This week’s better-late-than-never BludgerTrack poll aggregate reading finds the MH17 effect boosting the Coalition by 1.1% on two-party preferred, and putting it two points clear of Labor on the primary vote. On the seat projection, the Coalition this week gains two in Queensland and one in every other mainland state, a net gain of six that nonetheless leaves Labor with an overall majority of 79 seats out of 150. The bigger effect is on the personal ratings, for which Newspoll contributes to a lift of nearly six points on the reading for Tony Abbott’s net approval, albeit from a dismally low base. Newspoll also causes the previously downward trend for Bill Shorten’s net approval rating to level off this week, although his lead as preferred prime minister continues to narrow.
Also on the better-late-than-never front, this week’s Essential Research, which I neglected to cover on Tuesday, had the Coalition gaining a point for the second week in a row to now trail 51-49, from primary votes of 41% for the Coalition (up two on a week ago), 38% for Labor (down one), 9% for the Greens (steady) and 5% for Palmer United (down one). Other questions found a very healthy 67% approving of Tony Abbott’s handling of the Malaysia Airlines disaster with only 13% disapproving; Malaysia Airlines, the Malaysian government and the United Nations also credited with handling the matter well, but the Russian government not so much; 49% believing Vladimir Putin should not be allowed to attend the G20 versus 29% for should be allowed; and 62% supporting trade sanctions against Russia, 46% supporting the withdrawal of diplomatic relations and 28% supporting support for the Ukrainian government against the rebels, with only 8% preferring that no action be taken.
The poll also finds 59% of respondents not expecting their electricity bill to decrease as a result of the carbon tax repeal, which includes 16% who actually expect it to go up, versus only 33% who expect it to fall. A question on actions on climate change policy has only 5% nominating the government’s direct action policy of the available options and only 19% going for an emissions trading scheme, with 43% insteading opting for “incentives for renewable energy”. Another question finds 51% favouring an increase in the childcare rebate over the government’s paid parental leave scheme, which is preferred by only 25%.
poroti
[Abbott only went because he thought Peta said “Carpark”.]
Love it!
[Carrs Park????
What a pack of morons they are!]
It must have been really hard to get a photograph angle that didn’t include a backyard, swimming pool, roadway or the like in the background.
I have lost a post somewhere in the ether.
I am seriously concerned about the way asylum seekers are being treated by this Government.
The secrecy the lack of information and the treatment of these people is really horrific.
Morrison needs to just shut up.
Gloating about how these people are treated is truly worrying. Australia is better than this Government is portraying us.
I am hoping that George Newhouse et al have plans in place to do something about these terrible acts of cruelty.
Morrison and Abbott are both disgraceful.
Confessions
As I said earlier in the day, the NSW Tories want open slather on clearing the bush and the Canberra Tories are going to pay people to replant it.
Go figure
Would be interesting to see how a Carmody judgment survives in the High Court.
Chance is there will not be many because there would need to be other appeal judges agreeing with him for a judgment to be a majority or plurality judgment which the high court would consider.
Houghton understates the degree of irritant Tony Fitzgerald is. He took his judicial bat and ball to NSW when the ALP did not appoint him to the CJ role in QLD and took out his resentment on all those who appeared before him.
I like the pic of Abbott with the silver ceremonial spade and Hunt with the less upmarket stainless steel. Although both were leaning on their spades.
Leaners the both of them I suppose.
rossmcg:
The difference is open slather on clearing on private land, which is what the NSW govt seems to be agitating towards. Oh, and excuse making for when farmers turn vigilante in their efforts to uphold some right they think they have to go against state law and start clearing their property.
The award rate for a casual Gardening Labourer is $21.69 per hour. L-NP never saw a pay rate they didn’t want to cut.
RUA
$600 for 25 hours work equates to $24 per hour
But I agree with your sentiment that the Liebs always want to cut pay rates
ABBORT IS FORQUED
[RUA
$600 for 25 hours work equates to $24 per hour]
Where did you pull that figure from? Hunt stated $10-16 an hour.
[
Vikki @Vikkik88 3m
“@rubyraetsjones: Bob Hawke at Garma #garma2014 pic.twitter.com/UVW5jQMblE” Where’s Tony]
The Silver Bodgie is looking good. The Lying Friar? Not so much.
this is a better link for the Silver Bodgie fans..
https://twitter.com/rubyraetsjones/status/495491279296294913/photo/1
ShowsOn@1060
Good evening ShowsOn.
When is Greentard returning?
[Vikki @Vikkik88 3m
“@rubyraetsjones: Bob Hawke at Garma #garma2014 pic.twitter.com/UVW5jQMblE” Where’s Tony]
Nice to see Hawkie wearing the same shirt he work at the 1974 ACTU convention.
