With regard to the American presidential horse race, Adrian Beaumont offers all the latest in the post below. Closer to hand:
• Tom McIlroy of the Financial Review ($) reports Labor is credited with a statistically insignificant lead in poll of Eden-Monaro conducted by the Australia Institute. Based on response options that listed only party names, the poll reportedly had Labor leading 51.1-48.8 based on preference flows from 2019. No primary votes are provided in the report, but I expect to have that and other detail for you later today. A question on the most importat issue drew modest responses for both coronavirus (7.3%) and bushfire recovery (8.6%), with the agenda dominated by the economy (28.9%), climate change (23.4%) and health (14.0%). UPDATE: After exclusion of the 9.0% undecided, the primary votes are Labor 39.8%, Liberal 34.3%, Nationals 7.3%, Greens 6.7% and One Nation 6.5%. The polling was conducted by uComms.
• The Lowy Institute has a poll on the strategic implications of coronavirus, which records a general expectation that the crisis will tilt the international balance to China (37% more powerful, 36% just as powerful, 27% less powerful) at the expense of the United States (6% more powerful, 41% just as powerful, 53% less powerful) and Europe (5%, 46% and 48%). Respondents were asked if Australia and various other countries had handled the crisis well and poorly, and with the qualification that the uncommitted responses seem implausibly low, Australians consider their own country’s response (43% good, 50% fairly good, 6% fairly bad, 1% very bad) to have been well superior even to that of Singapore (23%, 56%, 15% and 3%), never mind China (6%, 25%, 25% and 44%), the United Kingdom (3%, 27%, 49% and 21%), Italy (2%, 13%, 44% and 40%) or, God forbid, the United States (2%, 8%, 27% and 63%). Respondents were slightly less favourable to the concept of globalisation than they were in a similar survey a year ago, with 70% rating it mostly good for Australia (down two) and 29% mostly bad (up five). The survey was conducted online and by telephone from April 14 to 27, from a sample of 3036.
• The results of a Greens internal referendum on giving the party membership a way in electing party leaders landed in the awkward zone between clear majority support and the two-thirds super-majority required for change. Members were presented with three head-to-head questions between each combination of two out of three options: the status quo of decision by the party room; the “one member, one vote” approach of having the matter determined entirely by the membership; and a Labor-style model where members provided half the vote and the party room the other half. The two questions inclusive of the status quo produced very similar results, with 62.0% favouring one-member one vote (3721 to 2281) and 62.6% favouring the Labor model (3510 to 2101). The Labor model recorded a narrow 3014 (50.95%) to 2902 (49.05%) win over one-member one-vote, but this would only have been operative if the favoured model recorded two-thirds support in head-to-head comparison with the status quo. According to Rob Harris of the Age/Herald, the response rate was 46% out of the party’s 13,143 eligible members.
E. G. Theodore says:
Friday, May 15, 2020 at 3:23 pm
…
In fact what is happening here is that productive companies and productive workers are subsidising this rubbish, which is no benefit to anyone excepting mendicant middle manager incapable of productive activity. The mendacity of these people outstrips even their mendicancy – useless at anything
…
Harsh but close to the truth.
frednksays:
Friday, May 15, 2020 at 3:22 pm
“Good question; more interested in screwing unions than doing their job is my answer.”
F me you have a big chip on the shoulder.
Pretty sure that AUSTRAC has zero to do with Unions. I had to study how to comply with the legislation and Unions weren’t mentioned at all.
Cars and people everywhere; stage 0 behaviour. (“What COVID-19?”)
Give ’em an inch, and they’ll take a mile.
We’ll see what the statistics say in the next week or two.
Bucephalus
AUSTRAC and the bank has messed up. 23 million breeches shows that something seriously went wrong because AML isn’t that difficult of area to manage.
Jackolsays:
Friday, May 15, 2020 at 3:23 pm
You appear to be very knowledgeable about the industry.
Tell me, who are our direct competitors and how are they dealing with the current situation?
You have to ask yourself – ” have ***I*** been TROLLED today ???? ” ……
Re international students: in general, I would agree that they aren’t entitled to anything.
But some of them – eg, those from India – have no realistic way of getting home at the moment. I think it would be reasonable for the Government to make some welfare provision for people who can demonstrate that they are genuinely stuck here, eg: pay them something akin to youth allowance.
With each passing day I am more and more confident that Labor will win the next federal election possibly by a landslide. If they can play their cards right, because Scott Morrison is increasingly looking like an Antipodean version of Herbert Hoover.
