BludgerTrack: 54.3-45.7 to Labor

Nothing much doing on the poll aggregate, but two ReachTEL seat polls provide further evidence of the Coalition’s low ebb in Victoria.

The BludgerTrack poll aggregate shifts negligibly in favour of the Coalition, who have picked up one on the seat aggregate in South Australia. I won’t be bothering with the leadership ratings until the new year recess, as some fairly heavy reupholstering is required to integrate Scott Morrison’s data into the code.

Two ReachTEL electorate polls have lately emerged from Victoria, recording swings approaching or exceeding double digits against the Liberals – with the caveat that both appear to have identified the names of the parties rather than the candidates.

• In Corangamite, held for the Liberals by Sarah Henderson on a post-redistribution margin of exactly nothing, a poll for the Geelong Advertiser gives Labor what I calculate to be a lead of 59-41, based on 2016 election preferences. The Advertiser’s report has it at 52.1-47.9, but this credits Labor with no preferences whatsoever from “other/independent”, when they in fact scored slightly over half of them in 2016. After excluding the 4.6% undecided from the poll, the primary votes are Labor 42.8%, Liberal 33.7% and Greens 11.7%. I don’t know exactly when the poll was conducted, but the sample was 856.

• The Herald Sun reported last week that a poll for the CFMEU found Kelly O’Dwyer, who holds Higgins on a post-redistribution margin of 10.3%, trailing Labor by 53-47. Primary votes of Liberal 38.6%, Labor 32.5% and Greens 18.8% are provided, which I presume does not exclude an undecided component.

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.

2,199 comments on “BludgerTrack: 54.3-45.7 to Labor”

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  2. Morning all. The seat polls are interesting. If the Victorian state swing translates to Federal seats then the Libs will lose government in the first hour of counting. Good.

    Because yesterday in parliament was a disgrace. The Libs only put forward the “security” bills in hope of a scare campaign against Labor. I understand the tactics, but wish Labor had called their bluff. People are starting to see through ten years of shouting “boo” at boats. Delaying the vote on Phelp’s bill to avoid defeat was pure cowardice by ScumMo. He know it will pass and he will be defeated in February.

  3. Good Morning Bludgers 🙂

    Has Scott Morrison and his government MPs been out this morning trying to scare the living daylights out of the populace because Labor didn’t pass their attempted wedge?

    No?

    Mission Accomplished.

  4. Will the Medical Transfer Bill be passed in February when parliament resumes and Morrison will thus suffer the first defeat on the floor of the HOR for a government since 1929?

    Yes?

    Mission Accomplished for Labor.

  5. Apart from the satire, this article highlights that Melbourne’s trams, as well as its trains, are bursting at the seams. Andrews should borrow a Greens policy to upgrade the trams to a light rail standard with segregated track, signal priority, and more, bigger trams. The parking can be replaced by a few off street facilities for a modest cost. Succeed where Sydney has failed.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/07/i-was-told-off-for-wearing-a-backpack-on-a-tram-had-i-missed-the-memo-of-the-latest-no-no

  6. Cat
    Is Labor in a position to sound out a cross bencher to be House speaker now? It might stop the more cynical tactics.

    Have a good day all.

  8. Hello all

    Boerwar mentioned a fascinating YouGov article at the end of the old thread, this done using their fancy-dan constituency level modelling (that predicted a hung parliament on the eve of the 2017 snap election you may recall)

    Straight up question

    46% – Remain
    27% – Brexit with the TMay Deal
    27% – Brexit with No Deal

    Using Condorcet to test head to heads

    50% – Remain
    50% – Brexit with TMay Deal

    52% – Remain
    48% – Brexit with No Deal

    65% – Brexit with TMay Deal
    35% – Brexit No Deal

    For myself, I am

    a. Amazed there is still so much support for Brexit
    b. Not at all convinced a second referendum would reverse the first .. in fact factoring a campaign that would appeal to Nationalistic tendencies I’d make a confirmatory result the warm favourite

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2018/12/06/mays-brexit-deal-leads-just-two-constituencies-it-

    EDIT – to add, the model is excluding 12% Dont Knows

  9. This seems to be a fair summary of yesterday.

    Scott Morrison has avoided a humiliating defeat on refugees by shutting down Parliament early, but won a Labor backdown over encryption laws to target terrorists.

