2010 Election Campaign Day ?- Abbott's photocopier cranks up

First he decides to reduce immigration to a level it's already predicted to fall to under Gillard Government policy.
Then he announces that he may extend welfare quarantining to people receiving Centrelink unemployment benefits when this is already policy found in current legislation introduced by the Federal Labor Government.
What next I wonder?

Incontinent Victorians and other southerners brown off one Northern Rivers cane farmer

From The Daily Examiner letters to the editor on 27 July 2010:

Browned off

IF you'll excuse my language, I write to say that I am sick of the s**t and the p*ss. No, I don't refer to the election.
I refer to the travellers through our region - almost exclusively Victorians in my observation - who think it reasonable to come onto my property to take a pee and a poop. I am sick of the toilet paper along the side of the road, the disposable nappies and the doggie doo.
I am sick of people pulling onto a cane pad 150 metres off the highway, down a gravel country road, hidden behind large cane, within sight of a single farmhouse, without a public notice anywhere evident, who think it is reasonable to say: "Oh, we didn't realise this was private property."
Apparently you and your dogs can take a crap on any piece of public property in Victoria.
Ferry Park, Maclean, is five minutes one way from my place and within half-an-hour drive in the other direction you will have come through Grafton, South Grafton, Ulmarra, Brushgrove and Tyndale village.
I believe there is a website now which lists public conveniences all over the country.
Is there an epidemic of incontinence from Victoria?
Then of course there are the decent people who call in to ask if they might have a closer look at a piece of sugar cane - mostly southern New South Welshmen,South Australians and Tasmanians.
Happy to oblige and put on a bit of an act with the old fashioned cane knife.
I get four or five a year, but I imagine there are more who just pull up somewhere out of sight and steal a bit.
Because, yes, it is theft, and it is trespass, and it is public indecency.
My front paddock is no more open to public utility than their balcony or driveway at home - unless it could be considered an invitation, a mutual exchange of convenience when next we travel south - is the garden state facing a compost shortage?
So I have started a log, if you'll again pardon the pun, of the rego numbers of the dumpers and slashers, the overnighters and the light-fingered.

JAMES MOLONEY
Tyndale

Are whaling nations slaughtering cetacean friends?

Young Humpack Whale in waters off the Clarence Coast July 2010

Photograph in the Clarence Valley Review

It is known that Japan's whaling fleet kills lactating female whales and their young in the Southern Ocean, but is this slaughter doing even more damage to cetacean social bonds?

Humpback whales form lasting bonds, the first baleen whales known to do so.

Individual female humpbacks reunite each summer to feed and swim alongside one another in the Gulf of St Lawrence, off Canada, scientists have found.

Toothed whales, such as sperm whales, associate with one another, but larger baleen whales, which filter their food, have been thought less social.

The finding raises the possibility that commercial whaling may have broken apart social groups of whales.....

The longest recorded friendships lasted six years, and always occurred between similar-aged females, and never between females and males. (BBC NEWS )

Mayne gets down and dirty in Senate seat fight

Senate hopeful Stephen Mayne was emailing this about last Tuesday:

"The gaming watchdog will investigate the presence of two teens on the gaming floor of an Altona North hotel part-owned by Liberal Senator Julia McGauran, after a complaint by rival Senate candidate Stephen Mayne.

Mr Mayne, an independent, said that two 15-year old girls in the gaming area at The Millers Inn last week. Senator McGauran is a part-owner of the pub, at which punters lost more than $12 million last financial year.

A spokesman for anti-gambling independent Senator Nick Xenophon, cited as a witness, said the girls were on the gaming floor for 10 minutes. Senator McGauran said it was 2.5 minutes."

2010 Election Campaign Day 16 - Political advertising

Can you find any legible authorisation on this official National Party campaign pic gracing candidate Kevin Hogan's Facebook page?
























Nup, didn't think so.

Details of all NSW North Coast candidates in the 2010 Federal Election

NSW North Coast Federal Electorates - the candidates, their details and positions on ballot papers.

