ABC News confirms.
Life, Culture and Politics from BrisVegas
Larvatus Prodeo is an Australian group blog which discusses politics, sociology, culture, life, religion and science from a left of centre perspective. more»
» SUBSCRIBE to LP updates.
Well like all Labor voters I am nervous of the Liberals. The Hun is likening Baillieu to Bolte rather than Kennett.
In the 1990s we used to wander around and ask “Did you have a Kennett of a day?”. Kennett delivered what he said he would and Baillieu hasn’t made wild promises so he might just be interested in managing the state rather than wild changes.
The Hun is likening Baillieu to Bolte rather than Kennett.
That is bad news for the next Ronald Ryan.
I reckon Toorak Ted will be more like Dick Hamer but time will tell.
“The Hun is likening Baillieu to Bolte rather than Kennett.”
Does that mean he’s into drink driving as well as hanging people?
The electorate has installed a new leader and Cabinet of the Laboral party. So what?
It’s not been a good couple of months for John Brumby, that’s for sure.
And he still wouldn’t shut up once he lost.
Razor, give the man a break. You lose an election, you get a chance to say your piece as you exit stage left.
Somewhere down the track, Baillieu will lose the Premiership too, and he’ll be entitled to the same courtesy.
Bolte! Yikes! Absolute pig of man.
How many ex-Victorian politicians are on the public payroll with their Association’s approval and consent!? And kindly remind yourselves as still residents of Victoria that some of those Parliamentarians signed away,by commercial in confidence agreements contracts that run over the parliamentary period of re-election.Without one voter or Victorian Taxpayer having a say.The ALP does not serve Democracy in or out of any Parliament of Australia.
Yes, its a changing thing, 8.
Fifty years ago Australian politics was dominated by hard nosed old patriarchs like Bolte, Playford, Askin, Nicklin and Brand and the likes of Caldwell and Albert Monk with fed Labor or unions, Gair and McManus with the DLP, McEwen with the CP and Menzies collection of relics from the Old Families.
And state and fed governors were usually peers, ex-generals or with the baggage a knighthood at the very least.
No Penny Wong or Julia Gillard or the like, back those days.
I remember my majestic and beautiful Aunt Elsie cracking up on the subject of Bolte. Lovely lady my aunt, but I wouldn’t have liked being Bolte, if she’d ever caught up with him.
Sounds like my Aunty Vera.She lived in Menzies’ electorate and she despised him. So every time she went to vote in a federal election she’d scrub his name out on the ballot paper. And he wasn’t going to get any number, even the lowest preference, when she voted.
It meant that all over those years her vote was counted as invalid but she came back from the polling place feeling that there was a job well done.
I never asked her but I think she felt much the same about Bolte.
Baillieu is nothing like Bolte.
Bolte was a vulgarian, bully and populist who cared nothing for Westminster conventions or civil rights.
Baillieu is a moderate’s moderate. This positions him close to the far left of the Liberal Party. He is a classic liberal, assumes patrician airs, and is genuinely committed to a range of civil rights.
Glorious, Greg.
Katz, its a short step from “committed to a range of civil rights”, to the comprehension of one of the real reasons Brumby Labor lost out. Echoes of this came down only today, with McClelland’s nonsenses about the latest Wikileaks.
Brumby has been like Bligh, after Beatty in QLD, or NSW Labor, after Carr. The successors have just lacked the ability of a Bracks or Beatty to “include” the people or explain and sell an idea as these earlier figures could.
Re Robert Merkell’s comment at 7, it is true that this was not a rout as much as a Rudd moment. An old government cedes to a party that has finally come up with the right sort of person to articulate an alternative.
His concession had dignity, he’s had a good career at the top, but incumbancy has brought its baggage to bear and now they can go off for a little think .
Provided they dont follow the line of least resistance and look at themselves honestly instead of blaming the Greens, the might still come good.
But they have to become a bottom-up party again. They have to stop screening out anyone who isn’t neolib or socially conservative amnd stop putting up eco rationalist droids instead of human beings, for candidates.
“His concession had dignity..”
I thought so.
Let’s hope Katz is right on Baillieu. I thought the kind of species he talks about was already extinct in the Liberal Party.
Stephen Mayne is doing all right and may grab a seat in the Upper House.
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/thestump/2010/11/28/mayne-could-hold-balance-of-power-in-victoria/
Late into this, but our view from over the border was that (compared to Playford) Bolte was a deeply corrupt thug.
I didn’t have much time for Playford, btw, but Bolte was worse.
I feel for Brumby like I did for Gordon Brown—both leaders who should have been allowed to fight the previous election, as there wasn’t going to be another act in it for them. (Okay, Brown had the chance to call a snap election when he became PM, but still.)
