The Guardian reports on yet another fortnightly Essential Research poll with no voting intention numbers, but we does at least get the monthly leadership ratings. These show Scott Morrison down a point on approval to 39% and steady on disapproval at 52%, after the previous poll respectively had him down five and up nine. Anthony Albanese is respectively down two to 41% and up one to 31%, and he has lost his 39-36 lead as preferred prime minister, with the two now tied on 36%. The BludgerTrack trends on the sidebar have now been updated with these results.
Further questions on bushfire recovery, sports rorts and coronavirus don’t seem to have turned up anything too mindblowing, but the publication of the full report may turn up something hopefully later today.
UPDATE: Full report here. The most interesting of the supplementary findings for mine relate to the budget surplus, the consistent theme of which is that respondents aren’t that fussed about it: 79% agree spending on bushfire recovery is more important than maintaining it, with 11% disagreeing; 65% say it would be understandable if the coronavirus impact meant it wasn’t achieved, with 18% disagreeing; and 57% agree it was wrong for the government to discuss the surplus in the present tense before the election, with 24% disagreeing.
Morrison lied twice about the sports rorts.
The first is about the eligibility of all projects.
The second is that his office only forwarded representations.
Boerwar
It was obvious from the get go, that Morrisons grubby paws were all over it
Before WW2, in 1938, President FD Roosevelt warned Congress about allowing private entities (people or corporate) becoming so powerful that they own governments.
Well, courtesy of the Murdoch propaganda machine, we are now there.
Here is what he said in 1938, in case you have not read it before now:
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Franklin_D._Roosevelt
I very much doubt we will escape their clutches without a serious fight. The likes of our coal barons will not give up their power lightly.
Everything that saves money for the gov causes more expense and trouble for the public.
Maude Lynne says: Friday, February 14, 2020 at 3:59 pm
The first truth is that the liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic State itself. That, in its essence, is *fascism — ownership of government by an individual, by a group or by any other controlling private power.
**********************************************************
THANKS Maude – those words of FDR have never been so prophetic as in today in the US where corruption of the office of POTUS/DOJ are seemingly intermeshed ….and are ‘terminating’ all those who stand in their way – all students of modern history *fascism in Italy/Germany etc etc know how that works out ….
* (sometimes initial capital letter) a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism.
Twenty billion midgies will be waiting for you, literally salivating at the prospect.
And then there are the earthquakes, volcanoes and tourist buses.
In Morrison’s distorted brain, all the successful projects were eligible because his only criterion was “will funding the project convince enough sheep to vote for me and the LNP?”
Sadly the process is so predictble.
Labor will move a motion to censure the Prime Minister for misleading parliament.
In fact, under Westminister traditions, ministers who mislead parliament should voluntarily resign their position.
In practice, the motion will be lost, despite Morrison convicting himself out of his own mouth.
How do I know?
Look no further than what happened when Dutton mislead parliament in 2018.
https://www.themonthly.com.au/today/paddy-manning/2018/20/2018/1537421957/misleading-parliament-ok
We are governed by dishonourable liars. We can expect nothing else.
C@tmomma @ #1725 Friday, February 14th, 2020 – 2:55 pm
Huh?
I guess that’s directed at me, having just linked to Death in Venice (the movie, about a plague in Venice and one man’s existential crisis) in the context of Venice as the City of Quarantine and the current virus crisis.
It wasn’t compulsory, it was labelled clearly as classical music, and that it offends the spokeswoman for *us women* by even existing (I assume you didn’t open it) then that says at helluva lot more about you C@t, than me, mere certain individual that I might be.
I should remind you that I haven’t posted a classical music clip this side of the last six months at a guesstimate, by intent. And on top of that, the last music clip I posted was this, Laurie Anderson et al and Songs From The Bardo, a musical interpretation of the Tibetan Book of Living and Dying.
It is much about Karma. You could do worse than give it some thought.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDYum_VtfVM
The Grant’s Rort was obviously multi-faceted.
