Newspoll and Essential Research coronavirus polling

Among many other findings relating to COVID-19, the strongest evidence yet that Victorians are unswayed by news media narratives concerning their state government.

The Australian today reports Newspoll findings on COVID-19 and leadership approval from Victoria and Queensland, which were targeted with expanded samples (608 and 603 respectively) in the poll whose main results were published yesterday:

• Daniel Andrews is up five points on approval from late July to 62% and down two on approval to 35%, whereas Scott Morrison is down six on approval to 62% and up seven on disapproval to 33%. Andrews is reckoned to be doing very well in handling COVID-19 by 31% (up four), fairly well by 31% (down three), fairly badly by 13% (down five) and very badly by 22% (up four), while Morrison is on 26% for very well (down five), 45% for fairly well (down one), 15% for fairly badly (up three) and 10% for very badly (up one).

• Annastacia Palaszczuk’s ratings are only modestly changed, with approval down one to 63% and disapproval up four to 33% as compared with the poll in late July, while Scott Morrison is down five to 67% and up four to 28% as compared with the poll in late June. Both leaders’ COVID-19 ratings are a little weaker than they were in late July: Palaszczuk records 32% for very well (down five), 36% for fairly well (down eight), 16% for fairly badly (up eight) and 13% for very badly (up seven), while Morrison has 34% for very well (down six), 43% for fairly well (up three), 13% for fairly badly (up two) and 7% for very badly (up one).

• The national sample was asked about the restrictions in Victoria and Queensland, which naturally required lengthy explanation (the framing of which seems reasonable enough). For Victoria, the results were 25% too strict, 61% about right and 10% too lenient; for Queensland, 37% too strict, 53% about right and 7% too lenient.

• The balance of concern is nonetheless moving away from “moving too quickly to relax restrictions”, down 20 points since mid-July to 56%, to “moving too slowly to relax restrictions and harming economy, jobs and mental wellbeing”, up 19 points to 39%.

Today also brings the fortnightly Essential Research poll, as related by The Guardian with the full report to follow later today:

• Respondents were in favour of both Scott Morrison’s handling of COVID-19 (a 61% approval rating, up two on a fortnight ago) and Queensland state border closures he wants lifted (66% support, including 70% among Queensland respondents). Forty-seven per cent of Victorian respondents approved of the state government’s COVID-19 management, unchanged from a fortnight ago, while the rating for the New South Wales government was up seven to 67%.

• Thirty-three per cent of respondents felt tax cuts for high income earners should be brought forward from 2022, as the government has signalled it will do, while 38% believe they should be scrapped and 29% believe the government should stick to the original timetable. Twenty-one per cent believe they would be an effective economic stimulus, compared with 41% for moderately effective and 38% for not effective.

• Asked which technology they preferred for future energy generation, 70% favoured renewables and 15% gas and coal.

The poll was conducted Wednesday to Sunday from a sample of 1081.

UPDATE: Full Essential Research poll here.

Author: William Bowe

William Bowe is a Perth-based election analyst and occasional teacher of political science. His blog, The Poll Bludger, has existed in one form or another since 2004, and is one of the most heavily trafficked websites on Australian politics.

1,641 comments on “Newspoll and Essential Research coronavirus polling”

Comments Page 1 of 33
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  1. The false dichotomy debate continues….
    Actively encouraged by our callous PM
    Here is the first paragraph of a well argued article by Bill Mitchell
    There is no inevitable trade-off between saving the lives of the aged and economic prosperity

