The fortnightly Essential Research poll includes the pollster’s more-or-less monthly reading of the leadership ratings, which record a four point increase in Scott Morrison’s approval rating to 65% and a two point drop in disapproval to 28%. Anthony Albanese is respectively down two to 40% and steady on 33%. Morrison’s lead as preferred prime minister increases slightly, from 51-25 to 52-24.
Also featured are the pollster’s regular questions on federal and state government handling of COVID-19, with the added twist of a question asking who respondents felt had performed better out of the Prime Minister and their Premier or Chief Minister. This found 52% favouring their state or territory leader compared with 30% for Scott Morrison. The poll nonetheless gives the federal government its strongest result for handling of the pandemic in at least six months, with 69% rating it good (up two on a fortnight ago) and 12% as poor (down two).
The state government results are little changed for the three states with passable sample sizes: the New South Wales government’s good rating is up a point to 72%; Victoria’s is down two to 59% (the state’s lockdown was announced on the third day of the six-day polling period); and Queensland’s is down two to 76%. Western Australia’s is at 88%, the highest reading in at least six months, after the conclusion of that state’s lockdown, which is up eight on the previous poll, conducted shortly before the lockdown began. However, here the sample size is below 200 and the margin of error as high as 10%. The same applies to South Australia’s 79%, down one on last time.
The poll also has questions about Craig Kelly’s recent behaviour, although I wonder about a question wording that says Kelly has been “sharing Covid-19 misinformation”, the consistently negative tone of the propositions being put to the respondents, and the lack of clear response options along the lines of “who’s Craig Kelly?”. The results find 41% agreeing that Morrison has showed poor leadership, without offering clarity on how many disagreed and how many had no opinion, and 56% agreeing Kelly was “more interested in sharing Covid-19 misinformation and building his media profile than representing his constituency”.
The full report features still further questions on COVID-19 and one on a 2050 net zero carbon emissions target. The poll was conducted Wednesday to Monday from a sample of 1109.
Socrates @ #2117 Sunday, February 21st, 2021 – 7:02 am
Same with my aunt. She never posts anything, and the only people she’s friends with are us fam, and she uses her account simply to see what we’re all doing.
Can Ministers use the excuse that the matter is “before the police” before Ms Higgins has actually made her statement, which will be on Thursday. Reynolds appearing at Press Club on Wednesday. Interesting.
Socrates @ #2050 Sunday, February 21st, 2021 – 10:04 am
Thanks. Reading now.
Love articles which begin like this —
‘Facebook’s Australian users were undoubtedly upset this week..’
1. The msm were, for sure.
2. Organisations which got caught up in the deplatforming were.
3. Ordinary facebook users? Don’t seem to be.
And another take out from the same article —
‘.. traditional media maintains a solid, but eroding lead. That’s despite all the focus on misinformation being spread on social media over the past year about COVID-19, about Donald Trump and by Donald Trump.’
And what did traditional media do to push back on this and thus prove itself more trustworthy than social media?
Oh, that’s right. Report the tweets with minimal criticism….*
Beats working for a story.
*Meanwhile, on social media, Trump’s ideas were challenged, and users used their voice to have Trump fact checked and then deplatformed. Traditional media, as usual, ignored people who were asking them for similar action.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-21/facebook-news-ban-media-bargaining-code/13173104?utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_amp&utm_campaign=abc_news_amp&utm_content=twitter
zoomster @ #1796 Sunday, February 21st, 2021 – 9:54 am
You are the one who said ‘original purpose’.
Sorry, on more comment on the Speers’ article (for it is his, I now realise…)
‘They can try to convince readers and viewers to find their individual home pages, but it’s unclear how many will be bothered to do so. Particularly when trust in traditional media is in decline.’
The reason I won’t be bothered is that I will find the individual home page and will then not be able to read a word of it because a huge “Subscribe now” button will obscure the screen, thus robbing me of the opportunity to judge whether or not I think an article is worth reading, let alone paying for.
