Part 12 of NoFibs Australian election coverage 2016: @Qldaah #ausvotes #auspol #qldpol

The final act in the Australian election campaign for 2016.

Table of contents

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You’re out of a job

Platinum Steve

Coalition of chaos

The anxious wait

Polling day

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(July 6, 2016) Day 60 – You’re out of a job

Pauline Hanson and the media

 Mark Di Stefano reported in November, 2015, ““She’s a semi-regular, paid contributor,” said Sunrise executive producer Michael Pell over email.”: We spoke to Pauline Hanson and she threatened legal action.

• David Wroe reported, “Pauline Hanson has launched a spray at the media ahead of her return to Federal Parliament, complaining of bias against her and warning she will bypass traditional newspapers and TV networks in favour of “citizen journalism”.”: ‘Punching bag’ Pauline Hanson attacks the media after Senate win.
• Liz Burke reported, “Lookout newshounds, Pauline Hanson has put the media on notice. The One Nation leader and soon-to-be Senator is fed up with how her return to parliament has been reported by the nation’s newspapers, and is threatening to withhold interviews throughout her senate term.”: Fed up Pauline Hanson puts all media ‘on notice’.
• Rohan Smith reported, “Pauline Hanson loves a soapbox, and breakfast hosts David Koch and Samantha Armytage wheeled one out for her routinely in the months and weeks heading into Saturday’s election.”: Sunrise admits paying Pauline Hanson for regular appearances in lead up to the election.

Pauline Hanson warned by Premier

• Amy Remeikis reported, “Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has issued a stern warning to Pauline Hanson, cautioning the Senator-elect to “get her facts right”, “act responsibly” and think about what she says, or risk putting Queensland jobs at risk.”: Premier warns Pauline Hanson to ‘get facts right’.

How’d they get it wrong?

• Matthew Knott wrote, “It’s not just politicians searching their souls after Saturday night’s surprisingly close election result.”: The uncomfortable truth is the media got it wrong. How did we do it?

Capricornia update

Few more votes tumbling in from Capricornia. #ausvotes #qldpol pic.twitter.com/FsLRZiICbh

— David Marler (@Qldaah) July 6, 2016

Herbert update

More votes coming in for Herbert now. LNP praying for postals. #qldpol #ausvotes pic.twitter.com/uwaFs77VTl

— David Marler (@Qldaah) July 6, 2016

Longman update

Update from Longman. Labor still in the lead. #qldpol #ausvotes pic.twitter.com/gXCPtrww5d

— David Marler (@Qldaah) July 6, 2016

Forde update

LNP couple hundred ahead in Forde. #qldpol #ausvotes pic.twitter.com/IYuuqXrS0B

— David Marler (@Qldaah) July 6, 2016

The Conservative Party

• Katharine Murphy and Paul Karp reported, “”: Cory Bernardi establishes rightwing movement Australian Conservatives.
• Jacqueline Maley reported, “Conservative senator Cory Bernardi is in talks to break away from the Liberal Party to become the figurehead for a conservative party which would hoover up all the right-wing votes Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is accused of bleeding in his disastrous election campaign.”: Cory Bernardi ‘in talks’ to break away from Malcolm Turnbull’s Liberal Party.

AEC refutes Daily Telegraph

• Tom Rogers wrote, “I strongly refute several assertions made in the Daily Telegraph editorial titled ‘Need for speed in democracy of 21st century’. The author’s statement that the count is proceeding ‘at an apparently glacial pace’ is incorrect: the AEC counted over a million votes yesterday (a mix of new votes added to the count and a further check of votes already counted), and this was just one crucial step of the AEC’s conduct of the largest, most complex election in Australia’s history.”: Statement from the Australian Electoral Commissioner: Need for accuracy in democracy, regardless of the century.

