Newspoll has Labor’s lead back at 53-47, after its first new poll for the year a fortnight ago had it down to 52-48. The Coalition is down two on the primary vote to 36%, with Labor steady on 37%, the Greens steady on 10%, and One Nation bouncing back three points after a recent slump to 8%. Malcolm Turnbull’s lead as preferred prime minister is down from 45-31 to 40-33. All we have in terms of leadership approval at this stage are that Malcolm Turnbull’s net rating has weakened from minus 13% to minus 18%. Also featured is a finding that 65% of respondents believe Barnaby Joyce should resign as leader of the Nationals, which breaks down into a lot of detail I’m finding hard to parse from Simon Benson’s report in The Australian. The poll was conducted Thursday to Sunday from a sample of 1632.
UPDATE: Malcolm Turnbull is down three on approval to 34% and up four on disapproval 54%; Bill Shorten is steady on 34% approval and up two on disapproval to 54%. Only 23% agreed that Barnaby Joyce should remain Nationals leader, with 29% favouring him resigning from the front bench, 15% bowing out at the next election, and 21% quitting parliament immediately. The poll also finds 64% support for a ban on sexual relations between politicians and their employees, with 25% opposed.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/dec/01/attacks-on-public-broadcasting-have-gone-global-the-abc-is-no-exception?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
lizzie
Is this anything to this story or is it just the odd ‘tweet’ from nobody we’ve never heard of before?
Testing
CTar1
She’s a frequent tweeter on politics, been around for a while. If the $3m is accurate, I’d like to know why that much was needed. It was a pretty big ‘gift’ to the owner from the ratepayer. Barnaby said up till then he had been staying with his sister. I don’t think she received a security upgrade.
More margin of error stuff from Newspoll. The polls basically haven’t moved in over a year now, which suggests that voters have largely switched off and have made their minds up. I’m a little surprised that Beetroot-gate hasn’t moved the needle much, but then most voters don’t follow politics as obsessively as we here do.
Still, as long as Barnaby continues to dig in, the government will continue to be forced to talk only about itself, and not what it is doing or wants to do. That’s going to make it mighty hard for them to turn these numbers around.
lizzie
I keep seeing ‘up to’ that makes me wonder how much actually.
CTar1
What’s a million or so between mates? 😆
CTar1
Will the exact price come out in Estimates?
Good morning Dawn Patrollers.
Here’s Michelle Grattan’s take on the latest Newspoll.
https://theconversation.com/voters-tell-barnaby-joyce-to-quit-as-leader-newspoll-92014
Looks like Joyce is digging in for the time being – and he blames his travel schedule for his dick disease,
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/defiant-barnaby-hits-back-over-travel-and-declares-he-can-work-with-malcolm-20180218-p4z0rj.html
Urban Wronski – One way or another Barnaby’s cactus. The Turnbull government may be, too.
https://urbanwronski.com/2018/02/18/one-way-or-another-barnabys-cactus-the-turnbull-government-may-be-too/
Steph Peatling tells us that Turnbull has defended his criticism of Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce’s extramarital affair as “absolutely the right thing to do” and in line with the expectations of most Australians.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/pm-says-his-joyce-comments-were-absolutely-the-right-thing-to-do-20180218-p4z0re.html
Barnaby Joyce charged the taxpayer to stay overnight in Melbourne after attending an AFL game last year, before chartering a $6000 “special purpose” defence force flight back to Tamworth the following day. The Joyce issue will not die now,
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2018/02/18/barnaby-joyce-expenses-afl-game/
Jennifer Hewett writs about the perils of sexual politics and the daily soap opera. Google.
/opinion/columnists/the-perils-of-sexual-politics-and-the-daily-soap-opera-20180218-h0w9gg
Andrew Constance has issued an apology after misleading the Premier about a controversial land sale. He’s not having a good year.
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/transport-minister-apologises-for-misleading-premier-over-land-sale-20180217-p4z0ol.html
Adam Gartrell tells us how Turnbull and Joyce have reconciled. Yeah, sure!
