The latest fortnightly poll from Essential Research finds 75% support for a net zero carbon pollution target by 2050, with only 25% opposed; 32% wishing to see coal-fired power plants phased out as soon as possible and another 47% wanting an end to subsidies and government support, compared with 21% wanting government support for both existing and new plants; and 80% support for the government preventing people entering the country from China due to coronavirus, with only 6% opposed. There are further questions and breakdowns in the report, but not a lot to get excited about on the whole – I can only beseech the pollster to bite the bullet and get back in the voting intention game.
To add more meat to this post, I will instead probe deeper into the report on the political impact of the bushfires published last week by the Australian National University’s Centre for Social Research and Methods. This was based on a regular panel survey conducted by the centre on a roughly quarterly basis, largely dealing with questions such as satisfaction with governments, public institutions and life in general. Since most of the respondents had also completed previous surveys, the report is able to explore changes in voting intention and attitudes over time. On this occasion, the survey was supplemented by questions on respondents’ exposure to the bushfires.
The study found a slump in electoral support for the Coalition, from 42.6% in the October survey to 37.2%, with Labor up from 33.7% to 35.8%, the Greens up from 14.4% to 14.7% (which is obviously too high at both ends) and others up from 9.3% to 11.2% (after excluding non-respondents, of which there were 5.1% in October and 6.6% in January). However, it did not find evidence that the fall in Coalition support was particularly pronounced among those who had been exposed to the bushfires.
Some of the factors that did associate with defection from the Coalition suggest an intensification of trends evident at the election, with university-educated voters more likely to have abandoned the Coalition and voters aged 75 and over less likely to have done so. However, the Coalition had a particular drop in support outside capital cities, though not in a way that suggested exposure to the fires was the reason. Out of the sample of 618 Coalition defectors, 43.9% supported Labor, 14.3% the Greens and 24.7% others, with the remainder uncommitted.
Consistent with the findings of the Ipsos Issues Monitor survey in January, the number of respondents rating environmental issues as the first or second most important facing the country rose from 41.5% in the October survey to 49.7%. For whatever reason, there was a significant effect here for indirect exposure to the bushfire (having friends or family whose properties were damaged or threatened, having travel plans affected, or exposure to smoke or anxiety), but not for direct exposure. However, as the report notes, what the survey registered as concern for environmental issues extended to blaming “the greenies” for the extent of the fires.
Support for new coal mines was down from 45.3% in the June survey to 37.0%, with the fall particularly pronounced among Coalition voters, down from 71.8% to 57.5%. However, those directly exposed to the bushfires who had expressed support for coal mines in June were relatively resistant to this trend.
Shocked by the price of refills for those “foaming” type handwashes, I started using a dilute solution (1:5) of washing-up detergent mixed with water.
It foams, washes and lasts just as long, just like the real thing, and costs a few cents.
When Her Indoors asked for an antiseptic version I tried substituting the water with metho. Didn’t work straight away (the ethanol in metho seems to denture the detergent somewhat), but a 50:50 dilution did the trick.
So now we have nice foaming anti-bacterial hand wash, about 50% detergent-50% ethanol, that costs peanuts.
Doesn’t stink either, or rather, There are so many conflicting odours that your nose gets confused.
Needs to be rinsed off, though.
Generally on COVID-19 precautions: antiseptic handwashes and P2 masks should be subsidized by the government while the crisis lasts. They are FAR too expensive for what they are.
Of course, the Pharmacy Guild (Lib donors) may have something to say about that.
shellbell @ #645 Thursday, February 27th, 2020 – 7:50 am
But not with funding that was deemed needed by the regions. 🙂
Speaking with reporters, US President Donald Trump has praised the US government’s response to coronavirus so far and says “we’re very very ready” for whatever shape the outbreak takes.
Trump said he is working with the Democrats in Congress and while he hopes spending to combat the virus will not need to exceed $2.5 billion, if Congress wants to allocate that money “we’ll take it.”
He said Vice President Pence will lead the US response to the virus and the threat to the American public is “very low”.
He said China’s President Xi is also “working very very hard” and the situation is improving there.
beguiledagain @ #650 Thursday, February 27th, 2020 – 9:55 am
Yes.