Cartoons

the count…. @FinancialReview #auspol #ausvotes pic.twitter.com/m4K2t8904D

— david rowe (@roweafr) July 6, 2016

No #HalalSnackPack for #PaulineHanson! – @theheraldsun #auswaits #ausvotes #election #auspol #HalalHanson pic.twitter.com/3FlVW6iARa

— Chris 'ROY' Taylor (@chrisroytaylor) July 6, 2016

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(July 5, 2016) Day 59 – Platinum Steve

Media coverage at a premium

The Queensland Liberal National Party traditionally doesn’t like media scrutiny. They prefer a passive press that repeats their words and doesn’t ask difficult questions around donors and the awarding of government contracts.

It was the same in the day of their political grandfather, Joh Bjelke-Petersen. He most famously brushed off Jana Wendt’s repeated questions about corruption in a 1989 A Current Affair  interview.

“You are wrong, Jana” and “you have gone up a dry gully,” he proclaimed as she put allegations of corruption to him.

Recently, in his authorised biography, former LNP Premier Campbell Newman blamed the Queensland media for his downfall.

“That’s the last press conference I’ll ever have to do… that’s the last time I’ll ever have to talk to that pack of bastards,” he was reported to have said by author Gavin King.

The LNP’s MP for Moncrief and Minister for Trade, Steve Ciobo, is no exception. On Monday night he invited all of the Gold Coast media to his re-election victory party except for the Gold Coast Bulletin. Reporters asked  Mr Ciobo outside the event if they could be admitted but received a stern rebuff.

“Unfortunately, the Bulletin doesn’t seem to be interested in factual reporting. I don’t know why. I’d love the Bulletin to be accurate but unfortunately….,” he began.

“All the Gold Coast media is invited except for the Gold Coast Bulletin. Hopefully, when The Bully becomes a bit more factual and less interested in the story than the facts then we’ll have a great relationship like I have had for the last fifteen years. We’ll see how it goes.”

The Bully had as recently as May questioned Mr Ciobo and neighbouring Fadden LNP MP Stuart Robert over their combined fund raising events.

“Gold Coast MPs Stuart Robert and Steve Ciobo are “the million-dollar men” who use little-known fundraising vehicles to deliver the biggest election war chest for the LNP in Queensland,” reported Paul Weston.

On Tuesday, Mr Weston also reported on Mr Ciobo’s Platinum Circle fundraising entity.

“Two donors to Gold Coast MP Steve Ciobo’s Platinum Circle have won open public tenders for multimillion-dollar Federal Government contracts,” he wrote under the headline, “Platinum Circle has golden ring to it as backers land major Federal Government contracts.”

One of those donors, Technology One, was embroiled in a donations/lobbying scandal with another Gold Coast LNP MP, state based Newman Government Information Technology Minister Ros Bates. In 2012, an investigation by The Courier Mail’s Steven Wardill and Robyn Ironside entitled, “LNP to investigate donations to embattled minister Ros Bates” showed how Ms Bates had failed to update her donation or listing and lobbyist register to show she had been receiving money from the company and had been meeting with them.

Ms Bates would later blame staff for an an error in a spreadsheet for the oversight.

Having reclaimed Moncrief for the LNP with a healthy majority and the millions raised in fundraising activities, Mr Ciobo is the Queensland LNP’s ‘platinum man.’

Daily Telegraph influence waning

• Amanda Meade reported, “The tabloid endorsed the Coalition and campaigned vigorously for it. Yet voters in western Sydney cost Malcolm Turnbull three seats on Saturday”: Rejection of Turnbull in Daily Telegraph heartland signals waning influence.

Mediscare

• Tony Moore reported, “Labor’s Queensland headquarters in Brisbane created the “Mediscare” text that pretended to come from Medicare, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten confirmed on Tuesday.”: Shorten confirms Labor sent ‘Mediscare’ text.

Malcolm takes full responsibility

• Caitlyn Gribbin and Stephen Dziedzic reported, “Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says he takes “full responsibility” for the Coalition’s election performance, conceding he needs to work harder to rebuild the trust of Australians when it comes to its health policies.”: Malcolm Turnbull takes ‘full responsibility’ for Coalition campaign performance.

What about the ABCC?

