Day 30 report
Yesterday was the 30th day in the formal campaign.
Labor announced policies on green precincts, solar schools and homes, an Asia Pacific centre for civil-military cooperation, the Pine Rivers growth corridor, five projects on the Bruce Highway in Caboolture and the Sunshine Coast and improved services and benefits for veterans. Today, Labor will have its campaign launch.
The Coalition had no new policies listed on its website.
Polls: Morgan released its Senate polling. As the following table shows, the most likely outcome is a Senate where neither Labor nor the Coalition has an absolute majority of seats (39 of the 76 seats). The Greens are likely to hold the balance of power.
| Coalition | Labor | Green | Other | |
| NSW | 2-3 | 3 | 0-1 | 0 |
| Vic | 2-3 | 3 | 0-1 | 0 |
| Qld | 2-3 | 3 | 0-1 | 0-1 |
| SA | 2-3 | 3 | 0-1 | 0-1 |
| WA | 3 | 2-3 | 0-1 | 0 |
| Tas | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| ACT | 0-1 | 1-2 | 0-1 | 0 |
| NT | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Sub-total | 14-19 | 19-21 | 1-7 | 0-2 |
| Continuing Senators | 19 | 14 | 2 | 1 |
| Total | 33-38 | 33-35 | 3-9 | 1-3 |
Nomination question: The Australian Constitution does not allow anyone who holds “any office of profit under the Crown” to stand for Parliament (section 44(iv)). Today’s SMH suggested that Malcolm Turnbull’s Labor opponent, George Newhouse, did not resign his position as a paid member of the state’s consumer disputes tribunal before lodging his nomination for the seat of Wentworth. Newhouse’s letter of resignation is undated, and it appears to have been received after nominations closed. If Newhouse wins Wentworth, and there is a successful legal challenge to the validity of his nomination, I expect there would be a by-election in Wentworth.
In 1992, Philip Cleary was elected to the seat of Wills at a by-election following Bob Hawke’s resignation. Cleary’s election was declared invalid because he was an officer of the Education Department of Victoria at the time.
The other trap for candidates is dual citizenship. Section 44 of the Constitution also prevents anyone from being elected who “is under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience, or adherence to a foreign power, or is a subject or a citizen or entitled to the rights or privileges of a subject or citizen of a foreign power” (see Sue v Hill 1999).
Retirement plans: the Prime Minister outlined his retirement plans should the Coalition win the election: “it would not be for at least 18 months or two years” before the Prime Minister hands over the leadership to his deputy, Peter Costello (CM).