The fortnightly Essential Research poll includes the pollster’s monthly leadership ratings, which gives Scott Morrison his weakest results since the onset of COVID-19 – down six on approval to 51% and up four on disapproval to 40%, with his lead as preferred prime minister narrowing slightly from 48-28 to 46-28. Anthony Albanese is up two on approval to 41% and down one on disapproval to 35%. These numbers have been fed into the BludgerTrack poll aggregate, sharpening Morrison’s established downward trend.
Approval of the federal government’s response to COVID-19 has also deteriorated, with a nine point drop in the good rating since last month to 44% and a six point increase in poor to 30%. Among respondents in New South Wales, the good rating for the federal government has slumped from 62% to 44%, and that for the state government is down from 69% to 57%. A range of other questions are featured on matters relating to COVID-19, including findings that 36% would be willing to get the Pfizer vaccine but not AstraZeneca (5% said vice-versa); that 40% believe the vaccine rollout is being down efficiently, down from 43% a month ago (and 68% earlier in the year); and that 64% believe it is being done safely, down from 67%.
The poll was conducted Wednesday to Sunday from a sample of 1099; full results can be viewed here.
Elsewhere, the Age/Herald yesterday published results aggregated from the three monthly Resolve Strategic polls which compared current voting intention with how respondents recalled having voted in 2019, and found women were more likely to have shifted away from the Coalition (down four points to 37%) than men (down one to 41%). On the subject of Resolve Strategic, Macquarie University academic Murray Goot casts a critical eye over its (and to a lesser extent Essential Research’s) attitudinal polling in Inside Story and takes aim at its refusal to join the Australian Polling Council and adhere to its transparency standards.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
Ash Barty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Albanese has been attacked for seeking to win by attrition, but could he just be Australia’s Joe Biden, wonders Katherine Murphy in a long and interesting essay.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jul/11/not-like-tony-abbott-what-kind-of-pm-would-anthony-albanese-be
NSW’s contact tracers are facing the biggest challenge since the start of the pandemic, as the Delta strain starts to outpace them with a rising number of unlinked cases circulating in the community despite orders from the NSW government to stay home.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/it-s-critical-people-tell-the-truth-delta-strain-outpaces-nsw-contact-tracers-20210710-p588k7.html
Nicholas Stuart reckons that in the Covid alphabet, our government is ‘I’ for incompetent!
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7333715/in-the-covid-alphabet-our-government-is-i-for-incompetent/?cs=14246
Andrew Hornery tells us that a new type of star has emerged courtesy of the pandemic, from celebrity epidemiologists to COVID villains.
https://www.smh.com.au/culture/celebrity/from-sex-symbols-to-rule-breakers-behold-the-rise-of-the-covid-celebrity-20210707-p587lp.html
Jacqui Maley directs some venom at Morrison and his spin and misrepresentations.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/first-in-line-for-vaccines-but-it-s-not-a-race-the-pm-can-t-spin-vaccines-into-arms-20210709-p588fc.html
There are growing fears that the Delta variant of the coronavirus may be more pronounced in younger people after it was revealed a teenager is being treated for COVID-19 in an intensive care unit in New South Wales, explains Cait Kelly.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/coronavirus/2021/07/11/delta-nsw-outbreak-cases/
The Commonwealth have press-ganged a General to be the public face of their COVID campaign. It is a stunning error, an own goal, declares Jon Faine.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/mission-misfire-why-the-uniform-approach-to-the-pandemic-is-wrong-20210709-p588b0.html
Michael Pascoe is flabbergasted that the NSW government’s idea of a COVID lockdown is a 314 square kilometres circle in which to roam.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/australian-politics/2021/07/10/pascoe-nsw-covid-lockdown/
“We’re sorry we looked down on you Victoria – see you on the other side of lockdown”, says Peter FitzSimons.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/we-re-sorry-we-looked-down-on-you-victoria-see-you-on-the-other-side-of-lockdown-20210709-p588d8.html
Josh Taylor looks at the preparations the ABS is making in advance of the 2021 census, determined that the “censusfail” of 2016 will not be repeated.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jul/11/censusfail-hangs-over-australian-bureau-of-statistics-as-it-prepares-for-2021-survey
Noel Turnbull wonders what it might take to get sacked from the Morrison Cabinet.
