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What explained the seismic 2022 federal election?

The 2022 Australian federal election was distinctive in two ways. First, it was held in the wake of a major crisis – the COVID-19 pandemic. While the salience of the pandemic had subsided by the time of the election, voters’ assessments of the Coalition government’s performance on the pandemic proved to be a major factor in their voting decision, as did the cost of living crisis it helped create. Second, almost one in three voters cast their ballots for a minor party or independent candidate, the highest since the 1930s. Of the two major parties, the Liberals fared worst, winning their lowest seat share since 1946 (the first election the party contested). But Labor didn’t reap the benefits of this Liberal decline, with the party recording its lowest primary vote since the 1930s. What explains this seismic result, and what does it tell us about the future of electoral politics in Australia? Using the just-released 2022 Australian Election Study (AES) – a comprehensive post-election survey conducted at each election since 1987 – we can answer these questions. <h2>Why the Coalition lost</h2> A perception of poor government performance played a key role in the Coalition defeat. In 2022 there were three performance explanations for the Coalition’s defeat – the economy, the pandemic, and Scott Morrison’s leadership. With rising inflation and a cost of living crisis, around two-thirds of voters thought the economy had worsened in the 12 months leading up to the election. This was the most pessimistic view of the economy in over three decades. In previous elections, voters have usually preferred the Coalition over Labor on economic issues. In 2022, however, voters preferred Labor over the Coalition on the cost of living – the single biggest issue in the election. The Coalition’s performance on the pandemic was also regarded as unsatisfactory. Just 30% of Australians thought the federal government had handled the pandemic well. Indeed, voters had much more favourable views of their state governments’ performance. Because virtually the whole period between the 2019 and 2022 elections was dominated by the pandemic, the public’s evaluations of the Morrison government’s performance were therefore closely associated with the pandemic. The third reason for the Coalition defeat was the negative opinions many voters formed of Morrison’s leadership. While Morrison was generally popular when he won the election in 2019, by 2022 he had become the most unpopular major party leader since at least 1987. Morrison wasn’t considered honest and trustworthy, two of the traits most closely associated with how favourable we view leaders. The public’s dislike of Morrison has its origins in his Hawaii holiday during the 2019-20 bushfires, and was strengthened by a perception of poor performance in the second year of the pandemic. <h2>Labor’s ‘victory by default’</h2> Labor won the election despite their record low vote and a 0.8% swing against them. Indeed one newspaper <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/anthony-albanese-wins-but-its-a-victory-by-default-for-labor/news-story/75b7d87c9b61157a16dc6d772c306deb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">described</a> it as a “victory by default”. During the election campaign, Labor adopted a “small target” strategy. While Labor fought the 2019 election on ambitious proposals for tax reform, in the 2022 election they avoided putting forward policies that would deter voters, and emphasised their policy agreement with the Coalition – even promising to keep the Coalition’s stage three income tax cuts. The effects of this change in Labor strategy are evident in the AES data. Fewer voters cast their ballots based on policy preferences than in 2019, and the proportion of voters who saw “a good deal of difference” between the parties declined from 40% in 2019 to 28% in 2022. Labor also entered the election with Anthony Albanese as leader, who was more popular than both Scott Morrison and Labor’s predecessor, Bill Shorten. The previous majority government win for Labor in 2007 was one that generally inspired voters. Indeed in 2007, Kevin Rudd was the most popular prime minister in the history of the AES, and satisfaction with democracy was at a record high at that time. By contrast, Labor’s 2022 win was more about directing attention to the Coalition’s weak performance, rather than putting forward a policy agenda that was really attractive to voters. <h2>The big movers: women and young people</h2> The 2022 election brought into sharp focus two major changes in party support that have been slowly eroding the social bases of the major parties: gender and generation. There’s a significant gender gap in voter behaviour – since the early 2000s, fewer women have voted for the Coalition than men. Labor has the opposite gender voting gap, attracting more votes from women than men (though to a lesser extent). Since 2016, the gender gap in voting has been greater than in all previous elections covered by the AES. In 2022 just 32% of women voted for the Coalition, the lowest share ever. One contributing factor to this collapse in female support for the Coalition is the treatment of women within the Liberal party. The divide between how younger and older generations of Australians vote is more pronounced than the gender gap. Millennials (the oldest of whom are now in their 40s) and Generation Z (those born after 1996) make up an increasing proportion of the electorate, greatly outnumbering Baby Boomers. These younger generations have different voting patterns to previous generations at the same stage of life, and are also much further to the left in their party preferences. Just 27% of Millennials said they voted for the Coalition in 2022. At no time in the 35-year history of the AES has there been such a low level of support for either major party among younger people. The assumption that Millennials and Gen Z will shift to the right as they age hasn’t been supported by the evidence thus far. Which generation one is in seems to have a much more significant effect on voting behaviour than one’s age. Therefore, the implication is the electorate is moving further to the left and becoming more progressive across a range of policy areas. <h2>Increasing voter volatility</h2> As the traditional social bases of the major parties have gradually changed, so too have the political ties that have bound voters to parties. Around one in four voters say they don’t have an attachment to a political party, the highest figure ever recorded in the AES. The proportion of voters who considered voting for another party during the election campaign, at 36%, has at no time been higher. This is reflected most dramatically in the proportion of voters who said they had always voted for the same party. In 1967 this figure was 72%, and in 2022 it declined to an all-time low of 37%. <h2>What now for the party system?</h2> If voters are drifting away from the major parties, who are they choosing instead and what are the implications for the party system? The “teal” independents were obviously an important beneficiary. However, most teal voters were former Labor and Green voters casting a tactical vote to unseat a Liberal candidate. The medium-term fate of the teals will depend on how far they can create a distinct political identity to hold their support together at the 2025 election. More broadly, support for minor parties and independent candidates will continue to increase. The gradual changes in voting behaviour that are taking place, and which were especially pronounced in the 2022 election, represent an existential crisis for the Liberals. With their support base declining through generational replacement, they must not only attract new voters but also stem defection to give themselves a chance of election. As the political agenda moves towards support for action on climate change, constitutional recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and (perhaps) moving to a republic – all issues on which the Coalition is divided – it’s unclear where these new voters will come from. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-explained-the-seismic-2022-federal-election-the-australian-election-study-has-answers-195286" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Images: Getty

Legal

“You couldn’t pull it off”: Kochie grills Anthony Albanese over election promises

