With Newspoll holding its fire over the weekend of the New South Wales state election, the only new federal poll of the week came from Essential Research, which produced a relatively strong result for the Coalition. The BludgerTrack aggregate accordingly moves slightly in their favour, with Labor’s lead down from 53.3-46.7 to 52.9-47.1. This translates into a gain for the Coalition of two on the seat projection, with New South Wales and Victoria providing one apiece.
BludgerTrack: 52.9-47.1 to Labor
Movement to the Coalition on the BludgerTrack poll aggregate, after a better-than-usual result in the only new federal poll for the week.
Morning all. Thanks BK. One Nation must know they are gone. Their denials are pathetic. They have been exposed as exactly what they criticse – a bunch of professional politicians who sell out their voters for corporate money.
Ah, the look of a fundy ‘knowing’ he is going straight to heaven and all those around him are not.
Democratic primary voters who supported Hillary Clinton in 2016 contributed to the election of Donald Trump.
I hope that this time these voters will realise that neoliberal centrism is snake oil that the general public will no longer buy.
Bernie Sanders is the only genuine progressive in the race.
One Nation polled over 20% in Qld rural electorates in the last state election. I still expect them to win a another senate seat. Their core are rusted on.
Cat
“Does this graph say that Renewable Energy sources aren’t quite cheap enough yet to fit into the cheap bulk despatchable category?”
No Cat, quite the opposite. The graph shows that one form of renewable power or another is now the cheapest form of energy in every category except one – peaking capacity – where gas may still be cheaper than pumped hydro. However as we build more PV panels and wind + storage power fcailities, the need for peaking capaity will drop anyway. More grid interconnections will also reduce the need for peak load generators.
So we can actively start closing coal plants and not build any more gas than we already have. New jobs will be created by wind and solar plants at no cost to govt. What government needs to do is remove coal subsidies, make sure the grid is adequate, and financially support coal workers to transition.
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/3/29/18241598/joe-biden-lucy-flores-touching-women-media-history-explained
Ok so we know that Joe Biden is a Me Too disaster in waiting whose candidacy, if it happens, will flame out like his two previous presidential campaigns.
That leaves Bernie Sanders versus a crew of single digit pygmies who will claim that Bernie Sanders is too bold and too vigorous in his anti-establishment views.
@Holden Hillbilly
I agree, One Nation will win a Senate seat in Queensland at least. Because rusted on One Nation voters I argue think in ways similar to what we have observed from Pauline Hanson, James Ashby and Steve Dickson.
HH
Even in Qld country I think the PHON vote will crash. I once did some work in Gympie and I would say that even there gun nutters are less than 10% of voters. If the majors were serious and really go after her hypocrisy in terms of personal grifting of the system and growing property portfolio, she will absolutely crash. Sadly Katter stands to gain the benefit.
Socrates @ #58 Saturday, March 30th, 2019 – 8:53 am
Have you seen any response yet from Katter? He ought to be salivating at the thought of picking up votes from a discredited PHON. Perhaps his son might take a run at a senate spot.
I found this article infinitely depressing. Where is the dignified architecture of an established, confident, world class city?
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/five-ways-sydney-is-determined-to-self-sabotage-20190328-p518hy.html
NRDC
Verified account @NRDC
29s30 seconds ago
It was never a secret, but now there’s audio proof that the oil industry has “unprecedented access” to the @EPA and @Interior.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/oil-execs-david-bernhardt-laughing-access_n_5c96efbde4b01ebeef104808
It seems that not everyone loves this Bill Maher fellow (I’ve never watched the show for more than a few minutes, but he comes across as smug and conceited).

https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/opinion/topic/2019/03/30/the-death-political-debate/15538644007917
Eddy Jokovich
@EddyJokovich
37m37 minutes ago
Jacinda Ardern was trying to patch together a country after the murder of 50 of its citizens. What did The Australian do? Its arsehole journalists attacked her relentlessly. There is a cancer at News Corp, and it needs a big operation to get rid of its sickness. #auspol
Seems Buttigieg is making an impression and not just with me.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/03/29/beto-who-its-week-pete-buttigieg/?utm_term=.43bfa196e802
Klobuchar has moved into 8th position and Biden still at no. 1 despite not having nominated.
Chris Jones@wurzelofoz
20h20 hours ago
More
I had coffe next to a table of pensioners today:
In 10mins they covered:
Pauline’s been set up by muslim TV
Jacinda ardern is a disgrace
Naru is apparently very nice
Renewable energy will kill this Bloody country.
The greens all are bloody extremists
We’re all lefties
https://www.nambuccaguardian.com.au/story/5981884/former-detective-in-martin-bryant-case-responds-to-hansons-claims/?cs=736
Zoidlord @ 10:19. Newscorp IS the cancer.
I have friends with business interests in Northern Queensland, and they describe a demographic like no other they encounter.
The Hanson vote is rusted on – as is Katter’s
The question is preferences.
Hence the position the parties to this dysfunctional government find themselves in with not only the splits in the Liberal Party (hence the demise of Turnbull and the rise of the Sukkar right wing factions) but the National Party, the Liberal National Party in Queensland (dominated by Nationals) and One Nation.
