The Guardian reports the latest fortnightly Essential Research poll includes its monthly leadership ratings, showing further improvement in Scott Morrison’s standing. He is up three points on approval to 66% and down four on disapproval to 23%, while Anthony Albanese is respectively steady at 44% and up two to 30%, and his lead as preferred prime minister is at 52-22, out from 50-27.
The small-sample breakdowns on state government performance finds the Victorian government still holding up reasonably well, with 49% rating it good (down four on a week ago, but well down on a 75% peak in mid-June), while the New South Wales government’s good rating is down a point to 61% and Queensland’s up a point to 68%. Results for the federal goverment are not provided, but will presumably be in the full report when it is published later today.
Fifty per cent now rate themselves very concerned about COVID-19, which is up seven points on a fortnight ago and has been progressively rising from a low of 25% in mid-June. Fifty-six per cent of respondents said they would seek a vaccine straight away, 35% less immediately and 8% not at all. Twenty per cent believed that “hydroxychloroquine has been shown to be a safe and effective treatment”.
UPDATE: Full report here. The federal government’s good rating on handling COVID-19 is down a point to 63%, and its poor rating is steady at 16%.
Other news:
• We had a rare opinion poll for the Australian Capital Territory, which holds its election on October 17, conducted by uComms for the Australia Institute. It offered no indication that the Liberals are about to break free of their status as a permanent opposition, with Labor on 37.6%, Liberal on 38.2% and the Greens on 14.6%, compared with 2016 election results of 38.4%, 36.7% and 10.3%. This would almost certainly result in a continuation of the present state of affairs in which the Greens hold the balance of the power. The poll also found overwhelming support for “truth in political advertising” laws, with 88.5% supportive and 4.9% opposed. The poll was conducted on July 20 from a sample of 1049.
• The preference distribution from the July 4 Eden-Monaro by-election has been published, offering some insight into how much Labor’s narrow victory was owed to a Shooters Fishers and Farmers preference recommendation and a higher than usual rate of leakage from the Nationals. The former was likely decisive: when Shooters were excluded at the final count, 5341 (56.61%) went to Labor and 4093 (43.39%) went to Liberal, which includes 5066 first preference Shooters votes and another 4368 they picked up during the preference distribution (including 1222 from the Nationals). When the Nationals were excluded earlier in the count, 4399 votes (63.76%) went to the Liberals, the aforementioned 1222 (17.71%) to Shooters, 995 (14.42%) to Labor and 283 (4.10%) to the Greens. This includes 6052 first preference votes for the Nationals and another 847 they picked up as preferences earlier in the distribution. That would be consistent with maybe 20% of Nationals votes ending up with Labor compared with 13% at the 2019 election, which would not quite account for Labor’s winning margin. At some point in the future, two-candidate preferred preference flow figures will tell us precisely how each candidate’s votes split between Labor and Liberal.
Ummmmmmmmm – you can get doctors and nurses outfits from Spotlight.
So I am told.
Zoomster,
That actually sounds embarrassing. Is it a failure of the NSW and Vic Governments to talk and nut out the problems or mostly on the NSW end? I’ve certainly had issues with the reactive way Government and departments have dealt with issues – having problems and solutions raised by people working in areas for them to be dismissed – at a state and federal level.
It just seems bizarre that NSW took that extra time before closing their border but didn’t use that time to ensure things ran smoothly.
Dandy Murray @ #2542 Saturday, August 15th, 2020 – 4:41 pm
You are being manscaped!
mundo @ #2551 Saturday, August 15th, 2020 – 4:53 pm
At a state level obviously Andrews is articulate (despite some bludgers thinking he was just a seat warmer) along with McGowan and Palaszczuk.
Seems the duds get funnelled into federal seats.
The bigger duds, in the Peanut Gallery, like Rex Douglas and mundo, think they know better than everyone else.
Danama
“Chris Kenny, Tim Wilson and Prue walk into a bar…..”
Prue says to the barman, “Do you serve nuts?”
(You see where I’m going with this…)
Mundo
I don’t believe that Labor should be being too vocal, the memory that needs to be projected is that the Libs were given free rein to manage the events and Labor has been supportive so as not to derail the Libs best efforts.
Hopefully they will have a nice Library of stuff ups to put out when they announce their plans. Going into detailed policies of how they would rein in inequality played one side off against the other. Giving details of specific programs just gives the opposition the chance to derail or one up them.
Labor just needs to project a strong team, committed to rebuilding industry in a manner that benefits all. They will be able to use the information that has become well known and understood to explain why rebuilding needs to factor in permanent work, sustainable wages and social support.
Unlike you I’m not ready to give up on the idea that Labor can win and I don’t think being negative at this time would be wise.
I don’t believe that Labor should be being too vocal, the memory that needs to be projected is that the Libs were given free rein to manage the events and Labor has been supportive so as not to derail the Libs best efforts.
