The Australian reports the first Newspoll of the year has Labor leading 53-47, compared with 55-45 in the final poll of last year. On the primary vote, the Coalition is up two to 37%, Labor is down three to 38%, the Greens are steady on 9% and One Nation are down one to 6%. Scott Morrison leads 43-36 on preferred prime minister, down from 44-36, and is down two on approval to 40% and up two on disapproval to 47%. Bill Shorten’s net rating is reported at minus 13%, compared with minus 15% in the last poll – we will have to wait for later to see his exact approval and disapproval ratings. The poll was conducted Thursday to Sunday from a sample of 1634.
UPDATE: Shorten is up a point on approval to 37% and down one on disapproval to 50%.
sprocket_ @ #1593 Thursday, January 31st, 2019 – 9:58 am
At least Abbott had people sitting next to him,
poor Scotty doesn’t know who’s going to be around. 😆
Kitchen Politics:
When UK Labor leader Ed Miliband posed in his ordinary looking kitchen for this photo it was only half the story. It turns out this was the ‘small kitchen’ in the mansion which a friend confirmed was only used for ‘snacks and tea’. Guess he didn’t want to be photographed in the gourmet kitchen with all the luxury appliances and 100k oven!
“That’s the problem. People always find a way to take advantage.
Dammit, now I know why I’m not a millionaire. I’m not cunning enough. ”
yes Lizzie, but the cunning stunts pulled by Howard and Costello for their stunning …. mates were to make it easier and more attractive for the wealthy to avoid tax – labor was able to close some those around super that allowed those approaching retirement to live off savings and put all/most income into super at 15% tax (who other than the wealthy did this loophole benefit?!) – but the discount on capital gains and negative gearing has fed the property boom and cost the government billions in revenue. labor just needs to keep saying “we are repairing the tax system and fixing holes the LNP deliberately created to benefit the well off at the cost of average earners”. They are being much more gentle about it than I would be – I’d close or limit tax loopholes to stop the cunning stunts completely. If needed, Labor should announce some investment in housing and first home buyer grants to make the building and property markets less nervous.
Zoidlord @ #1598 Thursday, January 31st, 2019 – 10:07 am
Aren’t all existing classrooms and infrastructure ageing?
Pointless statement without saying how this is a problem. 😆
zoomster @ #969 Thursday, January 31st, 2019 – 1:22 pm
I’d actually favour Labor in the 3 way for Flinders.
But, given the amount of self-funded retirees in the electorate, the franking credit issue is a huge factor.
Barney in Go Dau @ #1540 Thursday, January 31st, 2019 – 1:03 pm
Hi Barney,
On my recent three week holiday in Vietnam, my daughter and I did a lot of cycling around Hoi An, and in the delta, around Can Tho. Any time we passed children there was a constant chorus of ‘Helloooo’. We would call back ‘Chao em’, which we were told was appropriate for school kids.
We stayed in homestays, for the most part, and had a wonderful time.
More reporting of the Murray Darling RC findings here:
https://indaily.com.au/news/2019/01/31/marshall-govt-capitulated-to-commonwealth-upstream-states-on-murray-royal-commission/
This quote is damning of SA Environment minister Speirs:
“The South Australian Government’s agreement to changes to the socio-economic criteria for efficiency measures should not merely be described as ill-advised. It is nothing short of a capitulation to the interests of the current Commonwealth Government, and those of Victoria and New South Wales.”
He went on to argue the decision was “so contrary to the interests of South Australians that the decision by the Minister responsible [Speirs] is almost certainly a breach… of the South Australian Ministerial Code of Conduct, in that no Minister acting reasonably could consider these changes to the criteria to be anything but totally antipathetic to the interests of South Australia, and the South Australian environment”.
When will rural voters realise that the Liberal and National Parties have no interest in them unless they own shares in a coal mine?
Shorten’s refugee policy explained:
Does anybody else here notice that the LNP always use Arial fonts in their pamphlets in addition to the minimal wording (usually paired up in 3’s)?
Peter Stanton @ #1586 Thursday, January 31st, 2019 – 12:56 pm
Clearly Cat knows little about Paddington.
Last election
Lib -Evans – Publicly gay 45.5%
ALP – O,Neil – also publicly gay 23.6% (also military)
Green- Lovejoy – 28.1%
Another Democrat POTUS hopeful’s campaign is falling to bits:
https://www.palmerreport.com/analysis/tulsi-gabbard-chaotic-freefall/15604/
I’d love to see “weasel boy” Hunt (as he was widely known when environment minister), the minister for rhyming slang, get booted. He is scum of the earth- he understands climate science, did his thesis on carbon trading and pricing, and then lied and lied and lied about Australia’s greenhouse emissions and did abbott’s bidding in destroying action on climate. I saw him get corrected on his lies many times – he’d say “we’ll just have to agree to disagree” even when it was empirical data he’d been exposed lying about, and just keep repeating those lies. He’s a thoroughly vile and nasty piece of work – dishonest without any qualms to the point of being evil/amoral. He’s hated by friend and foe by all accounts.
