[Leon Della Bosca]

The Australian people have spoken and we have a new government with Anthony Albanese sworn in as the 31st Prime Minister. Have your say on the key issues and developments, but please, keep it nice.

24 May: First boat turn-back under new government

Looking to boost its border security credentials, the Albanese Labor government today confirmed the Australian Border Force (ABF) had completed its first successful boat turn-back.

It’s understood there were 15 people aboard the vessel, which was intercepted near Christmas Island.

Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles said the turn-back was proof Labor is taking border security seriously.

“I think it’s important to say upfront, what this shows is that there is absolutely no change in terms of Australia’s border settings,” Mr Marles told Sky News.

“That was always our policy. It’s been our position since 2015. So, it was very clear in my mind that we were exactly what we would do when faced with this situation.

“And people smugglers should know that very clearly. There will be no change with this government.”

Do you believe the new Labour government will as tough on illegal immigration as the previous government? Or is this just for show?

Liberals call in the big guns in Kooyong

There has been much speculation that federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg might lose his blue-ribbon seat of Kooyong in Melbourne. Polling shows he is trailing his nearest rival, independent Dr Monique Ryan. It seems the party is worried too, as it rolled out the big guns in Kooyong on Tuesday. Former Prime Minister John Howard walked the streets of Kooyong with Mr Frydenberg aiming to drum up support for the beleaguered candidate.“I think he’ll win,” Mr Howard told reporters.”He is a sensible politician, he never takes anything for granted. “I think this is a tight election. The important thing is that the serious people take politics seriously and Josh Frydenberg takes it seriously. “He’s been a terrific treasurer, and he masterminded this terrific economic recovery by Australia.”

 

Do the Liberals seem worried about losing Kooyong? Or is this just standard fare for the final week of the election campaign?

Scott Morrison says he will change his ways if re-elected

The current PM admits he’s been “a bit of a bulldozer” during his term and that he would show Australians some of his “other gears” if re-elected.“It’s very important to be listening to Australians and I have done that all across my political career,” he said. “And, you know, over the last three years and particularly the last two what Australians have needed from me going through this pandemic has been strength and resilience,” he said.“Now, I admit that hasn’t enabled Australians to see a lot of other gears in the way I work. And I know Australians know that I can be a bit of a bulldozer when it comes to issues and I suspect you guys know that too.“As we go into this next period on the other side of this election, I know there are things that are going to have to change with the way I do things. Because we are moving into a different time.”Do you think the PM needs to change his ways? Or are you happy with his leadership style? Is this ‘admission’ enough to bring fence-sitters over to his side?

Surprise results from early voting

With early voting now open, the Australian Electoral Commission is reporting more than 300,000 people have cast their vote already, more than two weeks out from election day.

In a surprise result, polling of these early voters shows the LNP government may be taking an early lead.

While it’s good news for the Coalition, it is still early days. Pre-poll voting is predominantly done by older Australians, who tend to lean more conservative.

However, record numbers are getting their vote in early this year, so perhaps the numbers really are better than the Coalition had expected.

Are you going to cast your vote early? What are the issues driving your vote?

•••

Treasurer hires security guards to protect his billboards

Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has taken the unusual step of hiring 10 security guards to protect his election billboards from vandals.

Vandals have reportedly been relentless in the inner-east Melbourne electorate of Kooyong, a previously safe Liberal seat, with Mr Frydenberg’s posters being defaced with Nazi swastikas, Hitler moustaches and other political messages.

He pointed the finger at supporters of his rival, independent Monique Ryan, the former director of neurology at the Royal Children’s Hospital, saying: “It doesn’t go unnoticed that while on one side of the road my campaign boards are defaced, and on the other side of the road, the so-called independent’s board is left unscathed,’ Mr Frydenberg fumed.

Did you watch the leaders’ debate last night? Was it too ‘shouty’ as many commentators said? Who do you think ‘won’?

 

Scott Morrison played the hero in previous rate cuts but has passed the buck now the cash rate has risen again

From Michael Pascoe: Politically, lying about debt and deficit and interest rates for nine years will make it hard for the Coalition to suddenly have credibility in telling the truth that rising rates are a sign of a strong economy, that falling and extremely low rates are not necessarily healthy.

The bigger problem is explaining how living standards are continuing to fall with no sign of the wages price index getting ahead of inflation, never mind the real, after-tax story.

Is the PM playing a dangerous game? Will his previous statements about the cost of power, fuel, food and housing stay low under his rule come back to bite him? Or is he counting on voters to have short memories? 

•••

2 May: The party scrambling to provide candidates

Just hours before the close of nominations for the 21 May federal election, one party was still scrambling to find people to run, telling one prospective candidate to leave the electorate he was running in “blank” on his form while the party desperately tried to fill seats.

The party? One Nation.

Guardian Australia reports that several of the candidates chosen to run for the party live in other states from the seat they’re standing in, including a husband and wife couple selected to run in separate seats in New South Wales and Victoria.

Part leader Pauline Hanson said last month that One Nation would field candidates in all of the House of Representative seats for the first time thanks to “enormous support” from membership, which she said had “grown exponentially” during the pandemic.

 

But internal emails seen by the Guardian show the party was still trying to find people to run for it just hours before the nominating deadline on 21 April, telling one prospective candidate One Nation did not “require you to do anything or campaign at all”.

 

1 May: One Nation to preference Labor over Liberal

Queensland Senator Pauline Hanson has vowed her One Nation party will target moderate Liberal MPs in key seats across the country and ask her supporters to preference Labor over Liberal.

The reason for Hanson’s support swap is what she says is the Liberal’s “dirty deal with the devil”.

The Liberals are recommending its voters give their preferences to Jacquie Lambie in Tasmania’s Senate race.

“We’re not letting them get away with this dirty deal with the devil,” Senator Hanson says.

“One Nation will now look at Liberal-held seats across the country.

“Tasmanian voters won’t be fooled and will very likely kick the Liberals out anyway. The Liberals stand for nothing.

“Labor is rotten to the core but the Liberals are just as bad because they only pretend to fight for conservative Australian values.”

Do you agree with Senator Hanson opinion of the Liberal Party? Would you preference Labor ahead of them or is that a step too far?

•••

PM accused of ‘going missing’ amid fears over China pact 

It’s been labelled the “worst failure of Australian foreign policy in the Pacific” in almost 80 years. Labor foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong has launched a scathing attack on the government after confirmation that the Solomon Islands and China had signed a new security pact.

The island nation is just 1600 kilometres from Cairns.

“On Scott Morrison’s watch, our region has become less secure and the risks that Australia faces have become much greater,” Senator Wong told the ABC, insisting multiple times that PM Scott Morrison had “gone missing” on the issue.

White House Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell and the US State Department’s top official for Asia were travelling to the Solomon Islands, the White House said in a statement that indicated how seriously the US viewed the pact.

Neither Mr Morrison nor foreign minister Marise Payne have visited the country. Minister for international development and the Pacific Zed Seselja went to Honiara last week to ask Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare not to sign the agreement.

“The United States is sending their top Indo-Pacific national security adviser,” said Senator Wong. “We send the junior minister in the last minute in a region which is critical to our security.”

Are you concerned by the pact with China? Should the government have done more to dissuade the Solomon Islands from signing?

•••

15 April: If the PM or opposition leader walked into your pub, club or café today, what would you say?

Last week, at the Edgeworth Tavern in Newcastle, 73-year-old pensioner Ray Drury gave the PM a serve about low financial support for older Australians.

Another ‘sneaky’ citizen confronted the PM at a private event this week, asked the PM if he may ask a question, to which Mr Morrison appeared to oblige …

… until he noticed he was being filmed.

“Why are you recording?” the PM asks, telling the man it is a “private event”.

Mr Morrison walked away and the man starts shouting: “Across the river here, people lost their houses. People lost their houses and they were burned.

“You are a disgrace. You are a disgrace,” he screams.

Protesters wearing Hawaiian shirts greeted him in Culburra, NSW, chanting: “I don’t hold a hose mate” in reference to Mr Morrison choosing to holiday in Hawaii during the December 2019 bushfire crisis.

The PM is copping a lot of flak. Is it warranted? Should he have to face this kind of criticism in public? Should his security teams be doing a better job, or do you applaud his ‘bravery’ at facing up to these events and subsequent ‘scenes’.

If you had a face-to-face with either leader, what would you say?

•••

13 April: Greens promise free dental, and will make billionaires pay for it

The Greens have unveiled a plan for universal dental care and want Australia’s millionaires and billionaires to pay for it.

The Greens have pledged $77.6 billion to expand Medicare to allow bulk billing at dentists, orthodontists and other specialists.

