BludgerTrack: 51.8-48.2 to Labor

Nothing doing on voting intention in the latest poll aggregate update, but Malcolm Turnbull’s leadership ratings are continuing to look up.

The only new poll result this week, from Newspoll, landed right on the existing results for BludgerTrack, which accordingly records only the slightest of movements in this week’s update. The biggest of these is a 0.4% increase for One Nation, who were up two points in Newspoll. The only changes on the seat projection result from the fact that my hypothetical election is now one conducted using mini-redistributions, giving Labor extra seats in Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory, and the Liberals losing one in South Australia.

The voting intention readings don’t offer much excitement, but Newspoll’s latest leadership numbers further contribute to an impression of rising popularity (or at least, falling unpopularity) for Malcolm Turnbull, which seemed to kick in two to three months ago. Turnbull’s net approval trend rating is now well clear of Bill Shorten’s for the first time since early 2016, and he has more than recovered from a slight dip in his preferred prime minister rating over New Year.

Full results:

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.

944 comments on “BludgerTrack: 51.8-48.2 to Labor”

Comments Page 12 of 19
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  1. Douglas and Milko @ #540 Friday, June 1st, 2018 – 10:18 pm

    Hi William and All,

    Apologies if this question has already been answered, but:

    “Why have the betting odds for whether the next Federal election will be held in 2018 or 2019 disappeared from the Ladbrokes betting odds on the right-hand side bar?”

    A few weeks ago, 2019 was the preferred year, with something like 3:1 odds on 2019 c.f. 2018. Then, within a few hours, 2018 became the preferred date, with a very fast reversal of quoted odds. Then, quickly, the odds for the year of the Federal Election just disappeared.

    Is this because some people now know the date of the next Federal election, and so bets are no longer being taken? I cannot think of any other reason for bookies not wanting to take people’s money on a bet they cannot lose.

    Hi D&M

    A month or so ago we had a discussion about why I was not a big fan of Nate Silver.

    Found this on 538 and it sort of sums it all up for me. Or more to the point I could not follow a word of it and just too much room for fudging and allowing emotions to take control.

    Clever maybe, but to dismiss the poll that got closest in 2016 is a tad cavalier.

    Advanced plus and minus???? Please explain to quote our local.

    No doubt there is some fancy formula to tell us why some are rated more highly, but as a simple soul I just like the numbers.

    I work on the assumption that all the polls taken together as an average should for ordinary mortals more or less give the right answer. Or we can follow William who clearly explains what is adjustment factors are (or at lest he did once and I sort of followed). But 538 is way too fancy for this mere mortal.

    Somehow I think they are a team who have a preconcieved notion of what the outcome will be and are looking for polling to confirm their bias.

    OK that is all a bit harsh I know and do look at their site in the election period, but it has such a large mumbo jumbo factors that I have much less confidence.

    https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/which-pollsters-to-trust-in-2018/

  2. Douglas and Milko says:
    Friday, June 1, 2018 at 10:18 pm

    You’re right – Ladbrokes does not have a “when the next Federal election will be held”.

    Sportsbet do and are offering $1.95 for 2018 and $1.75 for 2019 (or later). Didn’t think it could be later than 2019 ???

    There’s certainly been a big narrowing, albeit 2019 still just in front.

    ALP are $1.40 to win and LNP $2.50 with both Sportsbet and Ladbrokes whenever it’s held.

  3. Shorter dtt,

    I don’t understand what they are doing so I don’t believe it, also they have been mean to one of my favourite pollsters.

    Sounds like a Climate Change denier or Antivaxer dismissal to me.

    All they are doing is trying to gauge the reliability of different pollsters and the different methodologies used to conduct them.

    As they say, which obviously raised your displeasure, Rasmussen got closest in the Presidential election but they have been shit at predicting other elections, so their reliability is not good and they are rated lower than other pollsters.

    Your assumption dismisses the work of people like William and 538 who try to make sense of all the different polls and bring them together into a coherent summary of what they are all saying.

    You may be happy comparing apples with oranges but I for one value William and his like for trying to present all apples. 🙂

  4. Barney

    One of the reasons I rate Silvers 538 team is they were one of the few voices saying it was not all over red rover.