RICHMOND

1	van LIESHOUT, Joan	Liberal	Local Councillor	Phone (work): 07 5599 2385 Email: joan.vanlieshout@nsw.liberal.org.au
2	ELLIOT, Justine [incumbent]	Labor	Member of Parliament	Phone (work): 07 5523 4371 Email: justine.elliot.mp@aph.gov.au
3	HARTLEY, Matthew	Independent	Film Maker	Email: mattharcla@gmail.com
4	ROBINSON, David	Australian Democrats	Poultry Farmer	PO Box 16 ALSTONVILLE NSW 2477 Phone (home): 0412 458 477 Phone (work): 0412 458 477 Mobile: 0412 458 477 Email: me@drobinson.com.au
5	FAULKNER, Nic	Independent	Research Consultant	39 Fingal St BRUNSWICK HEADS NSW 2483 Mobile: 0488 404 882 Email: nicolas.faulkner@bigpond.com
6	HUNTER, Alan	The Nationals	Company Director	PO Box 1856 KINGSCLIFF NSW 2487 Phone (work): 13 0005 7200 Mobile: 0488 158 978 Email: alan.hunter@nationals.org.au
7	BOYD, Julie	Independent	Educational Consultant	PO Box 66 HASTINGS POINT NSW 2489 Phone (home): 0414 868 854 Mobile: 0414 868 854 Email: jboydelection@gmail.com
8	EBONO, Joe	The Greens	Manager	Phone (work): 02 6684 2416 Email: richmond@greens.org.au
9	HEGEDUS, Stephen M	Independent	Lawyer	PO Box 2253 BYRON BAY NSW 2481 Phone (work): 0428 665 955 Mobile: 0428 665 955 Email: smhegedus@gmail.com

PAGE

1	JOHNSON, Jeff	The Greens	Renewable energy consultant	Phone (work): 0438 677 202 Mobile: 0438 677 202 Email: page@greens.org.au
2	SAFFIN, Janelle [incumbent]	Labor	Member of Parliament	PO Box 139 LISMORE NSW 2480 Phone (home): 0418 664 001 Phone (work): 02 6621 9909 Mobile: 0418 664 001 Email: Janelle.Saffin.MP@aph.gov.au
3	HOGAN, Kevin	The Nationals	Consultant	PO Box 50 LISMORE NSW 2480 Phone (work): 02 6622 4562 Email: kevin@kevinhogan.com.au
4	SUMMERVILLE, Merle Desley	Independent	Client Service Officer	"Hiddenvale" 157 Beech Tree Rd SEXTONVILLE NSW 2470 Phone (home): 02 6667 1131 Mobile: 0427 671 131 Email: nmsummer@harbourdat.com.au
5	MELLAND, Julia	Australian Democrats	Bookkeeper	163 High St LISMORE HEIGHTS NSW 2480 Mobile: 0431 357 585 Email: julia.melland@democrats.org.au
6	BEHN, Doug	Independent	Motor Mechanic	12 Flame St EVANS HEAD NSW 2473 Phone (home): 0412 123 421 Phone (work): 02 6682 5399 Mobile: 0412 123 421 Email: dbehn@nnsw.quik.com.au

COWPER

1	SEKFY, Paul	Labor	Community Worker	Phone (work): 0419 440 065 Mobile: 0419 440 065 Email: paul.sekfy@alp.com.au
2	KING, Dominic	The Greens	Teacher
3	ARKAN, John Singh	Independent	Coffs Harbour City Councillor	Phone (home): 02 6654 7673 Phone (work): 02 6654 7673 Mobile: 0418 465 930 Email: john.arkan@gmail.com
4	LIONS, Deborah A J	Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group)	Mngr house emergency acc.& stdnt	Mobile: 0431 603 848
5	HARTSUYKER, Luke [incumbent]	The Nationals	Member of Parliament	PO Box 2056 COFFS HARBOUR NSW 2450 Phone (work): 02 6652 6233 Email: luke.hartsuyker.mp@aph.gov.au

LYNE

1	OAKESHOTT, Robert [incumbent]	Independent	Member of Parliament	PO Box 330 TAREE NSW 2430 Phone (work): 02 6552 4780 Email: robert.oakeshott.mp@aph.gov.au
2	LIPS, Frederik	Labor	Medical Practitioner	Phone (work): 02 6584 5988 Email: Frederik.Lips@alp.com.au
3	GILLESPIE, David	The Nationals	Specialist Physician	PO Box 2011 PORT MACQUARIE NSW 2444 Mobile: 0488 628 701 Email: david@davidgillespie.com.au
4	WRIGHT, Barry	Independent	Retired
5	OXENFORD, Ian	The Greens	Retired	9 Loganvale Pl LOGANS CROSSING NSW 2439 Phone (home): 02 6559 4834 Phone (work): 02 6559 4834 Mobile: 0409 594 834 Email: lyne@greens.org.au

All Australian electorate details here.

Betting odds for political candidates on the NSW North Coast - then and now

Whether you believe that where the money goes indicates voter intentions or not, it is interesting to note that betting on Day 14 of the 2010 federal election campaign on 30 July 2010 was going Labor's way on the NSW North Coast in much the same way as it was going Labor's way on Day 39 of the 2007 federal election campaign on 21 November 2007.

