Essential Research: 54-46 to Labor

A budget eve widening of the Coalition’s electoral deficit from Essential, while a private poll finds cabinet minister Christian Porter struggling in his marginal seat on the fringes of Perth.

The regular Essential Research result is the only entry in an inevitably quiet week of opinion polling, to be followed by a post-budget deluge next week. This result is a good one for Labor, who tick up a point on two-party preferred to lead 54-46, with the Coalition down one on the primary vote to 37%, Labor up one to 38%, the Greens up one to 10% and One Nation maintaining an ongoing trend in dropping a point to 6%. Despite that, the regular monthly leadership ratings find Malcolm Turnbull up two on approval to 37%, although he is also up one on disapproval to 48%. Bill Shorten is up one on each, to 34% and 45%, and his deficit on preferred prime minister has narrowed from 39-28 to 39-31.

Other findings relate to the government’s university funding, with university funding cuts (28% to 56%) and student fee hikes (30% to 60%) heavily opposed, but lowering the threshold for student loan repayment slightly favoured (47% to 44%). Thirty-one per cent rated that students should pay a lesser share of the cost of their degrees, 20% thought it should be more, and 37% thought the current ratio (42% paid by students, 58% by the government) was about right. The poll also finds 71% rating a return to a budget surplus as important, versus only 19% for not important.

One other poll tidbit: the Financial Review reports a poll conducted by WA Opinion Polls for Labor-aligned communications company Campaign Capital finds cabinet minister Christian Porter trailing 52.2-47.8 in his Perth outskirts seat of Pearce, from a swing of 5.8%. The primary vote numbers make no distinction between “other” and “unsure”, so I’m not exactly sure what to make of them, but for the record they have Labor on 38.0% (34.3% at the election), Liberal on 33.8% (45.4%), the Greens on 8.0% (11.0%) and One Nation on 10.4% (uncontested). The poll was conducted a fortnight ago from a sample of 712.

Author: William Bowe

William Bowe is a Perth-based election analyst and occasional teacher of political science. His blog, The Poll Bludger, has existed in one form or another since 2004, and is one of the most heavily trafficked websites on Australian politics.

1,323 comments on “Essential Research: 54-46 to Labor”

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  1. I think we should take the same line on Pyne as Rupert news would on an ALP MP.

    It showed a lack of respect to the parliament. Childish games to put off an opponent. Appalling! : )

  2. The Texas House of Representatives has approved a bill that would allow foster care and adoption agencies that receive state funding to refuse to place children with families they disapprove of on religious grounds, including families headed by gay or transgender people, atheists and others.

    The bill, which was approved on Wednesday and will now be considered by the Texas Senate, would allow agencies to cite religious beliefs when making other decisions as well, including whether to provide teenagers in their care with access to contraception and abortion.

    https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/11/us/texas-adoption-bill-religious-grounds.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur&_r=0

    And this brings us to Australia; disappointing that the NSW parliament voted down a bill that would’ve seen abortion decriminalised there. Only Qld remains firmly in numptyville on this issue, and now NSW joins that state.

  3. Pyne has a very irritating personal style but he’s not one of the worst right? I used to loathe him completely then I realised that he’s one of the more moderate Libs, was a key Turnbull backer against Abbott and so forth. It’s more his unfortunate demeanour than anything right?

  4. It has been an exceptional night.

    First North Queensland get up with their best win of the year. Then I settle in to watch Shorten deliver a corker of a budget reply. All the strengths of the speech have been summed up by contributors here tonight. But it must be infuriating to Turnbull that he can’t lay a finger on Shorten. Whatever move he makes Shorten always has a counter move to neutralise.

    Then of course 730 shows highlights of Bill running in a Cowboys singlet. Give the man a schooner please.

  5. Alias – you’re right. Pyne isn’t an ugly far right ideologue like some of his colleuges. He’s basically a political animal, more interested in the game than actual achievement. In his whole time as shadow minister for education he had practically nothing to say on the subject.

    But he’s an irritating little so and so, he reminds me of some of my more obnoxious classmates from school days.