https://johnmenadue.com/what-does-it-take-to-get-sacked-from-the-morrison-cabinet/
Terry McCrann names three chairpersons, all women, who should resign from their positions in iconic Australian companies. Helen Coonan is one of them.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/companies/musical-chairs-its-time-for-three-big-names-to-go/news-story/300e09c8facf885dc404343f22e0b1fb
Upping the mental health services budget doesn’t make up for the NSW State Government blaming others for its systemic public health failure, writes Fi Peel.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/nsw-mental-health-crisis-grows-while-berejiklian-plays-blame-game,15269
Job seekers working on Australia’s harvest trail say they are being forced to supplement their low wages with Centrelink payments, casting doubt on the Morrison government’s insistence that locals can earn a decent wage picking fruit.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2021/07/11/farms-jobseeker-piece-rates/
Alexia Wellbelove gives out a B-minus for Australia’s threatened species recovery efforts.
https://johnmenadue.com/b-minus-for-australias-threatened-species-recovery-efforts/
Australia’s absurd moral panic around critical race theory aims to silence demands for justice, complains Jason Wilson
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jul/10/australias-absurd-moral-panic-around-critical-race-theory-aims-to-silence-demands-for-justice
Matthew Knott writes that, as the US enjoys its ‘post-vax summer’, concerning trends are appearing.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/as-us-enjoys-post-vax-summer-concerning-trends-appear-on-horizon-20210710-p588iv.html
Cartoon Corner
Peter Broelman
Matt Golding
Simon Letch
Glen Le Lievre
From the US
C@tmomma says:
Sunday, July 11, 2021 at 7:08 am
frednk @ #608 Sunday, July 11th, 2021 – 7:03 am
I wonder if we will see OC again defending the NSW effort, claiming aerosols aren’t a thing and blaming Victoria’s trouble on a reform that did or did not happen 20 years ago.
Probably. He’s another shameless Liberal booster.
————-
Did you apologise to him yet for using KayJay’s death in the most disgusting way to have a go at him?
Re aerosols. There was debate over this in the scientific ‘community’ until relatively recently. An argument between people who actually do know a bit about this sort of stuff. Part of the ‘problem’ when the argument reached the public is that ‘aerosols’ have a specific meaning. What you and I would call an aerosol is actually a much finer ‘mist’ .
.
https://slate.com/technology/2020/07/droplets-aerosols-coronavirus-covid-19.html
More recent ‘haggling’
.
Why Australia is under pressure to upgrade advice on Covid’s aerosol transmission
Wed 28 Apr 2021 03.30 AEST
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/apr/28/why-australia-is-under-pressure-to-upgrade-advice-on-covids-aerosol-transmission
Who was it here who was spruiking the J+J vaccine?
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/as-us-enjoys-post-vax-summer-concerning-trends-appear-on-horizon-20210710-p588iv.html?js-chunk-not-found-refresh=true
“The emergence of the Delta variant has begun to muddy the picture. While there is plenty of research from around the world on the effectiveness of the two-shot MRNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) it’s a different story for the one-shot J&J vaccine.
Johnson & Johnson has released preliminary data showing it offers good protection against Delta. But some experts see a case for people who received the J&J to top it up with a shot of Pfizer or Moderna for extra protection. “
poroti
You don’t need to be a virologist to understand how these particles behave. A lot of Engineers deal with similar problems and its basic physics.
Department of bleeding obvious..
Oh look, it’s Andrew Gold the C@t Stalker.
Haven’t you got anything better to do than harass me?
1. Obviously OC has weathered the storm.
2. You don’t tell me what to do.
3. Who appointed you class monitor?
4. Just can’t seem to remember you demanding an apology from all the people on this blog that have abused me. Funny that.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/parents-furious-as-hotel-next-to-childcare-facility-to-become-quarantine-site-20210709-p588h2.html
Does anyone understand why they are taking over Meriton Suites in Mascot for HQ, when the other Meriton (Mascot Central) has been a quarantine hotel for a long time and we’re supposedly taking in fewer people from overseas?