Greens leader Adam Bandt says the Greens will introduce the first ever ‘billionaire tax’ in Australia to make billionaires start paying tax on their ‘obscene weath’.

“By making billionaires pay an extra 6 per cent of their wealth back to the public each year, we can help do things like get dental into Medicare,” Bandt says.

The Greens propose the free dental care would be accessible through your Medicare card.

Bandt says the policy would be an add on to the scheme the Greens negotiated for free dental care for children in 2010.

What do you think of this idea? Should the major parties take note of this line of thinking? Who would benefit most from this?

•••

12 April: PM downplays importance of ‘personality’ in determining elections

Prime Minister Scott Morrison denies personality has anything to do with election outcomes and has instead highlighted his plan for future jobs and skills training if the Coalition is returned to power.

The PM focused on his party’s record on economic management and is pinning his hopes on a country unwilling to risk a change of government during trying times.

“It’s not about any individual. It’s not about me or anyone else,” he told the ABC.

“It’s about ensuring that training for young people right across the country, the investment in the infrastructure that we’re delivering. A stronger economy delivering that stronger future.”

Do you agree with Mr Morrison? Has the Coalition performed admirably over the past four years? Could there ‘trying times’ have been less trying under different leadership?

Last week, at the Edgeworth Tavern in Newcastle, 73-year-old pensioner Ray Drury gave the PM a serve about low financial support for older Australians.

Another ‘sneaky’ citizen confronted the PM at a private event this week, asked the PM if he may ask a question, to which Mr Morrison appeared to oblige …

… until he noticed he was being filmed.

“Why are you recording?” the PM asks, telling the man it is a “private event”.

Mr Morrison walked away and the man starts shouting: “Across the river here, people lost their houses. People lost their houses and they were burned.

“You are a disgrace. You are a disgrace,” he screams.

Protesters wearing Hawaiian shirts greeted him in Culburra, NSW, chanting: “I don’t hold a hose mate” in reference to Mr Morrison choosing to holiday in Hawaii during the December 2019 bushfire crisis.

The PM is copping a lot of flak. Is it warranted? Should he have to face this kind of criticism while in public? Should his security teams be doing a better job, or do you applaud his ‘bravery’ at facing up to these events and subsequent ‘scenes’?

Liberals call in the big guns in Kooyong

 

[Bakka]

The personality of the leader does resonate with the electorate in my option and Morison is one of the least popular. However I would not write him off just yet.

Albo is totally untried and untested as yet. Also we face the most difficult and dangerous times ahead for many years , especially on the geopolitical and economic front. Now I want a tough, experienced, resilient leader to front these problems, not necessarily one who wants to occupy the  popularity stakes.

Albo will now have to face the same scrutiny that Morrison has been subject to ( well not quite by the media) so lets see how he preforms before he gets my vote.

[Marten]

I simply do not understand why he had to come up with all the sweeteners now while he had the chance during his term right from the beginning to introduce some of these changes. A one-time payment to pensioners sounds very much like a bribe to gain votes. It certainly does not improve the financial position of pensioners, in particular where they are also required to pay rent. They are more likely to pay towards their debt on their credit card, but in merely a few weeks time hey find themselves in exactly the same position.  I also do not accept the fact that the present PM is taking the right steps to tackle climate change. Finally, I consider he is not at all forward thinking in so far as implementing infrastructure, such as fast railways, super highways, encouragement to people switching to EV’s, etc. etc.

[Sue Ridge]

I wonder what your age is, Marten, I’ve lived through more election than I care to admit and each and every one of them, regardless of which party was in power, had extra funding leading up to the election. The “sweeteners” are never in safe seats, only swinging seats and seats with a wafer thin margin.

[jaybee]

Agreed Bakka; the personality does resonate with the electorate and 8 of the top 10 least trusted politicians in Australia are LNP members with Morrison, Dutton & Barnaby Joyce in the top 3 positions. The 2 non-LNP politicians are Hanson and Kelly. It’s not surprising Morrison wants us to ignore it. However, it’s what they have done to be mistrusted that is important. Perhaps Morrison is therefore partly correct so lets look at his record.  As an ex-Liberal supporter, I believe the the current government is the worst since 1960 based on performance:

• the LNP’s pathetic performance with climate change
• the response to the fires, COVID in aged care and the supply of vaccines
• its inability/refusal to introduce a proper ICAC (why? – obviously doesn’t want all its rorts & corruption exposed)
• it slashed $14M from the budget of the Australian National Audit Office
• Morrison’s listed 52 lies and falsehoods
• the massive handouts to LNP donors
• the political donation disclosure joke (over $14,000 and 18 months later)
• the refusal to release info under FOI statutes
• the LNP’s revolving door personnel policy with industry especially with the fossil fuels and armaments industries
• the increasing emissions problems despite Morrison’s attempted cherry picking of the truth
• the current government & the Howard government are the 2 highest taxing governments in our history despite the LNP’s continual claim that the ALP is the highest taxing party when in government
• the 3 major rorts for the last election
• its refusal to independently investigate serious complaints against party members who would be forced to resign in any previous government, Liberal or Labor.
• its science-denying so called renewable energy policy
• the cutting back of funding in real terms for public schools whilst greatly increasing funding for private schools
• its refusal to implement the independent Gonsky report
• it has increased social and economic inequality which the World Bank states is bad for the economy 
• its refusal to investigate Porter’s “donation” after he pulled out of his stunt motivated anti ABC attack
• Grassgate (illegal clearing) & Watergate ($80M) rorts for Angus Taylor
• the billions given to companies & private schools which had made profits during the pandemic (the only government in the world which gave money to profitable companies & schools)
• making the public pay $500,000 to Rachelle Miller for Trudge’s sexual dalliance 
• etc, etc.

Many in the legal profession have claimed this is the most corrupt government in our history.

Read the independent material in the Australian Democracy Network and similar organisations.

[KSS]

 

So jaybee, all you are doing is cutting and pasting from an undeclared source and not in fact giving a considered appraisal of Mr Morrison’s Government record.

Yes, there have been mistakes and even missteps along the way, but no government of any hue has had to deal with ‘unprecedented’ fires, a worldwide ongoing pandemic – the first in over 100 years, and more ‘unprecedented’ floods. Just what do you think the ALP would have done in the same circumstances? Mr Albanese demanded Jobkeeper, Homebuilder, support for small business and other support should have been continued beyond what it was, yet complains now about the debt that was incurred saving businesses and jobs through the financial assistance at the time. The decisions made by the Federal Government during the pandemic has positioned Australia well now. Were there vaccination and RAT supply issues – yes worldwide! BUT Australia is now one of the most vaccinated populations in the world, with one of the lowest COVID infection and death rates. SO not all bad then. And the delays were for a matter of weeks – soon overcome.

Surely critics should be looking at the promises made at the last election and assess whether those were met or not. They promised more jobs – tick, they promised lower taxes – tick, they promised greater national security/defence spending – tick. Perhaps other promises were overlooked because of the pandemic and no doubt you will find another list to copy.

Mr Albanese has had nothing to say for three years and is not saying much now – other than insulting Mr Morrison. I want to know how he is going to pay for the free childcare for 90% of users, housing for the ‘vulnerable’, aged care wage increases, installing a registered nurse 24/7 in every aged care home, his ‘climate policy’, 45000 fee-free TAFE places, national reconstruction fund, rewire the nation, 50 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics (a rehash of Keven Rudd 2007 which BTW failed) and we are only on day 3!

We need less of the invective and personal commentary, and more detail on what is being promised. Change for change sake is never a good idea.

[Horace Cope]

 

Really? Voters don’t choose who will be our PM. The media doesn’t choose who will be our PM. The opposition doesn’t choose who will be our PM. The members of the government choose who will be our PM.  The only  voters who will have a say as to who our next PM will be are the voters of Cook or Grayndler.

Labor and sections of the media have not accepted the results of the 2019 election. The personal comments about the PM have been building up since he took his family on a holiday he promised them. Labor has been unable to attack the policies so the extensive bushfires gave them an opening to launch a personal attack. The mistake, as it has turned out, was leaving McCormack in charge. McCormack doesn’t have the strength of personality to take charge and it was him who should have been front and centre doing the job he was supposed to do.

The rhetoric includes being a liar, not turning up and blaming others. It is noted that there are no examples of any of this apart from unfounded accusations made by people with other agendas. The blaming others has come about because of the national cabinet agreements by all of the premiers and chief ministers who then went back to their states and territories and did the opposite. When this was pointed out, it somehow became the PM’s fault. It’s certainly no coincidence that all of those who agreed at national cabinet were Labor aligned.

