Courtesy of The Australian, Newspoll has the Coalition leading 51-49 on two-party preferred, unchanged on three weeks ago, from primary votes of Coalition 43% (steady), Labor 36% (up one), Greens 11% (steady) and One Nation 2% (down one, and their weakest result since at least the 2019 election). Scott Morrison is up two on approval to 66% and down two on disapproval to 30%, while Anthony Albanese is up one to 44% and up two to 41%, with Morrison’s lead as preferred prime minister out from 58-29 to 60-28. The poll was conducted Wednesday to Saturday from a sample of 1511.
Newspoll: 51-49 to Coalition
Further improvement in Scott Morrison’s personal ratings, but otherwise little change in the latest Newspoll.
Not to mention the other RWNJ proclivity of not being able to keep it in your pants, even during a pandemic:
Plus being absolute freaking hypocrites about drugs:
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/viktor-orban-ally-resigns-after-reportedly-being-caught-fleeing-male-sex-party-20201202-p56jr1.html
I bet he touted himself as a committed Christian and controller of what females do with their bodies.
Melbourne has admitted a job advertisement seeking three or four people for an 11-month unpaid role in its football department was “poorly-worded”.
The Demons sparked an uproar with their attempt to find volunteers to work in their Football Technology Pathway Progam from December 2020 to October 2021 with contact hours varying from 10-25 hours per week.
“An exciting opportunity has become available for 3-4 individuals to volunteer within the club’s football department for the 2021 season,” the advertisement read.
“Reporting to the football analysis team, the successful individuals will contribute to a broad range of areas within all four of our teams in the AFL, VFL, AFLW and VFLW.
“This program would best suit students or graduates from either an exercise and sports science, information technology, statistical and multimedia background, who have a strong interest and understanding of AFL football.”
The advertisement was circulated on social media on Tuesday and drew an angry reaction.
“Hey Melbourne – don’t do this,” sports journo Paige Cardona wrote. “Do not ask people to work for you for free for 10-25 hours per week in your football department. That is disgusting.”
“Mind-blowing any professional organisation could try and get away with this,” added the AAP’s Oliver Caffrey.
Awkward…
WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General William Barr said Tuesday the Justice Department has not uncovered evidence of widespread voter fraud that would change the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.
His comments come despite President Donald Trump’s repeated claims that the election was stolen, and his refusal to concede his loss to President-Elect Joe Biden.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Barr said U.S. attorneys and FBI agents have been working to follow up specific complaints and information they’ve received, but they’ve uncovered no evidence that would change the outcome of the election.
https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-elections-william-barr-b1f1488796c9a98c4b1a9061a6c7f49d
sprocket_,
If Trump and the Republicans tried that, they would be doing so BEFORE the Georgia Senate Run-Off elections. Do they really want to do that for Trump?
https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/scott-morrison-appeals-directly-to-chinese-citizens-on-wechat/news-story/a2a969f936914eae8b95f36276413655
… so a PRC/ CCP Foreign Ministry official takes to Twitter, after Photoshop by a ‘Wolf Warrior’ artist. I guess the inept PM has never read BK’s Dawn Patrol with cartoons on PB then?
After the AUDoD has investigated for years and recently reported on conduct during the GWOT, especially in Afghanistan, even if the AFP instead got focused on chasing journos, and the DPP on whistleblowers, if since re-tasked.
So have international observers or experts been brought in? (One thing the likes of the PRC wouldn’t do …)
Wouldn’t be surprised at all if Australia would be taken to the ICJ, or individuals to the ICC, should there be a whitewash onshore.
Inept PM engages, doesn’t haul in the ambassador, engages not with the minister/ PM/ Prez, demands an apology in the media, besides a take down, the or else … social media through WeChat? Ah well, censors should have no trouble blocking …
More FoN?
Start testing hypersonic missiles.
Inking trade agreements (fights at the WTO).
And in the midst of Wuflu/ health crisis, climate crisis, societal inequality/ inequity/ economy, power shift … all of a sudden a VC goes through for 1942 sacrificial heroism on HMAS Armidale? Something to shine up that AWM – Frontier Wars, Boer War … – extension.
Seriously?
The denials, delay, distraction never stopped?
Any more than snoozing, skiving off, bumbling and stumbling …, be it modelling BoJo on Brexit, or TDJT on the 2020 American Election.
At least amongst all that the Comms … Arts Minister finds time to question the ABC for embarrassing family values before the camera if not away from the camera Conservatives?
You know it makes sense … Hey $houty, instead of broadcasting and product push, how about trying sense and respond?
New thread.
Rule No.1 of Conservative politics:
Keep the rubes bamboozled. Keep them watching the spinning plates on a stick.
Sprocket
If, at the joint sitting to count the electoral college votes a representative and a senator object in writing to a state’s votes, the joint sitting is immediately suspended for 2 hours while each house debates and votes. The procedure is laid down in federal law. The votes are rejected only if both houses vote for their rejection. With a Democrat majority in the house this is unlikely to happen. It would be a pointless exercise.