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/turnbull-and-barnaby-getting-on-with-professional-government-20180218-p4z0qd.html
Ross Gittins reckons unions are playing their cards wrongly when it comes to increased wages.
http://www.smh.com.au/business/comment-and-analysis/unions-play-their-cards-wrong-in-hopes-for-higher-pay-20180217-h0w96c.html
Amid anxiety about President Donald Trump’s approach to global affairs, US officials had a message for a gathering of Europe’s foreign policy elite in Germany: pay no attention to the man tweeting behind the curtain.
http://www.smh.com.au/world/top-us-officials-tell-european-foreign-policy-leaders-to-ignore-donald-trump-20180218-h0w9y8.html
Is it time to consider reducing the 38 hour week?
http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life-and-relationships/it-s-time-to-work-on-a-rethink-of-the-38-hour-week-20180216-p4z0kj.html
How we undervalue our own time.
http://www.smh.com.au/business/comment-and-analysis/unions-play-their-cards-wrong-in-hopes-for-higher-pay-20180217-h0w96c.html
Clive Hamilton describes Chinese influence in the Labor party as a cancer.
http://www.smh.com.au/business/comment-and-analysis/unions-play-their-cards-wrong-in-hopes-for-higher-pay-20180217-h0w96c.html
Australia’s privacy and transparency watchdog was given less than 24 hours to review the government’s proposed secrecy laws while they were being drafted.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2018/02/18/privacy-watchdog-one-day-secrecy-law/
Paula Matthewson sees the good in the bonking ban.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/why-the-bonk-ban-is-a-good-thing-20180218-p4z0qm.html
Nearly 60 Australian industrial sites have been given the green light to increase greenhouse gas pollution, potentially cancelling out hundreds of millions of dollars of public spending on emissions cuts under the Coalition’s Direct Action climate policy.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/feb/19/emissions-increases-approved-by-regulator-may-wipe-out-260m-of-direct-action-cuts
Two of Australia’s largest consultancy firms have failed to lodge submissions to a public inquiry on the use of consultants despite raking in billions of dollars in taxpayer funding. Eryk Bagshaw reports.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/two-of-the-big-four-fail-to-submit-to-inquiry-despite-earning-millions-of-dollars-in-taxpayer-funding-20180217-p4z0ox.html
George Christensen, you are an idiot!
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/photo-of-nationals-mp-george-christensen-with-a-gun-reported-to-police-20180218-p4z0r3.html
The SMH editorial looks at the difficulties for retailers with the digital revolution.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/smh-editorial/travails-of-myer-amid-the-online-retail-revolution-20180218-h0w9li.html
David Gillespie has sold off the regional post office that threatened his political career – and the Turnbull government’s parliamentary majority – paving the way for him to run in a possible byelection should things not go his way in the High Court.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/turnbull-government-mp-offloads-post-office-amid-constitutional-challenge-20180218-p4z0qz.html
The religious right’s wholesale embrace of the Republican party and of Donald J Trump, both as candidate and as president, has necessitated a rewriting of evangelical
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/feb/18/donald-trump-evangelicals-code-of-ethics
This contributor says that with respect to consent the emphasis should shift towards “yes means yes”.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/what-is-consent-moving-the-act-from-no-means-no-to-an-affirmative-yes-means-yes-20180217-h0w8rx.html
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe has Turnbull leaving the country in good shape.
I’ve put this classic one from David Pope up again because I have just noticed the handmaidens in the background.
Matt Golding previews Turnbull’s visit to the US.
More from Golding.
Huw Parkinson’s cracker video from yesterday’s Insiders.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWE1TLKe4tg&
Pat Campbell on how to use the new ministerial code of conduct.
From the Newcastle Times’ Lewis.
Peter Broelman has fixed Christensen’s ridiculous tweet.
Zanetti gets this one right.
Sean Leahy turns things around for George.
Jon Kudelka on board Turnbull’s VIP flight.
https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/c7c078cad07f8d077b1f00c00710c5e5
bc @ #39 Monday, February 19th, 2018 – 12:28 am
Thanks for that.
Yes Chas is a very smart guy. Many comedians are. Possibly his talent is a bit wasted.
The other guy is OK. They are foils for one another.
lizzie
It could get asked if somebody thinks too.
Senate Estimates Schedule here –
https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Senate_Estimates/Next_hearings
Stormy Daniels is not the only one’: Ex-adult star hints more performers may be coming forward to expose Trump
Speaking g with MSNBC host Alex Witt, a former adult film star who still has connections in the industry claimed more actresses may come forward with tales of dalliances with President Donald Trump,
According to RebeccaKensington, who writes for the Daily Beast while still using her acting name, others may follow in the footsteps of porn actress Stormy Daniels and discuss their interactions with the president before he was elected.
Discussing the latest revelation that a former Playboy playmate admitted she had an affair with Trump, Snow stated she it was to be expected.
‘I don’t think it’s a surprise,” she told the MSNBC host. “This isn’t something we expect from a presidential candidate, much less our president, because usually signs of affairs are, you know, a mark of bad character. But I think there’s a lot of other evidence of that out there.”
“What about Stormy Daniels?” Witt pressed. “I know you’ve written about it. Do you see similarities between her story and that of the most recent one which came out this week?”