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has come under fire from Sunrise host David ‘Kochie’ Koch over two election promises the host says were broken in Tuesday’s federal budget. Kochie brought up two promises Mr Albanese made to Australians before taking on the top job, including real wage increases and a drop in power bills by $275. “Now, those two in this budget are a fail,” the Sunrise host said. “What do you say to voters … you have broken two promises?” Refuting that promises regarding wages were broken, the Prime Minister said the minimum wage had increased by 5.2 percent, with inflation at the time sitting at 5.1 percent. “That is a real wage increase for minimum wage workers out there,” he said. As for slashing power bills, Kochie pointed out that they were instead going up by more than half over the next year and a half. “You said you’d save $275 a year on power bills, and now they are going up 56 percent over the next 18 months,” Kochie said. “The Ukraine war has been going a fair while. We knew this was happening.” Mr Albanese conceded that the war in Ukraine was one contributor to increasing prices while also attributing it to “failed energy policies” under the previous Coalition government. “One [reason] is the Ukraine war, which has been going on for some time, that has flowed through into global prices,” the Prime Minister explained. “We know global energy prices have fed into global inflation. “In our competitors, many of them are looking at double-digit inflation. You are aware of that pressure. “As well as that, we had 10 years of failed energy policies, we saw four gigawatts leave the system, and only one go back in. If you have less supply, that has an impact on price. That is why we are dealing with that through our Powering Australia Plan.” Kochie didn’t let up though and questioned why Mr Albanese made the promise in the first place if he knew he “couldn’t pull it off”. “But you shouldn’t have made the promise because you knew you couldn’t pull it off,” he said. Co-host Natalie Barr also weighed in, pointing out that election promises influence who Australians vote for. “When it comes to power prices, there are real pressures out there,” Mr Albanese continued. “We understand people are doing it tough. We understand the power price issue is a difficult one. That’s why we’ve flagged the preparedness for further regulatory reform.” Treasurer Jim Chalmers received similar treatment from the morning show host, with the war in Ukraine being a sore point. “I think Australians understand, Kochie, that when you’ve got a war in Europe which is causing havoc on global energy markets, then that has consequences for electricity prices here in Australia,” Mr Chalmers said. “I think people do understand that, and I think they also understand that renewable energy, it’s not just cleaner energy, it’s cheaper energy as well, that remains the case. “What we’re doing in this budget is investing in new sources of energy, which is important over time, but we have also got necessary regulatory steps. “There is more work to be done when it comes to the electricity market and we do understand these electricity price rises make it harder for Australians who are already under the pump, and that is why we are taking some of the steps that we are taking.” In the new budget, the Powering Australia Plan will see $20 billion spent on upgrading the electrical grid, including connecting Tasmania’s Battery of the Nation, a network of hydropower and power stations, to the East Coast transmission network. The government also plans to spend $224.3 million on a program delivering 400 community batteries to store excess solar energy, as well as $102.2 million on a program to help up to 25,000 households access solar-powered energy. Images: Sunrise

Money & Banking

"Plenty of fire in his belly": Derryn Hinch confirms big plans

Media personality and former senator Derryn Hinch has confirmed he will be planning to run for a seat in Victoria’s state election in November. The 78-year-old, who founded Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party, shared the news on Tuesday night via Twitter. “Yes… it is true,” he tweeted in response to a question about his run. Hinch is looking to claim a seat in the Victorian Upper House after failing to keep his seat in the federal Senate last month, per <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/derryn-hinch-confirms-vic-parliament-230902577.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yahoo News</a>. Stuart Grimley, the Victorian Justice Party leader, also took to Twitter once the news broke. “The secret is out! Derryn, our Party Leader, will be running for State Parliament this November!” Grimley wrote. “Still plenty of fire in his belly in standing up for justice issues!” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> The secret is out! Derryn, our Party Leader, will be running for State Parliament this November! Still plenty of fire in his belly in standing up for justice issues! <a href="https://t.co/6XhT6QwxIH">https://t.co/6XhT6QwxIH</a> — Stuart Grimley (@stuartgrimleyMP) <a href="https://twitter.com/stuartgrimleyMP/status/1536815777377964032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 14, 2022</a></blockquote> According to his website, Hinch describes himself as “a man of the people” who promises to do “what is right and just, no matter the cost”, with policies calling for tougher parole and bail legislation and the creation of a public sex offenders register. Hinch has previously been jailed for breaching suppression orders against the names of sex offenders and in relation to a trial involving the murder of Jill Meagher. Image: @derrynhinch (Instagram)

News

Scott Morrison speaks for first time since election defeat

Former prime minister Scott Morrison has said he is “thankful” for his time in leadership and that he looks forward to becoming a “quiet Australian” again following Saturday’s federal election result. In his first interview since Labor claimed victory, Mr Morrison told <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/federal-election-2022-scott-morrison-not-dwelling-on-loss/bfbdf117-adf4-4d59-8b5d-c1fbe519d6c7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2GB’s</a> Ben Fordham that he was “of course” disappointed but respected the democratic process. “You accept the result and you move on and you’re thankful for the opportunity that you’ve had to serve the country,” he said. “When I was standing there on the Saturday night I was very mindful of what was happening in Ukraine, there is a country fighting for its very liberty and here we are a democratic nation changing a government through peaceful means. “The party will come together, it’s not the first time the Liberal Party has lost an election.” With Mr Morrison announcing he would step down as leader of the Liberal Party on election night and members of the party <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/crackin-election-result-sends-liberal-party-spinning" target="_blank" rel="noopener">weighing in on its future direction</a>, Mr Morrison spoke positively about what would happen under its new leader. “The party will regroup and focus again under new leadership and I look forward to giving that new leadership every support and then going back to being a quiet Australian in the shire [of Sydney],” he said. Mr Morrison is set to remain in politics but it is still unclear if he will take on, or be given, a shadow ministry. “I’ve got no plans to go anywhere, I’m going back to the shire and re-establishing our life back there, getting the girls back into their routine - I just dropped them off at school this morning,” he said. “I’m looking forward to being a dad again, it’s been a while since I’ve been able to spend as much time as I would’ve liked with the family.” Mr Morrison wasn’t the only one to lose out in the election, with many of his colleagues, including former treasurer Josh Frydenberg, losing their seats. “Obviously devastated that Josh won’t be there. Josh was a huge part of the party’s future,” Mr Morrison said. He added that his faith and family were helping him keep a level head in the wake of the significant loss, and said he was leaving the job “not with regrets but with a great sense of gratitude”. “You’re just very humbled by the opportunity you’ve had, you can dwell on defeat or you can dwell on the things that led you to go and do what you did,” Mr Morrison said. “I leave not with regrets but with a sense of gratitude. “Three years later the country’s moved in a different direction, that’s the nature of politics. I’ve never been one to get particularly flattered in victory or pessimistic in defeat.” Though pleased that Labor was on track to form a majority government, Mr Morrison said the “teal independents” had made many election promises during the campaign and hoped they would be held to account by the next parliament. “They were very vicious and very brutal campaigns, talking to my colleagues about them, they played things very hard on the ground,” he said. “Anyway, politics can be a tough and brutal business.” When asked whether he believed the Coalition needed to ensure it didn’t move further to the right after losing some key moderates, the former PM refused to comment. Image: Getty Images

