Two big new polls:
• In The Australian, Newspoll repeats its surprisingly strong result from the Coalition at its previous poll three weeks ago, with Labor’s two-party lead steady at 51-49. Primary votes are 41% for the Coalition (steady), 36% for Labor (down one) and 11% for the Greens (steady). Tony Abbott’s personal ratings continue to rise from their low base, with approval up four to 33% and disapproval down two to 59%, while Bill Shorten gets his worst figures to date with approval down three to 33% and disapproval up four to 54%. Abbott all but closes the gap on prime minister, now at 41-40 compared with 41-36 last time. The poll was as always conducted from Friday to Sunday, the sample being 1172.
• By stark contrast, the latest Ipsos poll for the Fairfax papers belies the pollster’s previous form as a leaner to the Coalition in giving Labor two-party leads of 54-46 on previous election preferences and 55-45 on respondent-allocated preferences. This represents a three-point shift to Labor from the previous Ipsos poll in late February on both measures. Labor’s primary vote is up two to 38%, the Coalition is down three to 39% and the Greens are up one to 13%. Reflecting the trend elsewhere, Tony Abbott’s approval rating is up two to 34% with disapproval down two to 60%, while Bill Shorten is down one to 42% and up one to 44%. Shorten’s lead as preferred prime minister has widened slightly from 44-39 to 46-38. The poll also finds 37% support for an increase in the goods and services tax with 59% opposed – a relatively favourable result. The poll was conducted Thursday to Sunday from a sample of 1404.
psyclaw@699
The segment on Mental Health was much more useful. What was your opinion of it?
I partly agree with Mendoza but think he is wrong in wanting funds shifted from acute facilities.
Psyclaw
Norman Gunston! There’s an idea.
One highlight of the recent ABC series on Australian comedy was some vintage Gunston and Garry MacDonald reminiscing.
Transfield hires ex military types when a selection criterion is cultural sensitivity. FMD!
Says it all really, about their attendance at that particular rally and the photo with Hanson.
As well therein probably lies the explanation to many events in the detention gaols ….. violence, assaults, self harm, despair etc etc.
rossmcg
Yes I saw that recent revisit to NG interviewing. He really had the balls to ask hard wuestions of anyone, putting himself at risk of even physical retribution.
RE: voting in the UK
My understanding is that any Commonwealth citizens (and EU citizens) living in the UK is allowed to vote in many of the elections, including the GE (perhaps with the exception of citizens of Commonwealth countries that has been expelled).
So far I hear Australians, Malaysians and Singaporeans living in the UK can vote, among other citizens.
I’ve also heard that it is because of this that the Scotland referendum failed, with people with Scottish ancestry actually voted for the independence in the majority.
[
TrueBlueAussie
Posted Tuesday, April 14, 2015 at 7:04 pm | Permalink
…..
And knowing how the left works… these numbers have been fudged by including the GST which is a state tax.
]
Keep the alternate reality truckin.
I’m pretty sure the GST is a federal construct. No state could say, set their own GST rate or chose to abolish it on their own accord.
705
EU Citizens cannot vote for the UK Parliament but can vote for everything else, if they meet the residence criteria. Commonwealth Citizens can, if they meet the residence criteria, vote in any election. I think they should let EU Citizens vote in UK Parliament elections.
Briefly,
Why is accessing people’s metadata without a warrant indisputably in the public interest?
[700
rossmcg
Briefly
The thing that struck me in reading about the guards and their social media posts is that how did they ever get the jobs? Apart from their racist views they don’t seem to be very bright]
Anyone who thinks there’s fun to be had posing with Pauline Hanson cannot be bright!!
Re Rossmcg @686: the picture in the linked article shows a small sample of the ‘Alf Garnett’ demographic the Liberals need to vote for the IPA’s agenda. Why isn’t there a significant far right party in this country like the UKIP or One Nation as it was in the late 90s? Answer: the ‘Liberal’ Party has shifted to the right to absorb most would-be supporters.
Bemused Comrade
I have had professional and family involvement in the mental health services over many years, and currently.
As Professor Mendoza said, it is a crap service.
There are many aspects I could discuss, but I’ll mention just one which is IMHO at the core of the shambles ……. the issue of who is the patient (and what are the patient’s inviolable rights).