Green Army Allowance:
[…the workers in the Green Army program will be paid less than the minimum wage, with rates sets at between $10.14 and $16.45 an hour, based on the training wage.]
http://workinglife.org.au/2014/07/02/tony-abbotts-green-army-white-wash/
Watch this Youtube video of Will Pharell’s “Happy” recorded in a Syrian refugee camp in Northern (Kurdish controlled) Iraq. The images and background shots are compelling, and there are over 2 million Syrian refugees alone.
It does make think that we need a new Refugee Convention for this century, as the one from WW2 is past its use by date.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6DK8ltANVM&feature=youtu.be
Low pay may be the least of Green Army slaves have to worry about. Was this stopped ?
[…under the Social Security Legislation (Green Army Programme) Amendment Bill 2014, participants would be paid as little as half the minimum wage for working up to 30 hours a week. OH&S and other workplace protections would not be available because participants would be exempted from the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, the Safety Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988, and, most importantly, the Fair Work Act.
The Coalition’s Green Army program specifically removes protection against sexual, racial, disability and other forms of discrimination.]
http://www.crikey.com.au/2014/03/03/no-discrimination-protection-in-coalition-green-army/?wpmp_switcher=mobile
Just catching up after a week of power outages, no phone, no lights, etc.
Have to say I’m as shocked as mari at Crikey Whitey’s demise. I loved reading her posts overnight – and had many at chuckle as mari and CW missed each other, by minutes, sometimes.
As well as the entertaining too and fro between the night owls.
And I was just as enthralled with CW’s and mari’s endeavours to find schnappi.
I think the shock is all the more startling because although we knew she’d been hospitalised earlier this year, she made such light of it, it didn’t seem (to me) to be particularly life-threatening.
With Vera and Gwen we knew the end was nigh. And I miss them very much, even though I wasn’t as familiar with them as ancient PBers.
And, I absolutely had no idea CW was fighting the good fight for the residents of the Brighton caravan park. Poor bastards!
Although, sometimes I wasn’t sure what she was talking about in terms of her neighbours’ angsts.
Vale Crikey Whitey. Gunna miss you, girl.
Some of the uniforms to be worn by Abbott’s Greek Army.
So basically, these turds will be giving the unemployed what they would have other-wise received (about $250 a week?). It’s not really a wage at all.
I note further that while Green Army ‘recruits’ are paid a training wage, they don’t actually receive any training and certainly no qualifications. It’s cheap labour, and along with ‘work for the dole’ programs a first step in the rollback of the minimum wage and unemployment benefits. As these types of programs are expanded, they will exert a gravitational downwards pull on all lower and even middle wage and salary rates. Given time, together with increasingly an wide application of ‘income management’, it would evolve into the modern equivalent of the workhouse.
After all, if you aren’t a private sector executive, your Government thinks you’re paid too much.
Diogs
[My life would basically be over so I wouldn’t care about the warzone.]
Are you serious?
That your life would be over if you couldn’t repatriate the body (or body parts) of a child you called your own?
How do you think the previous generations coped without husbands, wives, partners, kids, all blown to bits somewhere in a foreign land?
Or even today, as a consequence of a bombing in your own neighbourhood?
Or a tsunami?
Perhaps it is my fear of flying that makes me determined to cope should anything happen to my kids if they’re overseas, but we have talked about it.
Maybe you should do the same.
kezza
I’ve been wondering if you had the contacts to find out about ‘schnappi’. An ex Press Photographer in Victoria, I believe.
First name ‘Ray’.
??
@K17/1071
It’s the same amount as Newstart.
So basically slavery at this point.
Love Bob Hawke and every thing his PM’ship stood for. I stopped blindly voting Labor with the 1991 implosion and started to look at the best quality local candidate. Since then Mike Kelly is it – total quality, smart, dedicated etc etc. Best state is the Nats Peter Cochran by a mile more recently Steve Whan (Labor) was also good. Any way go the silver bodgey! IMHO
meher baba
I couldn’t believe that Ben Pike of the Daily Telegraph wrote:
[The family (of Ian Robert Turnbull) had faced orders by the Land and Environment Court to remediate the land after it was ruled the clearing breached the Native Title Vegetation Act.]
Un-F**king-Believable.
Why would Pike insert word “Title” into the Native Vegetation Act?
Was is a redneck jerk?
Or a subliminal yelping?
And speaking of the whitewashing of murder, did you like the way Turnbull’s family were portrayed?
On the one hand, there was never a moment when the extended family didn’t know about the problem; yet, on the other, they claim he held it in.
Elsewhere it was claimed he was suffering depression.
Did anyone at all think to review mental capabilities regarding his gun licence?
[CTar1
Posted Saturday, August 2, 2014 at 8:00 pm | PERMALINK
kezza
I’ve been wondering if you had the contacts to find out about ‘schnappi’. An ex Press Photographer in Victoria, I believe.
