The Fairfax papers today offer three attitudinal findings from a ReachTEL automated phone poll, which was conducted on Thursday evening from a sample of 2146 respondents:
• After Tony Abbott’s efforts to place the matter on the agenda earlier this week, a question on ABC bias finds 59.6% of respondents saying there is none. However, conservative critics of the public broadcaster can at least point to the fact that many more think it biased to Labor (32.2%) than the Coalition (8.2%). While the result at both ends may have been influenced by Abbott’s activism, it nonetheless offers an interesting supplement to the yearly ABC-commissioned Newspoll surveys, which consistently find overwhelming majorities considering its reporting to be “balanced and even-handed” without probing into respondents’ partisanship. The Sydney Morning Herald’s graphic features breakdowns by age and gender.
• Support for republicanism appears to be at a low ebb, with 39.4% in favour and 41.6% opposed. Tellingly, the 18-34 cohort joins 65-plus in recording a net negative rating (though by a considerably smaller margin), with those in between recording majorities in favour. Age and gender breakdowns here.
• There’s also a question on who is preferred out of the incumbent Governor-General and her designated successor, with 57.1% favouring Peter Cosgrove versus 42.9% for Quentin Bryce. I do wonder though about a method which requires a definite answer from all respondents to such a question, given the number that wouldn’t have an opinion.
UPDATE: And now a further finding from the poll that 52.5% agree that Labor should distance itself from the union movement”, compared with 25.6% who disagree.
Anything new tonight Mr Ghost?
I understood that, mexican. I wasn’t sure what the source was. Confessions was agreeing with you, too, I think. Office work has it’s own risks, some are the same, like RSI as well as different. A relative of mine, for example, had a prolapsed disk because their back muscles were so weak from sitting in a chair all day. All it really took was to walk around a bit more to build the muscles up.
The Liberal vision is the corporation run State.
[In his book, ‘The Corporation’, Joel Bakan states that ‘the corporation is a pathological institution, a dangerous possessor of the great power it wields over people and societies’. Its mandate is to pursue its own self-interest, regardless of the harm it may cause to others. Those at the top of such institutions construct the rules to ensure that they are the prime beneficiaries (whether seen in terms of money, power or reputation).
Bakan goes as far as suggesting that corporations are reshaping human nature so that self-interested materialism is not just a part of who we are, but the ultimate goal to which we should be striving.]
http://www.scottishreview.net/WalterHumes142.shtml
BW
[The discussions, as I recall, were not particularly statistical. They were about what might broadly be called the dynamics. As someone who is, as they say, a lapsed catholic, who now regards the roman catholic church as a cult, but who was a fervent catholic growing up and someone who survive both being an altar boy and a boarder in a catholic boarding school, at least some of the discussions appeared to me to be making sense.]
I prefer evidence. Lots of things seem to be the case but they aren’t.
There is a world of difference between reality and opinion.
With children in school being encouraged to have their water bottles with them throughout the day one would think every politician today knows the recommendation to “keep up your fluids”.
I guess that climate change deniers would oppose it, in principle, perhaps?
In my Newsagency, in an air-conditioned shopping centre, my staff are encouraged to have their water bottles by the counter throughout their shift. They can drink from them at any time – it’s never been an issue for me or them.
Even more important in a non air-conditioned factory!
Yes MB is a very good writer if i had to give a rating he/she would be firmly in the top ten.
I sometimes get myself into trouble here as i actually believe pretty much most people are capable and feel that the system has at times created more barriers than pathways.
Sadly some people are unable due to a disability or medical condition but i find some are a little too defeated.
As much as i consider University important i do feel we put to much focus on it and exam scores and so forth but i appreciate that at this point of time we haven got a better way of testing a persons skill set.
I find the anti welfare debate run by the likes of Abertz and Merit to be offensive and wrong headed.
[I certainly didn’t intend on working in one. But I needed to work, it was a job that was there and could be held as long as I wanted at full time hours, and work may be willing to allow me to work part time hours while I study part time. ]
Hey, no judgement on my part. I’ve been in a similar space to where you are, and can well understand where you’re at.
