The Australian Electoral Commission is now conducting Coalition-versus-Labor preference counts in seats where its indicative preference counts included minor party or independent candidates – or, if you want to stay on top of the AEC’s own jargon in these matters, two-party preferred counts in non-classic contests.
Such counts are complete in the seven seats listed below; 94% complete in Warringah, where the current count records a 7.4% swing to Labor, 78% complete in New England, where there is a 1.2% swing to the Coalition; at a very early stage in Clark (formerly Denison, held by Andrew Wilkie); and have yet to commence in Farrer, Indi, Mayo and Melbourne. Labor have received unexpectedly large shares of preferences from the independent candidates in Kooyong, Warringah and Wentworth, to the extent that Kevin Bonham now reckons the final national two-party preferred vote will be more like 51.5-48.5 in favour of the Coalition than the 52-48 projected by most earlier estimates.
We also have the first completed Senate count, from the Northern Territory. This isn’t interesting in and of itself, since the result there was always going to be one seat each for Labor and the Country Liberals. However, since it comes with the publication of the full data file accounting for the preference order of every ballot paper, it does provide us with the first hard data we have on how each party’s preferences flowed. From this I can offer the seemingly surprising finding that 57% of United Australia Party voters gave Labor preferences ahead of the Country Liberals compared with only 37% for vice-versa, with the remainder going to neither.
Lest we be too quick to abandon earlier assessments of how UAP preferences were behaving, this was almost certainly a consequence of a ballot paper that had the UAP in column A, Labor in column B and the Country Liberals in column C. While not that many UAP votes would have been donkey votes as normally understood, there seems little doubt that they attracted a lot of support from blasé voters who weren’t much fussed how they dispensed with preferences two through six. There also appears to have been a surprisingly weak 72% flow of Greens preferences to Labor, compared with 25% to the Country Liberals. It remains to be seen if this will prove to be another territorian peculiarity – my money is on yes.
Note also that there’s a post below this one dealing with various matters in state politics in Western Australia.
Just read the Ardani environmental approval posted by lizzie earlier.
My take, if I can paraphrase;
We don’t have a clue what’s going on with the ground water in the basin, but there’s a chance the mine won’t impact on it, so fuck it, start digging.
Surely the doubts and the things they are asking Ardani to continue monitoring and investigate are the things that should need to be settled before the mine gains approval!
If this is meeting the environmental requirements, then those requirements seem deficient.
Ballantyne says:
Thursday, June 13, 2019 at 4:31 pm
beguildedagain @ 10.10am
You are preaching to the converted with me as I’ve been a fan of classical music since boyhood but thank you so much for those links to such a cornucopia of beautiful music.
I really don’t see how watching a film, any film, could make a person “hate” classical music but each to their own. I am not a fan at all of modern rap or its variants but I’m not forced to listen to it – it’s all a matter of personal choice.
The number of films, however, which have been enhanced by the use of classical music, eg Death in Venice and Mahler’s 5th symphony; Brief Encounter and Rachmaninov’s 2nd Piano concerto; Out of Africa – Mozart; The Pianist – Chopin etc. The list is almost endless. A Clockwork Orange was a pretty powerful film (and book) – shame that it may have turned some folks off Beethoven.
————————————–
Yes, you’re right about the power of marrying the classics with film. Although I still automatically think of Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson, railway stations and their stiff-upper-lip love affair whenever I hear Rach 2.
From 2011 “The haunting theme to Brief Encounter has been voted the nation’s (U.K) favourite piece of classical music.
Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No 2 which features in David Lean’s tale of lost love, starring Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson, came top in a poll of Classic FM listeners. ”
I’m hoping that people, coming away from those films recognize that there is another dimension to music than rock and rap.
Well um well, there is this thing where, although many, and Legal Practitioners Board of WA, could very well point out it has been more than 10 years since I held a Legal Practicing Certificate, I still consider tax law one of the more complex and interesting areas of law, and there is this very convenient coincidence where entities with tax problems almost always can afford to pay their tax people VERY well and so while the profession may well not know me, and may well deny me three times even where there is no cock to crow, I still consider I’m a member of this cohort and most importantly entitled to bash it and myself.