News

Crackin’ election result sends Liberal Party spinning

Saturday night’s election win for the Labor Party has seen members of the Liberal Party begin to question what the future holds, while one MP said outgoing Prime Minister Scott Morrison should have quit months ago. It comes after footage from 9News captured Mr Morrison showing off his whip-cracking skills while his wife Jenny served margaritas at an afternoon party at Kirribilli House on Sunday. The footage also showed Mr Morrison sipping on a beer, and Jenny and their daughter Abbey having a crack at using the whip. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EXCLUSIVE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EXCLUSIVE</a>: The outgoing Prime Minister hosted his last function at Kirribilli House this afternoon - with drinks, canapes, and whip-cracking to mark the occasion. <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkWBurrows?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MarkWBurrows</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/9News?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#9News</a> <a href="https://t.co/JFCezxtP6R">pic.twitter.com/JFCezxtP6R</a> — 9News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) <a href="https://twitter.com/9NewsSyd/status/1528287227125563392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2022</a></blockquote> Reporter Mark Barrows said the event was “a chance for the Morrisons to say thank you to their staff and their families” before they leave the official residence and return to the Shire, allowing incoming PM Anthony Albanese to move in. Meanwhile, various Liberal MPs have begun weighing in on the brutal election results - with the party set to lose 17 seats - and on the direction of the party in the future. One MP said Mr Morrison should have resigned months ago when polls showed he had little support among voters, but instead he “strapped himself to the Liberal Party like a suicide bomber and blew the whole show up”, per <a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/federal-election/election-fallout-liberal-mp-says-scomo-should-have-quit-but-instead-blew-the-whole-show-up/news-story/b3e5b31dee0435f836f15d502379e60b" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sydney Morning Herald</a>. Outgoing finance minister and moderate Senator Simon Birmingham, one of the first to speak out publicly, said the party was paying the price for failing to lock in climate and energy policy during Malcolm Turnbull’s leadership. These sentiments were echoed by outgoing Treasurer <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/peter-dutton-frontrunner-for-leader-of-liberal-party" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Josh Frydenberg</a>, who called on the party to be better at “articulating” its climate change achievements. “Australia has not been well served by the culture wars on climate change,” he said. However, Queensland Nationals Senator Matt Canavan has warned the party against catering to Left-leaning voters. “If Left is code for higher taxes, more government regulation and woke policies, I can’t see how that’s a recipe for success,” he said. Another outgoing Liberal minister said the party was struggling to bridge the gap between wealthy inner-city voters and the rest of Australia, and that it might be that the divide was too wide to bridge. Several Liberal sources have defended Mr Morrison, saying he was the victim of Labor’s character assassination strategies, while others urged for party members to wait for the “dust to settle” before decisions were made about the party’s ideological direction. Outgoing Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews, who lost a significant number of primary votes to the Greens, said the Liberals needed to “go back” and “look at our values… to make sure we are properly representing the Australian people”. Though the Liberals have suffered significant losses in New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia, the Nationals have seemed to hold all of its seats. As a result, Queensland is looking to be a stronghold for the Coalition with the state accounting for a third of Federal Liberal-aligned seats. One MP said Queensland would have “a big say within the party” about what the Coalition and Liberals would do going forward. Queensland MP Garth Hamilton said the party needed to be “honest, credible and painfully earnest” following the election and defended the Coalition’s position as a “broad church”. “The idea of a broad church demands that we remain reflective of a range of views, we need to continue to be that,” he said. “Losing our Left flank is going to be a challenge. Our centre of gravity need to be in the centre-Right.” Images: 9News

News

Voting? Here’s how to make sure yours counts this election

After an endless stream of campaigning, gaffes and debates, election day is upon us – and it’s time for Australians to cast their votes for the next government. Unless you’re one of the 4,617,905 or 1,644,061 Australians who have voted at a pre-poll centre or by postal vote as of May 20, you’ll likely be lining up at your local polling place (or the nearest one to you if you’re out of area), buying a democracy sausage, and casting your vote. Though it might be tedious to navigate the crowd of party supporters outside, answer the same three questions and fill in the ‘tablecloth’ (Senate) ballot paper once you’re inside, it’s all part of having our voices heard (all while avoiding the $50 fine for not voting). Having personally worked during the last two federal elections (and preparing to work in this one), here’s what you need to know and some tips for making sure your vote counts this time around. What happens after you vote Once it hits 6pm, polling booths close and the paperwork begins, with staff then sorting and counting the ballot papers, collating results, and calling in these results to be displayed on the AEC website. If it’s getting close to 6pm and you haven’t voted yet, you still can. If you’re in the queue to vote once 6pm hits, a staff member will stand at the end of the line and everyone ahead of them will be allowed to vote before the polling booth closes. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/05/election-day1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> Image: AEC How to make your House of Representatives vote count This small, green ballot paper lists all the candidates that want to represent your local electoral division in the House of Representatives, and there are a few ways to ensure your vote is considered formal and counted towards the candidate of your choice. For the <a href="https://www.aec.gov.au/Voting/How_to_Vote/Voting_HOR.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">House of Representatives</a>, you’ll need to number every box, with number one in the box next to your first preference, number two next to your second preference, and so on. Staff are trained to err in the favour of voters when deciding if a vote is formal or informal, so if you make a mistake on your ballot - or even change your mind about how to number your preferences - make sure your numbering of candidates is clear (or ask for a new one). Your vote will be considered informal if: <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> It’s blank or unmarked </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Numbers are repeated </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> You use ticks or crosses </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> There is anything written on it that identifies who you are </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> It’s missing your first preference or any other numbers from the sequence </li> </ul> It’s important to note that you can ask for a new ballot from the person who originally gave you the ballot papers, and that you can ask for help to complete the vote. What about the Senate? The white ballot paper - sometimes fondly referred to as the “tablecloth” - is the same no matter where you are in your state or territory. The Senate ballot is split into two sections, giving you the choice to vote above the line or below the line. You can either vote for parties or groups, listed above the line, or for individual candidates listed below the line. To <a href="https://www.aec.gov.au/Voting/How_to_Vote/Voting_Senate.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vote formally</a>, you’ll need to either number at least six boxes above the line or at least 12 below the line in order of your preference. If you have numbered boxes both above and below the line, your below-the-line preferences will be the ones that are counted. As with the House of Representatives ballot, if you make a mistake you can ask for a fresh ballot, and you can ask for help completing the ballot if you need it. What if I have Covid and I’m in isolation? If you have tested positive for COVID-19 and will still be in isolation on election day, that doesn’t mean you can’t still vote. The AEC has made it so that Covid-positive voters can vote over the phone, as long as they register online, make a declaration and provide evidence of a positive RAT or PCR test result. To find out more about voting by phone and registering, head <a href="https://www.aec.gov.au/election/covid19-affected.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. I’m not in my division on the day - can I still vote? Short answer: yes. Longer answer: yes, and you’ll need to complete a declaration vote. This will require you to make a declaration that you are entitled to vote. Once you’ve voted, your ballots will be sealed in an envelope with your details and sent to your local electoral division to be counted. However, if you’re not in your home state on election day, you won’t be able to vote at just any polling place. If you do attend a local polling place, the staff member in charge will direct you to your closest interstate voting centre, which you can also find <a href="https://www.aec.gov.au/election/voting.htm#start" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. Image: AEC

Legal

Why fake news and misinformation is sabotaging the election

After a messy election campaign, a lot of Australians have been left feeling confused about who they should be voting for at the polls this weekend. With conflicting media reports about both Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese, it’s easy to get lost in what is the correct information. A recent report published by Avast, a global leader in digital security and privacy, has warned Australians to be wary of fake news and misinformation when casting their vote. The new research commissioned by Avast found that over half of Australians say they have believed a fake news story in the past, and a staggering 9 in 10 believe that fake news has the ability to impact Australians and their vote in the upcoming election. Stephen Kho, cyber security expert at Avast says, “Sensationalist fake news is often used to generate clicks onto a webpage to improve ad revenue. It has also been used to influence public thought…it’s increasingly important that Australians are aware of how to spot misinformation and misleading news that isn’t based in solid fact.” Concerningly, the research found that 38% of Australians are not confident in their ability to identify fake news online, as Stephen Kho recommends readers run through these three criteria when assessing a news source for misinformation. Check the source Readers should question the source, ask themselves if they have ever heard of it, and assess the source's appearance. Readers should also research the source, to see what has been reported on the source and if the source has a vested interest in subjective reporting. Check the headline Clickbait articles are designed to garner as many clicks as possible and often have very catchy headlines. It is therefore important for readers to question articles where the headline and the actual story have little or no connection, and short articles bringing little to no insights. Check the publication date Readers should check the date of articles, regardless of if they are real or fake, to make sure they are reading the most current information. Stephen Kho also shared helpful tips on how to avoid fake news, and how to spot blatant misinformation. Avoid relying on social media While social media giants are making an effort to flag fake news shared within their networks, it's best to avoid consuming news and current affairs via social media news feeds. Instead, go directly to a news site you trust. Read a variety of sources before forming an opinion Reading multiple, reliable news sources, can help people avoid fake news. If one article is reporting a story with different facts, the news could be fake. Image credits: Getty Images

