Two new federal polls have emerged in the past few days, both showing Labor leading 50.5-49.5 on two-party preferred. RedBridge Group’s results are an improvement for Labor on their last poll in mid-July, which had the Coalition leading 51.5-48.5. The primary votes are Labor 33% (up one), Coalition 38% (down three) and Greens 12% (up one). The accompanying release has results to an array of further questions, including a finding that 32% support visas for Palestinians fleeing Gaza, with 44% opposed; and 72% support for a total ban on online gambling advertising, with 16% opposed; and a mixed bag of favourable and neutral results on AUKUS. The poll was conducted August 20 to 27 from a sample of 2017.
The weekly Roy Morgan poll has Labor down one on the primary vote to 30.5%, the Coalition down two to 37.5%, the Greens steady at 13% and One Nation up two to 6%. The 50.5-49.5 two-party result compares with a 51-49 Coalition lead last week. The two-party result based on 2022 election preference flows has the Labor lead at 51-49, after a 50-50 result last time. The poll was conducted Monday to Sunday from a sample of 1697.
I’m beginning to suspect the wheels haven’t fallen off … they were never on in the first place.
LGBQT (& governance in general)
With Albanese about to fly out to the Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga, he made a captain’s call to dump them.
That decision horrified LGBTQ groups and split the caucus, as six Labor MPs broke ranks to publicly question the move.
The second leak of cabinet discussions, which are supposed to remain confidential, suggests disquiet in government ranks over political strategy and messaging.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/frustrated-albanese-vents-in-cabinet-over-census-fiasco-20240903-p5k7eh.html
Keating must be apoplectic at the shear incompetence … so many important issues for the government to address & they waste all this time & capital wedging themselves
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese vented his frustration in cabinet over mishandling of Australia’s next census, complaining that new questions about a person’s gender identity were inappropriate and he had to step in to fix the problem.
In a cabinet meeting on Monday, August 26, Albanese expressed annoyance at complicated questions about people’s sexual orientation and gender status proposed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics for the 2026 census, according to three sources in the room who spoke on condition of anonymity.
With Albanese about to fly out to the Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga, he made a captain’s call to dump them.
That decision horrified LGBTQ groups and split the caucus, as six Labor MPs broke ranks to publicly question the move. By the end of last week, as the Greens made plans to wedge progressive MPs by bringing on votes in both houses of parliament over the issue, a second captain’s call was made to allow one question on sexual orientation.
“He spoke about it in cabinet; it was fire and brimstone. ‘I am having to clean this up’ and ‘we’re not having these questions [in the census]’,” said one of the MPs in the meeting, who supported the prime minister’s eventual decision. “He made the call on it himself and then he briefed the cabinet. He didn’t ask permission, it was retrospective approval. “No one spoke up about it at all. Everyone just backed him in.”
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/frustrated-albanese-vents-in-cabinet-over-census-fiasco-20240903-p5k7eh.html
Leaking against a Prime Minister 3 senior Ministers in Cabinet of all places.Leaking of course has been known in the past as a start of the process to challenge leadership.
The Environment minister was thrown under the bus last week by Albo.Timing of leak interesting with terrible growth figures out today.
Bad news potentially for opposition as Albo is the major gift that has kept on giving.
Woken up by strong winds in Perth today notice past week Victoria etc gets same winds two days later but 25 % stronger.
Oh look nice puff piece by Syd morn herald today for Tanya!
Well looks like MB was right on the census question timeline.
Also Asha appreciate the support but I have attacked individuals before, and rightly got those comments deleted ( I am only slightly not perfect ;))
The census thing was an own goal for Albo, it totally drowned out the government’s messaging on frankly far more important priorities.
Something this government are bad at – communicating what should be positive news stories to the electorate. And underestimating Dutton, who will always have the Murdoch media and talkback radio as his reliable allies.
As for Gaza – this government has always cared more about mollifying the left, countering the Greens in seats like Albanese!s one and placating that Muslim vote in Western Sydney.
Former South Australian Liberal leader David Speirs has described the challenge confronting his party ahead of the next state election as “more of a Mount Everest than a Mount Lofty”, and says he fears the opposition could “go backwards” at the 2026 poll.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-04/david-speirs-sa-liberals-chances-state-election/104305168
Good morning Dawn Patrollers.