On a Thursday night a good beating at Mistress Ellen’s can be quite expensive, sometimes a good law fellow, by necessity, must beat themselves.
The obvious implication for anyone who finished the basic colours in their first SRA reading compression endeavors in primary school is that if you actually have criticized the LNP for not prosecuting Rupert Murdoch, in similar circumstances and much the same way as you are criticizing the ALP for not prosecuting a leader of the CFMEEEUUUUU (or whatever letters they have today) then you are not really a target of my initial criticism, although of course you would be correct to point out, while my basic thesis was entirely correct, and one you agree with, that it does not apply to you. Although so far I only have your assertion it doesn’t actually apply to you.
@ Meher Baba – Militant blokey trade unions are as antiquated as the freemasons.
Maybe not antiquated for those who work in an industry which in 2017 claimed the lives of thirty workers.
Lars Von Trier (a poor man’s Nath) says:
Thursday, June 13, 2019 at 5:19 pm
You have to feel for Albo – he’s received such a terrible inheritance from Littlefinger.
—————————————————–
Yes, he’s only a couple of seats away from being Prime Minister. That’s a terrible situation to be in.
https://kevinbonham.blogspot.com/2019/06/senate-2019-button-press-thread.html
My Senate button press thread – with extensive comments on the Tasmanian result and voting. (ACT button has been pressed but don’t have the vote files yet.)
I’m beginning to think “heads down except to criticise the government” is the position Labor should adopt for at least the next two years. Do nothing at all to feed the “get Labor” MSM beast, seen in full feeding frenzy mode this week over the Setka nonsense.
As has been said here many times, all the crap the government is getting away with, including attempts to de-unionise entire sectors of our national workforce, and this is the issue of the week?
How many corporate donors/supporters of the Liberal Party have form for bullying or even assaulting women in their orbit, either at home or in the workplace? And which men, both in the Liberal caucus and in the wider Liberal movement, did what to which women in the Liberal leadership ugliness last year? We never got told, and now the MSM have just swept it under the carpet and moved on. I bet some of those men are in cabinet. That should be a bigger story than how the opposition leader passes a litmus test over a state-level leader of a particular union.
Lambie should liven up the Senate again……
Lets hope she sneaks a sausage into the chamber.
WWP
“which as a member of Australia’s most successful and ruthless union you’d no doubt be very proud of.”
I am not and have never been the member of the AMA or SASMOA. I don’t know why people think most doctors are in the AMA.
I listened to the Adagietto from Mahlers 5th in a vaporetto going up the Grand Canal. One of the most sublime memories of my life. As Woody Allen says, one of the moments that make life worth living.
Kay-Jay,
Love your whimsy!!
Michael A,
If only they would!!
LNP go missing at will….time Labor did.
Brexit is a constant source of hilarity in the eastern parts of Europe, with this German commentary catching the mood…
Does any one know if Liberal and National party supporters went at it like hammer and tongs after John Hewson’s 1993 loss?
@Douglas@Milko.
Can’t remember but they seemed to go at it hammer and tongs after Turnbull won in 2016.
While Jim Molan has not exceeded Jack Lang`s proportion of the NSW Senate vote (The 1951 DD election, the mainland`s only ever serious ungrouped candidate), his raw numbers primary vote is not only higher than Lang`s raw numbers primary vote but also his raw numbers after preferences vote but only because he did not get Communist preferences (that instead went to an incumbent, ALP Senator Amour, who consequently won). It will be slightly interesting to see if Molan`s preferences (all BTLs) exceed the 47,822 preferences (mostly Coalition preferences) received by Lang, the most raw numbers preferences ever received by a Senate candidate who did not get preferences from their own group, my guess is Molan won`t.
D&M
Thinking back to the period after ‘the victory for the True Believers’ in 1993, I was quite close to the action at that time. I can’t say much about Liberal and Nat supporters, but their MPs were very focussed on hammering the ‘bad government’ and ‘rorts’ constantly, whilst slowly ditching everything in FightBack (at least for the first term post 1996).