    Especially as the polls moved after Comey talked about reopening the investigation into the Clinton emails

    I thought Silver was being too cautious. However he was right. There was a real chance Trump would win and so it turned out.

    Now Silvers team is saying there is a blue wave coming and that it all depends on who has the most turnout.

    They say one clue is how many Congess people from the Presidents party quit in the lead up to the mid terms.

    The previous record was about 9 or ten. This time its in the double digits including the House Speaker.

    Thats as certain as they get with a prediction .

  5. Hi William and All,

    Apologies if this question has already been answered, but:

    “Why have the betting odds for whether the next Federal election will be held in 2018 or 2019 disappeared from the Ladbrokes betting odds on the right-hand side bar?”

    I don’t know, but Ladbrokes are highly capricious in what betting markets they run. For a while they were taking bets on the next New South Wales and Victorian elections, then they weren’t. Same deal here.

  6. All the chatter about international business class travel has made me nostalgic, and I would like to relate a nice story that happened to me on a flight a couple of years ago. So this was the start of an epic commute to central Siberia, where I was to go for a 1 week secondment to a remote coal mining site.

    I had just arrived in Beijing at about 10 pm after connecting flight SYD to HKG then HKG to Beijing. I had to transfer to terminal 2 (I think), which was an obscure terminal servicing even more obscure flight sectors. I normally get myself around OK in international airports, but in this instance I really did not know where I was going. As I was passing through international transfers counter, I noted a middle aged women in front of me clutching a Russian passport, so given that was where I was going, I thought I would ask if she knew where Terminal 2 was. Thinking the chances of meeting a middle aged English speaking Russian lady in Beijing at 10 pm was pretty remote – I asked anyway. And surprise she spoke perfect English. She was actually departed Sydney on the same flight and was flying to same destination…Krasnoyarsk on the 2:30 AM flight.

    We walked together and chatted, and I found out she was an English linguistics teacher at Krasnoyarsk University and she was visiting her two daughters who were living in Sydney. She showed me pics of her daughters and yep…they could have been Russian supermodels (both).

    So rather than disappear into the business class lounge for my layover (she was flying economy – I was in Business thanks to my client in Moscow, who likes to look after his western consultants), I stayed with her and we chatted about everything, life in general – Russia – Australia etc. Never an awkward silence.

    Finally boarding time, and I was shepherded up to the pointy end of the Nordstar flight (only person in BC). Interesting by-line…Nordstar was formed to service the FIFO workers to and from the massive Norilsk Nickel mine, and had now morphed into a domestic carrier. So I got comfortable, ordered a vodka and 3 hours later I was landing in Krasnoyarsk. Deplaned and was greeted by a black Limo which whisked me away to immigration ahead of the rest of the passengers. Was a nice touch, but finding yourself the only passenger in a Russian immigration hall in central Siberia at about 6 AM, was a bit daunting. So cleared customs got my luggage and was waiting outside to get a taxi, and I bumped into my friend. Apparently there was some mix up between her and her husband and he was not there or able to come out an collect her. So I offered her a ride in my taxi, to drop her off at her apartment, en-route to my hotel. More talk and when we reached her apartment her husband was waiting outside to greet her. I got out to say goodbye, and her husband gave me this giant Russian bear hug, and he was dressed in an Australian Rugby Jumper. She had obviously phoned ahead (in Russian), and instructed her husband to meet me, and to dress appropriately.

    Really made my for a nice start to my trip…(to be continued)

  7. All the chatter about international business class travel has made me nostalgic, and I would like to relate a nice story that happened to me on a flight a couple of years ago. So this was the start of an epic commute to central Siberia, where I was to go for a 1 week secondment to a remote coal mining site.

    I had just arrived in Beijing at about 10 pm after connecting flight SYD to HKG then HKG to Beijing. I had to transfer to terminal 2 (I think), which was an obscure terminal servicing even more obscure flight sectors. I normally get myself around OK in international airports, but in this instance I really did not know where I was going. As I was passing through international transfers counter, I noted a middle aged women in front of me clutching a Russian passport, so given that was where I was going, I thought I would ask if she knew where Terminal 2 was. Thinking the chances of meeting a middle aged English speaking Russian lady in Beijing at 10 pm was pretty remote – I asked anyway. And surprise she spoke perfect English. She was actually departed Sydney on the same flight and was flying to same destination…Krasnoyarsk on the 2:30 AM flight.

