Tasmania General Election 20 March 2010

Victor P Taffa

Following the return of the writs for the Tasmania State Election held on 20 March 2010 the makeup of the new Parliament is as follows:

House of Assembly

Seats Held

Labor                                                 10      -4

Liberal                                               10      +3

Greens                                               5        +1                        

Total                                                          25

The Liberal Party gained seats in Denison, Franklin and Lyons. The Greens won a seat in Braddon and now have a Member in each of the five House of Assembly electorates. Labor overall lost 4 seats.

 

Legislative Council

Seats Held

Labor                                                     3        Unchanged

Liberal                                                   1        Unchanged

Independent                                      11      Unchanged

Total                                                          15

On May 1 2010 there were 2 seats in the Legislative Council to be determined by the electorate. No ballot was required for the seat of Apsley and Tania Rattray Wagner was declared elected on 1 May 2010. The new Member for Elwick will be Adriana Taylor according to figures released by the Tasmanian Electoral Commission. Both members are Independent status.

The Bartlett Government returned to office in a weakened position. Premier David Bartlett had declared that “I will not do a deal with the Greens to form a Government.” Following the election this is precisely what the Tasmanian Premier did. Greens MP Kim Booth made an interesting observation about the new arrangements between the Labor and Greens Parties. The challenge for the Bartlett Government is to maintain a stable Government over the next four years.

Liberal Leader Will Hodgman is quite right to have felt ‘cheated’ at the outcome of the election given that the Liberal Party won almost 6,000 more statewide votes than did Labor. The election saw the retirement of The Hon. Michael Hodgman from politics. Liberal Leader Will Hodgman as with Liberal Leader Isobel Redmond in South Australia will hold the Government to account and be well placed to secure Majority Government in 2014.

South Australia State Election 20 March 2010

Victor P Taffa

Following the return of the writs for the South Australia State Election held on 20 March 2010 the makeup of the new Parliament is as follows:

House of Assembly

Seats Held

Labor                                                               26        -2

Liberal                                                             18        +4

Independent                                                    3          -1

Total                                                               47

The Liberal Party gained the seats of Adelaide, Chaffey, Morialta and Norwood.

The Labor Party gained the seat of Mitchell at the expense of an Independent. Overall Labor lost 2 seats. 24 seats are required for a party to form a majority in the House.

Legislative Council

Seats Held

Labor                                                               8          Unchanged

Liberal                                                             7          -1

Greens                                                             2          +1

Independent                                                    2          -1

Dignity for Disability                                      1          +1

Family First                                                     2          Unchanged

Total                                                               22

11 seats were to be decided by the electorate and 2 Liberal Members retired going into the election. Labor representation remained unchanged as did Family First. The Liberal Party lost 1 seat and the Greens gained 1 seat. Dignity for Disability also gained a seat.

The position of the Rann Government has been weakened and Liberal Leader Isobel Redmond is well placed to continue to hold the Government to account and maintain maximum pressure on Ministers ahead of the 2014 State election.

Tasmania Electoral Commission

Victor P Taffa

Following on from first preference counts released by the Tasmania Electoral Commission Opposition Leader Will Hodgman would be well placed to form a Government.

The Liberal Party won 5,928 more statewide first preference group total votes than Labor and should each party hold 10 seats each in the new House of Assembly with the Greens holding 5 it is Liberal Leader Will Hodgman who would have the moral authority to become Premier of Tasmania.  

 

STATEWIDE First Preference Group Totals
GROUP A	4905
GREENS	62063
LABOR	109132
LIBERAL	115060
SOCIALIST ALLIANCE	660
Total	291820

.