    In the last parliamentary sitting day of 2018, the Prime Minister emerged from the wreckage of a chaotic day in Parliament with his terrorism laws secured and with Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton saved from referral to the High Court over constitutional concerns.

    That’s likely to leave Mr Dutton in the clear for the election, because any referral in February will be too late for the High Court to resolve before the election.

    The PM also ended the week delaying reforms to protect gay children from discrimination in schools.

    We can all be thankful that Dutton is safe!!!

    https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2018/12/06/delaying-tactics-scott-morrison-encryption/

  10. Morrison had hoped to emerge by close of business minus the humiliating defeat and plus a political fight with Labor on national security.

    That was the precise plot twist sought.

    A national security fight is a handy fight to have, when fights are all that’s left, when your only pitch is that your opponent is a brigand.

    But Bill Shorten knows the fight he’s in, and can see the finish line before him, near and yet so far.

    Getting to that finish line trumps everything. On Thursday night, it trumped face saving. It trumped dignity.

    After going toe-to-toe with Morrison all day, Shorten waited until after the television news bulletins, then promptly surrendered unconditionally on national security, waving through the encryption laws he’d earlier demanded be amended.

    The alternative to abject surrender was giving Morrison some political grip, and as close observers of the human condition know – the grip of a drowning man can be lethal.

    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/dec/06/morrison-may-not-have-lost-the-vote-but-his-prime-ministerial-authority-is-waning

  11. I am the resident pessimist. Unlike Catmomma, I’m sure something will happen between now and February that will shift a vote. And even if it doesn’t, the prime minister would rather cause a constitutional crisis by neither counselling its approval nor a dissolution. And the media, including the Guardian, will lie and say they’re right to do it. The NSW and federal election campaigns have to overlap. But if good trustworthy democracy demands it, good trustworthy democracy demands it.

  12. Socrates @ #6 Friday, December 7th, 2018 – 7:38 am

    Cat
    Is Labor in a position to sound out a cross bencher to be House speaker now? It might stop the more cynical tactics.

    Have a good day all.

    No, I don’t think so, Soc. If you mean from the defeat on the floor of parliament until a federal election, that is. I imagine that Morrison would do the same to shore up his numbers, yank Tony Smith off the Speakers Chair, replace him with Bob Katter for a couple of months and wear the humiliation but not be defeated on the floor.

  13. Felix @ #11 Friday, December 7th, 2018 – 4:55 am

    I am the resident pessimist. Unlike Catmomma, I’m sure something will happen between now and February that will shift a vote. And even if it doesn’t, the prime minister would rather cause a constitutional crisis by neither counselling its approval nor a dissolution. And the media, including the Guardian, will lie and say they’re right to do it. The NSW and federal election campaigns have to overlap. But if good trustworthy democracy demands it, good trustworthy democracy demands it.

    You can bet your bottom dollar the “brains” trust of the LNP will be work-shopping all sorts of scenarios where they can avoid the humiliation of losing a vote on the floor of the house. For that reason your pessimism is justified.

    Optimism can be justified by the fact that the current band of baboons couldn’t organise a root in a brothel if they all had gold plated cocks. As such whatever they have planned will blow up in their faces.

    Given the above, I’m leaning towards optimism.

  16. We knew this would happen.

    The Coalition has stacked the Fair Work Commission with six new deputy presidents from employer backgrounds, despite advice from tribunal president Iain Ross the commission required only one additional appointment to replace a forthcoming retirement.