    We walked together and chatted, and I found out she was an English linguistics teacher at Krasnoyarsk University and she was visiting her two daughters who were living in Sydney. She showed me pics of her daughters and yep…they could have been Russian supermodels (both).

    So rather than disappear into the business class lounge for my layover (she was flying economy – I was in Business thanks to my client in Moscow, who likes to look after his western consultants), I stayed with her and we chatted about everything, life in general – Russia – Australia etc. Never an awkward silence.

    Finally boarding time, and I was shepherded up to the pointy end of the Nordstar flight (only person in BC). Interesting by-line…Nordstar was formed to service the FIFO workers to and from the massive Norilsk Nickel mine, and had now morphed into a domestic carrier. So I got comfortable, ordered a vodka and 3 hours later I was landing in Krasnoyarsk. Deplaned and was greeted by a black Limo which whisked me away to immigration ahead of the rest of the passengers. Was a nice touch, but finding yourself the only passenger in a Russian immigration hall in central Siberia at about 6 AM, was a bit daunting. So cleared customs got my luggage and was waiting outside to get a taxi, and I bumped into my friend. Apparently there was some mix up between her and her husband and he was not there or able to come out an collect her. So I offered her a ride in my taxi, to drop her off at her apartment, en-route to my hotel. More talk and when we reached her apartment her husband was waiting outside to greet her. I got out to say goodbye, and her husband gave me this giant Russian bear hug, and he was dressed in a Australian Rugby Jumper. She had obviously phoned ahead (in Russian), and instructed her husband to meet me, and to dress appropriately.

    Really made my trip…(to be continued)

  8. Part 2…

    So I had a day layover in Krasnoyarsk and did some sightseeing…not a lot to do, but I went to an interesting shopping centre – where the fashion was very reminiscent of Newcastle University circa 1982. Went to a few bars had a great meal at a great restaurant, and caught an early night ready for phase 2 of my commute.

    Up at 6 AM and off I go to Krasnoyarsk станция (Station). Dodged a couple of gypsies seeking roubles, and now I had to find my train to Ulan-Ude, which is a city of about 400K on the eastern side of Lake Baykal, well about 200 km from the lake, but all distances are relative when you a travelling in Siberia…

    Again I thought I was pretty worldly, but with my limited grasp of Russian I was pretty lost, and NO ONE spoke English. Managed somehow to finally sort it out, and find my train. Got on and was pretty excited to share a 4 berth second class sleeper for my 28 hour train ride departing Krasnoyarsk skirting around the bottom of Lake Baykal and straight shot into Ulan-Ude. Only was disappointed to be sharing with no one, especially after practicing my Russian greetings, and small talk about…where I was from, how many children I have, it gets hot in Australia etc etc. Note after arriving in Irkustsk (about half way) a fellow traveller boarded and shared a carriage. Pavel from Yukutsk was his name if I recall.

    So what do you do…

    Well naturally find the dining carriage, and have a vodka with fellow travellers…

    Found my way to dining car, and found two burly Russian guys, listening to disco music, drinking vodka and eating potatoes and herrings…It was all so stereotypical…

    I was motioned over to join in, which I did…great guys, happy to share their vodka and disco music. Found out (using halting Russian and a cross between charades and scattergories) that they were in the Russian army and one was a captain in charge of a surface mounted missile launcher…Note this was not long after the Malaysian Airlines flight was shot down over the Ukraine and Tony retaliated by wanting to “shirt front” Vladimir…So I kept Mum about politics and enjoyed the vodka and camaraderie…

    Arrived in Ulan-Ude safe and sound, had one night in this quite interesting city (Mix of Russian and Mongol Cultures). Interesting byline – Ulan-Ude has the biggest bust of Lenin in the world, and is the finishing point for the Mongol Rally – which just happened to be in town when I was there – so pretty happening place.

