A bit of a blip towards the Coalition in this week’s reading of the BludgerTrack poll aggregate, which only has a new Essential Research result to go on. This translates into extra seats for the Coalition in Victoria and Queensland. The only other feature of the result worth remarking on is that it’s still onwards and upwards for One Nation.
BludgerTrack: 52.8-47.2 to Labor
Slight movement to the Coalition in this week’s poll aggregate reading, with still no sign of slackening in the trend towards One Nation.
William
Thank you for your judgement on John Smith.
On Poll matters, is it the effect of PHON that is giving the Coalition a boost?
Good morning Dawn Patrollers.
Mark Kenny describes Turnbull as Kevin Rudd without the popularity. Ouch!
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/tony-abbott-is-kevin-rudd-without-the-popularity-20170224-gukefc.html
Amy Remeikis writes about George Christensen’s plan to stop Coalition voters drifting across to One Nation.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/george-christensens-plan-to-stop-voters-drifting-to-pauline-hanson-one-nation-20170224-gul2aj.html
Peter FitzSimons tells Tony Abbott he doesn’t have a clue about renewable energy and climate change.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/what-tony-abbott-just-doesnt-understand-about-renewable-energy-20170224-guky2x.html
Like many Americans, Australians are wondering how the hell we ended up with a PM whose environment policies are a recipe for disaster. Turnbull is heading us to disaster writes Sue Arnold.
https://independentaustralia.net/environment/environment-display/like-trump-turnbulls-environmental-wtfness-is-propelling-us-to-disaster,10056
Now it’s Rugby Union guys getting into potentially big drug trouble.
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/former-wallabies-star-james-oconnor-allegedly-arrested-attempting-to-buy-cocaine-reports-20170225-guldjf.html
The Catholic Church, which has presided over a decades-long international cover-up of countless cases, perhaps hundreds of thousands, of child rape and other sexual abuse is arguably guilty of crimes against humanity writes Michael Short.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/is-the-catholic-church-guilty-of-crimes-against-humanity-20170223-gujy2v.html
Yes, the church is finally facing its day of reckoning.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/feb/25/i-went-to-bed-screaming-child-abuse-survivor-speaks-as-church-faces-moment-of-reckoning
The prominent women’s refugee advocate, domestic violence campaigner and Australian of the Year finalist has had her assets frozen by the powerful NSW Crime Commission following an investigation into “serious crime related activity” and her “unexplained wealth”.
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/child-bride-survivor-eman-sharobeem-has-assets-frozen-by-nsw-crime-commission-20170220-gugqxj.html
Here is a law suit what could prove to be a concerning precedent for contact sports to consider. An NRL player is suing his club over concussions.
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/former-nsw-origin-winger-james-mcmanus-sues-newcastle-knights-over-concussions-20170225-gul6z8.html
Apparently Trump’s wall is “way, way ahead of schedule”.
http://thenewdaily.com.au/news/world/2017/02/25/donald-trumps-border-wall/
Section 3 . . . with Cartoon Corner
The biggest problem with Centrelink is the continued reduction in staffing levels as demand continues to increase – both as a result of management and policy decisions and directions. Don;t blame the staff. They do their best.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/centrelink-is-an-easy-target-for-complaints-but-there-are-two-sides-to-every-story-20170224-gukr4x.html
Cathy Wilcox and the warriors of the right.
Broelman’s discovery of another planet.
Mark Knight with a ripper on the resignation of the Victorian Speakers.
http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/acc25886f6a871e555878ff30f898b2b?width=1024
BK
Are you having trouble or was your numbering just a temporary aberration?
Our own little Fukushima?
http://www.theage.com.au/business/a-sewage-farm-a-youth-detention-centre-now-meet-werribees-radioactive-cows-20170224-gul26r.html
Lizzie
Oh no! Section 2 got gobbled. I’ll try again.
Section 2 . . .