Who was it here who was spruiking the J+J vaccine?
That was me, Cud. I’m very much a one and done kind of person. I believed that you would have greater compliance if it was only one shot as well.
C@t
Not if its ineffective. As it stands, a lot of us are going to need a 3rd shot. Certainly those of us who have had 2 AZ doses should be planning a booster with Pfizer or Moderna.
I’m planning on my booster around Xmas/New Year.
poroti,
What needs to be added to the aerosol infection assessment is the fact that COVID-19 is able to ‘eventually’ infect people that have come into contact with it due to the cumulative effect of multiple small exposures that on their own wouldn’t be enough to give a person the disease.
C@tmomma says:
Sunday, July 11, 2021 at 7:40 am
Oh look, it’s Andrew Gold the C@t Stalker.
Haven’t you got anything better to do than harass me?
1. Obviously OC has weathered the storm.
2. You don’t tell me what to do.
3. Who appointed you class monitor?
4. Just can’t seem to remember you demanding an apology from all the people on this blog that have abused me. Funny that.
———–
If I remember correctly the class monitor actually requested that you apologise. Seems you didn’t.
C@t
There is a threshold effect. The multiple small exposures would have to take place over a relatively short time frame.. hours at most.
Look, children, please don’t start another day with your fighting.
And anyone who returns a smart answer will go to their room for an hour.
Cud Chewer
In biological systems the ‘bleeding obvious’ is wRONg a surprising number of times.
Thanks BK.
Great win by Barty, she’s all class!
Andrew Gold @ #620 Sunday, July 11th, 2021 – 7:49 am
Well if what I said hurt Oakeshott Country, then I’m sorry. So, now could he stop the snark with constantly asking me who the next candidate for Robertson will be? I do not let Liberals in on that sort of information.
Btw, that’s it from me, lizzie. It’s only because Andrew Gold invoked Mr Bowe that I bothered replying at all. Mr Bowe I respect.
Cud Chewer @ #621 Sunday, July 11th, 2021 – 7:51 am
Like in a shopping mall, browsing? 🙂
Cud Chewer
Declare it cocktail hour and mix one of each. Add a Sputnik V to make it a Black Russian cocktail 🙂
“Like in a shopping mall, browsing?”
If there were a significant number of carriers in the same mall. If that were likely the case, I’d get home delivery!
poroti
Black humour is my department 🙂
Did Gladys get around to defining ‘browsing’ , does it include ‘window shopping’ from outside the store ? Gladys has questions to answer.
lizzie
How about a dumb answer? 🙂
Cud,
There was also this troubling statement:
😯
So, the question becomes, how many boosters, how often and, forever?
I also could not believe my eyes when I saw a Bunnings ad on TV last night during the footy. It said, wtte, ‘Come to Bunnings for all your essential items!’ and followed it with a graphic of a drill, a plastic bucket and a couple of other things. If that’s not sending the wrong message I don’t know what is.
And yes, they also mentioned Click and Collect and Delivery, however, I wouldn’t have thought a trip to Bunnings to get the ingredients for a DIY project was ‘essential’.
C@T
Pfizer has been saying for a while that people might need a booster shot after twelve months.
C@t:
It beats me why anyone would want to go into any premises they didn’t absolutely need to enter. I feel anxious enough just walking into the supermarket, and try to go only at times when it’s unlikely to have many patrons.
C@t
We don’t know. That’s the simple answer. But my take on all of this is that the single most important thing is to get the prevalence of covid worldwide down to the point where its far less likely to generate more strains of concern and thus we can get ahead of it.
All I can tell you is what I plan on doing which is a booster at the end of this year and another booster before I travel.
Its not just vaccines either. Its normalising the use of rapid, do it yourself testing. Its anti-viral products (there’s a nose spray on sale now). Its being more conscious of ventilation and using more outdoor spaces. All of this will have wider benefits.