However the deficit over 10 years is actually $12.5 trillion. As per the post you originally quoted:
So the per year would be $1.25 trillion. Which is fairly significant even for the U.S..
Frednk
Neithe Norway (ever) nor Sweden (recently) have done anything like “white label” socialism or anything else -ism. Instead of being guided by ideology they are guided by experience and experiment and end up with policies from all over the place. Mostly the’d regard the reduction of policy to single labels as a tiger pathetic undergraduate activity.
Interesting to hear Zimmerman on ABC Newsradio just this morning claiming that there’d been a terrible mistake: the FOI documents re. North Sydney pool were wrong. The $10 million hadn’t come out of a regional fund after all!
So, everything was perfectly proper, fair-dinkum, ridgey-didge, straight down the line and above the board..
Contrast this with the rather elaborate argument from North Sydney Council last night on 7.30. The Mayor of North Sydney seemed in no doubt as to both the “regional” purpose of the funds, and the “regional” nature of her pool. You could practically smell the cow shit and lanolin as she waxed on lyrically regarding her rustic municipality.
BK @ #644 Thursday, February 27th, 2020 – 9:16 am
🙂
Bushfire Bill @ #651 Thursday, February 27th, 2020 – 9:26 am
A 4 litre bottle of metho is not expensive (about $15), and goes a long way when diluted to 60% in a spray bottle.
No doubt something the Guild don’t want advertised. 🙂
Mundo
Given the demographics of his electorate and the number of “yummy mummies” walking around, it would be astonishing if there are not multiple pictures of Mr Frydenberg at some sort of Yoga event, perhaps even with beans and a visible “wellbeing” sign
Bushfire Bill @ #640 Thursday, February 27th, 2020 – 11:07 am
So, who’s telling the truth? And which one will resign for telling a flat-out lie? They can’t both be right.
EVER SINCE Labor’s surprise loss in last year’s Federal Election, the party has been in full retreat from its commitment to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement
This is false. It is just another Green-tinted lie about Labor.
RI @ #660 Thursday, February 27th, 2020 – 11:14 am
Evidence says otherwise, I’m afraid.
Player One @ #661 Thursday, February 27th, 2020 – 8:19 am
“Evidence”????
Don’t you mean your opinion!
There was never going to be a surplus in the first, just the delusional fever dream of one by the LNP.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-27/government-budget-surplus-threatened-by-coronavirus/12002704?section=politics
Expanding Parliamentry language.
The Guardian blog
ABCFactcheck checks the latest “expert petition” claiming that climate change is false. Sure enough, it is the denials, and claims of expertise by the skeptics that are false.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-27/who-are–scientists-professionals-who-say-no-climate-emergency/11734966
This is nothing new. But given the amount of money at stake, and the many falsehoods now told, at what point do anti-climate change stunts like this become fraudulent? You can have any opinion you like, but if a mining engineer claims to be a climate scientist, then that is a lie. If paid to do so, or motivated by a personal financial interest, is it fraud?
Confessions says: Thursday, February 27, 2020 at 10:10 am
Has Victoria been around lately? I haven’t seen her for a while.
**********************************************
Hi Confessions – I have been away from the computer all morning and not sure if someone may have already answered but Victoria popped in briefly yesterday – with news of a death in the family :
Victoria says: Wednesday, February 26, 2020 at 2:38 pm
It’s been a crappy few days. My cousin in Italy whom I had the pleasure of spending some time when I visited 18 months ago was killed in a tractor accident on his ppty. He was a true gentleman, hard working and quietly spoken and much loved by his family. Sigh……
soc
You pose an interesting question:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraud
Will washing hands in whisky do the trick?
‘We’re pretty soon only going to be 5 people’: Trump says he reduced risk of coronavirus by shutting down flights
President Donald Trump addressed the nation Wednesday afternoon, uring people to be calm as the coronavirus approached a global pandemic, and the stock market continued to drop.
When speaking to the nation, Trump began by complimenting his “very smart people” who briefed him on the virus.
