Labor picks up a point in this week’s reading of Essential Research’s fortnight rolling average, which did not allow the Easter long weekend to interrupt its schedule. The major parties exchange a point on the primary vote, with Labor up to 37% and the Coalition down to 36%, while the Greens and One Nation hold steady at 10% and 8% respectively.
Also included are approving ratings for cross-benchers Senators, which I like to think they asked because I suggested it to them a few weeks ago, and it’s turned up the finding I was fishing for when I did: namely, that Jacqui Lambie, at 32% approval and 30% disapproval, is more popular than the overrated Pauline Hanson, at 32% and 48%. Still less popular are David Leyonhjelm, with 9% approval, 28% disapproval and a forbiddingly high “don’t know about them”, and Cory Bernardi, whose respective numbers are 10%, 34% and 41% (“not sure” accounts for the balance). At the top of the charts is Nick Xenophon, at 35% approval and 25% disapproval, followed by Derryn Hinch at 35% and 27%.
The poll also records 38% support for allowing superannuation to be accessible when buying a home, with 50% opposed, and has a suite of questions on the American intervention in Syria: 41% approve of last week’s bombing with 36% opposed; 37% say they would support US ground troops being sent, with 39% opposed; and 31% saying they would approve of an Australian contribution, with 50% opposed.
Section 2 . . .
Meanwhile, in contrast to the government’s empty policy cupboard on housing, Labor has released a comprehensive suite.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/labor-hits-foreigners-vacant-properties-and-super-funds-in-housing-affordability-package-20170420-gvolrj.html
And Phil Coorey writes that David Murray has urged the Coalition to ban self-managed super funds from borrowing and to do so quickly or risk a stampede of further leveraging between now and the next election which would put more pressure on house prices. Google.
/news/politics/ban-super-fund-borrowing-or-risk-stampede-20170420-gvp7ca
Coorey also tells the Coalition that there is no messiah. Google.
/news/politics/warning-to-warring-liberals-there-is-no-messiah-20170420-gvoj3m
Dutton is already backpedalling over the new visas under pressure from university vice-chancellors.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/peter-dutton-signals-room-to-move-on-work-visas-for-universities-20170421-gvplsy.html
In a lengthy contribution Anna Patty wonders if the visa changes are a political illusion act.
http://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace-relations/are-the-457-visa-reforms-an-illusion-act-20170420-gvokqk.html
Peter Hartcher takes us along the historical path of immigration policy and concludes that the visa changes are more good housekeeping than radical change. Much more preferable than what Turnbull ‘right wing rump would like.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/immigration-changes-are-modest-housekeeping-and-not-draconian-20170421-gvpv39.html
And Michael Gordon says that Dutton has stooped to a new low, even as he seeks to impose higher standards on prospective Australian citizens. Potatohead is a real piece of work.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/peter-dutton-delivers-a-new-low-with-comments-on-manus-island-rampage-20170420-gvp6tr.html
Richard Dennis has written a good piece on conservatives’ ideological indifference to increasing wages.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/australias-fake-crisis-of-high-wages-20170421-gvpj8w.html
Joel Fitzgibbon channels Orwell’s 1984 to hoe into Barnaby Joyce’s decentralisation ideology.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/big-brother-barnaby-joyces-sequel-to-1984-20170421-gvpmr8.html
And Zed Seselja also has a dip at Joyce’s decentralisation folly.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/moving-public-servants-from-sydney-and-melbourne-but-not-canberra-helps-everyone-20170421-gvpiz5.html
Section 3 . . .
Embattled Federal LNP MP Stuart Robert and his former staffer Clr Kristyn Boulton both fall victim to amnesia at a Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission hearing in Brisbane this week.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/stuart-robert-fibs-and-crony-contradicts-him-at-qld-ccc-corruption-inquiry,10221
President Donald Trump received substantially worse ratings for his initial months in office than any other president elected to his first term since World War II, according to Gallup.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2017/04/20/trump-s-first-quarter-poll-ratings-lowest-for-an-elected-preside_a_22048651/?utm_hp_ref=au-homepage
Mike Seccombe goes inside the war on Safe Schools.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/education/2017/04/22/inside-the-war-safe-schools/14927832004537
Peter van Onselen piles into the Coalition’s poor record when it comes to gender balance. Google.
