This week’s fortnightly rolling average result from Essential Research has both major parties up a point on the primary vote (the Coalition to 40%, Labor to 38%), both minor parties down a point (the Greens to 9%, Palmer United to 5%), and two-party preferred unchanged at 52-48 to Labor. The poll also has 57% saying the threat to Australia from terrorism has increased over the past few years with only 6% saying it has decreased, and 33% opting for stayed about the same; 56% approving of government spending to reduce the threat of terrorism versus 24% disapproving; 57% rating the contribution of multiculturalism to Australian society as positive versus 30% negative; 63% believing prospective migrants should not be rejected on the basis of religion versus 21% who say they should; and strong support for a greater emphasis on solar, wind and hydro power in providing for domestic energy, a neutral result for gas, and highly negative results for nuclear and especially coal.
Federal electoral news nuggets:
• John Ferguson of The Australian reports Senators Stephen Conroy and Kim Carr are facing opposition within their respective Right and Left factions over their determination to seek another term at the next federal election. Partly at issue is Labor’s affirmative action requirement that at least 40 per cent of winnable seats go to women. Under a party rule to take effect on January 1, a spill of all preselections will occur if the requirement isn’t met. Rosie Lewis of The Australian reports that some in the ALP believe the Carr and Conroy preselections are being fast-tracked to lock them in before the rule takes effect. Carr is quoted saying the requirement will be satisfied by giving the third position on the ticket to a woman, but the result of the last election suggests the winnability of a third seat for Labor is doubtful for as long as the existing electoral system remains in place.
• The Courier-Mail reports that“federal Liberal and National MPs unhappy with the performance of Nationals deputy leader Barnaby Joyce” are planning to thwart his succession to the Nationals leadership by drafting Lawrence Springborg, the Queensland Health Minister and former Opposition Leader. This would be achieved by having Springborg succeed Bruce Scott as member for Maranoa, a seat Joyce had his eye on last term as he sought to make his move from the upper house to the lower.
• Andrew Probyn of The West Australian reports a Labor internal poll of 600 respondents by UMR Research shows it leading 54-46 in the eastern Perth electorate of Hasluck, held for the Liberals by Ken Wyatt on a margin of 4.9%. Primary votes are cited of 40% for Labor and 37% for the Liberals. Aggregated polling for the three months after the budget, from May to July, is reported to show swings to Labor in WA of 12 points on the primary vote and 7.7% on two-party preferred.
• The Financial Review reports results from Coalition pollsters Crosby Textor showing a surge in support for the Renewable Energy Target, an increase in the salience of the environment as a political issue, and a decline for immigration.
Sad day as another journalist beheaded.
Penny Wong on Lateline last night
http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2014/s4079705.htm
“@SkyNewsAust: #BREAKING: #Coles has confirmed 378 permanent positions and 60 contracted positions to be cut in restructure.”
[Sad day as another journalist beheaded.]
Aye. Vale, Steven Sotloff.
“@alisavage: So is this Shaw thing game on again? Premier certainly seems to believe he has the ammunition to boot him #springst”
BK
[Abetz lashes out against the Public Service union.]
Add that story to this story and it could be ‘fun times’ in the PS from Brandi.
[George Brandis warns conference of dangers posed by ‘trusted insiders’
Attorney general refers to historical range of turncoats, from Edward Snowden to Macbeth, Guy Fawkes and Judas Iscariot]
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/02/brandis-warns-conference-of-dangers-posed-by-trusted-insiders
guytaur
Wowee Premier Napthine is sooooo brave. The state election is upon us,and now he gets all hairy chested about Mr Shaw,
victoria
Great summation.
Isn’t it just wonderful how all these action shots of our one plane in action in the war zone is being released.
Action shots of it on the runway, action shot of it with its payload, action shot of it taxiing along the tarmac at night.
NOW DON’T GET ME WRONG HERE.
I support our armed forces, but I’m off the opinion that such actions should always be only basically reported. If at all.
