The final Ipsos poll for the Financial Review will apparently be along later today, which so far as national polling is concerned will just leave Newspoll, to be published in The Australian on Friday evening if 2019 is any guide. No doubt though there will be other polling of one kind or another coming down the chute over the next few days. For now:
• Tom Burton of the Financial Review offers reports a Redbridge poll of Goldstein conducted for Climate 200 has Liberal member Tim Wilson on 36.0% and teal independent Zoe Daniel on 26.9% with 8.4% undecided, and that 52.7% of voters for all other candidates would put Daniel ahead on preferences compared with 12.8% for Wilson and 34.5% undecided. Removing the undecided at both ends of the equation, this produces a final winning margin for Daniel of 4.6%.
• In an article that otherwise talks up the threat facing Kristina Keneally in Fowler, The Australian reports that “senior Coalition sources said they expected Ms Keneally to hold the seat”. The report also identifies seats being targeted by the major parties over the coming days, none of which should come as too much of a surprise, and talks of “confidence increasing in Coalition ranks that Scott Morrison is making inroads in outer-suburban seats”.
• The Australian National University’s Centre for Social Research and Methods have published results of a survey of 3587 respondents conducted from April 11 to 26 in a report entitled “Australians’ views on gender equity and the political parties”. Among many others things, this includes a result on voting intention showing the Coalition on 29.2% among women and 34.5% among men; Labor on 33.4% among women and 36.5% among men; the Greens on 19.8% among women and 12.2% among men; others on 9.2% among women and 14.0% among men; and 8.4% of women undecided compared with 2.8% of men.
• I had an article in Crikey yesterday considering the role of tactical voting in the campaign, which among other things notes the incentive for Labor supporters to back teal independents to ensure they come second and potentially defeat Liberals on preferences, and the conundrum they face in the Australian Capital Territory Senate race, where just enough defections will help independent David Pocock defeat Liberal incumbent Zed Seselja, but too many will result in him winning a seat at the expense of Labor’s Katy Gallagher instead.
On the subject of interesting Australian movies from the 1970s and 1980s, a good place to find DVDs of some of them is Red Eye Records opposite the Queen Victoria Building.
During a recent trip to Sydney, I came across a copy of Goodbye Paradise, which was co-written by Bob Ellis. It’s pretty bizarre: Ray Barrett stars as a sort of Philip Marlowe character, although he is also a disgraced former Deputy Commissioner of the Queensland Police. It’s set in Surfers Paradise
(with bucketloads of enjoyable sleaze) and the Gold Coast hinterland, and the main villains appear to have been inspired by Jim Cairns and his one-time mentor Field-Marshall Thomas Blamey (Ellis was always a fan of the Labor Right and mistrusted the Left).
Ellis was once much-loved on PB for his rather incoherent political musings although, as has been increasingly revealed since his death, he was not the most admirable of humans.
But he was a great screenplay writer (usually in collaboration, so that the rough edges could be smoothed-off. I think his best efforts were:
Newsfront;
Man of Flowers (with Paul Cox: my personal all-time favourite Australian film); and
the True Believers TV series.
Later, he started directing his own movies as sole screenplay writer, and the results weren’t great. Warm Nights on a Slow Moving Train is ok, but The Nostradamus Kid is self-indulgent nonsense.
Other Australian films from way back when that particularly appealed to me include:
Sunday Too Far Away (which, if I remember rightly, featured Ellis as the vocalist in the theme song, doing his best Bob Dylan impersonation)
Heatwave;
The Year My Voice Broke;
Lonely Hearts (also by Cox); and
Sweetie.
I haven’t seen an Australian film in years that I liked very much. Back in the day they tended to be full of life and colour, perhaps a bit rough around the edges, but resolutely engaging and entertaining. Nowadays, they’re typically rather serious, devotedly preaching to the converted about the issues du jour.
If someone can recommend any ones made in the last 20 years or so that have some of the flavour of the good ones from what now appears to have been a golden era, I’d be most grateful.
