BludgerTrack this week splits the difference between two very different poll results – a dire one for the government from Ipsos, and a much better one from Essential Research – to record next to no change on two-party preferred, with Labor maintaining but not significantly improving on their very substantial gains over the last month. However, the state-level results have been favourable to Labor to the extent of adding two to the seat projection, namely one in New South Wales and one in Victoria. While Essential dampened any shift on voting intention this week, only Ipsos provided new numbers for the leadership ratings, which accordingly see a solid lift in Bill Shorten’s position, such that he has overtaken Tony Abbott on both net approval and preferred prime minister.
Fans of new content are advised to look carefully below this post, where they will find a belated account of the latest Tasmanian EMRS state poll, the regular Seat of the Week, and a reupholstered post on the all-important Canning by-election.
“TonyAbbottMHR has been caught in a lie.”
He opened his mouth?
[89
TPOF]
The biggest gains from free trade result from the abolition of import tariffs. This drives down prices and lifts real wages. Since we reformed the tariff system long ago, and they only accrue once, the latest FTA’s will bring very modest real wage gains.
On the other hand, the labour import provisions of Abbott’s FTA’s will actually suppress real wages. They are not about freeing trade so much as they are about restraining it. They are part of the same pattern of creating an indentured subset in the labour market, a subset that will drive down wages.
I know I keep whinging about this, but the use of indentures – essentially, bonded labour – is a foundational issue in the economy and in human rights. A great deal more should be given to opposing these oppressive articles.
Emperor Abbott has decided to take off his new clothes. So that even those who persisted in the pretence that he was in anything but his underwear ( or is that speedos?) now see he is an unclothed laughing stock. Along with his court of clowns, like Mr Potato Head.
[Just ignore the attempts at ‘spin and distraction’ until something real is announced.]
tbf the attempts at ‘spin and distraction’ are news in themselves and apart from the usual suspects in the Murdoch and Murdoch Laundering press the fact that this mob have nothing but spin and distraction is starting to be reported.
@MarkDiStef: So the Federal Court actually released their government slapdown over Adani in a media release… via @katiepwalsh http://t.co/o2kgQX6J4B
Briefly at 84
+1, thanks KB, good reading
briefly @ 102
Totally agree. I’m a bit of an Adam Smith fan at heart, so I have no problems with freeing up the economy from unwarranted protection.
But I’ve been wondering how this government has managed to sign three trade agreements so quickly when previous governments of both colours found it so difficult. And while Captain Chaos would have us believe it is all down to the genius negotiation skills of Andrew Robb, I think it is because this government has given away rights and bargaining positions that previous governments would have considered unthinkable.
The fact that so much of the terms of the agreement is only being slowly released or leaked provides ballast for my suspicions.
I was at the fruit shop on the weekend and as usual they had pre-packaged ‘soup packs’. You know the ones, a turnip, a carrot, a couple of sticks of celery.
I was struck at the missed marketing opportunity only calling that bounty a humble ‘soup pack’. If you went to a Liberal Party function you could grab a couple of them and flog them off as a Cabinet.
‘Chaotic as a Tupperware cupboard’: Labor attacks as frontbencher compares Tony Abbott to John Howard
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/chaotic-as-a-tupperware-cupboard-labor-attacks-as-frontbencher-compares-tony-abbott-to-john-howard-20150819-gj39m1.html#ixzz3jJSQjxlE
Follow us: @smh on Twitter | sydneymorningherald on Facebook
ratsak @ 108
😀
Regarding the Federal Court Press Release on the Carmichael Mine decision, Stephanie Peatling commented as follows. Note the last line:
[Firstly because I was one of the reporters who used the wrong language to describe what happened in a story I wrote about the legislation on Sunday.
In doing so I did what the government has been doing which is make it sound like an environment group had had the original approval overturned.
What actually happened was that the decision was set aside with the agreement of both the Mackay Conservation Group and the government after Mr Hunt failed to take into account the impact of the mine on the yakka skink and the ornamental snake as he was required to do so by legislation.
My mistake was one of ignorance and I’m happy to point it out.
The government’s motivation is different. ]
Another journo who has had enough.
[But I’ve been wondering how this government has managed to sign three trade agreements so quickly when previous governments of both colours found it so difficult. And while Captain Chaos would have us believe it is all down to the genius negotiation skills of Andrew Robb, I think it is because this government has given away rights and bargaining positions that previous governments would have considered unthinkable.]
Certainly it was reported that the Gillard/Rudd governments refused to negotiate ISDSs in FTAs, whereas Robb immediately said that he would be prepared to negotiate these (although TBF he hasn’t actually said that he supported them, just they would be on the table).
Bill Shorten nails it:
[It is wrong to agree to go to Liberal Party events when you are sitting in judgment of the Liberal Party’s rivals.]
And that is the problem in a nutshell.
sceptic@109
That headline is awefully hard to read.
