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.
In fact the Labor invitations were offered by hand. I don’t know whether that’s unusual.
Labor’s best bet is to refuse the vaccinations and wait for their turn with the rest of the common herd. Explain that it’s not about anti-vaxx sentiment, but simply about doing the right thing and waiting in line like everyone else. Thanks, but no thanks.
The only clear security breach I can see is that he scarpered instead of signing her out.
It is unclear that he had clearance to go where they did go. Probably he did, IMO.
On the face of it, Higgin’s state was not consistent with workplace standards.
But, as many a politician has demonstrated over the decades, being pissed is safe as houses in the House.
We all recall the pissed table smashing behaviours, etc, not so long ago.
Nailing her for being in an unfit state to be in the workplace would , as GG states, be political dynamite.
I reckon it would go nuclear.
I thought that the Golden Wombat was for being good at Tennis.
Given significant national levels of vaccine resistance I am glad that Morrison and Albanese are taking their shots by way of leading from the front.
I have my fingers crossed that neither has a (highly unlikely) adverse reaction and ends up in hospital by this time next week.
Podcast discussing community battery
https://soundcloud.com/reneweconomy-646697966/batteries-in-the-street-the-new-face-of-storage
s777
I think it is an insider National joke about being on the Wombat Trail.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-09/federal-election-sees-nationals-revive-wombat-trail/11018894
What’s this ‘WW2 Survivor’ crap!?! That old lady would have been nowhere near the action in WW2, She would have been 6 years old! What’s to ‘survive’? being at home with your mum?
There is no angle that Scott Morrison will not fakely exploit!
C@t
Depends where she was born.
boerwar @ #2153 Sunday, February 21st, 2021 – 12:21 pm
Stop being dramatic.
Bushfire Bill @ #2151 Sunday, February 21st, 2021 – 12:18 pm
Would be a loser politically for Labor.
Politicising Covid has been a graveyard for oppositionist politicians over the last year.
Shit! Greg Hunt follows me on Twitter! I thought all dumb ass Liberals had me Blocked! 😆
Greensborough Growler @ #2159 Sunday, February 21st, 2021 – 12:27 pm
Waiting your turn is NOT politicising covid.
“It wouldn’t surprise me – in fact, it surprises me that this hasn’t already happened – if one of the social media giants starts its own news service.”
Zoomster
Yesterday OH told me he’d been reading something (couldn’t remember exactly what it was – frontal lobe loss there due to TIAs) which mentioned msn as having been the spreader of fake news internationally for Rowan Dean’s program on Sky. OH said it had serious repercussions but still couldn’t remember what.
Is msn considered a reliable news site?
Did anyone else see that piece? I’ve been looking for it.
lizzie @ #1794 Sunday, February 21st, 2021 – 12:25 pm
Ah, I never thought about that (C@t who thinks purely of her own position, or in this case her own 80yo mum’s position says). 😆
Yeah. World War 2 was organized so as not to affect the kids in case it involved a political argument 70 years after the end of the War.
40 million or so civilians died during World Two.
Plenty of kids were killed, wounded, orphaned, traumatized by adjacent violence, drowned, suffered extreme hunger, died in the Holocaust, and/or were turned into displaced people by being run out of their homelands during in World War 2.
Lizzie
I think the 84 year old lady was from Poland.
The proper policy setting is for Facebook to be treated as a de facto monopoly and for that monopoly to be broken up.
GG, boerwar
RE: ministers office security
Agree with both points, and which is why they’re basically stuck with it being a cover up.
Funny this.
The MSM are strangely quiet about the evils of Google now that they have signed contracts to participate in Google’s worldwide news showcase product.
Now the venom is all directed at Facebook and two of the main culprits are ABC and Guardian. Morrison and Frydenberg similarly.
There’s been almost no skin off Facebook but the MSM operators are starting to look silly with these extreme opinion pieces masquerading as news.
