Newspoll: 53-47 to Labor

Malcolm Turnbull’s personal rating takes a tumble, but otherwise little change in the latest Newspoll.

The latest Newspoll has Labor’s two-party lead unchanged on last fortnight at 53-47, from primary votes of Coalition 37% (up one), Labor 38% (up one), Greens 9% (down one) and One Nation 7% (down one). Despite the stability on voting intention, Malcolm Turnbull’s lead on preferred prime minister has been slashed from 40-33 to 37-35. The Australian’s report relates that Turnbull is down two points on approval to 32%, and Shorten is down one to 33%, but the only hint we get about disapproval is that Turnbull’s result is worse than Shorten’s. More on that shortly. (UPDATE: Turnbull’s disapproval is up three to 57%, Shorten’s is up two to 56%). The poll was conducted Thursday to Sunday from a sample of 1657.

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.

2,078 comments on “Newspoll: 53-47 to Labor”

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  2. LU
    “For example, because there’s many more applications than that.”
    Don’t forget Cryptokitties. You can select and breed digital cats. A huge step forward from cat videos.

  5. WeWantPaul @ #1499 Tuesday, March 6th, 2018 – 10:37 pm

    “if you see the stunning, sprawling array of publicly available evidence on Trump Russia”

    Lol even if you are too stubborn and too stupid to see that, have a look at the indictments and the guilty pleas, and ask a grownup to explain them to you.

    WWP
    Can you?

    As of now we have
    13 low level Russian hackers who ar based in Russia and are not going on trial any time soon (ie not until US invades Russia. But we will be in a post nuclear age so indictment might be via circles in the sand.
    One obvious spy agency that the FBI knew about in 2015
    Two other Russian based companies
    Two crooks from the 15 years ago
    two charged with making false statements, one of whom is challenging the whole process and will probably win big time and have the whole investigation of him thrown out.

    Now I think most of us could get a better haul in an afternoon.

    it is boring as batshit.

  6. Yabba…I don’t think Carmichael can be viewed as an isolated project. Whilst Xstrata’s philosophy was “pit to port”, Adani’s philosophy was (or still is) “pit to plug”. They already own the coal ships, the port(s) in western India, the dedicated rail infrastructure, the power plants and the distribution network. All that is missing is the (local Australian) captive mine and mine rail infrastructure. Abbot point is theirs…Probably would have been much easier to buy some local coal assets but as I said 25% ash Carmichael coal is significantly better than the coal quality from any yet to be developed coal blocks in India. FYI…Some Coal India Limited (CIL) subsidiaries have a 23% COKING coal product specification…so you can see what they are up against it!!!!

  7. WWP
    The coal fired power stations will be used until the cost of keeping them running makes them uneconomic, compared to alternatives.

    The boilers need a complete, very expensive, refurbishment after a number of years; the turbines also have a finite life. Coal costs money, and, naturally most of the ‘low hanging fruit’ has already been mined, so it will get more expensive to supply, and tend towards lower quality. Presumably, governments will apply some sort of carbon based ‘tax’ or market mechanism that will also add to costs.

    At the same time renewables plus storage will reduce in cost as scale becomes larger, and technical improvements accrue.

    My guess would be that very few coal fired stations will be around in 15 years, and I would not be surprised if 10 years was closer to the mark.

    cheers, Yabba

  8. Hmm so PB’s Russia apologists have described Mueller’s indictments as boring as batshit, whale dross, and alluded to them as something only a child could muster.

    So funny.

  9. Cameron

    I saw early reference to fentanyl but most recent stories there is no mention of that.

    One emergency worker is reported to be in hospital as well.

  10. Dubbs
    The only thing keeping Adani making noises about the Galillee project is that, once they write off the mine, they also write off the port, and they srite off their balance sheet. The power plant in India has already fallen over.

  11. Our resident Putin lover DTT’s lame talking points lining up with Russian bots and Trump mouthpieces yet again. Yawn. I will from here in try to take the sage advice of another PBer that DTT is mad as a box of frogs and best to just scroll on by.

