The West Australian has a poll today from Painted Dog Research showing 34% out of 837 respondents from the state favour secession for Western Australia. However, the utility of this finding is limited by the report’s failure to offer any insight as to how many of the other 66% were actively opposed and how many uncommitted, if indeed the latter was provided as an option. The poll also finds “close to three-quarters” think the federal government has put the needs of the eastern states ahead of Western Australia during the pandemic. I wouldn’t normally consider such a poll front page news, but it’s past time for a new general discussion thread, so here it is.
There is also the following:
• Since Tuesday’s post from Adrian Beaumont on the extraordinary finding of a Reid Research poll of voting intention in New Zealand, the other regular pollster in the country, Colmar Brunton, has produced a somewhat more modest result: Labour 53%, National 32%, Greens 5%, ACT New Zealand 4.8% and New Zealand First 2%. It also finds Jacinda Ardern with a 54-20 lead over the new National leader, Judith Collins, as preferred prime minister. There’s an interesting discussion on polling in the country, the record of which is apparently very good, on Radio New Zealand’s The Detail program.
• As noted in my popular dedicated post on the subject, elections will be held today for two seats in Tasmania’s Legislative Council. One of these at least, for the Launceston region seat of Rosevears, includes both Liberal and Labor candidates, and might be seen as some sort of barometer for the state’s new-ish Premier, Peter Gutwein, who has been recording exceptionally strong poll ratings amid the COVID-19 crisis. Live coverage of the count will, as ever, commence here at 6pm.
SNIP
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/aug/02/coronavirus-live-news-victoria-faces-highest-lockdown-as-south-africa-cases-pass-500000
William Bowe @ #649 Sunday, August 2nd, 2020 – 3:56 pm
Hara Kiri is now one of the moderation guidelines?
I heard the NSW announcements earlier, and IMO there was too much “It’s up to you what you do,” “We rely on you to decide,” “I’m sure you’ll do the right thing.” There were no clear rules about when to wear a mask, or not.
William Bowe @ #650 Sunday, August 2nd, 2020 – 1:56 pm
Opps!
I thought it was a general comment.
I look forward to Dan Andrews and all Cabinet Ministers appearing before the Judicial Inquiry along with all Cabinet records. No?
One of your more sophisticated arguments I see GG.
L’arse,
To have a respectful conversation, you need to respect the person with, or about whom you’re having the conversation.
You and your spivvy mates don’t qualify.
meher baba @ #621 Sunday, August 2nd, 2020 – 3:26 pm
Forgive me. I forgot about your Nobel Prize in Epidemiology
Lars Von Trier @ #656 Sunday, August 2nd, 2020 – 3:59 pm
Isn’t about now you say something about Eddie Obeid?
Bucephalus
If only Peter Dutton did his job properly in late January or early February and while the Andrews government has questions to answer but this whole exercise is a failure of the federal and state government system.
sprocket_ @ #639 Sunday, August 2nd, 2020 – 3:42 pm
He’s been a prat all his life. But, amazingly, he’s been very consistent on this issue.
If ever there was a time for Melbourne Storm to have a good win it is right now.
I like meher baba a bit. No way she/he is a troll. The other two, well..
Bucephalussays:
Sunday, August 2, 2020 at 3:59 pm
I look forward to Dan Andrews and all Cabinet Ministers appearing before the Judicial Inquiry along with all Cabinet records. No?
_______________
The terms of reference are a bit vague to me. I guess we will see. It appears to my eyes the inquiry might just concern itself with issues and decisions made AFTER the decision to use security guards was made. Which is disappointing but hardly surprising.
A Tasmanian answers Creighton.
Well it better work, if not there’s nowhere else for Dan Andrews to go than the Backbench.
Melbourne is going to be a depressing place up until Xmas.I can’t see any sporting events happening unless behind closed doors. Those that wanted borders open including Smoko should have egg on their faces.
