The Australian ($) today provides Newspoll findings on state leaders’ handling of the coronavirus, from samples of around 520 for each mainland state plus 309 for Tasmania. The poll finds all concerned riding high, including three who strongly outperformed Scott Morrison’s ballyhooed 68% approval and 28% disapproval on the weekend. These are WA Labor Premier Mark McGowan, at 89% approval and 6% disapproval; Tasmanian Liberal Premier Peter Gutwein, at 84% approval and 11% disapproval after three months in the job; and Victorian Labor Premier Daniel Andrews, at 75% approval and 17% disapproval.
Morrison was also matched on approval and bettered on net approval by NSW Liberal Premier Gladys Berejiklian (69% approval and 23% disapproval) and SA Liberal Premier Steven Marshall (68% approval and 21% disapproval). Only Queensland Labor Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, who faces an election in October, was below the prime ministerial par (55% approval and 39% disapproval). With due allowance for small samples, I believe McGowan’s ratings may be a record for Newspoll, or indeed for any other Australian pollster, and that Gutwein’s might have been too if not for McGowan’s.
The leaders record even stronger ratings on the specific question of handling the coronavirus outbreak: 77% rate Berejiklian as having done well, compared with 18% for badly; Andrews is at 85% and 11%; Palaszczuk is at 72% and 23%; McGowan is at 94% and 4%; Marshall is at 82% and 11%; and Gutwein is at 89% and 8%. Equivalent results are also provided for the Prime Minister, and here too Western Australians are most positive, at 73% approval and 23% disapproval, with 85% rating Morrison had handled coronavirus well compared with 14% for badly. In New South Wales, Morrison scored 67% approval and 30% disapproval, and 82% well and 16% badly for coronavirus; in Victoria, 72% approval and 26% disapproval, 83% well and 14% badly; in Queensland, 67% approval and 28% disapproval, 81% well and 17% badly; in South Australia, 70% approval and 27% disapproval, 83% well and 15% badly; and in Tasmania, 64% approval and 31% disapproval, 81% well and 18% badly.
As reported in The Guardian, the weekly Essential Research coronavirus poll provides us with a third set of small-sample findings on mainland state governments’ handling of the crisis, ranging from about 80 respondents in South Australia to 320 in New South Wales. The latest results produce combined very good and good ratings of 77% for the Victorian and South Australian governments, 76% for Western Australia, 67% for Queensland and 63% for New South Wales. The table below records the progress of this series over its three weeks, together with an averaged result which again shows Western Australia highest at 77%, followed by 74% for Victoria, 72% for South Australia, 61% for Queensland and 60% for New South Wales.
Essential Research also finds confidence in the federal government’s handling of the crisis continuing to rise, with 70% rating it good or very good, a measure that earlier progressed from 45% in late March to 65% last week. Seventy-three per cent now say they consider themselves unlikely to catch the virus, compared with 57% at the peak of concern at the end of March. In response to a list of options for budget repair, 64% supported preventing companies in offshore tax havens from receiving goverment support, but only 32% favoured removing franking credits and negative gearing, and 18% supported death duties.
On the COVIDSafe app, the weekend’s Newspoll found 21% saying they would definitely take it up, 33% that they would probably do so, 21% that they would probably not, and 18% that they would definitely not. Apart from the lower uncommitted rating, this is broadly in line with an Australia Institute poll of 1011 respondents on Thursday and Friday which had 45% saying they would and 28% that they wouldn’t. Essential Research also weighed in on the question, and found 53% saying it would limit the spread of the virus, and 46% that it would speed removal of distancing restrictions. A full set of results from Essential Research should be with us later today.
UPDATE: Full Essential Research report here.
Latest Lincoln Project ad
https://youtu.be/xeSRrGNJdio
Very likely.
shellbell one thing is true – if you’re nice to me, I’ll be nice to you.
Why on earth did that lady have to make FOUR applications to visit her sister before it was approved? Is this the way the gov always operates? Drawing things out as long as possible? Don’t answer that.
The only outbreak in Tamworth will be unexpected pregancies and ‘selfie fodder’ for the tabloids.
beguiledagain @ #2644 Saturday, May 2nd, 2020 – 1:35 pm
Sport is a significant social distraction used by Govt. It’s a very important cultural pastime.
Domayne is advertising ‘COVIDSafe-ready phones’ for $199 as a Mother’s Day promotion.
