For all that our world may have changed over the past three weeks, Newspoll has not: The Australian reports the latest result has Labor’s lead steady at 51-49. There has, however, been primary vote movement in favour of the major parties, with both up by two points: the Coalition to 40%, Labor to 36%. The Greens are down one to 12%, One Nation unchanged on 4% and others down three to 8%.
As with Essential Research, Scott Morrison has recovered somewhat from his post-bushfire slump, with his approval rating up three to 41% and disapproval down five to 53%. He now holds a 42-38 lead over Anthony Albanese as preferred prime minister, who led 41-40 last time. Albanese’s net rating has also improved, his approval rating up one to 40% (The Australian report says down three, but I believe it has its wires crossed from the preferred prime minister movement) and disapproval down four to 40%.
In other findings, 75% support the government’s decision to abandon a budget surplus in favour of economic stimulus; 51% believe the federal government has managed preparedness for the crisis well; 66% are satisfied with federal and state government efforts to inform the public about the virus; but only 47% feel the same way about managing its economic impact.
UPDATE: The Australian’s reportage rather downplays the fact, but the poll found only 33% were satisfied with the economic response of governments (the question emphasised “both federal and state”) to the coronavirus outbreak, with 47% dissatisfied. The 75% rating in favour of stimulus did not relate specifically to the government’s policy, but to the general notion that “the Morrison government should provide a stimulus package to safeguard the economy”, with only 14% favouring the alternative option that it “should prioritise its promise to deliver a budget surplus”.
For the other questions, 76% of respondents were worried about the economic impact of the outbreak, versus only 20% for confident; 51% were worried, and 47% confident, about the preparedness of the public health system, for which 51% were satisified with the federal and state government response and 33% dissatisfied; and 63% were confident, and 35% worried, about “the amount of information available to Australians about how to protect themselves”, for which 65% were satisfied and 28% dissatisfied with the federal and state government response.
The poll was conducted Wednesday to Saturday from a sample of 1501.
Mavis
Looking at his Departmental and Linkedin profiles, Professor Murphy’s background in medical practice appears to be in kidney disease and cancer. He has been in management roles since 2005. I am sure he is intelligent and knowledgeable, but public health/virology does not appear to be his area of expertise. I agree he has seemed erratic in his responses.
C@tmomma:
Tuesday, March 17, 2020 at 12:31 pm
🙂
beguiledagain says:
Tuesday, March 17, 2020 at 12:31 pm
And did YOU see the interviews with the voters who were openly hostile to Sanders’ health policy?
——————————————————————
Given what’s happening in the United States and the entire world right now, only the terminally stupid would be hostile to Sanders’ health policy.
US voters are obviously loathe to put their medical security in the hands of the Feds. They may not like what they have (or don’t have) at present. But they are obviously very reluctant to abolish it and replace it with a State-run system. Considering the shambles that US government appears to be, who can blame them?
I though the drought was campaigning against the LNP. I was wrong. It was campaigning for them, in a perverse way. The same applies to healthcare finance in the US. You’d think the pandemic would be working for Sanders. But it’s not. It’s increasing the level of distrust in the Government. This. Ugh the be perverse, but it’s a thing. Consider the UK. They have an NHS that has been so degraded by reactionary decision-making for so long that it can no longer even care for its own workers let alone for the sick. People have every right to be suspicious of systems that are obviously failing. We have a similar on-going experience in Australia. The utter failure of the health authorities to prevent the preventable pandemic discredits all of Government.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/17/australian-leaders-consider-ban-on-groups-of-more-than-100-to-try-to-halt-coronavirus
Why is Murphy on Jones program? Why is Jones still on-air? Why hasn’t he been sacked? Why does the broadcaster still have a licence?
RI
“Why is Jones still on-air? Why hasn’t he been sacked? Why does the broadcaster still have a licence?”
After so much government incompetence,and so many avoidable deaths already,the government needs him on air now more than ever.
FMD
Birmingham in an interview doing blithering, blathering anodyne to a ‘t’.
He is in the Gold Coast is about ‘recognizing’that this Region… something about important tourism… something blather, blather, blather,… ‘need to consider’… ‘cannot guarantee’ that there won’t be business failures… know that jobs are being lost…
Chuck him overboard, I say. Simply not up to it.