Even in Cowper and Lyne (which did not fall to Labor in 2007) recent betting is running along the lines of the final result in the last federal election. #

THEN:

Sportingbet at 3.23pm 21 November 2007 (from North Coast Voices archives).

PAGE
Janelle Saffin (ALP) $1.53
Chris Gulaptis (NATS) $2.35

RICHMOND
Justine Elliot (ALP) $1.80
Sue Page (NATS) $6.00

COWPER
Not found but Centrebet has Luke Hartsuyker at 1.41 and Paul Sekfy at 2.70

NOW:

Sportingbet at 9.30am 30 July 2010.

PAGE
Janelle Saffin (ALP) 1.45 [Sportsbet 1.35] [Centrebet 1.42] [BetFair 1.26]
Kevin Hogan (NATS) 2.55 [Sportsbet 2.55] [Centrebet 2.63] [Betfair 1.11]

Any Other Party not listed [Sportsbet 26.00] [Centrebet 81.00] [Betfair 2.00]

Greens not listed [Centrebet 21.00]

RICHMOND
Justine Elliott (ALP) not listed [Sportsbet 1.02]
Alan Hunter/Joan van Lieshout (NATS/LIB) not listed [Sportsbet 5.50]
Any Other Party not listed [Sportsbet 101.00]

COWPER
Luke Hartsuyker (NATS) not listed [Sportsbet 1.50] [Centrebet 1.38]
Paul Sekfy (ALP) not listed [Sportsbet 2.00] [Centrebet 2.78]
Any Other Party [Sportsbet 34.00]

Greens not listed [Centrebet 31.00]

LYNE

Any Other Party not listed [Sportsbet 1.50] [Centrebet 101.00]

Australian Labor Party not listed [Sportingbet 7.50] [Centrebet 21.00]

Coalition not listed [Sportsbet 13.00] [Centrebet 11.00]

Independent Oakeshott not listed [Centrebet 1.01]

# As not all online betting websites have all electorates posted yet it is not possible to do a direct comparison.

Classic Abbott or How to tie yourself in knots on the campaign trail

Part of a 26th July 2010 7.30 Report interview over at Aunty ABC on the subject of Australia's immigration policy:

KERRY O'BRIEN: Now let's talk about immigration, which you've put further on the map in this campaign at the weekend and where you've been accused of being tricky. Isn't it true that the peak immigration figure of 300,000 in 2008, the calendar year 2008, the first year of the Rudd Government, that you've described as unsustainable, was actually achieved under the immigration policy of the Howard Government?

TONY ABBOTT: But the government that was in charge was the Rudd-Gillard Government, and the following year, 2009, we had 277,000 people come in, and what I'm proposing is that the immigration intake has to be sustainable, that's why I've proposed a maximum of 170,000. And I'm being honest and upfront about this, Kerry. Julia Gillard tried to have a population discussion last week without being fair dinkum with us. She tried to pretend that you could discuss population without also discussing immigration. She wouldn't tell us what she wanted to do with immigration, and I challenge her to specify a figure.

KERRY O'BRIEN: Well, you said last Saturday that immigration in the last year of the Howard Government was actually 200,000, - was about, I think you said, 200,000.

TONY ABBOTT: In the last seven quarters of the Howard Government.

KERRY O'BRIEN: The last seven quarters was 200,000?

TONY ABBOTT: Well, I think it was about 210,000 in the last seven quarters of the Howard Government.

KERRY O'BRIEN: Well according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, it was actually 244,000 for the calendar year in 2007 and rising. Correct? And the Howard Government was in office for 11 of those 12 months.

TONY ABBOTT: I'm not disputing your figures, Kerry, but circumstances have changed. Australia's cities are choking on their own traffic. We were booming in the Howard years. We have gone through a global financial crisis. There has been an economic slowdown since then. The public no longer support immigration the way they did under the Howard Government. We've got to rebuild support for the immigration program, as happened under John Howard. The Australian Government has gotta be in charge and the program has got to be in Australia's national interest and the public have gotta perceive it that way.

KERRY O'BRIEN: But isn't it also true that the immigration figures have already come down sharply from that peak of 300,000, a peak of 300,000 under Howard policies and will keep falling sharply in the next couple of years, probably below 150,000, no matter who is running the government?

TONY ABBOTT: Well, I don't know what's gonna happen under Julia Gillard's policy because she hasn't told us what her policy is. I've told you what my position is. It will come down to under 170,000 in the first term of a Coalition government.