    …Jobs and Industrial Relations Minister Kelly O’Dwyer has appointed deputies from workplace backgrounds at groups such as the Australian Mines and Metals Association, and the National Electrical and Contractors Association, meaning that the workplace umpire now contains a majority of Coalition-backed employer-linked appointees.

    From The Oz.

  17. Morning all

    I skimmed over yesterday’s posts. Lots of frantic over the top contributions! Lol.
    I’m inclined to go with this.
    Pragmatism wins the day
    Oh and I saw channel nine news last night.
    It was not a breathless report by any stretch of the imagination. More like “meh”.

    ______
    Conversation
    P E Horsnell
    P E Horsnell
    @leipard
    I think Laura Tingle has the best explanation why Labor passed the encryption bill, to stop Libs blaming them if there is a terrorist attack over Christmas, so really Labor has had a win, because the government hasn’t got a wedge to use on them now, can always be amended later

  19. lizzie @ #16 Friday, December 7th, 2018 – 5:15 am

    We knew this would happen.

    The Coalition has stacked the Fair Work Commission with six new deputy presidents from employer backgrounds, despite advice from tribunal president Iain Ross the commission required only one additional appointment to replace a forthcoming retirement.

    …Jobs and Industrial Relations Minister Kelly O’Dwyer has appointed deputies from workplace backgrounds at groups such as the Australian Mines and Metals Association, and the National Electrical and Contractors Association, meaning that the workplace umpire now contains a majority of Coalition-backed employer-linked appointees.

    From The Oz.

    One of the first things Labor should do when it gets into government is have a massive purge of all the Liberal/IPA stooges appointed by this mob. There’s no point in being nice about it, the other mob certainly wouldn’t be. It will also stymie any attempts these stooges would have to derail Labor’s agenda.

    First cab off the the rank, the ABC.

  20. And a shout out to Observer.

    Hope you stick around to continue your observations re the economy.
    I appreciate your insights
    I don’t have a good understanding of the money markets etc.
    Save to say I feel there may be another crisis looming like 2008.
    Not next year but perhaps 2020.

  21. Dan G

    a massive purge of all the Liberal/IPA stooges appointed by this mob. There’s no point in being nice about it, the other mob certainly wouldn’t be.

    I agree.

  22. Good Morning all.

    I am now a Green voter as Labor has betrayed its social progressive left base on human rights.

    Privacy is a fundamental human right recognized in the UN Declaration of Human Rights, the International Convenant on Civil and Political Rights and in many other international and regional treaties. Privacy underpins human dignity and other key values such as freedom of association and freedom of speech.
    Privacy and Human Rights – Overview

  24. Victoria @ #20 Friday, December 7th, 2018 – 5:30 am

    Save to say I feel there may be another crisis looming like 2008.
    Not next year but perhaps 2020.

    I’m getting similar intel from some sources who know what they’re talking about. These aren’t the talking heads on TV and radio but people who are actual money managers.

    The current volatility is just a natural part of any business cycle, ie no real need for panic. After every boom there’s a pause before it heads upwards again. Following this there’ll be another upward surge and then we’re in for “the mother of all meltdowns”. As you say, this will probably happen late next year or in 2020.

    The reason – the faults in the system that caused 2008 have never been fixed, just papered over.

  25. Zoomster

    The Greens have many problems. However they have stood up for the unions right to associate and message each other with end to end encryption using such things as WhatsApp.

    John Setka and Sally McManus are going to be so happy Dutton can now legally monitor their phones

  26. The simple takeout from yesterday is that Morrison wanted to play the hero on National Security, and conversely portray Shorten as a Friend Of The Terrorists.

    Shorten has given Morrison only the difficult half of what he wanted. It’s Morrison now who wears responsibility for any terror attacks over the holiday period. Shorten has no responsibility at all, no matter what happens.

    If that’s not a good place to be in for Shorten, I don’t know what is.