From the AEC
3.87 million people have now cast their vote at an #ausvotes early voting centre with two days to go. This is tracking towards a record number.
2.68 million postal vote applications have also been received (applications now closed). This is up from 1.5m in 2019.
I will change to Scott from Adeliade
In Chatswood this morning. This suburb in North Sydney electorate has a large Chinese heritage community…
Stuart Robert just referred to tackle-gate as an “error from both of them”
meher baba says:
Thursday, May 19, 2022 at 7:48 am
If someone can recommend any ones made in the last 20 years or so that have some of the flavour of the good ones from what now appears to have been a golden era, I’d be most grateful.
_________________
20 years since I came across this little gem set in in outback South Australia.
That’s a terrible photo of Rudd 😆
K Rudd is everywhere, love it.
Speaking of classic British TV Shows, Nine GEM has repeats of the Bill on during the day, great stuff and brings back memories of Saturday nights on the ABC 20 years ago
The child was in the wrong place at the wrong time?
Sheesh!
meher baba @ #100 Thursday, May 19th, 2022 – 7:48 am
Last cab to Darwin.
@ Freya Stark
“the latter is what I have loads more of through the wisdom of life experience.”
Seeing as the PB age demographic appears to be 70-90yo I doubt that you are the least bit unique here in life experience.
At the beginning of this campaign Possum commented wearily on Twitter that we were in for weeks of colour and movement which would change nothing in the end. At the time Labor were about 53/47. I think he may well have been prescient.
“The child was in the wrong place at the wrong time?
Sheesh!”
When you are choreographing intricate dances meant to look like normal social situations a compelling leader would find themselves in, never work with animals or children, just don’t do it.
does nt fordim want to run for liberals his held a few fund raisers for nsw yung liberals and charity events for morrison tthink labors problim is albanese is not a leader like the other labor leaders no t a strong personality think the socker game was staged to drown out national pres club
Bellwether: 70-90yo….Steady on
There have been a few reports of staff shortages experienced by the AEC in recent days which may result in some towns not having a polling booth.
A friend’s experience with the AEC as follows may add further weight to these reports.
– Registered with the AEC last November to work at the upcoming election.
– Received initial contact early this year from an AEC official in their local electorate about what they were interested in etc.
– Provided the usual identity details, etc and a few more calls to finalise a booth (including pre-poll) then radio silence.
– Election called. Still no word back from the AEC.
– Friend almost gave up not for want of trying then a post popped up on the Seek jobs website from HAYS the recruitment/labour hire agency that they were seeking EOI to work during the election on the day only and the Sunday/Monday.
– Friend applied through HAYS and dealt with a number of people (who appeared not to know what their colleagues were doing), provided again the usual identity documents.
– Two weeks ago informed that there will be a half day training and an online course to undertake before election day.
– Profile finalised on the HAYS portal yesterday.
– Just yesterday morning received several emails including a link to the training course which would require one full day to complete before Friday.
– Last night received an email requesting them to attend a 5 hour training session in Dingley this evening.
– Friend had other commitments on Friday i.e. a 4.00am start so the training session would be too late a finish so now in two minds to pull the pin entirely. The online training course started was very complex and cumbersome and friend noted with despair that this training is too little too late and should have been done at least a week ago. There was A LOT of detail in the material.
Likely that my friend will pull the pin which is of great disappointment for them as they were looking forward to being involved. If this is an example of what the AEC is going through, Saturday could be a disaster. Thankfully the number of pre-poll and postal votes might ameliorate this.
Surely for such an important event as this the training and staff preparation even for casual staff would have been completed at least a week prior.
The Prime Minister, wearing flat soled shoes (probably leather soled) on wet grass, slipped and lost his balance.
He didn’t ‘crash tackle’ a child.
He clung to the child in desperation, as a drowning man might. But, like a drowning man, he ended up only dragging the child down with him.