His direct action plan is an expensive hoax – using tax revenue to pay people ‘credits’ to do what they were already planning to do or for dodgy “abatement” in most instances. A royal commission into direct action (and fossil fuel sector contributions to the LNP) would be a doozie.
Oh gee, 45.5% Primary to the Liberal candidate in Paddington and 28.1% to the Greens candidate. A shade under 75% of the electorate voting Liberal or Greens kind of tends to support my contention.
And, daretotread, I wouldn’t be crowing about having busted my chops if the Primary Vote for the Liberal was ALMOST 50%.
That doesn’t work unless he’s willing to name names. Who was “the authority in charge”? The LNP and/or one of its appointed stooges? He should say so.
FWIW
Pretty similar results in the two nearby Paddington both – ithaca and ithaca south, although ALP did a little better in both and the greens a little worse.
The seat of Brisbane is i think winnable by the greens but probably not Labor.
I say this becauw
1. the seat is gentrifying and the old ALP voters have died or moved
2. labor’s candidate is a military man byt also gay. However the gay vote such as it is will probably be captured by the LNP (apparently in gay heartland of the Valley, Evans is greatly loved) and i think that the military background of O’Neill is a bit offputting to those swinging between green/labor.
3. For whatever reason O’Neill has not captured the military vote – which I think is MORE RW than it was in Arch Bevis’s time
4. The local ALP will be stretched because they have TWO high profile campaigns nearby. So many in the area will be off supporting Ally King against Dutton, and also helping in Ryan where the loss of Prentice, a fairly nasty LNP person and an energetic and affable ALP candidate is suddenly putting Ryan on the radar.
Funny how all the ALP stooges cry about the ‘rich’ and ‘upper middle class’ but when you point out the ALP frontbenchers who went to elite private schools they suddenly don’t care about anyone’s background. 🙂
Re SS @2:26: “His direct action plan is an expensive hoax – using tax revenue to pay people ‘credits’ to do what they were already planning to do or for dodgy “abatement” in most instances. A royal commission into direct action (and fossil fuel sector contributions to the LNP) would be a doozie.”
And the thing is, Greg Hunt must have known Direct Action was crap. And yet it was the cornerstone of his career for 3 years. He doesn’t seem to be the sort of person who suffers from conscience or even cognitive dissonance. The sooner he’s booted off the stage the better.
And yes, a Royal Commission not just into Direct Inaction but the whole climate and energy mess. Turn over a few rocks and see what (and who) scurries away.
Sometimes you just have to call a spade a bloody useless piece of metal. 😆
From my reading of the stats it doesn’t seem likely the Greens can win Brisbane any time soon but I hope they do.
a r @ #1614 Thursday, January 31st, 2019 – 2:33 pm
He’s a lawyer, he won’t. 🙂
“Funny how all the ALP stooges cry about the ‘rich’ and ‘upper middle class’ but when you point out the ALP frontbenchers who went to elite private schools they suddenly don’t care about anyone’s background.”
Actually we’re mostly ALP and Green supporters here, some of us members,not “stooges”.
Be that as it may, I don’t mind people being rich. If they’ve made good through hard, honest work, run a business or been employed by one and made lots of money, good luck to them. I’ve worked hard and I’m enjoying a comfortable retirement.
But that’s the thing, people who are well off / rich don’t need concessions or subsidies not available to your average worker. They don’t need welfare. And they should pay their bloody tax!
Cat
I was not aware that you were commenting on a seminar.
Hm i am assuming it was something at the paddo tavern, because there is really not much else in paddington.
You are however wrong in a sense – it is not really retirement territory – mostly younger workers -professionals etc.
The audience will have been drawn from Milton probably and from the really posh areas of Brisbane – which is NOT Paddington. Hendra, Hamilton, Clayfield are where the real money is and in parts of Newfarm.
Nath offended “the much-loved Greensborough Growler”
I can’t work out what this is. Humour? Irony? Hyperbowl? Satire?
This complaint coming from one who gives far more abuse than she receives about a “much-loved” one who also gives far more than he receives.
Think it’s just theatre of the ridiculous.
Jaeger @ #14405 Thursday, January 31st, 2019 – 12:56 pm
Yep. Amputees with preexisting chronic regional pain syndromes (including some with painful carpal tunnel syndrome) have a much higher chance of subsequent phantom limb pain. Pain is in the brain: the CNS pathways that evolve with chronic pain persist after the limb is gone, and phantom limb pain is very hard to treat, since most conventional analgesics don’t work well. The most effective treatment is rehabilitation physiotherapy (often using mirrors) to exercise “the phantom limb” in an attempt to remodel the neural pathways that generate the pain. A lot of work has been done on this – look up the “rubber hand” studies if you’re interested.