In terms of the resume just be honest. Lies or distortions always come back to bite you in the end.
The Ukraine and the EU
_____________________
Ukraine will have to accept a whole raft of IMF “reforms” before it gets association with the EU…”reforms”like those which hurt the Greeks so much
The ImF/World Bank are experts at austerity and “reforms” aimed at ordinary people
Meanwhile Putin’s offer of $19 million still holds
\http://www.moonofalabama.org/
Writing resumes are difficult things, its best to focus on achievements.
One warning if you having already noticed some recruiters have a bad habit of focusing on job titles so its important not to lost confidence and just keep working them until they give you an opportunities.
It’s on…
Was this Royal Commission set up subsequent to an Act of Parliament?
Ifnot, what give the newly elected executive the right to get around cabinet confidentiality conventions by setting up such an inquiry?
If Liberal disdain for convention surprises you, may I suggest you haven’t been paying attention?
It’s not as if Abetz is going to run into Abbott’s office to breathlessly inform him some convention exists which may save the ALP embarrassment and in response to this information Abbott is going to slam down his copy of The Fabian Review and exclaim “oh, forget about going forward with the subpeonas then! Phew, close, we almost embarrassed Julia Gillard!”
The Libs break convention with flair and the Labs meekly bitch about it. So it is, so shall it ever be.
1360
It depends whether or not there is legislation preventing RC access to Cabinet documents and the wording of any such legislation.
If the RC is allowed at the Cabinet documents, then may provide a precedent for the Senate to get hold of the current Government`s Cabinet documents.
Thanks fess and MB,
It was more a case of “how can I write the skills used in a way relevant to other positions”, but thanks for the advice 🙂 I don’t intend to get too creative with the job position, as I’ve asked my supervisor to be a reference 😛
[I sometimes get myself into trouble here as i actually believe pretty much most people are capable and feel that the system has at times created more barriers than pathways.]
I did believe that until recently, actually. I still largely do. However, it has become apparent to me there are people who at least appear to not be disabled but nonetheless lack the ability to think. You get a few of them go through a factory. It’s a bit difficult to explain, because you don’t always know if something hasn’t been explained properly or not. What is commonsense to me, also, may not be to them. It’s a bit of a moral blurry area for me, as frustrating as their apparent lack of commonsense is, it doesn’t mean they can’t do any job…
[As much as i consider University important i do feel we put to much focus on it and exam scores and so forth but i appreciate that at this point of time we haven got a better way of testing a persons skill set.]
Yes, I was thinking that, too. Especially with large amounts of young people with degrees not being able to find jobs in the relevant area
[Ifnot, what give the newly elected executive the right to get around cabinet confidentiality conventions by setting up such an inquiry?]
BB, when did you start to expect that this lot have any qualms about trashing convention if they think they can score a petty political point??
Given the idiot media are already conditioned to automatically refer to the “bungled” scheme the Fibs reckon they cant lose with this.
If all the documents asked for are provided there will be fodder for Murdoch’s minions to trash Rudd and Gillard in some way. Leadersh$t revisited if nothing else.
If documents are provided but any documents are “missing” for any reason (if they actually never existed but some nutbagger thinks they should have) then the cries of cover up from Bolt, Devine et al give them easy column inches.
Same same for anyone even considering pointing out cabinet confidentiality conventions.
Oh, and if anybody refers to the CSIRO report, well, they will just mumble and then lash out about how insensitive they are to the fact that people died dont you know???
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollytics/2011/04/24/the-csiro-gets-hip-to-debunking-media-hysteria/
[The Home Insulation Program reduced the short term fire rate by approximately 70% compared to what was happening before it.
The Home Insulation Program was over 3 times safer than the industry it replaced in terms of the numbers of fire experienced within 12 months of getting insulation installed.]
This one has emotive, prey on the loss of others, politically cynical witch hunt by completely unscrupulous arse wipes written all over it.
[Former prime ministers subpoenaed by royal commission on home insulation
Former prime ministers and senior Labor ministers have been summonsed to appear before the royal commission into the home-insulation scheme.]