Is anyone else horrified by the idea that a couple of hundred votes the other way in one electorate and we would have had a good-as-automatic reelection?
I can’t believe no leader of the Victorian House has ever considered that having an even number of members is a recipe for disaster in an ultra close election. It’s insane, as our two party system guarantees that if both parties split the number of seats equally between themselves then there is no solution, no negotiations to be had, as with crossebenchers holding the BoP, it’s straight back to another election.
Labor going back to fight another election early next year would’ve seen them on track to lose half a dozen seats, I don’t see any other possible outcome, not in the Australia we find ourselves in. Thank god Baillieu can’t call another election for three years, unless he loses a seat at a bye-election or one of his MLAs splits and votes for a no-confidence motion.
paul, this narrative of yours about the Bracks cohort of Labor premiers possessing inherently good (as opposed to fresh) leadership sounds a bit too revisionist.
If Bracksy had been premier on Saturday it’s probably him who would’ve ended up being the one winning a razor thin majority, at which point he would’ve quietly started preparing his exit like Mike Rann in SA is currently doing.
Why don’t you tell us all just how inclusively well Rann is doing.
joe2, this a very good thing if it comes to pass, as I have my doubts about the new country independents party [sic] in the Upper House being anywhere near as highminded as the old country independents were. Savage and Langdon had ties to their local communities as single seat members, and that kept them grounded—conservative indy members in the Upper House are much too prone to falling victim to Fielding Monster Raving Loony disease IMO, as they don’t have the same representative influence working on them.
Mayne is a big picture reformer type, so I don’t have a problem with him claiming the whole state as his electorate (or indeed the whole country, world, universe.)
Obviously reducing the Legislative Council from 22 dual member electorates to 7 five-member ones was a bit of a mistake—having 7 six member electorates would’ve meant an Upper House that was more like the senate, and it still would have meant retrenching two legislative council seats, so there’s no reason Bracks couldn’t have boasted he was reducing the number of pollies when he implemented the reforms…
Well, Nick, Rann Labor here follows the orthodox pattern. “Old”, smug, now ex-cluding and further away from its origins and roots than ever. It’s become increasingly dominated by the eco rat/soc con right and is becoming to developers what a dead sheep is to blowflies.
The difference is that Beatty, Bracks and the others that got in circa 2000, were as fresh faced and plausible as Baillieu is now.
BTW, why did Labor forsake Brumby, for Bracks, in the late nineties?
Different people have different sets of skills.
Some have the gift of the gab, for example and some haven’t. But I do think people want transperant, open government rather than managerialism and corporatism, when the big issues need to be identified, then sorted.
The Country Alliance appear to be – to not put too fine a point on it – a party that exists to a defend the recreational habits of the outer-outer suburban male – and, not inconsequentially, the businesses of those who support them.
Their prospective representative is a fishing tackle and gun shop owner. Their agenda includes off-road motorcycle licenses for teenage boys.
Personally, I think that sometimes latte lefties like myself mistake genuine environmental (or other public policy) objections to this kind of thing, with simple cultural distaste.
That wasn’t the clearest political claim you’ve ever made Robert. One more time?
Yes, Robert, what a bungle, if this goose gets a seat, for Labor and Greens. Greens because they refused to preference Jacinta Allan in the lower house to get David Jones over the line in the council. And Labor for doing a deal with C.A. for any reason.
With respect to the worst manifestations of Governments past, Kennett jumped out of the blocks. Remember the arrogance and florish of the belted Macintosh adorned Kennett front bench off to the States to sell off Victoria?
Power corrupts and unfortunately the electorate doesn’t respond until that fact is rammed down their throats.
For those who still listen, did Their ABC gloat?
Not exactly. I think they played this one with a pretty straight bat. Bailleu OTOH seems to be making it pretty clear that he intends to act like an Abbott wrecker on NBN, health reform and the mining tax. Just another damned Lib, after. Not that I expected anything else.
Meh … I should have saved the time spent wondering. Of course they’re gloating!
Losing faith in Labor, one state at a time
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/11/30/3079991.htm
Fancy shooting to be recorded by history as the ‘Premier’ who:
- denied Victorians super-fast broadband
- denied Victorians the benefits of more effective health funding
- denied Victorians more equitable distribution of the country’s natural wealth
Wotta guy! Liberal, of course.
Oh, that’s Madonna King, mate. She appears on Chammel 9 Morning TV regularly so she and Karl Stepanovic and the various other RWDBs (like Bolt, for example) can chuck rocks at any Labor Government around. You don’t take any notice of her!
Paul,
She’s also connected to the Murdoch’s ‘Courier Mail’ in Brisbane and hosts Brisbane ABC Radio Mornings.