Just have a look at the stories in PoliticusUSA to see how the Trump administration is motoring!
http://www.politicususa.com/
According to Amy Remeikis Liberal electorates are among the hardest hit by the penalty rate reductions.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/liberal-electorates-among-hardest-hit-by-penalty-rate-changes-20170225-gul6p5.html
Paul McGeough says the evidences it there to support the premise that America is facing the unthinkable becoming the possible.
http://www.smh.com.au/world/as-the-tempo-of-trumps-media-war-rises-the-unthinkable-becomes-possible-20170225-gul63s.html
Denying journalists from the Guardian, New York Times and other outlets access to a press briefing is an authoritarian move. A swift response is needed.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/feb/24/white-house-radical-attack-first-amendment-cnn-new-york-times
Why do mainstream media sing from the same song sheet? The importance of independent media was never more than it is today.
https://independentaustralia.net/business/business-display/why-does-mainstream-media-sing-from-the-same-songsheet,10055
First it was Sweden’s leaders and now it is France’s that hit back at Trump comments. A statesman extraordinaire!
http://www.smh.com.au/world/french-president-francois-hollande-hits-back-at-donald-trump-over-paris-comments-20170225-gulefv.html
Annabel Crabbe on the problems for Gen Y.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/generation-y-must-be-close-to-revolution-20170224-gukink.html
More internecine problems surface in the NSW Liberal Party. Is the hand of Abbott involved in this?
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/michael-photios-resigns-as-the-leader-of-nsw-liberals-dominant-left-faction-20170225-gulctv.html
And. showing it does have SOME standards, it bans the odious hypocrite Ross Cameron for four years.
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/ross-cameron-cops-fourandahalf-year-ban-for-criticising-gladys-berejiklian-20170224-gul4nr.html
Pauline Hanson, in another display of One Nation stability, has sacked two WA candidates.
http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/wa-election-2017/hanson-dumps-one-nation-wa-candidates-for-criticising-libs-preference-deal-20170225-gul7ob.html
Thanks BK. Happy Sunday!
Good Morning Bludgers! 🙂
Up at a ‘normal’ time today.
Thank goodness Insiders has Chris Bowen on. What’s the betting that Barrie asks him to explain Labor’s Renewable Energy policy? 😉
Pauline Hanson, in another display of One Nation stability, has sacked two WA candidates.
How very Trumpian of Pauline. 🙂
Confessions,
You might be interested in this story(I think the area of Ravensthorpe is in your electorate), and you and your Local Labor Member might be interested in putting it on your facebook pages:
http://www.weatherzone.com.au/news/flood-affected-wa-farmers-plead-for-faster-relief-funding/525944
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/feb/25/half-all-species-extinct-end-century-vatican-conference?CMP=share_btn_tw
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/no-skyrail-for-bonbeach-and-edithvale-as-government-attempts-to-avert-backlash-20170225-gulb5i.html
Grog’s latest on Penalty Rates:
https://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2017/feb/26/sundays-arent-so-special-according-to-the-fair-work-commission
C@Tmomma
Snap! I was just about to post the same link. He makes some good points.
This is very amusing 🙂
?oh=eaef910d370fa80f1193a244fd7a4324&oe=59708EA0
Lizzie,
Grog is the best Economics writer in Australia today because he perceives the human aspect to Economics that others sometimes miss.
I know Ross Gittins is good also, however he sometimes loses the plot for some reason I haven’t been able to fathom from someone so perceptive.
Grog never seems to miss. His aim is true. 🙂
C@Tmomma
On Grog and Gittins, agree completely. Mostly apolitical.
c@tmomma @ #13 Sunday, February 26, 2017 at 8:15 am
As usual Greg Jericho has written an excellent article.
Morning all. This is another good article on penalty rates
By Jim Stanford
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/employers-pyrrhic-penalty-rates-win-reflects-selfdefeating-economics-20170224-guktj2.html
IT covered similar ground to Grog’s article but more focusing on low wage growth.
There are also some really good comments coming through on Grog’s article.
I very much agree with these sentiments:
Morning all
BK
Thanks for today’s reports.
C@t
Glad you had some quality shut eye. Having to get up very early is tough!!
