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Thanks David and Eddy.

Your commentary on the ACT and QLD election is appreciated. The ACT shows the positive impact of proportional representation in delivering power sharing parliaments. The Greens and ALP there seem to have a respectful working relationship. In QLD, the Miles Government is running a vigorous campaign that shows a team actually trying to earn the votes of the public. It’s refreshing to see. Sarah Abo used to be a ‘serious’ presenter with SBS but since going to Nine has become a propagandist for corporate talking points.

The NACC is working exactly as intended. How else can we explain the LNP and ALP being so keen to control the form of institution and cut out the Greens and Dr Helen Haines’ original bill? The NACC is dangerous because it gives the illusion of an integrity commission with little of its substance.

The ALP slow-walk of announcing the Referendum date allowed the LNP to reconstitute itself after the devastating loss. The ALP was flush with victory and took the wrong lessons from a win off 32% of the primary vote. It showed a certain hubris and lack of strategy in having a cut through message and to move while the Opposition was in disarray.

The PM’s log cabin story may have resonated at some point. But now he’s 28 years in the Canberra bubble and looks out of touch. As Eddy noted, wouldn’t it be nice to have 4.3 million down the back of the couch to buy a home? For the MPs in Canberra, there is no housing crisis because they’re doing so well!

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