Will the Liberals' decision to give preferences to Labor put an end to the Greens' chances of winning seats at this election? Tim Colebatch in the Age (15/8) argues that Adam Bandt still has a reasonable chance of retaining his seat of Melbourne and that the Greens could hold their own, or even improve their position in the Senate. 

He explains this as follows:

... if Liberal voters direct preferences as they did in the 2010 state election – the last time the Liberals told their supporters t...

Greg Combet at Press Council lunch:

"Carbon pricing is here to stay,'' said Minister for Climate Change Greg Combet today in defiance of Coalition claims Labor should bow to an election mandate. Mr Combet said if Tony Abbott were elected Prime Minister "he cannot and will not repeal the carbon price''. "Labor will remain committed to it,'' he told the National Press Club in Canberra. "Tackling climate change has been in our platform for over two decades, and we will fight for what we believe i...

Anthony Green, well-known election analyst, lists Batman as Labor's safest seat with a margin of 24.8%. However, he notes that "the margins for Batman and Grayndler are shown with a two-party preferred [Labor/Liberal] margin despite the Greens finishing second at the 2010 election."  When you look at the seat as  Labor/Greens marginal a different picture emerges. 

From Leone Taylor, 'The Guardian':

Batman is officially Labor’s safest seat, held by a margin of 24.8%.

But an aggregation of the l...

After Tony Abbott's tearful farewell to Martin Ferguson, the battle for preselection in what has been regarded as one of the ALP's safest seats is hotting up. But how safe is it really? (See post above.) David Feeney is standing for preselection, but Ged Kearney has pulled out. Now there are two new local female candidates standing.
 



From 'The Australian' today:
LABOR'S preselection battle for Martin Ferguson's Melbourne seat of Batman has widened, with two female candidates emerging from the ...

More from Business Spectator on the rumoured behind the scenes ALP struggle over the carbon price: It may prove mere coincidence that the day Business Spectator breaks news of Shorten possibly maneuvering on carbon pricing, Combet declares removing it would be “immoral”, arguably his strongest line since the policy was enacted.Regardless, his doorstop interview makes for intriguing reading in light of the Shorten speculation.
Journalist: Is Labor still committed if you find yourself in Opp...