    Off again in the morning for a 4 hour bus ride to Sagan-Nur the small settlement that services the Tugnuyskaya coal mine. Keeping an eye out for Russian bears – much like tourists in Australia looking for kangaroos…This was to be my home for the next week….

    I suggest this is the biggest commute I have ever done, about 4 days to reach my final destination.

    I could have flown direct from Beijing to Ulan-Ude and truncated the journey somewhat, but travelling on the Trans-Siberian (as a train nerd), was something I always wanted to do…

    A snap poll – Can anyone top this for longest commute to get somewhere? Maybe with one layover for connections would be fairer…just asking….

  9. Ewart Dave ‏ @davidbewart · 11h11 hours ago

    in the South Australian seat of Mayo, where the Liberal candidate has described the ABC as a “despicable waste of taxpayer’s precious money”, #auspol #GetUp

    Yet Lady Georgina is happy to promote herself (sic) by appearing on ABC programs.

  10. Ha! Ha! This is delicious!
    Did Barnaby and Vikki dud themselves out of an extra $150,000?

    Channel Nine doubled an offer from arch-rival Seven to secure an exclusive interview with Barnaby Joyce and Vikki Campion, sources have told Fairfax Media.

    Insiders at both networks claim Nine’s 60 Minutes tried to woo Campion – who gave birth to Joyce’s son, Sebastian, in April – with an estimated $250,000 to $300,000. Yet Seven’s Sunday Night had already bagged the exclusive for a smaller sum – a reported $150,000, to be set aside for expenses such as school fees.

    https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/did-barnaby-and-vikki-dud-themselves-out-of-an-extra-150-000-20180601-p4ziza.html

  11. lizzie @ #568 Saturday, June 2nd, 2018 – 4:24 am

    Ewart Dave ‏ @davidbewart · 11h11 hours ago

    in the South Australian seat of Mayo, where the Liberal candidate has described the ABC as a “despicable waste of taxpayer’s precious money”, #auspol #GetUp

    Yet Lady Georgina is happy to promote herself (sic) by appearing on ABC programs.

    IPA policy – ✔

    Vacuous puppet!!

    Is somebody going to keep count?

