Morgan has released what it describes as the “first major public opinion poll of 2014”, though it could just as easily have dropped the “major”. It provides no indication of festive cheer softening attitudes towards the new government, showing the Coalition down 1.5% on the primary vote to 39% with Labor also down half a point to 38%, the Greens up half a point to 10.5% and the Palmer United Party steady on 3.5%. That translates to a 53-47 lead to Labor on 2013 preference flows and 52.5-47.5 on the headline respondent-allocated figure. As has been Morgan’s form for a while now, this poll combines its regular weekend face-to-face polling with SMS component, in this case encompassing 2527 respondents from the two weekends past. The first Essential Research result for the year should be with us tomorrow.
UPDATE: Little change also from Essential Research, which opens it account for the year with a result from the polling period of Friday to Monday only, rather than its two-week rolling average. This has the Coalition leading 51-49, with the Coalition, Labor and the Greens each up a point on the primary vote to 45%, 38% and 8% respectively, with the Palmer United Party steady on 4% and others down two to 6%. Also featured are the monthly personal ratings, showing a slight improvement for Tony Abbott – up two on approval to 47% and down three on disapproval to 43% – and a softening for Bill Shorten, down four to 35% and up one to 32%. Preferred prime minister is little changed, Abbott’s lead shifting from 43-33 to 42-31. The poll also finds strong opposition to fees for GP visits, with 28% approving and 64% disapproving, and 47% support for Australia becoming a republic at the end of the Queen’s reign against 32% opposed.
Morrison: we are releasing a large amount of information
Mitch Fifield has announced that the Government has bought a number of life boats.
[Age is wonderful isn’t it!]
Some things I love about it, others I don’t, e.g Dr telling wife to watch OH 24/7 – stop him climbing ladders, the roof and trees to prune limbs, stop him using power tools … as if! Phew! It’s a full time job when OH won’t spend his days reclining in front of the telly or whatever. Hence my infrequent visits here. I think I should trade him in for an older one!!
Must admit that retirement is a bit of fun tho. No workplace responsibility is just heaven on a stick.
One problem – I’ve learnt to swear like a navvie at LNP faces on telly and voices on radio. Will I do the same if I am carted off to a nursing home one day. Hmm …
@tveedercom: Transcript of immigration Minister Scott Morrison media conference on Operation Sovereign Borders via @ABCNews24 http://t.co/AXeSdkSNTV
guy – or not.
Big NZ news
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11186874
MTBW
They are Australian owned and flagged so the legal implications of using them are enormous.
[1097
CTar1
Posted Wednesday, January 15, 2014 at 12:08 pm | PERMALINK
bemused
Sally Warhaft.
Sally wallnutt[
Give me a break!]
I can’t remember all their names, but Nicole Chevaskas & Liz Ellis are two I do remember and they were heaps better than Sally.
“@ABCNews24: .@ScottMorrisonMP: We are releasing a large amount of information, I think this is the 16th briefing I’ve held #auspol #asylumseekers”
There is an article in today’s ‘The Australian’ headed ‘Mother Nature suggests the party’s over for IPCC’
by Maurice Newman that is worth having a look at because it showcases several continuities and several discontinuities in terms of denier themes. The article is, in many ways, remarkably similar to that of Switzer yesterday. There can be little doubt that the climate nutters are out and about trying to sway public opinion in order to ease Abbott’s destruction of the ETS in order to establish a do-nothing climate program which will simply involve the transfer of taxpayer funds to selected big businesses.
Here are the essential elements of Newman’s article:
(1) State that I am the victim of attacks on me. This shows that my opponents don’t know what they are talking about. (Naturally, if Newman and Switser attack others this is a sign that they are wrong.)
(2) Assert a belief in AGW – but that it is not going to be catastrophic. (But avoid discussing just how hot it is going to get by when.)
(3) Assert that the models are wrong.
(4) Assert that the climate is fine, really. (Note the above heading).
(5) Assert that the science debate has been suborned by the IPCC which is a political institution.
(6) Quote from two out of ten thousand climate scientists. Choose two deniers who have been discredited time and again. (In this case Newman’s ratbags of choice are Spencer (who denies evolution) and Lindzen whose science is routinely taken to pieces by real climate scientists.