In a political End Of Times scenario it was designed to offer crude rewards to those who had supported the LNP in the past. They didn’t think they’d get caught, because they thought they’d lose the election (and it’s poor form to investigate an ex-givernment…. they might investigate YOU, next handover cycle).
Others were similarly rewarded with jobs for the boys, cushy quasi-judicial appointments, and handouts amounting probably to billions. We will never know the full extent of the ransacking of our treasury, because our lazy Journalism Class won’t lift a finger unless they get an easy confession, or expect one.
Morrison’s government has shown it will never confess to anything, even with conclusively damning evidence produced. No confession and there’s always doubt as to guilt (or what can be written up as “doubt”).
Then there were the penny ante efforts at pork barreling marginals in (what they must have thought) would be a vain effort at stealing Labor seats, orc retaining precarious Coalition ones.
The LNP are liars, cheats and thieves, plundering the public purse on an unprecedented scale, corrupting almost every measure the law provides to ensure open government. They are utterly oblivious to consequences. They think they own the country, and can do whatever they want with it, without serious censure.
Bushfire Bill @ #1756 Friday, February 14th, 2020 – 4:07 pm
And … even worse … Australians! 🙂
In Morrison’s distorted brain, all the successful projects were eligible because his only criterion was “will funding the project convince enough sheep to vote for me and the LNP?”?
Would they have a ONE seat majority if they had played FAIR?.
That is the Question?.
citizen:
[‘In Morrison’s distorted brain, all the successful projects were eligible because his only criterion was “will funding the project convince enough sheep to vote for me and the LNP?”]
Yes. And we’re fortunate to have an independent audit office, which reports directly to the Parliament, though after these latest revelations, I’m sure Morrison will do pay-back, probably by starving the ANAO of funds, accusations of bias and all the other dirty tricks this mob does so well.
Maude Lynne says: Friday, February 14, 2020 at 4:19 pm
Sadly the process is so predictble.
Labor will move a motion to censure the Prime Minister for misleading parliament.
In fact, under Westminister traditions, ministers who mislead parliament should voluntarily resign their position.
In practice, the motion will be lost, despite Morrison convicting himself out of his own mouth.
******************************************
Australia is heading the same way as the US – the office of LEADER and its lawful agency are working hand in hand to suppress all forms of criticism and accountability ….
In the US – Trump/DOJ – and – In Australia – Morrison/AFP
The clip I meant to put is is this one – GONG (youtube had jumped a track)
So, that’s two. Oh, the horror of non compulsory listening to stuff you don’t want or have to listen to.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1U0JM7VVpE
P1: ‘Also this week, we got a letter from Centrelink threatening us with prosecution unless we provide them further financial information immediately, because we lodged a claim for assistance. We apparently have no right to refuse, even though we are not eligible for assistance. We still apparently have to provide the information, just in case we might have been lying to them about being affected by the bushfires. ‘
That is weird!
I assume you were not sure if you were eligible for assistance when you made the claim. So when Centrelink indicated you were not eligible that should be the end of it.
But to pursue information (with the threat of prosecution for non compliance) for a claim that was not eligible is completely nonsensical.
PeeBee @ #1766 Friday, February 14th, 2020 – 4:43 pm
Sure is. My OH actually went into Centrelink to complain about the tone of the letter.
The Centrelink staff laughed at them 🙁
That song title was much more literal than I expected.
Shit happens.
The industry in which I work has been entirely – 100% entirely – shut down by the impact of the Coronavirus. We’re not alone of course. Many tens of thousands are already affected by this. In my industry we are expecting no sales at all in 2020.
Trouble. 2 much trouble.
Talk of going to New Zealand might be a bit premature at the moment:
citizen @ #1770 Friday, February 14th, 2020 – 4:49 pm
Yes, I saw that. Our other alternative is Antarctica. In a few years you should be able to buy a nice tropical property there. Just don’t get suckered into buying a waterfront property – you will want to be about 60m above the current sea level 🙁
While I normally oppose cuts in public sector staff, I might make an exception here. Harry and Meghan moving to Canada means “their” staff at Buckingham Palace have no job.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/royal/2020/02/14/meghan-harry-sack-staff/?utm_source=Adestra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=PM%20Extra%20-%2020200214
Their main job was to promote the royals lives. Given the miserable time the UK press gave Meghan, they can hardly complain. The sooner the pack of press who make their lives promoting and “reporting” on the royals dies, the happier a republican I will be.
https://amp.news.com.au/finance/work/leaders/pms-defence-in-sports-rorts-scandal-suffers-heavy-blow/news-story/f0bd68e5a9a24661fb64d4758351fd89
… it would seem the list of project put forward by Sports Australia might have eligible.