“Labor’s best bet is to refuse the vaccinations and wait for their turn with the rest of the common herd. Explain that it’s not about anti-vaxx sentiment, but simply about doing the right thing and waiting in line like everyone else. Thanks, but no thanks.”
BB
Agree with that but I don’t think they will. If the nursing staff at John Hunter have to wait ( damn it, Kayjay) then surely the pollies can wait too.
On the matter of vaccine varieties and distinctions between different age groups, I was sent the information below during the week. Could any of the resident PB medicos with some knowledge of the matter tell me if this information re European countries and their reaction to AZ use is current?
***********************************
11 out of 27 EU member states have departed from official advice from the bloc’s medicines regulator and issued restrictions on the Astrazeneca vaccine.
Those countries are Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Belgium, Greece, Denmark, The Netherlands, Sweden, Poland and Austria. Norway, which is not in the EU, has blocked its use in over-65s, while Switzerland, which is also not an EU member state, has declined to approve the jab altogether.
Most have restricted use of the Astrazeneca vaccine in patients under the age of 65, but Italy, Belgium and Spain have limited it to under-55s.
Most (EU) have said they will use other mRNA-based vaccines made by companies such as Pfizer/Biontech and Moderna on older populations in the meantime, which have both received the green light from the EMA.
boerwar @ #2165 Sunday, February 21st, 2021 – 12:32 pm
My mother was responsible for the family grocery shop plus preparing the evening meal for the family during WW2. her parents were out nearly every night. Her father worked on repairing rail lines following German bombing raids. Her mother drove ambulances to transport the dead and injured from civilian destruction. My mother was 9 years old.
That is not even remotely true. The legislation’s definition of media content is limited to content produced by ACMA-recognized media corporations. The definition obviously does not include the websites of government departments and emergency services. Facebook are lying when they say they had to block those things because of the “overly broad” definition in the legislation. They blocked those things because they wanted to cause as much disruption as possible as part of a miscalculated effort to throw their weight around.
The legislation is misguided because Facebook and Google are not really “using” the media corporations’ content in an intellectual property sense – all they are doing is bringing the existence of the content to the attention of users. But the scope of the legislation is clear.
Player One says:
Sunday, February 21, 2021 at 11:39 am
Am I in favour of closing down all coal fired generators?
Yes. Of course I am.
Does the system have all the substitute generating plant, network distribution, storage, control and regulatory instruments in place to do that right now?
No. Obviously not.
But we’re getting there. No matter what you say or pretend, we’re getting there.
United States COVID – 19 data :
509,875 total deaths
Today – 69,617 new cases ……………… 1,907 new deaths
See Morrison trying to assert control of a Media op gone a little awry. I sense the woman was sending Scotty a message about his condescending bon homie.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1363287397807493124
Hunt is quoted as saying Albo “will” be vaccinated this week.
Nothing heard from Albo?
Looks awfully like Morrison is trying to wedge Labor here. If Albo says yes, he cannot criticise Morrison for jumping the queue. If he says no, then Morrison will claim he’s an antivaxxer.
Always a wedge with Morrison.
N @ #2174 Sunday, February 21st, 2021 – 12:48 pm
Your attempt to reframe the question is noted. How about answering the original question?
Player One says:
Sunday, February 21, 2021 at 11:39 am
N @ #2086 Sunday, February 21st, 2021 – 10:53 am
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.
However, I don’t really want to waste yet another day arguing….
Good. Post less shit. That’s a useful start.
Player, not only am I in favour of closing down all the coal generators, I favour shutting down the gas generators too. I certainly do not think gas-fired capacity should be added to the system. It should be replaced with renewables and storage.
Not only will this happen at some point in the future, it’s already happening at a rapid pace.
In some of the world’s great coal and gas provinces, the use of these fuels is being phased out. The only voices raised against this are from the throats of denial. Yours is one such voice. It’s really time you dropped the pretence.