Mind

Karl Stefanovic blurts out election prediction

Welcome to the third week of the federal election campaign, where Today show host Karl Stefanovic has stunned viewers by jokingly declaring Anthony Albanese the new Prime Minister of Australia. When the Channel Nine show came back from a commercial break on Wednesday morning, viewers were treated to the scene of Stefanovic mid-laugh with co-hosts Allison Langdon, Brooke Boney and Alex Cullen. Stefanovic, clearly keeping their off-air joke rolling, turned right to the camera and declared: "Welcome to 2024. The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is in big trouble this morning after interest rates went down for the first time." "Did you fall asleep and miss two years?" co-host Langdon asked the audience, before adding: "It feels like it.... I stand by my comment. It feels like 2024." In a reference to international Star Wars Day, Stefanovic then added: "May the Fourth be with you... and also with you, everyone." This is not the first time a prominent media personality has come out with startling political predictions for the upcoming election – nor will it likely be the last – as <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/alan-jones-surprising-election-prediction" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alan Jones </a>also announced recently that Albo will take the cake at the end of May. Image: The Today Show

News

Karl Stefanovic's awkward election snub

Despite taking on the role of grilling Australia's politicians each morning on Today, Karl Stefanovic has been dumped from Channel Nine's election coverage. Karl, as well as his co-host Allison Langdon, were reportedly snubbed by the network after applying for the coveted gig of leading the network’s coverage on the big day on May 21st, according to <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=TAWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Fbusiness%2Fmedia%2Flisa-wilkinson-tries-to-turn-the-page-as-book-price-slashed%2Fnews-story%2F8fa1d4da5934080fb2cbfcd06828a33c&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=dynamic-warm-control-score&V21spcbehaviour=append" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Australian</a>. Their regular interviews with the likes of Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese were reportedly a major part of their pitch for the gig, but weren't enough to carry them across the line. Instead of Karl and Ally, Nine has confirmed that the network’s election coverage will be fronted by Peter Overton and Alicia Loxley. Bill Shorten and Julie Bishop have also been recruited as expert guests on the panel on the election night live coverage. The blow comes just days after Karl was forced to <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/karl-claps-back-at-stepping-down-rumours" target="_blank" rel="noopener">deny rumours</a> that he was set to cut back his on-air hours with Today, calling the claims "absolute bulls***". When Women’s Day reported that Stefanovic would be leaving his hosting role at Today in favour of a less stressful behind-the-scenes position, as well as prioritising his work with 60 Minutes, the rumour mill went into overdrive. At the time, the publication claimed that Karl would be taking on the new position in order to have more free time with his family. However, the 3AW said the report was “utter nonsense, make believe”. Channel Nine's election coverage will begin on May 21st as Australia heads to the polls. Image credits: Getty Images <div class="media image" style="caret-color: #000000; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; width: 705.3308715820312px; margin-bottom: 32px;"> </div>

News

Alan Jones’ surprising election prediction

Alan Jones has made a surprising assessment of Labor leader Anthony Albanese and which way the upcoming election could go as he prepares to return to the airwaves via his resurrected digital TV show. The controversial broadcaster spoke to <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/alan-jones-election-comeback-there-will-be-no-walking-on-eggshells-20220427-p5ageb.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sydney Morning Herald</a> ahead of the relaunch of his digital show, Alan Jones, following his recovery from 28 hours of surgery on his back across four operations this year. He told the publication that the contest between Mr Albanese and Scott Morrison has been “so campaign virtually of nothing” so far but that voters aren’t listening to Mr Morrison anymore. “He’s a very good campaigner, Morrison, and he can learn a script and he can nail the issues. The question is: are people listening?” the former Sky News host said. Having been relatively unknown to voters and given a go at the last election, Jones said Mr Morrison’s stint as Prime Minister has made him more well-known - and not in a favourable way. “Now there are many people saying, ‘Well, we do know him, and we’re a little concerned about what we know’.” As for Mr Albanese, Mr Jones said Labor hadn’t put its best foot forward by choosing him. “Albo’s Albo. Nice bloke to meet at the pub, but you can’t quite imagine him being your international representative,” the 81-year-old told the publication. But, he added that Mr Albanese does resonate with those “who’ve got no money in the till” when he “talks all this compassion stuff” and touches on issues of aged care, cost of living, and childcare. “It’s nice to write headlines about Albanese messing up, not knowing the unemployment figures and missing the gotcha questions,” he continued. “But it does appear that many people have made up their minds because the needle isn’t moving.” Image: Alan Jones (Facebook)

News

Karl Stefanovic slams Scott Morrison with brutal election comments

Karl Stefanovic has grilled Prime Minister Scott Morrison over his approach to the upcoming federal election, calling into question his "character" and "uninspiring" campaign pitch. Appearing on the Today show on Monday morning, the host made the dig at the PM, whose government is trailing in the polls and facing an uphill task to retain power at the May 21st election. "If this election is based on character which is a pretty easy task for Labor, you lose don't you?" Karl asked. ScoMo brushed off the question not knowing how to answer, and instead took the opportunity to champion the government's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, while slating his opponent Anthony Albanese. "This guy, no-one knows really what he's about, what he stands for or what his plans are and if you can't do that, he's had three years to tell the Australian people what he's about and they still don't know," he said. "I've got a strong team that's delivered for Australia, kept us strong." "What it would need is continued strength in leadership not the weakness on economic management and each-way bet we've seen from those who oppose us." During his announcement of the election date, Scott Morrison claimed that the upcoming poll was about the voters and not him, but also defended his approach to leading Australia. "My character, I'm happy to stand by every single day," he said. "Every single day because it's the strength that we've needed to get through this pandemic." "Not everybody agrees with everything I've done and not everybody will necessarily like me." Stefanovic called the Prime Minister's election campaign uninspiring, summarising the Coalition's re-election pitch as "we've made mistakes, but stick with us". The prime minister was eager to cast this election as a case of "the devil you know" against Labor and Anthony Albanese, who remains an untested opposition. Mr Morrison has pulled ahead of Mr Albanese as preferred prime minister according to the latest Newspoll. The Newspoll conducted for <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/newspoll" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Australian</a> showed Mr Albanese fell three points to 39 per cent while Mr Morrison rose a point to 44 per cent. The survey showed Labor's primary vote dropping further to 37 per cent, just a point ahead of that of the Coalition. Image credits: The Today Show - Nine