There is a parallel with the SA matter, and Chloe’s coronial inquest. The coroner pointed out how the SA human services agency persue the blind ideology of keeping families together at any cost, including the cost of the child’s life …… this politically correct but stupid policy governs all case management decisions.
So too in mental health. Just imagine it ….. the system pursues a blind ideology associated with the patient’s privacy and confidentiality and treats them just as it would (justifiably) if the patient was a teenager with an STD. So the person, (often involuntary or less than 100%voluntary) who is deluded, hallucinating, psychotic or extremely disturbed is treated with this sham “he / she must get full confidentiality and privacy” crap.
In a recent case I was close to, there was no way the system would even provide a communication channel by which the observations of knowledgeable family and friends could be incorporated into the diagnostic data. The case in total was managed on the basis only of the info the psychotic patient provided.
What I am saying here is that if the menatally ill person is viewed as “the patient” in isolation from all their other personal, family or social network, and if those others are not actively included at all stages, then failure is inevitable. And this is how it works.
As you will recall in the Mendoza case, the young guy was managed with no reference to his relatives (in the widest sense), released the next day, and then went on to suicide.
On my argument, no mentally ill patient would be discharged without real steps to involve relatives and key friends in diagnosis treatment and release. (Just as actually happens when frail seniors are being treated for physical ailments and during the discharge processes).
Obviously there are patients who would lack support networks, and this is problematic. But how much more problematic is it when there is a ready, willing and able network, but the mental health services ignore them as a matter of ideology.
Another issue that I will just mention is that mental health services lump many varieties of mentally ill patients into the one service, or ward. Putting a young severely depressed 20 year old into the same treatment premises, program and regime as a psychotic, alcoholic, drug using, street wise, manipulative and violent 50 year old man is not conducive to the 20 year old’s health.
Bit at this stage, that’s exactly how it works.
psyclaw@712
I agree entirely with those two points, particularly the first which is one I have written about.
Another issue I have identified is the lack of adequate standards and the failure to adhere to the pitifully inadequate ones that do exist.
If you are interested I can send you some of this.
Really we’d be better off withdrawing from the Refugee Convention than doing what we’re doing, detaining innocent people on remote islands indefinitely in the ‘care’ of private security thugs.
Raara
There are very many enabling Commonwealth Acts for the GST, and each state similarly has its own range of corresponding Acts.
But as to your suspicion that a state could not abolish its GST legislation, I think that is incorrect. States are soverign and can pass or repeal whatever legislation their parliament agrees to, subject to the Constitution.
Whether this would be in a state’s financial or political interests is another matter.
bemused @588:
[What does ‘most’ mean? 51%? 99%? 70%?
The fact is, a lot are not refugees and that makes it harder for those who are.]
Incorrect.
As of May 2013, just over 90% of asylum-seekers processed were found to be genuine refugees. Later that year, it had dipped to just below 90%, due to a huge fall in “genuine” refugee claims from Sri Lankans, but was still 88% – hardly “lots of fakes” territory.
If you can find more recent data that contradicts that, be my guest…but by the time you’re getting to punishing a whole population due to the misdeeds of a tenth of them, you’re well into “collective punishment” territory, last I checked.
[Really we’d be better off withdrawing from the Refugee Convention than doing what we’re doing]
Something I think we should do. The existing Convention is meaningless given what we’ve seen of late.
[No state could say, set their own GST rate or chose to abolish it on their own accord.]
If so, WA would’ve set its own GST rate 5 years ago and saved itself a whole load of headaches in dealing with the Cwlth and other states.
[rossmcg
Posted Tuesday, April 14, 2015 at 9:31 pm | Permalink
I would have thought an experienced HR person would have sussed out a RWNJ fairly quickly.
]
I would have thought RWNJs were exactly what they were looking for.
Why would they want someone who felt compassion for the detainees?
We’ve seen what happens to those type of people.
[709
El Guapo
Briefly,
Why is accessing people’s metadata without a warrant indisputably in the public interest?]
Investigating serious crime is indisputably in the public interest.
But nice try.
It’s also in the public interest that metadata be available for investigation without a warrant precisely because it’s “meta” – it’s at a level of abstraction that identifies who/who, who/when, who/how. If an investigating authority wants to get more information – who/what, who/why – they will need a warrant.