Exactly.
And that’s why Morrison has been out “condemning” Labor for playing politic with the ruby Princess by insinuating that the ABF acted in error, and saying that this (albeit imaginary) sort of interference in the operation of government is not helpful.
Labor must avoid giving Morrison that stick at all costs, which they have done very successfully so far.
Interested to know what people’s opinions on the Cive Palmer/ WA government conundrum are.
Why did Clive wait 6 years to try to get his money. Was he keeping it as a bargaining chip to try and force the government into support of some type. Was it his way of keeping the Liberals on side. Did he expect federal Libs to override the assessment done at state level.
How are the Libs going to gain any benefit from him electorally at a national level, he would cost them dearly in WA
Assantdj
Agree. There’s no gain for Oppositions to be negative at this stage, but there will be plenty of issues raised which can be capitalised on later.
Churchill had full throated support from everyone during WWII. He lost the next election.
We’re seeing this here, on the border. I haven’t heard anyone criticise Daniel Andrews, but Gladys is seen as ineffectual. Even the local Lib MP (who appears to be doing a decent job) complains about the lack of communication and consultation. A good campaign from Labor locally would see him lose his seat (however unfairly).
Victoria’s quarantine debacle is even making news overseas. Just had a friend of mine from Belfast on messenger asking about the security guard sex scandal.
Taylormade
I hope you corrected them. It would be dreadful to think that you might allow a mistruth go by.
Good to see you back, zoom 🙂
So Taylormade, you seriously think that O’Brien, Smith and Guy would make a better fist of things thn Labor? Very few Victorians even know who they are. Those who do, see them for the ineffectual shonks they are.
Would be good to see Labor reminding people of its aged care package at the last election and the governments response.
DimTim doing radio interviews in Belfast now …?
Assantdj @ #2564 Saturday, August 15th, 2020 – 5:28 pm
The next Election is the only important one.
zoomster says:
….
If there was some measure of sense to it, none of us would be complaining (well, much! We are human!) It’s the shifting goalposts and pointless measures which are annoying.
Have some sympathy for those trying to run this game. They are not super human and basically is is a numbers game, they have to reduce person to person contact in an environment with less than perfect information. They don’t know who has it and who doesn’t. No infection today does not mean no infection tomorrow.
The Daily Mail loves a sex scandal.
lizzie @ #2568 Saturday, August 15th, 2020 – 5:41 pm
I’ve never seen a headline , “Libs fuck Australia”.
frednk and zoomster
I suspect it’s a matter of pride that neither Gladys no Annastacia would make temporary borders to suit the realty of their residents lives.
Another miss-step, more readers concerned , continual declining readership. The burning question, what does the Australian readership have to decline to for it to shut up shop.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/aug/15/the-australian-editor-in-chief-calls-on-colleagues-to-support-cartoonist-accused-of-racism
The cartoon one down
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/cartoons/johannes-leak-cartoons/image-gallery/de8f7d34d6dcf6dbb2f01239663cedd7#&gid=1&pid=2
The professional journalism… #not
C@tmomma @ #2543 Saturday, August 15th, 2020 – 4:42 pm
For a colectomy?? That bad, oh dear. I get the madding crowd far from syndrome more than ever, since I’ve discovered I was a closet isolationist all along.
I’ll mention the radio to him, ta, though there’s more than enough here to be dealt with – just got the bore re-pumping, woohoo. Mother-in-law tells me the only way to shut him up as a child was with a clock in the play pen.
We soldier (solder even) on …
Fairly obvious (and in Z’s case, explicit) that nath had something to do with their absence.
But try telling Mavis that.
He “valued” nath’s contributions, brutish, monomaniacal and truncated as they were.
Taylormade @ #2564 Saturday, August 15th, 2020 – 5:22 pm
Fake News. Travels fast.
Taylormade @ #2564 Saturday, August 15th, 2020 – 5:22 pm
Does your friend vote Trump?
poroti @ #2536 Saturday, August 15th, 2020 – 2:32 pm
How could you tell the difference?
https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p08jbbry/why-we-need-to-debunk-the-deficit-myth-
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/15/fury-in-spain-at-us-plans-to-produce-iberian-ham-in-texas-and-georgia
So much for provenance.
Just read an ABC article re the training group for emergency doctors complaining that the elderly from aged care homes are clogging up the hospitals. Apparently they are blaming both state and federal spending for this problem.
It seems it’s alright every flu season for people to be backed up in Emergency because their not elderly. The government cancelled elective surgery to make beds available but elderly should be kicked to the kerb.
In my experience emergency doctors have always been the least accepting of the rights of the elderly to equal care. I have even been at presentations were aged care managers have been told that our aged care clients are unnecessarily presenting to hospital but they never have any concrete data to back it up.
Blood boiling does not adequately express how I feel.
Zerlo @ #2580 Saturday, August 15th, 2020 – 6:14 pm
He can’t. He’s Irish.