Rakali says:
If Superannuation declines at 1.5% a week, does that mean, at that rate, in not much more than a year it will have all disappeared without withdrawing anything?
————
You should give them a call and ask what hedging strategies are they employing and if they are not then why not.
https://www.businessinsider.com.au/coronavirus-spain-nationalises-private-hospitals-emergency-covid-19-lockdown-2020-3?r=US&IR=T
Sarah Martin Sarah Martin
Only 90 MPs will come to Canberra next week for parliamentary sittings to pass the government’s $17.6bn stimulus package in response to the coronavirus.
Ahead of an expected further crack-down on large group gatherings aimed at slowing the spread of the disease, the Coalition and Labor have agreed to limit the number of MPs coming to Canberra.
Under the arrangement, which was thrashed out between Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Labor leader Anthony Albanese in a phone discussion on Tuesday morning, 30 pairs will be agreed between the two parties, meaning 60 of Parliament’s 151 MPs will stay in their electorates.
It is unclear how each side will decide which MPs come to Canberra and which will stay in their electorates. The move comes after the presiding officers of Parliament announced a range of measures to limit the number of visitors to capital hill, including restrictions on sponsored pass holders, and the closure of public galleries. It is also unclear what arrangements will be put in place for the Senate, with discussions between the two parties still ongoing.
Just looking at that Newspoll again, it seems to me that the Bush Rat’s attempts to ‘connect with farmers’ seems to have fallen on stony polling ground.
And no wonder. He aims to send lots of them broke.
sprocket
Surely it is the small army of ministerial advisors that need to be reined in more than the number of MPs in the chamber? I have already worked on major projects where the technical team doing the analytical work was smaller than the committee of managers and political minders we reported to. That is why this nation is so efficient.
“meaning 60 of Parliament’s 151 MPs will stay in their electorates.”
Where will George Christensen stay?
https://www.wantedinmilan.com/news/in-a-deserted-venice-the-canals-become-crystal-clear.html
Something to remember about the USA is that it is very “granular” compared with how we do things here. For example, having one school district and police department per each city. It is part of the culture. The instinct on many things is to think locally. That has strengths in terms of resilience, but for pandemics probably not as much. Coordination takes time and effort. It might explain some of the numbers and responses we’re seeing on c19.
‘Socrates says:
Tuesday, March 17, 2020 at 12:53 pm
sprocket
Surely it is the small army of ministerial advisors that need to be reined in more than the number of MPs in the chamber? I have already worked on major projects where the technical team doing the analytical work was smaller than the committee of managers and political minders we reported to. That is why this nation is so efficient.
“meaning 60 of Parliament’s 151 MPs will stay in their electorates.”
Where will George Christensen stay?’
Cockroaches are reputedly a hardy breed.
Note: Apparently Alan Kohler at the Australian is talking about a Depression not a Recession.
Bernard Keane at Crikey is talking about a $100 Billion stimulus package with a warning that may not be thinking big enough.
Socrates:
[‘I am sure he is intelligent and knowledgeable, but public health/virology does not appear to be his area of expertise.’]
If we are to believe we’re in a crisis (which on the evidence we surely are), what’s needed is a spokesperson (not necessarily an epidemiologist or virologist) who can cut through, and as suggested earlier, Norman Swan seems to be the ideal fit. The experts could brief him daily, with him delivering the message(s). His podcast on C-19 evidences his excellent communication skills, as does his appearances on RN’s “Health Report”.
meher baba @ #1008 Tuesday, March 17th, 2020 – 7:37 am
From what you’ve described I’m perfectly sure that the short-seller and not UniSuper bears ALL of the risk on that transaction.
First Dog. Very good. May have been posted earlier. Apologies. 🙏
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/mar/17/coronavirus-diaries-everyone-is-frightened-and-its-getting-weird-now
Recipes for boiled grass gratefully received – thanks in advance.
Guytuar:
They need to be talking in real goods and services, not throwing money around.
The NSW government has made a good start – medical goods and services to the (current) value of $700m.