Trump also downplayed the number of people who have the disease, saying there are really only 15 people and “we’re pretty soon only going to be five people.” Thus far, there are 60 people with the disease, according to reports.
https://www.rawstory.com/2020/02/were-pretty-soon-only-going-to-be-5-people-trump-says-he-reduced-risk-of-coronavirus-by-shutting-down-flights/
Shellbell:’It’s an obvious candidate for funding.’
Like so many regional swimming pools I guess.
The issue is, these funds were earmarked for regions and it went to the city.
Is it a case of ‘over-marketing’ the name of the fund and then got caught out when the money went to where they wanted it to go in the first place.
Boerwar
I believe the Scots have great faith in the ability of whisky to ward off all infections.
E. G. Theodore @ #658 Thursday, February 27th, 2020 – 11:11 am
Now that’s what I’m talking about, imagine Albo letting loose with that……maybe leave out the yummy mummy bit….
Boerwar says:
Thursday, February 27, 2020 at 11:39 am
Will washing hands in whisky do the trick?
______________________________
That question is false. I request that you wash your hands with metho and sterilize your keyboard for uttering such blasphemy!
EG Theodore (and Frednk)
“ Neithe Norway (ever) nor Sweden (recently) have done anything like “white label” socialism or anything else -ism. Instead of being guided by ideology they are guided by experience and experiment and end up with policies from all over the place. Mostly the’d regard the reduction of policy to single labels as a tiger pathetic undergraduate activity.”
Not sure where you get your information on Sweden from? The Social Democrats are still the largest party in Sweden, and current government and PM. The Middle Way still describes a fairly explicit ideology that has existed in most Scandionavian countries sicne the 1920s. This has always included a capitalist consumer goods sector, publicly provided essential services, and high tax rates to pay for that. I would have said Fred’s description was fairly accurate. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweden:_The_Middle_Way
Denmark has become more conservative recently, perhaps that is what you were thinking of? But even Denmark has policies way to the left of Australian politics.
‘Making Washington more stupid’: Morning Joe buries Trump for hiring ‘political dupes’ to fight coronavirus
MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough on Wednesday unloaded on President Donald Trump for larding his administration with unqualified hacks at a time when the United States faces the possibility of a mass outbreak of the coronavirus.
“You have Donald Trump… firing just about every competent person in his administration and hiring one acting secretary after another acting secretary,” he said. “These people who are political dupes, who are loyal to Donald Trump, but that’s the only thing they have going for them.”
https://www.rawstory.com/2020/02/making-washington-more-stupid-morning-joe-buries-trump-for-hiring-political-dupes-to-fight-coronavirus/
“Scott Morrison won the last election because he convinced Australian voters he was a superior economic manager.
If Morrison is to have any hope of winning in 2022 — or even of heading of a leadership spill by Treasurer John Frydenberg — he now has to prove it.”
Interesting Paul Williams wrote this in the Courier Mail. I just can’t see Josh Frydenberg challenging under any circumstances. Taking over Abbott/Turnbull/Morrison/Frydenberg government would be a dogs breakfast. Surely the Australian public would have had enough by then and would vote them out. Mind you I was thinking that before the last federal election with the Liberals having Newscorp on their side anything is possible.
Scott Morrison has tightened the rules as well so its alot harder to dispose a Prime Minister in the Liberal party.
Trump Melts Down And Blames The Democratic Debate For Stock Market Plummet
Trump admitted the real reason why he held the Coronavirus press conference as he blamed the stock market plummet on the Democratic debate.
Trump said, “I think the financial markets are very upset when they look at the Democrat candidates standing on that stage making fools out of themselves, and they say we have to have a president like this, and there’s always a possibility. It’s an election, you know, who knows what happens? I think we’re going to win. I think we’re going to win by a lot, but when they look at the statements made by the people standing behind those podiums, I think it has an effect, yes.”
https://www.politicususa.com/2020/02/26/trump-melts-down-and-blames-the-democratic-debate-for-stock-market-plummet.html
Frednk
“ Socialism and communism are very different things, as anyone from Norway and Sweden can tell you. Bit like capitalism as implemented in China and Australia.”
Yes, from personal experience and study I think that is correct. I really wish political pundits would stop mixing up labels of political/democratic and economic systems. You can have a socialist democracy (e.g Sweden) and a capitalist dictatorship (e.g. Chile under Pinochet) and vice versa. I know which one I would rather live in.