  6. As the economist Mariana Mazzucato has shown, nearly every major innovation since World War II has required a massive push from the public sector, for an obvious reason: the public sector can afford to take risks that the private sector can’t.

    Conventional wisdom says that market forces foster innovation. In fact, it’s the government’s insulation from market forces that has historically made it such a successful innovator. It doesn’t have to compete, and it’s not at the mercy of investors demanding a share of its profits. It’s also far more generous with the fruits of its scientific labor: no private company would ever be so foolish as to constantly give away innovations it has generated at enormous expense for free, but this is exactly what the government does. The dynamic should be familiar from the financial crisis: the taxpayer absorbs the risk, and the investor reaps the reward.

    From energy to pharma, from the shale gas boom to lucrative lifesaving drugs, public research has everywhere laid the foundation for private profit.

    https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/may/11/tech-innovation-silicon-valley-juicero

  7. John Reidy
    Thursday, May 11, 2017 at 10:45 pm
    “The banks say the levy cannot be ‘absorbed’, one measure they would soak up a small proportion off it, would be to dispense with Liberal party donations”

    I may be wrong (there’s always a first time I suppose), but I seem to remember the major banks announcing during Senate questioning that they wouldn’t make any more political donations

  8. S777

    He’s basically a political animal, more interested in the game than actual achievement.

    Keeping his ar#e in a Fed parliament seat seems to be his main aim.

  9. Pyne is a classic example of what it seems to mean to be called a ‘moderate’ Liberal these days (and quite distinct from the likes of Ian McPhee, Fred Chaney, Robert Hill, Petro Georgiou) – the modern ‘moderate’ Liberal is simply someone who doesn’t actually seem to believe in anything except for being in government and who will turn on a dime to run the political line of the day.

    Empty vessels, and ‘moderate’ only in the sense that they’re not frothing ideologues.

  10. Trump’s official twitter banner is interesting in light of Shorten’s ad-related controversy. Seems like it should be at least as controversial, yet generally nobody seems to care. Discuss.

  11. Meanwhile, outside the ALP echo chamber that is PB, far too many ordinary (very, very ordinary) Australians are nodding approvingly at the measures designed to crack down on the “bludgers”. The dog whistles being employed by the spivs and suits of the LNP are music to their ears.
    John Howard did his work well.

  12. Iraq: After 7 months, how many and what will survive this –

    Iraqi security forces are only days away from completing the operation to recapture Mosul from so-called Islamic State, the army’s chief of staff says.

    Lt Gen Othman al-Ghanimi told the BBC he hoped the jihadist group would be defeated in the city before the Islamic holy month of Ramadan begins on 26 May.

    Fewer than 1,000 militants are now besieged in several north-western districts, including the Old City, along with as many as 450,000 civilians.

    http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-39882257

  13. Matt

    Meanwhile, outside the ALP echo chamber that is PB, far too many ordinary (very, very ordinary) Australians are nodding approvingly at the measures designed to crack down on the “bludgers”. The dog whistles being employed by the spivs and suits of the LNP are music to their ears.
    John Howard did his work well.

    OK, so this blog is an ‘echo chamber’ because Howard’s ‘dog whistles didn’t work on commentors here?

  14. Don’t think the whole dole bludger thing works like it used to, but they’ve got little else left, so they stick with the old faithful.

  15. The Turnbull government’s push to introduce drug tests for welfare applicants could be in breach of the Privacy Act and open to legal challenge, the Australian Lawyers Alliance says.

    Alliance spokesman Greg Barns said Commonwealth bodies such as Centrelink have to comply with the Privacy Act, which regulates how personal information is handled. Mr Barns questioned whether welfare applicants could genuinely consent to handing over sensitive information through a drug and alcohol test, if it was tied to receiving income support.

    http://www.theage.com.au/business/federal-budget/budget-2017-lawyers-question-whether-welfare-drug-tests-are-legal-20170511-gw2hl6.html

  16. My pick for Newspoll is 52-48.

    There are a lot of conflicting messages this week, banks, Gonski redux, NDIS, welfare crackdowns, states crying poor.
    The only clear message is ‘Labor lite’, which seems to suggest that Labor isn’t that bad after all.

  17. Trump has a short memory.

    ECONOMIST: Priming the pump?