Why is Morrison in the first group?
I wonder what Albo’s response will be. He’s down for one later in the week.
If the aim is to establish confidence in the vaccines then surely they should wait for the AZ vaccine and have that one.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/feb/21/covid-19-vaccinations-begin-in-australia-with-scott-morrison-among-first-group
Yabba
Yes, I did.
Another view.
A young woman’s take on Morrison’s performance this week. (fruity language).
https://twitter.com/i/status/1363257647818940419
Taiwan scrambles air force again after Chinese exercises in South China Sea
TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan’s air force scrambled for a second straight day on Saturday after a dozen Chinese fighter aircraft and bombers carried out drills close to Taiwan-controlled islands in the disputed South China Sea, the defense ministry in Taipei said.
Chinese naval forces were also involved.
Taiwan’s air force warned the Chinese aircraft to leave and deployed missile systems to monitor the activity, the ministry said.
China has not commented on the last two days of activities. It previously said such manoeuvres were a response to “collusion” between Taipei and Washington, Taiwan’s main international backer and weapons supplier, and to safeguard Chinese sovereignty.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-china-security/taiwan-scrambles-air-force-again-after-chinese-exercises-in-south-china-sea-idUSKBN2AK0HX?il=0
The SMH is reporting, in breaking news, that Mr Morrison and a “small group” will receive the Pfizer vaccine at Castle Hill. Why at Castle Hill and not one of the central hospital hubs established to begin administering the vaccine tomorrow?
I don’t know Sydney. What’s special about Castle Hill?
GG
Its a pity the punters cant see that he is exactly what that young woman enunciates in that twitter post.
Lizzie
It will all be a stage managed photo op as usual.
steve davis
He ants attention. Let’s give him some.
What will he be wearing? Will he wince as the needle goes in? Shall we be told if he has any negative reaction?
A. No. Miracle man is impervious to Covid effects.
A clear analysis of what the Facebook fight is really about.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1362901004472119296
It’ll be at an aged care facility for sure.
Clementine Ford on Poll Bludger!
She does not hold back
Will Morrison take his jab like the greek PM?
Lizzie:
Probably as mikehilliard suggests. There is a very large Anglicare conglomerate there as well as other aged facilities.
Is also where Hillsong NSW has its headquarters but this is surely coincidental. Was site, in 1804 of a convict rebellion, but doubt the PM is acknowledging that event today.
“A clear analysis of what the Facebook fight is really about.”
Yeah, to the point and honest, so Stokes had it deleted from Seven’s tweets.
Nine, Murdoch, ABC, the Guardian, etc. hate the truth getting out, and have banned this type of view getting any airing in their publications/programs.
Britain to offer all adults a COVID-19 vaccine by end of July
LONDON (Reuters) – All adults in Britain will be offered a first shot of a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of July, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Saturday ahead of a planned announcement on the cautious reopening of the economy from lockdown.
Britain now aims to give a first dose to all over-50s by April 15, the government said, having previously indicated it wished them to receive the shot by May.
If all adults receive a dose by the end of July, it will be well ahead of a previous target that they would receive a vaccine by autumn.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain/britain-to-offer-all-adults-a-covid-19-vaccine-by-end-of-july-idUSKBN2AK0RE?il=0
Scout
Reference?
Confessions says:
Sunday, February 21, 2021 at 10:04 am
Socrates:
I think the WA state polling is strictly reflecting the popularity of McGowan, his handling of COVID and the state’s economy, and that it’s a first term govt. I don’t think there are federal implications to be read into it.
If Morrison were to come here and campaign – he readily could, there’s no quarantine – the Liberals would certainly lose every seat they have in this covid+ election.
He hurt the Liberals a great deal by supporting Palmer and by opposing the lockdown. This might yet be reflected Federally.