After than the minister directed and decided on changes.
#CrimeMinister seems to have advocated, endorsed and acknowledged.
No doubt the denials, distractions and delays continue.
P1
Macquarie and Heard Islands should be our new go-to Aussie possessions. Well above sea level too. The glaciers are in retreat so there is more developable land. Just don’t build too close to the volcanoes.
I think Morrison loses one hair follicle every tie he tells a lie. This was him earlier in is career.
I trust that you willall rage against Bloomberg buying his way to the Democratic Nomination and POTUS because that is bad, apparently.
Incitatus says:
I trust that you willall rage against Bloomberg buying his way to the Democratic Nomination and POTUS because that is bad, apparently.
________________________________
If that was the worst thing your idol Trump did you might have a point, but considering how badly he has corrupted the whole US polity, it’s hardly worth worrying about. At least Bloomberg is not a criminal fraud owned by the Russian president.
Socrates @ #1774 Friday, February 14th, 2020 – 4:59 pm
Hmmm. Intriguing. Heard Island (and the nearby McDonald Island) both seem to have possibilities. They actually get bigger every year, so they would have no problems catering to a growing population!
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-25/heard-island-australias-mysterious-land-of-fire-and-ice/10713860
Buce
Yes exactly.
However if in the unlikely event Bloomberg succeeds he is the lesser evil than Trump.
Trump hates the advertising
Is there anything Trump doesn’t hate?
Trump wants Sanders to be the contender for obvious reasons. The hard heads in the Democrats know that the Trump/Republican/Evangelical machine would viciously attack Sanders. The reality is that Bloomberg is the only Democrat candidate with the power to destroy Trump.
Having a ‘nice’ Democrat candidate for POTUS can wait until the 2024 election.
Citizen
You are wrong. Sanders is Trump’s nightmare. He has told us this.
You can believe him. Just as he told us what he said in the Ukraine call.
He can’t help himself.
The fact someone like Chuck Todd called Sanders supporters “Brown Shirts” tells you how big the denial of the media elites is.
All that propaganda about socialists in school has had its effect.
The polls and elections tell us a fading effect.
Socrates
“I think Morrison loses one hair follicle every tie he tells a lie.” If that’s the case he’d have no head hair, no eyebrows, no beard, no nostril hair, no ear hair, no leg hair and wouldn’t need a Brazilian.
A case in which a psychiatrist posts some really weird shit on his practice blog including:
[Support white hats/Trump, Assange, Jones, Farage, Corsi, Brian Wilshire.]
And things gest worse
https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/5e375f95e4b0ab0bf6075590
P1
This sort of stuff and the crap you and no doubt many others are going through could (bloody should) be electoral kryptonite. The scum bags’ precious surplus I bet. They shouted about the $2 billion but in the fine print the vast majority was for future financial years not this one. Between their malevolence and incompetence they’ll make sure people get sfa.
guytaur @ #1782 Friday, February 14th, 2020 – 5:24 pm
He’s never had to go head-to-head with someone with authenticity and integrity before. Those types just aren’t found in big-scale real estate. It could cause his brain to explode.
Bell
Yes. Even those promoting Bloomberg are using the genuine argument.
Sanders or unlikely Bloomberg win you have genuine against fake.
I noted BK’s broadband connectivity issues this morning.
… after Nbnco started rolling out in our area (like the surrounding area, or the other side of the street (another city council), just not here, yet till next month), we started having many more issues with out cable internet, intermittently.
Weird, because even over Wi-Fi our Telstra HFC/ cable internet – we do use Netflix/ Prime and don’t have FoxTel – seems to do better than 100/ 5 Mbps most of the time, and with very acceptable latency, jitter etc.