    Many issues that become ‘hot topics’ in public debates are really non-questions despite the heat they raise. All sorts of experts advance views, television current affairs programs trawl over them with various of these experts making careers for themselves, politicians take up hours of their time and our time discussing them, yet, when you really break the issue down – there is nothing much to see. The seemingly very erudite debates, discussions, opinions are all based on false starting premises, which are assumed and rarely discussed. This sort of charade is all the legacy of living in the fictional world created by (the economics) profession, which has distorted public discourse so badly that we now have people saying old people should be allowed to die terrible deaths from COVID so the young people can have jobs. These are old people who worked all their lives to help build our nations, who fought in World Wars to defend our freedom from daunting enemies, old people who cared for us personally, and old people who mostly, probably, have the joy of life before them each day they open their eyes, just like any of us. The problem is that the whole construction is based on a false premise: being that there has to be widespread economic damage if we choose to protect the health of our peoples. That premise is based on the failure to understand that the currency-issuing government can attenuate any economic losses if it chooses to adopt appropriate economic policy interventions. The fact that real GDP and employment has fallen significantly this year is testament to a failure to use fiscal capacity. We should be better informed before we get into elaborate but flawed debates that essentially come down to turning one population cohort against another.

    http://bilbo.economicoutlook.net/blog/?p=45927&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+economicoutlook%2FFYvo+%28billy+blog%29

  2. The destruction of a once functioning State continues.

    “Neo-liberalism”, or whatever you like to call the pretend ideological cover for greed and pillage that is destroying the anglophone States, is at the heart of the disaster that is Tory England’s Covid response.

    In May, Boris Johnson said: “We …… will have a test, track and trace operation that will be world-beating and yes, it will be in place by June 1.”

    Since then, around £10 billion has been spent on England’s track and trace system, which is run by private companies outsourcing giant Serco and call centre company Sitel. The companies were initially contracted to run the system up to August 23.

    Their contracts were extended, potentially up to the value of £528 million and for an undisclosed period.

    On June 18 it was announced that the contact-tracing app which the UK Government had been developing would be entirely scrapped due to functional issues. Its replacement has still not yet been rolled out nationally.

    The coronavirus testing system is run by Deloitte, which handles Lighthouse Labs, has also seen huge issues. In recent weeks people have been sent hundreds of miles and sometimes across oceans to access a test.

    A new Survation poll of 1003 people aged over 18 and living in the UK. The fieldwork was conducted between September 15 and 16, 2020, showed:

    14% wanted the track, tracing and testing system run by the private sector (profiteers), while
    74% wanted it publicly run

    https://www.thenational.scot/news/18737146.coronavirus-74-percent-brits-say-westminster-managing-response-wrongly/

  3. And if Bill Mitchell’s article isn’t enough to bother you with the callousness of Gladys and Scotty, then this one by John Birmingham about QAnon probably will.
    Remember, a friend of Scotty’s wife is a QAnon believer. You can tell a lot about a person by the company they keep.

    To QAnon believers, Donald Trump is not the world’s most dangerous fucking moron armed with the US nuclear codes and no discernible impulse control. He is a stone cold special operator, working with a crack team of military commanders to defeat The Cabal, a human trafficking ring of super elites and Hollywood celebrities.

    It would be pretty fucking funny, if it wasn’t a good chance to kill us all.

    from Twitter (Drew Linzer is a pollster>:
    Drew Linzer
    @DrewLinzer
    We polled belief in the #QAnon conspiracy theory.

    Fully 33% of Republicans say it is mostly true. 23% think some parts are true. Only 13% say it’s not true at all.

    In contrast, 72% of Democrats say the QAnon theory isn’t true.

    Only 14% of Americans have never heard of QAnon.
    September 2nd 2020

    https://aliensideboob.substack.com/p/qanon-the-origins-of-an-alternate

  4. Rakali,
    Part of Victoria’s track and trace problems apparently relates to the lack of effective integration of the many private labs with the public system.

  5. Those approvals of Qld & Victoria’s Covid responses, and their premiers, did not seem to make the headlines in The Oz. Nor the fact that Scotty’s gloss is slowly coming off.
    After they paid for the poll, you’d think Benson would make it a big deal.
    I mean the people’s confidence that they are heading in the right direction’s great news for those states.