This briefing paper shows the glaring error the government made – it seems obsessed with google’s likely reaction and treats facebook as a side issue.
There’s a few places where the ACCC and the Senate report both deal with responses to google’s threats but – whilst noting what facebook has signalled what it would do – doesn’t seem to have a response to them.
Nicholas
‘The legislation’s definition of media content is limited to content produced by ACMA-recognized media corporations..’
I’d be interested to know where you got this from.
The briefing paper states ‘…These definitions appear to have been incorporated into the Bill, which defines core news content as content that reports, investigates or explains:
issues or events that are relevant in engaging Australians in public debate and in informing democratic decision‑making or
current issues or events of public significance for Australians at a local, regional or national level.’
…which seemingly would cover many of the organisations who seem to have been blocked unfairly…
and then notes that ‘ the Bill does not actually define ‘news’ but rather proposed section 52A defines the terms core news content and covered news content, as well as news business and news source.’
And Section 52A is a lot broader than you have indicated. Here’s some of the other definitions it includes —
‘core news content means content that reports, investigates or explains:
(a) issues or events that are relevant in engaging Australians in public debate and in informing democratic decision‑making; or
(b) current issues or events of public significance for Australians at a local, regional or national level.
covered news content means content that is any of the following:
(a) core news content;
(b) content that reports, investigates or explains current issues or events of interest to Australians.’
‘news business means:
(a) a news source; or
(b) a combination of news sources.
news source means any of the following, if it produces, and publishes online, news content:
(a) a newspaper masthead;
(b) a magazine;
(c) a television program or channel;
(d) a radio program or channel;
(e) a website or part of a website;
(f) a program of audio or video content designed to be distributed over the internet.’
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2020B00190
Rex: “The Brits fell victim to the Blairite anti-Corbyn campaign which delivered them the BoJo Brexit nightmare.”
And the two-faced Guardian was at the forefront of the Blairite smear campaign against Corbyn, and so delivering Johnson, Brexit and the vile Sir Keir.
Can’t see the breakdown between AstraZeneca and Pfizer amongst the 17 million doses supplied in the UK.
That would be useful tonight in terms of efficacy.
https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/vaccinations
A good article:
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/feb/21/australia-should-resist-the-march-of-autocracy-but-there-will-be-consequences
In so many ways, the world is now changing faster than Australia is able to cope. With China, as with global warming, we have amply demonstrated that we can’t just “wing it” and hope for the best. In both cases, we need a plan. A plan that takes into account the new global reality, and not one simply based on useless nostalgia for a bygone era.
I think a few are over-analysing.
I agree with the first part: it’s an attempt to make Albo co-complicit in pushing-in.
But as for accusing him of being an anti-vaxxer simply because chose to wait his turn? Rubbish. Only partisans would believe that (and they’re not voting Labor anyway).
It’s quite appropriate to join the vaccination queue. It’s just as valid an example to set as ScoMo’s purported effort. There is no need for ScoMo to be vaccinated as if he is a kind of Head Of State, Commander In Chief, Father Of The Nation or some other constititionally designated office holder with the Welfare Of His People foremost in his heart. He’s the current leader of the Liberal Party who won it in a grubby party room backstab, and therefore PM. There are plenty more who would take over either job in a heartbeat and do just as good (or bad) a job as Scott Morrison.
For Albo to refuse to be politically wedged is not in itself “politicising” the situation. It’s simply refusing to be wedged… and just as arguably setting a good, if different, example as ScoMo’s. Don’t over-analyse it.
Thanks Zoomster. That saved me a bit of research to dig those definitions out again.
I’m surprised (not actually) that Nicholas is shilling against Facebook. He is even singing from the same hymnal as the MSM and Government.
There are plenty of reasons to shill against Facebook. For me the issue is mainly about Tax. Most of the other problems with Facebook can be addressed if Zuck actually takes his Australian news ban and applies it globally, returning the platform to one focused on pet memes and the stalking old high school girlfriends and boy friends.
