Way back between December 6 and 8, an online poll of 1016 respondents was conducted by Dynata for the Institute of Public Affairs covering myriad issues, results of which have been apportioned out piecemeal ever since. The latest serving seeks to counter the consistent finding of other pollsters that the nation’s most trusted news organisation is the ABC. The results have naturally been received with skepticism in some quarters, although asking respondents if they feel the ABC “does not represent the views of ordinary Australians” only seems dubious in that it’s framed in the negative for no clear reason. The poll found 30% in agreement with the proposition versus 32% who disagreed, leaving 38% on the fence.
The result has been elevated to a vote of no confidence in the organisation by Coalition Senator James McGrath (who I suspect might be surprised if he learned how many of its critics are on the left), while a News Corp report seizes on the result for the 18-24 age cohort to suggest the ABC has lost the esteem of the young. The latter overlooks a sub-sample size that would imply an error margin upwards of 10%. The survey period also predated the worst of the bushfires, which have presumably been good for the broadcaster’s public image. Previous results from the survey have covered the date for Australia Day, local councils making political statements and the powers of unelected bureaucrats and removing references to race from the Constitution.
Some news on state (and territory) affairs, including updates on two of the three by-election campaigns currently in progress, guides to which can be accessed on the sidebar:
• The Northern Territory by-election for the northern Darwin seat of Johnston will be held on February 29, an unwelcome development for Michael Gunner’s struggling Labor government ahead an election on August 22. Much attention was focused on the Greens’ decision to put Labor last on its how-to-vote cards, but it may also prove consequential that the Country Liberals have Labor ahead of the Territory Alliance, the new party formed by former CLP Chief Minister Terry Mills. The party’s candidate, Steven Klose, has been boosted by suggestions the party could emerge as the official opposition if it wins the seat, since it would have three seats to the Country Liberals’ two if Mills is joined by Klose and Jeff Collins, an ex-Labor independent who says he is a “50-50 chance” of joining the party. Tune in to the blog on Saturday for live results reporting with more bells and whistles than you might think the occasion properly demands.
• Labor’s candidate for Queensland’s Bundamba by-election will be Lance McCallum, a former Electrical Trades Union official and current executive director of the Just Transition Group, a government body to help energy workers whose jobs might be lost amid the transition to renewables. Michael McKenna of The Australian ($) reports McCallum was nominated unopposed after winning the endorsement of the Left, to which the seat is reserved under factional arrangements. A rival candidate for the Left faction’s ballot, Nick Thompson, had the backing of the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union, whose state secretary Michael Ravbar has disputed the legitimacy of the result. The only other known candidate is Sharon Bell of One Nation, who was the party’s federal candidate in Blair last year. No word on a Liberal National Party candidate, but The Australian reports the party is “expected to run”, despite the 21.6% Labor margin. Nominations close on Tuesday.
• A Tasmanian parliamentary committee report has recommended restoring the state’s House of Assembly to 35 seats, from which it was cut to 25 in 1998. Each of the state’s five electoral divisions have returned five members under the Hare-Clark proportional representation system, compared with seven seats previously. An all-party agreement was previously in place to do this in 2010 and 2011, before the then Liberal opposition under Will Hodgman withdrew support as a riposte to government budget cuts. No recommendations have been made in relation to the Legislative Council, which was cut from 19 to 15 in 1998, except insofar as the committee considered the possibility of it have dedicated indigenous seats.
Also, note below this one the latest guest post from Adrian Beaumont, covering recent developments involving the nationalist Sinn Finn party in Ireland and the far right Alternative fur Deutschland in Germany, along with yet another election in Israel.
That was a brilliant Australian story on Marlion Pickett. Has turned his life around, especially with the help of his partner.
Good on Richmond for taking the risk. The recruiters, Hardwick, Cotchin and Martin all deserve credit. Cannot wait see him play this year after a full preseason under bis belt.
Also look for lemon trees in front yards. A lemon really livens up a legume dish.