Tasmania Electoral Commission

20 March 2010

Victor P Taffa

Progressive Quota	9881	Progressive Quota	10103	Progressive Quota	9676	Progressive Quota	9762	Progressive Quota	9534
BASS	BASS	BRADDON	BRADDON	DENISON	DENISON	FRANKLIN	FRANKLIN	LYON	LYON
LABOR		LABOR		GROUP A		GREENS		GREENS
CRIPPS Michelle	1519	BEST Brenton	6666	WILKIE Andrew	4905	BREWER Deborah	419	CASSIDY Karen	1334
McLEAN Scott	2886	BROAD Shane	3183	Group Total	4905	BURLING Adam	432	GRAHAM Jackie	865
O'BYRNE Michelle	10670	EATLEY Kay	1903	Quotas 0.51	Percentage 8.45%	HARRISON Mark	395	MORRIS Tim	7997
WEBB Brant	2443	GREEN Bryan	10674			HEATLEY Wendy	552	PRIOR Sharon	741
WIGHTMAN Brian	3020	RICHMOND Judy	2213	LABOR		McKIM Nick	13978	STEVENS Karl	855
Group Total	20538	Group Total	24639	BACON Scott	6779	Group Total	15776	Group Total	11792
Quotas 2.08	Percentage 34.65%	Quotas 2.44	Percentage 40.65%	BARTLETT David	9336	Quotas 1.62	Percentage 26.94%	Quotas 1.24	Percentage 20.62%
				OGILVIE Madeleine	552
GREENS		GREENS		SINGH Lisa	3536	SOCIALIST ALLIANCE		LIBERAL
BALL Jeremy	2029	FIELD Ted	820	STURGES Graeme	1097	FORWARD Jenny	250	GRAY Leigh R	1634
BOOTH Kim	8132	GILMOUR Claire	692	Group Total	21300	Group Total	250	HIDDING Rene	6746
DAY Sally	619	HENDERSON David	685	Quotas 2.20	Percentage 36.69%	Quotas 0.03	Percentage 0.43%	HOWLETT Jane	3982
ERNST Bev	359	HOUGHTON Melissa	684					PLAYSTED James	3596
WHISH-WILSON Peter Stuart	1090	O'HALLORAN Paul Basil	5286	LIBERAL		LABOR		SHELTON Mark	4758
Group Total	12229	Group Total	8167	ARCHER Elise	2717	BUTLER Ross	1704	Group Total	20716
Quotas 1.24	Percentage 20.63%	Quotas 0.81	Percentage 13.47%	BRANCH Jenny	1288	CHURCHILL Kate	837	Quotas 2.17	Percentage 36.22%
				GROOM Mattew	8786	GIDDINGS Lara	8869
LIBERAL		LIBERAL		LOWRIE Richard Kenneth	2916	HULME Daniel	2055
DAKIN Pamela Agnes	374	BROOKS Adam	6570	STEVENSON Matt	1633	O'BYRNE David	4499	LABOR
FERGUSON Michael	14821	DUNHAM Grant	1123	Group Total	17340	Group Total	17964	BUTLER Heather	2276
GUTWEIN Peter	8543	HISCUTT Leonie Anne	2554	Quotas 1.79	Percentage 29.87%	Quotas 1.84	Percentage 30.67%	LLEWELLYN David	5814
McGINTY Michele Colette	1194	LAMONT Philip	551					POLLEY Michael	7595
PEDLEY Nick	478	ROCKLIFF Jeremy	10219	GREENS		LIBERAL		SULLIVAN Brendan	1133
Group Total	25410	WHITELEY Brett	5245	ANN Penelope	708	COMPTON David	515	WHITE Rebecca	5768
Quotas 2.57	Percentage 42.86%	Group Total	27329	BURNET Helen	2752	HODGMAN Will	18647	WRIGHT Nick	2105
		Quotas 2.71	Percentage 45.09%	COVER Peter	765	LAW Julien	807	Group Total	24691
UNGROUPED				FRANKS Kartika	601	MULDER Tony	1986	Quotas 2.59	Percentage 43.17%
COLLIER Jim	149	UNGROUPED		O'CONNOR Cassy	9273	PETRUSMA Jacquie	2310
KAYE Peter	252	BLAKE Valerie Jane	231	Group Total	14099	Group Total	24265	Total Formal Votes	57199
PARISH Tim	455	KIDD Timothy	249	Quotas 1.46	Percentage 24.29%	Quotas 2.49	Percentage 41.43%	Informal Ballot Papers	2518
WEBB Mark	139
WIENER Sven	109			SOCIALIST ALLIANCE		UNGROUPED		Electors on Roll	72346
				BARNES Melanie	410	FORSTER John Michael	311	% Counted	82.54%
Total Formal Votes	59281	Total Formal Votes	60615	Group Total	410
Informal Ballot Papers	2489	Informal Ballot Papers	2715			Total Formal Votes	58566	FINAL FOR NIGHT
				Total Formal Votes	58054	Informal Ballot Papers	1861	SHEET 11 9.35pm
Electors on Roll	71305	Electors on Roll	72016	Informal Ballot Papers	1907
% Counted	86.63%	% Counted	87.94%			Electors on Roll	70326
				Electors on Roll	71322	% Counted	85.92
FINAL FOR NIGHT		FINAL FOR NIGHT		% Counted	84.07%
SHEET 11 8.54pm		SHEET 15 11.55pm				FINAL FOR NIGHT
				FINAL FOR NIGHT		SHEET 57 9.59pm
				SHEET 17 10.16pm