The treasurer is utterly at odds with those in the Reserve Bank who say the economy is running a bit too hot – and he does not mind if Australians watch the argument live, says David Crowe.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/smash-or-be-smashed-chalmers-gambles-on-a-rift-with-rba-20240903-p5k7fj.html
What people outside Canberra often don’t realise is how obsessed governments, of either colour, become with how their opponents will react to anything they do or say. Albo seems to have a bad case of this, writes Ross Gittins. He says Albanese has forgotten the golden rule of competition laid down by the social psychologist Hugh Mackay: to compete successfully, focus on your customers, not your competitors.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/albo-s-lack-of-courage-makes-headlines-but-doesn-t-tell-the-full-story-of-his-government-20240903-p5k7f5.html
It’s easy enough to understand the treasurer’s criticism of the RBA in political terms. But the inflation target that is good for the central bank as an institution is not so good for the economy, posits John Quiggin who says Chalmers is more in touch with the economy than the central bank.
https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/chalmers-is-more-in-touch-with-the-economy-than-the-rba-20240829-p5k68z
According to Phil Coorey, the Liberal Party’s federal executive has resolved to place its dysfunctional NSW division under the control of party elders for the next 10 months amid growing fears it was ill-prepared to fight the federal election and could even cost Peter Dutton victory.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/feds-launch-takeover-of-dysfunctional-nsw-liberal-division-20240903-p5k7ez
Adam Bandt pioneers a new brand and a new ambition: progressive populism is the brand and selling the Greens as the nation’s authentic social democratic party is the ambition. He has contempt for the Coalition. But Bandt’s real target is Labor, writes Paul Kelly about the ”populist Greens opening a new battle front for Albanese”.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/populist-greens-open-new-battle-front-for-albanese/news-story/7d4594bba0ea8d361a141df4443744df?amp=
James Massola reports that yesterday in a cabinet meeting a frustrated Anthony Albanese expressed annoyance at complicated questions about people’s sexual orientation and gender status proposed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics for the 2026 census, according to three sources in the room who spoke on condition of anonymity.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/frustrated-albanese-vents-in-cabinet-over-census-fiasco-20240903-p5k7eh.html
Government spending on everything from major infrastructure to aged care workers has probably stopped the economy from contracting over the past three months, opine Shane Wright and Millie Muroi.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/railway-lines-and-government-pay-rises-keeping-economy-afloat-20240903-p5k7d3.html
The dire financial state of health services last year has been exposed in correspondence showing the Victorian government went within days of being unable to pay the bills. Annika Smethurst and Broede Carmody tell us that a ministerial brief, released under freedom of information laws, identified more than 20 health services that were forecast to finish the 2022-23 financial year in the red.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/the-health-minister-s-scramble-to-secure-a-422-million-hospital-bailout-20240903-p5k7hg.html
Jesinta Burton reports on a heavy day in court for the Reynolds/Higgins defamation trial. Peta Credlin came in for a mention.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/western-australia/underpinned-by-visceral-hatred-higgins-reynolds-lawyers-in-tug-of-war-over-conspiracy-claim-20240903-p5k7gs.html
Meanwhile, Brittany Higgins and David Sharaz have put their French home on the market, weeks after flagging that the property had to be sold to fund mounting legal fees.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/sep/03/brittany-higgins-and-david-sharaz-put-french-home-up-for-sale-for-690000-ntwnfb
A bombshell leaked probity report into a new casino crucial to Star Entertainment’s battle to stave off financial collapse will stay secret after the company’s Hong Kong-based partner took legal action to prevent it being published. Harriett Alexandra and Amelia Maguire write that the Queensland government waved through Chow Tai Fook Enterprises as a suitable casino operator in May, declaring the evidence did not substantiate that the company had deliberately concealed its relationship with jailed “junket king” Alvin Chau.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/star-secret-the-bombshell-casino-report-we-can-t-print-20240822-p5k4ge.html
The NSW government’s rejection of tax relief for Star is right decision, argues the SMH editorial.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/nsw-government-s-rejection-of-tax-relief-for-star-is-right-decision-20240903-p5k7et.html
If, according to the Victorian government, every suburb and community is unique, why remove the necessity of councils to consider that uniqueness, asks The Age’s editorial which says Labor’s proposed planning changes are shortsighted and need a rethink.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/labor-s-proposed-planning-changes-are-shortsighted-and-need-a-rethink-20240903-p5k7hw.html
Colin Kruger tells us that Australia’s largest private health insurers are saying premiums need to rise significantly, but not their own payments to private hospitals.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/treatment-surge-to-hit-private-health-insurance-premiums-20240831-p5k6uv.html
The national energy regulator is weighing up whether to take new action against three retailers for their alleged use of the Centrepay system after a landmark court win against AGL. The Australian Energy Regulator won a major case in the federal court against AGL in August after alleging the energy giant used the government-run payment system to wrongly take welfare money from almost 500 customers for years after they ceased being customers.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/sep/04/centrepay-australian-energy-regulator-agl-origin-ergon
As trucking fatalities rise, whistleblowers and other industry activists allege that trucking regulations are not working, and the regulators are failing drivers. Andrew Gardiner has the story.