Shows how stupid and shortsighted Abbott and his cohorts are. Going down this path opens a can of worms with Howard and Abbott governments having many more nefarious activities to answer for. Given the chance a Labor government can play the same game. Abbott should thus prepare himself to appear before a number of commissions.
Also there is now no longer any advantage to be gained by Abbott in this except as a distraction.
Mexican B…something about Mexico
________________________
This item below is a blog on Mexico by a US man…Fred…who has gone there to live in retirement
Many do nowadaays and in the smaller towns…not big places like Mexico City or awful places like Tijuana…life isn’t too bad..and a very cheap by US standards
I went there some time ago while on a visit to the US and enjoyed it greatly…though my wife and family worried very much as I was alone..but no problems ..with due care
http://www.fredoneverything.net/mexico-columns.shtml
Thomas Paine
[Given the chance a Labor government can play the same game.]
Unlikely, Labor has misplaced its fire in the belly for the past decade or so. Too timid.
[he Home Insulation Program reduced the short term fire rate by approximately 70% compared to what was happening before it.]
Thus the program was a life saver. Many families were thus spared trauma and loss.
[Thus the program was a life saver. Many families were thus spared trauma and loss.]
You can bet that the terms of reference will mean that such a finding cannot be made.
05:09:00 04/02/2014 —- Nett_NEWS++™ http://bit.ly/1aQcqOy #auspol
Good morning Dawn Patrollers.
NSW Supreme Court Chief Justice speaks out on mandatory sentencing.
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/nsw-supreme-court-chief-justice-tom-bathurst-urges-debate-on-mandatory-sentencing-20140203-31xgp.html
And these donation figures do not include the lead up to the election.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/coalition-wins-money-vote-as-81m-poured-into-its-coffers-20140203-31xfx.html
Speaking of donations.
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/former-nsw-treasurer-eric-roozendaal-joins-chinese-firm-that-was-big-donor-to-nsw-political-parties-20140203-31xfy.html
A very good article from Greg Jericho lifts the lid on opportunities for revenue increase.
http://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2014/feb/03/billions-lost-tax-concessions-hypocrisy-aid
No punishment could be too harsh for these mongrels. ALL of them!
http://www.smh.com.au/national/paedophile-ring-allegedly-preyed-on-boys-in-church-care-20140203-31xb4.html
Pyne is setting out to do a lot of damage.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/public-schools-christopher-pyne-says-new-model-will-not-create-twotier-system-20140203-31xb2.html
Victorian Speaker, the wonderful Ken Smith, will resume in the chair today. Stand by.
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/embattled-speaker-ken-smith-to-end-standoff-in-victorian-parliament-20140203-31xgi.html
Nice work Morriscum!
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/human-rights-commission-boss-gillian-triggs-blocked-from-visiting-nauru-20140203-31xg6.html
I hope these kangaroo court witnesses give it to them with both barrels.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/kevin-rudd-julia-gillard-called-to-batts-royal-commission-20140203-31xgo.html
Section 2 . . .
Alan Moir at Sochi.
Cathy Wilcox on heritage environments.
http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/federal-politics/cartoons/cathy-wilcox-20090909-fhd6.html
Hooray! David Pope is back from holidays and has Abbott introducing his teaching staff.
http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/federal-politics/cartoons/david-pope-20120214-1t3j0.html
Ron Tandberg with more advice for the ABC.
http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/federal-politics/cartoons/ron-tandberg-20090910-fixc.html
David Rowe is so good! Even down to the horses’ yoke.
http://www.afr.com/p/national/cartoon_gallery_david_rowe_1g8WHy9urgOIQrWQ0IrkdO
And from the Land of the Free –
The US political system is dysfunctional at times.
http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/2014/02/02/president-obama-acting-like-won-election-dare/
Honestly, they are mad!
http://crooksandliars.com/2014/02/california-gun-nut-stands-ground-against
Education US style.
http://crooksandliars.com/2014/02/school-district-student-body-president
CocaCola’s Superbowl ad fires up the bigots.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/02/03/1274701/-Rightwing-bigots-up-in-arms-over-Super-Bowl-commercial-No-another-one
Chris Christie getting desperate.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/02/01/1274191/-Christie-Campaign-seeks-to-raise-to-fight-subpoenas
BK
Loved the detail by David Rowe, such as Barnaby the pig being led by the nose, and the skeleton of Gonski in the paddock.
lizzie
Yes, Rowe’s cartoons often require a few minutes of detailed perusal.