The one i sneezed on while picking one for dinner?
guytaur:
[‘Its going to be Bernie Sanders President or the Democrats are going to block Sanders ensuring Trump wins after the broken convention.’]
More correctly, a brokered convention if there’s not a plurality, where super delegates will count.
Mavis
Corporate Democrats have told the New York Times they are willing to damage the party and have President Trump to stop Bernie Sanders being the nominee.
There is no doubt about their aims.
Just listening to 730 and Leigh Sales helplessly flailing about trying to get a gotcha on Angus Taylor.
Taylor kept telling lies and Leigh did not have a good enough grasp of the facts to box him in – just kept going with a heap of frontal attacks which Taylor easily batted away.
Given that Taylor is basically a moron, what does this say about the 730 Report and its presenter?
Who was it that used to constantly intone on this blog “We are poorly served by the media in this country”?
Moi. Among many others, I’m sure 🙂
ajm
Taylor is not ‘basically a moron’.
Sales’ interview with Taylor on 7.30 tonight evidences that she did doesn’t have the ability to make a splash. Speers should replace her. Sales has the cut-through of a Tricia Goddard.
guytaur:
Monday, March 2, 2020 at 8:56 pm
That may well be the case, but I talking process.
Newsflash: thoughts from the Book of Scomo on fighting off the plague.
“The bible has taught us all what to do in the past when in these situations. Every family must gather together, kill a lamb, sprinkle the blood on their doorway…. vegetarians and electric car owners are an abomination before the lord and will not be spared.
There is no need for more medical resources or economic stimulus. God, and his earthly vessel Rupert Murdoch, have it all under control.”
frednk @ #1500 Monday, March 2nd, 2020 – 8:52 pm
You’re just a rind stole Cowboy, comrade.
Oakeshott Country @ #1493 Monday, March 2nd, 2020 – 8:35 pm
Because money is so important to bigots and people with stars in their eyes for bigots like Folau.
Mavis
I am talking about getting Trump out of office in what looks to be the only way left.
Thats a party not damaged supporting the nominee that voters chose the most delegates for.
Not Party Insiders over ruling what voters think through the ballot box have told the party to do.
No bringing back the backroom smoke filled business that got Trump elected in the first place.
@andrewwhiteau tweets
“Self-quarantine, get food and pharmacy items home delivered.”
These people have literally never had a single thought about people who are homeless, unemployed, or in precarious employment. It’s not even the whisper of a viable plan.
Interesting the Drum comments on the 17 page application for bushfire $$ ??
Lol, seems the Lib response is that they have to be careful with taxpayer funds.
Wot, careful like when they hand out a 1/2 Billion $ to their mates for the Barrier Reef, or Millions for water rights over water that doesn’t exist purely on a wink and a nod??
Lib / Nats and their ilk are lying arseholes and the people who keep supporting them the kind who will happily cheer on their corruption and filth.
Great tale tonight on “Australian Story”: Marlon Pickett.
“ Corporate Democrats have told the New York Times … ”
More smudging blah blah from a usual suspect. If you replace ‘Corporate Democrats” with “actual Democrats” or just “Democrats” when the rest of what you said might bear some resemblance to honesty and truth.
By hey, those concepts are flexible in the service of the great truth of Trotskyism ain’t they comrade commissar…
That said, given the fucking terrible, hopeless awful options still on the table I’m half hoping the old commie wins the nomination outright. … as much as I have grave concerns about the ultimate saleability to middle America of Sanders brand of snake oil, I just can’t warm to dopey Sleepy Joe frigging Biden (unless he wins of course then #imwithjoe 100%)
“ Sales’ interview with Taylor on 7.30 tonight evidences that she did doesn’t have the ability to make a splash. Speers should replace her. Sales has the cut-through of a Tricia Goddard.”
Give her a break. Leigh and all the other cadet reporter witches at the Daily Prophet are still grieving over the disappearance of Gilderoy Lockhart …
Joe may look and sound like a Madame Tussaud’s waxwork but he’s the best chance the Dems have unless they draft Ms. Winfrey.
Andrew Earlwood
I am using US terminology.
