As reported by The Australian, Newspoll caps a sobering weekend for the Coalition by giving Labor its best result for the term, recording a 52-48 lead compared with 50-50 three weeks ago. The Coalition is down three on the primary vote to 39% with Labor up two to 39%, the Greens steady on 10% and One Nation on 3%. Scott Morrison’s leadership ratings are nonetheless largely unscathed, his approval down two to 62% and disapproval up two to 34%. However, but Anthony Albanese’s are considerably improved, with approval up four to 42% and disapproval down four to 41%, and he has narrowed the gap on preferred prime minister from 61-26 to 56-30. The poll was conducted Wednesday to Saturday from a sample of 1521.
UPDATE (16/3): The Australian today goes deeper into the Newspoll data in search of gender effects, but doesn’t come up with much — though this may partly be because they have combined the results of the last two polls to get a larger sample size in testing the effect of recent events, and the previous poll three weeks ago would probably have been too early. As compared with the combined polling from October to December, this finds the Coalition down two among women to 39%, with Labor up two to 38%, the Greens down one to 11% and One Nation steady on 3%; while among men, the Coalition is down two to 42%, Labor is up three to 37%, the Greens are down one to 9% and One Nation are steady on 4%.
Porter-ABC
ABC did not finger Porter.
They also didn’t publish the accusation, that was left to Porter’s friend PvO and the Australian.
Perhaps that is why PvO deleted his tweets and had his name taken off the article.
For truth ABC only have to show that the accusation existed and it was directed at a cabinet minster. Seems a pretty low bar.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
David Crowe reports that Scott Morrison has urged his colleagues to stick together during a testing time for the government as it faces a political storm over the treatment of women and internal anxiety over whether the issue will drive voters to Labor. Not to mention the efforts of idiots like Canavan.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/narrow-path-ahead-morrison-warns-mps-on-tough-challenges-20210316-p57b6o.html
There’s nothing but bad news from the west for Scott Morrison says Chris Uhlmann who reckons no one is talking about an early election now.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/there-s-nothing-but-bad-news-from-the-west-for-scott-morrison-20210316-p57b3l.html
The Liberal Party needs more women in Parliament – and that means quotas, urges former Howard government ministerial adviser, Fiona Menzies.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-liberal-party-needs-more-women-in-parliament-and-that-means-quotas-20210315-p57azr.html
“Yes, the economy is back but what are we recovering to?”, asks economist Alex Joiner who says that, in the wake of this recession, policymakers will need to do better, or we will have to accept the consequence that the growth in our living standards will remain modest.
https://www.smh.com.au/money/planning-and-budgeting/yes-the-economy-is-back-but-what-are-we-recovering-to-20210316-p57b6h.html
As the Coalition’s stimulus package draws to a close, some are already asking why a Cabinet that harboured a “big swinging dicks club” has such a small ongoing assistance package, writes Tarric Brooker.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/aussies-on-their-own-as-jobkeeper-ends,14894
John Lord amusingly takes apart Michael McCormack’s disastrous interview on Insiders.
https://theaimn.com/what-is-it-like-being-interviewed-by-david-speers-ask-the-deputy-prime-minister/
Samantha Dick reports that the Morrison government is being pressed to urgently send COVID vaccines to Papua New Guinea, as the Pacific nation battles a massive rise in cases.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/coronavirus/2021/03/17/papua-new-guinea-coronavirus-vaccine-push/
The Age’s Investigations Editor, Michael Bachelard, contends that Christian Porter’s defamation case is no sure-fire way to find the truth. This is well worth reading.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/christian-porter-s-defamation-case-is-no-sure-fire-way-to-find-the-truth-20210315-p57aze.html
The ABC is expected to push for a jury trial in its defamation battle with Attorney-General Christian Porter in the belief that it stands a better chance of winning than before a judge sitting alone, writes Michael Pelly.