• Paul Karp reported, “Malcolm Turnbull vows to re-present the bill to reinstate a tougher building industry watchdog even as Josh Frydenberg concedes the bill’s prospects are ‘dead’”: Coalition will put ABCC bill to joint sitting despite lacking numbers to pass.

Pauline Hanson – the return

• Michael Burge wrote, “Like all political parties, One Nation sends mixed messages, and its followers are able to live with policy blind spots, just like other Australians.”: We need to talk about Pauline.
• The Weasel wrote, “This time, just as last time, Pauline Hanson has attracted groups with an axe to grind.”: In defence of Pauline.
• Nicole Hasham reported, “The One Nation candidate with a strong chance of joining Pauline Hanson in the Senate, Malcolm Roberts, wants climate scepticism taught in schools and says the CSIRO and United Nations’ peak climate body endorse corruption.”: Potential One Nation senator wants climate scepticism taught in schools.

Petrie update

LNP might just hang on there in Petrie. #ausvotes #qldpol pic.twitter.com/4UVSiY5Ktr

— David Marler (@Qldaah) July 5, 2016

Longman update

Qld seat of Longman update. Labor still in front. #qldpol #ausvotes pic.twitter.com/tFQYjxvcbu

— David Marler (@Qldaah) July 5, 2016

Grey update

Grey swings to the Libs. #ausvotes pic.twitter.com/l2zEu1Wbj6

— David Marler (@Qldaah) July 5, 2016

Dickson update

Dickson update, Peter Dutton still in the lead. #qldpol #ausvotes pic.twitter.com/twYw6kjKsz

— David Marler (@Qldaah) July 5, 2016

Forde update

Latest from Forde. #qldpol #ausvotes pic.twitter.com/2bhV7DnD73

— David Marler (@Qldaah) July 5, 2016

Herbert update

Latest from Herbert. Labor just ahead. #qldpol #ausvotes pic.twitter.com/iQY51MIwi0

— David Marler (@Qldaah) July 5, 2016

Man sentenced over racist attack on Nova Peris

• Guardian Australia reported, “NSW chiropractor Chris Nelson, who posted racist comments on the page of the former Labor senator, gets eight-month suspended sentence”: Former Liberal branch secretary sentenced for abusing Nova Peris on Facebook.

The chiro behind a racist FB rant against Nova Peris has received an 8mth suspended jail term.#NAIDOCWeek @abcnews pic.twitter.com/Tkg07LV5Gg

— Mary-Louise Vince (@marylouvince) July 5, 2016

Cartoons

#auswaits…and they're still counting! #Election2016 #auspol #ausvotes! @theheraldsun @IlloRoom pic.twitter.com/9NhM0zfLwf

— Chris 'ROY' Taylor (@chrisroytaylor) July 5, 2016

Remind you of anybody?
Tomorrow's @smh toon. pic.twitter.com/zproOqgYtG

— The Cathy Wilcox (@cathywilcox1) July 4, 2016

The big wet bed. @FinancialReview #auspol pic.twitter.com/SOxiwildHz

— david rowe (@roweafr) July 5, 2016

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(July 4, 2016) Day 58 – Coalition of chaos

George Brandis declares a working majority

It’s not the Labor way but Opposition Leader Bill Shorten could be forgiven for putting his feet up on the desk and chomping on popcorn as he watches the right-wing nut jobs tear themselves to bits in the wake of the election.

Late on Monday, with right-wing One Nation’s Paulin Hanson elected to the senate, Attorney-General George Brandis declared undying loyalty to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and assured the nation the Coalition would be able to govern with a “working majority”. Exactly what that means is not clear but Australians can be sure that deals are being worked out behind the scenes.

For Shorten, it’s never been a more exciting time to be an opposition leader and let Turnbull unleash his Coalition of Chaos upon the nation.

• ABC News reported, “A key backer of Malcolm Turnbull has told him there is a real risk that Bill Shorten could become prime minister if the Coalition “falls into a rabble” over the outcome of the federal election.”: Malcolm Turnbull warned party infighting could jeopardise election outcome.