  16. Cameron @ #1511 Tuesday, March 6th, 2018 – 8:58 pm

    Our resident Putin lover DTT’s lame talking points lining up with Russian bots and Trump mouthpieces yet again. Yawn. I will from here in try to take the sage advice of another PBer that DTT is mad as a box of frogs and best to just scroll on by.

    She’s a lightweight and best ignored.

    If you want to know where DTT lies in all this, she swore black and blue and long and loud that Trump was the safer pair of hands vs Clinton in terms of the presidency and national security. 😆

  17. Sure the Gs have history going back 20+ years. Labor made decisions when it was in govt that with the benefit of hindsight may have been handled differently. The voters judged.
    What matters is now.
    In Batman that Adani sign might seem right in the current battle but the Libs will use it in the next war. The beneficiary in the long term will be anti Labor forces. Labor correctly has put the Greens in the Liberal cheer squad. Don’t rely on them, they cannot be trusted.
    Those voting for the Labor candidate in Batman know that if elected, she will vote for Labor every time. No horse trading or back room deals that can derail projects to score points. Numerous examples of that are regularly referred to here and the results are usually second best outcome.
    When you come to agreements with a liar like Abbott and his two faced successor, it will not work out in Australia’s best interests.
    But what useful purpose can the Greens serve now and in the next few years? If they undermine Labor at every opportunity and keep the present mob in power, they will achieve nothing that makes their followers proud. They need to have a long hard look at themselves and have a major overhaul if they want to contribute to political debate in the future.

  18. did not mr ddt write nostalgia about his memories of crimea at time of putin’s invasion?

    he seems too sentimental about the good old times but needs to distinquish corrupible global communism from global plutocratic nationalism – not sure putin can

  19. “But what useful purpose can the Greens serve now and in the next few years?”

    Providing an alternative to the RGR wars on PB?? 🙂

  21. Confessions @ #1516 Wednesday, March 7th, 2018 – 12:12 am

    Cameron @ #1511 Tuesday, March 6th, 2018 – 8:58 pm

    Our resident Putin lover DTT’s lame talking points lining up with Russian bots and Trump mouthpieces yet again. Yawn. I will from here in try to take the sage advice of another PBer that DTT is mad as a box of frogs and best to just scroll on by.

    She’s a lightweight and best ignored.

    If you want to know where DTT lies in all this, she swore black and blue and long and loud that Trump was the safer pair of hands vs Clinton in terms of the presidency and national security. 😆

    And that Ebola would decimate Africa’s population!

  22. Cameron @ #1515 Wednesday, March 7th, 2018 – 12:02 am

    Rossmcg, not confirmed yet, but this article says it “may have been fentanyl” https://amp.ibtimes.co.uk/ex-russian-agent-sergei-skripal-critical-condition-was-poisoned-by-fentanyl-1665286?__twitter_impression=true

    If so he, and the other person with him, have a good chance of survival. An Opiod Antagonist, like Narcan, can reverse the effects. Effective monitoring in hospital will see it wash through their bodies.


  24. Yabba88 (AnonBlock)
    Tuesday, March 6th, 2018 – 11:04 pm
    Comment #1478

    frednk @ #1437 Tuesday, March 6th, 2018 – 9:56 pm

    Dubbs (AnonBlock)
    Tuesday, March 6th, 2018 – 9:49 pm
    Comment #1432

    Yabba, just a few corrections, 12-14% is a standard export coal quality ash for NSW thermal coals, however 23% ash is a pretty standard domestic coal quality specification and produced by the captive mines supplying the Hunter Power Plants.

    And the 23% ash content coal will never be used for steel production. It’s for burning; and that is the problem and the falling market.