  8. Rakali

    I’m trying to find the right word to describe the disaster that is Boris and those who elected him. No wonder Tony Abbott has found a place amongst them.

  10. Maude Lynne

    With the influence of QAnon apparently spreading to include the protests, I suppose none of the friendly journos will ask Scotty for his opinion of them. Something like “I don’t tell people what to think,” perhaps?

  11. From William’s headline comments ….

    • Daniel Andrews is up five points on approval from late July to 62% and down two on approval to 35%,

    should read down two on disapproval to 35%….

  12. Lizzie
    Yes, even if they did ask he will just give non-answers.
    QAnon is a seriously dangerous movement. Reading Birminham’s article this morning completely spoilt my day

  13. Oh dear.

    Charles Harvey
    @CJHarvey56
    ·
    1m
    Bloody hell, Tanya Plibersek comes out with “we all know that coal and gas will be important for decades to come”. We know the @ScottMorrisonMP@AngusTaylorMP LNP is owned by fossil fuels. Plibersek reinforces the fact Labor is too. What about some progressive thinking please!

  14. lizzie @ #13 Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 – 4:41 am

    Oh dear.

    Charles Harvey
    @CJHarvey56
    ·
    1m
    Bloody hell, Tanya Plibersek comes out with “we all know that coal and gas will be important for decades to come”. We know the @ScottMorrisonMP@AngusTaylorMP LNP is owned by fossil fuels. Plibersek reinforces the fact Labor is too. What about some progressive thinking please!

    So progressive thinking doesn’t allow reality?