It is an ongoing operational matter remember
jeffemu
It was why I was pleased and 😀 when after Abbott’s Rambo posing the US gave us the role of parcel delivery boy. Poor Tones robbed of exciting macho photo ops.
“Only” a local issue, but supports the theme of Liberal contempt for public transport. The company failed to identify the value of a peak hour service?
[PUBLIC Transport Minister Terry Mulder has apologised for making an $860,000 blunder and restored two axed bus services in Melbourne’s east, following fierce opposition to the bus’ scraping (sic).
In a victory for commuters, Mr Mulder announced today that the government would reinstate the bus route 303, a peak hour service from North Ringwood to the city, which was scrapped in July amid a major shake-up of the bus network.
Eastern Metropolitan Region upper house Labor MP Shaun Leane told Maroondah Leader last week that his party would restore the 303 route if elected in November.
Mr Mulder laid blame for the “mistake” at the feet of bus operator Transdev and said the company’s public consultation process had failed to identify the route’s value to the community.]
http://m.heraldsun.com.au/leader/east/transport-minister-terry-mulder-reinstates-bus-services-from-north-ringwood-to-the-city/story-fngnvlxu-1227044986942?nk=e2e2d079ea79abd3a9c36a4a2cd3520a
[Wayne Swan @SwannyQLD 13m
Thanks @HepworthAnnabel & @australian for promoting my @ABCthedrum op-ed & #TheGoodFight on your front page! You guys really crack me up]
[A delay in increasing the superannuation rate will “almost inevitably” mean higher wages, federal treasurer Treasurer Joe Hockey has said, while also conceding employers could pocket the saving instead of passing it on to workers as wage rises.
The Abbott government struck a deal with the Palmer United Party on Tuesday to make good on one of its key election promises to repeal the mining tax. As part of the bargain, the government agreed to delay the increase in the compulsory superannuation rate from 9.5 per cent to 12 per cent to 2025 instead of 2019.]
http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/super-delay-would-almost-inevitably-mean-higher-wages-treasurer-joe-hockey-defends-deal-with-clive-palmer-20140903-10bp2g.html
On twitter
[Let’s be clear. The ONLY reason this desperate Premier wants Geoff Shaw gone is because of his opposition to the Libs dud EWL! #springst]
[Steve Gibbons @SteveGibbonsXMP 18m
Enjoyed @edhusicMP giving @JoshFrydenberg one hell of a flogging on Sky AM Agenda!]
Wish I’d seen that.
Would it be technically possible for the Reserve Bank to cut interest rates and attach a regulation requiring lenders to limit housing loan size to a particular multiple of the borrower’s after-tax household income? Would that deliver the benefits of a lower interest rate (a lower dollar which helps exporters; encouragement to entrepreneurs) while avoiding a significant downside (adding to the credit-driven property bubble)?
Abbott’s Hero!
I see Abbott has a drawing of his hero Pig Iron Bob in the background when appearing on his parliament house stage set …
Lovely work by Tony & Toolman on 7.30 last night now that Sarah Ferguson has moved on Tony can come out for the Toolman’s soft delivery.
[poroti
Posted Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at 9:01 am | PERMALINK
jeffemu
It was why I was pleased and when after Abbott’s Rambo posing the US gave us the role of parcel delivery boy. Poor Tones robbed of exciting macho photo ops.]
It’s a wonder Abbott hasn’t arranged a photo op showing himself helping to load the plane in the UAE.
jeffemu
but it’s not on water..
Shorten this morning on the superannuation guarantee:
[Opposition leader Bill Shorten said the government would rob Australians of $128 billion.
The super of a 25-year-old earning $55,000 would be $10,000 worse in ten years, while a 45-year-old earning $120,000 would lose more than $20,000, he said.
“Nearly nine million Australians have been mugged by Joe Hockey on the way to doing a dirty deal with Clive Palmer,” Mr Shorten told ABC radio.]
http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/workers-wont-lose-out-on-super-hockey/story-e6frfku9-1227045899757
Would David Gonski say this about share prices…. bank shares in particular… save us from economists.
ANZ chairman David Gonski has warned Australia’s booming housing prices cannot go on forever and the market will eventually experience a correction.