    And it’s all ScoMo’s bright idea. He owns it 100%.

    Drama Queens here, imagining that their subversive anti-government activities will now be intercepted by goose-stepping Nazi thugs because encryption is a thing of the past, really need to get out in the fresh air.

  27. guytaur

    You always were a Green supporter. That’s your right.

    But if privacy is your concern, we have already lost to the demands of the digital age, where we have to ‘prove’ who we are with every phone call or contact with a govt dept. or a bank.

  28. BB

    Yes the Software Alliance are such Drama Queens.

    Read their submission.

    Listen to the experts in the field not the stupid law enforcement types that don’t understand the technology and have set up their police state.

  30. BB

    I took this seriously

    “It is simply implausible that Peter Dutton could have in such a short timeframe given due consideration to the widespread concerns when dealing with encryption that raised by industry and other stakeholders,” the group of Labor MPs said in their statement. “Instead, the government appears to have taken a tick and flick approach to an incredibly complicated bill, with potentially far-reaching consequence for the privacy and digital security of all Australians.”

    https://www.computerworld.com.au/article/647056/alarm-over-government-encryption-bill-rush/

  31. Dammit! William gazzumped me. I posted the Dawn Patrol at the same time as he set u this new thread and I immediately went over to water the oval and cut the surrounding grass for an hour and a half before our 38 degree day gets wound up. Anyway, here it is.

    Good morning Dawn Patrollers.