It’s very easy to criticise but to do so without offering a solution is merely whinging. The PM has been accused of delivering the lowest wage rises for years but all Labor can do to arrest this is to “write a letter”. The truth is that governments don’t set wages, Fair Work Australia does that. The minimum wage is set according to the CPI. Labor accuses the PM of not supporting aged care when it was his government that established the Royal Commission. Labor has made some promises to fix aged care; lift wages, registered nurses 24/7 and a watchdog into spending by aged care homes. Firstly, governments don’t control wages so any private aged care facilities can’t be forced by government to increase wages. Nurses recently went on strike for more staff and, according to their union, about 17,000 registered nurses are need for hospitals now. Where does Labor find an additional 15,000 on top of the shortfall of 17,000 to work in aged care? What does a watchdog actually do if a private aged care home doesn’t meet a benchmark?

In summary, personal attacks diminish those who choose to go down that path and achieve nothing. Voters are more interested in what is being promised for them and how that can be achieved without the pain of higher taxes. My local member has done a good job for this electorate even though she is not in government and she will get my vote once more. If she ends up in government then so be it but knowing how hard she has worked for those who voted for her in the past is what gets her votes, not her leader throwing dirt.

 

 

[KSS]

Agree

[Tom Tank]

It has been well established that Morrison tells lies. He tries to cover up the lack of legislating for an Independent Anti-Corruption Commission by saying it is Labor’s fault. Morrison never put forward legislation to be debated in Parliament. Christian Porter tabled a proposed piece of legislation that was torn to shreds by the legal profession as well as by even some members of the Liberal party as it was a nonsense attempt to put in place something that would protect the Government, and senior public servants from any exposure of inappropriate, let along corrupt, behaviour.   

Morrison also tried to claim credit for the reduction in electricity costs in recent years. Yet that reduction is due to the lower cost of renewable energy of which the LNP played no part as they are too busy boosting fossil fuels. 

Morrison is one of those, which many of us have come across in business, who interview well for a job being full of confidence and speaks positively thus getting the job only to turn out to be incompetent at the work itself. Our P.M. is a failure on many fronts and Tony Abbot is pleased as Morrison has taken the title or our worst P.M. from him. 

[Suze]

 

                 

Yes I still remember the Labor Paul Keating “It was the Recession we had to have when interest rates went up to 19%.”

[PlanB]

IT WON’T BE MORAL WITH MORRISON

[Sen.Cit.90]

Yes I still remember the Labor Paul Keating “It was the Recession we had to have when interest rates went up to 19%.”

Me too, I lost practically all my savings with Keating’s banana republic scares and his introduction of Deeming and on his advice delved into the stock market (that went bust)

Never ever to vote ALP again.

[HOLA]

I’ve already got my Postal Voting Application form in the post today. 

[Suze]

I got one too Hola

…. from the Labor Party with their propaganda.

[RnR]

I successfully applied for a postal vote online from the AEC at …

https://forms.aec.gov.au/PostalVoteApplication/Form/Apply/d2e0ebe6-cbc1-4d4b-98b3-ae6600ac6760?mode=Wizard

[Tom Tank]

I got mine from the Liberal Party full of Morrison’s spin on the truth. I have applied directly to the AEC as I would not give personal information to any political party. 

[45er]

Actually the Parliamentary Liberal Party select their Leader (Chairman) from among the party member selected candidates that have been successful in winning their seats. A Liberal Prime Minister is not selected by the Party members, the Party Organisation, the public, and most of all by the Media (who are even least represented and operating in their own interest.

Unlike many countries, people elect whom they consider the best candidate for their electorate, the do not vote for the person who is the incumberant leader, or the person selected by the successful Parliamentary candidates.

As for the alledged knowledgable media I suggest the go back and study the ENTIRE Australian constitution, and the States Rights and responsibilities, because from the majority of what I seen they do not have clue.

Speaking with those who have study the constitution and states relsationships, they all tell me the same thing, they only studied those areas in which there previously been controversies, not the whole, and never in full context.

Many of the commentators appear to have no understanding of how the relationship between States and Federasl Governments operate, nor whom has responsibilty for what.

All they are interested is stirring up controversy to keep them employed, while claiming to be the experts. as the old saying goes,” An expert is a Drip under pressure”, and they just like to prove it.

[Sue Ridge]

The Greens are a great concern with their policies that firstly cannot be implemented and, secondly, will destroy Australia. How does any government legislate to single out those who are wealthy? What will be the criteria to measure wealth and what will be the lower end of that measure? The Greens want to stop all mining and gas exploration immediately and want a 50% reduction in CO by 2030 which will greatly reduce the income from taxes and royalties which will need to be replaced and that will be higher taxation. Base load power will stop as there will be no fuels to keep power stations operating and there goes the last vestiges of major manufacturing in Australia.

Labor has declared that it will not collaborate with the Greens to form government in the event of a hung parliament but Bandt not only wants to support Labor but also wants a ministerial position for a Green member. I recall a previous Green/Labor agreement being signed with much fanfare and sudden;y we had a carbon tax. Gillard has been wrongly accused of lying with her pledge about not having a carbon tax under the government she led. A lie is, by definition, an intentionally false statement and the carbon tax only came to be because the Greens insisted on it as a part of the agreement. What will the Greens want if they are required to join with Labor this time? The Greens deserve to be last on any voting slip regardless of which way one votes. They will destroy Australia.

[Horace Cope]

Yes, taking personalities out of the equation, the current government has done very well in the past term. There has been drought, floods, bushfires, a pandemic that has not occurred for a century and a greater economic challenge not seen since the Great Depression.  Australia has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world, the quickest recovering economy, the lowest unemployment figures and we have maintained a AAA credit rating. 

[Horace Cope]

I might add that over the years I have had bosses who I didn’t particularly like as people but they did the job that needed to be done and in that way kept my employment safe. Bosses aren’t meant to be friends, they are meant to be in charge to get things done.

[Marten]

How can one possibly state that Australia is regarded as having the quickest recovering economy. Has Horace Cope ever visited Europe, and in particular the northern part of Europe (Scandinavian) where people enjoy a far better lifestyle than in in many places elsewhere.  Infrastructure, fast railways, promotion of EV’s, care of its elder citizens, etc. etc. The present employment rate in The Netherlands is equal if not better than Australia. 

[Fred]

This reply is for Marten you say Scandinavia have a far better lifestyle than many other places.   I wonder if you have been there and experienced the very large amount they pay in taxes,  I doubt if any Australian would put up with the taxes they pay.

[Sue Ridge]

 

On the latest topic, the person who was filming the PM and ended up with a tirade of personal abuse has been identified as an active member of the Labor party. His efforts brought criticism of the Labor party and not the PM. The man at the Edgeworth Tavern was listened to by the PM and his minders took him aside to try and identify the actual problems. The man has since been quoted as saying that he was a lifelong Labor voter but will not be voting Labor this time.

The comment about holding a hose was 3 years ago and, as someone has written, the PM took his family away on a promised holiday and left someone in charge who didn’t do his job.

 

[Lucca]

The way I see it, we have two idiots running for the top job. One idiot has a bit more experience than the other, we know how he operates and know what to expect.

The other idiot, is an unknown quantity. Better to stay with the devil you know. Good luck folks, nobody will get what they want. 

[Stone the Crows]

At one point in time Scot Morrison was also untried for the Prime Ministers job ,as indeed we all were at some point in our lives so I think that is a stupid argument .

[Tood]

Albo doesn;t need to be tried, he’s already a proven idiot

[Tom Tank]

But Morrison is a proven liar who never takes responsibility for his words and actions when they are untruths, or don’t work, but quick to claim credit for other people’s efforts that succeed. His leadership qualities are zero but his dictatorial attitudes are very high. 

[bandy]

I think it comes back to selecting the right person to represent us as we don’t get to elect the PM.

Therefore the people who put candidates up for election have a lot to answer for.

We desperately need a leader to work for the people and give us someone to be proud of. 

I think that maybe to much to ask for. 

[tisme]

whats the point of talking to them they will forget as soon as they turn round, actions speak louder than words

[jzb]

Why haven’t you privatized the ABC, who are totally biased?

Why hasn’t the Bradford Scheme been implemented or why haven’t more dams been built?

Do something about the education dept trying to sexualize our children

STOP VACCINE MANDATES, in fact STOP ALL MANDATES.  We do not need, wish, want to be controlled by you or anyone else.

Stop wasting money on climate change.  The climate changes, it always has and always will and explain how this works in the schools.

Put Aboriginals in charge of burn-backs to help prevent devastating bush fires

[ronloby]

What is the use of talking to them? They are only in it for their own good and mostly the money in their pockets. It is quite evident promises will never be fulfilled. Pensioners, unemployed, disabled and others are just pushed to the back of the line with the rich at the head.