It wasn’t intentional, it was instinctive. He could have avoided it, had his instincts been not to drag down others as he falls. But that’s not this Prime Minister. This Prime Minister, seeking to preserve his own position, will always risk others in an effort to save himself.
I’m looking at you, Federal LNP joint party room.
I notice the non coherent Simon Birmingham , admitting the Lib/nats are against the low wage $1 a hour wage rise
C@tmommasays:
Thursday, May 19, 2022
As seriously as getting up in the dark on Saturday morning and going down to the polling booth as booth captain to set up, then staying there all day, from 8am until 6pm, with only a 2 hour break in-between, then staying behind afterwards to pack up and scrutineer? That seriously?
I imagine not.
_____________________
Is a bit like going to the supermarket for me.
In and out of the polling booth as quick as I can.
Shorter Stuart Robert: “Youse mob have never had it so good!”
Good morning bludgers
Two more days and its over. To keep my energy high and inspired I have been playing this song every morning before I go off to do my bit for the Labor Party. IMHO this is the best rock song this century has produced thusfar.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBjQ9tuuTJQ
Warning: use your earphones or headphones unless you want to wake up the whole house – it rocks !!
Grime @ #106 Thursday, May 19th, 2022 – 7:58 am
Goodbye Paradise, one of my all time favourites…along with My First Wife, Don’s Party, The Club, Sunday Too Far Away, Man of Flowers, Samson and Delilah and Beneath Clouds. Got a soft spot for Newsfront as well.
Katharine Murphy saying on RN that all the polls point to a close result. No, they really don’t! Do CPG “experts” know anything about politics?
Rewi @ #116 Thursday, May 19th, 2022 – 8:06 am
Certainly he hasn’t.
Good morning all. Thank you, BK. First frost of the season.Not half-baked. Still -2. Clear late-Autumn sky.
US Market indices tumble. DJI is down 1165 points.
I have coached at that level for many years. He would not have got within coo ee of that field with me, particularly with those shoes. Very irresponsible of the coach.
ltep @ #97 Thursday, May 19th, 2022 – 7:47 am
How about the keys to my ute? Do they still want them?
max says:
Thursday, May 19, 2022 at 8:10 am
Katharine Murphy saying on RN that all the polls point to a close result. No, they really don’t! Do CPG “experts” know anything about politics?
————————-
Exactly 5-8% swing against the lib/nats in the combined primary vote , is not a close election
Surprised to not see Praise or Bad Boy Bubby in the Oz Movie mix…
OMG – I can’t ever recall lol’ing uncontrollably at a DT front page before.
But if it was Albo it would be a child abuse headline or similar.
Alpha Zero says:
Thursday, May 19, 2022 at 8:13 am
Surprised to not see Praise or Bad Boy Bubby in the Oz Movie mix…
___________
Bad Boy Bubby is brilliant. Chopper was another.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers. Another monster for you!