/opinion/columnists/peter-van-onselen/good-night-ladies-were-going-to-dump-you-now-coalition/news-story/7f046e730296c467ca4c507506f021e0
Cormann has warned former prime minister Tony Abbott’s public criticisms of the Turnbull government could help Labor win the next election.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/mathias-cormann-warns-tony-abbott-may-help-bill-shorten-become-prime-minister-20170420-gvp70h.html
Coalition MPs with thousands of dole recipients in their electorates have hit out at “job snobs”. Google.
/national-affairs/industrial-relations/coalition-regional-mps-target-job-snobs/news-story/c66dbf38e429cf62230a6378d79def84
It looks like Jeremy Corbyn is going to campaign on getting rid of the establishment’s cosy rules.
http://www.smh.com.au/world/uk-election-can-labours-jeremy-corbyn-win-the-election-20170420-gvp904.html
Using the odious Bill O’Reilly as an example Julia Baird goes after the workplace sleazes.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/to-the-workplaces-sleazes-of-the-word-your-time-is-up-20170420-gvozta.html
A pretty good weekend column from Peter FitzSimons.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/vicepresident-mike-pence-heres-how-to-ingratiate-yourself-with-sydney-20170421-gvpt69.html
Section 4 . . . Cartoon Corner
Ron Tandberg on the fate of housing affordability policy changes.
Nice work from Cathy Wilcox on Fox News.
Broelman visits Point Piper.
There’s much to see in this effort from David Rowe.
David Pope with Turnbull’s view of the March for Science.
Ron Tandberg and Turnbull’s intervention to save Warringah.
A cracker from Mark Knight!
http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/093e4962e3be568b2c4fb05e3933db9b?width=1024
Jon Kudelka with the Sermon on the (Values) Mount.
http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/7dab2591d910f32dcf354fb8263d3555
Morning all and thanks BK. Poor Stuart Robert. The witness box seems to be a very risky environment when it comes to contracting amnesia. I think that was exactly the same place where Arthur Sinodinos first caught the disease.
Jack Snelling also seems to have amnesia, and he is not even in a witness box.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-21/oakden-nursing-home-leesa-vlahos-vows-to-clean-up-mess/8460302
With the polls the way they are for the LNP, the truly damaging loss in WA, and growing unrest in the ranks of NSW & VIC at the very least; my guess is that Malcolm will have to go the full Tony to have any chance of a win at the next election.
Expect lots of ‘national security’ stuff, any number of three word slogans, and a far more feral Trumble.
It should not work of course, but who knows with the Australian electorate, and the MSM urging them to ‘not rock the boat’ and ‘only Malcolm’s first term, so why not give him a chance to really prove himself’ etc.
It is quite obvious that the LNP are useless economic managers, and that the ALP have been much better ones (at least in recent years); so the ALP has to change the public perception of this. If they can remove this perception then they will have a strong case in many future elections, not just the next one.
Booleanbach, that is a fair summary. I don’t know which I find more depressing, Turnbull hanging on for two more years, or Abbott and Dutton being the alternatives?
Certainly Labor is correct to attack housing policy. Younger voters (meaning anyone under about 40!) should be rightly angry at the cost pressure forced on them. I might have some smashed ‘avo in protest.
@Boolean,
Expect lots of Flags, terror talks, fear and lots more bullshit :p
Which is signature for LNP right wing.
My problem (or Australia’s problem) is the length of time before the next election. How much more damage will Truffles and his gang do before we can throw them out?
Socrates, got a surprise when I read your linked article on SA mental health. Leesa is an ex of mine, different surname now. Good to see she’s switched from her uni days as a young lib.
socrates @ #905 Saturday, April 22, 2017 at 7:35 am
I think that if a collective; an entity; can be either/or psychotic/psychopathic, then this particular establishment, meant to care for and look after the interest of residents, is that entity.
I do wonder where are the loved ones and family members, but then I realize that very often a cursory look around would tell one nothing.
The minister concerned noticed that the gardens were not up to her standards – to which I say (here insert many foul and abusive remarks).
I know that the teams that do inpsections of nursing homes in NSW, and I assume, other states, are dedicated (my opinion) to finding all’s good,hunky dory and the gardens are excellent. The fact the snap inspections are really known well in advance aids Nursing Home management so that the records and are up to date including drug accounts. The best bed spreads are on display. In military terms anything that is not mobile is whitewashed.
Unless video monitoring is instituted and staff properly trained and paid and the management do more than just collect the weekly stipend, there will be no changes.