Steve Ciobo’s media ban

• Paul Weston, Andrew Potts and Lea Emery reported, “Moncrieff MP Steven Ciobo has explicitly barred the Gold Coast Bulletin from attending his post election party at the Broadbeach Surf Club.”: You’re banned: Gold Coast LNP MPs don’t want Bulletin at their election parties.

Why Dickson was nearly lost

• Nicole Hasham reported, “Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has blamed bikies, union thugs, activists and “sneaky” Labor tactics for his plummeting popularity in the Queensland seat of Dickson.”: Dutton blames bikies, union thugs and Labor for almost losing his seat.

Why Tasmania was lost

Why NT was lost

• Helen Davidson reported, “Criticism comes as chief minister Adam Giles defends his government from accusations it is to blame for Coalition losses in both Northern Territory seats.”: Election result ‘muddle’ is Turnbull’s fault, says NT Labor MP Warren Snowdon.

Budget in trouble

• Greg Jericho reported, “All those nice shiny figures in the May budget showing a path back to surplus are now just figments of Scott Morrison’s imagination.”: Hello, Pauline, Derryn, Nick, Jacqui, let’s negotiate: why the budget is toast.

Pauline Hanson up to old tricks

• Katharine Murphy wrote, “Patronising the One Nation leader will only feed her underdog status and make her stronger with her constituency. In the face of widespread voter alienation, we need to ask a deeper question: what is her appeal?”: Pauline Hanson’s back, and the disaffection genie is well and truly out of the bottle.
• Margo Kingston wrote, “Sneers and slurs will only increase the Queensland senator-elect’s support so talk to – not at – her followers, and learn something.”: Pauline Hanson takes centre stage again but this time we should listen not lampoon.
• Tony Wright wrote, “”When I was growing up,” said Pauline Hanson, “[Australia had] 13 million people.”: Pauline Hanson mixes nostalgia with hate and dresses it as patriotism.
• John Harrison wrote, “Southerners, those who live below the Rio Tweed, are outraged that Queenslanders have re-elected Pauline Hanson. Which simply shows how much they understand about the Sunshine State. In the Senate contest Queensland had a slew of right wing minor parties. Pauline just happened to be the most popular.”: Where Pauline Hanson’s support comes from.
• Joshua Robertson reported, “One Nation leader says she doesn’t ‘particularly like’ either Malcolm Turnbull or Bill Shorten but would work with either.”: Pauline Hanson says George Brandis tried to contact her after Senate win.
• Nicole Hasham reported, “One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has warned of “terrorism on our streets” and says Australians fear their suburbs have been “swamped by Asians”, as she claimed her party could snare up to six Senate spots.”: Pauline Hanson warns of terror on the streets and suburbs ‘swamped by Asians’.

Cartoons

orange peril @FinancialReview #auspol #ausvotes pic.twitter.com/A9J9G4bQcS

— david rowe (@roweafr) July 4, 2016

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(July 3, 2016) Day 57 – The anxious wait

Malcolm’s majority

Linda Burney makes transition from state to federal

It's an honour to be the first Indigenous woman in Federal Parliament. Thanks for all your support #ausvotes pic.twitter.com/Wi3Rix1b0Z

— Linda Burney MP (@LindaBurneyMP) July 2, 2016

.@LindaBurneyMP unseats Nickolas Varvaris to become first Indigenous woman elected to the Lower House #ausvotes https://t.co/Pjo29X9DWU

— ABC News (@abcnews) July 2, 2016

New Federal Qld MPs

• Cameron Atfield reported, “The morning after the night before has seen at least 11 Queensland candidates waking to the reality they are Canberra-bound, following Saturday’s federal election.”: All smiles for new Queensland MPs the morning after.

