So there’s nothing no one could object to in Queensland? The Queensland Liberal Party will not contest the by-election for Peter Beattie’s old seat. State Liberal leader Bruce Flegg urged the party to put forward a candidate for Brisbane Central, but, Crikey understands, nervous feds demanded the deployment of all troops on their campaign.

Rodney Croome and Malcolm Turnbull. “I’m uncomfortable with the view that Malcolm Turnbull has failed and ‘must go’,” veteran gay activist Rodney Croome writes on his blog. “Turnbull et al have had astounding success against great odds in changing attitudes within the Coalition.” He warns “[E]ven if Labor wins government the Senate may remain in the hands of the Coalition and conservative minor parties. And even if the Senate is controlled by Labor, or by Labor and progressive minor parties, a Labor Government might still drag its feet. In my experience, there’s nothing that spurs a Labor Government forward on LGBT human rights than a conservative opposition advancing on its moral high ground. An improved conservative policy on same-sex relationships is the best insurance the LGBT community can have against a tardy, future Labor Government.”

This isn’t covered by the opinion polls. A guinea pig wants John Howard’s job.