@meher baba
A large percentage of International students before this pandemic worked part time jobs and paid taxes. Therefore; they are just as entitled as everybody else to access Medicare and Centrelink benefits. The same goes for holders of other “Temporary” Visas who work and pay taxes.
You have to ask yourself – ” have ***I*** been TROLLED today ???? ” ……?
Yes and they know who they are!.
meher baba
says:
. I think it would be reasonable for the Government to make some welfare provision for people who can demonstrate that they are genuinely stuck here, eg: pay them something akin to youth allowance.
__________________________
I’d like to see international students apply to the university for help and for the university to give a lump sum amount that the government would give them.
Bucephalus
Not hard to do an engineering calculation.
Size of export industry 37.6 billion a year (Us billion = 1000 million)
Number of international students 450,000 8 weeks $500.
1.8 billion dollars.
5% of the industry income
The incompetence of the Liberal party knows no bounds
Tristo
says:
Friday, May 15, 2020 at 3:39 pm
With each passing day I am more and more confident that Labor will win the next federal election possibly by a landslide. If they can play their cards right, because Scott Morrison is increasingly looking like an Antipodean version of Herbert Hoover.
___________________
Wasn’t it you that picked Shorten to win 100 seats?
Mexicanbeemersays:
Friday, May 15, 2020 at 3:25 pm
I spent four years working in Regulatory Compliance on a major LNG build in the Pilbara.
It was lovely to have a job and for all my team to have jobs and the FIFO hollywood money.
We had over 5,000 individual line items of compliance to track compliance of.
That included portaloos – a site with 10,000 plus residents – about 7,000 on site at peak and every individual portaloo needed approval from the Shire with attached fee to be on site. Not just one blanket approval at the start but ongoing – including when we changed hire companies and had to reapply. We didn’t use that many portaloos because we generally had toilet blocks near the work faces but it was so obviously stupid because a +$100 billion project came under the same Local Building Code as a house build.
The Marine Environment Compliance was almost unattainable.
@nath
On election day I thought Labor would just squeak through, while others were predicting a comfortable win. Anyway before that leadership fiasco back in 2018 I thought Labor would have a tough time winning the forthcoming Federal Election.
Anyway I cant see the government surviving an economic depression where the unemployment rate rises to 20% or even more. Not to mention a collapse in banks leading to a massive bailout.
Buce
You would have to ask why Morrison is allowing the Regulator and the AFP to allow billions in Super theft without lifting an eyelid.
But then this is the most corrupt Federal government since Federation, and they hate compulsory Super with a passion, so don’t hold your breath for real action on big time crooks.
Jaeger
Over the last 4 weeks Australia has recorded 90,144,91,189 cases. Wouldn’t take much to turn that into hundreds .
frednk
says:
Friday, May 15, 2020 at 2:52 pm
nath says:
Friday, May 15, 2020 at 2:19 pm
Bill Shorten loved Labour Hire companies. He did plenty of dodgy deals with them and the Labour Hire company UniBuilt donated 40k to his election campaign in 2007.
When are you going to grow up?
______________________
The fact that you don’t see anything wrong with what I just outlined just shows you why Shorten and the ALP got 33%. Good luck.
Bucephalus
And I will point out something else, if we had looked after their kids the Chinese would have been a lot more tolerant of the PM running his mouth.
Mexican:
There are a few people in the Liberal party who have actually run businesses—for example the SA Premier (although it was mostly run by his father)—and they are far more reasonable and in fact generally sensible.
However, they are in constant danger of being knocked off by the dickheads with MBAs, who are “business fanbois” and third-rate lawyers rather then business people, and whom (being otherwise useless) have all the time in the world for intra-party political games. Mr Marshall was pretty close to suffering the same ridiculous fate as his predecessor; perhaps only saved by a combination of back-pedalling on land tax reform and that idiot Duluk (one of the principal dickheads) being unable to keep his hand to himself.
nath says:
Friday, May 15, 2020 at 3:43 pm
…
When are you going to grow up?
______________________
The fact that you don’t see anything wrong with what I just outlined just shows you why Shorten and the ALP got 33%. Good luck.
Clearly not today.
MB
The real problem with international students has been how they were treated in January when it was becoming clear the borders had to be closed and the government knowing it wasn’t going to include them in any assistance package yet allowed them into the country at the urging of the university sector that was putting its profits ahead of student welfare or public health then after those students arrived the borders were closed basically trapping the students here.