Used by the Front Runner in the Primary Campaign and Media outlets.
Your defence of those that prefer four more years of Trump rather than President Sanders is very very revealing.
Murdoch’s reactionaries will be having apoplexy at tonight’s Qanda 😆
And basketball is the most boring of all.
The mood inside the White House is reported to have also shifted. Inside sources told the Washington Post there was chaos inside the Government marked by infighting, confusion and misinformation.
“It’s complete chaos,” a senior administration official told the newspaper. “Everyone is just trying to get a handle on what the f**k is going on.”
The rise in cases over the weekend has led to worried Americans swarming stores to stock up on basic goods such as bottled water, canned foods and toilet paper.
As the fallout continued, Vice President Mike Pence and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar sought to reassure the American public that the Federal Government was working to make sure state and local authorities were able to test for coronavirus. Both said during a round of TV talk show appearances on Sunday that thousands more kits to test for coronavirus had been distributed to state and local officials, with thousands more to come.
“They should know we have the best public health system in the world looking out for them,” Mr Azar said, adding that additional cases will be reported and the overall risk to Americans is low.
As Americans prepared, researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre and the University of Washington on Sunday said they had evidence the coronavirus might have been circulating in the state for up to six weeks undetected – a finding that, if true, could mean hundreds of undiagnosed cases in the area. The research was not published in a scientific journal or reviewed by other scientists.
The bravery and courage of that woman to go on live national TV and share her harrowing story.
The one sport I find boring is American baseball. It is one of those things that is better to be doing than watching.
The Pickett story is not unusual in the sense sport gives people the chance for redemption while other parts of society are more closed minded.
The head of the World Health Organisation has urged everyone over the age of 60 to avoid crowded areas including trains, buses and even supermarkets to prevent catching coronavirus.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also urged people in this age group to skip routine appointments at GP surgeries and in hospitals.
The WHO director general told his 500,000 Twitter followers: “If you are 60+, or have an underlying condition like cardiovascular disease, a respiratory condition or diabetes, you have a higher risk of developing severe #COVID19. Try to avoid crowded areas, or places where you might interact with people who are sick.”
He also said: “It’s normal & understandable to feel anxious, especially if your country or community has been affected by #COVID19. Seek official sources of info to protect yourself, loved ones & your community. Plan on how to stay safe at work, school or your place of worship.”
Jeez I hope that smart, together Americans have got a handle on COVID-19. My son flies out to Arizona on Thursday! 😯
Bucephalus would no doubt be shocked with tonight’s “Four Cornes” by adhering to its Charter.
“ Used by the Front Runner in the Primary Campaign and Media outlets.”
So 100% factual.
Can I interest you in a bridge Guytaur? Reasonably priced. Unencumbered and with harbour views …
C@t:
I found this article fascinating – about a white, educated, suburban woman in the deep south and her life living among Trumpists, including her husband!
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/02/29/mirandas-rebellion/?arc404=true
Anyone whose business was bushfire affected, and has tried to access the recovery grants, knows that “speeding up the process” very likely just means your application will be rejected faster …
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-02/government-concedes-bushfire-grants-taking-too-long/12018560
It does not mean that more money will actually end up being distributed 🙁
https://www.pollbludger.net/2020/02/28/institute-can-disparage/comment-page-31/#comment-3351209
Hunter Biden has made his father unelectable, through his cushy employment. If his father gets the nomination, the Democrats will be cut down by the same type of drain the swamp campaign that cut down Clinton over her emails.
If by some miracle Biden actually won, he would spend so much time actively trying to compromise with the Republicans and selling out to appear to compromise (just like he did as Vice-President, only much worse), the Democrats would be unelectable in 2024 and be vulnerable to Donald/Ivanka Trump.
Andrew Earlwood
Yes. I don’t believe the quotes given to the New York Times were lies.
You may not like Sanders and US media terminology but the article said it all. Super delegates willing to damage the party and see four more years of Trump rather than have a President Sanders.
It was very very clear.
That Lehmo guy was on the Footy Show. No wonder I’ve never heard of him.