Niki Savva says that dislike of Morrison remains the dominant factor in this campaign.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/dislike-of-morrison-remains-the-dominant-factor-in-this-campaign-20220517-p5am7a.html
The Guardian’s editorial puts it position on supporting Labor for the election, saying that, based on his record, and his threadbare re-election agenda, Scott Morrison has forfeited the right to another term.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/may/19/the-guardian-view-on-the-australian-federal-election-say-no-to-spin-and-inaction
The tightening of the election race was evident in Anthony Albanese’s swing back to making an attack on Scott Morrison his primary message at the National Press Club, in his last speech of the campaign. And he looked pretty comfortable in doing that, writes Greg Sheridan who goes on to criticise him over defence and national security.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/election-2022-predictable-pitch-albo-but-both-sides-still-ignoring-crucial-issues/news-story/a0c356418808f2542086d5532b77bba2
“On the final manic drive to the ballot box, we approach the national crossroads with justified trepidation: are we heading towards the light or is that another runaway train coming to plough us down? We pollsters and pundits (and we progressives in general) are all experiencing our own form of PTSD after the car crash that was the 2019 election, where we misread the warning signs and plunged off an electoral cliff”, writes Peter Lewis.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/commentisfree/2022/may/18/second-miracle-or-historic-win-from-opposition-no-one-knows-how-this-election-journey-will-end
According to David Crowe, Australians have backed an increase in the minimum wage after an election row over the impact of inflation on household earnings, with 67 per cent of voters supporting a higher base pay despite government warnings about a chain reaction that could hurt the economy.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australians-back-minimum-wage-rise-as-morrison-s-lead-on-economy-softens-20220518-p5amgz.html
Workers face losing up to $4000 in a real cut to their pay packets this year after new figures showed the biggest fall in the after-inflation value of wages this century, bringing cost of living issues back to the centre of the federal election just days out from polling day.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/workers-could-go-4000-backwards-if-wages-and-inflation-don-t-meet-union-20220518-p5amgn.html
The AFR reckons the Fair Work Commission has raised the prospect of a two-tiered minimum wage scheme that would deliver higher pay rises to the lowest paid while moderating the increase for millions of higher-paid workers to avoid a wage-price spike.
https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/workplace/two-tier-pay-rise-flagged-to-avoid-inflation-spike-20220518-p5amdx
Former competition watchdog Rod Sims says political leaders have failed to link weak wages growth to the stronger market power of companies in banking, beer, groceries, mobile phones, aviation, rail freight, energy retailing, internet search and mobile apps. In his first major speech since departing the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in March, Mr Sims said market concentration was high in Australia, which contributed to higher prices for consumers and lower wages for workers, writes John Kehoe.
https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/business-power-causes-higher-prices-weak-wages-sims-20220518-p5amet
The latest wage price index figures confirm that when Australians go to the polls this Saturday, their real wages will be lower than at the last federal election. Not only that, but so bad has been the fall that real wages are now essentially no different from what they were when Tony Abbott took office in 2013, explains Gref Jericho in an article replete with his usual factual information.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/commentisfree/2022/may/19/australian-wages-in-real-terms-are-essentially-no-different-from-where-they-were-in-2013
‘Savings’ from Australia’s public service efficiency dividend don’t add up – we should scrap it, argues John Quiggin.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/may/18/savings-from-australias-public-service-efficiency-dividend-dont-add-up-we-should-scrap-it
‘A lazy cost-saving measure’: the Coalition’s efficiency dividend hike may mean longer wait times and reduced services, argues the ANU’s Andrew Podger.
https://theconversation.com/a-lazy-cost-saving-measure-the-coalitions-efficiency-dividend-hike-may-mean-longer-wait-times-and-reduced-services-183361
As far as bipartisan compliments go, Dominic Perrottet gave high praise to both sides in the final days of the federal election campaign. While he backed Scott Morrison’s signature policy, he also indicated that life under Anthony Albanese could be useful for NSW, writes Alexandra Smith.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/why-a-federal-labor-victory-could-reward-perrottet-20220518-p5amcj.html
National polls are tightening but the level of female antagonism to Scott Morrison as Prime Minister is a drag on the Coalition’s ability to fight back, opines Jennifer Hewett who says, “If the Coalition loses Saturday, a key reason will be the hyper allergic reaction and antagonism so many women now feel towards Morrison himself. No matter how desperately he tries to reshape that sentiment, it seems set in political cement.”