    TRUMP: Yeah, have you heard it?

    ECONOMIST: Yes.

    TRUMP: Have you heard that expression used before? Because I haven’t heard it. I mean, I just – I came up with it a couple of days ago and I thought it was good. It’s what you have to do.

    …But we also know Trump didn’t invent the phrase because he has used it any number of times in the past.

    http://www.theage.com.au/world/president-donald-trump-claims-he-invented-the-phrase-prime-the-pump-20170511-gw33e6.html

  18. Good morning Dawn Patrollers. Another plethora of budget and Trump stuff today!

    Michael Gordon concludes that Shorten is every bit as pragmatic as Turnbull.
    http://www.smh.com.au/business/federal-budget/budget-reply-bill-shorten-shows-he-is-every-bit-as-pragmatic-as-turnbull-20170511-gw30rj.html
    John Hewson writes that the 2017-18 federal budget delivered this week was politically pragmatic and clever (not tricky), but economically risky.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/federal-budget-is-politically-pragmatic-but-economically-risky-20170511-gw27qg.html
    Grattan on Friday: With Malcolm Turnbull in pursuit, Bill Shorten decides to run faster.
    https://theconversation.com/grattan-on-friday-with-malcolm-turnbull-in-pursuit-bill-shorten-decides-to-run-faster-77594

    James Massola outlines the content of Shorten’s address in reply.
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/budget-reply-bill-shorten-to-announce-18-billion-tax-crackdown-on-lawyers-accountants-20170510-gw26hj.html
    And Mark Kenny says that Shorten’s speech is a guide to the political battleground of 2017.
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/bill-shortens-budget-reply-a-guide-to-the-political-battlelines-for-2017-20170511-gw2bhb.html
    Kenny goes on to say that it Shorten was under new pressure he did a good job of hiding it.
    \http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/budget-2017-bill-shorten-uses-company-tax-cut-to-double-down-on-fairness-pitch-20170511-gw2xo4.html
    The Turnbull government’s signature company tax cut will cost an eye-watering $65.4 billion over 10 years from July 1, 2017, the Prime Minister has confirmed, a more than $15 billion rise from the initial near $50 billion cost. Ouch!
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/malcolm-turnbulls-company-tax-cut-rises-from-50-billion-to-654-billion-20170511-gw2ksm.html
    Harold Mitchell says that Morrison has hit budget by just shifting the goalposts.
    http://www.smh.com.au/business/federal-budget/federal-budget-2017-cant-hit-budget-move-the-goal-posts-20170511-gw2jy1.html
    Martin Hirst reports on the effects of the 2017 Budget via both the Marble Foyer splendour and basement entrails of Parliament House, Canberra.
    https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/budget-2017-a-budget-for-lifters-and-leaners,10287

  19. Section 2 . . .

    The SMH editorial says that the government has picked itself another fight over university funding. On one reading, it has chosen a relatively small fight in advance of a much bigger one later.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/smh-editorial/government-prepared-for-long-battle-over-university-funding-20170510-gw1pew.html
    How many people will use the announced superannuation deposit saving policy and how much will they benefit by? The scalpel will need a lot of sharpening.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/prospects-of-home-ownership-will-continue-to-fade-for-many-20170511-gw29q9.html
    A feisty Bill Shorten has labelled the Turnbull government’s budget “an admission of guilt” that still “fails the fairness test”.
    http://thenewdaily.com.au/money/news-federal-budget/2017/05/11/budget-2017-shorten-reply/
    The federal budget was a rare opportunity to introduce big, bold decisions. Here are 9 ideas the Turnbull government missed.
    http://www.smh.com.au/business/federal-budget/federal-budget-2017-nine-big-ideas-that-should-have-been-in-the-budget-20170503-gvxwui.html
    The sly slugs in Morrison’s crop of new taxes.
    http://thenewdaily.com.au/money/news-federal-budget/2017/05/11/budget-2017-indirect-taxes/
    And Jackson Stiles says that the worst measures are yet to emerge.

