The latest Essential Research poll finds the parties locked in their post-carbon tax stasis, with the Coalition steady on 47 per cent, Labor steady on 35 per cent, the Greens up one to 10 per cent and two-party preferred steady on 54-46. The survey also includes the monthly approval rating, and finds both recovering from poor showings last time: Julia Gillard up four on approval to 41 per cent and down two on disapproval to 48 per cent, Tony Abbott up six on approval to 42 per cent and down four on disapproval 44 per cent (a trend replicated elsewhere), and Gillard’s preferred prime minister rating has narrowed fractionlly from 42-33 to 43-35. Further questions on the budget find 45 per cent believe the economy to be headed in the right direction – down six on post-2010 budget – and wrong direction up four to 29 per cent. Respondents were also asked about world terrorism and the death of Osama bin Laden, and a further question about our involvement in Afghanistan found opposition continuing to harden: those favouring an increase in troop numbers have dropped from 10 per cent to 5 per cent, those favouring withdrawal are up from 47 per cent to 56 per cent, while support for the existing commitment is steady on 30 per cent.
Blue-Green — I think you’re being overly critical here.
ALP has needed to restate a lot of policy because the media hasn’t listened or refuses to disseminate them.
[ScottMorrisonMP | 1 minute ago
Gillard popn policy has more glossy photo’s than Women’s Weekly’s Royal Wedding Coverage – all spin no substance #auspol #fb]
Shouldn’t Scott be out there breaking the windows of Muslim ran businesses?
Extreme rhetoric, I know, but that dirtbag deserves no less!
[Really nice bloke but I think better off in an adminstrative portfolio rather than ones which attract strong opinions from different sides with Tony in the middle.]
i think may be he and JUlia dont want any more boat rocking at the moment
sorry about the ( boat ] word. but really B/G we dont enough is enough after the carbon tax i wish they would do nothing else but do things. just for now please
[lizzie
Posted Friday, May 13, 2011 at 4:12 pm | Permalink
true prosperity is built through generations
What about the rags to riches migrants? Quite a number of them in Aus.
Yes, hard work, but also a ruthless determination to make a profit.
]
Rags to riches stories are made of migrants who have had instilled in them a ferocious work ethic. The families who have children that made it big are becuase the family instilled that in their children and over enough time someone in the generation of children was going to get lucky.
Even if you look at the migrant families. The ones who made it here were from the higher eshalons of their orginal society. They were the succesful traders, merchants, handipeople.
I recommend you read Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. By far his most insightful work. Talks alot about the circumstances where the rags-to-riches stories come from. It is always a combination of family and luck (and of course hard work).
Cyan, what does “Regional Development” have to do with Urban cash splashes?
i would even like to see the water buy back thing on hold and the mind tax
its all to much for my brain i just want peace and order you know like howard
do nothing just for a year or so
lets face thats the way he won elections by doing nothing notice able but of course the iraq war but that did not effect every one, so most didnt care
[I am thinking that Mark Butler will inherit the Labor leadership after we have 6 years of Gillard govt.]
I am definitely thinking he is a rising star and could be the favourite candidate for first ever PM representing a South Australian electorate. (Sorry, Pyney!)
Was Gough Whitlam correct, yet again, in trying to get regional centres happening? What would Wagga, Albury etc look like now if not for Fraser?
[I am definitely thinking he is a rising star and could be the favourite candidate for first ever PM representing a South Australian electorate. (Sorry, Pyney!)]
Pebbs
Pyne would be a disgrace as a School Council chairman.
[ BernardKeane Bernard Keane
Me on Tony Abbott’s content-free Budget Reply, and why we should ditch the ritual http://tinyurl.com/64dkot6
1 minute ago Favorite Retweet Reply ]
i sent the abc the article about the pope and global warming lets see if they do anything with it
My say @ 5809
[i remember going through a time when people would say” and What do you dooooo”
when i mentioned what i did it was o my god really do you earn anything from that?
in the end I loved telling them what i did to see what happened, it was very enlightening and invigorating sometimes]
I remember when people would ask “what does your husband do? If hubby’s job wasn’t important enough, they gave you the bum’s rush.