Leaves me wondering, what does Their ABC consider “independent” to mean these days? Independent from political neutrality perhaps.
I knew she did the ABC morning Radio in Brisbane, but I didn’t realise she was such a direct Murdoch mouthpiece. Disgraceful, really, but there’s no point complaining because the ABC won’t do anything about it.
Two passing thoughts:
- Amusing theories abound that the sole purpose of Brumby’s claim that a hung parliament was likely was to buy time to shred documents.
- Ted hits the ground running by promising to “abolish suspended sentences for seriousc rimes”. LOL! They dont give out suspended sentences for serious crimes, Einstein. Might as well ban state govt employees from space travel in lunch breaks.
Don’t get too excited, yet, fellas. It sounds like Baillieu wishes to put his stamp on those matters rather than his foot.
http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Ted-Baillieu-targets-Gillard-reforms-reports-pd20101129-BNQK5?OpenDocument&src=hp6
There is no (other) branch/arm of the Public Service that is permitted to behave as a law unto itself in the way the ABC appears to do. If you ask me, it’s time for a full enquiry into the ABC: the politicisation (which is against Charter and Editorial Policies), as well as the encroachment of Murdoch influence.
Madonna King is indeed a RWDB, and a not very bright one.
Check out this piece – it’s every single imported death-beast talking point rolled into one article.
joe2@33: I love the idea of him supporting the NBN being dependent on rural cellphone reception improving. I wonder if he’d accept a couple more Vodafone towers in Geelong?
Tempting, but no thanks.
1) It will be full of right wing ideological ranting.
2) Why bother rewarding Their ABC with the clicks?
DI(nr) @17, agree. Bolte was more along the lines of Askin, corrupt thugs. I shudder every time I hear those names and even though like you I wasn’t fond of Playford, he at least had the interests of SA, not lining his pockets, as his primary focus.
I have to disagree with you on that score, paul walters @20. People say that’s what they want, but imo what they want is politicians who tell them what they want to hear and sod the truth.
Those rare pollies who are brave enough to tell it like it is get castigated by the msm and a belting at the polling booth.
And from intelligent discourse on said politics, CU and Paul Burns.
ROFL, Lefty E @32.
Henry Bolte was a thug but he was not corrupt.
Robin Askin was a thug who arguably was the most corrupt politician in Australian history.
Ya reckon Sam@39. Maybe he was just clever enough to never get caught while in office. He sure had interesting form afterwards.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Bolte
Jane, 38, I understand your point re complicity. And that’s not counting the totally apathetic or disengaged or those who lack the wherewithal to form opinions, even if they were interested.
btw, on the subject of bent media, reading some where this morning that it indeed looks like Asa Wahlquist’s version of her problem with OZ Oberstandartenfuhrer Mitchell is being borne out by others able hear and record the incident in question.
OK, Godwinned.
So shoot me!
See below, paul walter, on the bent and ugly….
http://larvatusprodeo.net/2010/11/29/spotlight-the-spin-32/#comment-248635
Brumby has announced he won’t be standing for the leadership. so, who’s it to be? Tim Holding? Daniel Andrews? Rob Hulls? A push to bring Bracksy back?
Who is the most likeable candidate? Hulls is detestable, Andrews’ performance on Saturday night proved he won’t be that much more popular than Hulls, so it may be Holding or even Jacinta Allan. Is someone like Merlino a chance?
Election night performances count for SFA.
Andrews was a very competent health minister, from all reports. Whether he would have the numbers, who knows?
Merlino seems very low profile. Agree Hulls is a bit of a bovver boy. Perhaps Holding or Allen?
James Merlino campaigned against abortion decriminalisation and voted against legislation permitting stem cell research.
Yes, he’s one of them.
Ah, didn’t know that Sam. He’s off the list.
Hulls for 24-36 months, with someone in the wings developing their profile. Have by elections which ALP wins handsomely when Hulls, Brumby etc all step down together to allow ‘new blood’.
Having a nightwatchman opposition leader (Hulls) would completely neuter the opposition. The Leader of the Opposition has to be a credible alternative Premier.
Unfortunately it looks like the abominable Merlino will retain his seat on Greens preferences. That was a mistake, comrades.
Madden.
Yes, I’m serious.
Was Daniel Andrews the guy on the ABC panel on election night? Where do the ALP find these guys? The man was an absolute pig. He spent the whole night talking over, butting in and cutting off not just the Liberal hack but both Trioli and Antony Green.
Madden?
As the late, great, Leslie Neilsen once said, “Surely, you can’t be serious.”.
I am as madden as hell and I won’t put up with it anymore
Sam@50.