Andrew Gold only seems to come on here to snark at C@. Hmmm, what other posters tend to do that?
Lots of socks in the sock drawer?
(If AG rejects that depiction, I’d suggest he start contributing a little more usefully…)
Confessions
We successfully avoided walking into a shop for months at a time last year. Home delivery and all that.
Also, you’re right about using quiet times. I’m surprised that hasn’t been an official recommendation.
It should be said that Bunnings tends to be one of the better ventilated environments around.
Morning all. Thanks BK. I think almost every non-bigoted Australian was pleased to see Ash Barty win Wimbledon. What a pleasure to see a gracious, humble, deserving champion. Plus an indigenous winner at the end of NAIDOC week.
Twitter was also abuzz with people asking how did noted anti-vaxer Margaret Court get permission to fly out (and presumably back) given the quarantine constraints? Who approved that as “essential” travel?
Evonne Cawley elected not to attend, even though it was the 50th anniversary of her win, and she is friends with Barty. More privileged double-standards from our corrupt government.
There must be something i n the water up there. Bunnings in Victoria behave very responsible. They had the sanitizer, the mask rule, social distancing and they enforced it all the way through.
Cud:
Yep if I were at home I’d definitely be doing home delivery.
History never repeats but….
Biden is clueless if he thinks the Taliban wont try to take over.
The Economist
@TheEconomist
When American troops depart, the civil war in Afghanistan is likely to intensify. Other countries—China, India, Iran, Russia and Pakistan—will seek to fill the vacuum
I’ve noticed that too. Classic troll behaviour.
Cud Chewer @ #639 Sunday, July 11th, 2021 – 8:17 am
True, it just irked me that they depicted a drill and a plastic bucket as ‘essential’ items.
Cud Chewer
A cunning plan there Baldrick.. CMO announcement : “I recommend that people s no longer shop during busy trading hours and shop during the quiet trading hours.”
Have the NSW police arrested anyone yet for making this non essential purchase – namely a copy of the Daily Telegraph?
That’s what I have taken to doing! Shopping at 7.30am on a Wednesday (the specials begin on a Wednesday).
I didn’t know about this Labor policy. It’s a great one:
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jul/11/not-like-tony-abbott-what-kind-of-pm-would-anthony-albanese-be
poroti
The weird thing is that it actually works. You’d expect people to all suddenly move to a different hour, just creating a new peak, but the reality is that some will, most won’t.
lizzie @ #648 Sunday, July 11th, 2021 – 8:27 am
You’ve got to wonder where the majority of the $41 Million went then?
C@t
I also wonder how many other job creation schemes could be made off budget, or follow the template created for ARENA. Lets have a government agency investing in high tech transport start-ups. So we can sell sophisticated (and high speed) trains to the rest of the world.
poroti @ #2238 Sunday, July 11th, 2021 – 7:30 am
Thanks for the appreciation of nuance Poroti. ID practice has been compared to trying to complete a thousand piece jigsaw puzzle with half a dozen odd shaped pieces and no box. Sometimes this task has to to be done under pressured conditions (eg septic shock in the individual, pandemics in populations) with dire consequences (for patients and practitioners) for failure. Most of us are doing our best to try to reduce the essential ambiguity surrounding the current plague, but also have to double as whipping boys for community anxiety (and BBs nicotine dependence).
Between them, Jon Faine and Michael Pascoe have pinned down the failures of the NSW Liberals’ attitude to the covid crisis. Excellent points made.
And Jon Faine describes, once again, the unsuitability of bringing in military figures and police to bring the citizenry to comply with orders!
That we have annual flu shots might be a clue.
poroti @ #2837 Sunday, July 11th, 2021 – 8:25 am
It needn’t be that overt. A simple suggestion that people find the times when there are likely to be less people would suffice.
I dunno. Letting her out may have been”essential”; letting her back in again, not so much.
I read something somewhere that most of the cabinet are located on the north shore. Might that have some influencing factor in determining a 10km radius?