Greg Hunt virtually admits that he hasn’t even seen the “degraded forest” he wants to delist (horrible word) from World Heritage, but is relying on photographs by a biased observer.
[Environment Minister Greg Hunt said photographs taken by parliamentary secretary Richard Colbeck showed ”extraordinary devastation” of areas that people felt never should have been listed as world heritage.
The Wilderness Society and Environment Tasmania responded by releasing images by nature photographer Rob Blakers of several forests listed as world heritage that they said now may be logged.
The photos showed intact forests spreading across mountain and valley, with occasional logging coupe interruptions.
The areas the government wants to delist were part of 170,000 hectares of tall eucalypt, old-growth and rainforest that in June last year were added to the 1.4 million hectare Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.
Mr Hunt declined on Monday to say whether he had personally seen the forests in question. Wilderness Society Tasmanian campaigns manager Vica Bayley said: ”To be blunt, he appears to have very little understanding of his decision.”]
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbotts-bid-to-delist-tasmanias-world-heritage-forests-tipped-to-fail-20140203-31xfo.html#ixzz2sIDauFSA
[Disorientated Ian Thorpe admitted to rehab after trying to get into a car he thought was a friend’s, prompting calls to police.]
So glad nobody called the police when I tried the door of a similar car to my own, which happened to be parked two spots away at the supermarket.
Morning
I heard excerpt of Abbott on newsbreak. It was from his interview on 7.30 last night. He was asked about funds given to cadbury vs SPC. He spun some words that did not actually mean anything. Did Leigh Sales challenge this charlatan?
Bugler
[Especially with large amounts of young people with degrees not being able to find jobs in the relevant area]
1. I don’t think that’s true. (There is generally a short period when large number of graduates are unemployed. In the long term, however, graduates are more likely to be employed and to be earning higher money than non graduates)
2. Even if it is, ‘finding jobs in the relevant area’ isn’t necessarily a concern. That can be a matter of personal choice – not unusual for someone to finish a course having realised they don’t actually want to work in that field (a friend of mine graduated with a PhD in Biochemistry – but his interests had already shifted to IT and he’s been working in that field at a high level ever since; another, with a Maths PhD, went into University Administration; another, with a doctorate in Physics, is now a climate scientist).
It’s certainly not uncommon for education graduates to not even try to get a teaching job – they’ve realised that it’s not for them and seek positions where their skills can be used in other ways.
Ideally (as the ADF used to tell recruits) a degree indicates someone who knows how to learn and who can thus acquire the skills they need for a position.
Surely online writers (The Age) should be given a spelling test before employment? Or consistency? The word is correct in the summary below.
[Ex-PMs called before bats probe]
It would be a damned sight more useful if Abbott called for a probe into endangered bats. The batts are doing fine.
http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/kevin-rudd-julia-gillard-called-to-batts-royal-commission-20140203-31xgo.html
swamprat
[Unlikely, Labor has misplaced its fire in the belly for the past decade or so. Too timid.]
I don’t know whether it’s timidity or not, but it’s not a phenomena of the last decade or so.
I remember one writer (Douglas Horne?) talking about the 1975 crisis. He was in hospital at the time in Canberra and was visited by several Labor staffers, who spent their time complaining about information Fraser was using to attack the Labor party, saying that, if they wanted to, they had plenty of dirt they could use on Fraser.
He asked them why they weren’t using it, then, and their response was along the lines of ‘oh, no, we don’t do that.”
[It would be a damned sight more useful if Abbott called for a probe into endangered bats.]
Or even the endangered English bats … 😉
[Diogenes
Posted Tuesday, February 4, 2014 at 12:19 am | Permalink
I prefer evidence. Lots of things seem to be the case but they aren’t.
