The Guardian reports Essential Research’s latest weekly reading of concern about coronavirus finds satisfaction with the government’s handling of the crisis up two points to 65%, its best result yet out of the five such polls that have been published (no sign yet of the poor rating, which hit a new low of 17% – the full report later today should reveal all).
Last week’s question on state governments’ responses was repeated this week, and with due regard to sample sizes that run no higher than around 320 (and not even in triple figures in the case of South Australia), the good ratings have been 56% last week and 61% for New South Wales; 76% and 70% for Victoria; 52% and 63% for Queensland; 79% and 77% for Western Australia; and 72% and 66% for South Australia. Combining the results gives New South Wales 58.5% and Victoria 73% with error margins of about 3.7%; Queensland 57.5% from 4.6%; Western Australia 78% from 5.5%; and South Australia 69% from 6.9%.
Also included are Essential’s occasion question on trust in various institutions, which suggests that all of the above might be benefiting from a secular effect that has federal parliament up from 35% to 53% and the ABC up from 51% to 58%. The effect is more modest for the Australian Federal Police, up two points to 68%. In other coronavirus-related findings, the poll finds “half of all voters think it’s too soon to even consider easing restrictions“, with a further 14% saying they are prepared to wait until the end of May; that 38% said they would download the virus-tracing app, with 63% saying they had security concerns and 35% being confident the data would not be misused.
UPDATE: Full report here.
Fess: “I don’t really understand the protests in the US. It reminds me of the Tea Party movement 10 years ago – incomprehensible each day sees more crazy.”
The Tea Party movement expressed a range of somewhat inchoate demands. But at heart, there was one key concern that unified every single person in that movement:
There was a black man in the White House.
That US ‘toon rang a bell.
Good work BK. Thanks for the 👹 Dawn Patrol. 👹
👹 (Monster).
Fess: “But I thought Tasmania was supposed to represent one of the better state responses, at least according to some PBers. What happened?”
Something went wrong in Burnie: we don’t know yet whether it was an “illegal dinner party” (I just love that phrase: it’s so 1984) or a health worker with the virus going from facility to facility or – as I suspect – simply a case of poor infection control and/or inadequate PPE around one or more patients who had contracted the virus.
As for Tasmania’s response overall: compared to some other States (and I’m not going to go into details again as the resulting arguments are boring), the Premier, Health Minister and officials have been consistent, calm and matter of fact. And, while the Burnie outbreak can rightly been seen as a bit of a black mark, their response to it has been good IMO.
It’s quite possible that we’ll have a few more of these sorts of breakouts. What matters is not so much that they happen as what is done to bring them under control.
happy birthday bk
poroti, re that cartoon: Elephants are far and away my favourite animal. I resent their continued association with the Republican Party.
Real elephants wouldn’t have any time for someone like Trump.
It’s Time
This will get testing enthusiast Cud Chewer champing at the bit. The graph with , as you suggested, Singapore added.
https://coronavirusgraphs.com/?c=da100&y=linear&t=line&f=0&ct=&co=1,2,21,165,206
Now the graph showing the level of testing being done.
https://coronavirusgraphs.com/?c=tt&y=linear&t=line&f=0&ct=&co=1,2,21,89,165,206
MSNBC’s Morning Joe laughs at Trump’s ‘psycho’ Twitter attack in real time
Scarborough had been hammering Trump’s claims about coronavirus testing, saying that health experts and government officials had been calling for more since the virus was first detected in the U.S., and the president moaned about it on Twitter.
Watched the first 5 minutes of poorly rated Morning Psycho on MSDNC just to see if he is as “nuts” as people are saying. He’s worse. Such hatred and contempt! I used to do his show all the time before the 2016 election, then cut him off. Wasn’t worth the effort, his mind is shot!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 21, 2020
Scarborough quickly responded, saying that sources close to the president have told him that Trump regularly watches the show.
