As reported by The Australian, the final Newspoll for the year records Labor’s two-party lead unchanged at 53-47, from primary votes of Coalition 36%, Labor 38% (steady), Greens 10% (down one) and One Nation 3% (up one). Scott Morrison’s personal ratings are unchanged at 44% approval and 52% disapproval, while Anthony Albanese are respectively up two to 39% and down three to 45%. The report says Morrison is down one on preferred prime minister to 45% and Albanese is down two to 36%. The poll also finds 47% expect Labor to win the election compared with 37% for the Coalition. It was conducted Wednesday to Saturday from a sample of 1518.
Recent Covid-19 death rates found to be ‘six times higher’ in heavily-Republican counties: report
A review of Covid-19 data by NPR found that people “living in counties that went 60% or higher for Trump in November 2020 had 2.7 times the death rates of those that went for Biden.” Data examined by NPR included information collected since May in around 3,000 counties. Previous reports have found similar results.
Health care analyst Charles Gaba told NPR that in October death rates were six times higher in the most heavily Republican counties when compared to the most heavily Democratic counties.
NPR attributed the increased death rates to misinformation after Kaiser Family Foundation polling found that 94% of Republicans believe that one or more false statements about Covid-19 could be true. The same poll showed that only 14% of Democrats believe false statements about the disease.
https://www.rawstory.com/rate-in-trump-counties/
“Lars Von Triersays:
Monday, December 6, 2021 at 9:00 am
In my Great-Aunt Mathilde’s nursing home yesterday – it was noticeable how many residents switched off their hearing aids when reportage about Albo’s speech came on.”
From the Poll Bludger: 58% of the 65+ olds vote for the Coalition….
But unfortunately for the Coalition only 16.3% of voters are older than 65….
On the other hand, 65% of the 18-34 years old vote for Labor…. and there are 21.1% of them….
Oh look, the difference is 4.8%…. and the BludgerTrack is giving a swing in favour to the ALP of 5.1%… Nice, isn’t it?… But please, Mr vonTired, don’t tell your old great-aunty’s co-residents in the nursing home, we don’t want to upset them (and you) at such an old age…. They will notice the change of government anyway, in the improved conditions in the nursing home…. 🙂
The real problem that the Coalition has is that the ‘wet’ Liberals have been reduced in number and influence to the point that they are too short a blanket to cover for the rest. The media can adjust the blanket as they might, but it leaves too many unsightly bits exposed to the electorate.
Hence the rise of the Teals.
Edit: spelling
Whereas Maguire admitted he’s corrupt at last year’s ICAC hearing, Berejiklian still awaits a determination. She’s therefore clearly eligible to stand for Warringah if she so desires, which is no big deal as if she were to win she’s merely replacing Tory-lite Steggall, who I understand gave an undertaking to Morrison guaranteeing confidence & supply.
_____________________________________________
Morrison’s attempt to nobble some of 9’s journos will backfire on him. He must be extremely desperate – diddums.
“steve davissays:
Monday, December 6, 2021 at 9:41 am
Why is Smoko engaging in this phony election campaign if he is not going to the polls until May? Seems ridiculous to me.”…
Because Albo and the ALP have already started the campaign…. I have personally donated a few bucks to the party and will continue to do so on a regular basis until the last week of the campaign. A few bucks multiplied by a million supporters, makes a few million bucks…. and these days that’s very useful in any federal election campaign.
As all this is happening, Scomocchio can’t stand still and lose the initiative, he must do something…. The problem is that he has run out of ammunitions in his propaganda arsenal and, above all, he has run out of “miracles”….
I take back that Maguire was found corrupt by Dasha – he was referred to DPP on question of whether he gave false evidence only.
Mavis @ #152 Monday, December 6th, 2021 – 9:50 am
–
Berejiklian
can do what she likes .. i think what they gain with her in one seat could backfire in other seats … specifically in western Sydney where she locked them down whilst the north and south of sydney stayed open… They might get Stegalls seat in poshville, but pay for it elsewhere in NSW. Net gain, nil I suspect.