  15. Good morning Dawn Patrollers

    Michael Pascoe warns us that the 2020 budget marketing bulldozer is about to hit us.
    https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/finance-news/2020/09/21/michael-pascoe-2020-budget-marketing-bulldozer/
    A Newspoll shows that a majority of Victorians has backed Daniel Andrews’ management of the second COVID-19 outbreak, with two-thirds of voters across the country also rating the state’s lockdown as “about right” explains Simon Benson.
    https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/locked-down-and-living-with-it-victoria-backs-dan-andrews-in-newspoll/news-story/441de159bbc2b4345c3575e15538636c
    According to the AFR, health experts have backed Gladys Berejiklian’s claim there is no legitimate health reason for state borders to remain closed, as pressure mounts on Queensland and Western Australia to reopen.
    https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/no-reason-for-borders-to-be-closed-say-scientists-20200921-p55xru
    Katharine Murphy reports that the latest Essential poll shows that two-thirds of voters would prefer Coalition to support renewables rather than new gas plants.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/sep/22/essential-poll-two-thirds-of-voters-would-prefer-coalition-support-renewables-rather-than-new-gas-plants
    Recent Australian unemployment rates didn’t seem to make sense. Here’s what is going on, explains Greg Jericho.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/sep/22/recent-australian-unemployment-rates-didnt-seem-to-make-sense-heres-what-is-going-on
    Phil Coorey says that the October 6 federal budget may be about the future but its measures will be firmly rooted in the past.
    https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/keating-or-morrison-the-recession-solution-is-the-same-20200921-p55xjh
    Karen Maley thinks there is a hitch in Josh Frydenberg’s grand infrastructure dream.
    https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/the-hitch-in-josh-frydenberg-s-grand-infrastructure-dream-20200921-p55xlf
    Shane Wright examines what is forecast to be a slump of Australia’s national fertility rate.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/baby-slump-australian-newborn-deficit-to-hit-budget-bottom-line-20200921-p55xqq.html
    David Crowe tells us that at the NPC today the government will reveal its emissions road map in which energy schemes using batteries, hydrogen and carbon capture will be the big winners.
    https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/hydrogen-batteries-carbon-capture-australia-s-emissions-road-map-20200921-p55xs3.html
    Katharine Murphy and Adam Morton say that the government is continuing to resist pressure to sign up to a target of net zero emissions by 2050 – a concrete and increasingly uncontroversial abatement target that would give its roadmap a clear destination.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/sep/22/morrisons-tech-roadmap-flags-more-investment-in-carbon-capture-and-storage
    The Morrison government has been castigated for paying a dairy farm operator 22 times more per hectare for a parcel of land abutting Western Sydney Airport than what its state counterpart did. WTF!
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/taxpayers-spent-30m-on-land-worth-only-3m-for-western-sydney-airport-s-second-runway-20200921-p55xqp.html
    Here’s Josh Butler’s take on the above ANAO report.
    https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2020/09/21/western-sydney-airport-land-anao/
    Jennifer Duke tries to make sense of what Anne Rushton has been saying about Jobkeeper and Jobseeker payments going into next year.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/jobs-market-key-to-extension-of-higher-jobseeker-rate-20200921-p55xm8.html
    Kate Aubusson reports that seriously ill patients have been left in isolation for up to 15-hour stretches as seclusion times blow out in NSW mental health units under immense pressure during the protracted COVID-19 pandemic.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/mentally-ill-confined-to-hospital-rooms-for-up-to-15-hours-during-pandemic-20200921-p55xrp.html
    Text messages at the most senior levels of the Andrews government’s COVID-19 response reveal that confusion and disorganisation over the use of defence force personnel in the ill-fated hotel quarantine program persisted until late June.
    https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/is-that-what-we-doing-confusion-over-adf-at-top-level-of-andrews-government-20200921-p55xtv.html
    The AFR’s editorial proclaims that Christian Porter’s IR reform agenda is now caught in the policy vacuum created by the Coalition’s decade-long silence on workplace change.
    https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/ir-vacuum-snags-porter-20200921-p55xo5
    The Morrison government has accused a left leaning think tank of wanting to take money out of people’s pockets for opposing personal income tax cuts.
    https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6933318/think-tank-in-firing-line-over-tax-cut-ad/?cs=14350
    Julie Power writes that at yesterday’s Aged Care Royal Commission it was told that even before the pandemic, half of all nursing homes were barely afloat.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/half-of-all-nursing-home-were-barely-afloat-and-that-was-before-covid-19-20200921-p55xlu.html
    Can the Robodebt debacle get any worse for this government?
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/sep/21/robodebt-fresh-claims-against-federal-minister-alan-tudge-delay-court-trial
    Security agencies are now accustomed to high-tech spying methods, but old-fashioned techniques required getting down and dirty, writes Bruce Haigh.
    https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/getting-back-to-the-roots-of-spycraft,14329
    Nick Bonyhady explains how community service organisations fear they will be unable to meet unprecedented demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic due to a looming funding shortfall of up to 20 per cent.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/smell-of-an-oily-rag-social-service-sector-braces-for-funding-cliff-20200921-p55xo2.html
    The founder of a global coalition of MPs is pushing for the International Olympic Committee to reconsider Beijing’s hosting of the 2022 Winter Games as politicians around the world voice increasing concerns over China.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/global-push-to-strip-beijing-of-winter-olympics-20200920-p55xen.html
    Australia’s renewable energy endowment means that there is likely to be a boom similar to that of the mining industry in the early 2000s, writes Tim Cornwall.
    https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/australia-could-potentially-waste-another-industrial-boom,14330
    Mining companies have operated with a free rein and few consequences for too long writes Jamie Lowe.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/sep/21/mining-companies-have-operated-with-a-free-rein-and-few-consequences-for-too-long
    A catastrophe is about to hit our ideas sector, but the fightback from universities has been pathetic laments Jenna Price.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/australian-universities-cower-as-disaster-looms-20200920-p55xh6.html
    Brian Touhey says that it’s never a good idea for universities to take money from intelligence agencies to write their official histories because the agencies never really lift the veil of secrecy. Even if it means knocking back $2 million.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/why-universities-shouldn-t-write-our-spy-agencies-official-histories-not-even-for-2m-20200918-p55wuy.html
    On this subject Anthony Galloway reports that Australia’s cyber spy agency will be grilled at a parliamentary hearing over its shock decision to cancel a contract with the Australian National University to write its official history.
    https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/shrouded-in-secrecy-asd-to-be-grilled-over-axed-official-history-20200921-p55xkb.html
    Anne Davies reveals that asbestos-contaminated waste has been dumped at one of Sydney’s newest building projects after having been passed off as safe landscaping.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/sep/22/revealed-asbestos-contaminated-waste-found-landscaping-material-sydney-housing-estate-site
    Britain will face an exponentially growing death rate within weeks unless urgent action is taken now, experts say. They could be heading for 50000 new cases per day.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/uk-could-hit-50-000-covid-19-cases-per-day-by-mid-october-experts-warn-20200922-p55xv9.html
    The SMH editorial says that the political row over the US Supreme Court a key moment for America.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/political-row-over-us-supreme-court-a-key-moment-for-america-20200921-p55xta.html
    The US presidential campaign was already boiling over – now Republicans face a big decision says Bill Wyman.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/us-presidential-campaign-was-already-boiling-over-now-republicans-face-big-decision-20200921-p55xo3.html
    John Harris accuses the Tory government is bulldozing basic liberties under cover of the coronavirus pandemic.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/sep/21/coronavirus-government-liberties-tories-police-powers-laws
    Accused child sex abuser Malka Leifer will be extradited to Australia, according to a final ruling judgment handed down by the Jerusalem District Court on Monday. What a disgusting creature it is!
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/middle-east/accused-child-sex-abuser-malka-leifer-to-be-extradited-to-australia-20200921-p55xsx.html