Compare it to 3-d. If you’re stopped by a traffic cop they have a right to ask for your licence and to confirm its details. You have no right to refuse. They can use the information shown on your licence to check to see if it’s valid or not. No warrant is required for that. They can check the details of your vehicle in the same way. If they think you may be about to commit an offence, in some cases they can search your person or your vehicle without a warrant; and in others they may be obliged to first get a warrant.
By contrast, if a law enforcement agency wants to intercept your communications or your documents – to carry out a “search” – they will need a warrant in every case.
In many respects, there are greater protections of privacy of information than of the person. Consider that you may be strip-searched without your consent and without a warrant; that dogs can be used to assist in searching for drugs without a warrant, that you can be required to give DNA or serum samples without consent and without a warrant; and that in many cases you can be arrested with the use of force without a warrant. Compared with the exercise of these powers, parsing metadata is relatively innocuous.
About 90% of those arriving by boat were found to be genuine refugees. Those claiming that ‘most’ were economic refugees are accusing our Department of Immigration of gross incompetence or worse. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof., which no one has come up with. The previous Labor Government would have been delighted if most arrivals were deemed to be economic migrants. They weren’t.
They Abbott Government demonises, mistreats and torments refugees to garner the racist vote. They employ racist thugs to ‘guard’ them. And Labor won’t call them out for it.
720
Most to all of the examples of things that the police can do without a warrant are things that you know about immediately and can put a complaint proceeding in place if it is inappropriate. Even direct personal surveillance is easier to find out about than metadata searches. Metadata searches are secret unless their are charges resulting from them and then the police only have to tell the person charged.
722
Tom the first and best
720
[Metadata searches are secret unless their are charges resulting from them and then the police only have to tell the person charged.]
Metadata in and of itself cannot disclose an offence. While it might prompt further investigation that would show an offence had been committed, this would require a warrant.
Tom, it’s a non sequitur to speak of metadata being “searched”.
723
This has been discussed before. Metadata can prove offences. If you are prohibited, whether by bail, parole, restraining order, anti-trespass laws or other means from being in a place, then location metadata (such as from phones and GPS systems) can place you there and prove the offence.
The same with when you are prohibited from contacting someone, phone and email metadata can prove that you tried to contact them.
724
It is entirely relevant. Metadata is often a lot of information that has to be searched through to find the information needed. But used looked at, or some other term if you wish. The point, which you ignored, remains the same.
!!!!!
[Georgia: Man accidentally shoots mother-in-law after bullet bounces off armadillo ]
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/georgia-man-accidentally-shoots-motherinlaw-after-bullet-bounces-off-armadillo-10175789.html
http://kevinbonham.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/new-south-wales-final-lower-house.html
New South Wales: Final Lower House Results And Poll Accuracy
http://kevinbonham.blogspot.com/2015/04/poll-roundup-discordant-polls-but-no.html
(federal) Poll Roundup: Discordant Polls But No Real Change
(52.5% to ALP (+0.1) – Essential now added)
By the way my NSW piece refutes a claim about it being exceptionally difficult for Labor to win next time that has been made repeatedly by one poster here, and will doubtless be made by many in the media over the next two years. The deck is a little bit against them but not that much.
[725
Tom the first and best]
If you are prohibited, whether by bail, parole, restraining order, anti-trespass laws or other means from being in a place, then location metadata (such as from phones and GPS systems) can place you there and prove the offence.
By itself, metadata would not prove anything beyond a reasonable doubt. It may be sufficient to prompt an investigation. But alone, it is not proof. To use your example, records mcould show that a phone had been used, but this would not by itself show who had used the phone. This would have to be substantiated by other means.
[725
Tom the first and best
724
It is entirely relevant. Metadata is often a lot of information that has to be searched through to find the information needed. But used looked at, or some other term if you wish. The point, which you ignored, remains the same.]
On the contrary. “Searching” is not the same thing as ascertaining identity. You can use metadata to do the latter. To carry out a “search” – or an intercept – for the purposes of procuring evidence, an investigator would need a warrant.
This imbecile is our defence minister: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/defence-minister-kevin-andrews-unable-to-name-islamic-state-leader-20150414-1ml5lc.html
730
Metadata usually contains lots of information. When someone looks through something, they search through it. Location metadata is not just establishing identity but location. If the police stop you in the street and ask you where you are, you do not (as far as I, who am not a lawyer, know) have to answer the question.