”
Many Australian boards are struggling to prepare their companies or organisations for climate change, with almost half the country’s directors saying they don’t know how to tackle the issue, reports Patrick Hatch.
https://www.theage.com.au/business/companies/where-to-start-boards-struggle-with-climate-change-risks-fail-to-act-20211205-p59evz.html
”
What is surprising is that we are not discussing about small business and Sole Traders. We are talking about Companies with Boards. It shows how the leadership of these companies is not only letting their companies down in a competitive world but also the general public of this country.
Ven at 9.31am re media ‘requiring’ Labor to articulate its case to be government…
…Its a key plank of ‘framing’ the issue: mainstream media acting as if the contest is between two ‘equal’ parties.
Thus, the stench of Coalition corruption is ignored, along with incompetence like Jobkeeper and illegality like Robodebt. The fact that Labor just outlined its climate policy is also ignored, along with all other Labor policy announcements.
Apparently, nothing has happened since 2019 and its a 50-50 situation!
As others here have noted from time to time, if Labor were a tired, probably corrupt, incompetent government, the stench would be baked into to every msm headline and story (think ‘NSW Labor is corrupt, because Obeid…’ but NSW Liberals? O’Farrell just made a mistake etc etc.)
Right Wing politics involves unreality, aided and abetted by msm.
I like to borrow one term from Trump: ‘lamestream media.’ He was wrong in applying it to the US, where there is much greater diversity of media ownership, but our msm deserves the label!
”
Another “Arsehole of the Week” nomination goes to Peta Credlin who has issued a lengthy on-air apology to Victoria’s South Sudanese community after anger about a program in which she falsely blamed them for a Melbourne COVID-19 outbreak last year.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/peta-credlin-issues-second-apology-to-south-sudanese-community-20211205-p59eys.html
”
She should be top three contender for “Arsehole of the Week” nomination every week. 🙂
Snappy Tom at 10:02 am
Not much difference.
https://berkeleyhighjacket.com/2021/entertainment/the-dangers-of-the-concentration-of-media-ownership/
poroti:
“At the present time, a shocking 90 percent of the US media is controlled by just six media conglomerates.”….
What’s the distribution of political-ideological leaning in those six media conglomerates? Is it more, equal or less diverse than in Australia?
P.S. I guess that we have to start by assuming that they are all pro-Capitalism, but they may differ as to which side of the Capitalism spectrum each one of them is in.
Shellbell @ #154 Monday, December 6th, 2021 – 7:00 am
Thanks Shellbell.
So my original question about the article stands.
Would be luverly if daH Binchook runs in Warringah. 🙂 If nothing else it means that EVERY time the Prime Marketer appears in NSW he will have to talk ICAC and why he’s trying to run a protection racket. 🙂
EB @ #114 Monday, December 6th, 2021 – 9:47 am
Where some see a creepy man, others see a beaut bloke in touch with the ordinary folk.
One tikka masala coming up.
BITB
To the extent it matters, he has been made the subject of notification to the DPP and he has made admissions of wrongful conduct.
The LNP and the media really have done a job with Glady
Morrison bleats, “At this election next year it is a choice. It is a choice between the Liberals and Nationals and Labor and the Greens.”
Does he think that being held to ransom by the ridiculous Nationals is a virtue?
Whilst it is a little convoluted, this piece details the disinformation warfare in place.
The last part of the article explains the Australian part of it all.
I highly recommend reading that part at least.
https://daniel-ed-morrison.medium.com/why-the-worlds-gone-mad-46feae5f8920
EB:
Monday, December 6, 2021 at 10:01 am
[‘Berejiklian
can do what she likes .. i think what they gain with her in one seat could backfire in other seats … specifically in western Sydney where she locked them down whilst the north and south of sydney stayed open… They might get Stegalls seat in poshville, but pay for it elsewhere in NSW. Net gain, nil I suspect.’]
It seems that quite a number still think she walks on water. But as you say, it could result in a loss of support elsewhere. It must be in the back of her mind the damage to her reputation if she’s subject to an adverse ICAC finding, which on the evidence I saw, is clearly on the cards, despite Morrison’s cowardly & unprecedented attack on the ICAC.