[Fred]

Politicians Lie how can anyone be dumbfounded about that it has been going on since time immemorial.   I can see no reason for anyone in the Labor Party to complain about the current debt a large proportion of it due to COVID and the handouts to keep the country going and people employed.   The Labor Party complained when the present government stopped such handouts.   I do believe that the government should have gone after the business that took Billions of Dollars of Public money and yet made a profit but refused to pay back any of the money they received.   After the government of RUDD/GILLARD/RUDD will I vote Labor I don’t think so.    Climate change yeah right just ask Tim FLANNERY  (Dams will never fill etc)  Billions spent on Declination Plants that were not needed.

[fey]

If it was Anthony Albanese, and I was able to speak to him then I would quietly tell him to act more confidently, to believe in himself and in what he wants to achieve for all Australians. 

If it was Scott Morrison then I would leave the area as soon as possible before I told him what I thought of him and his LNP government.     

[Gezzar]

Mr. Morrison. Why do you lie both in and out of Parliament and then deny what you said? Why did you promise that you would introduce a Federal ICAC bill then did not do so? Why did you not allow a private members bill on a Federal ICAC to be debated?

Mr. Albenese. Will you support free dental health? When will you phase out coal and gas? Does our tax system need an overhaul and, if so, when would you do it?

[Suze]

[Suze]

 

After a rockstar arrival at Byron Bay Bluesfest on Sunday, Labor leader Anthony Albanese received a crowd reaction no one wants when they’re on stage.There were loud boos amongst the cheers as the opposition leader made a small address to the audience.

It was a stinging end to Easter Sunday after an exclusive Resolve poll for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age earlier showed support for Labor and its leader had taken a plunge after the first week of the election campaign.

 

[Axel]

 

I have always voted Liberal, but will not do so with Morrison at the helm.

He is a facile liar with no self consciousness about this, nor the affect on the electorate.

Importantly, he is not respected nor trusted by some of his own members of Parliament.

 Nor … overseas.

 

[HOLA]

Axel – 

I’ll go along with that as well.

 

[PlanB]

Hear-hear to that too Axel

[Axel]

Yes, Hola …

When we suffered the disasters of fire, flood and the emergent pandemic … a time for immediate and strong leadership … Morrison was found badly wanting.  At time when the calibre of a true Prime Minister would be best tested and come to the fore.

 

 

[Horace Cope]

Really Axel? Australia has had a dreadful three years with drought, bushfires, a once in a century pandemic and extensive flooding yet the economy continued to tick along, we retained a AAA rating, our deaths from Covid were greatly reduced from the original prediction, JobKeeper kept hundreds of thousands of people working and Australia has recovered faster than most comparable countries. All Labor could do to help in a national emergency was to sit on the sidelines and whinge.

[HOLA]

 

Can someone please explain to me about the Election. Here we have Morrison throwing money around like they have a printing machine in Parliament House. Every time he opens his mouth he is giving out millions to different causes. The Liberal Government owes Trillions, to who????? If Labor gets in at this coming election do they inherit the huge debt from the Libs????.  And I don’t think it is a fair election with Labor up against Lib/Nats.  2 parties to one isn’t fair. 

 

[Fred]

You don’t think it is fair with the Liberal/National parties up against a single Labor Party,   Labor is tied at the boot strings with the Greens,  HANSON has now told her party to vote for Labor,  there are a large number of Independent Parties in this upcoming election and I would put my money on the majority of them backing labor.

[PlanB]

 

They sold the Darwin port to the Chinese and they are not wanting to UPSET them by asking for it back and are willing to spend  1.5 BILLION for another port FGS!!!  WHERE THE HELL IS ALL THIS MONEY COMING FROM?

Senior ministers have confirmed the federal government is exploring building a new port in the Northern Territory that could also have military uses after ruling out terminating the lease of Darwin Port to a Chinese-owned company.

Details of the $1.5 billion funding in the budget emerged as one of Australia’s top military commanders warned a Chinese base in the Solomon Islands would “change the calculus” for how the Australian Defence Force operated in the region.

This is just a smidgen of what is going on with this lot!

 

[Viking]

Plan B, you can add to the LNP’s “strong on defence and national security” a ten year delay in ordering submarines, a $5billion wasted cancellation fee and now we don’t know who will build our anatomic subs, where they will be built, when they will be delivered and at what cost? On that basis I live in  $10 million mansion, with a private plane and yacht.  One of the ports being considered for base for these phantom subs is Newcastle, leased to the Chinese. Should we be entrusting our defence to these arrogant goons?

[Farside]

“We’re seeking to put all income management on to the universal platform, which is the Cashless Debit Card.” Anne Ruston. Source: 7News. 1 Feb 2020

Choices have consequences.

[PlanB]

Yes Ruston has been on to that for ages as well as cutting a few other things and is also liable for the  robodebt 

[Sue Ridge]

Good one, PlanB, did you also write the ads about the government giving aged pensioners a cash card and restricting their withdrawals? Stuart Robert was the minister who stopped RoboDebt when it was found to be illegal by the courts, not Ruston.

And Farside, perhaps giving that quote its full context would show that Ruston was talking about those recipients who have been recommended by the Family Responsibilities Commission. Further, there was an  amendment to the legislation stating that no recipient of the age pension … will be placed on the cashless debit card, with the exception of those who volunteer or are referred by child protection, social workers or the commission.  

I note that Labor will cancel the system that was designed to protect vulnerable families where the money was used for alcohol and gambling, not for food and clothing for families. That will be a backward step.

[Sophie]

I have the greatest respect for one Labor man….Mark McGowan. He is an absolute credit to Western Australia and were he at the helm of the Opposition, I would vote for Labor.

As it stands, I have zero confidence in Albanese … he is not ready for leadership and I don’t know when he will ever be ready. 

I have to vote so Morrison is the lesser of the incompetents. There! That’s my say!

[Horace Cope]

Again we see Labor attacking the PM personally, this time over the Solomon Islands. But wait, help is here, Albo will go there if he is elected PM. On past form it will be to help China settle in.

[Tom Tank]

The Solomon Islands debacle has to be laid at Morrison’s door. As always he is lagging behind developments in fact his nickname should be Slomo. There have been warnings about this Chinese approach in the Pacific but what has been done about it? Oh no the Foreign Minister has a fund raiser to attend and Slomo is bust trying to be re-elected. Debacle just about covers it. 

[Suze]

It is up to Solomon Island to decide who it will receive support from

[RnR]

[HOLA]

I watched part of the debate by PM and Anthony Albanese last evening. I was totally shocked by the PM’s remark that he and Jen were “blessed” by not having a child with a disability????”. Every child is a blessing and deserves to be valued by the community. The Morrison govt. has slashed NDIS  plans for 1000s of children around Australia.  And then earlier in the day I was surprised to see an ad by the Guide Dogs of Victoria supporting Josh Frydenberg which is totally illegal. I believe now the ad has been pulled and an investigation will be launched. 

[Suze]

[RnR]

Labor leader Anthony Albanese will be forced to isolate at home for the next week of the election campaign after testing positive to COVID-19.

In a statement, Mr Albanese said he returned a positive result during a routine PCR test ahead of his trip to Western Australia. He will now isolate at home in Sydney for the next seven days. Mr Albanese said he would continue his responsibilities at home and was feeling well so far.

[Suze]

Kissing babies and puppies at the Bluefest … What can you expect??

[Axel]

Let’s hope the babies and puppies were not infected by him.

 

[Marten]

That of course applies to both leaders; a thoughtless habit!

[Beemee]

Quite frankly, I have had it with both parties.

Albanese gets covid and as normal the little sh!t wont isolate, right on track to do the escape as usual.

I listen to both of them and instead of tackling major issues, they are trying to cut the legs off of one another. Stop with the attack on each other and tend to the things right at hand.

Some serious note too. People are really pissed. Read on a site about people taking out members of Government who have not stopped isolations, vaxes, quarantine, lockups etc. Time to release and free all of us and for those wanting to wear masks, get vaxxed or whatever, allow them to choose.

No running away from serious matters, there’s a fire – stay put and co-ordinate to save people and stock, China taking over a commonwealth country (yep under Queen but they do have the right to do what they want) – should have dug down deeper to sort this mess out.

We are in for another Vanuatu?

I saw where Solomon Island is in bed with China? So what do we do? Claim the top end of Australia, expand the coastline if possible as Dubai did, and BUILD A BLOODY ARMY, AIR FORCE AND NAVY MILITARY BASE OPPOSITE. Stop paying out millions and billions to Gas and Coal idiots, and sink it in to protecting our land. Failure to do this will have us all eating with Chopsticks. Morrison should have done more, and Solomon Island will regret this choice when China controls the Island and its people as they did with The new wharf at Espiritu Santo island in Vanuatu. Now its up to the next elected Government to protect us, build more military and get rid of this idiot PM who throws money around like confetti and got us into deep debt because he changed his mind about where to build and what type of the subs he wanted. I wasn’t bloodywell asked and nor was the rest of the country about what we wanted in sub types.