There is a world of difference between reality and opinion.]
With those sorts of lines you could have earned a good living writing spin for the Oracle at Delphi.
With respect to your line on ‘opinion’ and ‘reality’, is that your opinion or is it reality?
When you are talking to Ray Hadley, it is very important that you talk in simple words of one syllable, so that his audience will understand you. Below is a shining example from Morrison.
[Mr Morrison has signalled that he will co-operate with the inquiry and insisted he is continuing to ”engage” with the commission. ”I met with the Human Rights Commissioner not that long ago and we discussed a whole range of issues and I am happy to keep meeting with them,” he said.
”She has a job to do, I have got a job to do, you’ve got a job to do – and we’ll all keep doing our jobs and my job is to stop the boats and that’s what is happening,” he told Sydney broadcaster Ray Hadley.]
Tony the mantra man couldn’t have put it better!
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/human-rights-commission-boss-gillian-triggs-blocked-from-visiting-nauru-20140203-31xg6.html#ixzz2sIKMHKk1
lizzie
Speaking of stopping the boats, Indonesia has been very quiet re the lifeboat found on one of their islands. Eerily quiet
Surprise No 97. Despite promising improved transparency and accountability numerous times before the election, the Abbott Government is blocking the visit of Australian Human Rights Commissioner Triggs from visiting the 100 children who are incarcerated on Devil’s Island. The pathetic excuse used by the Abbott Government? The kids are not Australian citizens and they are nothing to do with us. Really.
Boerwar
Pathetic does not even begin to describe this mob.
Hmmm
http://thebea.st/MSqUYJ
Jingoism and xenophobia are like love and marriage …
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has labelled a royal commission into union corruption a political witch-hunt, while warning he would take a zero-tolerance approach to union corruption.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/unions-probe-a-witchhunt-says-bill-shorten-20140203-31xgt.html#ixzz2sILvyQFq
Zoomster,
Yes, it was more a personal observation than a statistic. Some are more victims of a particular circumsrance. For example, a friend of mine has a Bachelor of Music with honours and thinks she’s not suited to teaching. She finds it hard to find a job outside of retail because the military and police bands are downsizing/closing and administrative positions are highly competed for. Of course, not always the case. A lady I used to work with’s daughter went straight from a B Sc to a job in Canberra.
Sheridan has another go in today’s ‘The Australian’ at explaining that it is all good with Indonesia. Really, it is.
The headline is ‘Abbott riding high on boats and Jakarta is onboard.’
I do hope that Sheridan does not mean that Abbott is stoned on boats, BTW.
It is a longish article which spends a fair bit of time attacking Abbott’s domestic enemies. It charcterises Indonesia as being all over the place except when it says and does what the Abbott Government wants it do, which, Sheridan reminds his readers, is in Indonesia’s own interests.
Sheridan ends with:
[Over the last week or so, the Indonesians have clearly wound down their rhetoric and response, seemingly for three key reasons. One, the response is incident-driven; if there are no boats, there are no incidents. Two, the Indonesians recognise that it is in their interests if the boat trade stops, even if they disagree with how the Abbott government is stopping it. Three, the Abbott government’s steadiness of policy here has made it clear that complaining about the policy won’t have any effect. This issue has a long way to run and it is inherently unpredictable.But so far we know for sure that the boats have stopped and no serious or permanent damage has been done to the relationship with Indonesia. That, surely, is a good outcome.]
Some comments:
(1) Sheridan completely ignores the klutz-driven approach to diplomacy by the Abbott Government. They can do no wrong.
(2) Just because boats have not reached Australia does not mean there have not been ‘incidents’. Sheridan ignores lifeboats ashore, refugees drowning in rivers and torture allegations.
(3) Sheridan ignores that these have received extensive publicity in the Indonesian MSM.
The key sentence is this:
[But so far we know for sure that the boats have stopped and no serious or permanent damage has been done to the relationship with Indonesia.]
What we do know for sure is that Australian business in Indonesia is being damaged now. But Sheridan is so busy lauding Abbott that he cannot bring himself to mention this.
