Our only new federal poll for the week is the regular Essential Research rolling fortnightly average, which is once again at 50-50 on two-party preferred, despite Labor taking a two-point hit on the primary vote to 35%. The Coalition is steady on 42%, while the Greens are up a point to 11%. Monthly leadership ratings find Malcolm Turnbull down six on approval to 39% and up four on disapproval to 39%; Bill Shorten up three to 30% and down three to 44%; and Turnbull’s lead as preferred prime minister narrowing from 48-19 to 44-22. Also:
• Thirty-nine per cent said they would support a double dissolution if the Senate failed to pass the Australian Building and Construction Commission bill, up five since last month, with 24% opposed, up two. Thirty-five per cent expressed support for the bill itself, following a question that emphasised the extent of the ABCC’s proposed powers, with 16% opposed and 23% opting for neither. The issue was rated important by 34%, and not important by 41%.
• The tax system was rated fair by 36% and not fair by 55%. Of particular interest was a breakdown by income, suggesting a strong negative correlation between income and belief in the system’s unfairness. Typically, a question outlining various potential tax reforms found strong support for anything targeting the wealthy, and weak support for increasing or broadening the GST. Opinion was evenly divided on removing negative gearing and replacing stamp duty with land tax.
The poll was conducted online Wednesday to Sunday from a sample of 1010, with the voting intention result also including the results from the previous week’s survey.
After reminders this week of the Port Arthur Massacre 🙁
Ban on Adler being skirted by gun dealers
Gun dealers are converting the controversial Adler rapid-fire shotgun so it can shoot twice as many rounds, sidestepping an import ban on a previous version of the weapon.
Plans to import the seven-shot lever-action shotgun were halted last July when it was banned by former prime minister Tony Abbott for six months, later extended to 12 months, only for a modified version that instead fires five shots in rapid succession to be introduced.
One gunsmith and dealer in South Australia, who openly markets the “magazine extension tubes” via an official company Facebook page, is charging $250 to convert the Adler A110 to accommodate a 10-shot magazine, plus an additional cartridge in the chamber.
The modification enables the weapon to fire 11 shots in as many seconds without the need for reloading.
http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/ban-on-adler-being-skirted-by-gun-dealers/news-story/0a33746314759025761958e320c443bf
Dio
[If we have to have her, at least make it a non fiction version.]
But do we have to have her?
After reminders this week of the Port Arthur Massacre 🙁
Ban on Adler being skirted by gun dealers
Gun dealers are converting the controversial Adler rapid-fire shotgun so it can shoot twice as many rounds, sidestepping an import ban on a previous version of the weapon.
Plans to import the seven-shot lever-action shotgun were halted last July when it was banned by former prime minister Tony Abbott for six months, later extended to 12 months, only for a modified version that instead fires five shots in rapid succession to be introduced.
One gunsmith and dealer in South Australia, who openly markets the “magazine extension tubes” via an official company Facebook page, is charging $250 to convert the Adler A110 to accommodate a 10-shot magazine, plus an additional cartridge in the chamber.
The modification enables the weapon to fire 11 shots in as many seconds without the need for reloading.
http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/ban-on-adler-being-skirted-by-gun-dealers/news-story/0a33746314759025761958e320c443bf
oooops …. sorry for double post – not sure what happened
If state governments bit the bullet on land tax and introduced one, they too could benefit from whatever value increase resulted from their investment in infrastructure.
Who determines the value captured (or lost)? Lawyers at 20 paces?
[Statements like this is how you differentiate between your average lefty ALP voter and the loons, so mark that one down in the loon ledger, Adrian. Got it, marked.]
Be careful Steelydan, bemused agrees with you.
Next time that you have a whinge about someone calling you names, remember that you are a major offender.
@56 – Either the council through land value assessments or assessments from state government or private ones.
teh_drewski@55
I think any “value capture” efforts should be limited to commercial properties or property developments and not applied to home owners.
I can see it making a lot of sense in suburbia where a new station should greatly enhance the value of commercial properties close to it and also new residential developments.
[And, it winds up with EVERYTHING having to be funnelled over one bridge to get over the River. Will be a nice project for the builders that will have massive congestion a km or so from the port.]