A related, but much rarer and more curious syndrome is “alien limb”, where a localised lesion in the brain excises a sense of “ownership” of the limb. The motor and sensory connections are still there, but the patient feels like the limb is a foreign object attached to their body. I was peripherally involved with a patient in Newcastle who wanted to have his otherwise normal “alien” leg amputated because of it. Shades of the late great Oliver Sachs.
Arent we talking about Paddington in NSW (inner Sydney) ?
Its split between the seats of Wentworth (Turnbull/Phelps) and Sydney (Plibersek)
https://www.theland.com.au/story/5880458/murray-darling-basin-authority-acted-unlawfully/?cs=4951
“Clementine Ford has resigned as a columnist at Nine newspapers after she was cautioned by management for calling Scott Morrison a “f…ing disgrace” “
Her defence would be that she was stating facts.
Thanks Psyclaw, the ‘wonderful’ abortion hating GG had just decided to launch an attack upon a new contributor (I think), a certain Lovey, and I thought that the old Opus Dei wannabe was in need of a character assessment.
yabba @ #1605 Thursday, January 31st, 2019 – 10:18 am
Yep, your right the kids are different. 🙂
The “em” is used for anyone younger than you, although I like to use it on the women, especially the old grannies, it always brings a smile and giggles.
The Delta and Hoi An are perfect for cycling around, dead flat. I’ve done my share in those parts, it’s so beautiful and peaceful riding between the rice paddies watching the locals at work and play. 🙂
nath @ #1615 Thursday, January 31st, 2019 – 1:48 pm
Nath
The Greens did very well in 2010. The thing is that it is a three party race. Evans did extremely well and I am told by ALP activists in the area, that he has managed to get the gay community eating out of his hand. The gay community is very strong in Newfarm and the Valley and I guess Spring Hill.
Then you have the Liberal areas of Hendra, hamilton, Clayfield which are Brisbane’s Toorak. they will NEVER vote Labor, or indeed Green.
Then there are the areas of Greythorne, Enoggerra etc which are pretty ALP still and where they won the TPP.
As a very moderate LNP type it will be interesting to see how Evans goes.
IoM @ #1621 Thursday, January 31st, 2019 – 1:52 pm
No I think it is paddington Qld, where Tim Wilson was presumably doing a function on behalf of Evans.
Bret Walker SC has inimitable style:
[Acknowledgment of Traditional Owners & Aboriginal Nations of the Murray-Darling Basin
As the Commissioner, I acknowledge and pay respect to the Traditional Owners and Aboriginal Nations of the Murray-Darling Basin, including Elders past and present.
As Commissioner, I recognize the immeasurable history of Aboriginal people, and the past and continuing profound connexion of Traditional Owners with their customary lands and waters on all levels — cultural, social, economic, environmental and spiritual.
It is imperative that the cultural authority of Traditional Owners and Aboriginal Nations to speak and care for their Country is respected and listened to.
This example of Traditional Owner philosophy was shared with me:
Our Lands, Our Waters, Our People, All Living Things are connected. We implore people to respect our Ruwe (Country) as it was created in the Kaldowinyeri (the creation). We long for sparkling, clean waters, healthy land and people and all living things. We long for the Yarluwar-Ruwe (Sea Country) of our ancestors. Our vision is all people Caring, Sharing, Knowing and Respecting the lands, the waters and all living things. (Ngarrindjeri Nation Yarluwar-Ruwe Plan 2006: 5.)
The damage and depletion of the water resources, ecosystems and biodiversity of the Murray-Darling Basin since European colonisation, and the trauma and dislocation experienced by Aboriginal people, are part of the same story. The necessary work to protect and restore the river systems must go hand in hand with the necessary measures to include Traditional Owners centrally in decision-making about water planning and management.
I extend my sincere thanks to the representatives of Traditional Owner groups and Aboriginal Nations who gave generous assistance to my inquiry.]
DTT, so you think if there is a movement away from the LNP it will go to the Greens instead of Labor? Well in that case I suppose it’s possible.
false advertising, i can’t see anything about the Liberals commitment to far right neo-christian values of excluding anyone that’s different in his letter.
lizzie @ #1529 Thursday, January 31st, 2019 – 12:54 pm
“Clementine Ford has resigned as a columnist at Nine newspapers after she was cautioned by management for calling Scott Morrison a “f…ing disgrace” ”
I’d already noticed how quickly the former fairfax media had started to move to the right, as well as promote nine media/TV’ – e.g. no more reviews calling nine shows the steaming pile of shit that they are, but articles and reviews admitting ”guilty pleasure” or just outright hyping them.