.

Victor P Taffa

The Tasmania State election has been fought on local issues however the Labor Party has two factors going against it. For the Bartlett Government to lose its majority Labor only requires 2 seats to fall. The other factor is the length of time that Labor has been on the Treasury benches. Labor won office in 1998 and has also the Hare Clark electoral system that favours minor parties. The Hare Clark system elects more than one member per House of Assembly seat.

Tasmania is divided into five electorates for Federal Parliament representation and in the State Parliament the same five electorates elect seven members.

The Tasmania Electorates are as follows:

• Bass
• Braddon
• Denison
• Franklin
• Lyons

The makeup of the House of Assembly going into the election is as follows:

Seats Held

Labor                   14

Liberal                  7

Greens                  2

Total:                   25

The Legislative Council has 15 Members, each representing one of 15 electoral divisions. The boundaries of the current divisions were determined by the Legislative Council Redistribution Tribunal on 14 June 2008.Elections are conducted on a 6 year periodic cycle. Elections for 3 members are held in May one year, with elections for 2 members held in May the following year and so on. Voting is compulsory. Each elector may only have one opportunity to vote in Legislative Council elections once every 6 years.

 

The makeup of the Legislative Council is as follows:

Seats Held

Labor                    3

Liberal                  1

Independent       11

Total:                   15

Victor P Taffa

The South Australia State election has been fought on local issues and a close result is likely however the outcome of the poll may not be known for days given that 99,500 Postal Vote applications have been processed by the South Australia Electoral Commission. This figure represents a 51% increase from the 2006 State election.

The makeup of the House of Assembly going into the election is as follows:

Seats Held

Labor                             28

Liberal                           14

National                         1

Independent                4

Total:                            47

 

The makeup of the Legislative Council going into the election is as follows:

 

Seats Held

Labor                             8

Liberal                            8

Greens                            1

Family First                   2

Independent                   3

Total:                            22

All of the House of Assembly seats are being contested however only half of the Legislative Councils seats are contested today. Of the 11 sitting Legislative Councillors there are 2 retirements. Hon. Robert Lawson and Hon. Caroline Schaefer will be leaving the Parliament.  

The voting figures will be made available as the South Australia Electoral Commission finalises counts.

Polling booths close at 6pm (CDST) South Australia is ½ hour behind Sydney (EDST)

South Australia Electoral Commission

South Australia Electoral Commissioner Kay Mousley

RECORD POSTAL VOTES FOR STATE ELECTION

March 19, 2010

Victor P Taffa

The Electoral Commission of South Australia has processed a record number of Postal vote applications ahead of tomorrow’s State election.

When postal vote applications closed at 5 pm yesterday, the Commission had received a total of 99,500 applications, a 51% increase on the 2006 election figure of 66,000.

The 99,500 postal vote applications represent almost 10% of eligible voters enrolled for the election.

The Electoral Commissioner, Ms. Kay Mousley, said all postal vote applications that had been received by the Commission before 5 pm yesterday had been processed.

Ms. Mousley said anyone who had not applied for a postal vote but would be unable to attend a polling place tomorrow could still apply to vote early through any of the 21 Early Voting Centres across South Australia.

The Early Voting Centre locations are on the Commission’s website, www.ecsa.sa.gov.au and will be open until 5 pm today.

Ms. Mousley said that with the high number of postal votes, there was a strong possibility that results of the election could be delayed.