News

Stunning picture captures moment Joe Biden won US election

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> A fast-thinking member of the Biden household captured the moment Joe Biden learned he had won the 2020 election. Biden was with family members in his home in Delaware where he learned he would be the 46th President of the United States. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> 11.07.20 <a href="https://t.co/HHVJMmIoAW">pic.twitter.com/HHVJMmIoAW</a> — Naomi Biden (@NaomiBiden) <a href="https://twitter.com/NaomiBiden/status/1325190941058113536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2020</a></blockquote> His grandchildren were the ones who broke the good news to Biden, as he was relaxing with his wife Jill on their veranda. “Pop, Pop! We won!” they told the now-president-elect, according to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/live-blog/2020-11-07-trump-biden-election-results-n1246882/ncrd1246979#liveBlogHeader" target="_blank" class="editor-rtflink">NBC News</a>. Despite Biden being in a "cautious mood" before his victory was announced, he's celebrating now and has pushed forward with his plans for office. In the first steps in his transition plans, there would be more COVID-19 testing and Americans would be asked to wear masks. He also announced that there will be a focus on the economy, with plans to tackle racism and climate change. In his first speech as president-elect on Saturday, Mr Biden said it was "time to heal" the US and vowed "not to divide but to unify" the country. Addressing Trump supporters directly, he said: "We have to stop treating our opponents as enemies." However, current US President Donald Trump is yet to concede, despite Biden congratulating him on a hard-fought campaign. Trump has vowed to contest the election results on several fronts, with a recount being held in Georgia and plans for the same outcome in Wisconsin. Trump has also vowed to take legal action to the Supreme Court, alleging voting fraud without evidence. </div> </div> </div>

News

Pauline Hanson unleashes on major US election candidate

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has ripped into US vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris, accusing her of “telling lies” in the hope people will be fooled. Hanson is one of a number of Australian politicians and celebrities who are giving their opinion on the historic election. Taking to her Facebook page, Hanson posted a video of her interview with Sky News host Paul Murray on his evening show. It featured an election ad voiced by Democrat Harris which stated that “equitable treatment” means that “everyone ends up at the same place”. In her Facebook post, Hanson derided the ad as “feel-good nonsense” that will “lead us down the path to poverty and pain”. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FPaulineHansonAu%2Fvideos%2F362548121745750%2F&show_text=false&width=560" width="560" height="314" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe> “You simply cannot create a just and fair system where everyone is rewarded the same regardless of effort. It has never worked and it never will. “Sadly that doesn’t seem to stop left-wing politicians the world over from telling the same lies in the hope that people will be fooled.” But while the Senator has been outspoken about the election, MPs of mainstream Aussie parties have decided to remain quiet. Senior Labour figures, who were expected to back the Democrats, haven’t mentioned anything. Even the Prime Minister has stayed silent, probably so he doesn’t aggravate either side of the close-call election.

News

Queensland border closure for Victoria and Sydney to remain in place after election win

Any hopes that the Queensland border could open up following the state election have been rapidly slashed. On Saturday night, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk won the election, with many people in the political sphere crediting her response to the coronavirus crisis as a large reason for her popularity. But one rule that hasn’t been taken well has been her hard stance on border closure. From Tuesday, all Australians will be allowed to enter Queensland bar those from Greater Sydney and Victoria. That rule is likely to stay in place for at least several more weeks. A review won’t be conducted until the end of November, at the earliest. “There were a lot of attacks and we stood strong,” Palaszczuk said on Sunday. “In this job, you have to listen to the experts and you have to communicate that to people, and that has stood us in good stead.” Earlier, National Cabinet agreed to open all internal borders by Christmas, except Western Australia. Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt on Sunday said the ongoing closure had to be motivated by medical advice and no ulterior motive. “I am very hopeful that now the election is over that this will continue to be a medical decision,” he said. “If it is a medical decision the very low case numbers will provide the strongest possible basis for moving to the next step.”

Domestic Travel

Trump’s presidency is sinking deeper into crisis – but will he still get re-elected?

Violence has <a href="https://www.thestar.com.my/news/world/2020/05/30/protests-flare-around-the-united-states-over-minneapolis-killing">erupted across several US cities</a> after the death of a black man, George Floyd, who was shown on video gasping for breath as a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt on his neck. The unrest poses serious challenges for President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden as each man readies his campaign for the November 3 election. If the coronavirus had not already posed a threat to civil discourse in the US, the latest flashpoint in American racial politics makes this presidential campaign potentially one of the most incendiary in history. COVID-19 and Minneapolis may very well form the nexus within which the 2020 campaign will unfold. Trump’s critics have assailed his handling of both and questioned whether he can effectively lead the country in a moment of crisis. And yet, he may not be any more vulnerable heading into the election. A presidency in crisis? As the incumbent, Trump certainly faces the most immediate challenges. Not since Franklin Roosevelt in the second world war has a US president presided over the deaths of so many Americans from a single cause. The Axis powers and COVID-19 are not analogous, but any presidency is judged by its capacity to respond to enemies like these. With <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/america-at-boiling-point-how-one-death-rocked-a-nation-numbed-by-100-000-20200529-p54xpw.html">pandemic deaths now surpassing 100,000</a>, Trump’s fortunes will be inexorably tied to this staggering (and still rising) figure. Worse, the Minneapolis protests are showing how an already precarious social fabric has been frayed by the COVID-19 lockdowns. Americans have not come together to fight the virus. Rather, they have allowed a public health disaster to deepen divisions along racial, economic, sectional and ideological lines. Trump has, of course, often sought to gain from such divisions. But the magnitude and severity of the twin crises he is now facing will make this very difficult. By numerous measures, his is a presidency in crisis. And yet. Trump, a ferocious campaigner, will try to find ways to use both tragedies to his advantage and, importantly, makes things worse for his challenger. For starters, Trump did not cause coronavirus. And <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-21/trump-accuses-china-of-coronavirus-mass-killing/12270140">he will continue to insist</a> that his great geo-strategic adversary, the Chinese Communist Party, did. And his is not the first presidency to be marked by the conflagration of several US cities. Before Minneapolis, <a href="https://www.history.com/topics/1960s/1967-detroit-riots">Detroit</a> (1967), <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Los-Angeles-Riots-of-1992">Los Angeles</a> (1992) and <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/08/08/ferguson-missouri-riots-5-years-since-shooting-race-tensions-worse/1952853001/">Ferguson, Missouri</a> (2014) were all the scenes of angry protests and riots over racial tensions that still haven’t healed. And in the 19th century, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/03/science/civil-war-toll-up-by-20-percent-in-new-estimate.html">750,000 Americans were killed in a civil war</a> that was fought over whether the enslavement of African-Americans was <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/09/how-the-constitution-was-indeed-pro-slavery/406288/">constitutional</a>. Trump may not have healed racial tensions in the US during his presidency. But, like coronavirus, he did not cause them. How Trump can blame Democrats for Minneapolis Not unhappily for Trump, Minneapolis is a largely Democratic city in a reliably blue state. He will campaign now on the failure of Democratic state leaders to answer the needs of black voters. Trump will claim that decades of Democratic policies in Minnesota – including the eight years of the Obama administration – have caused Minneapolis to be one of the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/05/30/minneapolis-racial-inequality/">most racially unequal cities</a> in the nation. Mayor Jacob Frey of Minneapolis will never be mistaken for the late, great General Douglas McArthur or great fighter General George Patton. How come all of these places that defend so poorly are run by Liberal Democrats? Get tough and fight (and arrest the bad ones). STRENGTH! In 2016, Trump <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-jasg-_E5M">famously asked African-Americans</a> whether Democratic leaders have done anything to improve their lives. What do you have to lose by trying something new, like Trump? He will repeat this mantra in the coming months. It also certainly helps that his support among Republican voters has never wavered, no matter how shocking his behaviour. He has enjoyed a stable <a href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/coronavirus-polls/">80% approval rating</a> with GOP voters throughout the coronavirus crisis. This has helped keep his approval rating among all voters steady as the pandemic has worsened, <a href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/coronavirus-polls/">hovering between 40 and 50%</a>. These are not terrible numbers. Yes, Trump’s leadership has contributed to a series of disasters. But if the polls are correct, he has so far avoided the kinds of catastrophe that could imperil his chances of re-election. Why this moment is challenging for Biden Biden should be able to make a good case to the American people at this moment that he is the more effective leader. But this has not yet been reflected in polls, most of which continue to give the Democrat <a href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/president-general/">only a lukewarm advantage</a> over Trump in the election. The other problem is that the Democratic party remains discordant. And Biden has not yet shown a capacity to heal it. Race has also long been a <a href="https://www.history.com/topics/us-politics/democratic-party">source of division</a> within Biden’s party. Southern Democrats, for instance, <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/znycnrd/revision/4">were the key agents of slavery</a> in the 19th century and the segregation that followed it into the 20th. After the 1960s, Democrats sought to make themselves the natural home of African-American voters as the <a href="https://www.history.com/news/how-the-party-of-lincoln-won-over-the-once-democratic-south">Republican party courted</a> disaffected white Southern voters. The Democrats largely succeeded on that front – <a href="https://press.princeton.edu/ideas/why-are-blacks-democrats">the party routinely gets around 85-90% of black votes</a> in presidential elections. The challenge for Biden now is how to retain African-American loyalty to his party, while evading responsibility for the socio-economic failures of Democratic policies in cities like Minneapolis. He is also a white northerner (from Delaware). Between 1964 and 2008, <a href="https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/what-makes-southern-democrats-unique/">only three Democrats were elected president</a>. All of them were southerners. To compensate, Biden has had to rely on racial politics to separate himself from his primary challenger – <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/03/bernie-sanders-black-voters/607789/">Bernie Sanders struggled to channel black aspirations</a> – and from Republicans. And this has, at times, caused him to court controversy. In 2012, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYtEuuhFRPA">he warned African-Americans</a> that then-Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney would put them “all back in chains”. And just over a week ago, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/05/28/heres-why-black-americans-were-mad-bidens-comment-even-if-theyd-say-same-thing-themselves/">he angered black voters</a> by suggesting those who would support Trump in the election “<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-23/joe-biden-apologises-for-aint-black-comment/12279428">ain’t black</a>”. Biden is far better than Trump on racial issues and should be able to use the current crises to present himself as a more natural “consoler-in-chief”, but instead, he has appeared somewhat flatfooted and derided for being racially patronising. The opportunities COVID-19 and the Minneapolis unrest might afford his campaign remain elusive. There is reason for hope America enters the final months of the 2020 campaign in a state of despair and disrepair. The choice is between an opportunistic incumbent and a tin-eared challenger. But the US has faced serious challenges before – and emerged stronger. Neither the civil war in the 19th century or the Spanish flu pandemic in the early 20th halted the extraordinary growth in power that followed both. Moreover, the US constitution remains intact and federalism has undergone something of <a href="https://www.nationalreview.com/magazine/2020/05/04/covid-federalism/">a rebirth</a> since the start of the pandemic. And there is a new generation of younger, more diverse, national leaders being forged in the fire of crisis to help lead the recovery. Written by Timothy J. Lynch. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/as-minneapolis-burns-trumps-presidency-is-sinking-deeper-into-crisis-and-yet-he-may-still-be-re-elected-139739">The Conversation.</a>