Greg Hunt trying to be empathetic. Yuck!!
Maybe if ppl did their job, while Andrews does his, this would be over already?
It takes two to tango.
Victorians are the blame, because they want their freedom.
I don’t wish for death on anyone, but unless people start to have death in the family due to COVID, they won’t even think about it – to “wake up”.
This is no one’s fault but fault of the Victorian’s – And Greed.
Lizzie
Regional areas are only in stage 3.
And some wonder if the Greens have captured ALL intelligent Labor voters……
Young people ‘overrepresented’ in Victoria’s coronavirus cases
Natalie Wolfe :
Younger people make up more than half of Victoria’s coronavirus cases, chief health officer Dr Brett Sutton confirmed today.
“Young people, 15 to 40 years of age, make up over 50 per cent of our total cases. Something like 53 per cent,” he said.
“We need to get on top of the numbers regardless of the age groups that are affected.
“Younger people are overrepresented in some ways and our intensive care units have been protected by the relatively fewer numbers of people in their 60s and 70s who have contracted the virus.”
Mexicanbeemer says:
Sunday, August 2, 2020 at 4:02 pm
I do not see failures – just the normal interaction of nature and human behaviour.
Andrews has committed a huge amount of money to the Inquiry – one would hope that it isn’t limited in its ability to do its job by not having access to Cabinet-In-Confidence information.
Mexicanbeemer
I know. I don’t get your point.
meher baba,
Your comments often imply that that anyone who disagrees with you is a blind partisan which I think is a pretty unfair characterisation of much of the discussion here. There are certainly some shallow responses to your commentary but I’d hardly call them representative and disagreeing with your analysis doesn’t necessarily mean partisanship.
You and others have made a number of borderline conspiratorial claims in relation to police and ADF involvement in hotel quarantine here and have notably failed to produce any evidence to support them (I think the best that has been stated is there are claims on talkback – how reputable). I think it’s pretty reasonable for to be skeptical in those circumstances.
While not necesarily directed at you; there have also been many comments piling criticising the Victorian response that ignore that the federal Government is central in this crisis and to shift discussions away from delays, obfusications and failures by the federal Government. I mean, the treasurer and IR minister were just waxing lyrical about Thatcher, Reagan and flexible working arrangements when workplace “flexibility” is a leading factor in community spread in Victoria – are we banned from having those discussions because it admits there are issues at the federal level?
While the impact can be debated, the federal Government has regulatory oversight of the largest infection vectors in the state as well. While (as just stated by the Premier himself) state operators are largely in rural areas the infection rates between public and privately run facilities is stark. Then you come to the question of pandemic leave. Again, an area of federal control they could have acted on a long time ago.
You can’t on the one hand write hysterical comments demanding scalps on the Victorian level and then ignore the influence of the federal Government in managing the crisis – just because Victoria returned a 2PP in favour of Labor at the last federal election doesn’t mean the feds ceased to operate here.
Japan Acted Like the Virus Had Gone. Now It’s Spread Everywhere.
After initial success, Japan is facing a reality check on the coronavirus.
The country garnered global attention after containing the first wave of Covid-19 with what it referred to as the “Japan Model” — limited testing and no lockdown, nor any legal means to force businesses to close. The country’s finance minister even suggested a higher “cultural standard” helped contain the disease.
But now the island nation is facing a formidable resurgence, with Covid-19 cases hitting records nationwide day after day. Infections first concentrated in the capital have spread to other urban areas, while regions without cases for months have become new hotspots. And the patient demographic — originally younger people less likely to fall seriously ill — is expanding to the elderly, a concern given that Japan is home to the world’s oldest population.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-07-31/japan-acted-like-the-virus-had-gone-now-it-s-spread-everywhere?srnd=premium-asia
Nath
The idea that green voters are more intelligent is just a myth.
I’ve seen Adam Creighton on The Drum. He really is an idiot.
Lizzie
Earlier you asked about people outside of greater Melbourne.