https://michaelwest.com.au/why-are-they-there-trucking-regulators-fail-australian-truckies-as-death-toll-rises/
Social media content creators are offering political commentary that is more trustworthy than some of the major news outlets, writes Victoria Fielding.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/content-creators-give-mainstream-journalists-valid-competition,18935
Construction boss George Alex, 53, has been found guilty of a conspiracy to defraud the Tax Office of $10 million in what prosecutors described as a complicated “revolving-door” scheme. After a six-month trial and more than a month of deliberations, the jury of nine men and three women on Tuesday morning returned guilty verdicts for Alex and three co-accused: Lindsay John Kirschberg, Gordon McAndrew and Pasquale Loccisano. Not so smart now, eh?
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/george-alex-found-guilty-of-10m-tax-fraud-conspiracy-20240827-p5k5mm.html
The boss of the embattled National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), Paul Brereton, has been paid almost $1 million by taxpayers in the role to date — including $73,226 for one month’s work before it commenced operations. Anthony Klan writes that the revelations come as the NACC – embroiled in controversy over Brereton failing to “recuse” himself over the Robodebt referrals – has claimed it can no longer answer media questions because of limited “resources”.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/nacc-boss-dodges-questions-over-1-million-salary,18939
Many are wondering how the poster boy for futurism ended up sounding like a conspiracy-theory-spouting uncle. But what if we’re all missing the point, asks Joan Wesenberg who says the far right is the only place left for Elon Musk’s X-rated ego.
https://www.smh.com.au/technology/the-far-right-is-the-only-place-left-for-elon-musk-s-x-rated-ego-20240902-p5k78n.html
Middle East and security analyst Rodger Shanahan believes that Netanyahu’s disregard for hostage deaths is turning Israel against him.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/middle-east/netanyahu-s-disregard-for-hostage-deaths-is-turning-israel-against-him-20240903-p5k7fs.html
Despite Kamala Harris’ ascent in the polls, it remains quite possible that Donald Trump will win the US election. And if he does, inflation in the world’s largest economy may become a major problem again, warns Paul Krugman.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/why-economists-worry-about-trumpflation-20240828-p5k654.html
China’s economic mess is weighing heavily on Australia and the rest of the world. Added to Beijing’s concerns is the prospect of Donald Trump returning to the White House, writes Stephen Bartholomeusz pointing out again that Xi Jinping has no plan B as the mood in China darkens.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/xi-jinping-needs-a-plan-b-to-fix-china-s-economy-20240903-p5k7df.html
Donald Trump is backing free IVF? You can practically smell the desperation, says Arwa Mahdawi.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/sep/03/donald-trump-backing-free-ivf-you-can-practically-smell-desperation
Donald Trump and election denialist allies at Turning Point USA, True the Vote and other Maga stalwarts are spreading conspiracy theories about election fraud in order to lay the groundwork for charging the election was rigged if Trump loses, warn election experts and some veteran Republicans.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/sep/03/trump-maga-allies-election-conspiracy-theories
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe
Cathy Wilcox
Fiona Katauskas
Megan Herbert
Simon Letch
David Pope
Glen Le Lievre
Mark Knight
Spooner
From the US
#weatheronPB
Cool air enclosing,
Bright sun calmly encroaching,
Soft haze receding.
LoL more WA hate for being a successful state:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-04/annabel-crabb-on-western-australia-gst-tax-policy-politics/104304254
You know you too could reserve, extract, or tax more resources – oh wait, pokies are the east coast gold mines instead!
The second leak of cabinet discussions, which are supposed to remain confidential, suggests disquiet in government ranks over political strategy and messaging.