Art

What elective surgeries are currently available under COVID-19 restrictions?

Patients booked in for elective surgery were given a dose of disappointment recently as the federal government announced restrictions on most elective surgery from midnight on the 25 March 2020. The restrictions were imposed to free up valuable medical resources in anticipation of an overwhelming number of COVID-19 patients. But it also meant that many Australians were left wondering if their current health insurance policies were worth continuing, or if they were getting value for money on their policies. Fortunately, thanks to our physical distancing and self-isolation efforts, the restrictions are starting to be lifted in what Prime Minister Scott Morrison has called a “gradual restart” of elective surgery. At the time of writing, some elective surgeries will be available from 27 April, 2020. This means that Australians can still realise the value of their health cover. And if you’re still looking to make savings on your health insurance, now is <a href="https://healthinsurancecomparison.com.au/form/step1/?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=hic-sponsoredarticle-may&utm_content=elective-surgeries&utm_term=in-text">a good time to switch</a> as you don’t need to re-serve waiting periods for services you’re already covered for unless you increase the cover for those services. So what elective surgeries are available during the COVID-19 pandemic and what isn’t currently allowed? We’ll update the information below as the restrictions change. What are the categories of elective surgery? Doctors use a set of <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/hospitals/national-definitions-for-elective-surgery-urgency/contents/table-of-contents">guidelines</a> to assign elective surgery procedures to an urgency category. In general, a category 1 procedure is desirable within 30 days, a category 2 procedure within 90 days and a category 3 procedure within 365 days. While the urgency depends on the doctor’s clinical assessment of the patient and their situation, there’s a default category for different elective surgery procedures. For example, a breast lump excision is category 1 while a hip or knee replacement is category 3. What about urgent elective surgery? Category 1 procedures and the more urgent category 2 procedures were not caught by the ban. Urgent elective surgery such as heart surgery, limb amputations and more urgent colonoscopy procedures should not have experienced any interruption. When will restrictions be lifted? Category 2 and some important category 3 procedures can recommence in public and private hospitals from 27 April 2020. See the table below The <a href="https://www.pm.gov.au/media/update-coronavirus-measures-210420">Prime Minister estimated</a> that this first phase in lifting elective surgery restrictions will see the reopening of 25% of closed elective surgery operating lists. The arrangements will be reviewed again on 11 May 2020, with the government looking at whether the restrictions can be lifted further. Getting the best value from your health fund for elective surgeries There may be some ongoing disruptions due to a backlog of elective surgeries and the fact some surgeries are still subject to the COVID-19 restrictions. However, we’re clearly heading in the right direction and the easing of restrictions means not only better health outcomes for many – it also means you can get the better value from your private health fund membership. If you’re after the best value from your fund, it’s also worth spending some of your time in home isolation to review your current cover and compare health insurance funds. This is one way to potentially save big dollars now and at the other side of the crisis. When reviewing your health insurance, remember that you don’t need to observe waiting periods for services you’re already covered for unless you increase the level of cover for those services. <a rel="noopener" href="https://healthinsurancecomparison.com.au/form/step1/?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=hic-sponsoredarticle-may&utm_content=elective-surgeries&utm_term=widget" target="_blank"><img style="width: 258.00915331807784px; height: 500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7835883/picture-1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/c7c0e7f903da48d6a24aadaab22147e8" /></a> Get Started Now: Step 1: Select your state below. Step 2: After answering a few questions, you will have the opportunity to compare quotes in your area and could be eligible for significant savings. <a rel="noopener" href="https://healthinsurancecomparison.com.au/form/step1/?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=hic-sponsoredarticle-may&utm_content=elective-surgeries&utm_term=widget" target="_blank"><img style="width: 399.70501474926243px; height: 500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7835882/hic-060.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/5b2d773a43404c3ca150d0bd3022b36d" /></a> References [1]https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-21/elective-surgery-restored-national-cabinet-cmo-coronavirus/12168848 [2] https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-21/coroanvirus-national-cabinet-elective-surgery-ivf-to-resume/12168770 [3]https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/hospitals/national-definitions-for-elective-surgery-urgency/contents/table-of-contents [4]https://www.pm.gov.au/media/update-coronavirus-measures-210420 This article is opinion only and should not be taken as medical or financial advice. Check with a financial professional before making any decisions. This article is made in partnership with <a rel="noopener" href="https://healthinsurancecomparison.com.au/" target="_blank">Health Insurance Comparison</a>.