    David Crowe says every moment in that sorry day yesterday revealed the government’s precarious hold on Parliament.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/every-moment-in-this-sorry-day-revealed-the-government-s-precarious-hold-on-parliament-20181206-p50kop.html
    David Wroe writes that the Morrison government has politicised encryption, all but daring Labor to look weak on national security. Labor has wriggled and tacked so many times it has been hard to keep track of where they stand. He describes yesterday’s events as a damning indictment on both sides.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/breakdown-on-national-security-a-damning-indictment-of-both-sides-20181206-p50klx.html
    Katharine Murphy reckons Morrison may not have lost the vote, but his prime ministerial authority is waning.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/dec/06/morrison-may-not-have-lost-the-vote-but-his-prime-ministerial-authority-is-waning
    More from Murphy as she says Australia’s power companies have hit the roof over a last-minute inclusion in the Morrison government’s controversial energy package handing the Australian Energy Regulator power to regulate power prices, without judicial review.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/dec/06/power-companies-blast-morrisons-move-to-hand-regulator-power-to-set-prices
    Parliament entered a reverse universe in Question Time yesterday. Everything was the wrong way around writes John Passant.
    https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/press-gallery-sketch-the-big-stick-question-time,12176
    Michelle Grattan thinks the government is all over the place. She says that In the topsy turvy Liberal universe, just when the right is trying to tighten its grip on the throat of the party, the government is haring off to the left, with this week’s legislation to allow it to break up recalcitrant energy companies.
    https://theconversation.com/grattan-on-friday-hokey-pokey-politics-as-the-government-is-shaken-all-about-108364
    Jacqui Maley describes it as a day of high farce ending on a low note.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/day-of-high-farce-ends-on-a-low-note-20181206-p50kpg.html
    Michael Koziol looks behind the refugee bill that plunged the Parliament into chaos yesterday.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/lost-in-stagnation-behind-the-refugee-bill-that-plunged-the-parliament-into-chaos-20181206-p50koo.html
    Simon Benson says Bill Shorten has softened Labor’s border-protection policy ahead of the party’s national conference.
    https://outline.com/aEzHJK
    Phil Coorey tells us why there will be no come-from-behind miracle for Scott Morrison.
    https://outline.com/C9pDVa
    The SMH editorial says that these new encryption powers need careful scrutiny.
    https://www.smh.com.au/technology/encryption-powers-need-careful-scrutiny-20181206-p50kll.html
    Michael Pascoe writes that There’s a golden opportunity for the Business Council of Australia to re-establish some economic credibility and fill the federal leadership vacuum. It can do so with a simple measure that would benefit the nation, BCA members and even the federal government heading into the May election.
    https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2018/12/06/business-council-wage-rises/
    Scott Ludlam writes that national security is a government strength – so Labor will let them be reckless with it.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/06/national-security-is-a-government-strength-so-labor-will-let-them-be-reckless-with-it
    Waleed Aly sys that it’s no wonder we no longer trust our institutions.
    https://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/it-s-no-wonder-we-no-longer-trust-our-institutions-20181206-p50kk9.html
    David Estcourt and Nicole Precel ask whether or not the Liberals avoid an epic defeat.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/un-stable-ground-can-the-liberals-avoid-an-epic-defeat-20181206-p50kj2.html
    Jennifer Hewett says no expressions of goodwill Christmas sentiment could hide the vicious political party games ending the parliamentary year.
    https://outline.com/ALpG2c
    Never mind de-encryption. The Australian Border Force is quietly slashing staff numbers at airports over the busy Christmas period and is believed to have suspended a fleet of boats supposed to protect the nation’s northern waters, in cost-cutting moves that insiders say threaten national security.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/leaks-show-border-force-slashing-airport-staff-at-christmas-as-budget-cuts-bite-20181206-p50km9.html
    Professor Patrick Mullins writes that when it comes to politics Australia is living through a decade of locums.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/in-the-land-of-locum-pms-be-careful-how-you-fortify-them-20181206-p50khz.html
    Michael Galvin breaks down some of the reasons behind the Liberal Party’s loss at the Victorian election according to electorates.
    https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/the-victorian-election-the-middle-class-and-the-liberal-party,12175
    The AFR explains the Morrison government’s ‘big stick’ energy bill.
    https://outline.com/LFr4qB
    The Morrison government has appointed six new deputy presidents with employer backgrounds to the Fair Work Commission, ­ignoring a recom­mendation by tribunal president Iain Ross and sparking Labor and union claims it has stacked the workplace umpire ahead of the federal election.
    https://www.outline.com/NFZLvM
    This is a bit of a worry. Doug Dingwall tells us that the Defence Department doesn’t know how much it will cost to maintain its new multibillion dollar fleet of warplanes as officials wait for United States-based support to become ready.
    https://www.canberratimes.com.au/politics/federal/defence-doesn-t-know-cost-of-maintaining-new-f-35-fighter-jets-20181205-p50keq.html
    Professor Justin O’Brien explains why the whole world is watching to see what Commissioner Kenneth Hayne does next.
    https://outline.com/g9BAMz
    Banks and other big companies would face unprecedented fines of billions of dollars rather than a capped $210 million for civil offences, under changes that Labor wants to make to a federal bill.
    https://outline.com/XU8Jtj
    Jacob Saulwick reports that the Cloud Arch, the wisp of inspiration to have framed Sydney’s George Street pedestrian and light rail boulevard, is for the chop: a victim of cost over-runs and the bogged-down process of building the tram line.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/sydney-s-22m-cloud-arch-sculpture-another-victim-of-light-rail-delays-20181206-p50kpu.html
    The Morrison Government has piked out and closed the Lower House to avoid tackling Nauru. An important whistleblower bill will now be pushed back to February 2019.