(7) Assert that attempts to do something about the climate have all been stupid, costly and wrong-headed.
(8) When actually addressing the science, ignore all signs of global warming and refer to the discredited warming ‘pause’. Ignore the recent science that most of the pause is attributable to not counting Arctic temperatures which are hugely anomalous, ignore deep ocean heating and ignore the point that despite a lack of an El Nino last year was the forth hottest global year on record.
Neither Switser or Newman move to the next logical step:
Under BAU carbon emissions scenarios what temperatures do they expect to see, what changes in rainfall do they expect to see, what changes in ocean chemistry do they expect to see and what changes in sea level rises do they expect to see? And by when?
Both are finance industry people so they would understand that what we are dealing with is risk management. If they expect us to take them seriously when they say they believe in human-caused climate changes, what are their scientific expectations? Then, having convinced us that their science is correct and that the risks they want us all to take are appropriate, exactly what policy responses do they want Australia and the world to take?
They do not do this. And here is a firm prediction: They never will.
Or could it be that at heart they do not believe in AGW and that they really are deniers and that the latest effort is yet another variation in the ceaseless efforts of climate nutters to get us to doubt the science and to do nothing?
Over to Newman and Switser. The science and policy ball is in their court.
Strong performance by Morrison, hit it for six.
Looks like the war on illegals and people smuggling is won.
Morrison’s lips are moving again.
BH
I am with you I enjoy doing exactly what I want to do.
It looks like SHY has done something right,
@ABCNews24: .@ScottMorrisonMP: I think it’s time for Senator Hanson-Young to stop running her conspiracy theories #auspol #asylumseekers
BH
[I’ve learnt to swear like a navvie at LNP faces on telly]
Worst things can happen!
[I had a work mate who used to exercise at lunch time – He called it shuffling.]
CTar1 I love that one. Yep, you reach an age where it’s shuffling. Lift those feet everyone!!
Is the Senate Committe being televised today? Sam D did quite well as a new Senator at Estimates.
BH
APAC is covering live. Otherwise its the Parliament House website
guytaur
Morrison has the hide to accuse someone of running conspiracy theories?
Now I have heard everything!
MTBW
[
Mitch Fifield has announced that the Government has bought a number of life boats]
After its Singapore stop Protector last transmitted two days ago as it steamed through the Java Sea. Dare say the lifeboats will pop up in Darwin of CI in the next day or so.
After its Singapore stop Ocean Protector……….
ST
[Looks like the war on illegals and people smuggling is won.]
Nope – just the war on the truth and decency.
I suspect the 3rd Reich didn’t comment on what was happening inside their concentration camps either. (Godwin intentional)
Journalists showing a lot more courtesy and respect to Angus Campbell – the news of successful boat turn/tow/backs must have reminded them that Gen Campbell is ex SAS.
Also much more courtesy to Scott Morrison. Journalists afraid they may be caught on the wrong side of the street on this story.
Couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch of hacks. 🙂
Is Monty Python writing scripts for Morrison & his 3* general? What on earth can they do with these lifeboats except use them to send asylum seekers away from Australia?
Perhaps we need one of those quizzes – 100 (ridiculous) ways to use a lifeboat.
[The Federal Government has confirmed it has purchased a number of lifeboats as part of its border protection operation but refuses to say how they will be used.
The Commander of Operation Sovereign Borders, Angus Campbell, has confirmed that a number of lifeboats have been bought, although he would not reveal further details.
“We’ve acquired them to be part of the range of measures that we have at play,” he said.
“Clearly a life boat … it’s involved potentially in those on water activities that we don’t discuss and so I’m not going to go further in that space.”]
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-15/general-campbell-confirms-customs-bought-life-boats/5201116
Thanks Guytaur. APAC it is with the aircon on.
Sorry, that should be wrong side of SHEET, of course.
Morrison reeking of confidence. The intelligence on the ground in Indonesia must be promising.
BH – be bad and not afraid of walking slow.
life is as it is.
bemused
Sally Warhaft – sooo slooow, as if she’s searching for the right button in between words. Hopeless.