Oh wait…
I expect the budget bottom line to now include value capture, product placement & chook raffles.
Really , Labor should hold a Royal Commission into the IPA when elected.
The rouges list of member is frightening & shows LNP corruption in appointments to government bodies ..
John Lloyd – Australian Public Service Commissioner and the former Australian Building and Construction Commissioner[24]
Gina Rinehart – Chairman of Hancock Prospecting
Tim Wilson – former Policy Director of the IPA, former Australian Human Rights Commissioner
Bob Day – Australian Senator from the Family First Party[25]
David Leyonhjelm – Australian Senator from the Liberal Democratic Party[25]
John Elliott – Australian businessman and former president of the Liberal Party, and former president of Carlton Football Club
bemused@39
I don’t believe Turnbull is serious at all about HSR, but I believe that if we were to have it someday, it should have two services like the KLIA Express.
An express service that makes a minimal number of stops at only the key station by skipping the others through a passing loop, and a slower trunk service that stops at all stations in between and dropping passengers at the main stops.
[I expect the budget bottom line to now include value capture, product placement & chook raffles.]
“The 2016 Budget, brought to you by the Commonwealth Bank, Theiss John Holland and Caymans Escape Adventure and Fiscal Tours…”
Adrian, you on The ABC. True, little more than an increasingly thinly disguised propaganda arm of the LNP.
How many people in Australia would actually agree with this statement a few hundred maybe in a country of 20 odd million. It is crazy talk and you should be called out for what it is.
To save money, the Turnbull Express will not have any stations. Passengers will be required to walk to the nearest train depot and hope that a train is leaving soon.
J341983 yes but when valuations (inevitably) differ it (inevitably) devolves into lawyer fight.
Steelydan
I simply don’t understand the rubbish thrown around about the ABC it is all I watch along with SBS.
[I can see it making a lot of sense in suburbia where a new station should greatly enhance the value of commercial properties close to it and also new residential developments.]
I think Besumed, that the processes of land valuation is already in place with market forces (location location location) – MT seems to me to be insinuating this is somehow a well of wealth yet to be tapped when clearly it isn’t – unless of course he’s suggesting a new approach in assessing and recouping that future value to finance infrastructure… and in the case of VFT the cost of said infrastructure is surely beyond the scope of any such value capture in the real world.
65
Steelydan
Adrian and I frequently disagree. But on the question of ABC we are on the same page.
The ABC gives undue prominence to the IPA and their idiotic fantasies.
[shea mcduff
Posted Tuesday, April 12, 2016 at 2:26 pm | Permalink
So why did the ALP primary go down in the last week according to ER [ignoring MoE]?
Looking at the survey results I reckon they ALL favour the ALP/Greens policies, particularly the tax reforms issues which are strong support for the ALP/Greens lines and strong rejection for those of the COALition.
The ABCC line preferred by the COALition is not cutting through with only one third support which decreases dramatically if the rusted on Lib supporters are taken out of the equation and ‘don’t know’ is still very significant and if anything increasing.
Bill is doing slightly better, not static or getting worse, both on his netsats and PPM whilst Malcolm is deteriorating significantly with his support.
Current issues in the media seem to give no real outstanding reason[s] for a decline in ALP support it’s pretty much standard fare where the trend [?] is for the COALition to be seen to be performing badly.
So why the decline in ALP support [even tho’ slightly balanced by the numerical increase for the Greens]?
Strange.]
MOE + rounding = noise
On the IPA wish list (form Crikey)
[83. Have trade unions regulated like public companies, with ASIC responsible for their oversight
ASIC won’t be responsible, but this is the idea behind one of the pieces of legislation that will be the subject of debate in the extra three sitting weeks of Parliament. If the Senate doesn’t pass it? Double dissolution election.]
I don’t know whether you fine people have been watching the SBS show about the Brain: Secrets of the Brain … but it is quite brilliant. Lots of cutting edge science/medicine involved and the Dr who presents has a wonderful way of relating the complex in terms easily understood.