The university sector has failed in its duty of care to these students and the government will need to be careful because while it might think it is only ignoring the existing international students and temporary residents but many have established lives here with large network of friends and there are many who are now permanent that are watching their non-permanent friends being treated this way.
meher babasays:
Friday, May 15, 2020 at 3:37 pm
I’m all for the Australian Government flying them home and then reviewing the Visa requirements so that in the future all International Students have the means to get home when they can’t financially support themselves here. A real way to throw some money at Qantas and Virgin.
Some years ago I was in the third and final year of a degree and did a group project. Got friendly with a very nice girl from Singapore. She told me she wasn’t going to finish her degree (in her last year – just needed a couple of units) – she was transferring to Architecture because that was a five year degree and she wanted to stay here. As long as her Dad kept paying the fees I was happy for her.
Those overseas students who are truly indigent should be protected and provided for by our Government.
However those students come here to study and to bring skills acquired back to their own countries, which will reap the benefit.
It is therefore not unreasonable that those countries at least share the costs of providing for their citizens in these unusual times.
Boerwar
Buces mates could pay for it with the loose change from their annual thievery.
.
Super Australia has estimated $5.6 billion in super payments are not made annually.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/businesses-given-free-pass-on-unpaid-superannuation-20200224-p543rz.html
why is it always wage theft? Administrative errors should work both ways, with half employees getting over paid and half getting under paid.
Nope, it appears Admin errors only cause wage theft. Strange.
Bucephalus
says:
I’m all for the Australian Government flying them home and then reviewing the Visa requirements so that in the future all International Students have the means to get home when they can’t financially support themselves here. A real way to throw some money at Qantas and Virgin.
___________________________
A little harsh.
frednksays:
Friday, May 15, 2020 at 3:43 pm
“the PM running his mouth.”
I haven’t seen him doing that.
So your quite happy to kow tow to the Chinese?
We should just shut up, do nothing, say nothing that might upset them?
All for the filthy lucre?
That’s rather mercenary of you.
I thought that the Left had principles?
boerwar: “You would have to ask why Morrison is allowing the Regulator and the AFP to allow billions in Super theft without lifting an eyelid.”
Billions in super theft? How so? I thought that there were only a few hundred cases.
poroti
says:
Friday, May 15, 2020 at 3:48 pm
Boerwar
Buces mates could pay for it with the loose change from their annual thievery.
__________________
Poroti, surely you can’t complain about a common sense move by the Government. Yes there is an amnesty, but as long the missing money plus interest is repaid. Considering the current situation it kinda makes sense not to punish companies t00 much. Otherwise the lost super might never be paid.
E. G. Theodore
There are a few people in the Liberal party who have actually run businesses—for example the SA Premier (although it was mostly run by his father)—and they are far more reasonable and in fact generally sensible.
However, they are in constant danger of being knocked off by the dickheads with MBAs, who are “business fanbois” and third-rate lawyers rather then business people, and whom (being otherwise useless) have all the time in the world for intra-party political games. Mr Marshall was pretty close to suffering the same ridiculous fate as his predecessor; perhaps only saved by a combination of back-pedalling on land tax reform and that idiot Duluk (one of the principal dickheads) being unable to keep his hand to himself.
———————————————–
It is like real stars are friendly but c-grade celebs are rude pricks.
I don’t know whether its insecurity or something but its like the dickheads and third rate lawyers think they need to act it out to cover for their lack of achievement or they think acting that way will get them into the “right club” yet what they don’t see is the more sensible people just roll their eyes at them.
It is like new money frogs like Dick Pusey thinking its cool to big note how much cash they have and how fast they can drive the flash car while the old money lot sits back behind their high fence muttering how vulgar the new money lot are.
Buce: “I’m all for the Australian Government flying them home and then reviewing the Visa requirements so that in the future all International Students have the means to get home when they can’t financially support themselves here. A real way to throw some money at Qantas and Virgin.”
Look, as I’m sure you realise, I’m more inclined to agree with you than most posters on here. But please get your facts straight. The Indian Government is currently not allowing any Indians to return there from overseas. We could fill up as many Qantas and Virgin planes with them as we like, but they wouldn’t be permitted to land. The airports of India are basically closed.
That’s why I’m suggesting that the Indian students stranded here have a case for being assisted. I think most of the others could go home if they chose to, so I’m not as bothered about them.