@Cat
I was one who scoffed at and thought Facebook irrelevant until a close friend with MND was bedridden a few years ago. She has lost speech and movement apart from her hands. Her Ipad has been a blessing for speech and to enable contact with those of us not close by.
In an email, she begged us to join Facebook so we could see her memories, photos of her family, etc. We joined OH as it keeps him occupied too.
It’s been rather nice keeping in touch her with other than thru email.
Can also say that when we lost our son we were overwhelmed with the response from those who knew him from his kindergarten years thru to the day he died. Such an outpouring of funny and loving stories amazed us.
Our grief was actually transported to a different place because of it. Videos and photos we would never have seen were posted. Friends who were spread far and wide caught up with each other and shared stories. (Seems a few lost loves along the way he forgot to tell us about too!!)
We have literally hundreds of memories from those posts .
I thank Facebook for all of that.
I imagine many others feel the same way. Now I only look at FB when OH says our friend has posted or he urges me to watch DoggyDayCare to get a dog fix.
As for the MSM getting $s for news articles? I can’t see why.
Surely it is free publicity because you have to click thru to the news site to read the article. I’d rather read BK’s morning post.
Biden approves Texas disaster declaration after deadly freeze
HOUSTON (Reuters) – President Joe Biden approved a major disaster declaration for Texas on Saturday as the state struggles with the fallout from a winter storm that killed at least two dozen people and caused widespread blackouts and water shortages.
The action by the Biden administration makes federal funding available to affected individuals, including assistance for temporary housing and home repairs and low-cost loans.
Biden is also weighing a trip to Texas to survey the federal response to the first new crisis to develop since he took office a month ago
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-weather-texas/biden-approves-texas-disaster-declaration-after-deadly-freeze-idUSKBN2AK0HT
GG: “Will Morrison take his jab like the Greek PM?”
Nah. But if he’s wearing a mask, it’ll be his moronic Australian flag one.
Lizzie see GG’s post
A majority of Britons aren’t satisfied with how Brexit turned out
London (CNN) A majority of Britons are not satisfied with the post-Brexit trade agreement that Boris Johnson secured with the European Union, according to a survey that provides the first detailed insight into the nation’s attitude towards the deal since it took effect.
The report, published by the British Foreign Policy Group, an independent think tank advocating for a stronger UK global presence, shows that under a quarter of those surveyed believe the Prime Minister’s deal is “the best framework for our relationship with the EU moving forward.”
The question of what it should be replaced with, however, reveals that nearly five years since the UK decided to leave the European Union, the nation is still bitterly divided on what role Britain should have in Europe.
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/02/16/uk/majority-of-brits-not-satisfied-with-brexit-deal-intl-gbr/index.html
Vaccines may prevent infection and not just symptoms, study suggests
Health experts have said that data so far has shown that Covid-19 vaccines prevent symptoms of the virus — but a new study suggests that the Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines may also prevent infections.
A team at the Mayo Clinic health system looked at more than 31,000 people across four states who had received at least one dose of either vaccine — and found the vaccines were upward of 80% effective in preventing infection 36 days after the first dose.
Vaccine efficacy was 75% 15 days after the first dose, and it appeared to be 83% after a total of 36 days passed. But that number rose to nearly 89% when researchers examined only people who received two doses, according to the study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed.
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/02/20/health/us-coronavirus-saturday/index.html
Real politicians.
Do I have sympathy for them, given the majority were sucked in by the snakeoil salesmen selling Brexit?
Nope.
The Brits have made their bed, they now have to lie in it.
Castle Hill convict rebellion: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_Hill_convict_rebellion
The Player is arguing for more gas and less coal. Fair enough. Everyone else is arguing for more renewables, less coal and less gas too. The transition from fossil fuels is about investment choices and systems in new generation and distribution. The Player’s position essentially calls for new investment to be focused on gas rather than renewables and storage. This leads them to deny the utility and the reality of investments in renewables and storage. This denial is a fraudulent position to take and it relies on misinformation. It is politically-slanted..which is, of course, its real purpose.