“Postal votes take considerable time to verify before being admitting to scrutiny and we must wait seven days after Election Day for the return of postal votes.”

“As a result, it is highly likely that election results may not be available on election night, particularly in districts where no candidate attracts an overall majority of votes.

“In a tight election, this could mean the results may not be known until the following Saturday or Sunday.” Ms. Mousley said.

 

 

South Australia Shadow Minister for Finance Rob Lucas

RANN/FOLEY ARROGANCE Shhh, secret $24,000 pay rise to Labor staffer

Victor P Taffa

Documents released under Freedom of Information revealed Premier Rann and Treasurer Foley had agreed secretly in the weeks leading up to the election to a massive $24,000 pay rise to a Ministerial staffer in Mr. Foley’s office.

“These documents reveal that Daniel Romeo, a 28 year-old Ministerial Adviser to Mr. Foley, was in January this year given a $24,035 pay rise – or an increase of 26.4 %.” Shadow Minister for Finance Rob Lucas said today.

“Mr. Romeo was also back-paid to 1 October 2009.”

“Mr. Romeo’s previous salary package with Mr. Foley was $90,965 and it has now exploded to $115,000.” Mr. Lucas said.

“It also means if Mr. Romeo loses his job after the State Election he will get 16 weeks’ severance pay at the much higher salary of $115,000.”

“This is an outrageous act by Mr. Rann and Mr. Foley and another example of the appalling arrogance of the Labor Party.

“This is yet another example of wasteful spending of taxpayers’ money by Mr. Rann and his arrogant Labor Government.”Mr. Lucas said.

“Teachers, nurses and public servants who fought for years for much more modest pay increases will be outraged when they learn of Mr. Rann’s and Mr. Foley’s decision.”

“It shows how out of touch both Mr. Rann and Mr. Foley are after eight long years in Government.”

“Information provided to the Liberal Party from other Rann Government Ministerial Advisers indicates there is fury within their ranks at the favoured treatment given to Mr. Romeo.” Mr. Lucas said.

“They argue accurately that Mr. Romeo’s job has in reality not changed at all and he has exactly the same responsibilities as many of those who haven’t received a massive $24,035 pay rise.”

“The Liberal Party has been informed by other Ministerial Advisers that Mr. Romeo had told Mr. Foley he was going to leave Mr. Foley’s office for a job in another Minister’s office.”

“Mr. Foley then told Mr. Romeo that he would arrange this massive backdated pay rise to keep him in his office.”

“Mr. Rann and Mr. Foley must now come clean and indicate whether any other “Spin Doctors” and Labor staffers have been given massive secret pay rises.”

“A similar FOI application lodged with Mr. Rann at the same time in January has still not been answered by the Premier.” Mr. Lucas said.

Responsibility for Election Comment

Under the provisions of the relevant Electoral Act responsibility for all election comment is assumed by Editor Victor P Taffa. The Registered office of The Southern Thunderer is at 4/69a Darvall Road, West Ryde NSW 2114.

Kay Mousley

South Australia Electoral Commissioner

RECORD NUMBER OF POSTAL VOTES ISSUED

Victor P Taffa

A record number of postal votes have been issued for the State election on March 20.

By the close of business on Friday, March 12, the Electoral Commission had processed almost 80,000 applications for postal votes.

In the 2006 State election, a total of 66,000 postal votes were received.

The Electoral Commissioner, Ms Kay Mousley, said that applications for postal votes would close at 5 pm on Thursday March 18.

“Based on previous experience, we expect the number of applications will slow in the remaining few days.” Ms. Mousley said.

“However, it is entirely possible that around 90,000 postal votes will be lodged in the State election.

“These votes take considerable time to verify before admitting to scrutiny and we must wait seven days after Election Day for the return of postal votes.

“As a result, it is highly likely that election results may not be available on Election night, particularly in districts where no candidate attracts an overall majority of votes.

“In a tight election, this could mean the overall results may not be known until the following Saturday or Sunday.”

Ms Mousley said postal votes were available if an elector was unable to attend a polling place on Election day.