@Martin/112
He said that he would not ‘promise’ to include them in the trade deal:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-17/regional-trade-transpacific-partnership-concerns-scare-campaign/6326018
Which essentially means he has:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-05/andrew-robb-believes-trade-agreement-could-be-weeks-away/6071672
“But Mr Robb says he’s “quite confident, to be honest” that an agreement, if struck, will be ratified by the member states, including the US.”
ISDSs are a greater threat to Australians than ISIS.
Shellbell at 81:
[Interesting to see whether Dyson Heydon will ask Newlinds SC whether a High Court judge should disqualify himself or herself from hearing cases involving Govt/Employers/Unions if the judge has a known present or past affiliation with one or the other.]
Obviously not a relevant consideration. See: http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/sinodisp/au/cases/cth/HCA/1991/25.html?stem=0&synonyms=0&query=Polites
In Polites the High Court held that Polites was wrong to disqualify himself from hearing an industrial dispute in which, 2 years earlier, he had given written advice to the employer in relation to matters historical to the pending dispute.
To answer your question see at [10]:
[A prior relationship of legal adviser and client does not generally disqualify the former adviser, on becoming a member of a tribunal (or of a court, for that matter), from sitting in proceedings before that tribunal (or court) to which the former client is a party. ]
Morning back in Oz again, hopefully MSM will continue to go aftet Abbott and LNP???
Ha a good flight from London was ungraded which makes things much easier 🙂
Kathy Jackson: Shorten ridicules PM over union ‘captain’s pick’
Bill Shorten has ridiculed the Coalition’s lionising of fallen Health Services Union whistleblower Kathy Jackson as another “captain’s pick” that show’s Tony Abbott “very, very bad judgment”.
The Opposition Leader suggested Mr Abbott admit he was wrong to have “endorsed the biggest union fraud in Australia”.
“Mr Abbott is always quick to lecture the Labor Party about the union movement. But how is it that Tony Abbott, who doesn’t like very many people who are trade unionists, has managed to pick someone who’s perpetrated and now has to repay $1.4 million back to their union?” Mr Shorten said.
“Tony Abbott said that the best union official in Australia was Kathy Jackson. Now Tony Abbott, it turns out, has endorsed the biggest union fraud in Australia.”
“Tony Abbott has very poor judgment when it comes to some of his captain’s picks doesn’t he?”
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/industrial-relations/kathy-jackson-shorten-ridicules-pm-over-union-captains-pick/story-fn59noo3-1227491206189
“Kathy Jackson is a brave, decent woman.” – Tony Abbott
triton
[“Kathy Jackson is a brave, decent woman.” – Tony Abbott]
One liar takes in another liar?
QT in VIC Parly (Leg Assembly) quite entertaining – every opposition question batted back with amusing references to the $1.5M fraud on the Lib Party …
http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/video-and-audio/live-broadcasting
triton
KJackson must have a very good line in eyelash batting, smiling sweetly, and charity shags. She seems to deceive so many males.
Ashley Madison hack: Government links exposed
Hundreds of government email accounts, some from the Department of Defence, and others from various state police forces have been listed in a hack of data claimed to be from the Ashley Madison dating service.
The contact details of employees from the federal departments of health, education and environment, and from the NSW Attorney-General’s Department were also included.
There were dozens of email addresses from police officers from NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia listed in the cache, as well as from the ABC.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/technology/ashley-madison-hack-government-links-exposed/story-e6frgakx-1227491216559
Intersting that there’s no more chit-chat this morning about an early election or DD. I wonder why – or perhaps I don’t
[120
triton
“Kathy Jackson is a brave, decent woman.” – Tony Abbott]
A “charitable” assessment.
Mmmm, Lizzie, are you relying on the well-known doctrine of poll-bludger immunity?
The government has a new strategy to ensure that its plans are not leaked.
Have no plans. Works a treat. Leaves everyone guessing.
How stupid are people that they would use their work email addresses on an infidelity website?
Jack a Randa
Nothing that Kathy hasn’t admitted.
[I was struck at the missed marketing opportunity only calling that bounty a humble ‘soup pack’. If you went to a Liberal Party function you could grab a couple of them and flog them off as a Cabinet.]
You really need one of those fruit and nut mixes 🙂
http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?contentid=18514
Australia Coalition led gov: we know what to do with Broadband, leave it to us.. (Give Telstra lots of work).
NZ: Councils, you have 4 weeks to submit proposals on how to roll out UFB and RBI, because you know better than we do of your local area.
That they were “charitable”, Lizzie? I’d missed that. And Patrick, perhaps some of them thought that using their home email would be even more stupid, because they weren’t confident that their wives couldn’t hack into it? But no, they’re probably just stupid.
[ Patrick Bateman
Posted Thursday, August 20, 2015 at 11:56 am | Permalink
How stupid are people that they would use their work email addresses on an infidelity website?