Greg Hunt seems to think his time for glory has arrived. I think he’s trying to speak for longer than Dan Andrews.
maybe nath is this guy.
Mexicanbeemersays:
Sunday, August 2, 2020 at 4:14 pm
Nath
The idea that green voters are more intelligent is just a myth.
________________
well they are certainly better educated according to the info I’ve seen.
Mexicanbeemer
I meant outside the conurbation, such as Yarra Ranges, the Peninsula, even the Dandenongs. Distances are greater there.
Steve777 says:
Sunday, August 2, 2020 at 4:15 pm
“I’ve seen Adam Creighton on The Drum. He really is an idiot.”
Just because someone disagrees with you doesn’t make them or you an idiot.
Greensborough Growlersays:
Sunday, August 2, 2020 at 4:16 pm
maybe nath is this guy.
________
15 in one day? Even at my height the best I could do was 2 and I’m not guaranteeing exhaustion and satisfaction but I tried.
I understand Scomo was going to do the presser but they just couldn’t get the smirk off his face in time so they had to send out Hunt instead.
Bucephalus
Adam Creighton is from the Australian News Paper, which is Murdoch, he is part of the cancer that lies.
Zerlo, not all Victorians just the selfish f&$#wit brigade.
Hunt sounds like he is channelling Churchill.
Bucephalus
No Adam C isn’t an idiot, he’s an unfeeling bastard.
Another sore loser, Nath, writes:
In your wet dreams, Nath.
Andrews has survived this one.
The Coronettes, the Karens, the deluded Vic Grujics, the Clive Palmers, the useless, yabbering Michael O’Briens and the blame-shifting ScoMos of this world have done it for him.
steve davis
Naah, he’s just a wannabe.
martini henry
As the old saying goes, it only takes one!
And considering majority of people who have screwed the pooch basically, stuffed everyone’s elses lives up.
Meaner Baba
I still believe that Dan Andrews has done a good job. The Hotel,quarantine was a let down but if the general public had been following the lockdown and social,distancing rules in place it would not have spread as far and wide as it did.
In infection control for a lockdown to work 90 percent of people need to follow the rules. When you have a popular leader at a national level saying that the commonwealth health advice is that schools can open and there is no need for the slow reopening being advocated by the state, then what percentage of people do you think will elect to ignore the state leader. Then combine that with newspaper advertisers and loud mouthed commentators selling the commonwealth message ” the economy trumps all ” and do you think 90 % are still following the rules. Then add in the “we are all in this together “unless you are one of the million people denied access to any financial assistance who underpin the work in every sector of society with their unpaid labor. What percentage are following the rules now?
So yes Andrews hasn’t been perfect but at least he is trying, I don’t think Morrison has been. We are still waiting for pandemic leave, we have no answer on why aged care wasn’t better prepared, we have no explanation on why he encouraged opening up when community transmission was still occurring in Victoria. The voices that encouraged disobedience need to be very vocal now in supporting this lockdown or they can forget about the 25 percent of the Australian economy the Victoria is responsible for.
That’s why Smoko lets the states decide their own lockdowns so later on he can absolve himself of any blame for what has happened.
I’m not sure what discussions about the relative intelligence and education levels of various voters are meant to achieve.
Smart people make stupid choices. Well educated people can make selfish and cheap arguments. Someone being of below average intelligence doesn’t mean what they have to say isn’t important – particularly when it relates to how they live their own life. Someone not having an education doesn’t indicate a lack of intelligence.
I don’t know GG and BB but the tenor of the blog has changed and you two don’t seem to have got the memo.
I’d like to think c@t amongst others are trying to promote more tolerance and better debate .
You’d do well to learn from c@t’s very positive example.
Good point Lars. Us two have spearheaded the new direction and have been exemplars for good conduct if I do say so myself. C@t has done well under our tutelage. the caterwauling is barely perceptible these days. Kudos to us!