On the “conservative” side we see the Italian model re-visited.
Deals within deals within deals to form a dysfunctional government delivering the status of pm to the likes of Ad Man from Mad Men.
Whose ambition is status as pm, so all things to all people.
lizzie @ #60 Saturday, March 30th, 2019 – 10:01 am
Especially depressing after the NSW election.
She’s right – Sydney is the neoliberal dream made real, and the voters have just endorsed it.
Only in America
So will the individual States prosecute, free from National intervention from Trump’s appointees?
This was a question put yesterday among friends.
Cud Chewer @ #4 Saturday, March 30th, 2019 – 1:00 am
I don’t need to rant. Your own chart tells the story. But perhaps you don’t understand what the Bloomberg report is trying to tell you? i.e. that renewables are not going to displace existing fossil fuel generation anytime soon. New plants, yes, they are getting close – especially wind (provided it is backed by sufficient peak generation). But not existing dispatchable generation, and not peak generation.
You have read at least the summary of the Bloomberg report, I presume. You are not just relying on RenewEconomy’s flawed interpretation?
Contrast the two approaches.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison: Extremist terrorists have no nationality: “Their only nationality is hate and violence.”
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten : An Australian is responsible for the Christchurch massacre: “Australians are ashamed this person was an Australian.”
One assumes they would prosecute if they believe they have a shot at a conviction.
Sohar says:
Saturday, March 30, 2019 at 10:21 am
Chris Jones@wurzelofoz
20h20 hours ago
More
I had coffe next to a table of pensioners today:
In 10mins they covered:
Pauline’s been set up by muslim TV
Jacinda ardern is a disgrace
Naru is apparently very nice
Renewable energy will kill this Bloody country.
The greens all are bloody extremists
We’re all lefties
————————————–
Hmm, and apparently the level of speling and gramar is not their o-r our hotspot either (coffe, Naru..)
ON is a disgrace, but only to those “outside of the ring”!!?? Some will believe every word she utters!!
Am a huge fan of Pete B as well fess.
He won me when I read an anecdote (shared here previously) of him stunning a Norwegian journalist by speaking fluent Norwegian.
It turns out one of his favourite books to read as a youth was in Norwegian, so the only way to understand the book and others by his new favourite author was to learn the language. So he did!
He’s brilliant but probably too young at this point.
Socrates @ #55 Saturday, March 30th, 2019 – 9:49 am
The Bloomberg report actually predicts more peaking power plant capacity will be required as the share of renewables increases – perhaps by a factor of up to 4 times. Especially if we actively close coal plants. They also predict gas consumption could rise by 50% in that case.
zoidlord @ 8.55am
Nassim Khadem
Verified account @NassimKhadem
52m52 minutes ago
Sixty-nine millionaires paid zero tax in 2016-17 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-30/sixty-nine-millionaires-paid-zero-tax-in-2016-17/10954888 … @abcnews @ato_gov_au @mikejanda
————-
This really gets up my nose, especially the line about them not even paying the Medicare levy.
I live on a small CSS (superannuation) pension (for health reasons I left the Public Service aged 51) and a part age pension. It does not amount to a huge amount yet I still have to pay around $460 per annum in tax – I assume for the Medicare levy.
Parasites, the bloody lot of them.
Henry:
He’s being interviewed on Real Time today too.
I’ll look out for that fess, thanks.
@Player One
Link the article.
Zoidlord @ #82 Saturday, March 30th, 2019 – 11:01 am
You can find the summary here – https://bnef.turtl.co/story/neo2018
Would you also like me to read it to you? 🙂
Sohar @ #66 Saturday, March 30th, 2019 – 10:21 am
I find this post infinitely depressing – so much so that
Fails to help. Just who entered me in this competition is under investigation and just what is the Blue Book wot Ms. Hanson referenced ❓
Brown Bear and Bobo Bear are now suspect of being the leakers – I had considered calling in the AFP to assist but my projected nine years only of life expectancy ruled that out.
A big Thank You to BK for his Dawn Patrol which today is replete with beaucoup BS from the unusual suspects.
Cafe au lait for one now Muriel. ☕
Muriel to KayJay 🖕
Confessions @ #65 Saturday, March 30th, 2019 – 9:21 am
Ooh, relevant:
“We have moved from an era of conviction politics to one of retail politics, where the first question is not whether something is right but whether it will ‘sell’”
I don’t think a name like “Buttigieg ‘Boot-edge-edge if you’re still struggling'” is salable. All it takes is one tweet from Trump like “Come on, does America really want to have President Buttgiggles? I don’t think so” to turn him into a laughing stock.
a r @ #85 Saturday, March 30th, 2019 – 11:13 am
Being a laughing stock has not done Trump any harm in politics.
Chris Jones@wurzelofoz
20h20 hours ago
More
I had coffe next to a table of pensioners today:
In 10mins they covered:
Pauline’s been set up by muslim TV
Jacinda ardern is a disgrace
Naru is apparently very nice
Renewable energy will kill this Bloody country.