]
In other revelations, more than 700 Australian government email addresses (.gov.au) apparently linked to Ashley Madison users have been posted online.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/consumer-security/ashley-madison-hack-sydney-melbourne-top-list-of-active-accounts-as-australian-users-revealed-20150820-gj3e56.html#ixzz3jJhTsr98
lizzie
[ KJackson must have a very good line in eyelash batting, smiling sweetly, and charity shags. She seems to deceive so many males. ]
As, apparently, does Abbott.
Phoenix, yes, that’s what I’m referring to. Jack, you can set up a free email account in about 3 seconds.
The Herald Sun seems to have a lot on this Liberal dude
[Got away with it for a long time’
THE former state director accused of stealing $1.5 million from Victorian Liberal Party coffers was forced to repay money to the Tasmanian division during his tenure there.]
And Brian Lougnane, aka Mr Peta Credlin, has come out channelling Sergeant Schultz “I know nothink!”
Presumably if Ruddock thinks a commitment to parliamentary democracy is a condition of citizenship then the entire federal liberal party is off to Nauru.
132
I suspect that the lack of federalism has some effect there. The Government that regulates telcos and the government that regulates local government are one and the same in NZ.
Bill Shorten lapping up these fI’ll tosses on leg stump being served up by the hapless Liberals
[Phillip Coorey
Share on twitter
by Phillip Coorey
Labor leader Bill Shorten says he would not object to the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption continuing under a new commissioner should Dyson Heydon step aside, even though the Opposition leader still believes the commission is a politically-motivate witch hunt.
Hitting back at government claims that he was pushing for Justice Heydon’s ouster because he was worried about the commission’s final findings, Mr Shorten said: “I’ve always said I would be willing to cooperate with this royal commission.”
“But let’s call it as it is. The Labor movement’s great concerns that Tony Abbott set up a political royal commission to spend millions and millions of taxpayer dollars…to engage in a political witch hunt,” he said.
“But when it comes to this current crisis engulfing the royal commission, that is not a crisis of Labor’s making. It is a crisis of Mr Abbott and his captain’s pick.
“No-one asked the NSW division of the Liberal Party to invite right-wing former High Court Judge Dyson Heydon to speak. No-one asked Dyson Heydon to agree to speak to a Liberal Party fundraiser two months after he became royal commissioner.”
]
Read more: http://www.afr.com/news/politics/get-rid-of-dyson-heydon-not-the-commission-says-bill-shorten-20150819-gj3b5v?stb=twt#ixzz3jJjc85EA
Follow us: @FinancialReview on Twitter | financialreview on Facebook
Mr Kroger said the funds were spent on lifestyle and some of it was invested.
“(It was) nothing particularly outrageous, just people funding their lifestyles,” he said.
Strange comment or what…
And some movement amongst the minor parties..
[Clive Palmer has moved to lock in a powerful preference deal with two crossbenchers as the mining magnate weighs up a dramatic switch to the Senate at the next election.
Fairfax Media has confirmed Mr Palmer personally offered a deal to Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm and Family First’s Bob Day.
The preference swap would maximise the chances of the Palmer United Party in the mining states of Queensland and Western Australia. Mr Palmer has considered installing himself as the party’s lead candidate in Queensland.
]
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/clive-palmer-eyes-senate-switch-and-preference-deal-with-the-liberal-democrats-and-family-first-20150820-gj3hbq.html#ixzz3jJlE0NvW
Follow us: @smh on Twitter | sydneymorningherald on Facebook
Abbott has just welcomed the Aus Diamonds netball team to Parliament House. Well, he sorely needed to associate himself with something successful.
Perhaps Palmer should follow the other Pup and retire.
phoenix@134
Looking forward to seeing how many of those 700 are church going Liberal staffers
sceptic @ 141
[Mr Kroger said the funds were spent on lifestyle and some of it was invested.
“(It was) nothing particularly outrageous, just people funding their lifestyles,” he said.]
It’s the old Liberal Party trick of saying that someone is worse. The someone in this instance is Kathy ‘charity shag’ Jackson. I just hope the Liberal guy didn’t go to any brothels on the party dime.
@TPOF/146
Yup, “Look over there”.
Dutton said there is nonsense regarding abuse of AS, but why the need for:
http://theaimn.com/use-of-force-bill-first-secrecy-now-the-power-to-use-deadly-force/
?
[ISDSs are a greater threat to Australians than ISIS.]
I am strongly opposed to ISDSs but I think the reality is that these provisions are much more of a weapon against smaller countries than against Australia.
149
In relation to many of our current trade treaty partners and the TPP nations, we are a smaller nation that they would not hesitate to allow to be pushed around by multi-national corporations.
ISDS hurts all governments buy reducing what they can do without paying corporations.
It may well not just be the Commonwealth required to pay out money. State and local government may be required to pay out as well, when it is there decisions that are subject to adverse findings.