Won’t need an ‘alternative premier’ for a number of years, but would be very useful to someone who can clearly articulate an argument about planning, police, health etc when the Teddy Boys start renigging on their promises.
“Madden.
Yes, I’m serious.”
Just no, FDB. No.
He will be leader Justin time
Charlie 56
“renigging”? That sounds vaguely racist. I think you mean reneging.
You have either forgotten, or it was before your time, that the last time Labor lost government in Victoria it had a caretaker leader, Jim Kennan, who held the job until John Brumby could be entered into the parliament to take over.
Having a caretaker leader set the anti-Kennett cause back by years.
Unfortunately it looks like the abominable Merlino will retain his seat on Greens preferences. That was a mistake, comrades.
Not just that, Paul, the Greens preferenced against Jacinta Allan, a woman of the Left (well, a lot more left than Merlino in any case), who was targeted by the Right to Lifers for voting for abortion law reform.
Nice one, Greens.
Ahhh, so good to see the whingy Lefties annoyed.
Overcrowding on trains? Too many new high rises? Whose to blame? Could it be that the real issue is *gasp* – excessive migration? Yes, a federal issue, not a State one.
Nah, that couldn’t be it. Because according to lefties when it comes to migration, the more the merrier. Any problems cause by excessive migration aren’t really caused by excessive migration – they are caused by “insufficient infrastructure investment”. On the other hand, most lefties here are lucky to earn the median wage, so that’s the kind of logic I’d expect from them.
Whoops! on the speling.
Fixed 4 year terms make a difference.
I wasn’t in Melbourne at that time, but wasn’t Kennan transport minister – or trams minister – during previous gov’t. I can still remember all the trams parked in Bourke St one time when I visited. Not a good look.
By the way, interesting piece somewhere today wondering if Wayne Swann will bring in faux-banks for competition in lending and then reminiscing about State Bank Vic, Pyramid etc.
when it comes to migration, the more the merrier
Migration went through the roof in the later Howard years, something he is very proud of, according to his autobiography.
On the other hand, many lefties oppose high migration on environmental grounds.
“Insufficient infrastructure investment” is the mantra of the Australian. This is a left wing argument?
Davey, you are a silly, silly boy.
Charlie, four year fixed terms just serve to punish ineffective state oppositions. Make a few mistakes and before you know it you’re in opposition for 12 or 16 years.
Sam: Just because I criticise lefties does not mean that I am in any way a fan of Howard.
I am in 100% agreement about your Howard comment – and how sneaky he was, with his “protecting border” crap giving the impression that he was anti-migration whilst having huge migration numbers.
Rudd on the other hand made the mistake of supporting large migration AND admitting it (“fan of big Australia”).
So you know where you can put your silly comment……z
“Unfortunately it looks like the abominable Merlino will retain his seat on Greens preferences. That was a mistake, comrades.”
Nope. The tighter the numbers the better, imo. Governments perform better with the other mob breathing down their neck.
Sacrilege. He delivered the punchline, Shirley.
when there is a change of Government it doesn’t matter who is Opposition leader as they will be pulverized in the next election.
Same here so Justin is a good choice
Oh noes, Daniel Andrews was mean to ABC people!
Actually I’m a bit surprised that all the speculation is about younger ministers, with none of the old bulls getting a look in. I still prefer Tim Pallas, as he’s a government veteran who doesn’t have quite the baggage as the likes of Hulls do (Pallas was Bracks’ chief of staff before entering parliament in 2006). I guess this means that Hulls, Pallas and Madden are all pulling the plug on their state political careers. The allure of either money or Canberra, I suppose.
I think Tim Holding is too polarising, particularly as he’s become one of the most hated individuals in Victorian politics before he’s even become a ranking frontbencher. Allan sounds like a good choice, she being a RARA member, and a she, of course.
Of course if the dreaded factions do choose a thirty-something as leader this means they’re going with someone who is odds on to be given a shot at the next two elections, so that’s a very bad thing for the MSM and its narrative of There Will Be Blood Because It’s Teh Labor Party Duh. Most unfortunate.
Joe @ 40, I’d heard about the Bolte drink driving controversy, but 1984 was when John Cain was premier and Mick Miller was chief commissioner of police, and both of them were renowned cleanskins. The old bastard can’t have been that responsible for what happened.
Justin Madden is in the Upper House, so unless Brumby quits his seat there is no path to the leadership for Harry, not this term.
And I’m afraid Madden is just as polarising as Holding is, which isn’t really fair.
Madden has moved to the lower house. But he should not be leader.
Sam what do you mean: “four year fixed terms just serve to punish ineffective state oppositions.” What are the local examples of ineffective state oppositions being punished?