The greens all are bloody extremists
We’re all lefties
___________________
I recall my mother-in-law (a life long Liberal party member) was convinced Whitman’s son was training troops of militant aborigines in secret locations around NW Australia. Nothing would dissuade her.
Stupid is stupid and it seems we have just as many as the United States.
https://www.currentaffairs.org/2019/03/all-about-pete?fbclid=IwAR1OFMn3iNFvKC427irpxt4lIwQrDcN_N9qlr4vCNRiQCpAXCyyf5IRMsvs
Pete Buttigieg is not progressive and there is nothing fresh about him. He’s the same kind of technocratic neoliberal that has been hurting the American people for decades. A careful examination of his record reveals that he has little interest in helping marginalized people.
Observer says:
Saturday, March 30, 2019 at 10:33 am
I have friends with business interests in Northern Queensland, and they describe a demographic like no other they encounter.
_______________
Should’ve been annexed years ago.
https://www.currentaffairs.org/2019/03/all-about-pete?fbclid=IwAR1OFMn3iNFvKC427irpxt4lIwQrDcN_N9qlr4vCNRiQCpAXCyyf5IRMsvs
No more corporate zombies who preach togetherness platitudes and co-opt progressive terminology to obscure their lack of interest challenging concentrated wealth and power.
Support candidates who have a track record of fighting for and with vulnerable people with no power.
Crappy photo of a beautiful tableau. A water dragon (fossil?) sunning itself on an actual fossil, on our deck after a bit of rain.
And this ‘currentaffairs.org’ place seems like it’s all about sabotaging the Democrats in their primary objective of getting rid of Trump. Literally anyone they nominate is fine for that task. The last thing there needs to be is infighting over which candidate is “best”.
The entire Democratic field is strictly better than Trump, the Dems just need to pick one, and then everyone who’s not a rabid Trump supporter should just pull their head in, quit their whinging and undermining, and support whomever the Democratic nominee happens to be. At least until Trump is gone.
After that, the petty infighting and internal bickering can resume. But it has no place in the before-time.
Well, at least they managed to get two factually accurate sentences in there. 🙂
KayJay, the first place getters have not claimed their prize. It is not too late. Chin up. There is a lot to be said for curried prawns and rice. 🙂
Late Riser @ #40 Saturday, March 30th, 2019 – 11:54 am
Many thanks. 🙏🍤🍛
“Democratic primary voters who supported Hillary Clinton in 2016 contributed to the election of Donald Trump.
I hope that this time these voters will realise that neoliberal centrism is snake oil that the general public will no longer buy.
Bernie Sanders is the only genuine progressive in the race.”
Right on! Fuck those millions of democrat voters for being so … democrat.
Bernie walks on water. He can do no wrong. He’s so woke he didn’t need to hold down a job, any job, until he was 40. Being firmly secured to the public teet for the past 36 years as he hollers at passing clouds clearly qualifies him to be the Chief Executive of the government of the most powerful democratic economy in the world and commander in chief of the most powerful military in the world in ways that other quislings cannot compete.
Bernie is a one man movement. He needs no party to support him, let alone one filled with moderates and centrists.
The solution clearly is for The Great Man to run for President as an Independent Socialist. And I reckon you are just the millennial acolyte to run his campaign Nicholas. I think Bludger should start a “go fund me” page to send you to America on a one way ticket. Stat!
ar
And this ‘currentaffairs.org’ place seems like it’s all about sabotaging the Democrats in their primary objective of getting rid of Trump.
_______________________________________
They seemed to have a policy of NBB (Nobody But Bernie). If all the Democrats are going to do is trash each other Trump WILL win again – that’s how he got the Republican nomination too. He’ll certainly beat Bernie because too many Democrats will stay home.
It’s awful how many people here think that they are the ones who can see the true way, and everyone who holds a different view is some sort of fool or venal or worse. What’s even worse is that these people have a fervent belief that if only their message can get through to the great unwashed they will all subscribe to the one true way.
a r,
The way Nicholas carries on, you’d expect he had a dog in the fight. Poor petal doesn’t even get a vote.
His Bernie! Bernie! Bernie! in response to any discussion about the coming US Election is reminiscent of the Greens here in the Batman by Election repeating Adani! Adani! Adani!. It’s immature. It’s posturing. It’s premature.
No doubt the Dems will go through a long and tedious process to identify the issues they are going to run on and the person best suited to sell those policies.
My guess is Bernie’s time has passed and he has no hope of attaining the Nomination. But, it’s not my decision. Nicholas coming on PB and lambasting anyone that is not Bernie is just silly.
Federal coalition government:
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/mar/30/infrastructure-department-has-250000-a-day-for-ads-before-election
Andrews Victorian state government:
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/andrews-government-spent-357-6-million-on-advertising-in-its-first-term-20190329-p5192j.html
So, with the Brexit stuff….
Even if May loses more votes, and calls a general election ,they still crash out no deal on April 12 dont they??
I would imagine that VicLab has needed to spend advertising to advise travellers of infrastructure (road/rail) changes. Has Gladys done the same in NSW?