”
phoenixREDsays:
Monday, December 6, 2021 at 9:25 am
porotisays: Monday, December 6, 2021 at 9:12 am
A US congressman has posted a Christmas picture of himself and what appears to be his family, smiling and posing with an assortment of guns, just days after four teenagers were killed in a shooting at a high school in Michigan. Is America rooted or what?
****************************************
Charlie Sykes stuns MSNBC host with lewd description of Thomas Massie’s gun photo as like pic of his privates
Speaking to MSNBC on Sunday, conservative commentator and Bulwark editor attacked Rep. Tom Massie (R-KY) after he posted a Christmas photo of him with his family in their pajamas with a bunch of guns.
In describing the photo, Sykes called it nothing more than a “d*ck pic,” photos that men send unsolicited to women of their penis to show off their masculinity. Sykes explained that Massie’s need to show off how big his gun is.
”
So Tim Paine and his BIL were being Masculine when they sent their “d*ck pic” photos ?
I thought they were just being d*ckheads. 🙂
Take the time to look at Geoffrey Watson making a HUGE case for a decent ICAC. This is from the NOC last week. It starts at 12.05 minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3aqQEawvUk
To give some indication of the content how it relates to Australia
———
Nor is the alliance of anti-lockdown groups as grassfed-organic as it may appear, and there is a common undercurrent of an anti-progressive and often openly far-right agenda that connects them. In the Australian movement, one of the main organisers is a guy called Harrison McClean, who has openly discussed the “Jewish Question”. Tommy Robinson features heavily in most chats. The details of the rest of the characters, and the networks they used to come together, deserve their own article. But briefly, some to look out for are: Edward Burke, Micheal Simms, Dave Oneegs, Mary-Jane Liddicoat, Fiona Barnett, Mel Ann, the Aussie Cossack, The Original Sovereign Tribal Federation, Monica Smit, Morgan C Jonas, Avi Yemeni and Geert Wilders’ Liberty Australia Alliance. These networks have ruthlessly exploited the chaos of the pandemic to advance their ideology and draw people to their cause.
Firefox @ #169 Monday, December 6th, 2021 – 7:31 am
Why is he commenting on irrelevant targets and not policies?
Spent the weekend camped in WA’s south where the morning sounds came from carnabys cockatoos, galahs, ringnecks and magpies.
Reading what Morrison is saying today you would think the election was only a week or two away.
He has certainly dialled it up.
I think I should have stayed in the bush. Even the galahs made more sense than he does.
Meanwhile in Deutschland…
Robert Habeck: Germany’s new super minister on the block
Berlin has a new strongman: the Greens’ co-chief and future vice chancellor Robert Habeck, whose pragmatism and track record in Schleswig-Holstein looks tailor-made to drive Germany’s renewable energy expansion.
As Brussels braces for tough negotiations over the EU’s proposed 2030 climate plan, the so-called ‘Fit for 55’ package, Berlin has just designated a new vice-chancellor who will be a key player in the upcoming talks.
Robert Habeck, the first-ever Green minister of the economy, energy and now also climate protection, is at the helm of a super ministry that will span general economic policy, as well as SMEs, renewable energy, and the much-needed expansion of the country’s electricity grid.
Taking over a ministry previously held by the conservative Peter Altmaier, Habeck will add the climate portfolio to his mandate and create a veritable super-ministry of almost 2,000 staffers, larger than the European Commission’s DG ENER, DG ENV and DG CLIMA combined, with a budget upwards of €10 billion.
Germany’s new super-minister has until now been an anomaly in politics – his easy-going nature once earned him the nickname of “panda of German politics”. But as he takes over the reins, he seems determined to seize the opportunity and make a difference.
“Radical challenges need radical solutions,” Habeck said in a 2018 interview with ZDF heute show, calling for the Greens to stick to their values rather than compromise their values in order to appeal to the center.
Doing this in the position of a ministry that has traditionally championed the interests of industry won’t be easy.