    http://thenewdaily.com.au/money/news-federal-budget/2017/05/10/budget-2017-worst-measures/
    Banks have stepped up warnings that a $6.2 billion tax on the industry’s giants could have damaging consequences for the economy and financial system, claiming key policy details still remain unresolved. It’s not over yet ScoMo!
    http://www.smh.com.au/business/federal-budget/banks-warn-on-unintended-consequences-of-new-tax-hit-20170511-gw2cg3.html
    Now Trump says he was going to fire “Showboat Comey” anyway. And the new acting director of the FBI says that Comey had the support of the agency.
    http://www.smh.com.au/world/president-trump-says-he-was-going-to-fire-showboat-james-comey-regardless-of-recommendation-20170511-gw33vq.html
    The New York Times has the lowdown on the Comey dismissal.
    http://www.smh.com.au/world/enough-was-enough-how-festering-anger-at-james-comey-ended-in-his-firing-20170510-gw26nu.html

  20. Section 3 . . .

    More from the New York Times as they say that Trump is lying again. It says that members if Congress need to make it clear that while the president may think he is above the truth, he is not above the law.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/the-president-of-the-united-states-is-lying-again-20170511-gw2n9q.html
    Less than 24 hours after the White House announced the termination of FBI Director James Comey, Senate Republicans expressed unease and demanded more answers from the president.
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2017/05/11/republicans-want-answers-from-trump-about-comey-firing_a_22081428/?utm_hp_ref=au-homepage
    If President Donald Trump thinks he can fire his way out of the FBI’s investigation into his campaign’s ties to Russia, he is sorely mistaken says Michael Bloomberg. This is quite a good contribution.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/donald-trump-must-be-held-accountable-for-james-comey-firing-20170510-gw25ua.html
    Laura Tingle says the government has changed more than its policies. Google.
    /opinion/budget-2017-the-new-land-of-the-middle-ground-20170511-gw2qf2
    The Turnbull government’s push to introduce drug tests for welfare applicants could be in breach of the Privacy Act and open to legal challenge, the Australian Lawyers Alliance says. I’m sure Porter and Tudge have got it all covered given their impeccable record.
    http://www.smh.com.au/business/federal-budget/budget-2017-lawyers-question-whether-welfare-drug-tests-are-legal-20170511-gw2hl6.html
    And on top of this welfare experts warn the Coalition’s budget plan to quarantine welfare from jobseekers who test positive to drugs will have unintended consequences.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/may/11/the-price-of-drug-testing-welfare-recipients-utter-desperation
    Michael Pascoe says ” Here’s a challenge for the bank lobby and investors long on bank shares: if you think the big new bank tax is outrageous and unfair, tell us what would be a better, fairer way to raise a quick $1.6 billion or so next year.”
    http://www.theage.com.au/business/federal-budget/federal-budget-2017-slugging-banks-is-the-fairest-way-to-raise-billions-20170511-gw2c15.html
    Andrew Street has a good look at the life of “leaners”.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/view-from-the-street/rich-or-poor-you-dont-deserve-what-youve-got-20170511-gw28kw.html

  21. This is a good article on Adani by Mathews Stevens in the AFR (paywalled).
    Final investment decision is imminent, they are short ~$2.5Bn, and require funds, so far it seems the Commonwealth (i.e. us) are the most likely.
    It also talks about impact on other mines and the railway line, and Aurizon.

    It seems the decision is touch and go.

    Adani nears investment D-Day on Carmichael
    Adani is said to be closing in on a final investment decision for the opening phase of its controversial Carmichael coal project.
    http://www.afr.com/business/construction/adani-nears-investment-dday-on-carmichael-20170511-gw2o4s?btis

