Bar a miracle, Bandt can't win seat

The Greens have suffered a serious blow after failing to win the State seat of Melbourne. Inner-city Melbourne is no doubt the most left-wing area in Australia, and the only Federal Greens MP, Adam Bandt currently represents Melbourne.
But fortunately, Greens candidate for the state by-election triggered by the resignation of Labor MP Bronwyn Pike, Cathy Oke was defeated by Labor candidate Jennifer Kanis. Notably, no Liberal candidate ran for the seat and turnout is at a record low of 67%. This result is notably bad news for Mr Bandt. He was elected at the last federal election on the back of Liberal preferences. He received 36.17% of the vote, compared with Labor's 38.09%. As Victorian Labor secretary Noah Carroll said ''The Greens Party won't concede they've lost Melbourne, they won't concede that by voting with Tony Abbott on asylum-seekers that their view of 'humanitarianism' is costing lives, and they won't concede that Adam Bandt won his seat off the back of Liberal preferences''

But the Greens have clearly panicked. In Ms Oke's concession she claimed '...if the same swings are repeated in the next federal election, we will retain the federal seat of Melbourne''. This is incorrect. Do the maths. At the Victorian state election in 2010, the Greens had a swing towards them of 4.5%, with the Libs running. At the by-election, without the Liberals running, the Greens had a swing towards them of roughly 4.6%. So, let's say Labor has a swing against it of around 6% (I'd think a generous figure, national polling has a 6% swing). Keep in mind when Bandt won his seat, Labor suffered a huge swing of 11.4%. A swing of 6% from Labor to the Greens would reduce Labor's primary vote to 32.09%. Bandt's primary vote would increase to 42.17%. The Liberals received 21.00% of the vote in 2010. This is likely to increase. Even staying the same, with Liberal and other candidate (Sex Party & Family First both preferences Labor this by-election) preferences flowing strongly to Labor, Labor should win the seat.

And a good thing too. These elitist, uncompromising, patronising eco-fascists have no place in modern Australian politics.

Melbourne state by-election results

• At 9:07 with 45.16% of the vote counted, the Greens lead Labor 38.20% to 31.94% on primaries.
• Other candidates with a high vote: Fiona Patten of the Sex Party on 7.27%, David Noelte, Independent Liberal on 5.46%, Stephen Mayne on 4.3% and Berhan Ahmed on 4.01
• On a 2PP basis, Labor is just holding the seat with the narrowest of margins on 50.37% to 49.63%
• This is only the second time the Greens have ever led on primaries - seats they have won such as Cunningham, Balmain, and Melbourne (federal) have all been on preferences
• If Labor holds the seat, that is very bad news for the Greens. Even without the Liberals and with left-wing candidates such as Socialists and Anarchists standing, they fail to win the most left-wing seat in Australia
• At 10:18, Labor has increased its lead slightly with just over 50% of the vote counted. Labor 50.75% v Greens 49.25
• Very substantial informal vote of 9.11%

Faulkner slaps down Howes

Paul Howes has never worked in any of the industries in which the union he heads represents. He is a political hack who uses his position to only benefit the Labor Party.
Finally, he copped a slap-down from a party elder yesterday when former Defence Minister Senator John Faulkner attacked
''Why don't you put a sock in it for once?'' asked Senator John Faulkner to the cheers of conference delegates.
''I want to say to you, for a long time before you were even born, Paul, I fought Greens and Liberals and Nationals inside and outside the Parliament. I've even, Paul, fought more Greens and Liberals and Nationals than you've done media interviews''

Unions used to represent workers, and fight for their interests. Now, they only work for the interests of left-wing politics. This cocky, well-paid union thug is getting to big for his boots.

UPDATE: See video here

News Limited to defend free speech; shame about Fairfax

A week after media executives signed a letter to Prime Minister Julia Gillard defending free speech and freedom of the press, News Limited CEO Kim Williams has vowed to fight government censorship, possibly all the way to the High Court.
Just over a week ago, media executives signed an industry letter to the PM attacking more regulation.
Those who signed the letter were: Nine Entertainment's David Gyngell; Seven West Media's Don Voelte; AAP's Bruce Davidson; APN News & Media's Brett Chenoweth; News Limited's Kim Williams; Foxtel's Richard Freudenstein; and Sky News's Angelos Frangopolous.

Sadly, Fairfax and Network Ten boycotted the letter. Fairfax intend to raise their own concerns separately.

Girl Guides trash tradition.

In 1999, Australia voted to stay a monarchy. But, of course, this hasn't stopped the creeping republicanism.
From removing the Oath, taking down pictures of the Queen, removing the Governor from Government House and even scrapping the appointment of new QC's the arrogant politicians have ignored the will of the people.
Now, the Girl Guides have 'voted to cut ties with the Queen'.
'Promising to serve God and the Queen and pledging obedience have been ruled old-fashioned and out of step with modern Australian life by junior and senior guides'

No one voted for the Queen to be removed from our lives.

So far Daily Telegraph readers have rejected the move.

Fail. Attacks on Ashby backfire

Attacks by Professional Grub Anthony Alba-sleazy on vicitm of alleged sexual harrasment, James Ashby have backfired in the Federal Court. Mr Albasleazy accused Mr Ashby of being part of a 'Watergate' style criminal conspiracy.
Read more at The Australian


This man should hang his head in shame.

I'm back....

After a short holiday, I'm back and looking forward to blogging again.