Loved ones also need to be educated to the idea that visiting somebody in a care facility is not just to deliver the weekly tired bunch of flowers and depart to await the reading of the will.
End of my little rant.
Fresh coffee awaits. ☕
Thanks BK, PvO’s column reveals something I had no idea was the case:
He goes on to lament that all the preselections since Turnbull took over the leadership have been men:
It’s like I keep saying, the coalition is anti-woman.
Fess
Thanks for that summary.
They obviously have no confidence that a female is good enough to beat the men. O’Dwyer, Cash, BishopB and even BishopJ are a different breed!!
lizzie:
I knew the Liberals and Nats had women problems, but when you see it all laid out like that, it’s even worse than I thought. What do women have to do to be preselected for safe coalition seats?
You have to feel a bit sorry for Bill O’Reilly. Kicked out of his job with only a 100 million or so to his name. How on earth will he get by?
lizzie
#913 Saturday, April 22, 2017 at 8:36 am
confessions
#914 Saturday, April 22, 2017 at 8:40 am
If a woman was preselected for a safe Liberal seat, my wild guess is that the said woman would not be one I would admire.
For instance Gina could stand against Mr. Hastie (assuming that one or both have not been fragged – my little joke).
What a revolting thought. Time to get ready for mowing.
trog sorrenson @ #915 Saturday, April 22, 2017 at 8:44 am
I expect Trump will find him a position in the White House.
It’s the white male (Judeo-) Christian thing, and especially a Catholic thing – women not allowed at the altar. Unclean. Abbott is the prime example of how they think about females. Remember that disgusting comment about the (pretty useless as I recall) Western Sydney female candidate being good because she was a good sort – women little more than decorative sex objects in these pigs minds.
That would be the Abbott who chose to live in barracks with blokes in uniforms instead of in a house with his wife. Abnormal much.
You have to feel a bit sorry for Bill O’Reilly. Kicked out of his job with only a 100 million or so to his name. How on earth will he get by?
He got a 25 Mill handshake. That might help unless it is gobbled up by attorneys.
You’d think UK Labour would have learnt from the Michael Foot dalliance with the extreme Left in 1983..
..but, no. So Labour will be all but wiped out …again..
**sigh**
Good Morning Bludgers 🙂
#JeSuisMacron
I’ll preface by saying I strongly dislike most politicians (male or female) and thats even across all parties. However a lot of the women in the Libs/Nats that are in the media frequently appear to me as horribly vindictive and downright mean. Senator Cash springs to mind. On the alternative, Senators Nash and Payne across much better and normally I’ll try to listen to what they say. I wonder if the reason the Libs/Nats have a women problem is due to an internal culture problem that forces a lot of decent women out.
Jeez that piece by Jack Waterford was a brutal analysis of Malcolm Turnbull! I’m not saying it was wrong, mind. 🙂
confessions @ #914 Saturday, April 22, 2017 at 8:40 am
I’m not sure if it’s the Liberal Party’s attitude to women that’s the problem.
Maybe it’s the Party’s platform and ideology, and that intelligent women are able to see through the Party bullsh!t and are unwilling to compromise their values like the men.
The few that do join seem to be as intellectually light as their male colleagues.
Ides of March,
What do you think about Gladys Berejiklian?
Barry Reynolds (?) The discount subscription offer for Crikey is go! Check the main PB page. 🙂
BIGD,
I’m not sure if it’s the Liberal Party’s attitude to women that’s the problem.
Maybe it’s the Party’s platform and ideology, and that intelligent women are able to see through the Party bullsh!t and are unwilling to compromise their values like the men.
http://nymag.com/thecut/2017/01/the-future-of-the-left-is-female.html
🙂
Thus the ones who go Right could be usefully classified as the hard-arsked biatches.
As I have said before, those four names are a classic example of why it is irrelevant whether the coalition has more women or not. (and you can throw in Sophie Mirabella as well – remember her). LNP MPs all sing from the same songbook and we’d be better off without any of them, male or female.
‘Ides of March,
What do you think about Gladys Berejiklian?’
IMHO she is a captive of the hard right bullshit artist par excellence whose idea of good policy is to sell anything that isn’t nailed down.
On a bad day she makes Mal the Magnificent look sincere.
Incidentally, saw a snippet of Mal’s interview with Leigh, and crikey the smugness was in bloody overdrive. What a self satisfied prick!
