How The Turnbull Government Lost Control Of The House

Sep 02, 2016

The absence of nine members of the Coalition caused the Turnbull government to lose control of the House of Representatives for nearly two hours last night.

House

When a procedural motion to adjourn the House was put at 5.00pm, the ALP surprisingly voted No and called for a division, which it won by 69 votes to 67. The ALP then took control of the proceedings of the House and initiated a debate on a Senate resolution calling for a royal commission into the banking system.

Over the next 45 minutes, the government lost two more divisions and did not regain control of the House until 6.50pm, after coalition MPs were brought back into the chamber.

It was the first time since 1962 that a majority government has lost votes in the House of Representatives. Like the Turnbull government, the then Menzies government also governed with a one-seat majority. [Read more…]

Filed Under: A.L.P., Backbenchers, House of Reps, Liberal Party, Ministers, Parliamentary Procedures, The Nationals, Turnbull, Video Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Morrison Warns Of Economic Complacency And Calls On ALP To Support Budget Repair Measures

Aug 25, 2016

The Treasurer, Scott Morrison, says there is a “terrible risk” that Australia’s economic success has sown the seeds of complacency.

Morrison

In a speech to Bloomberg, in Sydney, Morrison said there was a new divide in Australia between “the taxed and the taxed nots”. He warned of the complacency of a generation that “has grown up not ever having known a recession” and an attitude where “deficits are dismissed as temporary, cyclical and self-correcting”.

Morrison said there were three things the government must do over the next three years.

Firstly, it must “get debt under control by returning the budget to balance”.

Secondly, it must “support and implement policies that help us to increase what we can earn as a nation..in a low growth, low interest rate, low inflation, low wages growth, volatile world”.

Thirdly, Morrison warned against a return to “renewed protectionism” and an attitude that “trade, investment and positive immigration policies are increasingly seen as the problem and not the solution”. Whilst many Australians “feel the system no longer works for them”, Morrison cautioned against a cynical and populist political endorsement of this sentiment. “We cannot pull the doona over our head,” he said. “Rather than secure our economic future, it will cost it.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Audio, Budget, Economy, Liberal Party, Turnbull Tagged With: , ,

MPs Who Won Their Seats On First Preferences In The 2016 Federal Election

Aug 20, 2016

Just under a third of the seats in the House of Representatives were decided on first preference (primary) votes at the 2016 Federal Election.

By definition, these seats are the most secure for the various parties, since preference distribution cannot change the result. The winner has already secured an absolute majority of at least 50%+1 over every other candidate.

Of the 150 electorates, 48 (32%) were won on the primary vote. There were 53 such seats (35%) at the 2013 election. In 2004, 89 seats (59%) were decided on first preferences.

The Liberal Party was most successful, winning 27 of the 48 seats (56%), including 12 in NSW. The Liberal wins covered 4 states.

The Nationals won 5 seats (10%), including 3 in NSW, giving the coalition 32, or 67% of the total.

The ALP won 16 (33%) of the seats, including 10 in NSW. It won 6 seats in Victoria, but failed to win any more in other states or territories.

Seats Won On Primary Votes – 2016 Federal Election
Party NSW Vic Qld WA Total
Liberal Party
12
8
4
3
27
The Nationals
3
2
5
Australian Labor Party
10
6
16
TOTAL
25
16
4
3
48

 
NSW was the only state to have a majority of seats (25 of 47, or 53%) won on primary votes. In Victoria, 16 seats out of 37 (43%) were won on first preferences. Western Australia recorded 19% and Queensland 13%.

The two smallest states, South Australia and Tasmania, had no seats decided on primaries. The four seats in the two territories all went to preferences. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2016 Federal Election, A.L.P., Greens, House of Reps, Liberal National Party, Liberal Party, Primary Votes, The Nationals, Turnbull, Two-Party-Preferred Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Turnbull And Morrison Reiterate That No Census Data Has Been Accessed Or Lost

Aug 10, 2016

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Treasurer Scott Morrison have emphasised that no data was accessed or lost during last night’s crisis for the 2016 Census.

Turnbull

Speaking at a press conference in Sydney, Turnbull said the census site will be back online as soon as the Australian Signals Directorate is satisfied. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Audio, Internet, Turnbull, Video Tagged With: , , ,
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