_____________________
Bloody oath it does.
Cabinet is leaking like a sieve. It’s never a good sign.
Why the f**K is the ABC is doing an “Australian Story” on Lachlan Murdoch.
Apart from boosting the evil empire aren’t the whole family Americans by now.
Once again the federal lib/nats and their propaganda media units are ignoring what the general voting public wants to hear and see, the federal lib/nats and propaganda media units policies
“Anthony Klan writes that the revelations come as the NACC – embroiled in controversy over Brereton failing to “recuse” himself over the Robodebt referrals – has claimed it can no longer answer media questions because of limited “resources”.”
… I mean what can you say to that?
Thank you, BK.
‘Adam Bandt pioneers a new brand and a new ambition: progressive populism is the brand and selling the Greens as the nation’s authentic social democratic party is the ambition. He has contempt for the Coalition. But Bandt’s real target is Labor, writes Paul Kelly about the ”populist Greens opening a new battle front for Albanese”.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/populist-greens-open-new-battle-front-for-albanese/news-story/7d4594bba0ea8d361a141df4443744df?amp=‘
Will Bandt reconsider his role in boosting the Far Right by 4.5% since the last poll?
Will Bandt reconsider his role in driving Greens Bludger track downwards from +.6% to +.3% over the past three-six months?
Will Bandt reconsider Max’s role in driving homeowners to the Right when confronted by Max’s de facto privatization of rental housing?
Will Bandt reconsider his role in the huge rise in anti-semitic incidents?
Will Bandt reconsider how the 40% company tax will reduce Australian investment in the short term and drive a goodly portion of 17 million shareholders and the holders of 20 million Super accounts into the bosom of Dutton?
My guess is that he is far too power crazed to wonder about any of that sort of stuff.
Skeptic: “Keating must be apoplectic at the shear incompetence … so many important issues for the government to address & they waste all this time & capital wedging themselves”
——————————————————————————-
You mean Keating the Prime Minister who did stuff all between 1993 and 1996 and then, with a combination of indifference and disdain, lost a winnable election in an improving economy?
Yes, he’s certainly got strong grounds to criticise Albo.
Paul Kelly writing about the Greens’ challenge to Labor?
What’ll he cover next, that new dance craze, ‘flossing’? Maybe the social media phenomenon, ‘memes’?
‘ajm says:
Wednesday, September 4, 2024 at 8:04 am
Why the f**K is the ABC is doing an “Australian Story” on Lachlan Murdoch.
Apart from boosting the evil empire aren’t the whole family Americans by now.’
————————
Toll poppies do not appeal?
Lachlan Murdoch is probably a dual citizen. Lots of Aussies are. I don’t like the concept of dual citizenship. Too easy to game. But there we are. It won’t change.
Lachlan is certainly within the top twenty most powerful Australians.
If power is a selection criterion then he is well worth an Australian Story.
I think the ADF can take a lot of credit for Linda Reynolds – who is a Brigadier in the Army Reserve, I understand. I would not like to have her as an enemy.
But she seems to be a bit emotional. I think the Reserve must be less good at developing resilience than the Regular Army. Every woman in the Regulars has been told “Toughen up, Princess,” a thousand times.
‘Rewi says:
Wednesday, September 4, 2024 at 8:21 am
Paul Kelly writing about the Greens’ challenge to Labor?
What’ll he cover next, that new dance craze, ‘flossing’? Maybe the social media phenomenon, ‘memes’?’
————————————–
The Trots/Commo’s playbook for the past century is always first to destroy the Labor Party equivalents so Kelly is reporting reality.
The Greens are intent on destroying the majority Labor Government as a first step. The main strategy at the moment is to delay, block, stunt and shout. The wrecking strategy is working. It is distracting a good Government. The Greens problem here, were they to wake up to it, is that it is working for Dutton and Hanson – collectively up 4.5%. But there is something in the Trot’s playbook about that as well. So, cool!
The lies seem to be working as well. Straight from Comintern’s playbook with a nid nod to Goebbels. Lie big and lie often.
Even the Greens’ little helpers on Bludgers NEVER report anything positive about Labor and ALWAYS repeat ad nauseam any little criticism of Labor while ALWAYS trying to savage Labor ministers. Boring as batshit but they are Central Committee instructions so off they go.