Mr Kohler might understand this – can’t have a depression if real goods and services are increasing in circulation – Mr Keane is stuck in the old paradigm
Socrates @ #1112 Tuesday, March 17th, 2020 – 11:53 am
Is he stuck in Manila?
guytaur:
Tuesday, March 17, 2020 at 12:59 pm
[‘Apparently Alan Kohler at the Australian is talking about a Depression not a Recession.’]
He could be right. Who really knows where we’ll be in six months?
What’s the bet that they find, “Nothing to see here.”?
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/mar/17/josh-frydenberg-to-learn-if-hes-ineligible-to-sit-in-the-australian-parliament
So far Qld still going ahead with elections
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-16/council-elections-your-guide-how-to-vote/11998838
DP its right the risk is on the short seller.
The only real benefit of short sellers is their willing to take management on while buy side people can be suckers drunk on company kool aid.
Murphy strike me as a management type sure he might have an understanding of hospital procedures but he isn’t an infectious disease professional.
What would it cost to priority mail out to every citizen a full body suit and face mask to wear when leaving the residence ?
shellbell @ #1059 Tuesday, March 17th, 2020 – 8:44 am
After a 35% fall since Feb 20. They’re still >25% off their high point on that day. Just to keep things in perspective.
lizzie @ #1117 Tuesday, March 17th, 2020 – 1:04 pm
I estimate approximately 50% of the population are considerate and rational.
The other 50% are drugged up, brain-damaged social terrorists.
Mavis @ #1117 Tuesday, March 17th, 2020 – 12:01 pm
Norman Swan is a health science communicator. That’s the skill required at the moment. Of course when one notes what he has done in the ABC, the Morrison bunch wouldn’t be able to stomach him.
The Dutch are opting for the herd immunity theory, whereas the UK is backing away from it:
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/dutch-embrace-herd-immunity-as-dire-death-warning-prompts-uk-to-change-course-20200317-p54arv.html
guytaur @ #1126 Tuesday, March 17th, 2020 – 12:09 pm
Raises some questions. Voting started yesterday. What happens to those votes (like mine) if the election is postponed for 6 months, or even some longer time? What about votes cast for candidates who pull out or worse, die. What is the legal framework for elected reps to continue in office past their allowed time? Who replaces an incapacitated (or deceased) rep without an election?
Presumably these issues tie back to States of Emergency? Sounds chicken-little atm but it would be reassuring to know how these things work?
Interesting discussion on RN ABC radio about proactive vs reactive school closures. World Today I think. Half hour ago in eastern states.
It’s Time:
[‘Norman Swan is a health science communicator. That’s the skill required at the moment. Of course when one notes what he has done in the ABC, the Morrison bunch wouldn’t be able to stomach him.’]
I think you could be right. Swan’s too outspoken, honest for this mob. But if they don’t get someone in like him, public panic could become unmanageable.
Danama Papers @ #1118 Tuesday, March 17th, 2020 – 1:02 pm
The short seller bears the total risk and can in fact be required to place substantial funds – up to 100% of the proceeds of the short sale with the lender of the shares. If/ when the shares drop the lender has more money in hand then what they are then trading at.
Lending of shares for short sale is very widespread across across the industry including retail & Industry super funds, bank nominee holding companies, large investors etc etc.
As at the latest ASIC short selling data on 11 thMarch, the value of shares short sold is $26.640 Billion covering 5.550 Billion shares.
Australian Super make regular disclosure of their lending shares at meetings etc and have done so publicly for over 10 years and answered questions on it. No doubt other instos etc do the same.
Australian doctors have issued an urgent plea to governments to immediately change course in their response to COVID-19..
The demands are outlined in an open letter currently circulating among doctors.
The letter’s author, intensive care specialist Greg Kelly, told the ABC he consulted with intensive care colleagues at several major hospitals in Melbourne and Sydney when formulating the call for action.
“We are almost at 4,000 signatories,” he said, adding he was confident “at least 3,500” were doctors.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-17/australia-doctors-coronavirus-letter-pleading-government-action/12062368
Rex
“What would it cost to priority mail out to every citizen a full body suit and face mask to wear when leaving the residence ?”
I think they are single use
With regard to the “ War Cabinet” and the exclusion of Albanese and or other labor reps.