The badgering of PJK over his piggery investments, Ros Kelly over ‘sports rorts’ and Leo Macleay for his bike accident rort are a few which come to mind. Plus using the vehicles of Senate Estimates and a compliant media to hammer the twin memes ‘bad Government’ and ‘rorts’. Rinse and repeat.
Wow. Was that the same team that played Italy?
Matildas 3 Brazil 2
Sprocket_ says:
Friday, June 14, 2019 at 3:52 am
D&M
Thinking back to the period after ‘the victory for the True Believers’ in 1993, I was quite close to the action at that time. I can’t say much about Liberal and Nat supporters, but their MPs were very focussed on hammering the ‘bad government’ and ‘rorts’ constantly, whilst slowly ditching everything in FightBack (at least for the first term post 1996).
The badgering of PJK over his piggery investments, Ros Kelly over ‘sports rorts’ and Leo Macleay for his bike accident rort are a few which come to mind. Plus using the vehicles of Senate Estimates and a compliant media to hammer the twin memes ‘bad Government’ and ‘rorts’. Rinse and repeat.
———————————-
Pretty much as I remember it, but I would add that the reactionary anti-PC/ABC crowd were united in attacking Keating and his pet social issues. As many of today’s reactionaries grew up during that period explains why they still see those issues as left wing and see the ABC as bias. By 1993, Howard had beaten Peacock into submission but was reduced to yesterday’s man to be replaced by Downer and so on.
mikehilliard says:
Friday, June 14, 2019 at 4:04 am
Wow. Was that the same team that played Italy?
Matildas 3 Brazil 2
—————————————
They were seriously outplayed in the first half. But Brazil seemed a little unsettled by their first goal just before the half. Of course their great second goal from long-range also added to Brazil’s angst.
The Matildas were also the beneficiaries of a controversial goal. As I understand it, even though the offside Aussie player did not touch the “own goal” as it went in, the rules call for a penalty if the offside player interferes with opposing players just by being in the way. Perhaps you soccer experts can clarify that for me.
I understand it was the first time in the World Cup since 1995 that a team that was 2-0 down has come back to win.
Trump to America: Who’s Going to Stop Me?
An unbound president invites more foreign election interference.
In a new interview with ABC News’s George Stephanopoulos, parts of which were released on Wednesday evening, Donald Trump announced his willingness to betray and subvert American democracy, again. Asked what he would do if he were offered foreign dirt on an opponent in 2020, he said he’d take it, and pooh-poohed the idea of calling federal law enforcement.
“Oh, let me call the F.B.I.,” he said derisively. “Give me a break, life doesn’t work that way.”
That Trump has no loyalty to his country, its institutions and the integrity of its elections is not surprising. That he feels no need to fake it is alarming.
Two years ago the president basically admitted to obstruction of justice on television when he told an interviewer, Lester Holt of NBC, that he’d fired James Comey as F.B.I. director because of the Russia investigation. Now he’s telling us, again on TV, that having gotten away with accepting foreign help in an election once, he’s planning to do it again. I know everyone’s tired. But democracy is not going to save itself.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/13/opinion/trump-russia-election-interference.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage
Rick Wilson burns down ‘Team Trump’ for standing by their ‘treasonous’ boss after his ‘disgusting’ ABC interview
Under the blunt headline of “Every Member of Team Trump Is Now Enabling Treason,” Wilson excoriated the president and all the president’s people after the bombshell ABC interview.
“Trump proved Wednesday exactly what we’ve known about him for quite some time—he combines treachery, stupidity, and villainy in equal measure. After his disgusting performance in the Oval Office on Wednesday, I’d call Trump a political whore for foreign powers, but that would give whores a bad name,” he wrote, adding, “This is nothing new. Let’s not forget, Trump requested this kind of help in 2016. It wasn’t a joke. It wasn’t ‘Trump being Trump.’ It was Trump on live television soliciting Russian intelligence service help in defeating Hillary.”
“On Wednesday, Trump confirmed for the world that the oath of office is like every other oath he’s ever sworn, every wedding vow and promise he’s made, and every contract he’s ever signed. Trump views it—and us—as purely contingent, solely about his personal (and now) political benefit,” he concluded. “It holds up only so long as he’s getting laid or getting paid.”
https://www.rawstory.com/2019/06/gop-operative-burns-down-team-trump-for-standing-by-their-treasonous-boss-after-his-disgusting-abc-interview/
Barney
On Adani approval
Thank you for encapsulating my conclusion so well. If the bores they dig prove damage to the groundwater, it will already be too late. Will the mine then be ceased development? Of course not.