Several reps tried to reject Florida’s votes in 2001 but they did not get a supporting Senator
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
Paul Bongiorno examines the many questionable things done by Morrison in the name of expedient politics. He chronicles quite a lot.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2020/12/01/paul-bongiorno-atrocious-decisions-pm/
Nick O’Malley reports that one of the world’s most senior diplomats says the world is waiting for a “suicidal” Australia to reverse its stance on climate change.
https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/world-awaits-action-by-suicidal-australia-says-former-climate-chief-20201201-p56joj.html
Sally McManus will outline plans to campaign against any reform that cuts pay or removes employment rights as the Morrison government prepares to reveal draft IR laws next week. Battle lines are being drawn.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/unions-draw-battle-lines-in-new-workplace-clash-20201201-p56jmv.html
And McManus explains why we need to use the pandemic to confront the weakness in our safety net.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/we-need-to-use-the-pandemic-to-confront-the-weakness-in-our-safety-net-20201201-p56jh1.html
Rob Harris writes that a likely Senate roadblock to establish a radioactive waste dump in regional South Australia could be used by the Morrison government as a trigger to go to an early election as it prepares to bring the issue to a vote in the coming days.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/need-a-resolution-government-fights-opposition-to-toxic-waste-dump-plans-20201201-p56jhs.html
A new cohort of young Australians is facing a perfect storm of uncertainty. But the problems started long before 2020, explains Luke Henriques-Gomes.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/dec/02/freedom-lost-the-generation-coming-of-age-in-australias-pandemic-fuelled-recession
Despite a rise in part-time employment, those in their late teens and early 20s are in the most precarious position of anyone in that cohort since the 1990s, says Greg Jericho.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/dec/02/this-recession-has-not-spared-australias-youth-nothing-could-be-further-from-the-truth
It is time the Australian Bureau of Statistics changed the way it reported unemployment figures, writes Alan Austin. Australia’s real unemployment rate is closer to 13% than 7%.
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/reality-underemployed-time-for-truth-in-jobless-figures/
Anthony Galloway declares that Morrison politicised war medals decision and now he owns the response.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/morrison-politicised-war-medals-decision-and-now-owns-the-response-20201201-p56jk1.html
Christopher Knaus writes that the expert whose work triggered the Brereton inquiry has warned Australians against dismissing the Afghanistan war crimes scandal as the work of a “few bad apples” and expressed dismay at the tenor of the public debate since the report’s release.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/dec/02/australians-should-not-dismiss-war-crimes-scandal-as-just-a-few-bad-apples-expert-says
Meanwhile culture warrior Janet Albrechtsen trumpets that Brereton has undermined the rule of law.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/brereton-has-undermined-the-rule-of-law/news-story/546e50c4a62e1f5c1fa7d046055b873c
The CEO of the Victorian Legal Services Board, Fiona McLeay, reacts appropriately to the report of the “Gobbo” Royal Commission.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria/maintaining-trust-and-confidence-in-the-legal-profession-is-paramount-20201201-p56jl2.html
Latika Bourke tells us that more than 200 MPs from 19 countries are telling their citizens to drink Aussie wine in December in a solidarity campaign that vows “Australia is not alone”.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/will-not-be-bullied-citizens-around-the-world-told-to-buy-australian-wine-in-stand-against-china-20201201-p56jew.html
Jennifer Hewett writes that former WA premier Colin Barnett says the relationship with China is now so stunningly bad that any improvement will be up to state governments, not Canberra.
https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/states-might-have-to-untangle-china-mess-20201201-p56jnt
Frontline Services Australia staff say their work is being negatively affected by pressure to meet performance targets and they don’t feel trusted or respected by their employer, a new survey reveals. This is hardly surprising.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/dec/02/services-australia-staff-say-performance-targets-negatively-impact-work
The AIMN’s Rosemary J#^explores the efforts of “Morrison – the crooked enabler”.
https://theaimn.com/morrison-the-crooked-enabler/
The cashless debit card could be another robodebt-style fiasco, say Elise Klein, Jon Altman and David Tennant.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/dec/02/the-cashless-debit-card-could-be-another-robodebt-style-fiasco
After tens of thousands of Australians had their lives put on hold by illegal Government action, the Morrison Government announced the largest allocation of places for partner visas in Australia’s history. Abul Rizvi reports.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/home-affairs-and-the-great-partner-visa-cover-up,14574
William Olsen writes that unions are saying that the Morrison government has failed to respond specifically to the findings of the recent Aged Care Royal Commission and the problem points and issues revealed from it.