  12. Good morning Dawn Patrollers.

    Ross Gittins gives the budget a working over and says that the central claim of it is that we can have our cake and eat it too. A very good article.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/we-have-debts-to-pay-before-we-give-ourselves-tax-cuts-20180601-p4ziu4.html
    Peter Martin writes that Australia’s superannuation system is 25 years old. The pool of super savings has climbed to $2.6 trillion. By 2030 it’ll be $5 trillion. It’s important to get it right. He explains why the large industry funds do so well comparatively.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/portrait-of-a-sick-system-gives-us-a-chance-to-put-things-right-20180601-p4zisi.html
    And Crispin Hull says that retirement income has for too long been part of class and political warfare in Australia. He concludes his article with “Given that one of the best performing funds is the Future Fund, maybe all Australians should have the option of putting their superannuation there and the Productivity Commission should have recommended that option as a means of keeping the whole industry on its toes.”
    https://www.smh.com.au/money/super-and-retirement/superannuation-has-been-part-of-class-and-political-warfare-too-long-20180601-p4zizx.html
    Journalist par excellence Mike Seccombe tells us that how, with Serco being handed the contract for Centrelink’s call centre, and the NDIS saddled with inexperienced labour hire staff, the government is privatising the public service by stealth.
    https://outline.com/gGmkdT
    Retirees are losing up to $1 billion a year in earnings because superannuation funds are failing to pass on fully a tax exemption aimed at maximising post-work incomes.
    https://outline.com/NZREPS
    Pontificating Paul Kelly goes round and round in circles in this article on superannuation.
    https://outline.com/cTf4jj
    Karen Middleton ventures inside Labor’s refugee strategy.
    https://outline.com/xgTZRH
    The lack of obvious scapegoats or easy answers is not an indication bank lending to small business has got a completely clean bill of health by the royal commission.
    https://outline.com/8aCcGR
    David Crowe reckons the minimum wage decision presents opportunities more than threats for both Labor and the Coalition.
    https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/minimum-wage-ruling-is-good-news-for-the-coalition-and-labor-20180601-p4zix5.html
    Elizabeth Knight tells us how the bombshell criminal cartel action involving the ANZ and two investment banks is set to cause an industry explosion. She says that it is believed that JP Morgan has acted as a whistleblower and has been granted immunity from prosecution.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/the-alleged-bank-criminal-cartel-that-will-send-industry-shockwaves-20180601-p4zix4.html
    Channel Nine doubled an offer from arch-rival Seven to secure an exclusive interview with Barnaby Joyce and Vikki Campion, sources have told Fairfax Media. Chequebook journalism on steroids!
    https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/did-barnaby-and-vikki-dud-themselves-out-of-an-extra-150-000-20180601-p4ziza.html
    Barnaby Joyce’s decision to accept money – reportedly $150,000 – from Channel Seven in return for giving an interview about his relationship with his former staffer Vikki Campion, calls into question his fitness for public office.
    https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/barnaby-joyces-decision-to-sell-his-story-is-a-breach-of-professional-ethics,11557
    Peter van Onselen says that Barnaby Joyce, the man once described by former prime minister Tony Abbott as Australia’s best retail politician, has become a dead weight around the necks of his Liberal and Nationals colleagues.
    https://outline.com/teEAfV
    And Paul Bongiorno says Joyce is wreaking havoc yet again. He concludes his article with “Shorten’s up for the challenge and, based on recent history, can look forward to Barnaby Joyce and Tony Abbott doing their bit to help him with it.”
    https://outline.com/WChWEN
    In an editorial headlined “The death of the Vile” The Saturday Paper says “Fellow Australians, if you are reading this, the Australia of Hanson’s dreams has been murdered. Her power is greatly diminished. Thank god.”
    https://outline.com/Lrbq97
    Hamish McDonald writes that questions are mounting over the direction Malcolm Turnbull is taking with China, as clues emerge from a former adviser’s report with ASIO and an ex-ambassador’s turning on the government.
    https://outline.com/3dSdsa
    Where’s Melania?
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/melania-trump-s-absence-continues-won-t-join-president-at-camp-david-20180602-p4zj17.html
    Tony Wright says that to say that Pauline Hanson’s One Nation is the drama queen of Australian political parties is to be unfair to drama queens.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/pauline-hanson-and-her-party-give-drama-queens-a-bad-name-20180601-p4zixt.html
    And the SMH editor is sick and tired of parliament being dominated by sideshows. It says that Michaelia Cash being hoist with her own petard is a good outcome.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/sideshows-divert-us-while-main-game-is-suspended-20180601-p4zixv.html
    On Porline Laura Tingle headlines her contribution with “One Nation: It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to.” She basically tells Hanson to have a good hard look in the mirror.
    https://outline.com/ufH9ex
    Phil Coorey also has a good dig.
    https://outline.com/7X6BYs
    Katharine Murphy writes that the government would have been relieved over the past 48 hours to play second fiddle to a more epic foot-stamping, hair-tossing, door-slamming soap opera, after a week where it suffered its own bout of internal fracture and free-range chaos.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jun/02/after-a-week-of-political-theatrics-the-energy-wars-remind-us-this-drama-costs
    Stephen Koukoulas wonders if our economy is on the rocks.
    https://thekouk.com/item/607-is-the-aussie-economy-on-the-rocks.html
    Millions of people have been left unable to pay for goods and services in shops, petrol stations and railway stations across Britain and Europe after an unprecedented crash in Visa’s payment system.
    https://www.theguardian.com/money/2018/jun/01/visa-card-network-crashes-and-sparks-payment-chaos
    Jacqui Maley has had enough of the blame game in Canberra.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/who-me-boom-times-for-the-blame-industry-in-canberra-20180531-p4zio1.html
    Peter Greste explains the Grey Zone which allows us to live alongside different faiths without killing one another; it is the space that means we can have robust political debates without punching each other in the nose. It is the space defined by a robust defence of free speech. He certainly gives us something to ponder.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/the-grey-zone-space-that-gives-us-freedom-is-under-threat-20180527-p4zhu2.html
    The over-precious, thin-skinned Coalition has once again complained to the ABC managing director about ABC news, accusing political journalists Laura Tingle, Barrie Cassidy and Andrew Probyn of repeating “false” claims by the Labor party. This time it’s about the setting of the date for Super Saturday.
    https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/jun/01/coalition-complains-about-abc-coverage-of-super-saturday-byelection-date
    Richard Dennis writes the economic rationalism and neoliberalism are dead in Australia. In an unexpected twist, the idea that markets are good and governments are bad was killed by the right wing of Australian politics, who simply couldn’t resist the desire to shovel public money onto their friends and tie their opponents up in red tape.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/how-free-marketeers-killed-neoliberalism-20180601-p4ziya.html
    Michael West’s website tells us about CBA’s BankWest takeover debacle and APRA’s “appalling” regulatory failure.
    https://www.michaelwest.com.au/cbas-bankwest-takeover-debacle-and-apras-appalling-regulatory-fail/
    Elizabeth Farrelly wants there to be a new centrist political party with objectives she defines.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/surprising-catch-behind-my-idea-for-new-political-party-20180601-p4ziuu.html
    German supermarket giant Kaufland is poised to open five new superstores as it charges ahead with plans to shakeup Australia’s fiercely competitive $90 billion grocery sector. Kaufland’s aggressive expansion will send shivers down the spines of the nation’s “cosy” Coles and Woolworths grocery duopoly, already under siege from the group’s arch German rival, Aldi.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/coles-woolies-under-siege-as-german-giant-kaufland-eyes-five-superstores-20180531-p4ziq8.html
    Ten years on from the GFC, what happened to the once mighty Babcock & Brown?
    https://outline.com/A6ygJv
    The CFMEU has been ordered to pay nearly half of the corporate watchdog’s costs relating to a long-running legal case about boycotting Boral.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/cfmeu-to-pay-some-accc-costs-in-boral-case-20180601-p4zj0h.html
    In the wake of New Zealand’s economic plan to solve homelessness, The Independent Australia asks why Australia can’t follow suit.
    https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/australia-needs-to-act-on-homelessness,11555
    Australia’s biggest sheep exporter is under criminal investigation over conditions onboard its Middle East-bound vessels.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jun/01/top-sheep-exporter-under-criminal-investigation-over-conditions-on-ships
    South Australian criminals are laundering huge amounts of cash by buying digital currencies such as Bitcoin in an effort to hide their assets and thwart police activities to seize them.
    https://outline.com/crYKXS
    This is scary. A former student of Sydney’s Cromer High has furiously unloaded on his teachers for treating sex with teenage girls as a “fringe benefit” of the job.
    https://outline.com/SNcEKe
    This makes me want to vomit!
    https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2018/05/31/girl-told-hungering-god/