I guess that N sees Facebook as a road block to his MMT – socialist Nirvana or some such.
However, on this present issue they are on the side of the angels.
N @ #2179 Sunday, February 21st, 2021 – 1:08 pm
Briefly lifted that text from one of Bob Browns speeches.
N @ #2180 Sunday, February 21st, 2021 – 1:08 pm
Your second failure to answer the question has been noted.
Sohar says:
Sunday, February 21, 2021 at 1:10 pm
Rex: “The Brits fell victim to the Blairite anti-Corbyn campaign which delivered them the BoJo Brexit nightmare.”
And the two-faced Guardian was at the forefront of the Blairite smear campaign against Corbyn, and so delivering Johnson, Brexit and the vile Sir Keir.
This is absolute rubbish. The Boristocrats campaigned for Brexit and won. They are responsible. They hold power on the back of it. It’s very difficult to discern a road back to power for Labour, who have only seldom won a majority of the vote in England.
Corbyn was an abject failure as Labour leader….even worse than the absolutely dismal Michael Foot. The Momentum project has been a great success from a Tory point of view. It has basically destroyed Labour in England other than in London.
The stupidities of Corbyn-led Labour in relation to European affairs both contributed to Brexit and, totally predictably, to the current wipe-out of Labour as a force in British politics.
Sohar @ #2181 Sunday, February 21st, 2021 – 1:10 pm
That was one of the reasons I discontinued my GA subscription.
Player One says:
Sunday, February 21, 2021 at 1:20 pm
N @ #2180 Sunday, February 21st, 2021 – 1:08 pm
Player, not only am I in favour of closing down all the coal generators, I favour shutting down the gas generators too. I certainly do not think gas-fired capacity should be added to the system. It should be replaced with renewables and storage.
Not only will this happen at some point in the future, it’s already happening at a rapid pace.
In some of the world’s great coal and gas provinces, the use of these fuels is being phased out. The only voices raised against this are from the throats of denial. Yours is one such voice. It’s really time you dropped the pretence.
Your second failure to answer the question has been noted.
Oh, gosh! Are you going to tell on me? Who will you tell? Are you the blackboard prefect today?
You are an idiot who mistakes themselves for a clever wit. Grow a brain.
Mr Lack of Empathy strikes again (this time forcing a little old lady to try and make a V sign when it’s obvious she can’t due to arthritis in her fingers):
Peter Murphy
@PeterWMurphy1
The PM insists an elderly lady “give the V for vaccine”. She struggles to do so, having to hold her right hand in position. When she reverses it for comfort, the PM grabs her hands, w/o warning or permission, to stop her. Her face says it all. Who behaves this way?!
The English got what they wanted. No need to feel sorry for them.
Honestly Smokos a complete dick. Trying to force a V sign. Its just fucking stupid let alone anything else.
Rumour has it the Forth Bridge is going down ….
Looks like she’s flipping promo the bird…
steve davis says:
Sunday, February 21, 2021 at 1:28 pm
Honestly Smokos a complete dick. Trying to force a V sign. Its just fucking stupid let alone anything else.
He has probably just assaulted her …summary offence…should be charged.
The second Australian to receive the jab after Jane was John Healy, 86, of Narrabeen.
Health Minister Greg Hunt meets John Healy, 86, of Narrabeen, who was the second Australian to receive the COVID-19 jab. Picture: NCA NewsWire
When asked what it was like to received the injection, he shrugged and said “no worries”.
“It’s just a little prick and that’s it,” he said.
He obviously knows GHunt well.
I just love it when P1 elevates herself to be the board’s hall monitor whenever someone posts on her pet hobby horses but fails to answer some asinine question she poses within some stated parameters that she demands …
It really elevates the blog…
Shouldn’t Morrison have been wearing gloves also , if he was going to touch peoples hand