    Cartoon Corner

    Peter Broelman

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    From the US









  16. Wednesday’s annual report from DNV GL, which operates in more than 100 countries and advises both oil and renewable energy companies, would appear to be at odds with ongoing investment in developing new oil and gas fields.
    …

    Demand for natural gas, which oil companies say could serve as a bridge in the global transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, is seen surpassing oil demand in 2026 and plateauing in 2033, DNV GL said.

    Meanwhile, electricity’s share of the total energy mix is predicted to double by mid-century to 40% of today’s levels, with solar and wind generation accounting for two thirds of electricity output.

    Annual power grid spending is forecast to more than double to $1.7 trillion to connect thousands of new solar and wind farms and millions of electric vehicles.

    Meanwhile, upstream fossil fuel investment as a proportion of total energy expenditure is seen dropping to 38% from 68%, DNV GL said.

    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-oil-demand-dnv-gl-idUSKCN1VV2UQ

  17. The problem with Plibersek’s statement “we all know that coal and gas will be important for decades to come” is we know no such thing.
    It’s a rubbish statement.
    Bland yet offensive.
    I do despair at times

  18. Another article in The Australian telling us that gas is not the answer for our energy needs—the answer is coal…

    apparently written by the Senator for Coal – Matt Canavan.

  19. Thanks BK
    KayJay, I see Adam Creighton’ article is just another evidence-free zone of rehashed rants. A new one is denial that the Vic lockdown helped reduce the numbers. He must be of the Trump school – the one that believes the virus will just fade away.
    No doubt he is writing his articles from the safety of his bunker, while demanding essential workers get out and risk their lives for him.
    Just another callous twerp.

  21. Thanks BK for the Dawn Patrol.

    Enough material to depress even the most cheerful and …….pick from list below ….

    A glance out the window tells me that a spot of mowing, edging and clearing will be beneficial in mental rehabilitation. Newcastle temp to reach 27℃ today. Yay ❗

    Coffee for two —☕☕

  22. The Greens and their fellow travellers are experts of the out of context quote, first the pile on of Albo and now on TanyaP – what she is reported by one outlet as saying…

    “Labor frontbencher Tanya Plibersek blamed the government for “killing jobs” by having a series of different energy policies over the past seven years.