First name ‘Ray’.
??]
That’s Scringler.
Yep, I too got it confused when they were after schnappi.
4 DAYS OR SO AGO:
[On Wednesday, the Pentagon announced that it was resupplying munitions to the Israeli Defense Forces at Tel Aviv’s request.
Told ya! Roll on the stocktake sale.
[The Israeli Defense Ministry requested the munitions July 20, and the U.S. government approved the request July 23.]
How about that.
[Warren said 120mm tank rounds and 40mm illumination rounds are being transferred from a special war reserve stockpile in Israel.
The munitions have been stored there for a few years, according to a statement by Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby.
“Issuing munitions from the WRSA-I stockpile was strictly a sourcing decision and White House approval was not required,” he said.]
So, why the request for more?
[The value of the overall stockpile is about $1 billion, according to Warren. He would not disclose all the types of munitions that are stored there, and he declined to discuss other Israeli ammunition requests until they are approved.]
No answer. Maybe the journo should ask Haliburton.
[The United States has been Israel’s closet military ally for decades and provides billions of dollars’ worth of foreign military sales to Tel Aviv each year.]
Oh, such fun to have an ally that constantly props up your manufacturing industry – even if it arms sales.
The U.S. helped fund Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system, which Israeli Defense Forces have been using to shoot down Hamas rockets launched from Gaza.]
Oh, did it. Do tell.
[Warren was asked why the Pentagon was providing ammunition to the Israeli military while criticizing it for inflicting too many civilian casualties and calling for a cease-fire.]
Hmm. Now there’s a moral quandry. Isn’t there? Of course not.
[“This is part of our ongoing and our long-standing cooperative defense agreement with the Israelis.
When they request to purchase ammunition or munitions, we sell it to them,” he said.]
Hell, yeah. And everyone’s happy.
That trigger happy farmer who shot the father of 2 deserves to have his land confiscated as compensation to the grieving family.
the farmer has family? – – boo hoo – – take pop’s gun away
Opps, stuffed up the quotes a bit in 1079, but I’m sure you can work it out.
As an aside, and totally off everyone’s topic, I’ve been doing a bit of family research.
And, it seems most of my mother’s side of the family resided in Somerset, within practically a 15-mile radius – before they ventured across the seas.
But, funnily enough, after years of watching Midsomer Murders, I have found a long-distant rellie from Midsomer Norton.
No wonder the place always seemed so familiar to me. Must be muscle memory.
kezza
[Must be muscle memory.]
Or the multiple murders.
👿
Ctar1
[Or the multiple murders.]
Hmmm. There’s a suspicious amount of people who didn’t survive. I was thinking flu, but I think you’re onto something there.
Probably the Irish side of the family that stopped the carnage!
Causton: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallingford,_Oxfordshire
kezza – The Copper’s seemed very, very busy for Somerset.
The Irish are, of course, just a quick ferry trip away!
Kezza
A branch from OH’s paternal side came from Taunton, Somerset.
Easy to track many generations, all closely clustered.
Dee
How are you? Good to see you posting again after a reasonably long absence. I’m assuming all is well, or under control, with your family.
I haven’t come across Taunton, but there’s Witham Friary, Walget, Frome (lots of Frome), Mells, Radstock & Kilmersdon, to name a few.
Of course, the spouse from Midsomer Norton had to be a Smith (then again, that was, and still is, a very handy trade) so in terms of tracing any further back is fraught.
However, I have found an ancestor from 1671 – from Frome – and, no, no distinguishing features.
https://twitter.com/rubyraetsjones/status/495491279296294913/photo/1
Jeez, Hawkie looks like a bag o bones, doesn’t he?
BUT, ANOTHER BROKEN PROMISE BY OUR CRAPPM
Aboriginal leader chides Prime Minister Tony Abbott for absence at NT Garma Festival
[One of Australia’s most prominent land rights activists says Prime Minister Tony Abbott has broken a promise to meet with him and discuss the issue.
Former Australian of the Year Galarrwuy Yunupingu was speaking during the main forum at the Garma Festival near the mining town of Nhulunbuy.
Mr Yunupingu, the Yothu Yindi Foundation chairman, told the crowd – which included Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion and representatives from mining company Rio Tinto – that Mr Abbott had promised to attend Garma but never showed.
“He promised me to come to this meeting, to today’s meeting. Well, he didn’t come yesterday. I wonder if he’ll come?” Mr Yunupingu said.]
D**Khead comes to mind.
Kezza
I’m well!
Been posting a bit of late, particularly the last few days, have been laid up on the couch with the flu. OH still battling infections, But otherwise all is well.
Our cluster in Taunton are Sellicks.