    Frednk,
    ….Very few are as high ash as Adani. There are some high ash ones, but nearly all of those are washed before being fed into the boilers. Lower Vaux is around 13.5 % ex mine, Mount Arthur Tops about 18%, Upper Piercefield 13.8% and so on and on and on.
    ….
    All this actually means is, please, don’t try to teach me how to suck eggs.

    cheers,

    Yabba

    And? Basically same conclusion a lot more words. That is the trouble with written text; motivation can be miss-understood. I assumed you knew that Adani was not a hot idea because of coal quality. And based on your recent post I assume you know what is happening to the thermal coal market. They are the reasons why in my view Shorten has done what is required; stated the Government is not going to get involved in Australia’s over investment in coal mines. As to coal washeries; I have written control systems for them,I know what they are; how they work ; the energy required and why they build them.

  26. frednk says:
    Tuesday, March 6, 2018 at 9:20 pm

    (Don) As discussed earlier, there are alternatives – natural gas (methane) and hydrogen, for example.
    ____________
    (frednk) And the race between nuclear fusion and Hydrogen gas for steal production has started; I’m sure both will be with us in coming decade for decades.

    _______________

    I am very skeptical about hydrogen too, but apparently there is a scheme in SA to use it in conjunction with solar power to electrolyse water to produce the hydrogen. Presumably the oxygen by product is valuable for industrial and medical uses.

    Here is a link:

    http://reneweconomy.com.au/sa-backs-second-renewables-gas-hydrogen-plant-tonsley-53911/

    P1 will no doubt treat it with disdain because it comes from reneweconomy!

    Jay Weatherill thinks it is a goer:

    Jay Weatherill
    21 February at 00:25 ·
    Another exciting project for our Tonsley Innovation Precinct – AGIG and Siemens are installing a hydrogen electrolyser at Tonsley to convert clean electricity into gas and feed it into SA’s gas network.

    https://www.facebook.com/JayWeatherillMP/posts/1865527930158390

    But I am still skeptical, until they have the finance and start digging the foundations.

  27. Trog Sorrenson says:
    Tuesday, March 6, 2018 at 10:17 pm
    Why is it that so many of the “best” people in the Labor Party like M’Arn, Combet & Co seem to end up working for the fossil fuel spivs?
    And why is there no one in the Labor party who understands basic physics?
    Like the thermodynamics of CCS.

    I take your point about the futility of CCS, but what is the fossil fuel connection with Combet?

    Here is part of his Wikipedia entry, what is it hiding?


    Combet is a director of the Chifley Research Centre.
    On 12 June 2006, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for service to industrial relations and through advocacy for the improved health and safety of workers, including people affected by asbestos-related diseases, and to the community.
    Combet is separated from his second wife, Petra Hilsen, and has one daughter, one stepdaughter and one stepson. In 2012, Combet began a relationship with ABC-TV newsreader Juanita Phillips.
    Combet has stated that he is an atheist.
    In 2014, Combet published his autobiography The Fights of My Life. Since leaving politics, he is pursuing a career in the superannuation industry and the private sector.

  28. Yabba88:

    My guess would be that very few coal fired stations will be around in 15 years, and I would not be surprised if 10 years was closer to the mark.

    _________

    Thanks Yabba, great to hear that they are on their way out from somebody who knows the situation.

  29. Australian gun lobby groups pumped more than $500,000 into helping minor rightwing parties win seats in last year’s Queensland state election as part of a growing push to weaken the nation’s strict firearm control laws.

    As Australia’s gun laws are again held up as an example to the US following the Florida school shooting, election disclosures reveal the pro-gun lobby is pumping thousands of dollars into the campaign war chests of parties such as One Nation and the Katter Australian party (KAP).

    Australian Electoral Commission returns show that since 2010 the state branches of the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia have poured $440,800 into supporting the KAP, the Shooters Fishers and Farmers party and the Liberal Democratic party among others.

    And the cashed-up firearm groups are using ballooning membership numbers – ironically won as an unintended consequence of John Howard’s changes after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre – to flex their political muscles.

    “The courtship of the gun lobby by political parties is definitely a growing theme,” Sam Lee from Gun Control Australia told the Guardian. “Industry groups, manufacturers, there’s an emerging NRA-style approach to organising which is all about finding new markets and stopping any strengthening of existing laws.”