Charles Harvey
@CJHarvey56
· 11m
‘It’s a difficult culture to break’: Sydney private schools respond to sexual assault claims https://smh.com.au/national/nsw/it-s-a-difficult-culture-to-break-sydney-private-schools-respond-to-sexual-assault-claims-20210220-p5749v.html
GG
I’m thinking , No.
Possum Comitatus @Pollytics
But even better as an exercise in the art of politics, they corralled all their news media payments and potential obligations, from every nation wanting a slice of their action, into a single app which they control. It was a substantial and masterful piece of political work.
Glad to see someone else noticed.
But don’t think Murdock lost. He is using his google tokens to promote sky news. His bright new Australian Vehicle to undermine democracies around the world.
UK could declare Brexit ‘water wars’ – The Telegraph
Feb 20 (Reuters) – Britain could restrict imports of European mineral water and several food products under retaliatory measures being considered by ministers over Brussels’ refusal to end its blockade on British shellfish, the Telegraph reported.
Senior government sources pointed to potential restrictions on the importing of mineral water and seed potatoes, the report said. (Reporting by Maria Ponnezhath in Bengaluru; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
https://www.reuters.com/article/britain-eu-imports/uk-could-declare-brexit-water-wars-the-telegraph-idUSFWN2KP1N0
While this is sold as a good news story, and it partly is such, the bottom line here is that the wombats have no known predators and will therefore breed up until they wreck the joint.
Thereafter, probably during a drought, their numbers will crash through starvation and disease. The image shows how they are already very busy destroying arid land vegetation cover.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-21/southern-hairy-nosed-wombat-nullarbor-march-wombats-wa/13173482
Australian Flag mask is go!
The Brits have made their bed, they now have to lie in it.?
They survived the Second World War with the help of friends, and are no longer part of a
Dogs Breakfast!.
Apropos of Scotty from Marketing, does he have the Australian flag on his underpants as well as his PPE?
“ While this is sold as a good news story, and it partly is such, the bottom line here is that the wombats have no known predators and will therefore breed up until they wreck the joint.
Thereafter, probably during a drought, their numbers will crash through starvation and disease. The image shows how they are already very busy destroying arid land vegetation cover.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-21/southern-hairy-nosed-wombat-nullarbor-march-wombats-wa/13173482”
Wombats are Xi-bots!
OmG, Scotty is encouraging the V-sign.
‘dave says:
Sunday, February 21, 2021 at 10:59 am
UK could declare Brexit ‘water wars’ – The Telegraph
Feb 20 (Reuters) – Britain could restrict imports of European mineral water and several food products under retaliatory measures being considered by ministers over Brussels’ refusal to end its blockade on British shellfish, the Telegraph reported.’
Brexit has unhinged the Brits. The basic Brexiteer proposition was that the UK would dictate terms to the EU. Empire Redux! Dunkirk! Churchill! Battle of Britain. Global Britain. And, lo!
There is no EU blockade of ‘British’ shellfish. What the EU has is a set of phtyo-sanitary standards applied to all EU shellfish imports. The Brits should know about this because they lived for 30 years with exactly the same set of standards.
But the Brits are no longer inside the EU so they have to meet the same standards as all other states exporting to the EU. Once the Brits meet these standards, then Brit shellfish imports can proceed.
The problem is that the Brits are too incompetent, literally, to clean up their act. They don’t have the infrastructure to flush their shellfish.
Rex Douglas @ #1719 Sunday, February 21st, 2021 – 10:50 am
Doing what we expect politicians to do.
Andrew_Earlwood @ #2095 Sunday, February 21st, 2021 – 11:11 am
Wombats re just Pandas in disguise.
Confessions @ #2083 Sunday, February 21st, 2021 – 10:52 am
The Brits fell victim to the Blairite anti-Corbyn campaign which delivered them the BoJo Brexit nightmare.