I’M SICK TO DEATH OF THE EXCUSES FROM ISRAEL
[Israel’s response to the possibility that militants in Gaza had captured one of its soldiers soon after a 72-hour humanitarian ceasefire came into force was swift and deadly.
Its military unleashed an attack on the southern border city of Rafah that was so furious, the Ministry of Health pleaded for international assistance to evacuate the dead and injured from the fire zone.]
THE BULLYING POSTURING BY ISRAEL, AS THE SUPERIOR FORCE, HAS TO STOP.
[. . . a statement released by al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, cast doubt on Israel’s claims that Hamas was holding 2nd Lieutenant Goldin.
It says it was at 7am – prior to the ceasefire – that a group of its fighters ambushed Israeli soldiers in the south of Gaza and in the ensuing firefight, both Israeli soldiers and militants died.
“We have lost contact with the group of mujahedeen who were at the ambush,” the Qassam Brigades statement reads.
If the Israeli soldier was there, he was killed in the ambush, the Qassam Brigades said, claiming it saw Israeli soldiers advancing further inside Gaza, indicating the IDF’s intention to take more ground during the ceasefire.]
I NO LONGER BELIEVE ISRAEL; THEY’VE LIED TOO OFTEN.
Once upon a time I was sucked in by their propaganda. No more.
Time to stop the killing; time to stop stealing of land. Time to face up to the atrocities perpetrated in your name, just as we demanded Germany & Japan face up to theirs.
Sure, the bastards in the LNP still won’t admit to the theft of land from our indigenous population, but they didn’t have twitter back then, and mobile phones taking photos; and citizen journalists telling us what is happening.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/israeli-attack-follows-collapse-of-gaza-ceasefire-and-reported-capture-of-hadar-goldin-20140802-zzsmk.html#ixzz39ESIAwFG
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/israeli-attack-follows-collapse-of-gaza-ceasefire-and-reported-capture-of-hadar-goldin-20140802-zzsmk.html#ixzz39ERnnjta
Dee
Good to hear. Well, not so good about the bout of flu, but good to hear you’re battling on and in good spirits.
Sellick eh? Any relation to that spunk Tom?
I hear congratulations are in order to our new grandparents: Boerwar, Puff, and BH (I think).
Did I dream that you were in there too?
Insiders tomorrow.
[Fran Kelly interviews South Australian Independent Senator, Nick Xenophon. On the panel: Laura Tingle, Malcolm Farr & Mike Seccombe plus Mike Bowers talks pictures with Chaser’s Craig Reucassel. #Insiders]
[The Abbott government’s Green Army initiative, launched in Sydney on Saturday, will see 1500 projects rolled out over the next three years.
The scheme will involve 17- to 24-year-olds working on 20- to 26-week-long projects, including koala habitat restoration, revegetation, and restoring culturally significant sites.]
I always said Abbott’s view of fighting Climate Change was just “Clean Up Australia”, except funded by the government.
Picking up rubbish and “restoring culturally significant areas” won’t do shit to battle this:
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/08/01/3466466/siberian-craters-permafrost-climate-change/
[That trigger happy farmer who shot the father of 2 deserves to have his land confiscated as compensation to the grieving family.]
If he’s found guilty, then I totally agree with you.
What do people think of Abbott`s new hairstyle?
I think it is an unintended dishevelled Hitler look.
There are several ways of dealing with a receding hairline. This is not a good way of doing that.
Kezza
Yep, another grandson, all up five now!
At this point all I know is that several Sellick brothers sailed to the US and several to Australia.
Believe there is a beach or hill or something in SA named after them. It’s been a while since moi was right into the genealogy and have found that during that break Ancestory.com have monopolised much of the records.
BB:
It’s nothing more than a warmed up Howardia version of the Green Corps, as Abbott himself said in the link I posted.
It won’t do shit to address AGW in any meaningful way whatsoever.
confessions@1094
That is not a criminal matter, there would need to be a civil case brought against him.
Then there is the question as to just what his personal assets are. If the farm is not in his name than it cannot be taken.
[That trigger happy farmer who shot the father of 2 deserves to have his land confiscated as compensation to the grieving family.]
Agree with Fess, yep if he is found guilty but you really do have to ask yourself who this guy or his family are connected with to have politicians and journos using anger over legislation as some justification for murder.
Is this a joke?
[Mr Hunt said he didn’t anticipate the hourly rate would discourage young Australians from signing up {to the Green Army}.
“They not only earn the funds, but most significantly the work skills, and hopefully they’ll come out of it with certificates and occupational health and safety training and first aid training,” he said.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/abbotts-green-army-ready-to-march-but-its-not-work-for-the-dole-20140802-zzqqp.html#ixzz39EYPytGx ]
Except that OH&S has been banned from the Green Army’s ranks.