“The fact is, anyone who believes prices always go up is, I think, a fool.”
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/house-price-boom-must-end-says-david-gonski-20140903-10boau.html#ixzz3CCiNf1OO
Surprisingly, this is currently the top story at Murdoch’s Oz.
[WORKERS will take a $20,000 hit to their retirement savings from a shock deal in the Senate to repeal the mining tax, with the Abbott government blaming Labor for forcing it to agree to the change. The losses could reach twice as much for young workers on high incomes, according to an exclusive analysis for The Australian that reveals the impact on millions of employees who will miss out on an increase in their superannuation over the next five years.]
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/superannuation-slug-as-mining-tax-buried-after-senate-deal/story-fn59niix-1227045697369#
It looks like Abbott has just bought himself a giant political headache.
In response to a gentle considered comment of mine on the pink batts RC, BC noted:
[Employers and employees are ultimately responsible. However this RC is not a waste if it makes reasonable recommendations to better handle such situations and those recommendations are adopted. Unfortunately, given that most think this RC was politically motivated, the probability is that any recommendations won’t even be looked at let alone adopted.]
firstly it was completely political and started with no credibility so to the extent there were real issues that could and should have been considered they were never going to make the surface.
There are some genuine issues and I’ve not read the report which I consider less valuable than yesterday’s Australian newspaper so it is possible it contains some of the issues that are relevant in an attempt to maintain some dignity.
there is much wrong with the public service – largely it is too small, underfunded and too captured by Government resulting in much worse outcomes for us all because a good capable public service would take the edges of some of the worst of Governments of all brands.
But bottom line it shouldn’t matter if it is the Federal Government offering you a bucket of money, Gina Rhinehart, Clive Palmer or a cashed up bogan in the outer suburbs as an employer you have a duty to ensure your workers are safe and whoever asks for a ‘rush job’ if you can’t do it safely you should not do it at all. so if the headlines yesterday had been all about recommendations to tighten regulation around workplace safety and increase penalties and jail directors I’d have had to rethink my view the royal commission is a total disgrace.
However the headlines were about the parents and lawyers of the poor victims having exploited the deaths for political purposes moving on seek more compensation
Gawd that Lying Friar is a slimey bastard.
What a pathetic speech for National Flag Day. I didn’t even know it was National Flag Day.
The Russians give J Bishop a sex change.
[
MFA Russia ✔ @mfa_russia
Follow
#Lavrov: The Australian FM’s idea not to invite Russia to the G20 summit is not surprising but he should not lose sight of its principles
8:08 PM – 2 Sep 2014 ]
Latest way to an achieve RET…..
Gravity powered lights (no battery required).
http://magazine.good.is/articles/cheaper-than-solar-gravity-powered-lights-for-the-developing-world
an achievable RET
WWP
[Employers and employees are ultimately responsible. However this RC is not a waste if it makes reasonable recommendations to better handle such situations and those recommendations are adopted. Unfortunately, given that most think this RC was politically motivated, the probability is that any recommendations won’t even be looked at let alone adopted.]
That reflects my view as well. Every shonk and his dog applied for contract.
It would be interesting to know what IR rules were in place.
I had my roof done but went through a local business who had been operating for more than a decade.
The people who had been given contracts to install the batts in some parts did not then apply work cover rules to their employees.
I do not for the life of me know how the Government Scheme can be blamed for this.
Its Liberal day at ICAC today.
Pity no ICAC in Victoria, that is the powers to actually do something
Jeff
Unti we change the flag I don’t think many are going to care its National Flag Day.
We may soon have to change it of course if Scotland votes yes.
poroti:
[The Russians give J Bishop a sex change.]
With the current Cabinet they were just playing the odds.
[What a pathetic speech for National Flag Day. I didn’t even know it was National Flag Day.]
Interestingly in software development a “flag day” is the day on which a major change is made, of a kind that causes considerable disruption.
BK@395
Great work! And great works too!