Last night it talked about Psychopathy and how psychopaths can manipulate ordinary people into doing horrendous things. 2 key elements (of 3) were tribalism and propaganda. It basically explained how being part of a tribe (in-group) will allow you to hate members of a different tribe (out-group) even though you might have been friends/neighbours previously and had done each other no harm. And once you are separated into tribes then propaganda, even outrageous lies, are believed.
It was quite fascinating as it helped explain for me how Abbott could have become PM and how Gillard was so despised by some. It also kinda explained the ALP/Greens skirmishes we see here on PB regularly.
If you get a chance to watch the series on SBS iView equivalent, I recommend taking the time to do so. Watch all the episodes if you can … so many aspects that make you think about who/what we are
Steelydan, you and bemused and MTBW can blather all you like, but the facts speak for themselves.
Sorry, I know how conservatives and facts have a very fraught relationship.
MTBW @ 68: This is not an argument, or even a proposition. What if I said:
I simply don’t understand the rubbish thrown around about the Daily Telegraph. It’s all I read along with New Idea.
I doubt if that would convince anyone!
The 50-50, in keeping with the recent Newspoll, is heartening for Labor supporters but the hard heads and the bookies still can’t see a Labor victory – just yet.
A Labor win, come the election whenever, would be astounding after all the politics we have been through over the last 6-7 years, but then, nothing is set in stone these days.
Give me a break!
Stan Grant: “Indigenous Australia should look to China, the global beacon of poverty reduction”
TPOH surely if people from the right like me see the ABC as haveing a definate left bias and people such as yourself see them as having a right bias, then maybe they are actually doing there job. It has a lot to do with how you see things I reckon the drum has to many from the McKell Institute or the Australia Institute, I sit there watching it wandering where the hell do they get these guys from.
Sohar
Did Stan Grant really say that?
[The 50-50, in keeping with the recent Newspoll, is heartening for Labor supporters but the hard heads and the bookies still can’t see a Labor victory – just yet. ]
The bookies are merely reflecting what a handful of punters have laid their money on.
The polls represent what voters intentions are.
We can quibble on who is more accurate, but they really are chalk and cheese.
vic
Yep, he did.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/apr/12/indigenous-australia-should-look-to-china-the-global-beacon-of-poverty-reduction
Really?
James Massola
James Massola – Verified account @jamesmassola
Banks refuse to rule out mining tax-style ad campaign against royal commission #banksRC
http://bit.ly/1qM8Gfs
Dan G
Thanks.
Here’s stan’s article. No comments section, I see! Thank God Labor didn’t take on this idiot.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/apr/12/indigenous-australia-should-look-to-china-the-global-beacon-of-poverty-reduction
Here’s some facts on the ABC.
As far as ABC bias goes, we have had 2 ALP guests in a row on 7.30. Before that, I had been making official complaints about the fact that 17 of the prior 19 main interviews on 7.30 were with Government Ministers, only 2 with ALP shadows, since January.
The two ALP were Shorten and Bowen, each following an interview with Turnbull and Morrison the evening before. In other words, only 2 interviews in over 2 months.
The same sort of appearance ratio is seen on AM and Breakfast News almost invariably replays Gov’t Minister i’views from AM or Radio National in full, while usually ignoring ALP appearances. Again, this changed a little this week, no doubt not connected at all with my complaints.
The IPA is given pride of place on The Drum, of course and where Insiders used to alternate ALP/Lib interviews, they changed that late last year to have more Gov’t guests.
It’s difficult to escape the conclusion the ABC has either been ‘nobbled’ or are so cowed by funding cut threats that they fear for their jobs if they don’t favour the Government.
That’s not even counting the numerous Liberal appointees.
Even after that, we have Leigh Sales giggling her way through interviews with Turnbull and becoming the aggressive interrogator with any ALP guest.
Then, on Lateline, we have Tony Jones, who has an obvious problem with Labor women guests.
There’s no reason why the increase in land value associated with railways should not be captured. It will help pay for the railways. In this economy, the Commonwealth can finance railways far more readily than the States. It can also monetise some of the value associated with railway developments by imposing a Land Tax, something it has the power to do. In this way, those private titleholders that most benefit financially from railways can contribute to the capital cost.