“There are quite a bit of similarities down to the place that they were, down to the money that was offered. They have very similar descriptions,” Snow agreed while admitting, “I mean, obviously I wasn’t there, but where there’s smoke, there’s fire. I would not be surprised if there are more stories like this out there.”
“Did Donald Trump have a reputation?” Witt asked. “Had you heard about him and the exploits that he would brag about or that he was involved with people or anything in your world, the world you inhabited, in the adult film world, before you started writing?”
“There are certainly a few other people in the adult film world that have had some experiences, but those aren’t my stories to share,” Snow teased before coyly pausing and claiming, “Stormy Daniels is not the only one.”
https://www.rawstory.com/2018/02/stormy-daniels-not-one-ex-adult-star-hints-performers-may-coming-forward-expose-trump/
‘They are laughing their asses off in Moscow’: Trump takes on the FBI, Russia probe and 2016 election
President Trump questioned the intensifying special counsel’s investigation of his campaign and administration while attacking his own national security adviser, the FBI, Hillary Clinton and others in a remarkable nine-hour span of tweets that included profanity and misspellings
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2018/02/18/they-are-laughing-their-asses-off-in-moscow-trump-takes-on-the-fbi-russia-probe-and-2016-election/?utm_term=.ab57c217fb01
Fact-checking Trump’s error-filled tweetstorm about the Russia investigation
The president has repeatedly tried to turn the tables on Hillary Clinton by claiming she colluded with the Russians. But there is no evidence that is the case, and it makes little sense given Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intense dislike of Clinton.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2018/02/18/fact-checking-trumps-error-filled-tweet-storm-about-the-russia-investigation/?utm_term=.68bd498b0dc8
This is the same parasite who announced that the days of entitlement were over for ordinary Australian battlers while gorging himself at the public trough.
I hope when Shorten wipes the floor with this Liberal mob in a few months time Hockey will be the first one to be removed from his cushy taxpayer funded sinecure.
Morning all. Thanks BK. This poll surely sinks Barnaby, with 65% of voters saying he should resign. The party breakup will be interesting – some Labor voters would no doubt love him to stay. He will cost some MPs their seat if he stays.
Also Barnaby clearly feels entitled to more tha; the services of his staff, judging from his travel – $6k to return homr from a grand final! What did that have to do with Tamworth. His excuses sound hollow; pretty clearly he kept away from home after the marriage was over, rather than vice versa.
Just for those who crave impeachment.
Also because of the Australian reference, rare for a US journo. Mike Whitney is the journo
.
I wonder if Barnaby approached Massola, or Massola offered to be a sympathetic mouthpiece for Barnabay?
I only just caught up with George Christensen’s greenie gun threat and its reporting to police. Appalled. Surely facebook posts that incite crime constitute an offence? Do we have to wait for deaths to occur before action is taken? Did we learn nothing from cases like Jo Cox?
A Trumpette only plays one tune
To be honest I would like to see just a bit more pain & woe – say 56/44 or even 57/43 – but there are still three more Newspolls to come before Malcolm steps down, so who knows, I may get my wish yet.
Now that the SA state election officially underway it will interesting to see how many of Xenophons candidates ‘trip’ over.
DT front page about Hockey flogging his 40 million yuan ($8 million) house on a real estate website aimed at Chinese buyers.
http://dailytelegraph.digitaleditions.com.au/edition.php?code=NCTELE
This is another Fairfax article sympathetic to Barnaby – it points out that the French would not care about the affair. True. It omits that the French would care a great deal about the expenses and having a partner on the public payroll. Barbaby could lose his liberty as well as his seat in France. What tripe.
https://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/life-and-relationships/france-is-far-from-perfect-but-it-can-still-teach-us-a-thing-or-two-20180215-p4z0h7.html
https://www.businessinsider.com.au/barnaby-joyce-affair-support-for-ban-on-relations-with-staff-2018-2
Must be very reassuring for Ms Campion, stuck back in the flat at Armidale while Barnaby’s in Canberra, knowing that if she lets him travel alone he is liable to stray…
Socrates
Funny you mention France. French Presidents are notorious for having affairs. However Nickolas Sarkozy is currently in the merde for hiring his family as staffers while an MP!
Fact check is becoming increasingly hilarious.
The claim ” more people work for Woolworths than the federal public service”
How ABC had to spin to make Labor’s claim not get the green light.
Ignore 1/3rd of Woolworths staff. Pretend that when Leigh said Woolworths he apparently actually meant 2/3rds of Woolworths for some reason.
Ignore that he said “more people” and pretend he said “more full time equivalent (FTE)”
Darn
Just FYI – Joe Hockey’s wife was a very successful investment banker. The house they own is astonishing, but purchased predominantly with her money, not his.
