Crikey Worm …

WENTWORTH POSTAL BATTLE CONTINUES

Independent candidate for Wentworth Kerryn Phelps has extended her lead over Liberal Dave Sharma, after a commanding swing at Saturday’s Wentworth byelection was upended by a tense day of postal votes and recounts yesterday.

The ABC reports that, while early postal votes yesterday has Sharma fewer than 900 voters behind, recounts at Bondi Beach, Bellevue Hill and Vaucluse put Phelps ahead by more than 1,600, which according to election analyst Antony Green is likely strong enough to “survive the trend of the further postal votes”. While Fairfax’s David Crowe also has Phelps ahead under current forecasts, there are 5602 postal votes the AEC could still receive by November 2, of which 3300 are expected. You are welcome to go mad tracking the AEC count for yourself.

Regardless of the final outcome, the election day swing of 19% in a historically safe Liberal seat has lead to tensions over the government’s climate change policy, news that writer Jane Caro could run against Tony Abbott in Warringah, and a commitment from Phelps to prioritise evacuating children from Nauru if elected.

GILLARD SPEAKS AHEAD OF SORRY DAY

Former prime minister Julia Gillard has called on Australian governments not to dilute their response to the child abuse royal commission, which will today include the federal national apology, but stay “as close as possible” to recommendations for a National Redress Scheme.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Prime Minister Scott Morrison will issue the national apology to survivors today, with Opposition Leader Bill Shorten also expected to make an address, however survivor and support groups such as knowmore have warned that the scheme has strayed from royal commission recommendations. Gillard, who has also written a reflection on the commission, will sit with survivor advocates during the parliament events.

Telethons of the apology will be held across most capital cities today, including a Sydney Opera House event with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, while South Australian Minister for Child Protection Rachel Sanderson is expected to deliver a state apology.

ULURU CLIMB SPIKE

The number of people climbing Uluru has spiked since the Uluru-Kata Tjuta park board voted late last year to ban the practice, considered disrespectful by local Anangu people.

The NT News ($) reports that the number of daily climbs has jumped from around 50 to 140 last November, to 300 to 500 today. While the act won’t be prohibited until October 26th 2019, set to coincide with the 34th anniversary of Uluru’s return to traditional owners, Anangu groups have been asking visitors to not climb the sacred site for decades.

The Prime Minister reacts to the historic Wentworth swing by comparing himself to wounded armed services personnel and veterans.

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The person with the most to fear from the Liberal Party’s Wentworth debacle is Tony Abbott — Bevan Shields (Sydney Morning Herald): “The Wentworth smashing should send a shiver up Tony Abbott’s spine in the neighbouring electorate of Warringah. Saturday’s result proves blue-ribbon Liberal electorates will have no hesitation backing independents next year if they conclude the Coalition is still riven by leadership division and unwilling to take climate change seriously.”

Former Retail Food executives called to Canberra for grilling ($) — Adele Ferguson (Australian Financial Review): “A joint parliamentary inquiry into the powerful franchise sector is bracing for a fight after taking the rare step of slapping a summons on three former executives of Retail Food Group who have repeatedly refused to appear before the inquiry. “

Australians have no interest in joining U.S. cold war against China ($) — Bob Carr (The Australian): “Alexander Downer chewed ruminatively on his steak: ‘If you want a cold war with China, you will get a cold war with China.’ I had just been appointed foreign minister and was consulting my predecessors. Downer implied cold war was not smart diplomacy and not in Australia’s interest. But in its biggest policy shift on China since 1971, that is precisely what the US has embarked upon.”