Essential Research continues to disappoint on the voting intention front, but its latest fortnightly poll does include its monthly leadership ratings, which record a recovery in Scott Morrison’s personal standing after the battering it copped during the bsuhfires. Morrison now leads Anthony Albanese 40-35 as preferred prime minister after being tied 36-36 in the last poll, which his first lead out of the six sets of results published so far this year (three apiece from Essential and Newspoll). His approval rating is up two to 41% and disapproval down three to 49%, while Albanese is respectively steady on 41% and up two to 33%.
As related by The Guardian, the poll also finds 71% want investigations into sports rorts to continue, but I suspect that should actually say 51%, as 43% favoured the alternative option that the resignation of Sports Minister Bridget McKenzie should be the end of the matter. The poll also has the unsurprising finding that concern about coronavirus is growing, although we will have to wait for the publication of the full report later today to see by how much.
Other questions produce familiar findings on energy sources (71% favour further taxpayer research into renewables, compared with 57% for hydrogen, 50% for “clean coal” and 38% for nuclear energy) and economic management (the Coalition was rated better overall, but was also seen to favour big business whereas Labor was better at managing the economy to benefit workers). The poll was conducted from 1096 respondents from an online panel, no doubt from Thursday to Sunday.
UPDATE: Full report here. It turns out the poll doesn’t really find an increase in concern about coronavirus over the past month: there’s a two point increase in “very concerned” to 27%, but a five point drop in “quite concerned” to 36%, a two point rise in “not all that concerned” to 28% and a three point increase in “not at all concerned” to 9%. I’d have been interested to see breakdowns by party support on this – Democrats in the US are far more concerned than Republicans – but no such luck.
Potent words from someone who knows.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1238865202868883461
lizzie @ #3321 Sunday, March 15th, 2020 – 2:29 pm
Umm, is the person ill or just another healthy worried?
Latest photo from Hillsong conference
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/mar/15/coronavirus-latest-updates-trump-tests-negative-as-spain-orders-nationwide-lockdown-uk-us-australia-italy-europe-global-economy#img-1
Confessions @ #3291 Sunday, March 15th, 2020 – 3:07 pm
Yes, but it’s far too late. The time for this was weeks ago.
Cud Chewer
I agree with you that there are almost certainly many more cases than we know of, and it most certainly is not pointless to speculate on how many true cases there are. But I would ask is it really necessary to estimate how many people have the virus now to make a judgement what to do? I’d be thinking it is just as useful to ask if our testing is as accurate as other countries were when they recorded similar numbers of cases and looking at their data in conjunction with the measures that they have taken.
For instance, if our testing is the equivalent of Spain and France then we are where those two countries were on the 4th March. France imposed similar measures to us around the same time, then universities and schools were shut on the 12th March and more measures taken since.
If we just assume that we’re not special, which should be the starting point, then it’s pretty clear that we need to take more drastic action this week. We’ll have no choice next week.
What an unmitigated debacle this is.
sex in public is still fine if you’re been tested and quarantined for 48 hours and tested again.
I am making a large curry, realised I needed a few more items for it, and went to Coles, Booragoon.
Got there at 10.50 am and there was a crowd of at least 150 people out the front, waiting for the store to open it’s shutters.
When the shutters opened, there was a mad charge by nearly all the people there to the paper isle, and most that I saw came out carrying two or more 32 roll packages. They then rushed to the cashier isles, probably so they couldn’t be mugged on the way, only to be told one package was the limit and to leave any others with the cashier!
And the masks! About a quarter of the mob wore masks of different varieties. One woman even wore a full white hazard suit, covering her whole body, with mask and eye covering glasses.
Bizarre.
citizen @ #3350 Sunday, March 15th, 2020 – 1:09 pm
Now that is a bridge too far!
I have always been a bit unsure where Peter van Onselen stood politically –
He’s always given sensible and balance commentary when I’ve read him or seen him interviewed or participating in panels.
I think that his political outlook is Centre-Right – Centrist / Moderate Liberal.
Nathan
Its pretty clear to me that at the very least the government messaging should be about social isolation. The ads should be saying clearly “Don’t go out unless necessary, stay at home, work from home if possible. Now”.
Instead all they’re saying is wash your hand and not even saying for how long.
citizen says:
Sunday, March 15, 2020 at 4:09 pm
“It’s all common-sense.”
This morning it was common sense that it was fine to shake hands. PvO was an ‘armchair expert’ for refusing to shake hands with the CMO.