The other Greens fuck up is that the Greens Populist Brain Fart Committee is getting totally silly. The highest company tax in the world populist brainfart looks stupid to the vast majority of Australians who hold shares or who have Super accounts. Dividends will fall and so will company values. From a national economic point of view Australia has always depended on capital inflows. The Greens fully intend to generate capital outflows.
The second Trots step will be a Revolution from below using the BOP. Three years of instability to follow.
The thirds step will be Dutton rising to the top for the next day as the vast majority of Australian voters once again reject Far Left Ideology.
Lordbain: “Well looks like MB was right on the census question timeline.”
——————————————————————————-
Thanks. I was simply unable ever to believe that Chalmers and/or Leigh would feel that they could make a decision like that without consulting with the PM first, given that the new questions had been an election commitment. And Leigh’s initial statement that the “government” had decided to leave the Census questions unchanged was also a bit of a clue.
Albo tried very hard to muddy the waters and make it sound like it wasn’t his call: which was a very stupid thing to do, even if he had been less directly involved in the decision than the leaks now suggest. `I guess he was trying to avoid becoming a target for the LGBT+ community: he really does seem to love being feted at events like the Mardi Gras and the Garma Festival.
Anyway, it’s blown up in his face a bit now. I doubt this specific issue will linger for too long, but it helps to build up a picture in the public’s mind.
Yeh MB this seems like the end (unless Albo does something very dumb) on the topic… I suspect he wont get quite the same welcome at the next Mardi Gras though.
Pied piper says:
Wednesday, September 4, 2024 at 6:52 am
Leaking against a Prime Minister 3 senior Ministers in Cabinet of all places.Leaking of course has been known in the past as a start of the process to challenge leadership.
_________________
I wonder who it could be? You could get Shorten odds on one individual.
Thank you BK
‘meher baba says:
Wednesday, September 4, 2024 at 8:27 am
…. I doubt this specific issue will linger for too long, but it helps to build up a picture in the public’s mind.’
————————-
Oh, I think the usuals will make sure it lasts and lasts and lasts. They are doing quite well with it, are they not?
Let’s face it. It is by far and away the single most important issue facing both the nation and the vast majority of Australians.
At least they will have the national accounts figures to feed on by this evening.
Boerwar at 8.38am
“ Oh, I think the usuals will make sure it lasts and lasts and lasts. They are doing quite well with it, are they not?”
The usuals being Cabinet members?
Liberal v Liberal.
It looks like either Reynolds or Higgins/Sharaz and offspring will be rough sleepers when the Defo is over.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/sep/03/brittany-higgins-and-david-sharaz-put-french-home-up-for-sale-for-690000-ntwnfb
The Libs have taken over the NSW state division, but the wheels are starting to fall off:
“The Sydney Morning Herald reports the NSW Liberals will be forced into a federal takeover for 10 months from September 12, with the proposed administration committee involving former Victorian senator Richard Alston, ex-Victorian treasurer Alan Stockdale and former NSW minister Rob Stokes. But things got a tad awkward last night when Stokes revealed he was not asked about the appointment and could not accept it due to other commitments. The SMH quotes him as saying: “I am always happy to help but I did not anticipate this appointment and I am not in a position to accept it.”
One NSW Liberal MP, speaking anonymously to AAP, described the initial inclusion of Stokes as a “massive surprise”. The ABC also flagged that NSW Liberal Party leader Mark Speakman was not happy with the make-up of the committee the federal executive requested, declaring: “The proposed appointees have significant experience, but I would welcome the inclusion of an experienced female in this crucial role.”
The SMH highlights the federal takeover is set to “cause huge unrest” in the party’s moderate faction. The paper quotes one senior moderate Liberal as initially saying: “The NSW Liberal Party will now be run by two Victorians, with Rob Stokes added for window dressing. The message Peter Dutton has sent to the NSW Liberals [is] that he wants the party run by a committee that is old, white and right.””
From: https://www.crikey.com.au/2024/09/04/nsw-liberal-takeover-rob-stokes-jim-chalmers-interest-rates/
‘Stinker says:
Wednesday, September 4, 2024 at 8:40 am
Boerwar at 8.38am
“ Oh, I think the usuals will make sure it lasts and lasts and lasts. They are doing quite well with it, are they not?”
The usuals being Cabinet members?’
————————
Personally I think it is the single most important and vital issue facing Australians today and I am exceedingly happy that the combined MSM, Labor hacks, Liberal Hacks, National Party Hacks and One Nation Hacks as well as the Labor Government are treating it as such.