PeeBeesays:
Friday, May 15, 2020 at 3:49 pm
“why is it always wage theft? Administrative errors should work both ways, with half employees getting over paid and half getting under paid.
Nope, it appears Admin errors only cause wage theft. Strange.”
Wrong.
“Efforts are continuing to recoup more than $62 million in overpayments to Queensland Health staff from the 2010 payroll debacle.”
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-27/qld-health-is-still-seeking-overpayments-six-years-on/7663230
Plenty of other cases.
I was substantially overpaid once – double my fortnightly. Fortunately I realised and it was sorted next pay.
“We won’t gaol you for causing grievous bodily harm to these 47 victims, because if we did, you wouldn’t be able to pay for their damages and losses.”
As defence counsel, where can I find these Judges?
Those heavily armed RWNJ “freedom fighters” give up after a bit of bad weather at their demo outside the Michigan capitol building.
They seem to lack the “true grit” demanded of passionate supporters of a cause.
nath
Given how much they have stolen without getting caught i doubt there will be a rush to “confess”. Soooo how is it going so far ? Yep the rush is on all right.$53,000,000,000 over the last decade not paid and so far ,ummmm about 0.3% recovered. since the amnesty was announced.
” the amnesty was announced in May 2018.”
February 24, 2020 — 4.22pm
” $160 million to be repaid to workers under the amnesty.”
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/businesses-given-free-pass-on-unpaid-superannuation-20200224-p543rz.html
meher babasays:
Friday, May 15, 2020 at 3:55 pm
I think you are getting confused with the recent fraud on accessing super and employers failing to pay their SGC obligations on time – which Boerwar and others call theft.
Everyone – know when your employer has to pay your SGC. Check your account. If it’s not there then ask your employer ASAP. If they don’t sort it straight away then report them to the ATO immediately.
– it’s quite easy and anonymous wrt your employer.
One of the biggest problems with the compulsory nature of our Superannuation system is that many are terribly apathetic about what is happening to their money – like paying default life insurance when it isn’t needed and losing out because of that – but the Unions and Industry Super Funds love it because they are on a nice little earner.
Yes, those industry funds are bastards, not like AMP.
Baba
Regarding your comment on international students.
They are human beings. Looking after them is not only right thing to do but is also helping to contribute to soft power diplomacy.
Where the bloody hell is the empathy?
Bucephalus
That rises a deeper problem why is financial literacy so poor when it is central to being an adult. My school did some basic financial stuff in year 10 but it seems many schools do not and that needs to be addressed because many of the case studies at the RC were as much about poor financial literacy than bankers doing the wrong thing.
poroti
says:
Friday, May 15, 2020 at 4:07 pm
nath
Given how much they have stolen without getting caught i doubt there will be a rush to “confess”. Soooo how is it going so far ? Yep the rush is on all right.$53,000,000,000 over the last decade not paid and so far ,ummmm about 0.3% recovered. since the amnesty was announced.
_____________
I think they said 5.3 bill not 53 billion. I thought this was a reasonable attempt by the government to get peoples’ super back. Although Labor’s proposal to allow people to get it back directly seems fine to me.
Guytaur
Its not about empathy. They shouldn’t be eligible for jobkeeper or jobseeker but there are other ways they could be looked after starting with the universities giving those students their fees which would be a few thousand dollars and they should be included in the rent holiday then for those that will become permanent then you could speed the immigration process up to then include them in the other assistance packages.
meher baba @ #332 Friday, May 15th, 2020 – 2:00 pm
Such compassion!
Mexican
It’s about empathy.
JobKeeper for Australians. Student Keeper for international students.
They are human beings. Yes it bloody well is about empathy b
Guytaur
Not sure if you refreshed because i addressed that by editing the comment.
nath
“A little harsh.”
Yes I agree. In good times, these international students provide a huge boost to the Australian economy, as our 4th largest export industry. In bad times (such as now), we tell these same students they’re not welcome any more? Not a good look.
Mexican.
Nope. You did not. Just no empathy to even say that when presented with the fact these human beings have to turn up to food banks.
We have failed when people are begging for food.
Amazed that Georgie Boy is the Chair of anything. Why did he deserve a reward?
Guytaur
I will break it down for you
The universities can reimburse the students their fees because they can afford too and it will provide students with potentially thousands of dollars.
They should be included in the rent holiday.
Speed up the immigration process then they would be eligible for other assistance.
All three steps would help international students.