Now it is ‘common sense’ not to shake hands.
What changed in less than 7 hours to make something that was common sense not common sense now?
Morrison sales gabble is not standing up very well to the Virus.
Masks?
You want to wear masks in public?
https://www.google.com/search?q=images+of+burquas&client=firefox-b-d&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=sSqwPivubUxGtM%253A%252C6IoQBLENlkzezM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kQDx0dCHClzJUQBgWujrn7IjA31Zw&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi9zJD53JvoAhXoILcAHW1fBcsQ9QEwA3oECAoQGQ#imgrc=sSqwPivubUxGtM:
My opinion of Morrison is that he is a follower, of one thing or another. And he’s not very good at that.
Steve777 @ #3361 Sunday, March 15th, 2020 – 4:13 pm
Since the overthrow of Turnbull I would say that PVO’s tweets have been at least 95% anti-Coalition. Maybe more.
Yeah.. PVO was so smitten by Turnbull
I also remember PVO telling us how wonderful FTTN was too. Idiot.
Cud Chewer @ #3358 Sunday, March 15th, 2020 – 3:12 pm
Full face masks would be even more advisable than in the past.
More anti Morrison than anti Liberal.
The pr..k always leaves the door open for his return to the Liberal fold.
Boerwar
From the the beginning of the month there were headlines around the world re “no hand shakes” so a typically piss poor effort from GHunt+Scrott .
I think it would be very telling if we knew whether Morrison attended Hillsong or his local gathering during the hours we couldn’t see him.
Re washing glasses. I think I’ll resume my previous habit. This eye infection is really annoying. Got anti-biotic drops and cream. It’s better but still not gone. Day 3.
Late Riser I agree the lenses are so much clearer than just using a cloth.
“scotty from marketing” latest hint of un-Australian if we don’t survive corona will surely lead to a downfall parody.
It’s Time @ #3367 Sunday, March 15th, 2020 – 4:23 pm
Porn finds a new fetish to exploit.
I wish we had some more PvOs.
I am glad that Speers kept coming back to the core questions despite serious attempts by Hunt to dictate the interview frame.
I am glad that Speers forced Hunt to provide political cover for Murphy because it is what we need to know: Murphy is a political player, not an independent medical scientist giving independent medical advice.
I am glad that PvO made Murphy and Hunt look like fools. Because they ARE fools who will end up killing lots of us with the political tomfoolery.
Boerwar @ #3364 Sunday, March 15th, 2020 – 3:17 pm
All is revealed! It’s ISIS payback. Soon they will be able to walk among us unnoticed.
“ And this is the photo from inside the Hillsong conference Scotty from Marketing couldn’t bear to cancel“
Any one fancy a Corona Extra lager with Jesus?
Morrison was obviously referring to dogging.
Peeps, according to the most corrupt prime minister since Federation you can dog as much as you like but make sure you apply common sense when so doing.
Excellent. Thanks GG.
Only…. the paralysis isnt just for fear of being wrong. It is partly incompetence. And partly that some of our leaders first consideration is self -politics (that is how they go there in the first place). And that leads to delays, mixed messaging….
There are too many opinions,from abc non medical .if they listen only to the cheif medical you get the same message wash wash & wash.how many panelist have that vote nlp should say what Policelink party they vote for before they give opinion
Is it time to form armed neighborhood gangs for the protection of life and property yet?
I clearly remember PVO endorsing Rann for one election.
Confessions @ #3323 Sunday, March 15th, 2020 – 3:32 pm
The ultimate problem with Morrison is that he honestly believes that a glib one liner will cut it.
People want information atm and all he provides is BS.
nath @ #3381 Sunday, March 15th, 2020 – 3:31 pm
Yes, preferably in groups of 500 or more. Shake eachothers hands and get up close and personal.
Simon Katich
The main message I took from the video was that unless you move fast, the virus will always win.
Boerwar says: Sunday, March 15, 2020 at 4:27 pm
I am glad that PvO made Murphy and Hunt look like fools. Because they ARE fools who will end up killing lots of us with the political tomfoolery.
*********************************************************
SO TRUE Boerwar – the bottom line is many Australians are going to * pay with their lives * due to the incompetence and arrogance of Morrison, the CMO and Hunt
….. all overseas experts – from Italy and wherever agree – the ONLY way to CONTROL this is to initiate a TOTAL LOCKDOWN NOW !!!!!!…..