It is especially gratifying in this matter of vital national significance that the results will be statistically meaningless and, in practical terms, absolutely useless.
Yet another gripping episode in the Culture Wars. Such fun!
My considered view is that the only thing that could possibly top it for importance is whether enough Carlton players pass their fitness tests this weekend.
‘Iran summons Australian ambassador in Iran over photos from LGBTQ+ celebration in embassy.’
The Iranians are taking a leaf out of the playbook of Australia’s culture warriors.
They are taking a break from genocide to fuss over LGBTIQ+ stuff.
What could possibly be less important than a Census question?
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/sep/04/australian-threatened-wildlife-list-waratah-leaf-tailed-gecko-added
Albo’s lack of courage makes headlines, but doesn’t tell the full story of his government
Albanese has forgotten the golden rule of competition laid down by the social psychologist Hugh Mackay: to compete successfully, focus on your customers, not your competitors.
But while Albo’s lack of courage keeps hitting the headlines, it’s not the whole story of this government. Behind the scenes, it’s gearing up to do a better job of ensuring that the many billions of taxpayers’ money it spends each year are more effective in improving our lives.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/albo-s-lack-of-courage-makes-headlines-but-doesn-t-tell-the-full-story-of-his-government-20240903-p5k7f5.html
Lets hope that Ross Gittins is right.. .. if he is it’s a dangerous strategy
Sceptic
Haha.
The Albanese Government has carried out massive reforms of the AAT, the NDIS, Centrelink operations and client support for vets. It is in the process of doing the same for funding support for public schooling.
It has has stabilized foreign affairs with China and the Pacific.
It has passed a sweeping set of climate actions.
It is stablized an economy that was oscillating wildly in the post Covid era.
It has reformed IR laws.
It has supported substantial relative increases in wages for low income feminized industry workers.
It has kept domestic peace at a time of hugely heightened international tensions while its opponents have actively sought to increase tensions.
But, but, but… wait. A single Census question is far more important.
Once again I must be looking at the world through a different lens.
If the comments made by unnamed ministers in the Massola article are supposed to be a ‘ hit’ on Albanese then it is a very lame and wet lettuce attempt.
The issue is not of any importance to real world Australia.
The only game in town is cost of living.
If this issue has damaged Albanese and the government then Albanese must be the leader of the coalition and the coalition must be in government.
The recent polling shows the only major party to have lost votes is the coalition. Go figure !
Polling will not Improve for the government until voters see and feel real cost of living relief and interest rates begin to fall.
Census issues, Visas for Gaza refugees etc etc are not important for voters. They keep political tragics, commentators and the MSM all hyped up digging into the entrails but in the real world mean jack shit at this point in time.
Cheers and a great day to all.
Quite a good overall discussion IMO. We are nowhere near confronting the range of our CO2 emissions.
In particular livestock CO2 and methane emissions have no technical solutions, ATM. Flight/tourism is another big problem with tourist flights set to double over the next decade.
Finally, the plan is to add a million emitters to Australia’s population over the next decade without being at all clear about how that fits with the general Plan.
The Greens Zero Net Forty is, of course, populist bullshit to fuddle the kiddies.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/sep/04/australia-climate-change-pollution-renewables
Extracted from the DP:
[‘He has contempt for the Coalition. But Bandt’s real target is Labor, writes Paul Kelly about the populist Greens opening a new battle front for Albanese.’]
And he’s quite effective in doing just that. Combining with the Tories to have the CFMEU go into administration was not a good look; more so if it succeeds with its challenge to have the decision overturned in the High Court.
doyley, we live in a world where party numbers are so low that niche issues do indeed matter.
Gaza: a topic that is very important in certain Labor seats where the margins havnt been going the way of the incumbent
Visas: plays both ways; in seats with a large Muslim base this is a positive, and in areas where you have a Labor/ON voter overlap, the fear mongering will play to damage Labors vote margins
LGBTQI+: same thing
Remember, the Libs said the exact same thing last election, and lost seats to the Teals.
doyley: “Once again I must be looking at the world through a different lens.”
—————————————————————————-
I’m not having a go at you in particular. But it always seems to me that a sure sign that governments are in trouble is when something goes wrong and the response is “stop going on about this, the public don’t care about this, it isn’t a key issue for voters, only the Canberra chattering classes give a stuff about it.”