    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/mar/07/australian-gun-lobby-donations-rightwing-minor-parties-weaken-reforms-control?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

  30. ‘Trog Sorrenson says:
    Tuesday, March 6, 2018 at 11:56 pm

    Dubbs
    The only thing keeping Adani making noises about the Galillee project…’
    Uh… the other thing is the potential for suing the arse of the Australian Government (you and me) if contracts are voided.

  31. thanks for the answers / discussion last night re coal; although if you are going to use some kind of thermal solar (solar with storage) to drive an old coal power station presumably you are still going to need some kind of boiler and turbine, so if they are part of the costly old and uncompetitive problem then you are going to have to pay for that as part of your conversion to solar. I suspected it wasn’t as simple as swapping out one fuel for another.

    On the Trump / Russia the or L’Affaire Russe as some have taken to calling it, thanks for the laughs. Yes you are right there is nothing at all wrong with the White House being active in defrauding the United States, nothing wrong with it and its staff lying to the FBI (we’d call it attempting to pervert the course of justice) and nothing odd about 13 people travelling to the United States to carryon a well funded project to influence an election.

    I don’t find fox funny it is dangerous propaganda for very weak minds but people who watch it and believe are hilarious.

  32. Ask a Green where they have made a positive difference, they point you to their website.

    Ask Labor where they have made a positive difference… they point you to their legislation.

    It’s time people realised, rhetoric is empty and meaningless without a means to legislate.

  33. Regarding Bill Shorten and the Adani mine. I think it was Leonore Taylor on Insiders last Sunday that said wtte that if Bill Shorten states out loud he will cancel the Adani license and on coming to government in fact does that, it’ll open the government up for a sovereign risk law case, something to do with intent. If that is indeed the case he’s better off keeping his powder dry

  34. ‘frednk says:
    Tuesday, March 6, 2018 at 9:36 pm

    Sorry Nuclear.’

    There is a pattern in which right wing bots trigger a ‘debate’ about nuclear whenever they wish to distract from coal seam gas, coal and oil.

    They know perfectly well that private sector investment in nuclear is in full flight.