“Donald, thank you, again, for your support,” Scarborough said. “We appreciate you watching, appreciate that, in the middle of a pandemic, you actually have enough time to watch our show and then tweet about it. Yes, this year, the ratings have — even before this pandemic, the best ever, and we thank you. This is what Donald Trump tweeted. He watches every day, by the way.”
https://www.rawstory.com/2020/04/watch-msnbcs-morning-joe-laughs-at-trumps-psycho-twitter-attack-in-real-time/
meher baba
Inspired by you post I wondered why they had the Elephant as a symbol. The person to ‘blame’ left quite a legacy.
https://www.history.com/news/how-did-the-republican-and-democratic-parties-get-their-animal-symbols
meher:
If the virus has taught us anything it’s that complacency is a real danger.
BK @ #546 Wednesday, April 22nd, 2020 – 5:53 am
No doubt there’s a colour coded spreadsheet showing which electorates those 400 councils are located in, and which of those electorates are marginal.
Danama Papers
They will be able to take inspiration from Joh. Best effort I saw was from I think Russ Hinze. A road out woop woop all nicely tar sealed and sealed, quite by chance, to about 50 meters past his driveway entrance . It was so good because the location enable photos to be taken that made it stick out like the proverbials.
BK @ #546 Wednesday, April 22nd, 2020 – 5:53 am
Any payment made by Facebook and Google to the ABC will be used as justification by SfM and his not so merry band as justification for cutting the ABC’s budget.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/spending-boost-will-bring-forward-construction-for-local-councils-20200421-p54lts.html
Dams! I want to see more dams being built!!
Dan Patrick on coronavirus: ‘More important things than living’
Patrick was heavily criticized last month for suggesting on Fox News that senior citizens might be willing to die of coronavirus to save the U.S. economy.
Texas Lt. Gov Dan Patrick doubled down on the controversial comments he previously made regarding the coronavirus pandemic, telling Fox News on Monday that Americans had to “take some risks” in reopening the economy.
The Texas official stood by his statements in a new interview with Carlson on Monday night, saying that “we are crushing the economy.”
“And what I said when I was with you that night, there are more important things than living. And that’s saving this country for my children, and my grandchildren and saving this country for all of us,” Patrick said Monday night.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/texas-lt-gov-dan-patrick-reopening-economy-more-important-things-n1188911
meher baba says:
Wednesday, April 22, 2020 at 8:11 am
Re Tasmania …..
the ‘illegal dinner party’ didn’t happen and the doctor didn’t lie but there is inadequate PPE. Staff were and still are instructed to collect used ‘single use’ face masks for sanitising and reuse.
As for Tasmania’s response overall: we did the lowest amount of testing of any state … up to two weeks ago, when we crept to the second lowest. We also refused to test anyone regardless of symptoms, unless they had been overseas or been in the company of a confirmed case.
Poor High Pants, must be feeling the pressure. Poor guy, had visions of becoming a Coalition hero a legend by way of producing a ‘Surplus’. With the ‘surplus’ incinerated he is left as a Treasurer ‘On The Waterfront”
From Dawn Patrol:
”David Crowe reports that a new federal stimulus program will fast-track spending on road projects in a bid to save jobs over the next six months, pouring money into proposals from more than 400 local councils.”
No doubt someone’s preparing a new spreadsheet.
Morning all
Much thanks BK. Hope you had a great birthday.
You are a gem
Trumps approval rating polling bump is evaporating.
Trump is covering up his uselessness by blaming everyone else and starting distraction fires. Siding with gun wielding nazis banging on the doors of democracy might have resonated with some of the unwashed of society, but independent voters, moderate republicans and terrified minorities have taken note. It will change votes. And it will help to get out the anti Trump vote.
Happy b’day for y’day BK!
Everything Trump touches goes to shit:
It’s even worse when the TV announces a “live cross” to some reporter outside a hospital announcing a death. I’ve seen that at least once.
a r
The problem I find with that report is that it doesn’t say how much of the drug was given. I assume it’s higher than the normal daily dose.