Shellbell @ #2647 Saturday, May 2nd, 2020 – 1:40 pm
Hear! Hear!
Do they have bubblers in Tamworth? Or is that a Shire speciality.
The footy codes shouldn’t bother coming back this year because no one will take this years premiers seriously.
lizzie @ #2655 Saturday, May 2nd, 2020 – 1:47 pm
Because the safe route for assessing applications is to stick rigidly to the Policy or the letter of the Policy. Using judgement, compassion and common sense will only get the bureaucrat in to career threatening trouble. Safer to kick the problem up stairs.
Bucephalus says:
Saturday, May 2, 2020 at 1:30 pm
Scotland are less than 9% of the population of the UK. London has almost double in size.
The only two things that make them of any higher importance than another part of the UK is the North Sea oil & gas fields and HM Naval Base Clyde.
————-
Haha, i think Faslane is no asset. It should be on the Thames.
Apart from the oil and gas,
Scotland has one third of the land area of the UK.
Scotland has one of the most educated populations in Europe. With 47% of the population under 65 having university degrees or equivalent with 4 universities in the Global top 100.
Scotland has 25% of Europe’s offshore wind and tidal resources.
Scotland has the Richest fishing grounds in Europe. 20% of Europe’s fish come from Scottish waters.
Scotland has the vast proportion of the UK’s fresh Water.
It is why England (i.e. London) is desperate to prevent the 1707 Treaty of Union being dissolved.
David Axelrod has a submission for the defense in the Joe Biden allegations..
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/01/opinions/biden-tara-reade-allegations-2008-vetting-axelrod/index.html
Mexicanbeemer @ #2661 Saturday, May 2nd, 2020 – 1:53 pm
Do people actually take that stuff seriously?
You dont know what you are on about. Morrison is a marketing guru. Just ask him.
And he has well funded propaganda outlets by the bucket load who have devoted disciples. He’d have to be a complete ninny to fail at this.
[Am I the only one secretly hoping that there will be a cluster of covid-19 (mild, mind you) in Tamworth in the next couple of weeks, now that Dutton has approved the arrival of the New Zealand football players.]
Disgraceful ( and subsequently edited) but indicative of the frustration that many of the partisans here feel at Australia’s current success, under Morrison, at avoiding the worst of the pandemic.
Points for today:
1. Morrison shouldn’t have said early mark
2. The government app must fail so that Morrison looks like he has failed
https://kevinbonham.blogspot.com/2020/05/legislative-council-2020-rosevears-and.html
Legislative Council 2020: Rosevears And Huon Not Live
Postponed Tasmanian Legislative Council elections were due to have been held today so I thought I’d mark their absence with a post.
Bucephalus @ #2643 Saturday, May 2nd, 2020 – 1:34 pm
Those were the days.
When a regular poster hasnt posted as much it can feel like that.
Oakeshott Country @ #2667 Saturday, May 2nd, 2020 – 1:55 pm
Partisans have to really apply themselves to dig out something from the National cabinet to pick at.
OC and BB
I agree that equating the COVIDSafe app success with Morrison’s electoral fortunes is horseshit.
There is plenty of real issues to engage with if you don’t like the government , from Dutton’s failure to protect borders to Frydenberg’s smoke and mirrors response to a looming economic collapse.
The app critique should be left to the Trots and anti-vaxers.
Rave party? What’s that?
Look at the falling rain…
I am not wasting my time arguing over what someone said about Captain Cook. Cook is long gone, and as a working class bloke married to his job, statues and portraits I hardly think would’ve interested him. Or creations of fictional voyages either. He would have been more interested in the way seamen are being treated today by ships. owners, seeing as he had an exemplary and enlightened record of care for his sailors.
To more up-do-date matters, I want to register my disgust at PM Morrison saying that by being good,’Australians have earned an ‘early minute’ from lock-downs.
For a start, lock-downs are a state matter, so butt out ScottyFM.
And, who the hell does Morrison think he is talking to citizens as if they are grade three children? I know a lot of people who admire him have the development of grade three children, or less, but even they should be treated with the respect due to the rest of us as fully functioning adults in our own democracy.
And adults whom, by the way, are keeping this country running by doing essential jobs during the pandemic, while PM Morrison shuts Parliament down, and retreats to his bunker.
We are not Infantiles to be given a gift from the school-master for our acceptable behaviour. We are citizens who employ him.
We expect reliable leadership and good decisions or advice based on evidence and data, in consultation with expert opinion.