    https://www.michaelwest.com.au/australias-whistleblower-laws-in-the-balance-as-parliamentary-deadline-looms/
    Controversial Chinese telco Huawei has been hit with a double blow after its chief financial officer – the company founder’s daughter – was arrested on United States criminal charges and a major UK telco vowed to rip its equipment out of its telephone networks.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/double-blow-for-huawei-as-senior-executive-arrested-20181206-p50kjq.html
    John McDuling writes that it looks like the Gillard government got it right when it barred Hauwei from supplying equipment for Australia’s multi-billion dollar national broadband network in 2012.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/australia-no-longer-isolated-as-five-eyes-turn-on-huawei-20181206-p50kk1.html
    US stocks extended an across-the-board rout, with the Dow suffering deep losses triggered by signs that a prospective US-China trade deal was in jeopardy.
    https://outline.com/Gguxts
    Stephen Koukoulas advises us to not fall for the spin – Scott Morrison’s budget surplus is no certainty.
    https://thekouk.com/item/655-don-t-fall-for-the-spin-scott-morrison-s-budget-surplus-is-no-certainty.html
    Western Sydney is thriving, but it bears burden of domestic violence.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/western-sydney-is-thriving-but-it-bears-burden-of-domestic-violence-20181206-p50km0.html
    Richard Baker reports that a blockbuster inquiry into a West Australian Aboriginal charitable trust responsible for handling millions of dollars in mining royalties has prompted legislative reforms that could have national implications.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/self-confessed-hard-arsed-businessman-barred-from-aboriginal-trusts-20181206-p50kkk.html
    Speaking at a clean energy conference, Malcolm Turnbull told his audience everything they wanted to hear, which turned out to be classic political misdirection, writes Giles Parkinson.
    https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/is-malcolm-turnbull-truly-a-champion-for-clean-energy,12172
    Australia would have to reduce electricity sector emissions by 60 to 70 per cent in order to meet the Paris targets, a leading climate scientist says.
    https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2018/12/06/australia-failing-its-paris-pledge-climate-expert/
    Richo writes that the big exposure in Victoria is not the usual corrupt cop story.
    https://outline.com/zTV6HJ
    The encounter at George H W Bush’s funeral was a real-time illustration of the uneasy ties between the current occupant of the White House and his predecessors, suggesting Trump as a member-in-name-only of the Oval Office fraternity.
    https://outline.com/PHctXB
    Lawrence Douglas explains how Republicans are staging mini-coups across the US.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/06/republicans-are-staging-mini-coups-across-the-us
    Woolworths has denied dispatching a squad of online trolls to howl down users who post complaints on the company’s Facebook page. An investigation by The New Daily found more than 50 instances in the past two months where Woolworths customers were targeted by the same group of four users after making negative complaints about the supermarket giant.
    https://thenewdaily.com.au/money/consumer/2018/12/06/woolworths-social-media/
    The UK is suspending its investor visas for the rich, closing a route to permanent residence and British citizenship that’s popular with Russian oligarchs and wealthy Chinese.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/uk-suspends-visa-program-for-super-rich-in-crime-crackdown-20181207-p50krl.html
    Where does the stench end? Now it’s revealed that a Saudi-backed lobbyist paid for 500 rooms at Trump hotel just after the 2016 election.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/saudi-backed-lobbyist-paid-for-500-rooms-at-trump-hotel-just-after-2016-election-20181207-p50kri.html
    Mattew Dunckley reports that the Reserve Bank of Australia deputy governor Guy Debelle has warned that the Australian banking industry’s habit of acting as a pack could exacerbate the housing slowdown.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/banks-pack-behaviour-could-drive-housing-lower-rba-20181206-p50ki9.html
    Joanne McCarty dispassionately reports on the dismissal of Archbishop Philip Wilson’s conviction. She would have found it hard.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/catholic-church-has-a-lot-to-answer-for-philip-wilson-s-conviction-overturned-20181206-p50kqg.html
    At last! The number of children in Australia with full immunisation coverage has spiked, hitting a record high, according to new data.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/immunisation-coverage-rates-children-record-high-20181205-p50k95.html
    Lucy McCormack tells us about the fresh set of eyes that investigated the alleged murder of Lynette Dawson.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/the-fresh-set-of-eyes-that-investigated-the-alleged-murder-of-lynette-dawson-20181206-p50kqe.html
    Kate Aubusson reports that now the head of anaesthetics at Northern Beaches Hospital (NBH) has resigned after clashes between hospital operator Healthscope and anaesthetists who raised serious concerns about systemic failures that risked compromising patient care. Where’s it going to end?
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/northern-beaches-hospital-nbh-anaesthetics-director-20181206-p50kjp.html
    Despite the obvious disappointment of the Morrison Government, the nation can build an energy network reliant on renewables, while lowering prices. Martin Zavan explains.
    https://newmatilda.com/2018/12/06/cheap-power-whole-lot-energy-whole-lot-nothing/
    When will the AFL give up tampering with the rules of the game?
    https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/afl-tightens-new-six-six-six-rule-with-a-50m-penalty-20181206-p50kqp.html
    According to Matt Cleary Fox edged Seven as Test cricket on Australian TV enters brave new era.
    https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/dec/07/fox-edges-seven-as-test-cricket-on-australian-tv-enters-brave-new-era
    Pig hearts could soon be tested in humans after scientists passed an important milestone by keeping primates alive for three months after transplanting the organs. Surgeons in Germany grafted pig hearts into five baboons and kept four of the animals alive for at least 90 days, with one still in good health for more than six months.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/pig-to-human-heart-transplant-more-likely-after-baboon-success-20181206-p50klp.html
    And for today’s nomination for “Arsehole of the Week” we have a 70 year old.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria/butcher-70-faces-cooler-after-medallion-club-brawl-over-great-niece-20181206-p50kpf.html