https://www.afr.com/politics/judge-only-trial-for-porter-case-won-t-pass-pass-pub-test-20210316-p57b5c
Christian Porter’s defamation action threatens to further chill public interest journalism, argues senior law lecturer, Daniel Joyce.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/mar/16/christian-porters-defamation-action-threatens-to-further-chill-public-interest-journalism
Sunita Bose writes that we have an opportunity to get online safety laws right but is concerned that we are rushing them.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/we-have-an-opportunity-to-get-online-safety-laws-right-why-rush-them-20210316-p57b7h.html
Nick Bonyhady reports that lobbyists swarmed the corridors of Parliament yesterday, trying to convince three key crossbenchers to pick their side on industrial relations.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/business-warns-crossbench-of-job-losses-if-industrial-bill-dies-20210316-p57b5n.html
Josh Frydenberg has told a joint Coalition party room meeting to “be prepared for a rough couple of months” when JobKeeper ends in two weeks and said the government would “respond with targeted programs where appropriate”, writes Patrick Commins in The Australian.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/mps-brace-for-rough-jobkeeper-landing/news-story/e485336e05af44802a599df59ad2a073
People looking for work say they will be left starving and at risk of homelessness when the JobSeeker welfare payment is slashed by $100 a fortnight, with a Labor senator calling the government’s proposed changes “disgusting”, reports Josh Butler.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2021/03/17/jobseeker-welfare-cuts-parliament-canberra/
Europe’s drug regulator says it is “firmly convinced” the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine far outweigh any risks, as it attempts to head off an unproven and highly damaging suspicion that the jab may cause blood clots. The credulous have been lining up to consume the BS, all to the detriment of the vaccination program.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/no-evidence-europe-s-vaccine-regulator-moves-to-shut-down-unproven-astrazeneca-fears-20210317-p57bca.html
If a couple of lonely and contrarian backbenchers dispossessed of medical insight can panic Australians out of vaccination, the collective sanity of the nation is deeply imperilled, despairs Simon Benson.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/coronavirus-vaccine-misinformation-drive-will-develop-no-traction/news-story/2ead1837c9a1337cb9f84f77c64b8cfe
Rachel Clun tells us that Aged care homes will lose up to $12 per bed per day by the end of the year, causing a catastrophe in the already failing system, if the government does not make immediate funding changes that operators and the opposition say are necessary to keep the sector afloat.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/diabolical-state-aged-care-providers-heading-for-loss-of-12-per-bed-per-day-20210315-p57aq6.html
Violence and sexual assault are fundamentally a ‘men’s issue’, says Darren Chester in an op-ed in The Age.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/violence-and-sexual-assault-are-fundamentally-a-men-s-issue-20210316-p57b53.html
On Tuesday, tens of thousands of Australians marched across the country in 42 rallies. They marched against violence and they marched against complacency, writes Michelle Pini.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/morrison-tells-women-protesting-violence-theyre-lucky-not-to-be-shot,14895
Katherine Murphy reports that the shadow minister for women, Tanya Plibersek, has urged women inside Labor to come forward with any complaints about sexual assault or harassment, and has flagged efforts to ensure any submissions to the Jenkins inquiry will remain confidential.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/mar/17/tanya-plibersek-urges-labor-staffers-to-come-forward-with-complaints-of-sexual-assault-or-harassment
Higgins and Tame can’t do it alone: Men must step up, urges Jennifer Wilson.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/higgins-and-tame-cant-do-it-alone-men-must-step-up,14897
“If laughter is the best medicine, Daniel Andrews will be taking the stairs three at a time within days”, writes Timy Wright after the attempted Victorian Liberal leadership spill.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/libs-serve-up-a-dose-of-slapstick-to-tickle-daniel-andrews-ribs-20210316-p57b7x.html
Paul Kelly waxes lyrical, saying Scott Morrison’s soft-power diplomacy triumphs.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/scott-morrisons-softpower-diplomacy-triumphs/news-story/383b4ecac1396670306503e464c781dc
The SMH editorial believes that the Biden administration in Washington is showing strong signs it will go into bat for Australian exporters if China continues to pursue punitive trade measures.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/us-shows-solidarity-with-australia-over-china-trade-war-20210316-p57ba2.html
Jennifer Duke writes that a group of chief investment officers collectively managing $620 billion of superannuation savings warn policymakers are overreaching with proposed rules that could hand the government the power to block major investments by the funds.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/super-fund-investment-chiefs-warn-of-government-overreach-in-rules-overhaul-20210316-p57b2r.html
Investments focusing on environmental, social and governance factors have achieved market-beating returns. But can the strategy itself and its practitioners really take credit, asks the AFR’s wealth editor Aleks Vickovich.
https://www.afr.com/wealth/investing/2-2-trillion-fund-of-true-believers-20210310-p579jo
Rachel Lane explains how pensioners would emerge winners from potential aged-care reforms.
https://www.smh.com.au/money/super-and-retirement/pensioners-would-emerge-winners-from-aged-care-reforms-20210315-p57ayr.html
The prize for the most ill-conceived idea of the year might well be calls for first-home buyers to be allowed access to part of their superannuation for a house deposit, proclaims Noel Whittaker.
https://www.smh.com.au/money/super-and-retirement/why-withdrawing-super-cash-for-housing-is-a-dumb-idea-20210316-p57b7t.html
Lending to highly-geared home buyers rose in the December quarter as the property market also rebounded, sparking debate over whether riskier lending is starting to re-emerge, reports Clancy Yeates.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/rise-in-higher-risk-loans-as-housing-market-surges-20210316-p57b9x.html
Stephen Bartholomeusz reckons the debate about the Morrison government’s proposed repeal of responsible lending laws is being framed in a context that no longer exists.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/responsible-lending-debate-is-based-on-false-premises-20210316-p57b4t.html
Electricity has become a jigsaw, and coal is unable to provide the missing pieces argues Peter Martin in an informative contribution.
https://theconversation.com/electricity-has-become-a-jigsaw-coal-is-unable-to-provide-the-missing-pieces-157139
In The Conversation, four professors say, “Wake up, Mr Morrison: Australia’s slack climate effort leaves our children 10 times more work to do”.
https://theconversation.com/wake-up-mr-morrison-australias-slack-climate-effort-leaves-our-children-10-times-more-work-to-do-157136
Legal uncertainty over building contracts hit by the pandemic has the construction sector warning of a disastrous wave of disputes, explains Noel Towell.
https://www.theage.com.au/business/the-economy/legal-minefield-builders-fear-wave-of-post-covid-litigation-20210316-p57b3c.html
An agreement obliging French submarine builder Naval Group to spend 60 per cent of its funding with local suppliers will be kept secret, angering the defence industry that would like to track progress against the company’s promises, reveals Andrew Tillett. What else would we expect?