Bill Shorten in Moonee Ponds

Pictures tell a thousand words and today @billshortenmp looks like he's last night's winner pic.twitter.com/uEeiAyhvv2

— Andrew Greene (@AndrewBGreene) July 3, 2016

Opposition Leader @billshortenmp arrives in Moonee Ponds @abcnews #ausvotes pic.twitter.com/DLs44ok3Vg

— Andrew Greene (@AndrewBGreene) July 3, 2016

Senate prediction

They'll have to build some new crossbench seats in the senate. #Insiders hears from those who'll be sitting there https://t.co/S9jdtPTrTw

— Insiders ABC (@InsidersABC) July 3, 2016

Indi votes

• ABC News reported, “Victorian independent MP Cathy McGowan has refused to say who she would support in the event of a hung parliament. Ms McGowan retained the seat of Indi in north-east Victoria with a swing of 4.5 per cent, seeing off a challenge from former Liberal frontbencher Sophie Mirabella. With the possibility of a hung parliament looking increasingly likely, support from crossbench MPs will be crucial to whoever wins government.”: Independent MP Cathy McGowan rejects Speaker speculation, possible party deals.

Parliament hung for the moment

• Michelle Grattan wrote, “Malcolm Turnbull’s speech to deflated supporters in the early hours of Sunday morning was extraordinarily lacking in self-awareness.”: Malcolm Turnbull sounded tone deaf to election message.

8 week campaign was too much? How about 5 mins of highlights with pop music soundtrack! #Insiders #ausvotes #auspol https://t.co/Rsre43x005

— Insiders ABC (@InsidersABC) July 3, 2016

.@abcnews editor extraordinaire Huw Parkinson @rabbitandcoffee gives his view of #ausvotes #Insiders #auspol https://t.co/NNcgsH22GR

— Insiders ABC (@InsidersABC) July 2, 2016

Mediscare text

• Peter Martin wrote, “Scare campaigns only work when they reinforce or add to what is already known.”: ‘Mediscare’ campaign worked because voters were already scared.
• ABC News reported, “Attorney-General George Brandis has labelled Labor’s so-called Medicare scare campaign as “disgraceful” and “fraudulent”, suggesting it may have changed the election result.”: George Brandis attacks Labor’s ‘disgraceful’ Medicare campaign.
• Jane Lee reported, “The Liberal Party has filed a police complaint over a Queensland Labor election day text message to voters that appeared to be from Medicare.”: Liberal Party refers Labor ‘Medicare’ text message to police.

Cartoons

Self-belief is everything, isn't it?
My @smh toon. pic.twitter.com/keDiTHcZTy

— The Cathy Wilcox (@cathywilcox1) July 3, 2016

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(July 2, 2016) Day 56 – Polling day

Where’s the car?

Come out Mal

Name calling on Ch 7

Suck on that, Kerry O’Brien

Better than anyone

Big win for @JulieBishopMP in seat of Curtin. Here's Australia's foreign minister dancing to Tina Turner #ausvotes pic.twitter.com/CdhnY14sPq

— Blake Johnson (@BlakeJohnson) July 2, 2016

Stop lying Liberals, says Lambie

‘You are a grub’

“ You are actually a grub…!” – @JamesMcGrathLNP to Alan Jones on Channel7. #ausvotes https://t.co/fjtbYRRdqp

— 7NEWS Sydney (@7NewsSydney) July 2, 2016

Mayo votes

Petrie votes

Julie Bishop confident of victory

• ABC News reported, “Foreign Minister Julie Bishop believes the Coalition is well placed to win today’s election and says she has been getting positive indications from colleagues around the country.”: Julie Bishop confident of Coalition victory.

Bring out the votes

• Ben Raue reported, “Neither party can take victory for granted on such a tight margin, despite the punters clearly siding with the Coalition”: Close contest: storyline remains the same across all major polls.

Queensland votes

• Andree Withey and Lexy Hamilton-Smith reported, “Queensland’s 1,200 polling booths have opened for today’s federal election, with more than 3 million Queenslanders to cast their vote.”: Three million Queenslanders to vote and gobble down 3.5m sausages.

Sturt votes

Nick Xenophon makes an entrance at a Sturt polling booth to cast his vote #ausvotes @abcnews pic.twitter.com/bABDYNKX5e

— Nick Harmsen (@nickharmsen) July 2, 2016

-Ends

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