This sort of reminds me of Dotard’s position that more testing = more cases. So the obvious (sic) solution is to slow down testing, therefore less cases QED.
With the likelihood of more mail in ballots threatening the franchise, what’s the answer? Remove the post boxes QED.
Round ‘em up! Yeehah!
This is emblematic of the Coalition, wherever they govern:
The report had been in the making since early 2019 with multiple drafts available but instead of trying to learn from the review, the focus was on trying to finesse the message and spin.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace/provocative-references-email-reveals-icare-s-hayne-moment-20200814-p55lvp.html
BB:
[‘But try telling Mavis that.
He “valued” nath’s contributions, brutish, monomaniacal and truncated as they were.’]
And yours haven’t been over time? Please stop it! Indeed I recall dear moderator ticking you off for the same, your outrageous put-downs turning contributors off this site.
Looks like the stable genius has the election sown up. Nobody can post their vote by mail ballot papers back! How clever!
Mavis @ #2589 Saturday, August 15th, 2020 – 6:41 pm
As does your tut-tutting and perennial ticking off of BB. Both you and BB should get over yourselves! The blog is a much better place without it!
It was 41 years ago today!
https://www.thisdayinmusic.com/liner-notes/woodstock/
Greensborough Growler @ #2589 Saturday, August 15th, 2020 – 6:49 pm
or even 51!
Stolen from ‘The Chaser Weakly” —
‘As it turns out, it was hotel staff – which come under the responsibility of the Federal authorities – that first contracted the virus from quarantined travellers. Turns out some of the training and protocols established by the Federal Department of Health and Human Services may have been lacking. And it looks like they didn’t even have sex with anyone. Talk about a bunch of prudes.
Now that we’ve realised it was the Federal government’s responsibility, I think we can all agree that there’s no reason to apportion blame. In these tough times, we need to recognise that nobody was acting with ill-intentions. Nobody was trying to cause a second outbreak. Let’s not play the blame game. It doesn’t get us anywhere. Everyone’s trying their best. And anyway, how good are the Sharks?’
C@tmomma:
Saturday, August 15, 2020 at 6:47 pm
[‘As does your tut-tutting and perennial ticking off of BB. Both you and BB should get over yourselves! The blog is a much better place without it!’]
Yes, dear?
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/08/15/health/vaccine-hesitancy-coronavirus-safety-intl/index.html
Punters have their doubts about a Covid vaccine…
Perhaps Trump is working on a way to fix this. If he’s doing all he can (legally or illegally) to disenfranchise likely Democrat voters, perhaps he’s also got his GOP mates working (illegally) to add foreigners to the electoral rolls. Who would know if that happened in Republican controlled jurisdictions?
France saw a surge in vaccine skepticism in 2009, with only 8% uptake during the swine flu epidemic. The top concern was speed, despite the fact there was existing knowledge around flu vaccines, said Ward. In May — when France was in lockdown and its outbreak escalating — Coconel found that around a quarter of the population would still refuse to take a vaccine.
“I think the main factor is trust in institutions,” said Ward. He said coronavirus debates in France had become highly politicized. Coconel’s study found that those who had voted for a far-left or far-right candidate, or didn’t vote at all, were much more likely to say that they would refuse a vaccine.
So vaccination has been politicised.
Those Bludgers who insist that Labor should be more aggressive should reflect on this. Dissent is the hallmark of politics. The more dissent there is, the more politicisation there is. The more politicised that social exchange becomes, the less efficacious will be the public health measures required to arrest the pandemic. It’s fair to say that political agitation drives non-compliance, which in turn drives viral spread, illness and mortality.
The pandemic is by definition a societal event as well as a medical one. What we know is that we are not always good at managing societal and/or individual behaviours. As much as we have to learn about the clinical realities of the virus and Covid, we have to learn how to manage our own conduct. Very remarkably, the virus is superbly well adapted to exploit human behaviours. We will not defeat the virus unless and until we can manage our own conduct. We are dysfunctional in so many ways. We really should be pessimistic about our chances.
Humans are amazing. Go to the 3:00 mark for a !!! solo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=292&v=cYLQytuZ4KA&feature=emb_logo
BB, I have a notion that you might have something to do with ItzaDream’s caginess about posting here.
Included in Briefly’s post was this:
Of course it has been politicised.
And it’s gratifying (in a disappointing sort of way) to see an acknowledgement that the “Horseshoe Effect” – where extreme Right meets and imitates extreme Left, and of course vice versa – also applies.
The Centre is mocked from its left and its right. But the Centre is probably 80% (if not more) of virtually any modern polity.
I’ve argued for a long time here that the extreme Left and Right share tactics, form alliances, utilise similar memes, and otherwise equally demonstrate the hubris of political righteousness. They have FAR more in common than either is prepared to admit.
But we judge them by their deeds, not their delusions.