Th company has an extremely poor environmental reputation elsewhere. Why should their actions in Australia be any different?
Big A Adrian, if you are around, My apologies for not responding yesterday [around 2pm] but I had to do a family crisis dash for the whole afternoon. I hear you on the issue of condescension to the Islamic faith. Do you have ideas about how to improve that perception / stand-off? Are the perceived problems of threatening doctrine actually regional cultural/racial variants {like American evangelical religion vs Orthodox Anglicanism} rather than true doctrinal variants? How do you feel about Christian prosyletisation?
Bob Hawke’s funeral is today.
Vale Bob.
phoenixRED,
This will interest you:
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/white-house-spokeswoman-sarah-sanders-leaving-job-at-end-of-month-20190614-p51xmj.html
This looks minor compared to other Trump infractions, but is just emblematic of the man and his govt overall.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/office-of-special-counsel-recommends-removal-of-kellyanne-conway-from-federal-office-for-violating-the-hatch-act/2019/06/13/0786ae2e-8df4-11e9-8f69-a2795fca3343_story.html?utm_term=.e05f8237f245
C@tmomma says: Friday, June 14, 2019 at 7:03 am
phoenixRED,
This will interest you:
****************************************************
I think the lies just got too much …… Trumps treasonous words from yesterday just added fuel to the fire
Crikey: The Australian reports that Jacquie Lambie and Centre Alliance are reportedly in talks to to increase their balance of power by forming a powerful voting bloc.
@beguiledagain…….
FIFA changed the wording of the off side rule. A player can be in an offside position and not incur a foul if they do not interfere with play.
From one of the refs on our football forum……..”Under the laws the decision is clearly correct. Being offside isn’t an offence. You have to then do something. When you don’t touch the ball and don’t touch the opposition player, you’d have to do something obvious that interfered with the opponent playing the ball (didn’t happen), obstruct vision (didn’t happen), or take advantage by a rebound (didn’t happen).”
That’s why the goal stood.
VAR ….like all video review systems ( DRS and umpires call )…is open to interpretation.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/this-was-a-statement-of-moral-clarity-by-sally-mcmanus-john-setka-must-go-20190613-p51xh3.html
Any anti-union legislation should be amended to also apply to business
leadersbosses and board members; they’re two sides of the same coin and should be treated as such.#ETTD
Morning all
Thanks Phoenix for posting latest from Rick Wilson. He certainly knows how to evoke the feelings of sheer frustration with this shit show.
Meanwhile, I haven’t heard anything new on the Setka saga, save to say that he was refusing to resign, which is already well known
Fess
Rick Wilson theory of ETTDs continues.
Unfortunately, if he continues to remain President, the republic of the USA will also fall victim.
The coalition will never apply anti union legislation to business.
As for Setka’s refusal to resign, surely there are rules in the union that enable the membership to have him removed?
Meanwhile the UK has signed off for Assange to be extradited to US.
One step closer to the whole Russian/ Wikileaks/ Trump nexus being dealt with.
Interesting times……
Fess
Hopefully I’ll have some further Intel on the Setka saga late today or tmrw.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers.
Ben Schneiders examines Sally McManus’s carefully worded statement on the future of John Setka.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/this-was-a-statement-of-moral-clarity-by-sally-mcmanus-john-setka-must-go-20190613-p51xh3.html
And Albo is big and ugly enough to know that down the track, should his leadership be in the gutter, not having friends in certain places may be his downfall. He’s prepared to take those risks because he owes the CFMMEU nothing, writes Philip Coorey.
https://www.outline.com/E7q3ek
Michelle Grattan writes about the battle to stare down the defiant John Setka.