    Cartoon Corner

    David Rowe’s been using ghosts quite a bit lately.

    Mark David loves to depict Morrison as a coal-loving cleric.

    Glen Le Lievre thinks things may have gone a bit far.

    David Pope takes the government onto summer recess.
    https://static.ffx.io/images/$width_828/t_resize_width/t_sharpen%2Cq_auto%2Cf_auto/17ade77eaaf1e81dfffc8f07de60a58c910b8033
    Jon Kudelka on Shorten’s gift to Morrison.
    https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/d22949dc1481279ff632a43e9f81b2f9
    More in here.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/best-of-fairfax-cartoons-december-7-2018-20181206-h18tug.html

  32. C@tmomma @ #4 Friday, December 7th, 2018 – 6:34 am

    Will the Medical Transfer Bill be passed in February when parliament resumes and Morrison will thus suffer the first defeat on the floor of the HOR for a government since 1929?

    Yes?

    Mission Accomplished for Labor.

    In the meantime Xcummo is portraying it as Labor allowing in illegals.

  34. No-one is listening to shouter Morrison any more. Except the writers in The Australian.

    The public turned off weeks or months ago and are just waiting for the election to get rid of him and his cohorts.

  35. Victoria @ #20 Friday, December 7th, 2018 – 8:30 am

    And a shout out to Observer.

    Hope you stick around to continue your observations re the economy.
    I appreciate your insights
    I don’t have a good understanding of the money markets etc.
    Save to say I feel there may be another crisis looming like 2008.
    Not next year but perhaps 2020.

    Pleases add my support as well. I don’t pretend to have any deep understanding but your posts are extremely interesting. 🙏

  36. In a seven-page letter to the Australian government, Apple criticized the country’s proposed Access and Assistance Bill 2018. Apple claims, among other complaints, that the legislation raises cybersecurity concerns and give the state power to abuse users’ privacy.

    Apple stated, “We encourage the government to stand by their stated intention not to weaken encryption or compel providers to build systemic weaknesses into their products.” Apple explained its grievances with the bill over six bullet points:

    Overly broad powers that could weaken cybersecurity and encryption
    A lack of appropriate independent judicial oversight
    Technical requirements based only on the government’s subjective view of reasonableness and practicability
    Unprecedented interception requirements
    Unnecessarily stifling secrecy mandates
    Extraterritoriality and global impact

    https://www.engadget.com/2018/10/12/apple-australian-encryption/

  37. John Setka and Sally McManus are going to be so happy Dutton can now legally monitor their phones

    Why , are you saying they are terrorists or paedophiles ?
    Or did you just read a tweet that said this ?