Cat:
I think the ‘real’ Gladys is probably decent, nice and hardworking. Shes came across as such ( at least before becoming premier). I however think she has a weak support base in the party membership and will be constantly snipped at. Im afraid it means she might adopt the Senator Cash persona.
I disagree with a lot of her policies, but I can separate dislike of a person and their policies. Currently I have a neutral outlook on her as a person but very negative on policy.
c@tmomma @ #927 Saturday, April 22, 2017 at 9:17 am
The evidence does seem to support that conclusion. 🙂
A New FBI Bombshell Could Be The Beginning Of The End For Trump
CNN is reporting that the FBI has intelligence that shows Russia tried to use Trump’s advisers to infiltrate his campaign if they were successful the presidency has been compromised, and Trump must be removed from office.
The FBI doesn’t know if the Trump advisers were aware that they were being used, but the larger issue becomes was the Trump campaign compromised? Is the Trump White House compromised?
If the answer to either of the above questions is proven to be yes, then Donald Trump and his entire administration must be removed from office in the name of national security.
It is now possible that Donald Trump is a ticking time bomb that was put in place by Putin to destroy democracy from within
http://www.politicususa.com/2017/04/21/russia-trump-advisers-infiltrate-campaign-trump-removed-office.html
Ides:
As PvO points out, women aren’t preselected for safe coalition seats, therefore making it near impossible for more women to be elected into parliament.
Thanks Ides and Adrian 🙂
Yes, if only she could be ‘The Real Gladys’. 😉
Still, she is a former Banker. 🙁
Fess:
Hence an internal culture problem that wont preselect more women.
Barney:
But if the coalition aren’t prepared to preselect women candidates for safe seats, it makes it even harder to increase their party’s female representation. His laying out of all those who have come into parliament since Turnbull has been leader being men is a perfect illustration of this.
His=PvO
I think the ‘real’ Gladys is probably decent, nice and hardworking
My understanding is that she is ruthlessly ambitious.
Gladys has an image as decent and nice in the same way that Bambi Baird had a similar image and Mal had an image as an intelligent moderate and Abbott…
These are media generated illusions that are eventually seen through by most voters when reality sets in.
The women who succeed in right wing parties often seem to be those who take on the boys at their (the boys’) own game and win. Maggie Thatcher is their patron saint.
ctar1 @ #895 Saturday, April 22, 2017 at 6:22 am
Subject to those services meeting the demand, being appropriate and keeping up with growth.
BK – that you again for your efforts with Dawn Patrol.
The article linked here (Richard Dennis has written a good piece on conservatives’ ideological indifference to increasing wages.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/australias-fake-crisis-of-high-wages-20170421-gvpj8w.html) needs to be widely read. I wonder how may Liberal voters know that if they are employees (and not corporate executives), their preferred political leaders think that they (their voters) are overpaid and want to suppress their pay and conditions?
P.S. I would replace ‘indifference’ to increasing wages with ‘hostility’.
confessions @ #936 Saturday, April 22, 2017 at 9:31 am
But where is the quality?
Labor seem to have no problem attracting women of quality, while the Libs are yet to achieve this.
Continuing select the type of female candidates they do, does nothing for diversity and adds nothing to their Party.
zoidlord @ #899 Saturday, April 22, 2017 at 7:27 am
Yes, it seems all Australian cities have under-invested in public transport over many decades. But I would argue Melbourne in worse than Sydney in that respect. I am not familiar with other capitals so can’t offer any opinion.
I am sure that anyone who gets at or near the top of the political totem pole, whether male or female, is “ruthlessly ambitious”. If they weren’t, they would have been long since pushed aside by someone who was.
Barney:
I agree, but to be fair, we only know about the women who are elected.
Oakes’ article is good.
I can’t see any point in appointing Abbott to a cabinet position.
Apart from doubt he would be a good minister, does anyone think he would respect cabinet solidarity?
Steve777
It is amazing how the “capitalist party” have such faith in “the market” everywhere except when it comes to paying people. Suddenly supply and demand having an effect is terrible and must be circumvented. .Trouble finding someone to pick tomatoes for you ? Pay enough to attract someone and if you can’t afford to pay that then you are in the wrong business.
confessions @ #933 Saturday, April 22, 2017 at 9:28 am
O’Dwyer in Higgins?
john reidy @ #947 Saturday, April 22, 2017 at 10:07 am
According to Cate McGregor on the Drum that was his bargaining chip.
If you want me to be quiet, give me a Cabinet position, otherwise (insert current situation). 🙂