https://theaimn.com/aged-cares-pandemic-reply-still-a-mess-unions-say/
Isabelle Lane explains why Telstra and Optus are going after the NBN.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/life/tech/2020/12/02/telstra-optus-nbn-australia/
Katie Burgess reports that a new Senate inquiry will probe the use of contractors in the Australian Public Service, while a wider investigation into privatisation has been shut down.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7036288/new-inquiry-set-up-into-changes-in-australian-public-service/?cs=14264
CPSU national secretary, Melissa Donnelly, goes into bat for the ANAO, saying that without it we would never have known about the sports rorts. She also calls for the establishment of an effective federal integrity commission.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7036427/without-the-audit-office-wed-never-have-known-about-sports-rorts/?cs=14258
Meanwhile, the Victorian Ombudsman says the Andrews government is not providing enough funding for the integrity watchdog to perform its core functions and could be perceived to be undermining the agency.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/ombudsman-investigating-alp-branch-stacking-says-andrews-government-is-starving-it-of-funds-20201201-p56jmm.html
Ross Gittins writes that there’s nothing any Liberal government can do on super that doesn’t cause the unions and Labor to smell a conspiracy.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/the-bottom-line-with-super-you-risk-being-poorer-today-so-you-can-live-like-a-king-tomorrow-20201201-p56jfk.html
The irony of Australia’s oldest home-grown industry is that despite a history of turning adversity into success, it continues to ask for favours from everyone else – and get them, writes the AFR’s Aaron Fitzpatrick.
https://www.afr.com/companies/agriculture/when-will-farmers-escape-their-dependency-mentality-20201201-p56je6
Airline prices for a one-way ticket to Perth have skyrocketed to $1000 after Western Australia announced it will open its border to the east coast and travellers from NSW and Victoria will no longer be forced to quarantine.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/prices-rise-and-airlines-add-more-flights-as-wa-border-set-to-reopen-20201201-p56jnf.html
When Nine acquired Fairfax, Australians were assured they needn’t worry about media diversity as Nine would be bound by the Fairfax Independence Charter but there is only one problem. Anthony Klan reports.
https://independentaustralia.net/business/business-display/the-nine-fairfax-independence-myth,14576
Charlotte Grieve reports that the head of powerful corporate governance firm ISS Vas Kolesnikoff has called for changes at the top at ASX, as the market operator continues to take fire over a full day trading outage that crippled the bourse.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/jobs-for-the-old-boys-asx-trading-outage-spark-calls-for-accountability-20201201-p56jm4.html
And the AFR says that the coding problem responsible for the equities trading outage on November 16 was replicated in the back-up system, which meant there was no fail safe back-up when the Nasdaq-supplied system crashed.
https://www.afr.com/chanticleer/asx-chief-in-the-eye-of-equities-outage-storm-20201201-p56jea
Controversial rules for class action litigation funders are at risk of falling apart with One Nation threatening to vote in favour of scrapping the scheme unless changes are made.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/class-action-litigation-funding-rules-at-risk-of-defeat-20201130-p56j9s
Rupert Murdoch has funnelled Foxtel out of News Corp Australia to a mysterious entity in the secrecy jurisdiction of Delaware. Michael West reports on the secret transactions which appear designed to sell News Corp’s Australian media business.
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/inside-ruperts-big-aussie-sale-murdoch-smuggles-foxtel-and-its-government-grants-out-of-the-country/
Who cares about jobs and experts? Suddenly, Brexit’s snake-oil salesmen do, says Marina Hyde.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/dec/01/jobs-experts-brexit-michael-gove-steve-baker-covid-tier
Poverty is still a major issue in Britain, perpetuated by the elitist attitudes of the Johnson Government, writes John Pilger.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/john-pilger-britains-class-war-on-children,14572
The bloodletting that’s taking place for US retail right now is eerily reminiscent of what happened during the Great Depression, explains Bloomberg’s Stephen Mihm.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/us-retail-bloodshed-has-echoes-of-the-great-depression-20201130-p56iz5.html
Trump’s legacy is the plague of extreme lies. Truth-based media is the vaccine, declares Richard Wolffe. Fair enough.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/dec/01/trumps-legacy-is-the-plague-of-extreme-lies-truth-based-media-is-the-vaccine
According to the New York Times, Rudy Giuliani discussed with Donald Trump as recently as last week the possibility of receiving a pre-emptive pardon before the President leaves office.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/giuliani-said-to-have-discussed-pre-emptive-pardon-with-trump-20201202-p56jqj.html
Cartoon Corner
David Pope
Andrew Dyson
John Shakespeare
Cathy Wilcox
Alan Moir
David Rowe
Simon Letch
Matt Golding
Mark Knight
John Spooner
Peter Broelman
From the US
Just checking the edit. I use brave and C+.
KayJay @ #894 Tuesday, December 1st, 2020 – 11:36 pm
Yeah, about that; the blog’s new editing plugin is somewhat aggressive about how it tries to add its editing UI to the page. C+ tries to suppress the plugin’s UI (since it provides its own), but isn’t always successful.
So…minor known issue on that one.
Edit: works fine here.
Sorry did not work. Tried again.
Edit.
After disabling C+ by going to the extensions and switching C+ off I was able to edit by clicking on “editable” which then brings down a window and clicking “OK” then the page closes and reopens and I had an edit button. “Whew”
‘Paul Bongiorno examines the many questionable things done by Morrison in the name of expedient politics. He chronicles quite a lot.’
If average punters read this it’d probably bump Scrunter’s approval up another 5 notches.
blah blah
fdsfd