    Ms Plibersek said “everybody understands that both coal and gas will play a role in the future for many decades to come but that renewables would provide cheaper reliable electricity when combined with batteries.”

    Now out of that you could extract a pro coal message, flood your sheeple on social media with it, and peel of a point or two of progressive support for the ALP.

    Charles Harvey
    @CJHarvey56
    ·
    1m
    Bloody hell, Tanya Plibersek comes out with “we all know that coal and gas will be important for decades to come”. We know the @ScottMorrisonMP@AngusTaylorMP LNP is owned by fossil fuels. Plibersek reinforces the fact Labor is too. What about some progressive thinking please!

  23. Maude Lynne @ #18 Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 – 4:54 am

    The problem with Plibersek’s statement “we all know that coal and gas will be important for decades to come” is we know no such thing.
    It’s a rubbish statement.
    Bland yet offensive.
    I do despair at times

    Do we rely on coal and gas to meet our power needs now?

    Will this continue into the future?

    How will this situation change?

    How can we facilitate this change to happen quicker?

    Gas and coal will be important until we have in place the renewable infrastructure that makes them no longer relevant.

    Government can facilitate this by having policies that give certainty to business, so they can invest in renewable systems.

    The Government proposing the building of a new gas or coal power plant, where no private investor would touch it, creates uncertainty for renewable investment.

    Add to this the CCS brainfart and linking it to a new hydrogen industry further muddies the waters.

  24. Ah ha! So Tanya P was misquoted ( thanks Sprocket), as well as taken out of context.
    Well that’s pretty devious.
    I withdraw my comment about her.

  27. Barney
    Re gas and coal comment
    I agree with most everything you say.

    It’s worth remembering that Morrison and his cronies have thought carefully about his plan, such as it is. It’s no accident that the lack of a policy creates uncertainty , it’s part of the design.

  29. Lizzie
    It could be quite a small role in 3 decades time
    That role may not involve burning

    Edit: being organic, coal and natural gas are also used to make other useful organic compounds. Naphthalene, benzene, creosote for starters

  30. Among many other findings relating to COVID-19, the strongest evidence yet that Victorians are unswayed by news media narratives concerning their state government.

    Onya, Victorians! 😀

  31. I see Adam Creighton’ article is just another evidence-free zone of rehashed rants. A new one is denial that the Vic lockdown helped reduce the numbers.

    Does he provide any empirical proof, or is it just his po-faced assertion? Or misleadingly using the Sweden model?

  32. Highly amusing to watch the knots Republicans are tying themselves into to justify going against their conduct 4 years ago over Merrick Garland.

    Ronald Brownstein@RonBrownstein·
    49m
    Rubio says: “unlike President Obama in 2016, President Trump is on the ballot and can be rewarded or held accountable for his choice in November.” Does that mean if, confirmation isn’t finished before the election, and voters reject Trump, the Senate should reject the nominee?

    And more eyebrow-raising hypocrisy here:
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/09/21/how-gop-is-trying-justify-its-supreme-court-reversal/

  35. I listened to this podcast a few days ago

    PJ Vogt
    @PJVogt
    Two weeks ago, I spoke to someone who told me they’ve figured out who’s in control of Q-Anon. And after a lot of reporting, I believe them.
    #166 Country of Liars – Reply All – Gimlet
    link.tospotify.com
    7:20 AM · Sep 19, 2020·Twitter for

  36. I downloaded the reply all podcast app to listen to it.
    Was worth it.

    _______
    Hari Kunzru
    @harikunzru
    ·
    20h
    Want to know who Q is? The answer is just as shitty as everything else in 2020. Thanks
    @PJVogt

    @DaleBeran
    for this account of how the chans spawned the most consequential political hoax of the 21st century
    #166 Country of Liars | Reply All
    gimletmedia.com

  40. lizzie @ #35 Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 – 7:46 am

    C@t

    Last night on commercial news, it said that with the lower Covid figures, Dan Andrews was “under pressure” to ease the restrictions early.