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/submarine-local-content-deal-to-remain-secret-20210315-p57ar9
Wendy Touhy reports that the principal of one of Melbourne’s largest independent schools says he is “deeply disappointed” by allegations some of his students made misogynistic comments on public transport hours after Monday’s March 4 Justice. Charming!
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/wesley-college-boys-accused-of-disgusting-misogyny-20210316-p57b7c.html
Australia could wipe out 80% of its greenhouse gas emissions – all of those from fossil fuel energy – in two decades by doubling the pace at which solar and wind power is being rolled out, academic analysis suggests.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/mar/17/doubling-uptake-of-wind-and-solar-power-could-set-up-australia-for-net-zero-emissions-by-2040
It has been 10 years since the Fukushima nuclear disaster that was fuelled by Australian uranium but neither the mining industry nor the nation’s leaders have heeded any of the lessons, instead continuing to export uranium to countries with inadequate regulation and nations beset by corruption. David Noonan and Dr Jim Green report.
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/bhp-rio-tinto-given-carte-blanche-to-export-uranium-to-global-hotspots/
According to Dominic Powell, a consortium of high-profile companies including Coles and Nestle is planning to build a soft plastics recycling plant where chocolate bar wrappers or chip bags can be broken down and remade into new food-safe wrappings. He says this Australian first-ever ‘circular’ soft plastics recycling plant is set to be built in Victoria, with the consortium preparing to kickstart the project in the coming months.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/coles-nestle-in-plans-to-build-first-ever-soft-plastics-recycling-plant-20210316-p57b8j.html
The freight industry has slammed a double-digit hike in import and export charges by the country’s largest port operator, saying it is unjustified during a global trade slump.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/economics/freight-sector-slams-port-charges/news-story/4099427973637b644e8056bdb636fed7
Britain will seek more trade and direct investment from Beijing, despite a major review of its foreign and defence policy describing China as the “biggest state-based threat to the UK’s economic security.” It will also seek a “transformation” of its relationship with India over the next decade, as part of a major tilt towards the Indo-Pacific region, writes Latika Bourke.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/britain-has-one-eye-on-trade-with-china-the-other-on-its-threats-20210316-p57b0m.html
“Maybe I was wrong about Joe Biden – is he actually the progressive president I was waiting for?”, says Arwa Mahdawi.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/mar/16/maybe-i-was-wrong-about-joe-biden-is-he-the-progressive-president-i-was-waiting-for
I reckon today’s nomination for “Arsehole of the Week” should go to Jarryd Hayne’s lawyer who, in closing remarks said, “The presence of injuries on a woman who was allegedly sexually assaulted by Jarryd Hayne proves “absolutely nothing” about whether she gave consent to the former footballer.”
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/presence-of-injury-on-hayne-complainant-says-nothing-about-consent-jury-told-20210316-p57b9k.html
This wonderful NRL specimen also deserves nomination.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/it-was-a-no-brainer-for-the-nrl-to-warn-toby-rudolf-over-post-match-interview-20210316-p57b8a.html
Cartoon Corner
David Pope
Cathy Wilcox
Mark David
Fiona Katauskas
Glen Le Lievre
David Rowe
Mark Knight
Simon Letch
Matt Golding
John Spooner
From the US
The block of flats for sale in Tasmania is looking better and better than this –
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-17/pacific-vaccine-rollout-to-be-announced/100014196
So I woke up this morning to the news that Brendan’s web site is now taking bookings.
I went to the web site. Clicked through the eligibility test. Sure enough, I’m in 1b.
It then allows me to enter my address and choose a location.
Problem is that the GP super clinic which is in the largest town anywhere near here isn’t one of the locations listed on the map. So, I rang up the GP clinic. The nice lady on the other end of the phone informed me that they’d be sending out invitations towards the end of the month.
When I asked how do they choose who to invite and based on what information, I was informed that it would be based on what they have on file. So, they’re making up their own process. Not a good look.
At this point she told me two things. One of those was that the GP super clinic was going to be registered with the government as a place of vaccination some time in the next couple of weeks. And then that they were still inquiring with (and no answer from) the government as to precisely what the eligibility criteria are regarding underlying health conditions. Whether the first is entirely dependent on the other is unclear.
Plenty of other teensy medical practices have registered. Not this one. Not happy. My mum doesn’t need to prove underlying medical condition. She qualifies purely because of age. Yet my GP is stalling for what should be unrelated reasons.
Its also clear that despite theoretically ordering 10+ million doses of Pfizer, those that need it the most (the elderly) in practice aren’t going to get it. Its also alarming that despite ordering 50+ million doses of Novavax (which by all accounts is a better vaccine than AZ) isn’t even getting a mention in the media.
Fuck you, Brendan.