Yes I am livid as the Chinese are surrounding us and I am no fool and neither are many of the population who believe its all to control us.

We need to build the military bases just above Weipa and Cape Tribulation, and expand that area in to the water to protect us, Thursday Islanders, and some of PNG.

We can not show China that we are going to sit back and say “she’ll be right mate”, we need to show a united force.

 

 

[Sue Ridge]

 

How right Beemee, Australia has a trillion $ debt, budget deficits for years to come and all the media can come up with is the transgender garbage about men who want to be women athletes. That group is probably 0.000001% of the population and it’s a headline issue. Surely the economy and security is more important? Everybody has a past, even me, and what is the use of dragging things up that, in the overall scheme of things are irrelevant? It all should come down to which side is better to run Australia, the rest is fluff.

 

[Farside]

“Albanese gets covid and as normal the little sh!t wont isolate, right on track to do the escape as usual.”

really? He was just on tv doing a remote zoom call from his home in Marrickville and saying he hoped to make it to Perth for campaign launch on the 30th.

What do you think isolating is? In NSW people who test positive to COVID-19, either via rapid antigen or a PCR test, must still isolate for seven days, so he should be out of action until Thursday. If he is out and about  then he should be treated accordingly.

[Suze]

 

Lets hope the residents of this aged care do not come down with Covid-19 after this Labor campaign

Albo said

“While at home, I will continue my responsibilities as alternative Prime Minister and will be fighting for a better future for all Australians.

“I am grateful to know that I will have access to the world’s best health care if I need it, because of Medicare.

Nice to know that Politicians have such good Medicare Health Care unlike the Aged.

[Fred]

In one of the current ads for the Labor there is a video of Sco Mo saying 3 times That’s not my Job I notice the add does not refer in any way to the questions the PM was asked and why he replied the way he did.    There are a lot of jobs the PM cannot do as they are the job of the States and watch them kick up a stink if the PM attempts to do their job.

[Karl Marx]

 

 

Just remember, NO PARTY has your preference just because that party prefers A party over B party.

YOU and ONLY YOU have the say on what YOUR preferences are not any one party.

Unless of course your a blind sheep just following what some tell you.

Watch this video  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITWXUiK5nHQ&t=11s to see how preferences work and how you can send a message to the big parties that enough is enough.

This is how I’ve been voting for 50 years as I took the time to learn how preferences worked when I first started to vote. Many people didn’t have a clue 50 years ago and I’m still surprised how many now still don’t. Even many seniors don’t know how preferences work and still take a “how to vote card” into the booth with them.

So watch the video all the way through so you know how to vote in both lower & upper houses and use your preferences on how you want to use them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITWXUiK5nHQ&t=11s

Happy voting all

 

 

 

[Marten]

One should not repeat not have preferences!  Merely vote for the party whom you hope to govern as is the case with most countries, in particular Europe.

[Suze]

 

Is this our new prime minister to be ???

Front page of fashion magazine

Must be the old Italian roots of Mafia

 

[RnR]

Must be the old Italian roots of Mafia

🙂 No … probably just some young fashion editor trying to make him look trendy LOL.

[Suze]

Perhaps Albo is practising his modelling skills that he can do on the side 🙂

After all he now has a young partner to impress who he will probably marry after his divorce comes through.

[Marten]

What a stupid comment!

[Tom Tank]

Meanwhile our current Prime Minister continues his charade as a Christian. Christians obey the 10 Commandments one of which forbids lying which Morrison has raised to an art form.

[Sue Ridge]

It is presumed that Albanese has declared that he has no allegiance to Italy, the homeland of his father, and has documented proof of such a statement?

[HOLA]

More than a month after homes were destroyed by the deluge, thousands of Northern River residents still struggle to find secure accommodation and yet we have Scott Morrison running the LNP in NSW and Australia,where the foreseeable problem could have been resolved. He just gave away $4.5 million to a very profitable whisky mob in Tasmania, (no floods, no fires just voters).  Wake up Australia, can’t you see you are all being duped by these idiots?. Murdoch has been actively and shamelessly  campaigning for Frydenberg via a double page spread in the Herald-Sun. Nothing like free advertising to help the LNP get in again? Murdoch interfering again  in politics. You think he would have learnt his lesson after being taken to court in the U.K.

 

 

 

 

a

[Marten]

Not a truer statement has been made about our present prime minister, who hopefully will no longer govern Australia in a few weeks time!

[Suze]

        

[Farside]

Don’t mistake thinking PM has empathy. The Lark support in Tasmania makes sense if you are a PM wanting to be re-elected. How many votes swing his way to win Labor marginals in the Northern Rivers?

[Suze]

[Suze]

[Tom Tank]

Their is a history in Australia of parties being elected into Government despite their leader NOT being the electorates preferred choice.

One major example was Malcolm Fraser. Oops he has resigned from the Liberal Party now because of its swing to the right. If all political advertising had to be truthful The Liberal Party would have to change its name to Conservative Party.

[Farside]

a split in the Liberal party to form a right wing Conservative party (reminiscent of the 1955 ALP/DLP split) was widely speculated a couple of decades back. But then Pauline Hanson arrived on the scene and the chatter ceased.

[Suze]

 

 

 

Yes, if there were no preferences then the Politicians would not be able to wheel and deal and hoodwink the Public

Our voting system needs adjusting.

 

 

[Farside]

Preferential is fairest way to get a candidate more closely aligned with preferences. Simply electing most first round votes almost certainly guarantees more with populist and extremist views sitting in the parliament.

[Tom Tank]

Our preferential voting system, while not perfect, is the best in the the world. First past the post system is outrageously unfair as a candidate can be, and has been, elected with less than 30% of the votes cast in their favour meaning more than 70% of voters didn’t want them. 

[HOLA]

I was just reading about Premier Dominic Perrottet of New South Wales who has defended 61 of the NSW Govt’s and 62 Coalition MPs receiving parliamentary promotions to boost their pay???? Penny Sharp, Labor MP grilled the Premier over the issue after it was revealed more than $750,000  was being spent on extra salary and allowances for the Lib/National backbenchers. He had the hide to say “If you take on extra roles and responsibilities in Parliamentry  duties they are entitled??? What about the health care workers who go above and beyond their duties, they get nothing.!!!!!!! Something stinks in those running the Government. 

[Marten]

To Hola, so true! I often take on extra roles, yet I never received any extra pay.

[bandy]

I didn’t realize how amazing Morrison is, only because he tells me he is, with this in mind he reminds me of his mate Donald Trump that’s all I can say. 

Some leader???

 

[HOLA]

He’s the Messiah from the Shire!!!!!!!!!!

[RnR]

As opposed to the Gibberer from Grayndler … Anthony Albanese, the member for Grayndler, made a blunder during a presser today when he couldn’t name the six points of the party’s key NDIS platform.

What a lamentable choice we have.

[Marten]

To Bandy, as people generally do not regard the PM as being ‘amazing’ it is left to Morrison to consider he is.  Someone has to say it, so he chooses himself to make this statement, and hopes a minority of people will accept it as well. 

[Suze]

Yes RnR

How true is your comment “What a lamentable choice we have.”

[Farside]

 

to be fair to Albo, he was possibly confused about the points the stupid questioner was referring to. Depending where you look on the ALP website there are 10 or 12 points in the policy, not 6. ????

 

[Suze]

Farside

I saw Albo read 6 points of the policy from a manual which was passed on to him ???

[Farside]

 

Suze, that was probably just reading from a media release or collateral. The 10 points on disability and 12 points on NDIS are pretty self-explanatory.  It was a wasted question from a feckless journo.
The Shovel wrote about this uninformative style of media questioning Albo and fearless leader.

 

[Suze]

 

https://votecompass.abc.net.au/

 

[Suze]

[Suze]

The Australian Electoral Commission is investigating a series of doctored posters that have appeared overnight incorrectly showing the names and faces of “teal” independent candidates with the Greens logo.

ABC

[Tom Tank]

Just who wants the Independents to fail? Certainly not Labor and who is good at the dirty tricks – well both parties but only one wants the Independents to fail. pretty obvious who is behind it.

 

[Suze]

ABC

[Suze]

 

 

[Suze]

Anthony Albanese has backtracked on remarks from five months ago that rapid antigen tests should be free for all Australians.