    Most “pressure” is coming from the media.

    That’s the amazingly irritating thing. The ‘News’ seeks to sway our opinions rather than report them! Or they don’t say the bit that’s important, that it’s the business lobbyists who are doing the bellyaching, aka putting pressure on the government.

  41. lizzie @ #36 Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 – 5:46 am

    C@t

    Last night on commercial news, it said that with the lower Covid figures, Dan Andrews was “under pressure” to ease the restrictions early.

    Most “pressure” is coming from the media.

    I posted a comment yesterday from the Commonwealth deputy CMO arguing that Victoria was right to be cautious when considering the easing of restrictions.

    So seemingly the pressure is not as a result of expert advice.

  42. Barney in Tanjung Bunga @ #42 Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 – 7:55 am

    lizzie @ #36 Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 – 5:46 am

    C@t

    Last night on commercial news, it said that with the lower Covid figures, Dan Andrews was “under pressure” to ease the restrictions early.

    Most “pressure” is coming from the media.

    I posted a comment yesterday from the Commonwealth deputy CMO arguing that Victoria was right to be cautious when considering the easing of restrictions.

    So seemingly the pressure is not as a result of expert advice.

    Yep, greedy business types more like.

  44. Facebook is shaping up to be just as corrosive of public discourse than News Corp. Arguably even worse because Facebook operates everywhere.

    Facebook has been incredibly lucrative for its founder, Mark Zuckerberg, who ranks among the wealthiest men in the world. But it’s been a disaster for the world itself, a powerful vector for paranoia, propaganda and conspiracy-theorizing as well as authoritarian crackdowns and vicious attacks on the free press. Wherever it goes, chaos and destabilization follow.

    …

    We’ve seen such activity in places around the world. In Russia, Vladimir Putin’s allies use Facebook and other social media to harass critics and spread disinformation on behalf of the regime. In India, Vaidhyanathan notes, Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party used Facebook to “rile up anti-Muslim passions and channel people to the polls” as well as “destroy the reputations of journalists, civil society activists, critics of anti-Islam policies, and political enemies.” And in the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte leveraged Facebook for “virulent character assassination, threats, and harassment” as well as propaganda in service of vigilantism and violent nationalism.

    Here in the United States, Facebook has been the chief vector for QAnon, a byzantine conspiracy theory in which President Trump struggles against a global cabal of Satan-worshipping, life-force sucking pedophiles and their enablers. QAnon supporters believe Trump will eventually go public in an operation that ends with the arrest, internment and execution of that cabal, which conveniently includes many of his Democratic political opponents.

    https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/18/opinion/facebook-democracy.html

  45. Maude Lynne says:
    Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at 7:09 am

    Looks like the LNP are wedging themselves, KayJay.
    Coal vs gas
    I love the smell of LNP dissension in the morning.

    And I thought the LNP had pivoted so successfully and left coal behind. Looks like the military precision of the Greens and Liberals is coming unstuck. Back to adani adani adani I suppose.

  47. ‘There is no link between lockdowns and reduction in deaths…’

    There is, however, is a clear link between lockdowns and the reductions of infections, and a clear link between reductions of infections and the reduction of deaths.

    The death rate is determined by the number of sick who die; if the number of the sick is reduced, there are fewer deaths.

  48. From Lawyerly

    “Judge ‘sick to death’ of pleadings fights in Robodebt class action
    A judge has slammed the parties in the Robodebt class action for sparring over the pleadings, one week after the class was given leave to add a claim for exemplary damages and allege knowledge of the program’s unlawfulness on the part of several government officials and federal minister Alan Tudge.”

  49. “Judge ‘sick to death’ of pleadings fights in Robodebt class action

    Isn’t that what Barristers are paid obscene amounts of money to do!?!

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