Here is prediction:
That the usual tide of Islamophobic commentary from the Government will be silenced while Jokowi is in town.
It’s interesting that those in favour of cutting penalty rates don’t seem to understand what they themselves are saying.
For starters, they all seem to admit that the workers affected will be single mothers and University students – that is, people who do not have full time employment.
What that means is that, even under our present ‘generous’ system, there are statistically virtually no workers who work 9-5, Monday to Friday, who find the idea of working for double pay on a Sunday attractive enough to do it.
It seems “sad” is the new fashionable word.
Boerwar
Due to their respect and consideration of the PM ? lol
lizzie @ #1 Sunday, February 26, 2017 at 6:40 am
There is something distasteful in hubris about a banning.
Gawd… Henderson’d first comment on Insiders re MPs entitlements referred to Doc Evatt.
The maths says for a person to make up for the 200% to 150% change a person would need to work an additional one third as many more hours on a Sunday. A bit difficult if the shop isn’t open that long!
Bemused
Hubris? Don’t be silly. I’m just pleased that Williams sets a high standard.
Thank you William re John Smith. Trolls are so last season.
Lizzie
Well said
lizzie @ #12 Sunday, February 26, 2017 at 8:13 am
I will be very disappointed if there is a political backdown on this.
Building elevated rail is the right thing to do and the Govt should be prepared to stare down the NIMBYs and defend the decision.
I think it will actually prove to be politically popular once people see what it is really like and the positive effect on their suburb.
lizzie @ #30 Sunday, February 26, 2017 at 9:11 am
He does when it appears a popular move.
Bemused
That seems reasonable to me.
You’re just sensitive about being banned.
There may have been posts by JS that William moderated out and we did not see.
bemused @ #34 Sunday, February 26, 2017 at 9:21 am
It’s his blog. He can do what he bloody well likes. Mr Smith or you or I can go off and set up our own blogs if we don’t like what William does here. And William permitting you to criticise him here without banning you is also his call.
It didn’t take long for businesses not covered by the FWA decision to call for the pay cuts to apply to them –
Read more: http://www.afr.com/news/policy/industrial-relations/cafes-and-restaurants-miss-out-on-cut-to-sunday-penalty-rates-20170224-gukpjq
lizzie @ #35 Sunday, February 26, 2017 at 9:23 am
Nothing at all done about all the smut that gets sprayed around.
Double standards are the order of the day.
Thanks BK for today’s Dawn Patrol. I loved the story about Pence tweeting support for Israel using the Nicaraguan flag rather than the Israel flag. Is there anyone in the WH who knows what they’re doing?
john reidy @ #36 Sunday, February 26, 2017 at 9:24 am
Clutching at straws. It would have been evident and William snips posts AFTER they have appeared.
JS was an idiot. It seems that threatened some.
Bemused
I don’t appreciate the ‘smut’ any more than you do, but it’s not our call.
Lizzie, the word ‘sad’ withdraws power from the target. That’s why they used it. It is aimed at deflating the argument. Resistance and anger escalates … shaking head and saying ‘sad’ deflates it.
lizzie @ #42 Sunday, February 26, 2017 at 9:29 am
The howling mob seeks to have JS banned and is relatively silent about the far more pervasive smut. Double standards.
Bemused
It was a bloody small ‘howling mob’. JS was just an attention seeker.
Jenauthor
Agreed. It is being used quite a lot of late. And it does in fact deflate the angst so to speak
Gerard isn’t having a very good day.
I am still gobsmacked by the actions of the Victorian Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
What on earth were they thinking?
What they did was just so self-evidently wrong,
I can understand the State Govt wanting to avoid by-elections just now, but those two should depart in disgrace at the next election.
lizzie @ #45 Sunday, February 26, 2017 at 9:33 am
Yes, so the best strategy was to starve him of attention.
I think I made one comment about him, not to him and that was it.
Others made the mistake of engaging with him.
“Sad” is Trump’s put down, as if he’s superior to everyone else. Not sure that it deflates any angst.