The opposition leader made free RATs a Labor policy in January, at the height of the nation’s Omicron wave.

But “times have changed”, Albanese has said.

[Suze]

[HOLA]

Channel 9 should never host a debate again.  Crowe absolutely mutilated Morrison with ” the corruption in politics”. question..
“Mr. Morrison – have you seen any corruption in politics on your side, in your time, and if so what did you do about it”? Morrison – “No I haven’t”  C – “no wrongdoing?” M. “Never”, C -“Never happened in the  Liberal Party at all”?- ScoMo -” No “!  The Liar from the Shire.Where did channel 9 get the panel asking questions from.? I know Deb Knight from radio 2GB should be ashamed asking the question about Kimberley K who died recently , in response to victimising, bullying and sexual harassing of women. The ABC should have had the debate with Laura Tingle as moderator. Others were trying to give their voting on line to say who won the debate. When a friend of mine tried to punch in Labor it wasn’t accepted but when she punched in Liberals it was accepted. Something smells rotten in the state of Voting in the 9 network. 

[RnR]

An absolute technical disaster for viewer voting I’ve read and apparently the running of the debate wasn’t much better.

[Sue Ridge]

The winner of the debate depends on which party one votes for. The winner will only become PM if two things happen, firstly that the voters in their electorate choose to vote them back in and, secondly, if the party decides to keep them as leader. On that leadership question, I’m appalled that one of the teal independents has stated that she will only support the coalition if Morrison is not the leader. These teal people, most of whom are not short of a quid, want to wreck the economy with an impossible 60% carbon target by 2030, force everyone to buy an EV and now they want to tell the voting public who they will choose to be PM.  My wish is that one of the parties gains at least 76 seats and no independents will force either major party to dance to their tune. We have seen this movie before and it wasn’t pretty. Julia Gillard made that famous statement about no carbon tax which she believed and the Greens forced her to adopt a carbon tax as a condition of their support. She didn’t lie but the Greens made her change Labor’s policy which rebounded on Gillard.

[Farside]

bit unfair to hold Gillard to a promise made when campaigning for a majority. She did not win a majority. Seems reasonable that she was a compromise leader and so compromises had to be made in exchange for support. Would have been little different if coalition formed minority government (especially since Libs already compromise to accommodate Nats; if One Nation, Katter or Palmer had won more seats then they would have been inside the tent to expand the coalition).

It’s very simple, if we don’t want governments to compromise on campaign policies then we need government to win majority as you wish. Mind you, minority governments are often better governments and some of those in seats that change hands won’t be missed.

[Tom Tank]

We stand a chance of better and more democratic government with a hung parliament. Gillard negotiated with the independents and secured the confidence of the lower house. LNP’s negotiator was Tony Abbott and the independents openly stated that during those negotiations they would never have been able to work with Abbott and so they supported Gillard.  The carbon tax that Gillard introduced proved how much false information that the LNP, mainly Abbott, spouted about it. It was vastly superior to the mangled mess that Abbott introduced after dumping the carbon tax. 

[Horace Cope]

I agree, Sue, and I have an idea in the event of a hung parliament; let the voters decide which party their independent candidate should follow. The major party candidate who is closer to the winning independent should be considered as the people’s choice. Oakeshott and Windsor went against the second choice in their electorate and did not serve another term.

[Farside]

 

 

Horace, the preferences don’t work that way. Say tally before distribution of preferences is 40 for party A, 35 for independent and 25 for party B. Party B preferences flow to independent 80:20. So after distribution  independent ends on on 55 and party A on 45. The independent does not win without securing the lion’s share of the minority major party. If they want to be reelected they need to know who got them across the line.

 You say “major party candidate who is closer to the winning independent should be considered as the people’s choice”, despite that majority of the electorate voted against them. Why should the successful independent favour the second placed candidate that only secured 45% after distribution of preferences? Seems like a guaranteed way not to be reelected.

 

edit: changed ‘for’ to ‘favour’

[Sophie]

A hung parliament would be disastrous ….what makes anyone think it would benefit the country?

 

 

 

[Farside]

Sophie, why would a hung parliament be disastrous? Experience shows minority government can benefit the country.

The Gillard minority government passed more legislation than the subsequent coalition majority governments. To quote NSW Premier Dominique Perrotet on his minority government – “In some ways, it enhances the democratic process because when legislation comes through cabinet, you sit down with the crossbench and work through the issues”. 

Many international governments are running minority governments include Canada, Sweden, UK. Historically these have been common in Germany (under Angela Merkel), Netherlands and Belgium.

[RnR]

How to vote instructions from the Australian Electoral Commission 2022.

https://www.aec.gov.au/Voting/How_to_Vote/

[Suze]

Where can I vote?

https://www.aec.gov.au/where

This link gives you the locations and times of pre poll voting.

 

[Suze]

Australia’s gambling industry is in the midst of a reckoning.

Money laundering. Financial fraud. Criminal infiltration.

Mounting evidence against casino giant Crown, then rival The Star, and now pokies in pubs and clubs has raised uncomfortable questions about the potential flow of tainted money into political coffers just as the federal election battle reaches fever pitch.

“There’s a stench in the industry,” says Graeme Orr, professor of law at the University of Queensland.

Organisations and individuals linked to the gambling industry have poured at least $18 million in political donations into the states and territories in recent years, an ABC investigation can reveal. This is compared with $50 million disclosed at the Commonwealth level in the decade to 2019-20.

More than three-quarters of the $18 million flowed to the ALP and its investment vehicle, the 1973 Foundation Pty Ltd.

[Axel]

Morrison designed robot debt a disastrous scheme, which saw not only serious mental health issues but also suicides.

[Suze]

Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese will face off only 10 days out from election day in the third and final leaders’ debate, hosted by the Seven Network.

7NEWS Political Editor Mark Riley will moderate the debate, to be held on Wednesday at 9.10pm AEST, featuring questions from The West Australian’s Federal Political Editor Lanai Scarr and 7NEWS political correspondent Jennifer Bechwati, fresh from the campaign trail.

 

[HOLA]

Anthony Albanese ran rings around Scott Morrison in the 7News debate last night. Mark Riley was a great moderator and let each one have their say. Morrison still reminds me of a used car salesman, talks too fast and rattles off the same old spin. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sophie]

Looks like Albo’s new look is working…he may be the new PM.  

[Ny19]

Sophie,

Albo’s “new look” has nothing to do with it. Anthony Albanese is an honest, decent, modest man who genuinely cares about people. Scott Morrison is a dishonest, narcissistic, power hungry man who cares so little for people that he ran away to Hawaii during the bushfires because he “didn’t hold a hose” and then followed that up with refusing to talk to flood victims in Lismore NSW. As people are getting to know Anthony Albanese the comparison between the 2 men is glaringly obvious. If he does become PM I’m sure he will be a far better leader than Morrison has ever been. 

[KSS]

Ny19, hahahahahahahahaha! “people getting to know Albanese”….. he has been in politics for 20 years and he IS known – as a hard left union laborite! His recent ‘change’ is nothing but smoke and mirrors, hiding his real intentions.

[Axel]

HOLA,

Absolutely agree: Morrison does look like a used car salesman … and with that smirk, I wouldn’t buy a used car from him.

[HOLA]

Axel – Morrison is apparently very distressed at the idea of workers getting a $1 per hour wage increase, which is hilarious because of his own absurd salary,. – Morrison’s base salary was $211,250 plus additional salary of $338,000 making his gross salary of $549,250 – or $1,505 per day. He is among the top 5 best paid leaders in the developed world., and I didn’t like the condescending  way he replied to the Moderator at the channel 7 debate, describing Albanese’ coming from ” humble beginnings and lived in a council house.”.  

[Axel]

 

Hola, 

Morrison is also a multi-millionaire.

Whatever one thought of Turnbull, also a multi-millionaire, he at least gave his parliamentary salary to charity.

Morrison is a liar.  He is distrusted by many  of his own members. This says everything.

He was also instrumental in leasing the Darwin port to the Chinese … and the architect of the distastrous Robotdebt.

His history as a leader is parlous … and a dire warning to voters.

I have always voted Liberal, but won’t with Morrison at the helm. I want what is best for Australia.  No one can deny that Morrison lacks a moral compass … definitely human compassion.

 

[Axel]

Hola,

Albanese’s humble background and rise to his position makes him eminently suitable to understand Australians from all walks of life and the challenges they face.   He has compassion.  He is honest and has integrity.

 What more could one wish for in a leader of the people.

[KSS]

Axel: Mr Albanese has a property portfolio worth $5 MILLION with property in Sydney and Canberra. Mr Morrison owns the family home in Sydney and that’s it! Mr Albanese is the multimillionaire.  So criticise Mr Albanese on those grounds NOT Mr Morrison. 