We also know for sure that the relationship has been badly damaged. The Indonesian ambassador has been absent from Australia for over two months. It is, in fact, extraordinary and has not happened since Indonesia achieved independence. Surely any expert in foreign affairs would mention this, even in passing? But not Sheridan because he has no interest in discussing in a balanced and informed way a complex subject. The whole point of his article is that Abbott is an excelletn success.
Finally, Sheridan says that the damage is not permanent, ‘for sure’. This is, of course, a guess.
So, for example, exactly when does he expect the Indonesian ambassador to return to Australia?
[Sheridan has another go in today’s ‘The Australian’ at explaining that it is all good with Indonesia. ]
Sheridan is surely deluded.
Boerwar
Thanks for your posf on Sheridan’s latest reportage re indonesia. As i mentioned earlier to lizzie, It has been eerily quiet from the Indonesian perspective. Does Sheridan truly believe no serious damage has been done to the relationship and Indonesia will quietly let this whole matter pass?
For all we know, Indonesia may be in the process of arranging an agreement with another nation re live cattle exports. There already have been murmurs that Indonesia have been talking to South American countries re same.
This article from last November delves into this issue
[Further signs have arisen over the weekend that Indonesia’s escalating fury over allegations Australian spies tried to tap the phones of the Indonesian president and his wife in 2009 could have longer term impacts for Australia’s large beef and cattle trade with the market.
Some of the more angry commentary from Indonesia has called for the country to immediately freeze its beef and cattle import trade with Australia.]
– See more at: http://www.beefcentral.com/live-export/article/3984#sthash.sUgpCP4R.dpuf
Food warning!
I purchased some frozen tempura battered barramundi a couple of weeks ago, and being a little tired and emotional at the time, it hardly registered with me that they were
1. Woolworth’s ‘Select’ home brand &
2. Made in China
I prepared them last night and found them inedible because of the taste of mould inside the poor quality tempura batter.
So far no ill effects, but I’ll never buy that ‘brand’ again.
Boerwar
Btw no msm outlet has said anything about Business relations with Indonesia being damaged at this stage
Ripper couple of interviews on ABC AM.
Firstly, Sharman Stone, saying that Abbott, Hockey et al are misrepresenting (she neatly avoided calling them liars) the facts re SPC and particularly re work conditions. She says the information on workplace conditions was part of the briefing notes they had in Cabinet — so there’s no excuse for it.
She also suggested that blaming workers is easier than tackling the policy issues! (and listed several policy responses which should be being progressed and don’t seem to be…)
Secondly, followed by Ciobo, who didn’t do a bad job, but confirmed that Labor is prepared to go into debt to keep people in work, but that the Liberals aren’t. Just as well Labor was in power during the GFC, hey?
He also said the SPC decision was about having a consistent industry policy.
1. Well, they’ve avoided that nicely up until now – I’ve had people remark to me that they’re not particularly fussed which way the government jumps on issues, they just wish it was consistent, so that they could plan for it.
2. When Mirabella (as the relevant Shadow) made noises that the Liberals wouldn’t be extending assistance to industry, she would always backtrack with commitments that actually, yes, there would be, it would just be better targetted. There wasn’t any of the hairy chested, businesses must sink or swim on their own, rhetoric we’re hearing now – in fact, Mirabella was frequently critical about Labor reining in industry assistance.
[Drag0nista @Drag0nista 2m
Me on The Unfortunate Case of the PM’s Spam! http://thehoopla.com.au/yo-tony-spamming-us/ … at @TheHoopla]
zoomster
[Firstly, Sharman Stone, saying that Abbott, Hockey et al are misrepresenting (she neatly avoided calling them liars) the facts re SPC and particularly re work conditions. She says the information on workplace conditions was part of the briefing notes they had in Cabinet — so there’s no excuse for it.]
So the Coal have been proved to be unconscionable liars by one of their own side. And we’ve been accused of nasty lefty bias? ROFL
So, can we assume then, that Newspoll was so abysmal for the Libs that it’s been sat on?