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/why-women-are-morrison-s-weakest-political-link-20220517-p5am87
Troy Bramston writes that Anthony Albanese believes he will preside over a fundamental change in the mind and mood of Australia with a new style of leadership and approach to governing, beginning with an ambitious 100-day plan if he wins the election. In an exclusive final-week interview, the Labor leader outlined key aspects of his priority agenda and sought to reassure undecided voters that he had “a plan for a better future” and leads ”the most experienced incoming team” that Labor has taken to an election.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/nation/federal-election-2022-anthony-albaneses-100day-plan-for-a-better-future/news-story/cefd76ac64b9b93fe3c0709d1423a4c9
“Anthony Albanese’s announced plan for a two-person Albanese-Wong interim government is administratively untenable, politically flawed and unwise to be revealed pre-election. The remark is an embarrassment. It suggests Albanese has failed to think through the transition to office of any Labor government. The ludicrous feature of the Albanese plan is that only two ministers would be sworn in, and both would then immediately leave the country for the Quad meeting in Japan”, pontificates Paul Kelly.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/federal-election-2022-anthony-albaneses-plan-shows-arrogance-and-lack-of-professionalism/news-story/c39040af3f93beb07b2570a8fb177650
Jordan Baker, James Massola and Matthew Knott write about faith, politics and Australia’s ‘run of religious PMs’.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/faith-politics-and-australia-s-run-of-religious-pms-20220517-p5am4q.html
Prepare to be disappointed. Whoever wins government on Saturday, it will take transformative policy courage to fix Australia’s housing mess, writes Emily Sims who laments the shortage of supply of affordable housing.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/if-the-major-parties-really-wanted-to-house-the-nation-they-d-start-building-20220518-p5amd3.html
GPs have been sounding the alarm over rising costs of providing care – compounded by the pandemic and more complex demands. Many have said they are abandoning bulk billing, the Medicare scheme that pays doctors a flat rate for providing consultations, writes David King.
https://theconversation.com/gps-are-abandoning-bulk-billing-what-does-this-mean-for-affordable-family-medical-care-182666
The Australian housing crisis has entered the catastrophe stage for the third of Australians not already in their own home, yet it has taken until the last week of the official campaign for the politicians and most media to get a little excited about it. And what they are excited about is a relative distraction, a sideshow that will have marginal impact of debatable worth and go nowhere towards solving the underlying problem, says Michael Pascoe.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/finance-news/2022/05/18/housing-crisis-no-plan-pascoe/
Phil Coorey writes that Anthony Albanese has pledged an industrial relations reform agenda that includes simplifying the impenetrable award system for small business and removing the impediments that discourage the use of enterprise bargaining.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/albanese-courts-business-with-ir-reform-pledge-20220518-p5am9x
Unless the self-proclaimed “fixer” Prime Minister actually fixes the election, the chances of a Morrison Government being returned on Saturday appear slim, writes Michelle Pini who gives us twelve reasons why the Morrison Government should be ‘toast’.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/12-reasons-why-the-morrison-government-should-be-toast,16376
Peter Credlin has a whine about superannuation.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/election-2022-pm-turns-up-heat-in-battle-for-super-control/news-story/1f5cbf65da54a45f00191e7ff66b44c9
With severe staffing cuts, pressures for instant productivity and a priority on producing clickbait, few would think we are in a golden age for journalism. Few, either, would think that the media have distinguished themselves in this election campaign, writes Rodney Tiffin.