Seems like only yesterday Ghunt and Rupert’s orcs were
And in the non surprise of the year………….
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=12326550
citizen
I suppose it’s hard for news reporters to break the habit of standing beside a car accident and announcing a death.
The Guardian
Australia has undertaken the suppression method with this pandemic. Lately though, as cases continue to drop, the word ‘elimination’ has started to drip through press conferences. Scott Morrison has said that elimination may be one of the side effects of the suppression strategy.
Dr Nick Coatsworth says he is sticking with the word ‘suppression’.
“I’m using the word “suppression”, and I’ll tell you why I’m doing that. The problem with using words like “elimination” and “eradication” is that we are a non-immune population. So, you have to be so sure that you’ve got to that point that you would need to extend your restrictions for so long to get to that point, that I think that that would, you know, lead to Australians having to be under social restrictions for too long to get there. That’s an honest view. If, in the process of suppressing, we get to the point of eradication, then that would be a magnificent outcome. But we must continue to build capacity and we must continue to contain the virus, and remember that we’re not immune from it. So, the word that – the strategy that we’re using is to “suppress” Covid-19 until there’s a vaccine.”
I’ve seen the name of Peter Collignon mentioned on PB. A Canberra Times article has him calling for ACT schools (and presumably schools across Australia) to be fully opened from the start of term two. Is he an advisor to Morrison?
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6730242/canberra-schools-should-reopen-in-term-2-infectious-diseases-expert-says/?cs=14225
poroti
I’m not expecting an apology from the little Hunt. I wonder how much money was spent.
citizen
The one that bugs me is “The death toll has risen ………” . It would be fine if there was a chance of some people’s condition being upgraded from dead to alive.
Trump continues to be a clear and present danger. But the one who quietly appears by his side, Bill Barr AG is the most dangerous man in the administration.
Justice needs to be served on these traitors.
On the matter of more and more freakin’ roads, I received a flyer from my local federal member (Aston) a couple of weeks back proudly informing me of an imminent start to upgrade works on the Monash freeway. By my reckoning, this makes a total of about seven minutes in the last twenty yeas when the Monash has not been undergoing upgrades.
For crying out loud, what an out of touch idiot. If he wanted to secure more votes he’d be miles better off promising never to piss around with the Monash freeway again.
lizzie
There is an up side though. There will be plenty extra now for people like you who need it.
Ted Trainer – COVID-19: Another consequence of exceeding the limits to growth
https://johnmenadue.com/ted-trainer-covid-19-another-consequence-of-exceeding-the-limits-to-growth/
———————-
John Vidal
Human impact on wildlife to blame for spread of viruses, says study
Increased contact with animals likely cause of outbreaks such as Covid-19, say experts, as conservationists call for global ban on wildlife markets
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/08/human-impact-on-wildlife-to-blame-for-spread-of-viruses-says-study-aoe
I remember when the road toll was the big thing on the news with progressive totals during the year given on a regular basis. One year the figure was inching up to 1,000 as year’s end approached and there was almost the feeling that the news media wanted to break the 1,000 mark before 31 December. I don’t remember whether they did or not.
poroti
I hope so. Pharmacists have been doling out 30 tabs per time instead of 200.
lizzie @ #581 Wednesday, April 22nd, 2020 – 9:05 am
Pascoe could push back a little harder in his media role since he’s such a courageous twitter warrior.
Bushfire Bill @ #516 Wednesday, April 22nd, 2020 – 2:33 am
As I have tried to explain to you, BB – you were not called out for racism because of your opinions on Coronavirus. You were called out because of how you chose to express those opinions.
Victoria says: Wednesday, April 22, 2020 at 9:05 am
Trump continues to be a clear and present danger. But the one who quietly appears by his side, Bill Barr AG is the most dangerous man in the administration.