Morrison was never going to offer bipartisanship on this. He wanted all the glory and would never share any of it with federal labor.
Morrison has done Albanese a huge favour. Instead of being in it together “ come hell or high water “ the coming debacle will belong to Morrison, his CMO and others.
Instead of the MSM going on about it being a bit rich for labor to complain about the health and economic response given Albanese was part of the “ War Cabinet “ and the decision making labor is free from the burden of guilt by association.
Let’s see how labor runs with it.
With Frydenberg’s s.44 judgment due to be handed down shortly, if the Federal Court does find against him (which I think it won’t), he could remain as Treasurer for up to three months – see s.64 of the Constitution which reads:
‘After the first general election no Minister of State shall hold office for a longer period of time than three months unless he is or becomes a senator or a member of the House of Representatives.’
Theoretically, then, if the Court of Disputed Returns finds against him, he could renounce his Hungarian citizenship, and stand in the byelection. I don’t think this scenario has yet been judicially tested, though. Perhaps a constitutional lawyer out there could provide advice thereof?
Local Court approach in NSW:
[Defendants who are unrepresented and wish to enter a plea of guilty can notify the court by email or by post.]
Encourages pleas by the sick and anxious and does this cover offences for which gaol is an option?
Rex Douglas:
Cost (in lives) could well be more deaths, rather than fewer, as there is no real possibility of proper training to use the equipment.
HoldenHillbilly
Thanks for the ABC link
It has a short video at the end by Norman Swan which is well worth watching, too
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-17/australia-doctors-coronavirus-letter-pleading-government-action/12062368
I restocked grocery items this morning in North Sydney, Aldi & Coles. Hadn’t been outside for almost a week. Wore plastic disposable gloves for the ‘trip’.
Some empty shelves, more so at Coles than Aldi but no one would go hungry.
Staff at Coles looked exhausted and one lady said “she had no words” when I asked how she was.
About the only thing I couldn’t get was fresh celery and that may have been because of all the recent rain. Chocolate supplies topped up of course.
But people methodically building up supplies and with the speed of developments overseas, local lockdowns really could come at anytime – maybe from State Goverments rather then the ‘make it up as they go’ feds.
How are people in the UK going to stock up for 12 weeks ? Good luck expecting much help from Government.
Saw the people next door when going out, lady and her small son dressed up in Green as fairies for St Patrick’s Day – laughing and waving – life goes on.
Happy St Paddies Day!
https://www.pollbludger.net/2020/03/15/newspoll-51-49-labor-12/comment-page-17/#comment-3361251
… so to follow up on the above, daughter’s second GP has been consulted (unlikely to be COVID-19, go get test[ed] anyway).
Special pathology slip provided.
The pathology provider has a number to call to get a location to go to for the specific COVID-19 swap.
So that is the next step, then there’s getting the result (about overnight).
The dolt Bowen pretending to be insightful in this presser.
I’d get more insight from the publican at my local drinking establishment.
…and off he waddles 😆
Braden Chapman is very brave. He certainly won’t be invited to any reunions at Campbell Barracks:
https://www.news.com.au/world/middle-east/four-corners-video-sas-soldier-shoots-unarmed-afghani-in-the-head/news-story/37a1132d881d6f0f6357fcca346a5f8f
I’m going to say it….
Based upon the actions of people who are sufficiently well-informed, and smart enough to understand the consequences, I believe Morrison and co (and Boris in UK) prefer to NOT flatten the curve.
A sharper, higher peak will result in the emergency passing quicker (almost everyone will either be cured or dead) than would result from flattening the curve, which will extend the emergency for many months.
From an economical efficiency standpoint, given around 80% may survive this strategy (and deaths are more likely amongst older people), a shorter, sharper curve is better.
It’s a fascist solution, I know,
And hard for people to accept our ‘leaders’ could be so evil,
But if it walks like a duck…..
And let’s not forget that Morrison and many of his colleagues are Pentecostal, a religion which does not have empathy in its credo.
Late Riser @ #1133 Tuesday, March 17th, 2020 – 12:21 pm
They are council elections and 2 state by-elections. The State government can legislate to cover any legal issue. If elections are cancelled, the whole process would start from scratch for a new electio date.