I’m guessing any ‘journalist’ calling shorten or RDN a fucking disgrace will not be strongly cautioned.
Ford will be not be silenced by this – and will tip a bucket on nine media re: the culture shift.
LongMemory82
The clincher in the begging letter is his including the great leadership ‘team’ that has been their hallmark 🙂
.
.
A howling southerly just hit Jervis Bay, next stop Sydney!
‘connexion’ with an ‘x’!?!
I rarely visit ninefax these days. Ford and Birmingham were two reasons I still visited occasionally for their social commentary. Both write passionately and clearly, and Ford also bravely. I hope she finds a new home quickly. My brief internet search shows the attack on her has begun.
BH
On CTS,
If you have wasting there might only be a partial recovery and the surgeon shouldn’t do the surgery endoscopically. Should be done open, preferably with sedation and local anaesthetic. GA not needed. Should do it soon if wasting.
Lizzie
Thanks for reminding people that Barnaby was the relevant minister in charge of the MDB authority when this was going on. The authority itself was being criticised by Walker, and it was in the time of office of Abbott, Turnbull and ScumMo. Worth looking who Barnaby put in charge, and recalling previously publicised cases of some public servants acting with potential conflicts of interest.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/jul/26/barnaby-joyces-nominee-murray-darling-basin-authority-board
The damage control starts.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-31/banking-industry-bracing-for-27live-possibility27-royal-commi/10766012
nath says:
Thursday, January 31, 2019 at 2:38 pm
Funny how all the ALP stooges cry about the ‘rich’ and ‘upper middle class’ but when you point out the ALP frontbenchers who went to elite private schools they suddenly don’t care about anyone’s background.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
It’s not where you went to school but what what you are doing now, particularly for those who cannot afford a privileged education.
I am not particularly concerned about ALP leaders’ private education, nor would I be that concerned with Liberals’ education backgrounds, if the latter did something for those with fewer opportunities than themselves.
What has always got my goat, is when such privilege is reflected in the fact that they still have NFI about how other people live and are not even remotely curious to find out.
Maybe we shouldn’t go on so much about people’s rich private school backgrounds, but I think we should realise the context in which it is seen.
Good point.
PennyDoctor
@FPsych
And the government is borrowing money to pay for the dividends and negative gearing.
Control F Barnaby is fun. I like the bit where the SA minister suggested he leave the jurisdiction.
Whether Tony Burke is criticised significantly requires a closer reading. I am not sure if he was responsible for appointing an ex NSW ALP pollie cum lobbyist in Craig Knowles to the Chairman’s role. If he did, it is time to don the black cap.
SHP
“Maybe we shouldn’t go on so much about people’s rich private school backgrounds,”
I assume this was a decision made by their parents.
I guess nasty nath will never mention that the Federal Parliamentary Deputy Labor Leader, Tanya Plibersek, is sending her children to the local Public High School either.
Mueller closes the circle of Russian collusion on Trump – Opinion by Salon’s Lucian K. Truscott IV
The next indictment will tie together the Russians, WikiLeaks, and the top of the Trump campaign
Mueller has finally revealed the strategy he has been working on all along. He has finished indicting the people he has talked to, and now he’s turning to those he hasn’t.
You have the heart of the Trump-Russia investigation. The Russians, from Moscow, electronically steal the Democrat’s emails by copying them. They transmit the address where the emails are hidden to WikiLeaks in London. WikiLeaks takes the address of the stolen emails and transmits it to American media outlets. The Trump campaign uses the stolen emails to rob the United States of America of a free and fair election.
The next arrest and indictment you’re going to see from Mueller will be his biggest yet. One morning in the not too distant future, he’s going to sweep up everyone remaining who was associated with using the Democratic Party emails stolen by the Russians. Julian Assange will be indicted. So will Donald Trump Jr., Jared Kushner. Roger Stone will probably face a superseding indictment along with the others for defrauding the United States by conspiring with WikiLeaks and the Russian intelligence service, the GRU, to steal Democratic Party campaign documents and use them to interfere with the American presidential election of 2016, the same charge he made against the Russians
In the closing months of the campaign, Trump would stand on the stage at rally after rally and open his arms wide and yell out, “I love WikiLeaks!” Mueller is going to show the world that loving WikiLeaks was the equivalent of loving the Russian intelligence agents who stole the Democrats’ emails. That was a federal crime, and when this is all over, Donald Trump is going to wish he had loved WikiLeaks less and the rule of law more, because his love of WikiLeaks is very likely what will take him down.
MUCH MORE : https://www.salon.com/2019/01/30/mueller-closes-the-circle-of-russian-collusion-on-trump/
shellbell @ #1645 Thursday, January 31st, 2019 – 11:24 am
From what I’ve seen so far he’s talked about problems which started with the establishment of the plan.