So, Scotty From Marketing, you can shove that ‘early minute’ up where the sun doesn’t shine, IF there is any room.
After all, the public has shoved so many of your brilliant ideas up that orifice already.
I am not wasting my time arguing over what someone said about Captain Cook. Cook is long gone, and as a working class bloke married to his job, statues and portraits I hardly think would’ve interested him. Or creations of fictional voyages either. He would have been more interested in the way seamen are being treated today by ships. owners, seeing as he had an exemplary and enlightened record of care for his sailors.
To more up-do-date matters, I want to register my disgust at PM Morrison saying that by being good,’Australians have earned an ‘early minute’ from lock-downs.
For a start, lock-downs are a state matter, so butt out ScottyFM.
And, who the hell does Morrison think he is talking to citizens as if they are grade three children? I know a lot of people who admire him have the development of grade three children, or less, but even they should be treated with the respect due to the rest of us as fully functioning adults in our own democracy.
And adults whom, by the way, are keeping this country running by doing essential jobs during the pandemic, while PM Morrison shuts Parliament down, and retreats to his bunker.
We are not Infantiles to be given a gift from the school-master for our acceptable behaviour. We are citizens who employ him.
We expect reliable leadership and good decisions or advice based on evidence and data, in consultation with expert opinion.
So, Scotty From Marketing, you can shove that ‘early minute’ up where the sun doesn’t shine, IF there is any room.
After all, the public has shoved so many of your brilliant ideas up that orifice already.
PuffyTMD @ #2675 Saturday, May 2nd, 2020 – 2:14 pm
‘And, who the hell does Morrison think he is talking to citizens as if they are grade three children?’
FoTN
Rakali says:
Saturday, May 2, 2020 at 1:54 pm
“Haha, i think Faslane is no asset. It should be on the Thames.“
You might think that but it is massive source of jobs for Scotland plus they live under the protection provided by it.
“Scotland has one third of the land area of the UK.“
That’s irrelevant in terms of seats in Parliament.
“Scotland has one of the most educated populations in Europe. With 47% of the population under 65 having university degrees or equivalent with 4 universities in the Global top 100.”
Whoop de doo. Irrelevant again.
“Scotland has 25% of Europe’s offshore wind and tidal resources.”
Both hugely expensive sources of energy only used due to massive public subsidies. Offshore wind farms are failing many years before design life. Power prices would fall without these.
“Scotland has the Richest fishing grounds in Europe. 20% of Europe’s fish come from Scottish waters.”
And aren’t the Scottish happy about the EU taking all their fish?
“Scotland has the vast proportion of the UK’s fresh Water.“
So? England and Wales don’t draw water from Scotland.
Doesn’t SfMs early pass mark look like he will accept the cheap shoddy effort rather than pushing for higher grades and better quality.
Meanwhile in NZ….
Wellington: The New Zealand government on Friday released the final legislation on the recreational use, sale and production of cannabis for which a referendum will be held as part of the general election in September.
The bill, published for public consideration, includes details for the production and acquisition of licenses for the sale of fresh and dry cannabis, including plants and seeds, according to a statement by Justice Minister Andrew Little.
https://telanganatoday.com/new-zealand-reveals-cannabis-referendum-legislation-details
PuffyTMD says:
Saturday, May 2, 2020 at 2:14 pm
You guys need to get your narrative straight. One minute you’re saying the Federal Government are responsible and aren’t doing a good enough job. Next your telling us it’s not their responsibility and that they should butt out.
But during the Bushfires when it wasn’t the Federal Government’s responsibility you wanted them to butt in despite the fact they had been in since the very start to f the fires. And then when they did, apparently in breach of the Constitution but yet to be tested by the High Court, you said it was no good.
Consistency isn’t your strong point.
The app will tell you if you if you have been exposed to the virus at the footy.
Chewing garlic or eating baked beans will help ensure no carrier will want to be within 1.5m of you at the footy.
beguiledagain says:
Saturday, May 2, 2020 at 1:35 pm
Am I the only one wondering whether there will be a cluster of covid-19 (mild, mind you) in Tamworth in the next couple of weeks, now that Dutton has approved the arrival of the New Zealand football players.
—————————————————–
You will see that the post was edited to the above but the system did not remove the original ironic observation.
As several have quite correctly observed, you wouldn’t want anyone to get it.
I hope that the premature lifting of restrictions reflected in the football decision doesn’t end unhappily.
