As reported by The Guardian, the latest fortnightly Essential Research poll finds approval of Scott Morrison’s handling of COVID-19 at 61%, which is off from a high of 72% in June. Approval ratings for state governments in New South Wales as well as Victoria are also trending gently downwards, with both having lost two points in the past fortnight, leaving them at 59% and 47% respectively. The Western Australian government continues to lead the field on 84%, though this too is down two on last time, with due regard to the very small sample size.
The poll also suggests Australians are unsentimental about civil liberties in the face of COVID-19, with 65% favouring closing the border to all foreign travellers and 52% supporting dedicated quarantine facilities for convalescents. Concerning outbreaks at aged care clinics, 42% blamed the providers, 30% the federal goverment and 28% state governments, and 70% believed the situation had been aggravated by long-term under-funding. The poll also gauged support for taxpayers to underwrite new gas infrastructure at 27% for, 27% against and 32% for neither. The poll was conducted from 1068 respondents from Thursday to Sunday; the pollster will publish its full report will be published later today.
UPDATE: Full report here. It should be noted that the 61% approval rating for handling of COVID-19 related to “the government” rather than Scott Morrison.
We also had on Friday one of the occasional Roy Morgan polls on federal voting intention, which finds the Coalition lead out to 54-46 from 51.5-48.5 when the last such poll was published in mid-July. The Coalition is up 2.5% on the primary vote to 46%, with Labor down one to 32.5%, the Greens steady on 11% and One Nation up half a point to 3%. The poll was conducted over the previous two weekends by phone and online interviewing from a sample of 2841.
Haven’t watched the RNC footage yet but I am betting the quality of its production is fine (just like that of the DNC) and other judgements of quality depend on whether or not you agree with what they’re saying.
Coalition party meeting
Noticeable that Morrison likes to close on a note of success – even if it’s fabricated.
Confessionssays: Tuesday, August 25, 2020 at 1:45 pm
phoenixRed:
I’ve been watching the Lincoln Project coverage of the RNC. Rick and Steve reckon Don Jnr and his partner had a scientology feel to their speeches
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58RTiPL22y4
*******************************************
Birds of a feather ………
Was Donald Trump, Jr. ‘coked out of his mind’ during RNC speech?
Donald Trump, Jr. addressed the Republican National Committee on Monday, urging Americans to trust his father with four more years in office.
But instead of focusing on the words coming out of his mouth, many Twitter users were focused on his eyes, with many wondering if he might have been on drugs.
https://www.rawstory.com/2020/08/was-donald-trump-jr-coked-out-of-his-mind-during-rnc-speech/
‘North Korean propaganda lady’ Kimberly Guilfoyle bashed for ‘full fascist’ RNC speech
On Monday, at the Republican National Convention, Trump strategist Kimberly Guilfoyle took the stage to give a forceful speech attacking Democrats and warning that they pose a threat to the American way of life.
The speech was panned by commenters on social media, who found it jarring and aggressive.
https://www.rawstory.com/2020/08/north-korean-propaganda-lady-kimberly-guilfoyle-bashed-for-full-fascist-rnc-speech/
As I observed last week, it felt more like it was pitched directly to the viewer, rather than the crowd of the faithful in a massive arena.
Lizzie
Poor Morrison.
COAG will be back.
There are very specific reasons why the “National Cabinet” works right now. As soon as Covid 19 is in the rear view mirror “National Cabinet” will be there too.
As a result I am actually looking forward to the theatre of the press conferences that accompany’s it.
No wonder people don’t trust union officials. If only the whole world was run by fine, upstanding individuals like Corporate Executives (or Cardinals). We’d all be so much safer 😐
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-25/queensland-cairns-ports-north-alan-vico-backpacker-guilty-rape/12592246
frednk says:
Tuesday, August 25, 2020 at 1:41 pm
“If he doesn’t the next outbreak and failure to get it under control will belong to the Liberals.”
Why wouldn’t he be able to?
Are you expecting Parliament to reject it completely?
I expect Parliament will grant the powers on an as required short term basis.
Looking at pictures of Kim Guilfoyle, I think Don Jr might have an Oedipus complex (step)
Guilfoyle used to be married to California Governor Gavin Newsom a gazillion years ago.