******************************************************************
Attorney General Bill Barr is threatening governors who keep stay at home orders in place with legal action if they don’t open their economies.
Bloomberg reported:
The Justice Department will consider taking legal action against governors who continue to impose stringent rules for dealing with the coronavirus that infringe on constitutional rights even after the crisis subsides in their states, Attorney General William Barr said.
We’re looking carefully at a number of these rules that are being put into place,” Barr said. “And if we think one goes too far, we initially try to jawbone the governors into rolling them back or adjusting them. And if they’re not and people bring lawsuits, we file statement of interest and side with the plaintiffs.”
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-21/barr-says-doj-may-act-against-governors-with-strict-virus-limits?sref=ixxiOWGT
lizzie says:
Wednesday, April 22, 2020 at 9:05 am
Michael Pascoe
@MichaelPascoe01
·
18m
I neglected to give Angus “Grasslands” Taylor his full title – Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction.
He’s pushing a fossil fuel led recovery.
Irony rules.
___________________________
It’s not irony. It’s a soviet style official joke. Like calling North Korea ‘the DEMOCRATIC People’s Republic of Korea’
poroti
I’ve only just made the connection between ‘doling out’ and ‘on the dole’.
Ian Dunlop – Fatal Calculations: How Economics has Underestimated Climate Damage and Encouraged Inaction
https://johnmenadue.com/ian-dunlop-fatal-calculations-how-economics-has-underestimated-climate-damage-and-encouraged-inaction/
Breakthrough (National Centre for Climate Restoration):
Australia reports: https://www.breakthroughonline.org.au/
I think this counts as a zinger. 😉
[“Malcolm has presented his version of history. It differs substantially from my clear recollection of events,” he [Cormann] said.
It didn’t take long for Mr Turnbull to fire back.
“Just to refresh his memory, he said it to me on the 17th of February 2017 at 4.39pm,” he told ABC Radio National.’]
At best Mathias’ memory is imperfect; at worst, he has a history of being more than slightly careless with the truth. I’ll back Mal, who was/is obviously assiduous with his diary entries
Morning all. Thanks BK for the excellent wrap up.
“ Resources Minister Keith Pitt said mining and gas projects should be prioritised to help economic growth, arguing they are “being held up by activists using our court system to employ green ‘lawfare’”. Opposition resources spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon said there needs “to be a discussion about further incentives for exploration” and “a rational discussion about the rise and rise of environmental activism”.
One of the dangers of any stimulus is that lobby groups us it as a Trojan horse to get funded dog projects that are not normally fundable. With current metal and energy prices there is a good reason nobody will fund mining and oil projects – they are not economic. That is true even before you consider climate change.
The stimulus should be aimed at all the stuff we know we should fund but usually do not. Research, asset maintenance, works to improve road safety or community amenity, bikeways and better pedestrian facilities in cities would all be good investments right now.
lizzie @ #562 Wednesday, April 22nd, 2020 – 8:29 am
Labor – the Opposition – is on to it.
How coronavirus spreads through a population and how we can beat it
As the global effort to limit the pandemic’s impact gathers pace watch how subtle changes in social behaviour or the level of contagiousness of the virus can affect the battle to stop its spread
https://www.theguardian.com/world/datablog/ng-interactive/2020/apr/22/see-how-coronavirus-can-spread-through-a-population-and-how-countries-flatten-the-curve
lizzie @ #590 Wednesday, April 22nd, 2020 – 9:22 am
Gold plated Zinger.
Fear of Covid-19 is bringing out the worst in people too:
From https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-22/coronavirus-fears-doctor-evicted-during-crisis/12162880
Clear, compassionate leadership is needed to re-assure people that the government is in control and understands people’s fears.
It needs to confront this problem of essential workers being exposed to infection, and then bringing it home.
The fears are real, and will get worse as more people, such as teachers, are forced back to work in risky conditions.
We need leaders.
Some states have them, Australia doesn’t.