I’m with bluegreen on the intergenerational wealth transfer stuff. I don’t think we doubt that the boomers parents worked and left a good society an inheritance
and and we know we will be working hard a long time to pay off the debts the boomers leave – it is wtf the boomers have done in the middle that needs explaining.
[ruawake
Posted Friday, May 13, 2011 at 4:21 pm | Permalink
Cyan, what does “Regional Development” have to do with Urban cash splashes?
]
Well spotted. Burke is being duplicitous here.
Under the EPBC Act, the federal government has to consider approvals for developments that affect anything on the Endagered Species list. These actions are usually sparked by urban development- As the rules for rural landclearing are much more strict than those for urban clearing.
So rather than the Federal Govt wanting to deal with applications for every ten to hunder lot development who want to knock down some trees, the federal government asks the state to come up with a Regional Assessment. ie how much damage will be done across the outskirts of Melbourne?; is it too much?; what can we do to offset the damage ? etc. Because the states also have legislation to deal with these things- the feds want to do the assessment together.
I can think of at least half-a-dozen of these things going on at the moment- Burke has just rebranded the money.
So, in effect, they are not Regional Plans, meaning from ‘the regions’; they are Regional Plans, meaning of the scale of a region (Cf a site or a suburb or a state). But largely they will relate to urban expansion and potentially some coalfields, but not regions as in WIndsor/Oakshott country.
Does that answer your question?
[Pebbs
Pyne would be a disgrace as a School Council chairman.]
The fact that he takes up 1/150 of our HoR is a disgrace. Blah! I catch the bus past his electorate office everyday as well!
[…and we know we will be working hard a long time to pay off the debts the boomers leave…]
What debts? The boomers paid off the debts of their parents and then paid for infrastructure that will be used by their children.
[jenauthor
Posted Friday, May 13, 2011 at 4:17 pm | Permalink
Blue-Green — I think you’re being overly critical here.
ALP has needed to restate a lot of policy because the media hasn’t listened or refuses to disseminate them.]
In general I agree. But in this case I referring to the population policy.
The population policy was an idea that was floated in the election campaign. It allowed the ALP to answer questions about congestion and immigration by saying:
“look, I have just appointed a Population Minsiter, and he will write a population policy, and that will answer your questions”
Well now they have released the policy. And it doesnt answer any questions.
As upsetting as it is for us bunnies who will be left the warmed planet and boomer debts I note tsop’s 5852 and note for all those who continually bag labor for failing sell detailed policy. Labor can’t win it is either boring failed sales person killing the audience with detail or all spin and no substance. Sometimes we get both bullets shot at the same time.
Kidette
Thanks for the link to B Keane’s article. One of his better ones.
Nice post BB @5774. I do not know what you do IRL but not a journalist obv. Why do I get better analysis by lurking here than I get from the combined news resources of the free world?
[5867
ruawake
Posted Friday, May 13, 2011 at 4:32 pm | Permalink
…and we know we will be working hard a long time to pay off the debts the boomers leave…
What debts? The boomers paid off the debts of their parents and then paid for infrastructure that will be used by their children.
]
You are kidding right?
[WeWantPaul
Posted Friday, May 13, 2011 at 4:28 pm | Permalink
I’m with bluegreen on the intergenerational wealth transfer stuff. I don’t think we doubt that the boomers parents worked and left a good society an inheritance
and and we know we will be working hard a long time to pay off the debts the boomers leave – it is wtf the boomers have done in the middle that needs explaining
]
Ta WWP.
I just don’t think it widely enough recognised the role of luck in life. And if you look at the income/mortgage-repayment graph at the RBA you can see how unlucky (In at least that sense) the current generation are.
Also a look at the growth in house price graph. Its frightening. The sustained growth in house prices over the last twenty to thirty years in Australia is unprecented in the recent history of the developed world.
[my say
Posted Friday, May 13, 2011 at 4:13 pm | Permalink
as long as he remains opp leader then thats ok
B/G dont quite get the meaning what was that about and how did you find it]
My Say,
It was just a prediction I wrote a year ago. The ALP said they would write a population policy. I predicted that the policy would be rubbish.