“Until now, the Ministry of Economics has acted as an advocate for energy-intensive industries vis-à-vis the Ministry of the Environment. This appointment should be the end of it,” said Marco Beicht, founder of software firm Powercloud, in an interview with FAZ.
https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy-environment/news/robert-habeck-germanys-new-super-minister-on-the-block/
For anyone interested in the Sydney bus strike today in the privatised region 6.
Sorry for the non Facebookers, if I can find the video elsewhere I’ll post it.
https://fb.watch/9J1tTE6KFI/
And as of yesterday, region 9 has had the no toilet breaks idiocy inflicted on them as part of the light rail changes.
BTW, Busways were recently awarded the Ryde/Willoughby depots and they are renowned for being a less than ideal employer.
The video is skewiff for the first minute or so but then the operator fixes it. Hope they’re not a driver 🙂
The Green Brief: Hat-trick for the German Greens
After 16 years in opposition, the Germans Greens are back in government, taking the reins of three powerful ministries – an unprecedented feat, which also strengthens their hand in Brussels as they now have a direct link to the new government in Berlin.
Following the announcement of Germany’s new ‘traffic light’ coalition last week, there are three new names on the energy and environment scene: Economy, Energy and Climate Minister Robert Habeck, Environment Minister Steffi Lemke and Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir.
The one thing they have in common is that they all belong to the Green party. With the stroke of a pen, the balance of power in Berlin, and to some extent Brussels, has shifted significantly towards the environmentalists.
“Now we have a great opportunity to make a unified policy on energy, the economy, the environment, agriculture and nutrition for the first time,” Özdemir told national newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
For almost a decade, the environment and agriculture ministries were divided between the German conservative union CDU/CSU and the social democrat SPD. Now those of us active in the climate field should beware of a sudden whiplash.
Yes, the underlying ministerial staff won’t change. But there is something to be said about the Greens’ inherently more open approach to communication and their determination to get their policies through that is likely to spice up climate policy both in Berlin and Brussels.
https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy-environment/news/the-green-brief-hat-trick-for-the-german-greens/
This article in the Guardian highlights the damage that open access to the internet for anyone can cause. At some point we will realise that the many reasons we regulate most things in society will also apply to the internet, and we will look back and wonder what we were thinking. The Liberal Party, for mostly the wrong reasons, have put up legislation of potentially global significance.
It’s disappointing the ALP haven’t come out with an alternative plan to manage the very real consequences of online abuse, one that is actually effective and aimed at the real problems rather than the niche problem of defamation. Hopefully as the election campaign kicks in they will present something.
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/dec/05/campaigners-threaten-uk-legal-action-over-porn-sites-lack-of-age-verification
The Greens have one seat in the house of reps. There are six cross benches, the real question is why do the greens think they are relevance to anything?
If Gladys runs, then they may or may not win the seat….
But it will add to the Prime Minister of New South Wales narrative that is running in WA, Victoria and somewhat in parts of Queensland. She is not popular in other states.
And it will keep a federal ICAC as a talking point for the entire campaign, instead of being a secondary issue (a federal ICAC is overwhelming popular with the public with something like 70 to 80% in favor).
Plus there is a potential for a ruling from the NSW ICAC at some stage after the election which could suggest she engaged in misconduct that could cause a byelection.
And finally, it reeks of desperation drafting in a former “star” to save the day.
Yes, the core Liberal party voters of Sydney think she has been hard done by because they feel she was doing a good job but she was one that resigned voluntarily before the heat became too hot.
Bette Midler gets a gong:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10277901/Joe-Biden-hosts-Kennedy-Center-honorees-jokes-SNL-creator-trying-seven-guys-play-me.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ico=taboola_feed
Barney in Tanjung Bunga @ #173 Monday, December 6th, 2021 – 9:34 am
If targets are irrelevant, why does every party have one?
frednk @ #179 Monday, December 6th, 2021 – 7:46 am
It’s their divine right because the German Greens are part of the Government.
a r @ #182 Monday, December 6th, 2021 – 7:49 am
Because it fits into a nice little slogan and placates the media who largely seem incapable of exploring the actual policies.