  22. Section 4 . . .

    Some of the budget changes on welfare appear to be about sending the message that receiving welfare is undesirable. Whether these changes actually reduce social security spending and encourage independence to any significant extent remains to be seen. While the 2014 rhetoric of “lifters” and “leaners” may have been dispensed with, the dichotomy between “them” and “us” remains an underlying signal.
    https://theconversation.com/budget-2017-welfare-changes-stigmatise-recipients-and-are-sitting-on-shaky-ground-77394
    The mood was civil and professional but Thursday’s meeting between bankers and Treasury officials to discuss the new $6.2 billion bank tax will go down in history as an embarrassing debacle. Google.
    /brand/chanticleer/treasury-in-the-dark-on-bank-tax-20170511-gw2zpq
    Mark Scott sets out to make his mark as the head of NSW education by strongly questioning the efficacy of the schools funding calculator released by Birmingham. Minister Stokes is calling for the release of the data, etc underpinning it. Stand by.
    http://www.smh.com.au/national/education/you-should-not-rely-on-these-figures-nsw-education-boss-slams-federal-funding-model-20170511-gw2ks0.html
    The logo used by David Leyonhjelm’s Liberal Democratic party at the 2016 election failed to meet the Australian Electoral Commission’s guidelines and should not have been approved, a review of the decision has found. The logo, used during the 2016 election campaign, shows the word “Liberal” in large, bolded capital letters, with the word “Democrat” in smaller, unbolded letters.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/may/11/liberal-democratic-party-logo-failed-to-meet-aec-guidelines
    As her world came crumbling down in the ICAC witness box on Thursday, Eman Sharobeem didn’t hesitate in trying to take anyone in her way down with her. And she named an interesting gaggle of politicians who were recipients of gifts.
    http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/receipts-for-30000-in-gold-diamond-jewellery-found-in-eman-sharobeems-home-icac-20170511-gw27wr.html
    There has been an extensive study into the role of social media on vaccination rates.
    http://www.smh.com.au/national/health/how-twitter-more-accurately-maps-vaccination-coverage-than-census-data-20170511-gw299i.html
    Some surgeons are charging patients seven times more than their peers for the same operations, leaving patients with bills of more than $4000 that are not covered by their health insurance. This is something that Labor should really get stuck into and make part of its policy in the lead up to the next election. It stinks!
    http://www.smh.com.au/national/health/how-much-does-your-surgeon-charge-medibank-data-shows-huge-variation-20170511-gw2d3k.html
    Sydney has become the defamation capital of the world following the passing of new laws in 2005.
    http://www.smh.com.au/national/investigations/free-speech-the-loser-in-australias-defamation-bonanza-20170511-gw2cnc.html
    And a very noisy section of the commentariat believes that the biggest threat to free speech in Australia is anti-discrimination law, particularly the “offend and insult” provision, section 18C. They are wrong. A far bigger threat is defamation law.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/the-biggest-threat-to-free-speech-isnt-18c-its-this-20170511-gw2bs4.html

  23. Section 5 . . .

    Provisions to rehabilitate the state’s 450 mines in NSW are inadequate, their required outcomes vague and the risks of long-term failure are uncovered, according to a report by the Auditor-General. The audit also found there is no financial provision made to cover significant unexpected environmental degradation should a mine rehab fail after the security had already been returned to the miner. And I bet it’s not just in NSW that this is occurring.
    http://www.smh.com.au/environment/nsw-mine-rehabilitation-funds-inadequate-and-outcomes-vague-auditorgeneral-20170511-gw2nc4.html
    The ATO is outsourcing sensitive tax work to a small army of labour hire workers in an “accounting trick” designed to disguise the size of the ATO workforce, its main workplace union alleges. Hardly surprising!
    http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/multinationals-taking-over-core-tax-office-work-from-public-servants-20170504-gvypy1.html
    The near bankrupt firm of lawyers Slater and Gordon is seeking to rescue some value for shareholders following the ill-judged acquisition of Quindell of the UK, a professional services outfit, by planning to launch a £600 million ($1.1 billion) claim for fraud.
    http://www.smh.com.au/business/slater-and-gordon-sues-for-11b-over-claimed-fraud-over-quindell-buy-20170511-gw2twg.html
    Pay more, get less – that’s the Nobbled Broadband Network, folks!
    http://thenewdaily.com.au/life/tech/2017/05/11/nbn-levy-tio-complaints-internet/
    The US secretary of education faced jeers when she spoke at Bethune-Cookman University. And rightly so. The woman is a shocker!
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/may/11/betsy-devos-booed-for-a-reason-us-education
    This professor of international law says that Aussie drug mules can’t expect Australia to rescue them.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/alleged-drug-mule-cassie-sainsbury-and-others-in-her-situation-cant-expect-australia-to-rescue-them-20170511-gw2a3l.html
    Only in America!!!
    http://thenewdaily.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/2017/05/11/the-rock-president/
    Town hall meetings for Republican politicians are getting harder and harder for them. For good reason.
    http://www.politicususa.com/2017/05/11/republican-author-macarthur-amendment-pummeled-angry-passionate-constituents.html

  24. Section 6 . . . Cartoon Corner

    Ron Tandberg with a little beauty on the alt-budget reply speech.