Body

Tony Abbott set to receive hefty "pay rise" after losing the election

Former prime minister Tony Abbott may have lost his seat in the latest federal election, but he is set to leave the government with a major pay rise. After serving his electorate for 25 years, Abbott lost the Sydney seat of Warringah to independent candidate Zali Steggall in Saturday’s election. However, the former Coalition leader will leave politics with a hefty pension of nearly $300,000 this year – significantly higher than the $207,100 pay he received as a backbencher. This amount is also going to <a href="https://williamsummers.blog/2019/05/20/tony-abbott-set-to-enjoy-296000-pension/">appreciate in value</a> to follow any increases in the salaries of the sitting MPs, according to researcher William Summers. As Abbott was elected before 2004, he became a part of the Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Scheme. This made Abbott eligible to earn a percentage of the wage based on the years served – in his case, 75 per cent. Abbott’s various official roles during his time in office – such as Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the House – also added on to his salary. Combined together, this led to a sum of $295,720 in pension for the 2018/19 period. “The key reason for why they're so large, is that these pre-2004 pensions are linked to current MPs' salaries, not the salaries that they retired on,” Summers told SBS’ <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/the-feed/tony-abbott-s-pension-will-be-bigger-than-his-mp-paycheck-here-s-why" target="_blank">The Feed</a>. “The only way it could go down is if MP salaries went down and that is very, very unlikely.” Summers said based on current calculations, the pre-2004 pension scheme afforded to politicians is set to cost taxpayers $43.7 million this year. This number will peak in 2035 at $59.3 million before falling off as the pension holders die out. Abbott will also benefit from Life Gold Travel Pass, which allows former parliamentarians to gain 10 free return airfares within Australia each year for life. After the benefit got scrapped in 2017, it is now only available to politicians elected before 2012. Abbott’s next career move is yet to be confirmed, but his backers have urged the Coalition government to give the former MP a public role in his post-parliamentary life. Liberal MP Craig Kelly said Abbott could be an ambassador to the United States to replace Joe Hockey, who is set to vacate the role next year. “As an ex-prime minister, he should be given a range of options to see how he can best use his skills and talents,” said Kelly.

Retirement Income

Dr Chris Brown launches Fur-deral Election: “Fur Go for ALL Australians”

Dr Chris Brown wants to hear about your four-legged furry friends when it comes to the larger issues that affect them. With a witty play on words, Brown launched the “first ever Fur-deral Election for 2019”. The election aims to ensure that the health and happiness of your furry friends is a priority to all levels of government. It’s part of Brown’s personal mission to ensure that Australia is kept pet-friendly. His 476,000 strong audience on Facebook got behind him and completed the ballot paper, which includes questions that the different levels of government want to know. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fdcbpets%2Fphotos%2Fa.1512188539102428%2F2392306571090616%2F%3Ftype%3D3&width=500" width="500" height="740" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe> The ballot paper asks pet owners what the biggest issues facing their pets today are. 42 per cent of respondents answered that the biggest issue was puppy farms, with another 29 per cent answering the lack of pet-friendly rental accommodation. However, it wasn’t all serious. Another question participants are asked is: “If your pet could form their own political party, their biggest policy would be?” Respondents could then choose from four options, which included more time with you, more time in the park, more treats or more homes for pets in shelters. The last answer was the favourite, with a whopping 56 per cent of respondents saying that their four-legged friend would choose that one. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fdcbpets%2Fphotos%2Fa.1513353065652642%2F2392941031027170%2F%3Ftype%3D3&width=500" width="500" height="721" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe> People were able to nominate their pets for the Australia’s next “Fur-deral Prime Minister”, which many took up the chance to. With 2.5K comments on the above Facebook post, Dr Chris Brown fans argued their cases for their pets, whether they’re going to abolish puppy farms or help out rescues. Many also added a cute photo of the next “Fur-deral Prime Minister”. If you’re interested in completing the ballot paper, which ensures that our furry friends across the nation get a “fur go”, <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F2YE24AB%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR2qUJf82hyX9iFWGtL43w84_GvjZWLXDfYOzhtHifLVgDoGkVroNJDhQ6E&h=AT2ppLy8EUtuxZ5Oe-Gwdnl9xSsRCktZWLOl63HGV9XMgm447ERQOuVAJB6DcVvpzGhWI27LEDnuZNeWFq1a7H8-rm3evHqmqS_of5i6PrOHJ--wzEEu1vS-RJlSlSDXpw9ioihjDb5VMo7eVd2-K-v2FRPhYKBHWKdmh4jNnKHVw-0ILrN4q51DzfMiFNoULr2bzLTkULf3VEbKE6FmDwpRImCS9z-cLlKdMKytfqZcuCnqXvIyidVyc6871Cu-4-6h6vtNIXQNHWq09AnwD3F8r8LuuT7OmBsIsEZ5dpdYuRNldR_66gB-UCmlsA47N8ma5PoQviSwf5h_pDoeBZcuf04a9rFNevuSrz6Ekri8-hdugCXwaOfxC4-89tgC6-ABop1JzPq808QNzkyd7KhNHqNz-FHa-wEpgdeorFklkOEKMGqsv0A-t-cjn4aOhF-2m2MAguosg9xYUCy-d1fkj0QASXCq4kLuYtja2sPOqcL73_nhGh0HuSl67a7KDQKaA21AmoK5Oo-VJyEdTGW-kcn1qNJOBCshONwreKTxj0DHbG2MymH9vmNNegLJV9CRHSM4te3smWHrRuHyp3g6Lo2adH-xwLOueO44_v3VSSg7FhBe37khYPpEREIpyJF37gYtQFbYpQ">click here.</a>

News

What are the major parties promising on health this election?