    Cartoon Corner

    Mark David bursts into poetry to describe this current bunch of ministers.

    Peter Broelman and PHON.

    Paul Zanetti with Trump’s priorities.

    A few from Matt Golding.


    Mark Knight explains Greg Hunt’s language.

    Great work from David Pope!
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/act/david-pope-20120214-1t3j0.html
    Jon Kudelka and the PHON three ring circus.
    https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/b106a95bc540f04d55037fbfd50b8e36
    More in here.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/best-of-fairfax-cartoons-june-2-2018-20180601-h10vby.html

  13. This is a technical article about why Adani and the whole new coal basin it sits in is such a big deal in the fight against climate change. Any government that approves it will be a pariah both domestically and internationally.

  14. Cheryl Kernot‏ @cheryl_kernot · May 31

    It is not ok for any party in Government to spend so much of taxpayers’ money pursuing what are nothing more than campaign agendas to discredit an opponent. Think what the millions spent on RC Trade Unions, politicised police raids & now these court costs could be better spent on

  15. Dubbs @ #564 Saturday, June 2nd, 2018 – 4:11 am

    A snap poll – Can anyone top this for longest commute to get somewhere? Maybe with one layover for connections would be fairer…just asking….

    I once took over 2 weeks to travel 250km.

    I was in Ruili, China on the border with Myanmar and I wanted to go to Hsipaw, about 250 km away in Myanmar.

    I had a valid Visa for Myanmar but they would not let foreigners cross.