PVO has done a lot more heavy lifting on water buybacks, sports rorts and even reefgate than almost any of the usual MSM suspects. Surprised he’s not looked on more favourably by the Bludgertariat.
Still doing his penance for his anti-Gillard days I suspect.
FWIW
What is going wrong and why:
1. The Morrison Government has consistently prioritized economic outcomes over health outcomes. They have been unable to satisfactorily resolve the logical inconsistencies involved in this. The practical outcome has been too little too late in the health space.
2. The Morrison Government has continued its politicization of every last thing. This has slowed responses and it has compromised responses.
3. The Morrison Government has been unable to lead at a national level. It is now four months since the Virus first happened. After four months they form a War Cabinet. They show their FIRST ad.
4. The Morrison Government is constitutionally incapable of listening to scientific advice. They know better. We have seen this with climate science, with the science of water management in the MDB, with the science of fires management and now we are seeing it with the Virus management.
5. The Morrison Government has continued its 7 year habit of working one rule for the Morrison Government and its mates, and one rule for everyone else. See: Dutton, Frydenberg, Payne and see: ignoring the advice on the CMO on banning travel from Italy.
6. The Morrison Government is corrupt. It pissed away billions of illegally approved funds to buy a corrupted election. Everything it touches is corrupted by this basic corruption. Corrupt leaders can’t lead because people know they are corrupt and won’t trust them to tell the truth.
phoenixRED
Re earlier and people wailing about waiting hours to be processed at yankee airports. What is the problem ? What was described sounded pretty SOP for voters in US elections. 🙂
lizzie @ #3386 Sunday, March 15th, 2020 – 4:33 pm
The Government also needs to be prepared to be wrong because they are over zealous or seemingly too harsh.
This weekend has been a potential disaster for the Government. They have allowed large gatherings to continue in NSW whether that be ARL, the Horse Races and this big Religious conference.
I urge other PBers to look at the example of what happened to Philidelphia as opposed to Saint Loius regarding the “Spanish Flu” in 1918 which I posted earlier today. If there is a spike in contagion and deaths in NSW then the shit will really fly for Morrison.
One of the startling facts to come out of Insiders this morning was that the stimulus package was timed to cut in on 1 April.
Why?
No, not April Fool’s Day!
Because the Government wants to avoid the approbrium of two negative growth quarters in a row, aka, a technical recession. They are assuming a first quarter recession. They want to save their miserable reputations from having a second quarter recession.
The right decision would be to move big and move early. Rudd and Swan were right. Morrison and Frydenberg are wrong. Big wrong.
But that does not suit their fucking political egos.
Spray
Not just his anti-Gillard activities, but his idiotic sycophancy for fraudband.
Someone mentioned Zoono hand and surface sanitiser the other day. I looked it up and ordered some.
Here is an interesting interview with the owner.
https://www.eurekareport.com.au/investment-news/zoono-group-spraying-away-coronavirus/146867
I wish I was into shares and had bought some of these.
No-one is perfect. We all fuck up in our judgements.
PvO is one of the few ‘The Australian’ journos who speaks truth to power.
Can’t say better than that, IMO.
“ The Morrison Government has consistently prioritized economic outcomes over health outcomes.”
This is the main point I’ve been making for over a week now, except I go further: the government needs to prioritise people’s real life existence over economic outcomes.
That means big payments to businesses, directly to independent contractors and casuals to compensate for lost turnover, remuneration and salaries.
This means a coordinated home delivery ‘care package’ delivery programme for those who should be self isolating now – instead of allowing the ‘lord of the flies’ mentalists to take over our shopping centres and allowing the ‘private market’ sort out home deliveries (fun fact – can’t get a woollies home delivery order actually delivered until the end of the week, instead of next day. I assume Coles and Aldi are in the same boat).
Before we start think about rebuilding the conomy via stimulus the government should come clean and realise that $100 billion in ex gratia payments and free support needs to laid down over the next 4-6 months.
That’s right: $100 billion.
You won’t see that from this feckless mob though.
Puffy
I did. Its a fascinating bit of chemical engineering.
Cud Chewer says:
Sunday, March 15, 2020 at 4:43 pm
Spray
Not just his anti-Gillard activities, but his idiotic sycophancy for fraudband.
__________
Also, for a Professor of Politics his understanding of the differences between socialism and fascism is quite poor.
GG
This government can never admit they’re wrong. Weak, shilly-shallying, always making the wrong call, and then blaming us. I can’t think of anything they’ve done to prevent more damage to communities.