The major parties’ manifestos for the 2019 federal election present voters with starkly contrasting health policies. These policies are shaped and constrained by the overall themes presented by the party leaders, but have some unique elements. Liberal – money in your own hands The Liberal campaign has two main messages: standing on the government’s claimed record as good economic managers, and offering significant tax cuts in the long-term. The tax cuts are marketed as giving people the power to make their own choices about how the money should be spent. In health care, this spending-light approach has led to a focus on re-announcing existing policy, and spending down the <a href="https://beta.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/medical-research-future-fund">Medical Research Future Fund</a> with research announcements popping up every other day. The Future Fund announcements have attracted good publicity for the government, even though they do not represent any increase in research funding, just a change in how the available funding is to be used. The re-announcement approach can probably best be seen in the Liberal’s policy on <a href="https://www.liberal.org.au/our-plan-youth-mental-health-and-suicide-prevention">youth mental health and suicide prevention</a>, where the five-page policy concludes: The Coalition’s plans for youth mental health and suicide prevention will not place additional costs on the Budget. Throughout his term as health minister, Greg Hunt has highlighted new drugs being added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme in formulaic ministerial media releases such as <a href="https://www.greghunt.com.au/breast-cancer-and-rare-skin-cancer-medicines-on-the-pbs/">new listings of drugs for cancer</a>, <a href="https://www.greghunt.com.au/10-million-for-adhd-medicine-on-the-pb/">attention deficit hyperactivity disorder</a>, and <a href="https://www.greghunt.com.au/thousands-to-benefit-from-spinal-arthritis-medication-listing-on-pbs/">spinal arthritis</a>. He has sought to contrast the Coalition’s approach – where the advice of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee about listing a new drug has always been followed – to that of the previous Labor government, which <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-04-12/pharmamilne/55694">deferred some listings after the global financial crisis</a>. Minister Hunt has continued this focus during the campaign. In a unique approach, he used much of his time in the <a href="https://www.npc.org.au/speakers/the-hon-greg-hunt-mp-the-hon-catherine-king-mp/">National Press Club health debate</a> last Thursday to tell stories about new Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme listings. It is an old political aphorism that “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_politics_is_local">all politics is local</a>”. Minister Hunt was presenting the message that all politics is personal. The personal stories and the real impact a new listing can have were quite touching, helping to humanise the minister and presenting the government as really caring for individuals in need. Of course, drugs being listed on the PBS is part of the routine business of government, and Labor has committed to listing the same drugs. The difference is in the way the government chose to inject these stories into the political debate. The message was: vote for us and we will look after your individual needs and care for you as an individual, because we are the party that supports innovation in pharmaceuticals. This focus on individuals is very much in the Liberal tradition, harking back to <a href="http://www.liberals.net/theforgottenpeople.htm">the “forgotten people” meme of the Menzies era</a>. The only significant spending announcement by the Liberals in this campaign was to <a href="https://www.liberal.org.au/latest-news/2019/05/02/strong-economy-provides-millions-australians-cheaper-and-free-medicine">reduce the co-payment thresholds for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme</a> from 60 to 48 scripts for pensioners and health care card holders, and from an annual cap of A$1,550.70 to A$1,470.10 for other patients. This is a good policy which Labor has now matched. Labor – cost of living needs to be addressed Labor’s campaign on health is quite different from the Liberals. A key overarching theme is the cost of living. The Labor message is: wages have flat-lined, but prices keep going up, and Labor will fix that. Labor’s policies on childcare and minimum wages fit within this general theme. So does shadow minister Catherine King’s approach to health policy. Labor has made health a centrepiece of its campaign, with five big announcements. The first big announcement was to promise billions of dollars to <a href="https://theconversation.com/labors-cancer-package-would-cut-the-cost-of-care-but-beware-of-unintended-side-effects-114979">reduce out-of-pocket costs for people with cancer</a> and to <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/federal-election-2019/labor-promises-to-end-hospital-funding-wars-with-2-8-billion-package-20190413-p51dvj.html">expand funding for public hospitals</a>. The cancer announcement played extremely well, tapping into concerns that opposition leader Bill Shorten had picked up in his “listening tour” of dozens of <a href="https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-bill-shorten-at-ease-in-town-hall-type-forum-116555">town hall meetings</a>throughout Australia since the last election. The cancer policy includes: new items on the Medicare Benefits Schedule to encourage bulk billing by cancer specialists a guarantee that new drugs will be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme expansion of cancer outpatient services in public hospitals. The second big-ticket health promise was to restore the share of the cost of public hospital funding growth met by the Commonwealth to 50%, up from 45% now. The cut from 50% to 45% was announced in Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s 2014 budget. Labor has identified the impact of that cut on every public hospital in the country. The third big promise was to reduce the out-of-pocket costs of dental care. As the 2019 <a href="https://grattan.edu.au/report/filling-the-gap/">Filling the Gap Grattan Institute report</a> showed, more than 2 million Australians miss out on dental care each year because of cost. The promised Labor scheme is for seniors only. Importantly, though, the policy commits Labor to introducing a universal dental care scheme in the long-term. The fourth big health promise, announced during the official campaign launch on Sunday, was extra funding for <a href="https://theconversation.com/money-for-hospital-emergency-departments-in-shortens-campaign-launch-116577">public hospitals to improve emergency services</a>. A fifth health initiative does not involve specific spending but also addresses cost of living — a <a href="https://theconversation.com/labors-2-cap-on-private-health-insurance-premium-rises-wont-fix-affordability-91232">cap of 2% on private health insurance premium increases</a> for the next two years while the Productivity Commission reviews the private health sector. Together, these policies will not only help address cost of living pressures; they will reshape the health sector significantly. The dental announcement especially is transformative, addressing a major gap in Australia’s public funding of health care. The new bulk-billing item for cancer care could also have a major effect. And the Productivity Review of private health could lead to a major shake-up of that sector. The bill for Labor’s health policies is big: <a href="https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6106154/health-focus-for-shortens-campaign-launch/?cs=14264">more than A$8 billion</a> over the next four years. Where’s the money coming from? Labor’s answer is to close what it calls <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/mar/05/labor-to-crack-down-further-on-tax-loopholes-and-concessions-bowen">tax loopholes for multinationals and wealthy people</a>; taking from the very rich to give to ordinary Australians. Different prescriptions Health policy was a significant feature of the 2016 election, when Labor’s so-called <a href="https://theconversation.com/labors-mediscare-campaign-capitalised-on-coalition-history-of-hostility-towards-medicare-61976">Mediscare campaign tapped into voter concerns</a>. This time Labor is front-footing health policy, fitting neatly into its overall campaign meme of addressing cost of living pressures. The Liberal campaign is not a big spending one, and so re-announcements of previous commitments and an innovative personalisation of the benefit of new drugs are being used to present the Liberals’ health credentials. Written by Stephen Duckett. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-are-the-major-parties-promising-on-health-this-election-116427">The Conversation</a>.

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Bill Shorten vs Scott Morrison: The leader on track to win the federal election this Saturday

The latest Newspoll in The Australian shows that Labor is still on track to win power in Saturday’s federal election. The Labor Party is currently leading 51-to-49 per cent on a two-party preferred basis. Opposition leader Bill Shorten’s personal approval rating is up three points to 38 per cent whereas Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s has dropped slightly to 45 per cent. However, 17 per cent of voters are still undecided. With Scott Morrison being vague on his new housing policy, only time will tell as to which party will win. The new housing policy will enable first homebuyers to get a home loan with a deposit of as little as 5 per cent, instead of the usual 10 or 20 per cent. Labor has already agreed to match the policy, so it should become law no matter the winning party. A reporter <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/national/federal-election/federal-election-2019-live-coverage-from-the-campaign-trail/live-coverage/30480538ed1c6860b889ce0a689564ae" target="_blank">asked Morrison</a> what impact his new housing policy will have on property prices, but Morrison’s answer was unclear. "On your housing scheme, have you done any modelling on the impact to housing prices?" a reporter asked at a press conference in Western Sydney. "The scheme will continue on the basis of people being able to access loans on the same basis they can now…" Mr Morrison began, before being cut off. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> What effect will Scott Morrison's new housing policy have on property prices? Will prices go up? "It's difficult to say," he says <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/auspol?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#auspol</a> <a href="https://t.co/5w3u9sb3J4">pic.twitter.com/5w3u9sb3J4</a> — Sam Clench (@SamClench) <a href="https://twitter.com/SamClench/status/1127713259363028992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">12 May 2019</a></blockquote> "Could it raise house prices by putting more people in the market?" the reporter interjected. "We want to see more first homebuyers in the market, absolutely. And we don't want to see people's house prices go down," he said. "You didn't answer that question. Would house prices potentially go up?" another reporter asked. "I don't want them to go down. I want to see people, when they buy their first home, to be able to stay in the market and keep the value of their home that they've bought," Mr Morrison said. "It's difficult to say. It's difficult to say, but I do know this – Labor's housing tax will force the value of your home down."

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