    So I had to travel around Myanmar, across Yunnan, through Laos, into Thailand where there was a crossing I knew I could use into Myanmar.

    Then up Monghpyak, where I had to catch a flight to Mandalay, due to a ban on overland travel.

    Then a taxi up to Pyin Oo Lwin and finally the train to Hsipaw, a journey of considerably more than the 250km I was hoping for.

    Great fun!!!! 🙂

  16. Look, what is going on with the ABC is the chilling of true Free Speech, and is intended to have exactly the same result that Eric Abetz had on wage rises across the country when he was Employment Minister. He stomped on the Public Service wage rise negotiations and that sent a message to the Coalition’s supporters in the private sphere. And so it eventuated that these people took their cues and stomped down equally hard on private sector workers.

    Now, with the ABC, which the government can control, they are sending a message that they disapprove of free range comment and want to cage it. Which, again, sends the message to their private sector counterparts that government supporting propaganda is encouraged and dissent is to be stifled.

  17. This should be investigated by Fact Check.

    Sky News Australia‏Verified account @SkyNewsAust

    .@JoshFrydenberg says the science of climate change being a real threat drives government policy.

    ‘I continually will advocate for the most rigorous method of scientific conclusions.’

  18. lizzie @ #580 Saturday, June 2nd, 2018 – 5:30 am

    This should be investigated by Fact Check.

    Sky News Australia‏Verified account @SkyNewsAust

    .@JoshFrydenberg says the science of climate change being a real threat drives government policy.

    ‘I continually will advocate for the most rigorous method of scientific conclusions.’

    WTF does that even mean?

  19. Longest trip, sort of:
    Hired a Barge in France . Dropped hire car at destination after stocking up the barge. Caught a taxi back to barge, 1 hour 15 minutes. Ten days barging , about 5 hours motoring per day to get back to car.

  20. Victoria and NSW on a collision course over culling brumby population in the ecologically sensitive Alpine areas shared by both States.

    The Victorian government has signed off on a plan to remove more than 1,200 feral horses from the Alpine national park, saying the impact of the animals on sensitive ecosystems has reached critical levels.

    Two weeks ago the New South Wales government announced a proposal to protect Kosciuszko national park brumbies, which conservation advocates have labelled a “disaster” for Australia’s environmental heritage.

    The government’s preference is to trap and rehome the animals but where that is not possible, it says they will be humanely euthanised.

    D’Ambrosio called on the NSW government and the Turnbull government to support the plan and agree on protecting vulnerable alpine areas, something that has traditionally involved cross-border co-operation through the parks system.

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jun/02/victoria-pledges-to-remove-1200-brumbies-to-protect-alps-and-calls-on-nsw-to-act

  21. ‘FORMER MP Sophie Mirabella will not say whether she will donate any of her defamation payout to charity.’

    So that’s a ‘no’, then. (She could always put it in a trust fund for the kids…)

    ‘“I had a lot of public support during the trial process and subsequently that has continued because the jury made its finding and the judge made his finding and that made a difference, absolutely made a difference,” she said.’

    Ominous words.

    https://www.bordermail.com.au/news/local-news/5442677/sophie-cites-privacy-after-calls-to-donate-payout-to-charity/

  22. Morning all.

    Thanks BK for today’s wrap. Rowe must be on holidays, he hasn’t had a cartoon for a few days now.

  23. zoomster @ #586 Saturday, June 2nd, 2018 – 5:48 am

    ‘FORMER MP Sophie Mirabella will not say whether she will donate any of her defamation payout to charity.’

    So that’s a ‘no’, then. (She could always put it in a trust fund for the kids…)

    ‘“I had a lot of public support during the trial process and subsequently that has continued because the jury made its finding and the judge made his finding and that made a difference, absolutely made a difference,” she said.’

    Ominous words.

    https://www.bordermail.com.au/news/local-news/5442677/sophie-cites-privacy-after-calls-to-donate-payout-to-charity/

    Maybe she thinks it makes up for her lost inheritance? 🙂

  24. lizzie

    It’s the sort of wording you use coming up to a “I know I said I was not going to run again, but the overwhelming support and encouragement I have had from the public…” statement.