As Russia after the fall of communism proved in a bad way, introducing capitalism does not guarantee democracy or freedom. IMO neo-liberalism is one of the enemies of personal freedom. Revolutionary socialism (Marxist Leninist) proved deeply undemocratic. It had very little in common with the democratic socialism common in Sweden.
Boerwar @ #669 Thursday, February 27th, 2020 – 10:09 am
I suppose being bludgeoned to death by outraged whisky lovers renders one immune to life-threatening infections.
Barney in Tanjung Bunga @ #662 Thursday, February 27th, 2020 – 11:21 am
Is it just “my opinion” that Labor dumped all their climate change and energy policies after their election loss? I think not.
All Labor has done recently is renew their commitment to the Paris Agreement – as indeed they should, unless they intend to withdraw from the agreement.
The article points out that this is fine, but is not particularly laudable. The article concludes:
I don’t understand why anyone would find this at all controversial. I thought (as I said) that the article was quite even-handed.
What is very telling, however, is looking at who here jumps down your throat when you try to discuss the issue at all.
Alpha Zero @ #674 Thursday, February 27th, 2020 – 8:44 am
There are some whiskies were this would finally give them a useful purpose.
Thai whisky, actually a rum, and all bourbons for a start. 🙂
steggall’s a barrister & wilkie’s a seasoned parliamentarian, so i’m inclined to the view that the choice of a five yearly reporting period which does not coincide with the 3 year parliamentary term is not accidental or oversight on their part. if parliament thinks otherwise, it can debate the point & move amendments, should the bill come up for debate.
personally i don’t think it should matter. in fact, given the enabling legislation is intended to be non-partisan in purpose & operation, and given the advisory authority established under the legislation is meant to base its advice on relevant rational knowledge, i can see no good reason to make the advisory authority’s reporting period coincide with election cycles, and some good arguments that it indeed ought not to coincide with election cycles. anyway, senators serve for six years, don’t they?
-regards, a.v.
Socrates says: Thursday, February 27, 2020 at 11:52 am
Frednk
“ Socialism and communism are very different things, as anyone from Norway and Sweden can tell you. Bit like capitalism as implemented in China and Australia.”
****************************************************************
Remember the old 2 cows explanation of all the politics :
Socialism: You have two cows. The government takes one and gives it to your neighbour.
Communism: You have two cows. You give them to the government, and the government then gives you some milk.
Fascism: You have two cows. You give them to the government, and the government then sells you some milk.
Capitalism: You have two cows. You sell one and buy a bull.
Nazism: You have two cows. The government takes both and shoots you.
Greenism: Nobody has any cows.
Player One @ #681 Thursday, February 27th, 2020 – 8:56 am
It’s you opinion that Labor will hold a weaker position, there is no evidence to suggest this will be the case at the next election.
When Labor finish and release their new policy then we will be in a position to make that judgement.
You’re just pissed that Labor won’t conform to your wishes and release their final policy now.
PhoenixRed
Thanks. I think we could add a few modern interpretations:
Liberal Party policy: you have two cows, the government compulsorily acquires one, castrates it, then sells it to your neighbour for half the cost.
National Party policy: you have two cows, the government pays you for one, then gives it back to you as drought relief.
Boerwar
Thanks for the legal definition of fraud. Some mine owners and engineers telling lies about climate change to influence public policy must be running close to meeting it. We just need a litigant.
‘He has no clue’: Internet slams Trump’s ‘breathtaking’ incoherence at coronavirus press conference
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump gave a barely intelligible press conference on the coronavirus outbreak, during which he claimed he saved America by shutting down flights, appointed Vice President Mike Pence to lead a coronavirus task force despite having few qualifications to do so, suggesting his public health budget cuts are no big deal because he can just hire more doctors later, and insisting that it was Democrats, rather than the epidemic, that tanked the stock market this week.
Trump said coronavirus won’t spread — his scientists said the opposite right in front of him: Congresswoman
Press conference in brief :
Expert: Spread of coronavirus inevitable
Trump: I don’t think it’s inevitable
Expert: Vaccine a year to 18 months away
Trump: We’ll have a vaccine in fairly quick manner
Trump: We have to be on the same team
Trump: Nancy Pelosi is incompetent
— Chris Jansing
Putting Mike Pence in charge of combating the corona virus is like putting Trump in charge of a teenage beauty pageant — everything we know of their history shows this is a terrible idea.