  35. Good morning Dawn Patrollers.

    Mark Kenny has the dope on a National Party internal investigation on the handling of the accusation against Joyce.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/secret-review-finds-political-interference-compromised-complaint-against-barnaby-joyce-20180306-p4z31c.html
    Fergus Hunter writes that Shorten has doubled down on his opposition to Adani’s Carmichael coal mine despite a spike in internal criticism over his handling of the issue.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/bill-shorten-hardens-opposition-to-adani-despite-internal-attacks-20180306-p4z349.html
    The Age editorial says that Trump’s trade and tariff musings are sending shivers up allies’ spines.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/free-trade-trump-shiver-runs-up-allies-spines-20180306-h0x3yk.html
    And the SMH has a similar stance, saying Trump’s trade war is a threat to jobs.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/trumps-tariffs-are-an-attack-on-jobs-20180306-h0x395.html
    Phil Coorey tells us that Turnbull will use this week’s signing of the Trans-Pacific Partnership to send a blunt message to the Trump administration over protectionism and warn nations planning to retaliate that everybody will lose if there is a global trade war. Google.
    /brand/business-summit/tpp-nations-lead-the-fight-against-protectionism-pm-20180305-h0x1y8
    The Melbourne City Council has given former lord mayor Robert Doyle a final chance to respond to sexual harassment allegations against him, before a report into the accusations is finalised and possibly released.
    https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/robert-doyle-given-final-chance-to-respond-to-probe-council-ceo-says-20180306-p4z34t.html
    After a series of own goals Michaelia Cash is missing in action. Google.
    /opinion/ministers-pays-penalty-for-another-own-goal/news-story/e56b72c850d72cbd132874802dec8d43
    A US federal watchdog says White House Counsellor Kellyanne Conway violated the federal law prohibiting government officials from using their positions to influence political campaigns. She’s a great example of the many horrible women attracted to the Republican Party.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/trump-counsellor-kellyanne-conway-broke-law-says-watchdog-20180307-p4z35l.html
    Richo writes that he Liberals are clearly approaching the nadir of their political cycle and are desperately seeking love. Google.
    opinion/columnists/graham-richardson/liberals-desperate-search-for-love-proves-fruitless/news-story/4616949560ef07f7b529f560e9c70676
    Coles will focus on “putting out the fires” in its business while shifting its strategy to focus more on pleasing wealthier customers and meeting the demands of tech-savvy millennial shoppers, the supermarket’s boss says.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/putting-out-fires-coles-new-plan-to-beat-woolies-20180306-p4z33i.html
    Barnaby Joyce’s paternity interview with Fairfax was a thing to behold. And then there was the defence offered up to shoot down his central point. Which is a whole new ball game, writes Chris Graham. It’s a good analysis if Sharri Markson’s tactics.
    https://newmatilda.com/2018/03/06/now-back-barnaby-email-sharri-markson/
    Jennifer Wilson writes that over the last few days, women have been thrown under more buses than usual by members of the Turnbull Government, making something of a mockery of the Prime Minister’s desire to make Parliament House a more woman-friendly workplace.
    https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/cash-and-joyce-and-throwing-women-off-buses-its-the-turnbull-government-way,11266
    Why Bill Shorten is not a socialist.
    https://newmatilda.com/2018/03/06/now-back-barnaby-email-sharri-markson/
    In a major breakthrough for a nuclear crisis that has created global anxiety for over a year, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has agreed to discuss giving up his nuclear arsenal if talks are held with the United States.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/north-korea-agrees-to-discuss-giving-up-nuclear-arsenal-for-us-deal-20180307-p4z353.html
    Laura Tingle has signed a $15,000 contract for two days’ work with the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and says she sees no conflict in the job. Google.
    /business/media/fairfaxs-tingle-sees-no-conflict-in-job-for-pm/news-story/6833e5a02b240741db86d37bbc6fb245
    Greg Hunt has ordered the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman to investigate health fund Bupa for its decision to overhaul its medical gap scheme, which doctors have blasted as “one big leap towards US-style managed care”.
    https://www.smh.com.au/healthcare/health-minister-orders-investigation-into-health-insurer-bupa-after-alarming-announcements-20180306-p4z347.html
    One of the most anticipated court cases of the year is playing out behind closed doors this week, but that hasn’t meant its high-profile defendant Georg Pell is completely shielded from public view.
    https://www.theage.com.au/national/hearing-for-cardinal-george-pell-unfolding-behind-closed-doors-20180306-p4z34a.html
    Meanwhile Victoria has introduced a bill that would make it the first jurisdiction in Australia to abolish a legal defence used by churches to prevent child sexual abuse victims from targeting their assets in compensation claims. Great work from Dan Andres. Now it’s time for the rest of the country to follow suit.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/mar/06/victoria-to-abolish-ellis-defence-that-protects-church-assets-from-abuse-victim-claims
    Will Hodgman may be the Premier but it’s pokie industry rulers, the Federal Group, who are running Tasmania says Mungo MacCallum.
    https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/mungo-maccallum-federal-hotels-win-in-tasmania-,11265
    How is bonking within the APS managed?
    http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/i-slept-with-a-job-applicant-should-i-hire-him-on-sex-in-the-public-service-20180304-h0wypq.html
    Caitlin Fitzsimmons gets stuck into Woolies’ pre-packaged bananas.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/slipping-on-the-banana-peel-now-let-s-unpack-that-20180306-p4z32v.html
    Australian gun lobby groups pumped more than $500,000 into helping minor rightwing parties win seats in last year’s Queensland state election as part of a growing push to weaken the nation’s strict firearm control laws.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/mar/07/australian-gun-lobby-donations-rightwing-minor-parties-weaken-reforms-control
    Ben Schneiders looks at the reactions to the new “super union”.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/don-t-believe-the-hype-or-the-fearmongering-on-new-super-union-20180306-p4z33c.html
    Judith Sloan blames Michaelia Cash for the big union amalgamation. Google.
    /opinion/columnists/judith-sloan/no-legal-impediment-to-megaunion-merger/news-story/ae32e9d684c516ae45d4662ff03ff468
    David Warner is a national disgrace and should be stood down says Chris Ogge. It’s hard to disagree.
    https://thenewdaily.com.au/sport/cricket/2018/03/06/david-warner-national-disgrace/
    Jill Abramson looks at the nepotism and corruption in the White House.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/mar/06/nepotism-corruption-handmaiden-trump-presidency
    A single platform combining all of your favourite streaming services may be on the cards after a Fairfax report revealed Foxtel is in negotiations to join forces with Netflix and Stan. If realised, this would mean a greater range of movies and TV shows for Australian consumers to choose from, likely at a reduced price.
    https://thenewdaily.com.au/money/finance-news/2018/03/06/foxtel-netflix-stan-streaming/
    Opioid overdoses increased by roughly 30% across the US in just 14 months between 2016 and 2017, according to a new report by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). What in the hell is going on?
    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/mar/06/opioid-crisis-overdoses-increased-by-a-third-across-us-in-14-months-says-cdc
    Malaysia’s head of criminal investigations is set to face a corruption probe into why Australian Federal Police found $320,000 in suspected proceeds of crime in his Sydney bank account.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/malaysian-police-chief-faces-corruption-probe-after-afp-action-20180306-p4z32i.html
    Tens of millions of dollars that large aged-care providers collected illegally from residents under the guise of an “asset refurbishment” fee will be repaid or forcibly refunded after a Federal Court decision barred the practice. This decision could have far reaching effects. Google.
    /national-affairs/health/agedcare-providers-caught-on-asset-fee-after-court-ruling/news-story/4595628274a671d48390d9d92721b75d
    The Reserve Bank of Australia has drawn a line under the historic property booms in Sydney and Melbourne, acknowledging markets have “slowed” in both cities.
    https://thenewdaily.com.au/money/finance-news/2018/03/06/rba-property-boom-sydney-melbourne/
    Santos, Origin and junior gas player Comet Ridge have boosted the NSW’s Mahalo coal seam gas project’s reserves by 473 per cent, making it one of the largest undeveloped gas projects on the east coast.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/gas-field-boosts-its-reserves-by-more-than-400-per-cent-20180306-p4z343.html
    The prospect of coming under the glare of the royal commission appears to be sending a shudder through the advisory sector, particularly among the major financial houses.
    https://thenewdaily.com.au/money/finance-news/2018/03/05/financial-advisers-royal-commission/