  25. File this one under ‘no shit Sherlock’

    An investigation by The Weekend West of super fund performance since 2004 has shown funds linked to the big four banks are among the worst performers and have provided poor value to clients.

    These funds have pulled fees sometimes treble those of rival industry and corporate funds and provided far lower rewards. The Weekend West examined super fund annual fee and return figures filed with the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority back to 2004 and found retirement savings being eroded by high fees and poor reward for investment risk.

    https://thewest.com.au/lifestyle/superannuation/australian-workers-retirement-savings-eroded-by-high-super-fund-fees-ng-b88852931z

  26. Longest trip for me.
    Stuttgart to Frankfurt to Anchorage to Tokyo (7.5 hours at Narita during which time I experienced a good sized earthquake) to Sydney to Adelaide.
    38 hours.

  27. Barney in Go Dau @ #581 Saturday, June 2nd, 2018 – 8:33 am

    lizzie @ #580 Saturday, June 2nd, 2018 – 5:30 am

    This should be investigated by Fact Check.

    Sky News Australia‏Verified account @SkyNewsAust

    .@JoshFrydenberg says the science of climate change being a real threat drives government policy.

    ‘I continually will advocate for the most rigorous method of scientific conclusions.’

    WTF does that even mean?

    I sink I can help you out vit this probem.

    Becuz ze subornment hez no plicy, ve vill say dat science is prolem becuz nobuddy unnerstans it unlez a pretty importans perzon explane it for dem.

    Zen ve follow up wiz nize annownzmen tellink pipple to pay attenzon a climat change is thret to guvmint.

    Prettty dam zoon all vell nown jurnalixt follow up mit zimilar tork and then becuz commin on vinter and gett pretty dam cold no more talk of climat chenge.

    Zo you zee, all hokay long as nobody zitting in Parlamon becuz vinter time.

    Hez yew got zat ❓
    Excuz pls speelink strait talk second, maybe third lengwidge.

    Ple vot is dis rigelesmouse pliz.

    Pls zend money hep vit finanz for trip valking backwards to chrismas.

    Bluddy cole newcassel. Hep pls zend firwud.

  28. KayJay @ #597 Saturday, June 2nd, 2018 – 5:55 am

    I sink I can help you out vit this probem.

    Becuz ze subornment hez no plicy, ve vill say dat science is prolem becuz nobuddy unnerstans it unlez a pretty importans perzon explane it for dem.

    Zen ve follow up wiz nize annownzmen tellink pipple to pay attenzon a climat change is thret to guvmint.

    Prettty dam zoon all vell nown jurnalixt follow up mit zimilar tork and then becuz commin on vinter and gett pretty dam cold no more talk of climat chenge.

    Zo you zee, all hokay long as nobody zitting in Parlamon becuz vinter time.

    Hez yew got zat ❓
    Excuz pls speelink strait talk second, maybe third lengwidge.

    Ple vot is dis rigelesmouse pliz.

    Pls zend money hep vit finanz for trip valking backwards to chrismas.

    Bluddy cole newcassel. Hep pls zend firwud.

    Sounds like a Nigerian Nazi scam to me!!! 🙂

  29. Scott Pruitt’s ridiculously OTT spending at taxyaper expense continues. Why a public servant would require a custom-made fountain pen let alone 12 of them is beyond me!

    The account manager at the Tiny Jewel Box, which calls itself Washington’s “premier destination for fine jewelry and watches,” had promised to expedite the order of a dozen customized silver fountain pens — each emblazoned with the seal of the Environmental Protection Agency and the signature of its leader, Scott Pruitt.

    Now all that the EPA staff member working with the store needed was for a top Pruitt aide to sign off on the $3,230 order, which also included personalized journals.

    “The cost of the Qty. 12 Fountain Pens will be around $1,560.00,” the staffer emailed Aug. 14 to Millan Hupp, Pruitt’s head of scheduling and advance and a trusted confidante dating to his Oklahoma days. “All the other items total cost is around $1,670.00 which these items are in process. Please advise.”

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2018/06/01/epas-pruitt-spent-1560-on-12-customized-fountain-pens-from-washington-jewelry-store/?utm_term=.cbed81bdc76b

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