Bar Bar
[Morrison reeking of confidence.]
Nope – it’s eau-de-hypocrisy that you’re smelling.
[ The intelligence on the ground in Indonesia must be promising.]
It’s called monsoon season (admitted by 3-start general).
BW,
Nice to see you notice (2) as well…
[(2) Assert a belief in AGW – but that it is not going to be catastrophic. (But avoid discussing just how hot it is going to get by when.)]
The argument rolls along.
(2)(a) It is not going to be catastrophic because we’ve dealt with warming before (e.g. “in Jesus’ time…”). We’ve had droughts before.
This ignores the difference in populations between “then” and “now”, and ignores the capacity for destruction by modern weapons, which will be used to fight wars over scarcer and scarcer resources.
(2)(b) “We’ll be alright Jack.” We’ll {bomb|drone attack|nuke} a few {hanky-heads|darkies|slopes} to teach them a lesson they’ll never forget. “Darkies” includes Pacific islanders, who – like climate scientists – are just after a free immigration ride, courtesy of the Australian taxpayer. Just what we are to do about the “slopes” in, say, China (all 1.2 billion of them) is rarely discussed.
TB
Scooter sounds redoubtable.
No one is illegal, how offensively racist to suggest such.
YB it seems the term illegal is just accepted these days.
[ Two numpty reporters on SKY news sounding very excited at the idea that Adelaide will reach record temperatures today. ]
Temperatures will always be higher under a Coalition government.
[Temperatures will always be higher under a Coalition government.]
I’ll pay that one and they certainly are here.
[1126
lizzie
Posted Wednesday, January 15, 2014 at 12:37 pm | PERMALINK
bemused
Sally Warhaft – sooo slooow, as if she’s searching for the right button in between words. Hopeless.]
Exactly. She is just torturous to listen to. I am just amazed they continue to use her.
She also is very bad at ending a call compared with any of the others.
Well, seems we have similar tastes in radio & tv.
guytaur@1108
morrison is saying, “We are releasing a large amount of information” while at the sametime announcing further cuts in the release of information – and he gets away with it.
What good little media dawgies.
Sadly, the ABC playing a straight bat – cowed and under control.
Increasing heatwaves threaten farming
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-14/climate-change-heat-waves/5199258?utm_source=hootsuite&utm_campaign=hootsuite
[“I don’t know about a long term trend,” said grazier John Bethel. “2002-3 were really bad. It goes in 11-year cycles. We were due for a bad year.
“Looking at the cycles; the 80s were dry, the 70s were wet, 60s were dry, the 50s were really wet. I don’t think there’s anything unique about it.”
But climate scientists emphasise that what has changed is the hotter temperatures. “We certainly have had some periods of dry before. We haven’t seen the periods of heat!” said Professor Pitman.
“If someone doesn’t think four degrees’ warming doesn’t sound very much, they’re misunderstanding how the climate works. Four degrees, on the global mean, might be six degrees on the mean/average over Australia, which might be seven to eight degrees on the maximum temperatures.
“So if you’re used to 33-34 degrees, adding seven or eight degrees to that, it adds immense stress to agricultural systems. You can’t just ignore it.”]
[Temperatures will always be higher under a Coalition government.]
If Abbott and Newman get their way Temperatures will always be higher BECAUSE OF a Coalition government.
The whole aim of the current “Antarctic stranding ha-ha” assault at the moment is to declare that the debate is over, and has been lost by Climateers.
Sensible tradies, shock-jocks, agrarian-socialist farmers, phoney scientists, campaigning journalists, Bondi Icebergers who haven’t noticed any rise in sea levels, and grain fed conservative politicians sucking off the tit of Big Business know better than the world’s Climate experts.
The same Aussie common sense that brought us the stump-jump plow, the Victa lawnmower, the Hills Hoist and Vegemite, now brings us The Demise Of Climate Change.
Look at other countries! Seeing that the worst per capita polluter (us) has actually reversed progress on copmbatting Climate Change, because other countries haven’t done anything much, the other countries that haven’t done anything much have decided to do even less (ignore any evidence to the contrary). The international vibe is against Climate Change, so it can’t possibly exist for much longer.