You still have not addressed my point that metadata searches are secret unless they have to be later disclosed while most of the power you mention the police being able to use are immediately known to the person being subjected to them. I also now further mention that the police stop and search powers are subject to much complaint about their use, often against the poor and minorities.
Regarding metadata searches, I have seen information systems that record a search, this is how the ATO is able to catch a staff member looking at celebrity’s tax information.
733
The metadata searches require permission from a senior officer. There would be some senior police officers who, because of different views, would authorise searches that a judge would not.
Tom
Depends on the role, different people have different levels of authority but in my various roles I have never needed permission to carry out a search but I am more than aware that the system enables people to see who has visited the page although this very much depends on the system.
735
Metadata searches require the permission of a senior officer of the organisation conducting the search. It is in the legislation. The number of police officers authorised to authorise metadada searches was recently given media coverage because of the inquiry into changes to the law.
Tom
I’m talking more about the general public sector and to a lessor extent the finance sector. within the public sector there is not a uniform approach to record management hence difference agencies follow difference protocols.
The permission is often given to the person at the point of their employment, this is why some record management and database systems are designed to lock down files to certain groups, as without those steps being taken then anyone can search that document.
The law says many things, but the actions are a difference matter
Budget problems
Just nimble it
Good one tone
Budget problems
Just nimble it
Good one tone
Good morning Dawn Patrollers.
Mark Kenny says Abbot is AWOL on GST.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/pm-awol-on-gst-20150414-1mkza8.html
Well we all knew Kevin Andrews is a dud.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/defence-minister-kevin-andrews-unable-to-name-islamic-state-leader-20150414-1ml5lc.html
Our grocery duopoly has been having a tough time lately.
http://www.smh.com.au/national/woolworths-anzac-campaign-hijacked-by-internet-memes-20150414-1ml4gt.html
Jess Irvine looks at the subject of company tax.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/why-joe-hockeys-tax-review-should-focus-on-lowering-company-tax-20150414-1mkj22.html
A good op-ed from Tania Plibersek on vaccination.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/refusing-to-vaccinate-children-is-not-a-conscience-issue-20150414-1mkke0.html
Don’t you just LOVE how religion gets in the way!
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/vaccinationexempt-church-revealed-as-christian-scientists-20150414-1mkmj8.html
“View from the Street” looks at Japan’s re-entry into whaling and the farcical Direct Action plan.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/view-from-the-street/view-from-the-street-japan-prepares-for-scientific-whaling-ii-the-revenge-20150414-1mkzg6.html
A nice tribute to Richie Benaud from Barnaby Joyce.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/politics-can-borrow-from-benaud-20150414-1mkp1c.html
Dr Karl’s gullibility is hurting him.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/karl-kruszelnicki-steps-up-concerns-over-flawed-intergenerational-report-20150414-1mktr8.html
Michaela Whitbourn previews today’s High Court decision on the Margaret Cunneen case and what it might mean to ICAC.
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/future-direction-of-icac-hangs-in-balance-as-high-court-delivers-ruling-in-margaret-cunneen-case-20150414-1mjpcw.html
Section 2 . . .
Every day we get to know more about our shocking past – a past that was instructionally tolerated.
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/police-digging-for-remains-at-former-ballarat-orphanage-site-20150414-1ml5c8.html
Ben Eltham is appalled by the hypocrisy of big business as he revisits last week’s Senate hearings on tax avoidance.
https://newmatilda.com/2015/04/14/cutting-welfare-and-moving-profits-overseas
Michelle Grattan writes about Costello’s sidewinder at Hockey and Abbott.
https://theconversation.com/who-thinks-adults-dont-fight-over-tax-money-40164
Pauline Hanson attracts the nicest people.
http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/apr/14/detention-centre-guards-suspended-over-photo-with-pauline-hanson-at-rally
The 19 worst things the Liberals did yesterday.
http://www.ellistabletalk.com/2015/04/14/the-nineteen-worst-things-the-liberals-did-yesterday-238/
By the time Eric Abetz finishes he will be entirely friendless.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/lawyers-teaming-up-with-public-servants-who-rort-taxpayers-says-abetz-20150414-1mjwp0.html
The 2015 budget could send households into meltdown.
http://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2015/04/14/rob-burgess-budget-households-meltdown/
What is the government doing with the report into mental health in Australia?
http://www.smh.com.au/national/health/leaked-mental-health-review-is-scathing-of-systems-shortcomings-and-calls-for-1b-funding-shift-to-community-care-20150414-1mkwlr.html
Julia Gillard critiques the latest series of Game of Thrones.
http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/apr/14/julia-gillard-on-game-of-thrones-series-five-enjoy-carefully
Section 3 . . .