Not that that prevents Hockey being removed from the Government teat, but it does change the odds of the “look at his snout in the trough” style reporting coming through.
Booleanbach
I doubt that Turnbull will stand down just because he gets 30 all behind.
But the trend is your friend on the numbers.
‘The nation’s peak business group is preparing a new offensive to urge crossbench senators to back Malcolm Turnbull’s sweeping company tax cuts, warning an “ideological hatred” of corporate Australia threatens to weaken wages and jobs growth for a decade.’
Just a thought…may be business groups could tackle the ideological hatred by, um, treating their workers decently…
The worker who thinks that their bosses are treating them well will be more likely to support them in turn.
And maybe the ‘ideological hatred’ is just that – a hatred of the ideologies espoused by business.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/we-have-become-a-business-bashing-country-bca-boss-pins-company-tax-cuts-hopes-on-us-mission-20180217-p4z0pv.html
Read more: http://www.afr.com/news/policy/industrial-relations/abcc-executives-receive-massive-pay-increase-despite-government-wage-restraint-20180214-h0w4fk#ixzz57Us3jPzZ
Follow us: @FinancialReview on Twitter | financialreview on Facebook
I’m not an investor (obviously) – please could someone tell me – what are “Distressed investments”?
This actually, perversely, almost, makes sense –
https://www.rawstory.com/2018/02/want-see-gun-control-enacted-support-movement-arm-black-americans/
zoomster
In their world “ideological hatred” means daring to being pissed off with the crap served up by “management” such as that in lizzie’s
“Monday, February 19, 2018 at 8:27 am
..received pay increases of almost 14 per cent last year, while the agency’s staff averaged pay rises of just 1 per cent.
lizzie
They would appeal to punting vultures…
.
“Distressed securities are securities over companies or government entities that are experiencing financial or operational distress, default, or are under bankruptcy. As far as debt securities, this is called distressed debt.
Some investors have deliberately used distressed debt as an alternative investment, where they buy the debt at a deep discount and aim to realize a high return if the company or country does not go bankrupt or experience defaults.Investors in distressed securities often try to influence the process by which the issuer restructures its debt, narrows its focus, or implements a plan to turn around its operations. Investors may also invest new capital into a distressed company in the form of debt or equity”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distressed_securities
Good Morning
Turnbull on 3AW
Train wreck. Asked about division in his party Turnbull is pointing the finger at Shorten.
BevanShields: Malcolm Turnbull asked if Barnaby Joyce is safe as leader: “I don’t know”
#auspol
Shorten_Suite: PM: “we’re getting on with Good Government!!!”
#auspol
srpeatling: PM: “I cannot recall when I first heard a rumour about this….Probably about the same time, maybe later, than others.” Mr Turnbull says “at no stage did he [Joyce] say to me he was having a sexual relationship with this lady”.
Malcy trying to be ‘Reasonable Malcolm’ on that interview with Neil Mitchell.
Lizzie – distressed securities are securities over companies or government entities that are experiencing financial or operational distress, default, or are under bankruptcy. As far as debt securities, this is called distressed debt.
Basically, high risk investments with potentially high gains. Bought for a song in the hope of doing well if and when the entity involved recovers or is broken up and sold off.
BevanShields: Lucy Turnbull has contacted Natalie Joyce, the PM confirms. Suspect Barnaby Joyce will be very unhappy about that
#auspol
So Turnbull takes office affairs so seriously that he thinks they need to be banned, but can’t be bothered asking someone he has a ‘close working relationship’ with about rumours of infidelity?
At the very least, you’d expect a “Are things going OK at home?”
BevanShields: PM now asked about that George Christensen gun photo: “It was very inappropriate and he took it down after he was spoken to about it.”
He says the AFP still evaluating a referral #auspol
Shorten_Suite: Mitchell: is one of your MPs threatening to shoot greenies?
PM: “I don’t want to comment.”
#auspol
Well thats not going to improve the Newspoll numbers
“Barnaby at no time said to me he was in a sexual relationship with that woman.”
“I heard the rumour about the same time as others.”
“I’m not going into private discussions I had with Barnaby Joyce.”
Convenient.
Prudish Malcolm has always thought these sort of relationships were inappropriate.
Adopting a ‘Don’t ask. Don’t tell’ position allows the plausible deniability he is trying to project.
Turnbull hasn’t even picked up the phone to talk to Natalie Joyce yet. Got the wife to do it.
So, in desperation, we get to see the real power behind the throne
Malcolm’s Government might be a ‘distressed investment’ for anyone wanting to be generous to, say, the Deputy PM or other Ministers or the ruling parties.