https://theconversation.com/the-media-has-reached-peak-passivity-in-the-lead-up-to-the-2022-election-183109
Aged care providers have reported more than 350 Covid deaths since the election campaign began and continue to grapple with at least 60 deaths a week, government data shows. Christopher Knaus reports that an analysis of government data, conducted by the United Workers Union and confirmed by the Guardian, shows that Covid deaths in aged care facilities are now occurring at rates unseen in the first two years of the pandemic.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/may/19/scale-of-aged-care-covid-deaths-laid-bare-as-staff-prepare-to-strike
Katina Curtis tells us that NDIA staff have been directed to use an internal practice guide for determining how many hours of therapy children need, often ignoring expert assessments. Staff have been gagged talking about it.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/ndis-uses-secret-tool-to-calculate-children-s-therapy-funding-20220518-p5ama4.html
Dana Daniel reports that the federal health department has referred Liberal election campaign adverts using its website to attack Labor to the Australian Electoral Commission as the major parties accuse each other of misappropriating official materials.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/health-department-refers-liberal-campaign-ads-to-electoral-commission-20220517-p5am28.html
Queensland forests are being cleared at almost twice the rate reflected in national greenhouse gas emissions, new analysis suggests, prompting questions about the climate data that Australia reports to the United Nations. The study of data from Queensland’s statewide landcover and tree study (Slats) shows 455,756 hectares of forests were cleared across the state in 2018-19. It is at odds with the amount of deforestation recorded under the national carbon accounting system that informs greenhouse gas emissions accounts. The national system found on average 245,767 hectares were cleared each year across 2018 and 2019.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/may/19/australias-climate-data-to-un-questioned-as-study-finds-land-clearing-in-queensland-underreported
Less than a week before the federal election, the assistant minister for women, Amanda Stoker, sat down for a video interview with Warwick Marsh, a conservative Christian and men’s rights activist. Marsh was sacked as a federal government men’s health ambassador in 2008 after he refused to distance himself from some of the claims in a report he co-authored that claimed “homosexuality is a mental disorder”. He has denied being homophobic and said previously there is a “war on men” and that the gender pay gap is “a myth”. Showing her true colours?
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/may/19/amanda-stoker-targets-christian-right-in-hopes-of-retaining-queensland-senate-seat
A hydrogen project proposed as a green solution for Victoria’s dying coal industry will likely increase emissions rather than meet its claimed reductions, documents obtained via freedom of information have revealed. The state and federally backed project to turn hydrogen into coal for export to Japan could increase emissions by up to 3.8 million tonnes, the Australia Institute said in a report.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7743700/hydrogen-project-to-increase-emissions-foi-documents-reveal/?cs=9676
A landmark bill to legalise voluntary assisted dying in New South Wales remains on track to pass through the state’s upper house, after a marathon debate which lasted until midnight on Wednesday night and will resume on Thursday. The legislation is set to reach a final vote in the upper house this week, after members debated 92 late amendments for 12 hours yesterday.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/may/19/midnight-sitting-of-nsw-upper-house-fails-to-resolve-debate-over-assisted-dying-bill
Pam Belluck writes about a study which provides concerning findings into so-called long Covid.
https://www.theage.com.au/world/north-america/more-than-75-percent-of-long-covid-patients-never-hospitalised-for-initial-illness-20220519-p5amk8.html
Healthcare staff working in rural New South Wales hospitals say disillusionment, rising costs and burnout are driving them from a system let down by state and federal buck-passing.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/may/18/set-up-for-failure-bush-gps-frustrated-by-chaotic-locum-system
Paul Sakkal writes that climate change activist Simon Holmes a Court has launched a defamation action against The Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail and is considering suing Liberal MP Dave Sharma, who accused the wealthy backer of independent candidates of using a “sickening” Holocaust slur.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/holmes-a-court-mulling-defamation-suit-against-media-outlets-and-sharma-over-nazi-reference-20220518-p5ami2.html
Kate Burke reports that smaller houses have taken the biggest hit to property prices in the cooling Sydney and Melbourne markets, with buyers less willing to compromise on the size or quality of their next home. House prices in Melbourne dropped a marginal 0.7 per cent last quarter to about $1.09 million, Domain data shows. However, the median price for smaller two-bedroom houses fell 10.5 per cent, falling more than $83,000 in three months to a median of $710,000.
https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/the-homes-with-the-largest-price-drops-in-the-cooling-market-20220517-p5am46.html
Last week Defence Minister Peter Dutton announced that, what he called a Chinese spy ship, had been discovered off the Western Australian coast farther south than any similar vessel had ever previously been seen. He didn’t inform his public that it had been observed 250 kilometres offshore and therefore 50 kilometres outside Australia’s Exclusive Economic Zone and in international waters, writes Henry Reynolds who reckons Dutton is urging war with China.
https://johnmenadue.com/peter-dutton-and-war-with-china/
Nick Deane tells us what he would do if he were to be Minister for Defence in the incoming government.