And as for Mr Albanese ‘humble background’ so what? There are millions just like him. He is no more in touch with people not in politics than anyone else. Mr Albanese has been in politics his entire working life. He has never held a ‘real job’. What would he know? As for the compassion card, all very well to pull out the sob-backstory to get votes, but that puts him in the category of the talentless entrants in ‘reality TV”. 

[Axel]

KSS,

Morrison’s net worth is $19 million.  Check on line.

Where did you get the idea that Morrison’s family home was his only asset? You need to get real KSS.

[KSS]

So Axel you get your information from The Personage! Hahahahaha! No wonder you are so ill informed. Even basic information on that site is just plain wrong they even claim that at 1.86m tall he only weighs 45kg!

And you really need to do a bit more research into other spurious claims such as that made by Susan Katzeka who claims he is worth an even more ludicrous $43 million. Look her up. She confuses our current PM with the CFO of Ball Corporation in the USA! https://susankatzkeating.com/scott-morrison-net-worth-age-height/   and https://investors.ball.com/corporate-governance/leadership/default.aspx?_ga=2.181682660.2101378295.1652736931-237792844.1652736931

And check out the publicly available information on the assets of both Mr Morrison (one home – the family home) and Mr Albanese (4 homes – 2 in Sydney and 2 in Canberra).  Being one-eyed is fine that’s your choice. But you will not gain anything from continuing to peddle falsehoods except damage to your own credibility.

[Sophie]

[Ny19]

Supposition from an arrogant coalition. 
We know as fact that it’s not easy under Morrison.

[KSS]

Bet you did not refuse the handouts during COVID, the increases in the pension or the cost of living payments all given under Mr Morrison thogh!

[Sophie]

 

I want to be PM …… but Albo dear…. you are no Mark McGowan !!!!

 

 

 

 

[Lucca]

LOL!!!!

[Axel]

No matter how loyal a traditional Liberal voter is, any thoughtful and intelligent person objectively looking at Morrison the man himself and his history as leader would have pause for thought.

Surely these voters aren’t going to act like hysterical adolescent groupie fans of a pop star

Australians are, hopefully more mature than that and have the best interests of Australia at heart.

[Lucca]

[Ny19]

Morrison is scraping the bottom of the barrel telling people he will change for the better if they vote for him. What a strange and desperate man he is!!! Does he really believe we are so easily hoodwinked?  

[Suze]

Ny19

You must not be so unkind , after all he has suffered Covid and hence could be suffering from Brain Fog

just like Albo.

[Upsadaisy]

Sadly a lot of people have been hoodwinked by him!  Unfortunately, if all you read is the news produced by Rupert Murdoch, you don’t really know what’s going on.

[RnR]

Have sent in my postal vote and received an acknowledgement.

Done and dusted for me.

Will be very interested to see the result … which may be a while in coming with all the pre-poll and postal votes this time.

Almost 2.5 million postal vote applications have been made so far, with close to 900,000 postal votes returned, AEC data shows. More than 1.27 million people voted at pre-polling this week. This figure is expected to rapidly increase in the lead up to election day on Saturday. 

Millions of Australians are giving up the chance to grab a democracy sausage. Will this affect when a winner is called?

[Suze]

I’ve looked at the weather forecast and it looks as if it will be raining on the 21st.

So will have to do a PRE POLL on a sunny day.

[Leonie]

“Have sent in my postal vote and received an acknowledgment. “

ditto …  Done and dusted for me too.

First time voting in this electorate for me.  It will be interesting to see how it goes.  The incumbent isn’t standing.  He got into a bit of strife for taking a picture up a girl’s skirt and hiding in the bushes taking other pictures of other people or something.  Apparently ‘everyone’ knew he was a bit of a sleaze, but he still managed to hang onto the seat (and his well-paid job) for 17 years.  Sometimes I despair of the voting public.

 

 

 

[Jacka]

 

Scott Morrison a poor excuse for a man and a disgrace for a Prime Minister. If he’s not running around grabbing the hands of people who obviously despise him and attempting to shaking them vigorously, he’s making excuses for his actions or simply telling porkies. In saying that, I believe it would be insanity to vote Labour in at this point in time, the way the world currently is. You’re more or less damned if you do and damned if you don’t. This was proven it 2007 when John Howard was deposed for Kevin Rudd (at the beginning of the GFC) God help us and the Labour Games Began. What a debacle that was. I suppose it could be worse, some lunatics could vote for the Greens and you can shut the country down. All fun and games, unfortunately funded by the taxpayer as always. A someone cynical Jacka.

 

[Axel]

 

 

Absolutely agree Jacka … I believe that grabbing the hands of unwilling persons is assault.

I suspect many will vote for Independents this election.  We live in interesting times.

 

 

[HOLA]

Barnaby Joyce has completely lost the plot. He was being interviewed on the Morning Show yesterday together with Tanya Plibersek. He was continually shouting her down, she couldn’t get a word in. He got redder and redder and looked like he’d blown a gasket.  But this seems to be the tactics of both Libs and Nats. Scott Morrison was being interviewed last night on the ABC and he carried on the same way, talking, talking and didn’t stop to draw a breath.  That was an assault on the listeners minds.!!!! 

[Robert]

I wouldn’t trust Albanese with my Piggy Bank.  The man is a fraud when it comes to financial matters.  Even his shadow Treasurer is saying today that Labor’s costs are going to be higher than the government’s.  Albanese walks away when questioned about Labor’s spending.  The man has no idea.  He keeps saying I have a plan. A plan for this and a plan for that.  What are these plans and how much is each going to cost?  Every time Labor gets into government and then kicked out, the LNP spends the next three years cleaning up the financial mess left behind and trying to get the deficit back into the black.

Be careful who you vote for.  A vote for Labor is a vote for debt, inflation, rising costs and unemployment. 

[Ny19]

We already have massive debt, inflation and rising costs, all thanks to this woeful Lib/Nat coalition government. 
We also have massive homelessness and increasing poverty.

Indeed folks be careful who you vote for. 

[Suze]

[Sophie]

Well…remember when you stir the politics pot, you have to eat whatever is served up.

Better the devil you know rather than the fumbling idiot you don’t!

[Sophie]

[Ny19]

I so agree with you that Morrison and his mad deputy Barnaby are “fumbling idiots” who ramble and lie so much that it’s hard to know who they are!

[Suze]

Health Minister Greg Hunt argued the pledge lacked detail.

“This morning we’ve seen another day, another train wreck from Mr Albanese,” Mr Hunt said.

“It’s ever more clear that he’s just not up to it.

“Today we’ve seen a billion-dollar slush fund from the leader of the opposition for undisclosed recipients, through undisclosed recipients, through undisclosed ministerial processes, through undisclosed parties for undisclosed purposes.”

[Upsadaisy]

Drop in the ocean compared to the $5 or $6 billion taxpayers will have to pay France; and all the other rorts and wastage this government has engaged in. 

Treasury disclosed that $14 billion of taxpayers money went to businesses that actually increased their profits during the first six months of JobKeeper.  $769 million to private schools, in wage support, which resulted in these schools more than doubling their surplus in 2020 to almost $1 billion.  Paying $30 million for a block of land worth $3 million.  There have been so many rorts and pork barreling by this disgraceful arrogant PM, far too numerous to list.

Under his leadership (or lack of it) Australia has become a country that is now ridiculed and rebuked internationally.  It’s no wonder that even some of his own party dislike the man intensely.

I’m not saying that Albanese will be any better but for goodness sake he cannot be any worse than Scumo.  Not surprised he doesn’t want a federal ICAC.

 

[Suze]

 

COVID-19 positive and can’t vote tomorrow?–

Phone voting available??

At this stage, you are eligible to register for secure telephone voting if you test COVID-19 positive after 6pm Tuesday 17 May.https://www.aec.gov.au/election/covid19-affected.htm??

However, the AEC has recommended expanding eligibility for Australians that tested positive after 6pm Friday 13 May. ??

We anticipate this to formally come into effect this afternoon/evening

. You must register to phone vote by 4pm AEST Saturday 21 May.

Telephone voting lines will remain open until 6pm local time Saturday 21 May.

.Source: Australian Electoral Commissionhttps://www.aec.gov.au/election/covid19-safety-measures.htm

 

 

[RnR]

Election Day 2022

Located on the boundary between Mr Albanese’s electorate of Grayndler and the Division of Sydney, which is currently served by former Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Tanya Plibersek, Camdenville Public School ensured all tastes and preferences were catered for.

[HOLA]

Ha ha that’s all very clever. We didn’t have any bar-b-ques where I live. I remember in the olden days when we voted in the schools, Ladies were serving up Cakes and the men making Sausage Sizzlers for  fundraising for the schools.