This could include people who:

• Would be working through the hours of polling

• Were ill, infirm or disabled (or caring for someone who was)

• Were in an advanced stage of pregnancy

• Were travelling throughout polling hours

• Would not be within 8km of a polling place

• Were members of a religious order that precluded attendance at a polling place

• Were silent electors (address details suppressed on the electoral roll).

Application forms for postal voting can be obtained from post offices or downloaded from the ECSA website: www.ecsa.sa.gov.au

 

 

VICTOR P TAFFA FOR NEWCASTLE 26 MARCH 2011

*Construct rail over/underpasses where appropriate

Victor P Taffa Media Release

www.southernthunderer.com.au

www.isput.com.au

Newcastle has been split by a divisive, debilitating debate on the future of the Railway and an air of instability stands over the future of development in the city.

Today I announce my candidacy for the 26 March 2011election for the State seat of Newcastle. My key focus of the campaign will be to reunite Newcastle and focus on the great aspects the city has to offer and how we can go forward with the railway operating into the central business district long into the 2050’s.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The decision to contest the seat of Newcastle also means that the people who have voted for me in three elections will have to shift allegiances elsewhere. So as not to feel left out my supporters will be able to visit Newcastle by car or train to assist my campaign if they so wish. Naturally as the Member for Newcastle travel to Sydney is required along with visits to my close knit family.

The Labor Party has only itself to blame for dividing Newcastle. Removing railway level crossings has created congestion and tension amongst fellow novocastrians. The crossing issue also affects Warnervale and other parts of the Northern railway line throughout the Central Coast.

When sitting MP Bryce Gaudry was disendorsed by the National Executive of the Labor Party by a margin of 13-7 in 2007 it demonstrated how out of touch a once great party has become. Led by then President Mike Rann MP the executive proceeded to expel the 55 strong Carrington Branch which included returned serviceman and 20 year Newcastle State MP Arthur Wade (1968-88.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The campaign will include the following:

 

• Retention of the Newcastle Railway

 

• Reinstate railway level crossings

 

• Construct railway over/underpasses where appropriate

 

• Build stabling facilities at Broadmeadow for all trains

 

• Construct a new station called Harbourlink between Civic and Newcastle

 

• Enhance and expand the ferry service

 

• Encourage development of Newcastle

 

• Restaurant/lounge carriage for every New South Wales passenger train 

 

Working with neighbouring MP’s to achieve the following:

 

• Lengthen all Central Coast Station platforms (except Wondabyne)

 

• Retain Wallsend Hospital in public hands and upgrade facilities

 

• Construct the Glendale Interchange

 

• Construct lifts for Cardiff Station

 

• Install traffic signals at Main Road/ Harrison Street Cardiff

 

• Stop the Tillegra Dam

 

• Work with Local Government to improve bus waiting shelters and sporting facilities

 

• Passenger rail services reintroduced to Cessnock as contained in www.isput.com.au

 

• Should the Branxton expressway proceed the carriageways need to be divided by a railway as is the case in Perth, Western Australia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Newcastle deserves better than the second rate manner in which it has been treated by the Labor Party. No major city can move forward while residents are pitted against each other over a railway line. Labor has taken Newcastle for granted and as the elected member I will give the people the representation that they are entitled to.

New South Wales and Newcastle needs new faces and a new Government.

Victor P Taffa is a member of the NSW National Party and looks forward to working closely with others seeking a change from the inertia that has paralysed this State for a long time.

On 26 March 2011, VOTE 1  VICTOR P TAFFA FOR NEWCASTLE

 

 

Railway restaurant/lounge carriages:

For time poor commuters whether it is early morning or late at night people should be able to purchase a food item.

 

• Restaurant/lounge carriages would be included on every train. Passengers will be able to purchase food and beverages and consumed within the same carriage. By utilising a whole carriage passengers can sit and relax on lounge style seating so that the other carriages are maintained in their present format and thus enable laws relating to the consumption of food and beverages on a train remains unaltered.

 

• Restaurant /lounge carriages would be leased to independent operators and would only relate to the provision of food and beverages.

 

• Every railway depot could have a different provider of the food and beverage operation. Ownership of the carriages will remain with RailCorp.

 

Media enquiries: Victor P Taffa

Mob: 0416 134 650

Email: [email protected]