    Cartoon Corner.

    David Rowe channels Don Quixote.

    Fiona Katauskas airs Barnaby’s dirty laundry.

    Peter Broelman on how Trump dissed Turnbull.

    Paul Zanetti calls popcorn time for Australian politics.

    Six more from Matt Golding.






    Another gif from Glen Le Lievre.
    https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/970965692756344833
    Mark Knight uses an Oscar nomination to have a crack at Barnaby.

    Barnaby does some redecorating.

    Cathy Wilcox nicely puts the politics of Adani into perspective.
    https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_1%2C$multiply_0.4721549636803874%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1652%2C$x_172%2C$y_76/t_crop_custom/t_sharpen%2Cq_auto%2Cf_auto/9b76e54dcd20168a708c674ecb46843ecfecacdd
    Jon Kudelka has Shorten using the “grey area” ploy.
    https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/003fa45c278c63caa57d865fcf12495a
    There are more Fairfax cartoons in here. Some are repeats, I know,
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/best-of-fairfax-cartoons-march-7-2018-20180306-h0x3vt.html

  37. The Next New Reset seems to be aimed at the Government leading the charge on bastardizing migrants. Dutton the other day instituted some new form of bastardry in terms of social security provision. Porter and Tudge have the lead article to talk about the New English Test for migrants.
    The aim seems to be to undercut the PHON xenophobes.

    The bastards are self-wedging, but.

    Their whole rotten housing Ponzi scheme is based on migrants creating demand.

    And it rather looks as if Porter is going to be pushed as the Turnbull replacement.

    I assume that the job will be done in Spring to allow Porter the whole of Spring and Summer of 2019 to establish his loveability.