And it was.
SK:
Thanks for that link to Bernard Keane.
[It’s funny, looking back. When Labor had a massive polling lead in 2008 and 2009, it governed like it was trailing by eight points. Now that it is trailing by eight points, it’s found some reform backbone, even if its selling remains poor and it can’t bring itself to pick any really big fights on issues like taking taxpayers’ money off bludgers on middle class welfare. Not that that’s likely to save it.
Little wonder Abbott feels zero compulsion to offer anything other than verbiage and slogans.]
What would happen if the govt simply ignored Abbott and his hysterics? What if the PM never referenced the opposition directly, but just continued to talk up what the govt has achieved?
Unfortunately the transcript of the PM’s press conference with Mark Butler doesn’t include the questions part, but her answer to one question was to simply refused to directly answer it, choosing instead to turn it round as a positive of what the govt had done on childcare, education, health, like Grog suggested. It cut the questioner off completely.
[You are kidding right?]
Not at all. Once again, what debts?
[What would happen if the govt simply ignored Abbott and his hysterics? What if the PM never referenced the opposition directly, but just continued to talk up what the govt has achieved?]
Confessions, that’s what I and others have been saying for a long time – I just don’t understand why it isn’t considered a viable strategy. Or at least, I haven’t heard why it would cause any negativity towards the government if they treated the coalition in this way.
[Not at all. Once again, what debts?]
Who do you think is going to pay to clean up the climate change mess? Either the adaptation or the mitigation bill.
george:
The PM calls a press conference to announce some new policy or funding or initiative, and gets swamped by questions, not about the announcement, but about Tone’s latest rant or thought bubble. NEW ELECTION NOW!!! was what she copped this morning from several journos.
[Who do you think is going to pay to clean up the climate change mess? Either the adaptation or the mitigation bill.]
In the long run, nobody.
Possum on the Popn policy
[Pollytics Possum Comitatus
Well, that was wholly uninspiring.
1 hour ago »
Pollytics Possum Comitatus
Love the language in the report. Road upgrades have turned into “Managed Motorways” 😛
1 hour ago »
Pollytics Possum Comitatus
The Population Strategy in a nutshell “We’re not touching this with a 40ft pole, the States can deal with it. Might throw them the odd bone”
]
What I am really impressed with is how Burke has rebranded core Enviro Dept business as a new strategy requiring new money.
Very clever.
And the PM (and Labor ftm) keep saying what a risk Abbott is. Maybe the best way to communicate how risky he is is to keep delivering in order to give themselves something to talk up in order to demonstrate that Tone and the coalition have no new ideas.
[5870 BK
Posted Friday, May 13, 2011 at 4:34 pm | Permalink
Kidette
Thanks for the link to B Keane’s article. One of his better ones.]
i think some one had a go at you bk saw bk mentioned but couldnt find you.
any way i didnt like the last part of his article. still dont have sub. probably want ever
Heres what Burke said as part of the popn policy
[The Sustainable Regional Development program will support strategic assessments under national environmental law in up to seven additional regional and coastal growth areas.
“This program will improve environmental outcomes whilst also giving certainty to state and local governments and the private sector to invest in housing, infrastructure and resource development,” Mr Burke said. ]
So the key phrase is “strategic assessment”. To the ousider it sounds like a new thing the govt is doing.
But just a quick google search reveals how much of this is already doing
[Under section 146 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), the Commonwealth Environment Minister may agree to conduct a strategic assessment of actions that may be carried out under a proposed policy, program or plan.
Strategic assessments under section 146 of the EPBC Act:
Browse Basin LNG Precinct (West Kimberley)
Melbourne’s urban growth boundary (Victoria)
Molonglo and North Weston (Canberra)
Western Sydney growth centres (NSW)
Fire management policy (South Australia)
Midlands Water Scheme (Tasmania)
Mount Peter Master Planned Area (Queensland)
The EPBC Act also contains in sections 147 to 154 particular provisions for the strategic assessment of Commonwealth-managed fisheries.