— Charlotte Clymer
https://www.rawstory.com/2020/02/trump-said-coronavirus-wont-spread-his-scientists-said-the-opposite-right-in-front-of-him-congresswoman/
Capitalism: The bank has two cows. You have interest payments.
Barney in Tanjung Bunga @ #686 Thursday, February 27th, 2020 – 12:05 pm
Honestly! This has nothing to do with my opinion. I was simply quoting John Quiggan, who (in turn) was just pointing the fact that Labor had walked away from the policies that they took to the election. As far as I am aware, this is not in dispute. Is it?
You should perhaps read things a little more closely before commenting.
Morrisonism: The cows have a swimming pool.
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/26022020/climate-oceans-weather-fishing-gyres-gulf-stream-sea%20level
After reading this article, linked by Knonomex above…
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-27/government-budget-surplus-threatened-by-coronavirus/12002704
… it does bear thinking that perhaps Labor DID dodge a bullet last May.
Imagine LOTO ScoMo and Shadow Treasurer Josh (perhaps even spokesman on immigration, Mr Potato) pointing out that wasteful Labor, the world’s worst budget managers, had taken a $7 billion, rock-solid, money-in-the-bank, “Back-In-Black” Surplus and pissed it up against the various walls of over-the-top bushfire response, misuse of ADF resources, insulting behaviour towards our Chinese trading partners, over-reaction to COVID-19, lack of readiness for pandemic outbreaks etc. etc.
Instead of denying outright that they had been warned of the bushfire threat, the new Liberal-National opposition would be crowing about their detailed planning for such natural disasters (as evidenced by copious reports, briefing papers and risk assessments they had been just about to announce and implement in full, but were cruelly prevented from doing so by losing the election). We’d never know they planned to ignore them all. This is Alternative History, remember?
Every domestic case of COVID-19 would be blamed on Labor’s inertia in acting on standard disaster plans the Dutton was due to announce, say, last August, but for the election loss.
Any delays in bushfire relief to businesses would be trumpeted on the front pages of any Murdoch rag you cared to read. Labor’s unholy alliance with the Greens would have been put as preventing the vital back-burning necessary.
“It was all in our Bushfire Plan!” ScoMo would crow, “And Bill Shorten shredded it!”
The merest hint of a drought whinge from a farmer here or there would be amplified into the old yarn about how Labor hates The Bush, always has. Remember, the Drought wasn’t such a big thing back in May 2019. We didn’t know the winter rains were going to fail again, back then.
And in May 2020, when the Morrison-Frydenberg Surplus failed to appear, perhaps to the accompaniment of a quarter or two of negative growth, the cacophony would drown out even the finale to Mahler’s 8th (the bit with the extra eight trombones).
Remember how saving Australia from the GFC was spun into a monumental debt-and-deficit disaster?
Would Labor just “being in government” for its own sake, just in time for drought, fires, floods and coronavirus before even their first 12 months was up have been worth a reprise?
Bushfire Bill @ #694 Thursday, February 27th, 2020 – 12:28 pm
I never understand this type of comment. Sure, Labor may have dodged a bullet. But for that reason, the bullet hit us instead.
How is that better? 🙁
Player One @ #691 Thursday, February 27th, 2020 – 9:25 am
Weasel words.
So, your comment expressing an opinion wasn’t really your comment expressing your opinion! 😆
You’ve been reading too much Peg.
Good news for cows – it is all our fault!
https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2020-02-20/fossil-methane-anthropogenic-climate-change-human-contribution/11975396
Boerwar
“Morrisonism: The cows have a swimming pool.”
Or
Morrisonism: One cow goes to Hawaii, and the other cow denies all knowledge of it.
Barney in Tanjung Bunga @ #696 Thursday, February 27th, 2020 – 12:36 pm
The “opinion” I expressed was that I thought the article was “balanced”.
The rest, you just made up.
Time to leave the rabbit hole.
Bye! 🙂