My reading of this latest poll is that the LNP vote is being eroded by One Nation and Clive Palmer. You would think that a lot of that vote will return to the Libs via preferences. But whether Hansen and Palmer can control the flow will be interesting to observe.
Labor’s polling figures may be inflated by the Teal Independents venting their fury on the incumbent Government’s lack of action on CC. Now that the Teals have emerged from their inner suburban enclaves with their own alternative Party, will they start to impact the Primaries of the major parties and the Greens. Who will they preference in the end?
Labor has been consistent and measured in it’s approach to policy and behaviour for an extended time. Some of this was due to Covid. Regardless, they seem to be reaping the benefit in the polls. Many voters will be summing up whether to dispose of the Morrison Circus and whether Labor and Albo are worth taking a chance on in the coming Election.
In short, there is plenty to encourage Labor in the current climate. But, the battle is not over yet and there is still plenty of hard slog in front of the Party and Supporters.
Hazzard loses the plot again:
[‘Another bizarre and unnecessary verbal attack by a politician has occurred the very week the Set the Standard report has been released, highlighting just how far we have to go in stamping out disrespect and misconduct in the workplace.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard received plenty of backlash on social media over his disdainful treatment of a female journalist during a press conference in Coffs Harbour.
Mr Hazzard has been labelled as ‘unhinged’ and ‘obnoxious’ as a result of his conduct, with many of the view this is just another example of how ‘absolute power corrupts absolutely’.
But in the context of expectations in the workplace, the incident has raised concerns about the normalisation of bullying, harassment and discrimination – including by the ‘leaders’ we elect, pay and expect to look after our interests.
Mockery and ridicule
When ABC Journalist Danuta Kozaki dialled in to the press conference to ask about a number of regional health matters, Mr Hazzard proceeded to mock her.
“Ughh. Someone just said Danuta could ask a question, but that wasn’t me,” Mr Hazzard stated.
After refusing to answer the journalist’s question, insisting she would “go out and say too much” if he did, Mr Hazzard began to suggest her questions were annoying the other people in attendance.
The journalist persisted with professionalism and good manners. And even after she hung up, Mr Hazzard continued to try to make fun of her.
As the story made the rounds of social media, Mr Hazzard’s behaviour was criticised, with some labelling it as “condescending”, “obnoxious”, and even “unhinged”.
In the past 24 hours there has been no public acknowledgement of the incident by Mr Hazzard.’]
https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/blog/brad-hazzard-is-not-fit-to-lead-the-pandemic-response/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=week-50
Firstly, directors and board members are human and subject to human frailties. Big paychecks, bonuses and swish suits shouldnt distract from that.
Secondly, the system of how these people get selected and promoted shouldnt be seen as perfectly competitive nor a meritocracy. There may well be several gross biases caused by that system.
That is the nicest way I can put it. It certainly isnt all companies but there are many directors and board members out there that are utterly incompetent or merely very competent at increasing their own standing and very clever keeping their own noses clean. And that is before you start on the issue of how the profit motive (and more importantly short term motive and other market dysfunctionalities are taken into account) effects their decision making.
Who will they give parliamentary confidence to in a hung parliament?
How would a Liberal National Teal coalition govern? Please dont let it come to that. Another 3 years of fluff and bluster and rort.
Gladys and NSW delivered the virus to the ACT, Victoria, New Zealand and South Australia – with other States and Territories closing their borders to halt the spread
Then there is Western Sydney, as referred to
In the minds of the Liberals she may be royalty
But for the majority of the Nation she is poison – and indicative of the problems the Liberal Party have
From the numbers I know who reside in the ACT, in SA and here in Victoria, she is on the nose
And that is before you get to Queensland and the criticism of Queensland
She is a polarising figure – and the result is that outside one Seat in NSW she will drive voters away from the Liberal Party
The rest of the Nation cheered her departure
LvTs comments about his Great Aunt Mathilde’s fellow patients’ response to Albo’ speech deserves a comment..
