Australia General Discussion 4.0: It ain’t easy under Albanese

[S019]

While this is an opinion piece, it includes several quotes from Labor sources, and also serves as an interesting insight into Labor’s election strategy, so far: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/may/28/in-with-a-chance-after-two-years-of-albanese-labor-feels-morrison-can-be-beaten

[S019]

During the 2019 election, the Liberal government promoted a car park program, however chose to build the parks disproportionately in vulnerable Labor seats or seats that the Liberals feared they might lose. This may have boosted their electoral prospects: https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/when-47-car-parks-660-million-and-one-election-collide-20210630-p585h9.html

[S019]

Joel Fitzgibbon, a Labor MP, who has been critical of the party's direction on numerous issues, including climate policy, has decided to retire from the seat of Upper Hunter, Labor's majority in the seat during the 2019 election was 3 pts (52.98-47.02): https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/veteran-labor-mp-joel-fitzgibbon-to-quit-at-next-election-20210913-p58r3t.html

Another interesting note, this seat has been held by his family for nearly 40 years.

[S019]

This is perhaps one of the dumbest memes I've seen on this site.

"This arrangement would witness a further dramatic loss of Australian sovereignty, as material dependency on the United States robbed Australia of any freedom or choice in any engagement Australia may deem appropriate," Keating said.

However, former Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd, who is also president of the Asia Society, cautioned the Morrison government against direct criticism of China.

"It is too overt in the way in which it uses its language on these questions," Mr Rudd told 730.

So AUKUS is a dramatic loss of Australian sovereignty, while being afraid to directly criticize China isn’t? Or is the U.S. the only country Australia isn’t allowed to cooperate with?

Grow a brain and realise what the actual reason for it is.

Morrison is leading a government ridden by scandal after scandal despite Murdoch covering his back 24/7 and knows he can't win the next election. The only way he can win is by yelling the words "Labor" and "China" in the same sentence as many times as he can.

That's literally it.

It doesn’t take a brain to consider that both possibilities are accurate: it is both a brilliant strategic move and a Coalition electoral ploy.

At the same time, the positions of the two former Labor PM’s and the Greens seem dodgy. I’m certain opposing the Americans and supporting the Chinese will be the electoral magic needed to finally dislodge the Coalition (long overdue) oh wait no it seems like the opposite of that

From what I've read, this seems like a bit of a dishonest take on Keating, the gist of his argument is basically that Australia would be dragged into war with China if the US and China ever had a war. As Australia is its own country and not a US puppet or something like that, it does make sense that they might not want to be dragged into possibly unwinnable wars. On the topic of winning the election, a new Newspoll came out today showing Labor leading by 6, and Labor hasn't trailed in the 2 Party Vote in a poll since January. Of course, the election is still a ways away, but as of right now, Labor is in the lead, for however much that's worth. Also Australia's relations with China really aren't anywhere near as hostile as Chinese and US relations, and again it's not like Keating is even being explicitly pro-China.

[S019]

Senior Labor Party members in Fowler have said that Tu Le was apparently also a parachute candidate: https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/also-a-parachuter-claims-that-candidate-who-missed-out-to-keneally-was-also-a-blow-in-20210923-p58ubj.html

[S019]

Gladys Berejiklian will resign as NSW Premier and from Parliament following the opening of an ICAC investigation into her.

[S019]

Can't believe this hasn't been posted yet, but the Coalition has scheduled the budget for March 29 and will have only 10 sitting days until August, speculation has been rising that this indicates they will go for a May election: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/nov/29/coalitions-proposed-parliamentary-calendar-has-just-10-sitting-days-in-first-half-of-2022

Also a deal has possibly been struck on LGBT protections to win Labor's support for the religious discrimination bill (article indicates Labor is open to voting for it, but the fate of it is ultimately unclear): https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/deal-to-protect-lgbtqi-students-sets-up-vote-on-religious-freedom-20211201-p59dxg.html

Deal has also been struck to win Labor support on the political campaigner bill (Voter ID has also been dropped until after the election): https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2021/dec/01/australia-news-updates-live-covid-omicron-scott-morrison-parliament-nsw-victoria-coronavirus-travel-restrictions-quarantine-australian-politics?CMP=share_btn_tw&page=with:block-61a6e3b08f08ab53167b7bce#block-61a6e3b08f08ab53167b7bce

Also on the topic of the upcoming election, Health Minister Greg Hunt (Flinders) and scandal-plagued ex-front bencher Christian Porter (Pearce) are both expected to retire.

[S019]

So Lidia Thorpe has quit the Greens.

She is truly a left wing clone of Pauline Hanson. She wants to be Australia's AOC, but lack a single one of AOC's qualities.

I haven't followed Australian politics that closely lately, but I still don't understand why exactly she opposed the Voice.

[S019]

https://twitter.com/JoshButler/status/1646714938759725063?cxt=HHwWjoDSseOgp9otAA...

I really do not understand exactly what the "No" campaign is trying to achieve. The messaging on it is just so terrible, and this literally seems like parody.

[S019]

As surprise “I’m just tired, and need to retire” resignations go - does it seem genuine, or is it possible there’s an underlying scandal here?

Essentially - is this a Jacinda Ardern, or a Nicola Sturgeon moment?

I’m not sure, but I think it was notable he did say he didn’t want to fight the next election so he wanted to leave adequate time for his successor to have their own record to run on that. Also I don’t think this was mentioned yet, but he is resigning from Parliament too, before the week is over.