Just look at the polls! If Climate Change ever existed, the polls have chased it away.
Next up, “Shock Newspoll cures cancer.”
Do police dealing with actual criminals have the same exemption from workplace safety laws as sailors dealing with unarmed men, women and children on boats?
[Navy personnel carrying out border protection were quietly stripped of some workplace safety protections and obligations last month in an apparent preparation for dangerous operations such as turning back boats.
The Chief of the Defence Force, General David Hurley, used his powers under workplace safety laws shortly before Christmas to exempt Navy sailors from their obligation to take ”reasonable care” to ensure their own safety and that of other sailors and asylum-seekers.
The change aims to give sailors legal protection, meaning they would ”not face individual criminal sanctions under the Act for giving effect to Government policy”, an explanatory statement issued by General Hurley states.]
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/navy-sailors-now-on-war-footing-to-turn-back-boats-20140114-30t47.html#ixzz2qQa7Oqv7
BW/BB
The ClimateDeniers are also using the familiar 4 ring circus technique. Depending what the accuser says, choose one of the 4 answers, rinse and repeat. A great way of delaying action in any context.
In the case of Climate Change:
1. We believe in AGW but we can adapt. This has been going on for years, since Jesus’ time. Live with it.
2. Anything Australia does is miniscule, so why should our economy and YOUR JOBS and POWER BILLS suffer?
3. Reducing carbon pollution has to be a global effort, and until US, China, Canada, India do something in a coordinated fashion, we are off the hook.
4. Look at the stuck Antartic ship, blizzards in the US etc – Can we really be sure the science is accurate with all this cold stuff?
Variations on the themes are cycled around with high predictability. There is an answer to every scenario.
[Just look at the polls! If Climate Change ever existed, the polls have chased it away.
Next up, “Shock Newspoll cures cancer.”]
Perhaps Murdoch is contemplating whether or not to have a Newspoll next weekend – the current heatwave and bushfires could easily persuade some voters to think carefully about the Coalition’s denial of climate change reality.
[is to declare that the debate is over, and has been lost by Climateers.]
Absolutely correct. They are essentially screaming at any one who disagrees with them to give up and lay down and die because its all over.
The fact that the debate is not over, that the science and evolving understanding goes on, and that the diverse evidence for AGW keeps mounting up is just not part of the True Disbeliever reality.
AND IF THEY YELL LOUDLY ENOUGH AND SAY IT OFTEN ENOUGH THEIR REALITY WILL PREVAIL!!!!
Even though its based on bollocks, lies and spin. 🙂
Or so they think. I suspect they are encouraged by a version of this tactic being a factor in the election of the Abbott govt even though they were essentially an intellectual and policy free zone.
[victoria
Posted Wednesday, January 15, 2014 at 11:35 am | Permalink
davidwh
Remember this from Abbott
TonyAbbottMHR 6/7/11 “The PM is running away from scrutiny and if you run away from scrutiny you’re running away from democracy.”]
Victoria
Thank you very much for posting that. I just rang Bill Shorten’s electorate office and asked the woman who answered the phone to take it down and to make sure he sees it. She said she would.
How good would it be to see Bill using Abbott’s own smart arse words and throwing them back at him.
[Sadly, the ABC playing a straight bat – cowed and under control.]
The ABC online article that I referenced at 1122 does seem to suggest that, while they faithfully quote the 3* general, they make his refusal to say how the lifeboats will be used, to look a bit silly.
Really, what else would you do with the lifeboats except put asylum seekers in them and point them away from Australia?
Darn
Wish i could find where exactly Abbott said those words. I vaguely recall them being said by him but cant place it. Perhaps Shorten knows or could find out, and then throw them back in Abbott’s face
Kein mensch ist illegal
Progressives really shouldn’t bother with Murdoch articles re climate change/pollution.
David WH, doesn’t mean that we have to accept that vulgar terminology here.
Oh Rupert our “hero” from Maurice Newman
[If it wasn’t for independent Murdoch newspapers around the world, the mainstream media would be almost completely captured by the IPCC establishment]
by whom ?