Relations (former Health)
Wayne Swan - Treasury (former Treasury)
Stephen Smith - Education & Training (former Industrial Relations)
Nicola Roxon - Health (former Attorney General)
Joel Fitzgibbon - Defence (former Assistant Treasurer)
Robert Mcclelland - Foreign Affairs (former Defence)
Kelvin Thompson - Attorney General
Lindsay Tanner - Finance (former Finance)
Simon Crean - Trade
Kim Carr - Industry
Craig Emerson - Service Economy, Small Business and Independent Contractors
Peter Garrett - Environment
Jenny Macklin - Family and Community Services (former Deputy Leader and Education & Training)
Robert Mcmullan - State/Federal Relations
Martin Ferguson - Transport (former Resources)
Stephen Conroy - Communications (former Communications)
Tony Burke - Immigration (former Immigration)
Tanya Plibersek - Human Services
Chris Evans - Resources and National Development

I have included links to their parliamentary websites so that you can find contact details easily. If you have any questions, you should ask them. For example, I would like to ask Garrett what his views are on ALP's proposal to change its three mines policy and even the selling of uranium overseas (like the ALP supports).

A final note, gee what a dreary lot they are (or at least most of them). I was hoping half of these losers would be gone. Oh well, the dead hand of factionalism remains.

Mum and Dad Politics

Congratulations to Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard for taking the Labor leadership. I guess it needed to have happened but this late in the term?

Will they be able to topple Howard? Perhaps. I feel they have started the week off very well, portraying themselves as the mum and dad figure of politics. It is shades of Mel and Kochie from Seven's Sunrise programme. On some level it makes me gag but maybe it will work.

I was hoping to turn my attention to the Liberal Party but I won't be able to help myself but scrutinise Rudder's every move.

One last thing I will say is that Gillard has positioned herself best to become Prime Minister. With Rudd, he is taking a huge gamble on the next election. He may self-destruct like Latham (although I doubt it) if he loses the election meaning Gillard will take the leadership in a following election where Labor should win. Alternatively, Rudd wins an election where Gillard will take over Rudd at some point.

Post-holiday slump

I am back after a very relaxing week at Hawks Nest. The weather was not so great but its not all about the beach when you are with your partner and friends. Not always fun coming back to reality.

Now back to that greasy pole ...

The funniest story of the year

Linked to SMH.

See you guys after my holiday.