For the second week in a row Essential Research has Labor clawing back a point on two-party preferred, from 53-47 to 52-48. The primary votes however are little changed: Labor up a point to 37 per cent, the Coalition steady on 46 per cent and the Greens on 10 per cent. However, a question on the government’s carbon pricing announcement find greater opposition than a fortnight ago, with 34 per cent support (down four) and 51 per cent opposition (up two). Forty per cent believe an early election should be called over the tax – mostly Coalition supporters, many of whom were keen on a new election to begin with – with 44 per cent opposed. A question on preferred form of compensation has 39 per cent favouring direct payment, 33 per cent an income tax cut and 13 per cent and cut to the GST rate.
More happy polling for Kevin Rudd, whose performance as Foreign Minister has 61 per cent approval and 19 per cent disapproval. Fifty-seven per cent approve his intervention in Libya, with only 22 per cent disapproving. There is also a question on the importance of Australia’s relationship with various countries, in which every single country has had an increase on “very important” since the question was previously asked in mid-November. New Zealand and Japan in particular appear to have recorded sympathy votes.
I haven’t indicated any position one way or another about Bolt’s “seriousness”. Like I said, this isn’t about him. It is about the appropriate reach of state power.
It’s not about Bolt though is it – it’s about the possibility for similar laws to be used against people who don’t have that sort of backing or clout.
BK it appears no matter what success the Govt have, with its undoubted brilliant negotiating skills, ala the Indies have been on side throughout (up yours Abbott), the MSM will continue this all out attempt to try and sway public opinion to bring the Govt down. It verges on the disloyal, or as the head rodent Howard introduced “unaustralian”.
When this term of the Gillard Labor Government concludes and she returns to the public for endorsement of her commitment to policy and renewal, the MSM will know their disgusting assault on a legitimately elected Government will have amounted to zilch. The cross benches have made it clear in the House of Reps they will not hand the keys to the Lodge to the sick Abbott and his rabble, so there is an end to the speculation.
Perhaps if the Libs see an open window, breath the fresh air and toss the refugee from the Jesuits out on his sorry arse, they may have a leader who can show this sorry pack of wandering no hopers, if they return to the values of a party Menzies intended it to be, hey just may regain some respect.
I feel 2013 will not be the year they have overcome the damage this Abbott disastrous experiment has been
QandA has just come on in my timezone. I wonder if the conservatives will be as odious this week as usual.
darn,
earlier, there was a mfarnsworth tweet that had the link to Windsor (which was pretty good). Go back a few pages to find.
I am not sure if this has been mentioned but earlier today Tony Windsor said that in the State seats in his federal election saw 53% of voters vote for an independant candidate.
@Goshome
Thing is, Free speech implies responsibility.
It is not a free for all
law does provide for that
And don’t talk to me about Pell.
Morris has LOST it!
Thanks GG (505)
William,
You can certainly agitate for change. However, the law of the the land is the law of the land.
Everyone seems to be a winner under the current regime, though.
[William Bowe
Posted Monday, March 28, 2011 at 10:13 pm | Permalink
I haven’t indicated any position one way or another about Bolt’s “seriousness”. Like I said, this isn’t about him. It is about the appropriate reach of state power.]
But William surely it IS about him (Bolt), his abuse of his position, he is the one in the dock. Or are you saying he is a poor misunderstood scapegoat, who doesn’t understand the boundaries of freedom of speech and his employers are to blame for allowing him the freedom he so blatantly exploits.
kezza2
Posted Monday, March 28, 2011 at 10:17 pm | Permalink
@Goshome
Thing is, Free speech implies responsibility.
It is not a free for all
law does provide for that
And don’t talk to me about Pell.
]
Exactly.
And the Ken Parish example is in a totally different context to what Bolt wrote.
[David
Posted Monday, March 28, 2011 at 10:19 pm | Permalink
William Bowe
Posted Monday, March 28, 2011 at 10:13 pm | Permalink
I haven’t indicated any position one way or another about Bolt’s “seriousness”. Like I said, this isn’t about him. It is about the appropriate reach of state power.
But William surely it IS about him (Bolt), his abuse of his position, he is the one in the dock. Or are you saying he is a poor misunderstood scapegoat, who doesn’t understand the boundaries of freedom of speech and his employers are to blame for allowing him the freedom he so blatantly exploits.
]
Or more to the popint Bilbo is scared that if Bolt loses – PB can be sued 🙂
What Plibersek should say is that if you don’t support a carbon tax, what you are actually supporting is that bureaucrats in Canberra and politicians can out guess the market.
Labor should turn this into an anti-politician / burecrat campaign.
On qanda; Tanya Pilbersek took it to the Liberals on the panel and really putting the narrative that it will be a tax on the 1000 biggest polluters and ordinary people will be compensated.
Connie has much in common with Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachmann.
No twitter feed going across QandA screen. Clearly everyone under 50 are still insulting the self-funded retiree cry-baby with language Aunty can’t screen.
Well Frank, joking as you may be. I am fairly sure that the next time there is a Liberal government in power in Australia you will see efforts made to reign in the ability of bloggers to use the internet to criticise those in power.
Even when these sorts of laws are well-meaning and are used against those whose views I find repulsive it reminds me of how they might be misused by future governments.
[Fiz
Posted Monday, March 28, 2011 at 10:25 pm | Permalink
No twitter feed going across QandA screen. Clearly everyone under 50 are still insulting the self-funded retiree cry-baby with language Aunty can’t screen.
]
Or are scared after last week’s tweet 🙂
William Bowe,
I demand, therefore, that you state your idea of “the appropriate reach of state power”
Nice idea (incitement to worry about the extent of state power over our lives) but you’re hiding behind a rather vague, nebulous statement.