  39. Day 68, and the Greenwords Tsunami has obeyed the laws of political gravity and washed its detritus of failure back into the ocean of political nothingness.

  44. Trog Sorrenson says:
    Wednesday, March 7, 2018 at 8:17 am
    don

    I take your point about the futility of CCS, but what is the fossil fuel connection with Combet?

    Here is part of his Wikipedia entry, what is it hiding?

    Combet worked in the gas industry. I reckon Combet was very good, I was simply making the point about all the ex Labor people ending up in the extractive industries.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/csg-industry-hires-wellconnected-staffers-20150515-gh2rg3.html

    Thanks, I also just found the post by Pegasus that he was advocating coal seam gas.

  45. This is an interesting article on the attitudes towards land clearing in Queensland (and towards females doing a “man’s job”).

    Kate says sometimes their neighbours have even taken matters into their own hands, and cleared trees on her property without her permission.

    “When there are no fences – they come in and clear knowing very well it’s my land,” Kate says. “That’s vandalism – coming and clearing – because they know that is where it hurts most.”

    Julie – also not her real name – owns another block of land in central Queensland.

    “Conservation is probably the wrong word in terms of, I just think the country should be in good nick,” Julie says, describing why she doesn’t clear aggressively on her land.

    She says the vegetation helps to keep rain on her property, rather than allowing it to wash off into the channel country. The trees pull up trace elements from deep in the sandy soil, and the leaves fertilise the ground. They also attract birds, which keep some of the bugs under control.

    Julie says neighbours see her as weird for not clearing – and also for being a woman running her land without a man. As a result, she says her neighbours have stolen her cattle and shot her dogs.

    “There is still a huge cultural thing about the male conquering everything,” Julie says, trying to explain the attitude of her neighbours.

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/mar/07/scorched-country-the-destruction-of-australias-native-landscape?CMP=share_btn_tw

  46. Australian gun lobby groups pumped more than $500,000 into helping minor rightwing parties win seats in last year’s Queensland state election as part of a growing push to weaken the nation’s strict firearm control laws.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/mar/07/australian-gun-lobby-donations-rightwing-minor-parties-weaken-reforms-control

    Just as a thought experiment…

    (a) Australia is held up in the USA as the model of a country that said “No” to guns, particularly Armalites and equivalents.

    (b) Events in Tasmania triggered the Australian anti-union response.

    (c) What better and more symbolic place than Tasmania to conduct a “gun fightback”? Getting automatic rifles back into Tasmania would be a victory of world significance, gunwize.

    (d) The Australian gun lobby invests hundreds of thousands of dollars in political campaigns, particularly in the recent Tasmanian election campaign. The Australian gun lobby is freely described as “cashed up”. But where did their cash come from?

    (e) The NRA has LOTS of cash, and would have a big interest in amputating Australia – and particularly Tasmania- as an example of gun sanity.

    (f) So, “investigative journalists”, who really runs the Australian branch of the gun lobby, and where do they obtain their finance?

    (g) Who do they make their cheques out to (including political parties)?

    (Hint: you could probably dovetail your investigations with any you might make on the subject of the Water Lobby and the Coal and Mining Lobby, plus a few other lobbies not too hard to think of)

  48. Turnbull cares so much for women in the workplace.

    One of his staffers blew the whistle on love rat and “rising Liberal star” Matt Kean (Gladys’ Minister for Innovation) … and got the boot. Kean was too valuable to get rid of, so he stayed.

    Another wonderful example of Maljy’s enlightened attitude to the power imbalance between politicians and their staffers.

    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/turnbull-staffer-loses-job-after-posts-about-cheating-boyfriend-nsw-minister-matt-kean-20180307-p4z35z.html

  49. John Wren‏ @JohnWren1950 · 16m16 minutes ago

    Faine is absolutely destroying @AlanTudgeMP on @abcmelbourne over #ewlink. Libs booby trapped the contract before the state election. The cost of cancelling it was purely the fault of VIC Libs. #auspol #springst

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