KERRY O'BRIEN: But let's just nail this down, because even if Julia Gillard doesn't change her policy one iota, and they have already changed the policy with regard to intakes of students coming in, they've tightened up rorts that first developed under the Howard Government - and again, I'm sure you'll be honest enough to acknowledge that; they've tightened up rorts so there will be fewer students coming in, looking and assuming that they will get permanent residency. But even if she does absolutely nothing more, isn't it true that immigration will continue to come down sharply in the next two years?

TONY ABBOTT: Well there's a private sector forecast out, but there's no government forecast out, there are no government figures out and that same private sector forecast says it will be back to 250,000 in 2015 under the policies of the current government.

KERRY O'BRIEN: That's five years from now. But according to Immigration Department, net migration into Australia for the financial year just ended, is down to be between 230,000 and 250,000 from that 300,000 figure. According to the BIS Shrapnel report that you've just referred to, net migration down to 175,000 by June next year, 145,000 the following year. So it seems your new migration policy is already - is going to happen anyway, no matter who's in government?

TONY ABBOTT: Well if that's the case, why didn't Julia Gillard tell us this last week when she tried to have a conversation about population, but dishonestly pretended that population had nothing to do with immigration, even though two-thirds of our population increase is via immigration?

KERRY O'BRIEN: But are you prepared to acknowledge that these figures make clear that your policy will make no difference to the figures coming down over the next two years?

TONY ABBOTT: Well, last time I looked, Kerry, BIS Shrapnel don't set immigration policy. It's the Government that should set immigration policy. Under any government that I lead, the Government will clearly be in charge. The numbers'll be set firmly in Australia's national interest, it will be sustainable and there'll be a maximum of 170,000 in the first term of a Coalition government.

2010 Election Campaign Day 15 - And it wouldn't be fun without Ned the Bear

He's cranky. He's orange. He's a cartoon bear.

Er, Ned the Bear? Where are you mate? Come on out 'n' play! I've gotta honey sanger and a beer.......

What's going on at the Herald? This pair have already had their 15 minutes of fame

A sure sign that it's a slow news day is The Sydney Morning Herald's decision to give two codgers whose names resemble those of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition another run in today's paper.

Honestly, they add nothing new to the Herald's election coverage, so why were they given another appearance?


C'mon, Granny Herald, readers deserve better than having to sit down to a second serving of tripe.

Readers are not so desperate that they need this type of rubbish to fill any vacuums in their lives!

Are we looking at Laurie Oakes' leaker here?

While all the world and his dog is accusing Kevin Rudd (or MPs allegedly still loyal to him) of leaking details of Cabinet meetings to journalist Laurie ‘I would talk to the devil himself to get a story’ Oakes, I'm more inclined to believe that these leaks have little to do with tensions remaining from the recent leadership change but are aimed squarely at Labor's electoral chances and have the Grech-like flavour of older motives with an anti-Labor bias.

Remember this The Daily Telegraph report from June 2008 when Rudd was Australian Prime Minister?

On May 28, Oakes revealed Cabinet documents which showed four frontline economic departments had warned the Government its FuelWatch program could increase petrol prices. The next day the head of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Terry Moran, called in the AFP to find the source.

Or this from Dr Anne Tiernan at the Centre for Governance & Public Policy (Griffith University) also in 2008.

Veteran journalist Laurie Oakes admitted he received the Cabinet documents from a public servant. He said the leak 'reflected bureaucratic anger at the non-stop nature of Rudd and his failure to follow their advice'.

Ministerial deliberations are not held in a vacuum. They generate paper records which are written up by second and third parties. Given that the current leaked information does not appear to be derived from more recent Cabinet meetings, one has to wonder about the role of the public service or possibly disgruntled former or present political staffers in this affair.

Yamba cousins selected for Commonwealth Games in Delhi in October

Cousins Cameron Pilley and Donna Urquhart have been selected in the Australian squash team that will compete at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Pilley, aged 27, and Urquhart, aged 23, are local products who started their squash experiences at the Yamba Squash Centre.

According to Squash Info Pilley's current ranking in world men's squash is 16th whilst Urquhart's ranking in women's squash is 18th.

Other members of the 2010 Australian Commonwealth Games squash team are:

Stewart Boswell 31 ACT
Ryan Cuskelly 22 NSW
Aaron Frankcomb 25 Tas
David Palmer 34 NSW
Kasey Brown 24 NSW
Lisa Camilleri 27 Qld
Melody Francis 21 Vic
Amelia Pittock 27 Vic

To further emphasise the success of squash on the NSW north coast it should be noted that Ryan Cuskelly is from Evans Head and Kasey Brown is from Taree.