    Cathy Wilcox on paying for the big business tax cuts.

    Cathy Wilcox doesn’t think much of the way Morrison is spruiking good debt, bad debt.

    Alan Moir takes us to the Oval Office.

    Cathy Wilcox on drug testing for leaners.

    David Pope with the automation of Centrelink.
    http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/federal-politics/cartoons/david-pope-20120214-1t3j0
    Ron Tandberg and the poor banks.
    http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/federal-politics/cartoons/ron-tandberg-20090910-fixc.html
    Jon Kudelka’s budget tasting notes.
    http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/71e80692610c60c334cf7de64940dae6

  25. US: Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein won’t last long.

    So did President Trump ask Mr Rosenstein specifically to investigate Mr Comey’s conduct?

    When White House press secretary Sean Spicer was asked, he initially said “it was all him” – of Rosenstein – but then corrected himself.

    “I guess I shouldn’t say that…. no-one from the White House. That was a DOJ (Department of Justice) decision,” he said.

    However, the Washington Post, citing unnamed White House officials, says Mr Trump called Mr Sessions – an ally of his – and Mr Rosenstein to a meeting on Monday and told them to explain in writing the case against Mr Comey.

    Former justice department official Eric Columbus is among those noting that Mr Rosenstein stopped short of specifically recommending that Mr Comey be fired.
    He suggested on Twitter that Mr Rosenstein “thought Comey screwed up but didn’t want him fired with Russia investigation pending… yet Sessions wanted a memo on Comey’s sins, and Rosenstein felt he had to oblige his boss.”

    And the Washington Post is reporting – citing an unnamed source “close to the White House” – that Mr Rosenstein threatened to resign after he was cast as the prime mover in the firing.

    The deputy attorney general must now decide what to do about growing demands from Democrats – and an unusually direct approach from the New York Times editorial board – to appoint an independent special prosecutor to investigate the Russia allegations.

    Whatever the inside story, it all renders somewhat ironic another line in Mr Gansler’s recommendation letter for Mr Rosenstein.

    Rod understands the importance of staying out of the political limelight.”

    LOL!

    http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39882016

  26. FBI executes search warrants at GOP consulting firm with lobbying ties to casino industry

    FBI agents on Thursday conducted an investigation at the offices of the Republican campaign consulting firm Strategic Campaign Group, the Baltimore Sun reports

    According to it’s website, the Strategic Campaign Group is an Annapolis-based firm that “provides political campaign consulting for Republican candidates.”

    It’s unclear what the scope of the FBI’s investigation is; the Strategic Campaign Group has been sued before by the Virginia attorney general for fraud after allegedly running s a “malicious ‘Scam PAC’ operation.” There’s no word yet whether the FBI’s raid is related the FBI’s ongoing investigation into Donald Trump’s campaign.

    http://www.rawstory.com/2017/05/fbi-executes-search-warrants-at-gop-consulting-firm-with-lobbying-ties-to-casino-industry/

  27. Acting Director Warns Trump The FBI Can’t Be Stopped From Doing The Right Thing On Russia

    Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe had a message for those who are trying to obstruct the Russia investigation that the FBI can’t be stopped from doing the right thing and protecting the American people and the Constitution.

    The information that the FBI has is going to come out. Depending on what Trump does that info will come out through an investigation or will be leaked to the media.

    If the FBI has evidence of Trump collusion with Russia, it is only a matter of time until the public finds out.

    http://www.politicususa.com/2017/05/11/acting-director-tells-trump-fbi.html


  28. Matt
    Friday, May 12, 2017 at 3:37 am

    Meanwhile, outside the ALP echo chamber that is PB, far too many ordinary (very, very ordinary) Australians are nodding approvingly at the measures designed to crack down on the “bludgers”. The dog whistles being employed by the spivs and suits of the LNP are music to their ears.
    John Howard did his work well.