  38. Rocket Rocket
    I just received the detailed fire weather report and for the Adelaide Hills the danger rating is Very High for today as opposed to yesterday’s Severe.

  39. VP

    How long have you been on board the call anyone that call out the bad legislation a peadophile or terrorist that the government uses to wedge Labor?

  40. Dan G

    I havent had any intel from anyone as yet.
    I am just observing patterns.
    And as you state, the issues of 2008 were never dealt with effectively.

  44. guytaur says:
    Friday, December 7, 2018 at 8:39 am
    Good Morning all.

    I am now a Green voter

    Ho hum. You campaign for them all the time. You might at least also vote for them too. Go ahead, vote for the Tories in mufti.

  45. BK

    Thanks for your sterling work and all the best for today’s weather.
    Here in Melbourne we had 28 degrees over night. Cray cray

  47. Victoria

    You forget I decided to vote for Labor when Linda Burney became my local member. I then moved and Tanya Plibersek is now my local member.

    Now Labor won’t be getting my primary vote. I am doing exactly the same as Greg Jericho so its not like I am some out there loon with no reason as some would like to portray.

    Briefly

    No. I just fact checked you myth making
    I did not defend the Greens and there is a difference.

  48. Bushfire Bill @ #26 Friday, December 7th, 2018 – 5:48 am

    Drama Queens here, imagining that their subversive anti-government activities will now be intercepted by goose-stepping Nazi thugs because encryption is a thing of the past, really need to get out in the fresh air.

    My concern is not with an over-reaching government invading my privacy, although someone like Peter Dutton should never be allowed to be in charge of it. Someone, somewhere is bound to abuse the power as happens with every other area. We just need to ensure that there are enough safeguards built into the legislation to limit the ability for it to be abused.

    As for encryption apps, I’m not even remotely concerned about them becoming useless as I don’t use any of them anyway. The mobile phone I use is a 3G model and doesn’t even have internet capability. Apparently it allows text messages to be sent, but I’ve never used that capability. In fact the principal function of my phone is that of an alarm clock that I can use to make occasional phone calls with.

    My concern is with security, especially online banking and financial transactions. All of that relies on encrypted data as well. If a backdoor is inbuilt into the technology behind that, we could be in for a whole mess of trouble.

    As for terrorism, it will be as much use as CCTV is in preventing a terrorist attack, that is to say utterly useless. It will be helpful in investigations after the fact, but no use at all in preventing them. As I said yesterday the real hard core terrorist are not stupid people. They will find a way of getting around it if they haven’t already. As for the “lone wolves”, there is nothing that can stop them anyway.

    Terrorism is something I refuse to be afraid of. If you succumb to fear, they win. That’s the actual definition of terrorism to begin with – to create widespread fear and panic. Fuck ’em I say. As Braveheart proclaimed, “They may take mah life but they cannae take mah freedom”.

    As for paedophiles, I can see the value in it there. Although once again it will only nab the low hanging fruit. The kingpins behind it are not stupid people either. They’ll figure out a way around it, if they haven’t already.

  49. C@tmomma @ #12 Friday, December 7th, 2018 – 7:56 am

    Socrates @ #6 Friday, December 7th, 2018 – 7:38 am

    Cat
    Is Labor in a position to sound out a cross bencher to be House speaker now? It might stop the more cynical tactics.

    Have a good day all.

    No, I don’t think so, Soc. If you mean from the defeat on the floor of parliament until a federal election, that is. I imagine that Morrison would do the same to shore up his numbers, yank Tony Smith off the Speakers Chair, replace him with Bob Katter for a couple of months and wear the humiliation but not be defeated on the floor.

    Hinch would crave a position of prestige like this…

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