[RnR]

[Sophie]

 

Credit ABC

Congratulations Anthony Albanese on a great outcome and a very moving victory speech!

 

[Sophie]

Anthony Albanese’s key Labor policies he has promised Australians :

Childcare:

One of the major policies the Labor leader promised was universally cheaper childcare under his government.

He’s promised subsidies across the board, lifting the cap to 90 per cent for the first child in care.

Child care subsidy rates will also be increased for every family with one child in care earning less than $530,000 in household income.

“We’ll also get the ACCC to design a price regulation mechanism to drive out of pocket costs down for good, and the Productivity Commission will conduct a comprehensive review of the sector with the aim of implementing a universal 90 per cent subsidy for all families,” it said.

It will cost $5.4 billion over four years.

Climate change:

Labor has committed to net zero emissions by 2050 with a target of 43 per cent reduction by 2030

Part of the plan to reach net zero includes upgrading the electricity grid to allow it to handle more renewable energy, make electric vehicles cheaper, instal community batteries and solar banks and modernise steel and aluminium production.

Australians would save around $2,000 on a $50,000 electric vehicle.

Mr Albanese believes Labor’s Powering Australia plan will create more than 600,000 jobs and cut power prices for households by $275 a year by 2025.

The investments are expected to cost $683 million.

Aged care:

Aged care is also another core sector it has made part of its Federal Election campaign.

Mr Albanese announced a $2.5 billion commitment to improve the standard of care for residents and working conditions for staff at the beginning of the drive for votes.

He pledged all nursing homes will have at least one registered nurse on duty 24/7 in every home, 3 hours and 35 minutes of face-to-face care per resident per day – in line with advice from the aged care royal commission – minimum standards for food, and increased workers’ wages.

Staff in the aged care sector in Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia are currently demanding better pay and work conditions.

Housing:

An Albanese Government will introduce a new policy to help younger Australians get into their first homes under its “Help to Buy” scheme.

The government would provide eligible Australians with an equity contribution of up to 40 per cent of the price of a new home.

The government would provide a contribution of 30 per cent for existing homes.

A deposit of just two per cent would be required for the homebuyer, who must also qualify for a regular home loan – to be financed by a lender.

Those eligible for the scheme are residents livings on a taxable income of up to $90,000 or $120,000 for couples.

Anti-corruption commission:

Mr Albanese pledged to legislate a “powerful and transparent” National Anti-Corruption Commission by the end of this year.

He said the commission will be one of his government’s first priorities if Labor wins the May 21 poll as he took a swipe at Prime Minister Scott Morrison over the issue. 

“Australians have waited more than 1,200 days for the national integrity commission to be introduced to parliament,” the incoming Australian leader said last month.

It would have jurisdiction to investigate everyone from ministers to personal staff of politicians.

The commission will be permitted to begin its own investigations and does not need to wait for a matter to be referred.

Historic matters will also be able to be investigated.

Health:

Labor has promised to Strengthen Medicare to slash to price of medicine on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme by $12.50 to a maximum cost of $30 per script.

Mr Albanese also said Labor will open dozens of urgent care clinics across Australia to make it easier to see a doctor if it won the Federal Election.

“Labor will roll out 50 GP-led enhanced Medicare urgent care clinics around the country,” Mr Albanese said on Wednesday.

“Now these… clinics will be open longer hours, seven days a week, they will be in every single state and territory, they’ll provide a whole range of medical services that you never know until you need them.”

Education:

Labor plans to introduced Fee Free TAFE and will target the skills cap in critical workforces where there have been major shortages.

It promised 465,000 free-fee TAFE placements and 45,000 new places.

The party pledged one in ten workers on major government projects will be an apprentice, trainee or cadet.

Mr Albanese aims to deliver 20,000 extra university placements over 2022 and 2023 to make it easier for students to further education and find a job.

Sky news

 

[Lucca]

Uh huh! that what he said ? Ok, I bear no  grudges but I’ll be keeping my eyes on you Albo

[RnR]

Congratulations to Anthony Albanese.

This woman has represented my electorate since the 2010 federal election.

The only time I’ve ever received any communication from her is just before an election.

So much for community representation and being as one with her voters.

[Lucca]

Maybe she had a bad experience with a cockatoo!

[HOLA]

Congratulations to Anthony Albanese on his win in the 2022 elections. I have been a Labor supporter for the last 50 years. Some of the outcomes from previous elections were not the best, but give Albo the respect he deserves. It is still early days but I’m sure there will be vultures waiting in the wings and ready to pounce.  The silence is deafening with some family members and friends, so I know they didn’t vote for the winners!!!!!

[Suze]

See how your electorate voted

 

[Beemee]

What a turn around? Did anyone hear of this…..I got an email that said Scomo had sent out SMS to all and sundry only moments before closing down any further contact because of the election, it said Scomo had turned back an illegal boat. Some sucker is lying again. Unfortunately I deleted it but then I had no intention of voting for him.

[Farside]

the Secretary of the Department has been requested to please explain the SMS sent to millions, especially since previous government made such an issue of not discussing “on water” matters conducted by Border Force.

[Sophie]

“Do you believe the new Labour government will as tough on illegal immigration as the previous government? Or is this just for show?”

It had better not be just for show. Border security is crucial regardless….

[Lucca]

This is only the beginning, wait till he stops increases to the pension.

[Horace Cope]

 

I think I’ll just wait until the unions tell Albo who is in his cabinet before I pass judgement on a single turnback. Only three Labor politicians can tell the defence forces what to do at this time as five have been sworn in and two of those were in Japan. 

 

[Pacahawi]

Labor turning back boats is absolute show!

https://9now.nine.com.au/today/labor-victory-means-tamil-family-can-return-to-biloela-without-fear-of-deportation/feeb9a45-94c1-4dd2-b366-0a72e36295e6

They are illegal boat people. Tamils fought their legal government and than claim ‘persecution’ when arrested for their crimes. The should have been turned back years ago, not allowed to stay in the community having ‘anchor babies’!

NEVER TRUST ALBANESE!!!

[Horace Cope]

I agree, Pacahawi, the bleeding hearts want us to think that these people are refugees and they may have a point but overriding that is the fact that they are illegal immigrants who entered Australia without the proper authorisation. It’s also a fact that any child born to an illegal immigrant carries the nationality of the parents and is not considered to be Australian unless citizenship is granted and naturalisation occurs. It’s also noted that every illegal immigrant who is accepted takes the place of refugees who have applied and have been granted approval. If you don’t have laws you have chaos, if you have laws that are ignored you also invite chaos. 

[KSS]

The biggest problem with this about-turn on day 1 of the new government is that this family has taken their case to every court and every court has ruled they are not genuine refugees. Had they returned to Sri Lanka at the beginning they would have been able to apply for residency and return legally. But no! The do-gooders have prolonged their detention and then blame everyone but themselves. The message this sends to every other illegal arrival is quite simply the wrong one. This family should not have been granted residency but returned from whence they came.

[Suze]

Well put KSS

[Farside]

and the turned back boat was from where …. Sri Lanka. How is it safe to send them back to Sri Lanka yet the Biloela family stay despite three courts finding them not to be refugees. 

[Sue Ridge]

The boat with illegal arrivals was turned back before any members of the new government were sworn in therefore they had no part in the decision. The turnback was done under existing laws enacted by the previous government.

[Farside]

how is whether the boat turned backed before government sworn in relevant? The law is unchanged. Reports say the boat was intercepted, taken to Christmas Island for processing and then turned back under existing legislation by the Sovereign Borders taskforce. Only thing different was the dog whistling.

“An Australian Border Force spokesman said Operation Sovereign Borders safely returned the boat back to Sri Lanka on Tuesday after it had been intercepted on Saturday.”

“The direction to me, by the acting prime minister was clear – this government remains committed to Operation Sovereign Borders, and to the protection of lives at sea,” Commander of the Joint Agency Task Force Operation Sovereign Borders Rear Admiral Justin Jones said.

[Suze]

I cannot help but wonder if this is a second boat being turned around since the Biloela announcement 

…unfortunately Albanese will not tell us

Typically treats us like mushrooms.

[Farside]

once a mushroom, always a mushroom 

[Suze]

 

[4b2]

Can anybody tell me what is the difference between the refugees fleeing from Ukraine and the refugees fleeing from the middle east in the past. After all we were partly responsible for the disruption in the middle east. Big difference as we accept with open arms to refugees from the Ukraine but nothing for the middle east refugees. Pity we cant treat all the same.
Please do not use people smugglers as the excuse we punish refugees from the middle east not the smugglers.

[Author]

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