Alan Moir gets it right.
John Spooner on CBA’s aggressive approach to whistleblowers.
Great work from David Pope again.
Mark Knight with negative gearing via “The Game of Homes”.
David Rowe takes Hockey to Broadway.
Bill Leak on the Hockey/Costello war of words.
You know nothing, Joe Ho!
I still can’t get over how the foreign EW link contractors have gone to their respective governments to cry poor.
It’s akin to Rio Tinto and Gina going to the Australian government to urge China to buy more of their iron ore.
This is a disgrace. All part of the Feds putting ‘border protection’ ahead of the natural world.
Perhaps Japan could be bribed to build a submarine in return for stopping ‘scientific’ whaling.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/view-from-the-street/view-from-the-street-japan-prepares-for-scientific-whaling-ii-the-revenge-20150414-1mkzg6.html
[Interesting little bit of recent history: in May 2013 the Coalition pledged that Australia would be vigilant about protecting the Southern Oceans from illegal whaling and fishing with a fleet of ships.
That fleet turned out to be one ship – the icebreaker Ocean Protector – which, after the Abbott government was elected, was immediately redeployed to intercept asylum seekers near Christmas Island.
In case you’re unfamiliar with the location of Australia’s favourite detention centre then note that if you’re reading this from anywhere south of Timor Leste, you’re closer to Antarctica than it is. (At the time of writing Ocean Protector was near Dolphin Island off the northern WA coast. That’s technically a little bit closer to the Southern Ocean, at least.)
Since then the government had deployed a total of zero ships to the task because, as Hunt explained, they have planes to do the job. Well, one: an Airbus A319, offering brilliant surveillance of whatever you can see out of the window on the direct flight to the Australian Antarctic Territory.
That’s assuming it’s ever gone there, of course: according to a report last year by the Senate Estimates Committee the plane has only actually been deployed once: on assignment for the Customs and Border Protection Service.]
[I still can’t get over how the foreign EW link contractors have gone to their respective governments to cry poor.
It’s akin to Rio Tinto and Gina going to the Australian government to urge China to buy more of their iron ore.]
It is a shame the members of the previous Victorian Government can’t be made personally liable for this shambles. I hope Victorians remember how dodgy this deal was.
WWP
Be funny (not) if Napthine has started an ‘international incident’ which Tony will be called upon to soothe down! Perhaps he’ll send troops to Europe to teach them how to behave.
Some regular commuters on Sydney public transport are exploiting the system’s eccentric fare structure to minimise (avoid) public transport fares.
Commuters travel for free on an Opal card after completing eight journeys in a week. The aim, therefore, is to ensure those eight journeys are cheap ones. The ruse is legal but I think that most would agree that it is unethical.
In fact, in my opinion, the morality is similar to that of many tax avoidance schemes. Walk back and forth between light rail stations a few hundred metres apart, even though they are not on your route. A bit like sending iron ore to China with a ‘paper’ detour via Singapore. The main difference is the amounts involved.
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/opal-card-shuttle-sydney-light-rail-stops-in-pyrmont-help-commuters-beat-the-system-20150414-1mk2r1.html?rand=4049639
morning all
Just catching up with last night’s commentary in response to KAndrews interview with Leigh Sales. Thanks to all for feedback
Raaraa
Posted Wednesday, April 15, 2015 at 7:30 am | PERMALINK
[I still can’t get over how the foreign EW link contractors have gone to their respective governments to cry poor.
It’s akin to Rio Tinto and Gina going to the Australian government to urge China to buy more of their iron ore.]
It was on page 2 of the Herald Sun yesterday. I seriously dont see how Victorians would actually give a stuff that these govts have made an official whinge.