In my mother-in-laws nursing home, observed through many visits, the folk there watch TV and take an interest in the news . The staff sometimes sit in with them and engage with them at news time. My MIL, 95 next birthday, is an avid news follower, dislikes Morrison immensely and says he can’t be trusted.
Enough said about the 80 and 90 year olds being solidly Coalition.
Granted, a few of them fall off to sleep while watching but I doubt many would go to the drastic step of turning-off their hearing aids. That appears to be a real stretch of the imagination in my experience. Given LvTs obvious political propensities, his story is ,well, to be taken with a grain or two of salt.
Alpos comments meanwhile appear to be far more valid. Just saying.
Lars’ great aunts are as real as Bluey the Octopus and the tooth fairy, if you were in doubt, Getty.
Thanks Victoria @10:34 AM. We can only hope that exposing the agitators behind this right wing populist movement will dent their credibility. Like you, I have people in my own friendship network (not family, so far, thank goodness) who have been lured in. In some cases it’s really surprising – people who are otherwise intelligent, kind and up until now disposed to progressive political views.
The point about the agitators opportunistically exploiting the pandemic is key though. The roots of the dissatisfaction seem to go deep. In the US, the outrage and violence of the similar movements have skipped from race-related tensions, to lockdowns, to pandemic issues. As we’ve seen in Melbourne, the focus of protests and violence has moved on – originally targeted at lockdowns, and when the lockdowns ended they moved to vaccine mandates . Then the pandemic bill became the nominal focus. The protests won’t stop now the bill has been passed and I believe wouldn’t have stopped even if it had failed.
The challenge for conventional political movements and civil society generally is to figure out, and address, the root causes – why there’s a segment of the population (with a large apparently blue collar component) that is so ripe for recruitment to far right politics. Some of the thinking about deradicalisation that have been applied to members of other extremist groups might be relevant. It’s very complex I think.
Simon Katich says:
Monday, December 6, 2021 at 11:07 am
Who will they preference in the end?
Who will they give parliamentary confidence to in a hung parliament?
How would a Liberal National Teal coalition govern? Please dont let it come to that. Another 3 years of fluff and bluster and rort.
____________________________________
I’m sure that Morrison would promise to sell his arse for them to come on. The difference is that the Teals are not professional politicians and (Zoe Daniels aside) they are from the conservative side of politics but a little like a female Australian version of the Lincoln Project. They feel the Liberal Party has departed from its values and exists only to stay in power. They want to keep the Liberals in power, but not at the cost of failing to deliver patently necessary policy (even from the Liberals’ perspective).
So I see these people as hoping to bring the Party back to what they want it to be and to abandon the baleful influence of the Nationals who patently no longer represent its voters and only represent big mining and agricultural interests.
Bottom line. They will support a Liberal government that delivers the changes it wants – an efficient emissions reduction program and a genuine integrity commission, in particular. Whether these are a step too far for Morrison or whoever replaces him is another matter.
They won’t be scared to support Labor as I don’t think they are there to win subsequent elections but to bring the party back to being a genuine ‘liberal’ party. But they will only back a Labor minority government if the Coalition refuses to play ball. I expect the Coalition, especially under Morrison, will promise whatever they want, but aim to drag their heels as long as possible without delivering on their promises.
That said, there are very real prospects for a Labor majority government. Labor has to keep its nerve and exercise reasonable judgement by making the election all about Morrison’s untrustworthiness. The more Labor stays in the race the more Morrison will panic and provide more and more evidence of his very casual acquaintance with the truth, entrenching further a growing public impression of him (even among rusted-on Liberals).
Accusing Lars of making shit up? How uncharitable!
Also spot on.
Refuses a federal anti-corruption body. Endorses Gladys.
In every state, an election advert just wrote itself. Gladys REALLY isn’t very popular in either Vic or Qld. Can imagine WA isn’t too fond of her holier-than-thou manner either.
Ven @ #145 Monday, December 6th, 2021 – 9:35 am
Just a bully who can’t handle being exposed as an incompetent out of touch pretender.
Election NOW !
Imagine risking an adverse ICAC finding against an endorsed candidate in the middle of a campaign. Signs of desperation if ever there were some.