Katherine Murphy is writing the Australian Institute Quarterly Essay.
The title is “Scott Morrison and the end of Certainty”
Buce
For all your interest in talking about Victoria’s state emergency powers etc., you still havent answered a simple question
Why? What are you afraid of?
Surely you know what the status of emergency powers are for the rest of the states of Australia?
Simple question with a simple answer
Try it. It wont hurt a bit. I promise
Rational Leftist @ #253 Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 – 11:53 am
And watching the grabs I’ve seen, it feels like the Republicans have simply targeted their base, which is getting smaller. They made no effort on Day 1 to reach out to would-be voters.
PhoenixRed
Was don jnr cooked? Simple answer. Yes.
Lol!
With any form of negotiation you never put forward your preferred position straight up. Put forward more than you want, let the other side jump and dance and then as a result of “ negotiations” you give a bit and end up at your “ line in the sand position.”
Both sides have negotiated, both sides have given ground and at the end everyone gets what they are happy with. The optics work for all concerned.
Andrews is a smart man.
lizzie @ #244 Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 – 1:41 pm
Buce IS a RWNJ! That’s why he has dedicated his life to coming here every day to trigger the libs and try to own us.
Sad. However, I have met plenty more like him while handing out HTVs for the ALP. They are functionally incapable of seeing anything from a LW perspective.
Bucephalus says:
Tuesday, August 25, 2020 at 1:56 pm
….
I expect Parliament will grant the powers on an as required short term basis.
Not even you believe the Liberals will actually take responsibility.
See the tactics from Morrison.
long slow talk, low voice and boring.
The ALP needs someone shouty to goad him into getting angry.
C@t
Its after 2 PM, and Buce still hasnt answered s very simple question. Surely he doesnt need more time to answer.
Lol
south
I tend to agree. Then we’d see his nasty nature in glorious technicolour. He’s keeping it well under wraps atm.
This seems to be a recurring theme around the place. More and more people espousing the qanon bullshit. I know we are in the middle
Of a pandemic. But what happened to critical thinking? It’s getting beyond ridiculous.
Politic@l Spinner.
@LesStonehouse
Wow.. Just had a lady friend visit my wife she told us about a child sex ring which includes Obama.. Look up pizza gate.. Just scary the shit people believe.. I’m thinking I convinced her it’s fake..
1:59 PM · Aug 25, 2020·Twitter for Android
BOB LYNCH @ #236 Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 – 1:20 pm
Zerlo @ #233 Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 – 1:18 pm
What?
Andrews presser today was interesting.
These stats were provided by chief medical doctor.
Rafael Epstein
@Raf_Epstein
·
8m
Aged care is the glaring outlier..
Out of 924 aged care workers,
73% got covid at work
Out of 106 doctors,
46% got Covid at work
Out of 922 nurses,
54% got Covid at work
Out of 303 other healthcare workers,
36% got Covid at work
All since July 1 – second wave
Confessions and Cat
Don’t forget a major difference between the Democratic and Republican National Conventions.
Biden did not have audio tape released of his family laughing at him on the eve of the convention.
Goll says:
Tuesday, August 25, 2020 at 12:20 pm
“abetted by the MSM”
Why don’t you go back through BK’s excellent daily media roundups and show me all the positive news stories about the LNP?
“Morrison will be on his way, resume ready, for the next ride in his not so brilliant career.”
Shocking isn’t it. PM of Australia- who would want that on the CV?
The liberals want to restrict Andrews to a month by month extension so they can prosecute the your killing the economy message regularly. A bit like the spending cap that meant Labor had to regularly get approval to raise debt. When they became responsible for the debt they abolished the cap.
It’s about the optics.
south @ #265 Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 – 2:05 pm
You do know what the Coalition do if anyone from the ALP gets ‘shouty’ don’t you?
Does ‘The Handbag Hit Squad’ ring any bells?
Labor needs to do intimidatory, not shouty. Subtle menace worked a treat for Tony Abbott.
gosh,
Labor need to drop Joel Fitzgibon like pronto.
Assantdj
Yep. The creeps have been politicising this pandemic from the very start. It has been nothing short of pathetic.
guytaur,
People have come to expect that about the Trump extended family and have factored it in.
I don’t know who this guy is, but he seems to know the truth.