https://johnmenadue.com/if-i-were-minister-for-defence-incoming-government/
Ita Buttrose has been a stalwart defender of ABC independence, so why is she wresting control of complaints from its management, wonders Jonathan Holmes.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/buttrose-has-been-a-stalwart-defender-of-abc-independence-so-why-is-she-wresting-control-of-complaints-from-its-management-20220518-p5amcx.html
The tunnel at Whiskey 108 – and whether there were any people hiding in it – continues to dominate and divide the Ben Roberts-Smith defamation trial, with an SAS soldier accusing a comrade of cowardice over a raid on the compound in the Afghan village of Kakarak. Ben Doherty tells us that the argument has split the Australian SAS troops who were there: Roberts-Smith and five other soldiers have said there were no men in the tunnel. A further five have said there were men pulled from the tunnel.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/may/18/ben-roberts-smiths-defamation-trial-hears-conflicting-evidence-over-afghan-deaths
Abul Rizvi tells us that on the 160,000 migration program in 2021-22, the Australian Financial Review reports that Morrison said “we’re not even going to get close to that cap (sic) in the short term because we are seeking to rebuild the program, re-open the lines of people being able to come to Australia”. Rizvi calls BS on Morrison who he says is misleading us again.
https://johnmenadue.com/morrison-misleads-on-migration/
Almost nine out of 10 principals say student or parent misuse of social media is having an impact on their wellbeing and workload, with parents who disagree with their decisions using online forums to run hate campaigns.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/principals-say-they-are-suffering-from-parents-online-hate-campaigns-20220518-p5amhm.html
The latest ruling in the trial of the former ACT attorney-general effectively liberates Australia’s intelligence agencies from judicial oversight, writes Bernard Keane.
https://michaelwest.com.au/illegal-bugging-of-timorese-not-relevant-court-ruling-smashes-whistleblower-bernard-collaery/
Greg Norman opened our eyes to Saudi plans. Now all sports need to make a stand, declares Peter FitzSimons.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/golf/norman-opened-our-eyes-to-saudi-plans-now-all-sports-need-to-make-a-stand-20220518-p5amcz.html
Joe Biden’s repudiation of white supremacy comes as mainstream Republican Senate candidates have embraced the “great replacement” conspiracy theory to court voters this campaign season. The Republican candidates are promoting the baseless notion, once confined to the far-right fringes of US politics, that there is a plot to diminish the influence of white people in America.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/as-biden-denounces-the-great-replacement-theory-republicans-run-for-office-on-it-20220518-p5am9z.html
The Republican primaries are a tug-of-war between rightwing and even-righter-wing, explains Lloyd Green.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/may/18/the-republican-primaries-are-a-tug-of-war-between-rightwing-and-even-righter-wing
Johnson is so short of answers, he can no longer form complete sentences, writes John Crace in his inimitable style.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/may/18/boris-johnson-pmqs-cost-of-living-crisis
Cartoon Corner
David Pope
David Rowe
Andrew Dyson
Matt Golding
Cathy Wilcox
Glen Le Lievre (including a gif)
https://twitter.com/i/status/1526737005052567552
Mark David
Dionne Gain
Mark Knight
Leak
From the US
With respect to Morrison squashing a child:
1. It did not happen.
2. It did happen but Morrison was not there.
3. It did sort of happen, maybe, Morrison was somewhere near there.but it was not Morrison’s fault.
4. It did happen, Morrison was there, it was not Morrison’s fault and the child did the wrong thing by being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
5. If you want to see lots of squashed children vote Labor because Labor politicians hate children and squash them all the time.
Tell ’em they’re dreaming. If the unemployment level has a 3 in front of it, it’s good news for Morrison?
Seriously. As if that is going to swing undecideds towards Morrison – two days out….
The damage was done yesterday with the wages data, following on from the inflation and cost of living details.
