Well, we’re officially in one of the longest election campaigns Australia has had in living memory.
In order to win the election, the Labor party will need to win 21 seats. It could be interesting to see the result, as an eight week-long campaign can lead to voter fatigue and if the 1984 Election is anything to go by, the opposition could get bigger in stature. Commentators suggest that if Turnbull lets that happen, he could lose the election. The ABC’s election analyst, Antony Green also suggests that this long campaign, paired with a double dissolution could see the Coalition with a hostile Senate, much like the one they’re trying to get rid of, if not more hostile. It also means that some of the “bellwether” seats across the country are getting media attention. Voters in the southern NSW seat of Eden-Monaro are not yet sure who they will vote for. Peter Hendy, the current MP, is getting criticised for not being in the seat enough, while the more recognised Labor candidate Mike Kelly is going around meeting people. It may not do Kelly much good though, given a minor redistribution of the seat has left it notionally more towards the Coalition.
The week began with both the PM and the Opposition Leader in Queensland, where Labor will need to win eight seats. Bill Shorten was in Far North Queensland talking up education policy, including scholarships for indigenous students to study education at university. However there have also been some first-week hiccups, with a few of the Labor candidates not toeing the party line on refugees coming by boat, as well as dumping a candidate for not disclosing criminal convictions.
It’s also been tough for Malcolm Turnbull and the Coalition with internal disagreements over negative gearing and questions to Liberal MPs over how they voted on spill night eight months ago. Turnbull was also mentioned in the Panama Papers, leading to calls from Labor accusing Turnbull for being out of touch and too wealthy. The whole wealth angle worked to Labor’s advantage at the end of the week at a mini debate in Windsor, in Western Sydney.
One week down, seven to go. Unlike 2007 and 2013, it’s not easy to figure out who is likely to win at this point. It’s anyone’s game.
In other news, five men have been arrested over one of the most peculiar attempts to get to Syria. The men towed a small boat from Melbourne to northern Queensland, it raised some suspicion with the authorities. They were stopped in Cairns and will face court some time next week if charged.
Also this week, a refugee on Nauru went into premature labour after having a seizure. It’s believed that the 22-year-old also had pre-eclampsia. Both mum and baby were on life support, but it’s understood that mum is now off that life support and her condition is improving. Peter Dutton is fending of criticism that the mother should have been evacuated off Nauru and taken to a hospital in Brisbane much earlier, especially given her pre-eclampsia diagnosis. Dutton says that the services on Nauru are fine and that people are well taken care of. Meanwhile the government is still deciding whether or not they will allow the baby’s father to be transported to Brisbane to be by his baby and his partner’s side.
Finally this week, arts groups are preparing to tighten their budgets as major cuts to the Australia Council come into effect. Many small and medium size arts groups could lose most of their government funding and grants, which could leave some with no choice but to close up shop. While there is the possibility of projects grants, some groups are saying that with fewer small arts groups, the fewer new talents there are for the bigger arts companies and groups to choose from.
Tweet of the Week
https://twitter.com/MarkDiStef/status/731272396699631616
Things I’ve Been Looking at Online
First Dog on the Moon on the Election – The Guardian
First Dog on the Moon on Vote Compass – The Guardian
Aussie Cafés in NYC – ABC 7:30
Kara L 