Fessy
Only in its last year, the guy has been around for years on various comedy or light entertainment shows like the Project.
guytaur says:
Monday, March 2, 2020 at 9:13 pm
@andrewwhiteau tweets
“Self-quarantine, get food and pharmacy items home delivered.”
These people have literally never had a single thought about people who are homeless, unemployed, or in precarious employment. It’s not even the whisper of a viable plan.
You think, the best help anyone can give is stay out of the medical system when the peak hits.
The homeless do have access to support services and these plans are usually aimed at the mainstream then other services are incorporated.
EDIT: just realised the tweet came from a Brit so maybe different.
“ Super delegates willing to damage the party and see four more years of Trump rather than have a President Sanders.”
Life long democrats see it differently. They see 10 million folk who turned out for Hillary not turning out for Sanders.
What is often forgotten in the fog of war is that the folk that comprise the super delegate cadre are actually responsible for the Sanders project. They are the ones who opened up the nomination to all comers. They are the ones who changed the party rules to allow just about any registered voter the opportunity to vote in the primaries and participate in the caucuses (a few states always allowed that admittedly). They are the ones who changed the rules to do away with winner takes all on the pledged delegate count for each state in favour of a proportional system.
This ‘democratisation’ was meant to inspire folk back into politics. Too create a mass movement and capture the changing demographics of America. All that has happened is that they have nursed a viper to the party’s breast. Sanders hasn’t brought a mass movement to the party: he’s carved out a niche. His numbers have actually gone backwards since 2016. The mass participation in the 2020 race is slightly up on 2016, but still down on 2008.
This is a disaster all round. No wonder actual real life long democrats are keeping their options open in the unfortunate event of a brokered convention.
AE
Still defending the people with self interest protecting their jobs not the party I see.
They said it. Quotes. Damage the party. Four more years of Trump.
Stuff the Democrat voters
A big finger to those voters.
Mexican:
If his contributions to Qanda are any indication, then he was wasted on the Footy Show.
Australia is .5% off joining the negative interest rate club with the 2-year at that level.
Fessy
He suited the show as his humor isn’t that funny and he is a Hawthorn supporter. I met him once after a gig at the Espy and he was a nice guy.
Tom the first and best @ #1531 Monday, March 2nd, 2020 – 10:09 pm
This has to win the Cray Cray Comment of the Day Award. Honestly, some people will convince themselves of anything!
Confessions @ #1529 Monday, March 2nd, 2020 – 10:03 pm
Thank you, ‘fess. Donald Trump has sent the whole world Cra-zy! And it’s hard to know which way is up any more, let alone stay sane when all around you are losing their minds!
C@t
Yep. That gets my vote too.
Anyhoo as things stand at present a
Biden/Harris ticket is looking promising
I thought the UK result would convince people that the chances of electing a real left leader in the USA was never going to happen. I can’t see Sanders ever being POTUS.
A lot of people ignoring polling data on this site.
Any that says Sanders cannot beat Trump are wilfully ignoring polling in favour of their prejudiced belief.
Sanders has won 65 out of 70 polling match ups in head to head polls. The best indication we have.
https://www.pollbludger.net/2020/02/28/institute-can-disparage/comment-page-31/#comment-3351236
The people who think that Hunter Binden won`t bring down his father are usually the people who thought the emails weren`t going to bring down Clinton in 2016, for the same reasons. If Biden gets the nominations, the are far more likely than not to be wrong again for mostly the same reasons.
Biden is far to centrist and naively bipartisan (in the face of Republican mono-partisanship) to get enough Democratic things done to inspire enough voters to vote for the Democratic nominee in 2024. Obama and Biden not being aggressive enough with the Republicans helped open the way for Trump, Biden in the Whitehouse would do the same again.
Confessions
says:
Monday, March 2, 2020 at 10:27 pm
Mexican:
If his contributions to Qanda are any indication, then he was wasted on the Footy Show.
_______________________
Middle Class people abhorred the Footy Show.
The Republicans have already said they will be impeaching Biden if he is elected President.