    Ordinary Australians will not have listened to the budget or budget reply. The budget is now little more than a list of aspirations; political half truths and other nonsense.
    52% of Australians have had enough of this bullshit; 2% think they might have had enough. 46% might like a little dole bludger bashing but that is not going to keep the Liberals in government.

  29. ‘They tricked us!’: White House ‘furious’ Russia posted Trump photos on official government accounts

    On Wednesday, the Russian government posted photos of President Donald Trump meeting with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak on its official Twitter accounts.

    This drew immediate criticism because the White House seemed to have allowed Russian state media to take photos of the meeting while excluding any American media outlets from doing the same.

    The official also said that the White House “did not anticipate” that the photos would ever be used by the Russians for propaganda purposes.

    http://www.rawstory.com/2017/05/they-tricked-us-white-house-furious-russia-posted-trump-photos-on-official-government-accounts/

  30. The journos and sub-editors at The Age may be back at work, but the typos and errors are just the same.

    “the bell weather initiatives” written by John Hewson.

    A bellwether is one that leads or indicates trends; a trendsetter.
    The term is derived from the Middle English bellewether and refers to the practice of placing a bell around the neck of a castrated ram (a wether) leading his flock of sheep. The movements of the flock could be noted by hearing the bell before the flock was in sight.

    http://www.theage.com.au/comment/federal-budget-is-politically-pragmatic-but-economically-risky-20170511-gw27qg.html

  31. John Schindler‏Verified account @20committee · 7h7 hours ago
    My latest EXCLUSIVE ===> Trump’s botched firing of Comey to save himself from #KremlinGate = beginning of the end

    This Can’t End Well for Trump

    President Donald Trump’s surprise firing of FBI Director James Comey late on Tuesday took Washington and the whole country by storm.

    Dismissing FBI Director Comey didn’t make the Russia problem go away—it made things worse

    Where this all ends now is anyone’s guess, though Trump’s firing his secret police chief unavoidably will bring scrutiny to issues—above all his links to Russia—which the president is desperate to make disappear.

    He had grown enraged by the Russia investigation, two advisers said, frustrated by his inability to control the mushrooming narrative around Russia. He repeatedly asked aides why the Russia investigation wouldn’t disappear and demanded they speak out for him. He would sometimes scream at television clips about the probe, one adviser said.

    It certainly didn’t help matters that the day after firing Comey, the White House had a special visitor—Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s cagey foreign minister

    Anybody not previously aware that the Kremlin employs lies to further its diplomacy the way normal countries host cocktail parties is someone unfit to handle serious matters of statecraft. It seems Moscow wanted to send the message that it can manipulate President Trump and his administration whenever they feel like it. As I recently noted, Putin doesn’t care that we know he’s calling the shots here. That’s not something getting rid of Director Comey will change in the slightest.

    MORE : http://observer.com/2017/05/donald-trump-kremlingate-james-comey/

  32. Just when you think Jay Weatherill and Tom Koutsantonis are on the right track they are got at by the gas lobby.
    The draft legislation they are considering disallows the categorisation of battery storage as “dispatchable”. Go figure.
    This will have a number of effects:
    – push up power prices by using more expensive gas
    – reduce profitability of solar and wind farms with integrated batteries
    – push more people off grid, destabilising energy security initiatives and pushing grid costs and inflated electricity costs onto renters and the poor without solar panels and batteries.
    Fucking fossil fuel parasites white-anting emission reductions once again.
    This needs to be fought.
    http://reneweconomy.com.au/south-australia-energy-security-target-may-exclude-battery-storage-52389/

  33. This is ridiculous. What is the point?

    Porter admitted on PM (ABC) it costs $10,000.00 extra for each welfare recipient to be managed via the National Party’s Indue card. #auspol

  34. ‘They tricked us!’: White House ‘furious’ Russia posted Trump photos on official government accounts

    It wouldn’t have been hard. They’ve likely done it before.

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