It’s a bit lie when politicians say “never mind about the polls, the only poll that counts is on election day. ”
This was an issue that perhaps 10 per cent or more of the population really care about. The leaks overnight make it look as if Albo high-handedly dismissed what they wanted in what seems to have been something of a hissy fit. It was highly disrespectful of Albo for three ministers to leak this stuff.
It’s not a good look from whatever angle you consider it. It gives the appearance of a government under growing pressure.
Mavis, imagine how poorly it will play for the Labor Left and Young Labor (who have already been raising the Gaza issue in their platform), if Albo works with the LNP on the EPA…
This idea has legs … and it used to have the support of Labor. But that was before Labor got “captured” by those very businesses that would be affected … funny that …
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-04/labor-and-business-history-on-greens-super-profits-company-tax/104305404
Stop worrying, BW. Your SUV is safe.
Lordbain:
Wednesday, September 4, 2024 at 9:19 am
[‘Mavis, imagine how poorly it will play for the Labor Left and Young Labor (who have already been raising the Gaza issue in their platform), if Albo works with the LNP on the EPA…’]
I think any temporary advantage to Labor by getting into bed with the Tories is fraught. Dutton can’t be trusted on any level. Labor needs to stand on its own two feet.
Great link and article P1, and its yet another example of how Labor has shifted to the right since Rudd/Gillard.
I especially like this bit
“Given the large number of firms that make ordinary profits, Australia probably couldn’t afford to reduce the company tax rate to zero. But it could afford to cut it somewhat, providing some but not all of the benefits of the scheme the Business Council was attracted to 15 years ago.
There are all manner of two-tier allowance for corporate equity tax systems around the world, many in Europe, including in Italy, Belgium, Poland and Portugal, as well as in Brazil. Dating back to the 1990s, they are no longer novel.
The treasurer may have a point when he says that the Greens’ primary task is to “put out press releases”. The Greens aren’t in office and have no prospect of governing in their own right.
But that doesn’t mean their ideas shouldn’t be taken seriously. Within the treasury, within the treasurer’s own office, among tax specialists, and within the Business Council, this particular idea has been taken seriously for quite some time.”
So the proposal is not unique in the Western World (where it hasnt made the sky fall), was supported by the BCA (I wonder what changed, because the fundamentals of the argument which is in the article havnt) and by our very own Treasurer back in the day,
Hell, the article gives a little snark to the Greens in case people thought it was a Greens love fest…
But then again, past Albo and current Albo are worlds apart on policy, why shouldnt Chalmers be the same…
I see that P1 is back with a personal sledge.
Well, taking the leaks at face value, I have to apologise to Leigh/Chalmers and mark down Albo for personally and completely unnecessarily creating the census issue (one might suspect this blame transfer to be the purpose of the leak to begin with).
I also think it’s daft that something as small as the census questions is going before Cabinet at all instead of trusting Ministers to make such calls, and perhaps this is a demonstration of why.
“It’s an argument Swan used arguing for a resource super-profits tax in 2010”
Remind me P1. How did that work out?
So Arky, because we tried something once and it didnt work out politically, we should never try it again?
Because theres alot today we take for granted that was pretty unpopular politically at some point; women having the vote, recognition of indigenous people, same sex marriage for starters… these things didnt just pop into existence, they were fought for generations, and hell even once achieved there are still groups that what to wind it back.
Part of being a political power is standing by your policies and choices, and persuading the public. Otherwise you just get into power and either do nothing, or simply do things because enough people want it, regardless of the consequences…
And this was an economic argument made by Wayne “Finance Minister of the Year” Maxwell “probably one of Australias best Treasurers” Swan. Hardly a Green trot…
Hope you guys have a wonderful day yet again watching an old man yell at clouds. I’m off boating!
Arky @ #45 Wednesday, September 4th, 2024 – 9:36 am
For the companies making super profits?
Very well indeed!
This useless CLOWN needs to be Sacked, he’s a bloody liability 😡
“Andrew Giles approved rule change that raised risk serious criminals might keep visas”
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/sep/04/andrew-giles-australia-visa-rule-change-serious-criminals
Will the Greens compensate shareholders if companies go broke or if they make tiny profits?
Or is the Trots Plan for the Greens to spend the profits and for investors to take the risks?
This is a perfect plan for driving capital out of the country.