Oakeshott Country says:
Saturday, May 2, 2020 at 1:23 pm
Frednk
I think it is impossible to add an Australian political dimension to that very tragic story but you tried
I am both impressed and disgusted
You think so Oakeshott Country . It’s the Liberals that want us to take the risk. If the risk backfires they will have to deal with more than my disgust at what they are trying to do.
Some Bludgers have wondered why the Lincoln Project doesn’t have super attack ads on Trump or that their campaign doesn’t really doesn’t do anything for them. I’ve mentioned before that PBers are not the target audience of the campaign, that they are aimed at those Republican voters who are repulsed by Trump and don’t want to vote GOP, but are baulking at the prospect of voting Democrat.
Here one of the project founders explains the audience is even more nuanced than that: 1 – 4% of those disaffected Republican voters. Great interview.
http://www.resistancedashboard.com/node/711
It is irrelevant what posters on here want. The government app will succeed or fail based on its merits and the way it is presented and used. The app is a small part of the toolkit in controlling the virus while opening the economy. One has every reason to question why Morrison is hanging his hat (and the timing of easing restrictions).
The app has failings and limitations – most things do. Why shouldnt people discuss and consider these? Most Australians were happy to give up freedom of movement for a good and understandable cause; giving up information about who we have come in contact with and for how long (and the potential for more) to a government with a poor record on gaining trust on such things? That is a whole new ball game where people need more assurances and more proof of benefit. And then being bullied into it without setting up independent oversight, proper legislation and opening the code to examination – well… F that.
My position will probably change in the next week or so when legislation is tabled and passed after scrutiny by peeps like Patrick etc. and the code is released. Until then, Morrison and peeps accusing me of being partisan or a trot or an anti vaxer can take flying leap.
Alpha Zero @ #2679 Saturday, May 2nd, 2020 – 2:23 pm
We just have to get to a stage where our health systems can cope with the usual flow again.
Oakeshott Country
Out of curiosity what is your view on the CMO and PM trying to blame the Tasmanian outbreak caused by two passengers from the ruby princess on the nurses and doctors. Will you try and defend that?
Telling our 3yo grandson that he will get a reward if he does what we want seems to work most of the time.
Telling a nation of 25 million people that they will get a reward if they do what we* want is more problematic.
*we = Morrison
“The app is a small part of the toolkit”
True, but where is the rest of the toolkit? What are we going to do that we weren’t already doing? The AHPPC document from yesterday was a load of waffle on this issue. The thing I hate about the promotion of the app is that it diverts media attention from other things that matter more.
citizen
I don’t regard being able to spread the virus more as a reward.
On the Cook tweet
I don’t get why a senior public servant sees the need to make a political tweet when they are suppose to be apolitical and considering the rules around when health professionals are allowed to talk to the media makes her actions unprofessional. Should she be sacked probably not because the tweet doesn’t relate to the heath department or its work and her tweet was factually wrong because it wasn’t Cook that caused many of the problems.
Cook, like Bradman, is over-rated.
😉
In our patriotic rush to elevate Cook we do miss out on what did make him and his journey so interesting. The beauty, achievement and greatness is in the detail.
Simon Katich
To a point that is right because when Cook made his voyage his main aim wasn’t Australia but was to see Venus.
Thankfully the Capt Cook brouhaha has passed me by.
Simon Katich @ #2692 Saturday, May 2nd, 2020 – 2:34 pm
Observing the transit of Venus?
That sounds useful. I wonder where other states are on this.
lizzie @ #2696 Saturday, May 2nd, 2020 – 12:41 pm
We’ve had it in WA for over a week now.
Bu
“And then when they did, apparently in breach of the Constitution but yet to be tested by the High Court, you said it was no good.”
At the time, I remember thinking this was bullshit; I haven’t changed my mind. At the drop of a hat, Dutton can send naval assets to patrol our northern seaways for rickety boats. But when it comes to sending naval ships to the NSW South Coast to rescue Australians imperilled by bushfires, suddenly it’s a fraught “constitutional issue”. Like I said: bullshit.
The rumour doing the rounds in the circles I work in was that there were significant breakdowns in isolation management and infection control due to the Polar Bear Phenomenon (There’s a Polar Bear on ward 3 – hey everyone let’s go and have a look at it).
I presume there will be an enquiry into the problem into NW Tasmanian hospitals and we should see if this was the case