https://theconversation.com/grattan-on-friday-the-battle-to-stare-down-the-defiant-john-setka-118803
The United States has unequivocally blamed Iran for an “unprovoked” strike on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday night that left one of the vessels ablaze.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/world/2019/06/13/us-iran-oil-tanker-attack/
David Crowe opines that now the election is behind him Morrison is obliged to get things done. He says the PM has no excuses.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/election-won-morrison-now-has-no-excuses-not-to-get-things-done-20190613-p51xh1.html
Michael Pascoe reckons it’s beginning to look like the Reserve Bank has declared war on the federal government. He says it has blown Josh Frydenberg’s budget out of the water.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/money/finance-news/2019/06/13/rba-josh-frydenbergs-budget-loggerheads/
ADF chief Angus Campbell has said that western democracies such as Australia are “exposed” to so-called political warfare tactics – such as cyber attacks and disinformation campaigns – at which authoritarian countries excel.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/grey-zone-tactics-australia-vulnerable-to-political-warfare-defence-chief-warns-20190613-p51xj6.html
Simon Holmes a Court really gets stuck into Angus Taylor here with a well-deserved barrage.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jun/13/as-angus-taylor-ducks-weaves-and-dithers-china-zooms-past
Jenna Price has some good advice for mortgage holders here.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/i-saved-my-friend-1-500-on-home-loan-repayments-with-just-one-tweet-20190612-p51x4v.html
Stephen Bartholomeusz uses Kmart and Target to illustrate the retail malaise that is sweeping the country.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/recession-like-conditions-kmart-and-target-are-being-infected-by-australia-s-retail-malaise-20190613-p51xav.html
And Coles is cutting 450 jobs from its Melbourne head office in a major management shake-up, less than a week before Coles updates investors on the retailer’s new strategy.
https://www.outline.com/U9dqCr
Shane Wright says that if the Reserve Bank of Australia was hoping the latest jobs report would give it a reprieve from making a tough decision about interest rates at its next meeting, it has been disappointed. He describes our labour market as “slack”.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/jobs-data-moves-rba-closer-to-another-rate-cut-20190613-p51xda.html
It’s not global headwinds causing Australia’s economy to tank. As Alan Austin argues, we should be catching the global tailwinds — if the captain of the ship only had a proper map, the first mate could work the compass and the petty officers didn’t get tangled up in the rigging.
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/what-global-economic-headwinds-mathias/
Workplace lawyer Anthony Fry outlines what the recent Uber case on what constitutes being an employee will mean.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace/employee-or-not-what-the-uber-decision-means-20190612-p51x32.html
Sally Whyte explains how the audit office has again criticised Defence over the transparency of the department’s mega budget, warning there’s a high risk the department could misreport its financial position.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6216808/defence-struggles-to-follow-money-audit-report/?cs=14231
international human rights lawyer Simon Henderson looks at the situation in Hong Kong and what it could mean to travelling Australians.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/australia-s-voice-should-be-heard-loud-and-clear-in-hong-kong-20190613-p51xao.html
Are dominant leaders the heroes they’re portrayed to be? Or are they instead toxic villains causing harm to their organisation?
https://www.smh.com.au/business/small-business/dominant-leaders-good-or-bad-20190613-p51x89.html
Levels of sexual harassment have reached crisis point in Australian workplaces, with our youngest employees at the highest risk. Sonia Hickey asks if we can eradicate sexual harassment once and for all.
https://independentaustralia.net/life/life-display/combating-sexual-harassment-in-the-work-place—leading-the-way-to-change,12797
The SMH editorial says that now the Queensland government has now approved the controversial Adani coal mine but this must not stop the crucial debate on how Australia can transition to a low-carbon economy.
https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/adani-decision-must-not-be-last-word-in-climate-fight-20190613-p51xes.html
The AFR reports that APRA is preparing to crack down on AMP Super and force its board to clean up its act because it is concerned the fund’s trustees have breached superannuation laws.