(About four years ago a Telstra comms tech changed a splitter in the grey Telstra utility box outside, it had been there at least that long.
Across the street has the cream Nbnco utility boxes on the outside.)
And the dropouts would make working from home quite difficult to the point we’re using our mobiles for calls rather than cable internet for screen sharing and the like.
So we now have three ways of getting around whatever is happening.
Intermittently we seem to have drop outs.
We don’t seem to drop our external IP address, but see internet down messages on our devices saying it has.
I have now set up a Wi-Fi guest network on the Telstra router/ modem, which uses Google DNS servers at 8.8.8.8 or 8.8.4.4 rather than the Telstra DNS servers we get through the router/ modem as standard on our regular home Wi-Fi. (It doesn’t seem to have such drop outs this way, work VPN or not.)
There are no visual indicators on the router/ modem.
And nothing in the logs.
Power is generally fine, we do not have a backup to what Energy Australia/ Ausgrid provides, beyond a solar chargeable USB charger for our mobiles.
If this persists I’ll just make this our primary configuration.
(After talking to fellow Dutchlinker Paul Budde, we’re still not going onto Nbnco for a while and have up to 18 months or so to switch.)
The second is the use of Telstra Air Wi-Fi, which then uses not our equipment but that of one of the neighbours in the area.
Worst case, third we fall back to a mobile hotspot of one of our mobiles. [Real soon now, we’ll probably consider a home wireless service. In our street SingTel Optus seems to have better signal than Telstra.]
Hope this helps …
At this point I don’t think many dems (and probably quite a few repugs) don’t care which Democrat wins, so long as everyone joins forces to defeat Trump when the time comes.
In some ways I wish we had a benevolent rich person in the ALP who could outspend the likes of Palmer because he will also do it again in 2 years if he is allowed to.
I think Trump says he’s afraid of Sanders because he sees him as the LEAST likely to beat him … apart from the women, of course.
ItzaDream @ #1759 Friday, February 14th, 2020 – 4:24 pm
Wasn’t thinking about you at all, Itza. I was referring to Mavis, who has been assailing my senses with more and more and more classical music clips than I can bear! Mainly because a lot of them are of Joan Sutherland, one of the most Right Wing and political singers Australia has ever produced.
Anyway, I just thought if others can put their 2c worth in about females having a chat, I could throw my hat in the ring and have my say about the divas, by being a bit of a diva myself! 😉
Jen
Trump said it in leaked audio after the 2016 election not just openly talking about it.
Sanders is the genuine article. The con mans greatest nightmare.
Administrators tend to talk a good game about persons etc being interested in buying assets etc and then its turns to liquidation
https://www.smh.com.au/national/buyers-swoop-on-calombaris-restaurants-20200214-p540yv.html
Just an ATO heads-up for anyone who administers a trust … (not sure if anyone does) but the new myGov ID system cannot link to trusts online (wasted 4 hours of my life in the last few weeks trying to link a trust so we can pay tax) going around in circles on the ATO website.
Finally gave up and rang them to discover it has to be done manually by their people because of th 3rd party aspect. Would have been nice if it said that on the site.
poroti @ #1785 Friday, February 14th, 2020 – 5:33 pm
Astonishing, isn’t it? And you’d have to wonder who that “one” was, wouldn’t you?
In your mind Guytaur … I’m not sure many, looking from afar at the US political situation, wholeheartedly agrees with you.
It is merely an opinion …. both yours and mine.
A book that may help some here.
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-populists-guide-to-2020-krystal-ball/1136255751
Shell bell
That’s not a psychiatrist that I would want a consultation with. LOL!
Shellbell @ #1784 Friday, February 14th, 2020 – 5:30 pm
Brian Wilshire!?!
Since when did he rise to the status of an Alt Right demigod!?!
Jen
Except I think Trump is telling the truth.
It also goes with common sense about genuine beating fake.
I think that makes it more likely I am right than you.
So far polling and elections tell us a lot of Democratic voters agree with me.