[Or more to the popint Bilbo is scared that if Bolt loses – PB can be sued :-)]
That Frank is, in not so many words a gotcha. But of course it is not only William a judgement against Bolt will effect. It will turn blogging on its head.
[Come to Russia with me amigo!]
Amigo, thought you never ask. The Comrades in the Kremlin will be waiting by the Moscow Night:
[Moscow night so warm in this wintry day,
Oh, how I long for your touch,
Darling, where are you,
why you left me stranded here,
All alone, in this Moscow night.
Darling, I love you,
Why you left me all alone,
Stranded here in this Moscow night.]
[Goshome
Posted Monday, March 28, 2011 at 10:26 pm | Permalink
Well Frank, joking as you may be. I am fairly sure that the next time there is a Liberal government in power in Australia you will see efforts made to reign in the ability of bloggers to use the internet to criticise those in power.
Even when these sorts of laws are well-meaning and are used against those whose views I find repulsive it reminds me of how they might be misused by future governments.
]
Have you forgotten the laws introduced by Howard ?
Are they being used atm ??
No.
So that little arguement has ben laid to rest.
[David
Posted Monday, March 28, 2011 at 10:27 pm | Permalink
Or more to the popint Bilbo is scared that if Bolt loses – PB can be sued
That Frank is, in not so many words a gotcha. But of course it is not only William a judgement against Bolt will effect. It will turn blogging on its head.
]
last week people were complaining about what was posted on the Menzies House blog.
Now you are in effect defending them.
You cannot have it both ways.
[No twitter feed going across QandA screen.]
OMG you are right! I didn’t even notice it was missing.
Frank, PB can be sued any old day of the week, should pretty much anyone who’s ever been mentioned here feel in the mood for a bit of bullying. Another person who can be sued is you, based on demonstrably false and grotesquely defamatory things you have said about me in the fairly recent past on Twitter and Facebook (I cannot stress heavily enough though that this isn’t going to happen). All of which does indeed have a bearing on my views on freedom of speech, and quite rightly so. As I’ve said before and will no doubt say again: this isn’t about Andrew Bolt.
No, there are tweets.
The most biting person on tonite QANDA is Julian of the chaser. He uses humour to make his points succinctly. Bilbo could use some lessons from him.
Julian Morrow both humorous and well informed.
[William Bowe
Posted Monday, March 28, 2011 at 10:30 pm | Permalink
Frank, PB can be sued any old day of the week, should pretty much anyone who’s ever been mentioned here feel in the mood for a bit of bullying. Another person who can be sued is you, based on demonstrably false and grotesquely defamatory things you have said about me in the fairly recent past on Twitter and Facebook (I cannot stress heavily enough though that this isn’t going to happen). All of which does indeed have a bearing on my views of freedom of speech, and quite rightly so. As I’ve said before and will no doubt say again: this isn’t about Andrew Bolt.
]
Glass Jaw
You allow defanatory comments against me ALL the time – yet you cry crocodile tears when the boot is on the other foot.
Face it – it is all about your future.
[I demand, therefore, that you state your idea of “the appropriate reach of state power”]
You demand it? Jesus.
confessions – the twitter feed halted while the self-funded retiree talked. I imagine he wasn’t exactly loved by the twittersphere.
Oh dear, I didn’t realise Frank was a facebook stalker.
Fizz:
The twitter feed wasn’t as prolific as it has been in the past. Obviously the Pyne thing gave Aunty cause for reflection about tweets.
[ShowsOn
Posted Monday, March 28, 2011 at 10:37 pm | Permalink
Oh dear, I didn’t realise Frank was a facebook stalker.
]
I rest my cvase.
William,
Is this the time you start playing Piaf”s “Non Je Ne Regrette Rien”?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3Kvu6Kgp88
Couldn’t the self-funded retiree just put the rents up in his investment properties?
Frank
[Or more to the popint Bilbo is scared that if Bolt loses – PB can be sued]
And one of your comments would be the most likely reason why.
Let’s see if we can remember which PB poster was forced to make a grovelling apology to a politician? I wonder who that was.
And, William
you still haven’t answered me.
Andrew Bolt’s extremism needs to be reigned in.
I can understand you’re concern regarding state intervention,
but if you lot, you members of the AJA, are going to do nothing about it, who should?
[Couldn’t the self-funded retiree just put the rents up in his investment properties?]
wombat
The vast majority of self funded retirees are not landlords.
make that “reined”
Pilbasek is impressive. Haven’t watched qanda or much fed politics lately, but got back into it after “recent events”.
Who was the troll sitting next to her with the crook arm? (I think that is an acceptable gender-neutral term?).
[Diogenes
Posted Monday, March 28, 2011 at 10:38 pm | Permalink
Frank
Or more to the popint Bilbo is scared that if Bolt loses – PB can be sued
And one of your comments would be the most likely reason why.
Let’s see if we can remember which PB poster was forced to make a grovelling apology to a politician? I wonder who that was.
]
Only cause I worded it wrong.
But then again – you could keep Slater & Gordon in business for ever – especially re Rann.
[I rest my cvase.]
FINALLY! We have all been waiting at least 45 minutes!
*Pilbersek
Diogs,
Frank sends an ouch!
Nothing so far on LL about the NBN passing the parliament.
[Couldn’t the self-funded retiree just put the rents up in his investment properties?]
here on the CC the avg rental has gone from 320 to 400+ pw
cry me a river, greybeards
[ShowsOn
Posted Monday, March 28, 2011 at 10:41 pm | Permalink
I rest my cvase.
FINALLY! We have all been waiting at least 45 minutes!
]
no,
You proved my post re William allowing Defamatory Statements laid against ME without question.
Amigo we need to practice our dancing so we blend in
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDnLIYd0hZY&feature=related