However, I think value-capture models other than Land Tax should also be explored.
There is no reason why a Commonwealth-State owned Urban Rail Corp could be set up to acquire land and build railways and connected economic assets in partnership with States.
Come on Banks, bring it on! You’ll basically ensure Labor is elected.
I think that Stan Grant’s message was a little more nuanced.
adrian
Depends on what your values are I guess.
P.S. for 88. Stan Grant should join the Coalition.
Unsurprising , It appears charges have been laid against the mother of baby who was killed on weekend.
should be….no reason why a corp could NOT be set up!
Senator Peter Whish-Wilson and Greens’ trade spokesperson:
http://greens.org.au/news/tas/shorten-must-walk-talk-local-steel-and-oppose-tpp
[“Bill Shorten’s promise to demand Australian governments buy Australian steel is hollow unless he commits Labor to vote against the TPP.
“The TPP will prevent federal and state governments from having meaningful buy-local policies.
“A breach of the TPP would lead to severe penalties, including by the use of Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provisions which allow big corporations to sue our governments and their taxpayers.
“The Greens have long campaigned against trade deals like the TPP because they are negotiated in secret, driven by the interests of big foreign corporations and tie the government’s hands when it comes to legislating in the national or public interest.
“Governments can and must play a role in protecting Australian jobs, skills and industry. Supporting dodgy trade deals is not the way to do that,” he concluded.]
lizzie – I only skipped through Grant’s article (it was painful reading) but he basically seems to want right-wing remedies for indigenous problems. At it’s heart it’s a “get on your bike” mentality. Maybe I’m being unfair, but it was pretty confused.
Kevin 1–7
I’d call it confused, too.
[right-wing remedies for indigenous problems]
Reminds me of Noel Pearson.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/clive-palmer-facing-undignified-exit-from-parliament-after-administrators-damning-report-20160412-go48b5.html
The union representing finance workers will not endorse Labor’s plan for a royal commission into the industry until there are more details about the proposal, but wants any such inquiry to focus on the pressure on staff to hit sales targets.
Finance Sector Union national secretary Fiona Jordan on Tuesday said she was “cautious” about supporting the royal commission proposal, and wanted to speak with union members more broadly on the issue, and ensure it was not an attack on people who work in banks.
“If there’s going to b a royal commission, we want to see what the terms of reference are, and make sure the focus is on the culture of the companies, not the employees working in these companies.”
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/finance-sector-union-cautious-on-bank-royal-commission-20160412-go4gfj.html#ixzz45atlZoxg
Follow us: @theage on Twitter | theageAustralia on Facebook
victoria @82,
I really hope they do.
Bill Shorten and labor will love it.
Cheers.
Disability advocates have slammed the federal government’s “astounding silence” over a landmark Senate report, which called for a royal commission into disability abuse more than four months ago.
Amid debate over whether there should be a royal commission into the financial sector, there is frustration that desperate pleas for a high-level national investigation into disability abuse have so far been ignored.
While Labor senators on the inquiry supported the call for a royal commission, the Labor leadership had not gone as far. Disability spokeswoman Jenny Macklin has backed an “independent national investigation” but not specifically called for a royal commission.
Greens senator Rachel Siewert, who chaired the inquiry, said disability abuse “should be an issue of national shame”.
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/anger-frustration-over-government-silence-on-disability-abuse-royal-commission-20160411-go41s8.html#ixzz45aw04na6
[The union representing finance workers will not endorse Labor’s plan for a royal commission into the industry until there are more details about the proposal, but wants any such inquiry to focus on the pressure on staff to hit sales targets.]
The RC should be focused on investigating and exposing illegality, impropriety, insider-dealing, price-fixing, traffic-steering, the swapping of commissions and/or margins and other anti-competitive and unethical behaviours by the banks.
It should be aimed at ensuring banks always comply with the criminal and corporations laws. It should consider the question of whether or not bank directors should be deemed to be personally, criminally accountable for the institutionalised misconduct of the corporations they direct.
The banks now operate outside the law. This is a profound systemic prudential risk to the financial order and the economy as a whole.