Kristina Keneally
@KKeneally
·
28m
Aged Care Minister
@richardmcolbeck
has been cut out of the aged care decision making process by
@ScottMorrisonMP
…
… so why is the PM keeping him as a Minister? Thinking face #auspol
Victoria @ #268 Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 – 2:10 pm
‘Frictionless absorption’ via facebook. Scandalous.
Also, someone made the valid point yesterday that, since the pandemic, more people have had more time to sit in front of their computers and absorb that shit.
Scrooter and his goons going in for the kill now.
Labor’s blown their chance.
This is going to be ugly.
Firefox quoting Mehreen Faruqi: “Senator Molan just said in the Senate that our international student intake means our unis have “lost their Australianness”. How vile. Scott ‘Go home’ Morrison would be proud. #auspol”
I cannot abide Molan, but could you please explain how is this a vile comment? The students to whom Molan is referring are citizens of foreign countries: by definition these people are not Australians. It’s not a racial thing, it’s a question of nationality.
lizzie @ #279 Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 – 2:20 pm
And who gives a toss even if they are!?! Saving a real human life with the vaccine is way more important than the karyogenesis of the first cell in the cell line!
south @ #266 Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 – 2:05 pm
There is nothing, nothing the current line up Labor has can do about Scrooter.
He’s off and running free now.
He has no fear of the opposition.
He knows their weak.
He is in complete control.
Cat
As I said a while ago I think 538 is on the money.
With polls being roughly the same as when the model was released I think Biden has slightly better odds than Clinton now.
From the reports so far I think the DNC did better marketing with their convention.
I have the same sense as I had about the Democrats heading into 2018.
I have seen nothing to change that feeling so far.
I hope it remains so.
Truth is what ScottyfromMarketing says it is.
mundo @ #286 Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 – 2:23 pm
they’re weak
Teacher’s pet. Gets a Dixer every day?
Mundo, I think the ALP actually enjoys being Her Majesty’s Official Opposition .
Its all rather grand, there are spoils to be divided (and post covid – trips) and no yucky responsibility for making decisions.
They certainly have been very responsible and supportive of the Government’s agenda since May 2019.
I am sure the PM thanks them for their responsiveness.
meher baba
I’m surprised that you’re not having a bash at Molan for his identity politics :-P.
lizzie @ #290 Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 – 2:26 pm
They’re like pigs in mud.
I’d be embarrassed to be a sitting Labor member.
It’s only identity politics when it is not punching down.
Meddick will vote for the extension. They just need to offer his son a job and he’s onboard.
DN: “meher baba
I’m surprised that you’re not having a bash at Molan for his identity politics :-P.”
As I said, I can’t stand Molan. And perhaps he had a racist intent in what he said. But I find Faruqi an equal pain in the butt. And she can play the identity politics card all she likes about international students, but – as she has done before – she is verging here on arguing that international students are a group in our society who are being discriminated against on the grounds of race.
Which is nonsense, as they are not part of our society any more than are foreign tourists or business visitors. They are foreign visitors. It was quite reasonable for ScoMo to suggest that, while the unis were shut, they should go home if they could. Obviously there were some who could not, particularly the Indians, and they deserved our sympathy and help: and I would be critical of the rather callous attitude adopted towards these people by the Government.
I’d far rather see the Greens campaigning on environmental issues. But fat chance of that with Faruqi, who is one of the “social Greens” (ie, commos).
In a nutshell
Tea Pain
@TeaPainUSA
·
19m
Summary of night one of the #RepublicanConvention…
“White Power meets White Powder.”
Gene Miles @ #188 Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 – 11:38 am
The ABC led their 9 am News bulletin on Classic FM with a quote, then extended soundbite of O’Brien stating his condemnation of the continuation of the state of emergency in Victoria. No lead-in, no explanation of Andrews’ position or reasoning, just a freeby rant by the opposition. QED
lizzie:
That’s certainly true – the cell line in question was created in 1973 – but on the other hand it certainly does include the genetic material of that foetus and the cells are the descendants of the original cells, so you could see how some might decide that the later research is ethically linked to the creation of the cell line. On the gripping hand, it’d be far from the only modern medical treatment that inherits from a past about which questions can be raised (eg. https://www.history.com/news/the-father-of-modern-gynecology-performed-shocking-experiments-on-slaves ).