About David Rowe’s “Old King Coal”, proper etiquette dictates that one should never leave chopsticks end down into the bowl, but sitting flat across the edges of the bowl or flat on the table.
This is an absolute no-no because it’s the way a bowl of rice is offered to the spirit of a dead person, at their deathbed or in front of their photograph on the household Buddhist altar.
guytaur
Since the Union Jack in the corner is an historical reference, it needn’t necessarily be changed. But any change in the “UK” may stimulate debate about an Ozzie flag.
I just dread the result if it’s decided on by the present mob.
lizzie
Yes you are right about results. My favourite is the one you see as ruawake’s gravatar.
Abbott just ran away again
If ISIS run as fast as the Lying Friar just did from that short Presser then the War will be over by Friday.
I heard at least 3 to 4 reporters attempting to ask Tone a question, he just turned his back and did the bolt.
(Hair combover report – very dark almost black today)
“@Wersula: @Kate_McClymont BOOM! Lib HQ knew and handled corrupt monies!#icac”
[ FOI requests to show proof renounced UK Citizenship refused signed Peta Credlin #icac #auspol]
So what’s Tony hiding?
guytaur
[Posted Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at 10:35 am | PERMALINK
“@Wersula: @Kate_McClymont BOOM! Lib HQ knew and handled corrupt monies!#icac”]
Oooh that is interesting.
caf: ha ha! 😀
The shonky RET review (this post is not connected to my #440).
[fossil fuels donated almost a million dollars to the liberals over the last 4 years!]
http://www.sunshinecoast.evolutionsolar.com.au/what-tony-abbott-is-trying-to-hide/2405/
ausdavo@427
I wonder if you can get a few of these, and combine them with solar, where a solar powered motor lifts a really heavy weight up, and through a system of pulleys, simulate a gravity pull to power these lights. I’m sure it could power up a few houses in a poor village.
Of course, if there was terrible weather, they could still use manual labour to start these gravity lights.
lizzie
He’d have had to get that sorted to get his paws on Rhodes scholarship money so there shouldn’t be anything.
http://www.farmweekly.com.au/news/agriculture/general/news/poll-shows-surge-in-support-for-ret/2710572.aspx
This is a critical strategic issue for the ALP (and GRNs). The LNP doesnt realise how vulnerable they are here.
Punters are supporting the RET in record numbers because they know the coal-fired oligopoly will lock them into RECORD HIGH POWER PRICES, just as they have been for 5 years now.
The LNP wordsdont match reality.
They arent mugs – they know they’re getting robbed blind by vested interests aided and abetted by the LNP.
Look at QLD: a 5% cut to power pices after CO2 price goes,but 66% increase in connection charges,to get around home solar. MASSIVE INCREASE IN COSTS.
This is essentialy criminal price gouging from a monopoly,aidded and abbettedby the LNP.
Renewables are,in the end, competition. Many are already lower costs than coal,others soon will be.
The LNP has made a huge strategic blunder here. The more the ALP talks up RET as competition bringing down prices, they more they will win this key bread and butter argument.
The LNPs responses are pissweak and almsot braindead argument: ‘its picking winners’.
LOL! Who’s picking the winners LNP? you’re picking obsolete,polluting and EXTREMELY HIGH COST (FOR PUNTERS) non-renewables.
What are a few quoatas and subsidies to renewables compared to the fact the all coal-fired power plants were built by the taxpayer. Hows that for a ‘subsidy’ you idiots? The public BUILT ALL THE PLANT!!!! Hello?
Every argument they have here is weak as piss. Move in and destry them.
The LNP really are public enemy #1 on this issue.
guytaur & jeffemu
What was the subject Tony ran away from?
Tweet from Frank McGuire
[Former Liberal MP Geoff Shaw has joined Labor in calling on Govt. to produce its business case on East West Link. Taxpayers bear all risk.]
poroti
That’s why I don’t understand the need for secrecy. Maybe it’s just paranoia?
Shorter me: the public realise the coal-fired oligopoly will lock them into higher power prices, as they have been for years now.
Take advanatge of that, ALP. LNP in a very weak strategic position here.