The undecideds who decide to back Morrison on the employment figures were always looking for a reason to justify backing him.
Surely the swing is on. Let’s hope- and that includes you, mundo.
I’m fine that SfM got front page on the Murdoch’s with his crash tackling a kid. Yes, I can see this being a pearler of a tactic, no, STRATEGY! at LNP HQ:
SfM: “Guys, what do you say on the 18th, 3 days before everyone votes to make me dictator (eventually), I punch a pensioner in.the.FACE?”
LNP: “No, don’t do that!”
SfM: “I strange a kitten!”
LNP: “No”
SfM: “errrrr, I crash tackle a kid in Tassie to appeal to the soccer mums that I really love kids. And I’ll make sure I hang on to him after, like I’m a 50-something man hugging a child, because suburban mums don’t care about that sort of thing. They think I’ll be empathetic finally, just like my coach said. Guaranteed turnaround!”
LNP: “Oh well, if you put it like that …”
He could kiss a million babies in the next two days, and they won’t override this image.
Just because Boris used the same image, doesn’t mean it’s genius, just that someone else did it.
And if they were to put Albo from the NPC on the front page instead of SfM, it wouldn’t have been positive.
btw notice his face as he goes down. He’s still got that smirk on his face. He looks like stranger-danger material.
So, I take this as a win.
Rossmore @ #76 Thursday, May 19th, 2022 – 7:32 am
From the article (for the nervous nellies, which includes me):
SfM: “I strange a kitten!”
This is doable. Scott Morrison can out-strange just about anyone in politics today. Maybe even a kitten. 🙂
Anthony galoway the security edator at 9 one of the jernalists pushing anti chine views has stopt his attacks on Marles and today reporting that the chinease comunity leader linkt with Gladys liu working for fiona martins campaign has strong Ccp links and organised a viset buy chinas premier lea kerchang with all the governments rettoric failed to even send marise payne even though we could not of stopt solamons deal but sending payne would save credability
The Crash Tackle Kid was obviously a Labor plant.
Thank You again BK for another thorough tale of the tape summary of the media. Brilliant.
“Seeing as the PB age demographic appears to be 70-90yo I doubt that you are the least bit unique here in life experience.”
I’ll have you know I’m 114, whippersnapper.
*strangle
Although stranging a kitten also fits
Also from the Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/may/19/for-the-2022-election-we-took-the-temperature-of-australias-marginal-seats-heres-what-we-learned
Quite instructive. the overwhelming sentiment seems to be a deep dissatisfaction with Morrison.
The ABC writes: Labor has reheated its ‘Mediscare’ campaign for the 2022 election. How do its claims stack up?
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-19/fact-check-mediscare-labor-election-scare-alert/101076352
The bottom line
Labor has made many claims about the Coalition’s track record in managing Medicare, as well as the system’s future under a re-elected Morrison government. However, many of these claims are misleading or lack important context.
The Coalition has not foreshadowed any major change to Medicare in its election campaign.
Wrong time of day for film stuff really, but some already mentioned, some not
Wake in Fright
Bliss
The Sum of Us
Bad Boy Bubby
Mad Max 1
Muriel’s Wedding
shit load more, but hello and good morning.
Long night in the NSW Upper House. Should be sorted today. Finally.
Huge thanks and hugs to zoomster.
Feeling very good about Saturday.
(edit: some -> sum / duh)
According to ABC Breakfast Biden invoked the Defense Production Act to force an increase in production of Baby formula food.
Implied probability of winning from betfair.com
As at: May-19 (previous week in brackets)
Coalition majority: 14.3% (3%)
Coalition minority: 21% (25%)
Labor minority: 22% (17%)
Labor majority: 43% (55%)
Average number of seats LNP seat lost to ALP: 5.5 (7.3)
MOE (66% CI): 5.5 (5.2)
BK
Appreciate your efforts with today’s monster edition!
What happened to the Indue scare campaign? Focus groups mustn’t have been too hot on it.