The following notices are provided by the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts to help provide information on strategic assessments.
Please note: under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 , all requirements for public consultation and all requirements that information be made available to the public may be superseded on the grounds of national security, or if the information is advice to the Minister or commercial-in-confidence.
Title of strategic assessment Notifications from EPBC Act Date of notice Documents
Strategic assessment of major military exercises Draft terms of reference – release for public comment
Public comment closed COB on 18 April 2005 Draft terms of reference (Department of Defence web site)
Offshore petroleum exploration and appraisal activities Draft strategic assessment report – released for public comment
Call for comment closed 3pm on 14 March 2005 Draft strategic assessment report (DITR web site)
Torres Strait Beche-de-mer Fishery Draft Strategic Assessment Report – released for public comment
Call for comment closed Friday 15 October 2004 Draft Strategic Assessment Report (AFMA web site)
Commonwealth Fisheries Strategic Assessment – Torres Strait Beche-de-mer Fishery (Coasts and Oceans web site)
etc
etc
etc]
http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/notices/strategic.html
ie its core deparment business rebranded and refunded as a brand new and exciting policy.
Really amazing work Mr Burke. I am so looking forward to the MDB efforts and the results of the Hawke Review that you shelved.
Of course this didn’t get reported much (no broken glass involved), but I thought this was pretty good from one of the press conferences yesterday:
[JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, the Treasurer was asked this morning and couldn’t answer the question, I was just wondering if perhaps if you were able to tell us the last time Labor delivered a surplus?
PM: Yes, I can. It’s 1989-90, but very happy to play a pop quiz with you. Highest taxing government in Australia’s history – anybody got the answer? Anybody? You’ve heard Mr Abbott talk about tax a lot – highest taxing government in Australia’s history? What’s the answer?
JOURNALIST: Would it be the Coalition?
JOURNALIST: I don’t know.
PM: What’s the answer?
JORUNALIST: You tell me.
PM: The Howard Government, of which Mr Abbott was a senior minister.
So, every time any of you, or indeed the Australian people, ever hear the word ‘tax’ come out of Mr Abbott’s mouth, in any context, the question to him is ‘what does he say, having imposed the highest taxes on this nation that have ever been imposed on it?’
JOURNALIST: Would you like to be a journalist?
PM: Well, all I ask for is accurate, detailed reporting. Highest taxing government? Tick – Tony Abbott.]
Craig Emerson and Joe Hockey on Sunday Agenda. I wonder if they’ll go toe to toe.
If the seven assessments that have been underway for years- these ones
[Strategic assessments under section 146 of the EPBC Act:
Browse Basin LNG Precinct (West Kimberley)
Melbourne’s urban growth boundary (Victoria)
Molonglo and North Weston (Canberra)
Western Sydney growth centres (NSW)
Fire management policy (South Australia)
Midlands Water Scheme (Tasmania)
Mount Peter Master Planned Area (Queensland)]
Are the seven assessment that Burke refers to in todays population policy media release:
[The Sustainable Regional Development program will support strategic assessments under national environmental law in up to seven additional regional and coastal growth areas.
“This program will improve environmental outcomes whilst also giving certainty to state and local governments and the private sector to invest in housing, infrastructure and resource development,” Mr Burke said. ]
Then Burke has proved he is the hollow man I have always thought he was.
You are welcome guys. I aim to please!
[What would happen if the govt simply ignored Abbott and his hysterics? What if the PM never referenced the opposition directly, but just continued to talk up what the govt has achieved?]
she just says we are here to discuss a and b ect. and takes no question expcept on what she is talking about.l also they should be made say their names they are int he US. after all thats just good manners, then we could hear who they are as well and write to them re stupid questins and tweet them.
the walk off and leave them just like he does.
As Wayne Goss said last night, Australia will need 35 million people by 2050. The only other course of action is a rapid decline in household income.
Of course the Libs will channel one nation and citizens against further immigration but will do nothing, except maybe increase immigration.
The Greens will say every blade of grass is precious, while living in their concrete jungles.