https://www.outline.com/E5TDph
Emma Koehn reports on how the ATO will be acting to crack down on the black economy via government procurement processes.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/small-business/we-expect-more-businesses-to-face-tax-office-health-checks-20190613-p51x92.html
There is no doubt the AFP raids are an affront to our democracy. One in which the hand of a secretive and ruthless Government can be felt, if not seen or heard says The Independent Australia.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/afp-raids-journalists-we-need-to-talk-about-our-government,12803
NSW’s infrastructure spending will grow to a record $93 billion but Treasurer Dominic Perrottet has left the door open for more privatisations to fund major projects in the future.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/infrastructure-spend-grows-to-93b-but-privatisation-not-ruled-out-20190613-p51xfs.html
Six actions Australia’s government can take right now to target online racism.
https://theconversation.com/6-actions-australias-government-can-take-right-now-to-target-online-racism-118401
Smaller banks have increased their loan books by $22.4 billion since the banking royal commission.
https://www.domain.com.au/money-markets/smaller-banks-increase-loan-books-by-22-4-billion-since-royal-commission-847787/?utm_campaign=strap-masthead&utm_source=smh&utm_medium=link&utm_content=pos5&ref=pos1
Nick Miller reckons Boris Johnson’s got it in the bag after the first ballot.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/boris-johnson-appears-unstoppable-as-colleagues-vote-for-next-uk-pm-20190614-p51xlq.html
Trump flog Kellyanne Conway could get the sack for being a bit naughty.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/unprecedented-white-house-counsellor-kellyanne-conway-should-be-fired-watchdog-20190614-p51xm7.html
And the lovely Sarah Huckaby-Sanders will be leaving her job soon.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/white-house-spokeswoman-sarah-sanders-leaving-job-at-end-of-month-20190614-p51xmj.html
This animal gets today’s nomination for “Arsehole of the Week”.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/jun/13/man-pleads-guilty-to-raping-girl-seven-in-sydney-dance-studio
Cartoon Corner
Strong stuff from David Pope.
Peter Nicholson on infrastructure announcements.
From Matt Golding.
A new Aussie flag from Jim Pavlidis.
Andrew Dyson and post-election Morrison.
Cathy Wilcox enters Adani country.
A joyous contribution from Zanetti,
And he can’t resist a dig at the CFMMEU.
From Edmund Iffland.
Sean Leahy with the Brisbane Council budget and the Adani decision.
Another cracker from Jon Kudelka.
https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/d3b8aeaffe65751284efac6066413e7c?width=1024
From the US.
Vic:
Yes Trump’s assault on democracy is bringing the country to its knees. Unfortunately the mess really only can be solved by voters.
I’ll be looking forward to this interesting looking panel tomorrow.
Fess
A very cool panel. Looking forward to it as well
Things are really crook.
Boris Johnson one of the most untrustworthy pollies in the UK, is frontrunner to become PM.
Why not. We will have the trifecta of Trump, Johnson and Morrison.
Sweet bloody jebus.
Victoria @ #936 Friday, June 14th, 2019 – 8:02 am
The 3 Donkeys of the Political Apocalypse
C@tMomma,
Thank you very much for your kind suggestion that I should be added to the Q&A panel 🙂
I actually used to do a lot of media in my previous job, some 20 year ago, but decided to pivot back to research*. It its incredibly important that scientists do front up to the media and have their voices heard, but it takes a lot of time out of other science pursuits.
On the Q&A panel for next week, it looks like the UNSW special to me. Emma Johnston is the Dean of Science at UNSW, and very articulate, and as a marine biologist very concerned about climate change. Kirsten Banks (aboriginal astrophysicist) I know really well, and would highly recommend listening to her. Also, Martin Van Kranendonk runs the Centre for Astrobiology (yes, it is a genuine rigorous science, involving astronomy , biology, and geophysics and geochemistry) at UNSW. Martin, as Astrobleme mentioned, is a very smart and articulate guy.
The members of the panel I have mentioned above are all passionate for real action on climate change.
But also, they are pragmatists, and desperately want to bring the public with them, so that voting for a party with an effective climate change policy is not seen as anathema.
What you will not hear from then is that the Earth will become uninhabitable from 2050. This factoid was widely reported in the popular/ MSM media a week or so ago. It is not what the research said at all, and discussions misrepresenting science like this are completely counterproductive for garnering the support needed by a majority of Australian to support action on reducing emissions.
* I only now give public talks or school talks on astronomy / astrophysics for friends. Pollbludgers probably count as friends.