[And the PM (and Labor ftm) keep saying what a risk Abbott is. Maybe the best way to communicate how risky he is is to keep delivering in order to give themselves something to talk up in order to demonstrate that Tone and the coalition have no new ideas.]
I know what you’re saying, but they can still give them Sh*t to eat if they wont play by the government rules. Example:
Journalist: and now we’re joined by the Minister for *** – Minister, you’ve just heard the Opposition Leader say that your plan is not fully costed and would lead to enormous pressures on interest rates, what do you say to that?
Minister: I’m happy to be on your program ***, but I’m certainly not going to waste your viewer’s time by responding to questions from the opposition. There are legitimate questions you can frame within the context of what our policies outline, you don’t need the Leader of the Opposition to assist you in farming those questions, especially when they are incorrect and based on fairytale scenarios.
Journalist: But Minister, that is a legitimate question on whether your policy will lead to pressures in rates, isn’t it?
Minister: Are you asking whether the talking point you have taken from the Opposition Leader is a legitimate question – I mean, do you have a basis yourself, or your research team, or any independent research to show that our policy may lead to pressures on interest rates?
Journalist: Well the Opposition seem to think so.
Minister: So are you acting as a proxy for questions from the Opposition? I’m happy to answer questions that are based in fact, or questions that use factual independent research and analysis to support one opinion or another – do you have any?
Journalist: I would have thought.. I mean… well, do you think your policies will lead to pressures on interest rates?
Minister: No
Journalist: Based on what evidence?
Minister: I see, now you want me to provide you with evidence, which I will, but you were happy to ask me to answer a question put forward by the coalition without you asking what evidence they had?
Journalist: ….
This can be repeated over and over, on every interview, every journalist, until they get the picture – ask serious questions based on fact, or be shown up to be an opposition stooge, or an idiot, or both.
My local govt got reports to justify doing everything (including debt funding replacement assets which were allowed to waste at all sorts of levels.
I always referred to it as intergenerational robbery because having failed to maintain assets they could justify not paying and leaving it to the future.
States are probably worse than the commonwealth but most assets have been ‘milked’ in areas like power transmittion probably too much because some of the bills are coming in now (a decade or two early).
The nbn if it goes ahead will be in the plus column infrastructure wise but I think the plan is for it to be private at some point?
[rishane
Posted Friday, May 13, 2011 at 4:57 pm | Permalink
Of course this didn’t get reported much (no broken glass involved), but I thought this was pretty good from one of the press conferences yesterday:
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, the Treasurer was asked this morning ]
funny you should put this here last night my oh said well the pm or MR swan should of then turned around at the abc the broken glass incident and ask them a curley question
good on her, that what she need to do all the time shame them o and name them
[
JOURNALIST: Would you like to be a journalist?
]
PM: Would you?
(Disclaimer: only happened in my mind)
BTW the Strategic Assessment for Western Sydney Growth Centres has been sitting on Burke’s desk for 12 months now. The state has done all it was required to do. The submissions and consultations are complete. All that is required from Burke is either a yes or a yes/if or a no.
He has had twelve months to make a decision and has yet too. So if the ALP want to talk about better strategic assessment or better environmental protection or better land supply- they actually have to just make a decision.
As I said, Hollow Man.
New thread.
WWP
The boom in Costello thinking has caused the infrastructure problems we have now. Would the Sydney Harbour Bridge have been built if it was paid for by those using it at the time? No of course not. It was paid for by future generations by borrowing.
But what do we have with new housing developments, the developer has to pay for the infrastructure, meaning that land prices increase, meaning new house prices increase, meaning established house prices increase. So instead of public debt increasing, private debt goes through the roof. But thats OK cos Costello can smirk from his hammock.
George 5877
This is the one area that I think Govt needs to improve. By responding to media questions that have been formed through a coalition prism they are playing the oppos. game.
If JG or any member has called a Press Conf.about say a lower tax then that is all you talk about. Journalist might ask a q at this conf about AS. You ignore the question and answer as if you were responding to a q on tax . When they do interviews they shouldn’t use the time to answer q’s put to them . They should just parrot the line that they want to . If journos get annoyed too bad. let them know that until they start to play the game then you will treat them with contempt.