Moving on from Queensland, up to a point, three items of polling to relate:
• The weekly Roy Morgan poll has Labor’s two-party lead in from 52-48 to 50.5-49.5, from primary votes of Labor 30% (down two), Coalition 37.5% (up one), Greens 14% (up half) and One Nation 5.5% (steady). Based on 2022 election flows, Labor leads 51.5-48.5, in from 53-47. The poll was conducted Monday to Sunday from a sample of 1687.
• Roy Morgan also has a result on republicanism that points to the brittleness of the support for the concept that polls generally record when the issue is out of the limelight. In the wake of the royal visit, a forced-response SMS poll of 1312 respondents conducted last Tuesday and Wednesday broke 57-43 in favour of retaining the monarchy.
• RedBridge Group has a timely result of federal voting intention from Queensland (hat tip to comments regular Nadia88) that has Labor on 28%, compared with 27.4% at the 2022; the Coalition at 41%, compared with 39.6%; the Greens at 13%, compared with 12.9%; and One Nation at 10%, compared with 7.5%. The poll was conducted several weeks ago, from October 4 to 16, from a substantial sample of 2315, and the full release contains detailed demographic breakdowns. It also finds Anthony Albanese on 34% approval and 53% disapproval; Peter Dutton on 39% and 42%; Steven Miles on 35% and 35%; and David Crisafulli on 40% and 31%.
• If you’re a Crikey subscriber, you can read my review of the Queensland election wash-up.
Yesterday’s efforts regarding the self promotion of Joe Aston’s book should be appreciated for the “textbook” promotion of a “I want to be significant” media type desperately seeking ” love” within his chosen profession.
I wonder if Joe has ever been excluded from the Chairman’s Lounge ?
The Lounge, long the domain of politicians, business people, successful High Court Judges, dept. Secretaries and the starry eyed, may well become, because of all the hullabaloo, a thingie to be given “a big miss”.
A bigger story may well be, that despite the trending in polling, the Liberals and Nationals, together with their various hybrid versions hold power in three states.
How many of the commentators among you be prepared to wage money on any of those three states having had a successful tenure by 2030 ?
The fact that a bevy of MSM types have the need to have an opinion, and a need to discuss that opinion is more a negative for themselves than anything else.
The “greasy pole” of envy and ambition remains addictive as a measure of one’s accomplishment in the nation “girt by sea”.
The MSM have the Australian public parade ring ready, ring in nose, well schooled and coiffeur complete.
The MSM and their interests are having picnic, mouths collectively aghast with their success.
Mr Dutton will explode spectacularly when all the self interest wind both his and others escapes his being.
Maybe Steve Davis is correct !
Australia may well deserve Dutton as PM.
Redbridge, Queensland: “One Nation at 10%, compared with 5.9% …”
7.5%, William?
https://results.aec.gov.au/27966/Website/HouseStateFirstPrefsByParty-27966-QLD.htm
goll says:
Tuesday, October 29, 2024 at 5:42 am
Yesterday’s efforts regarding the self promotion of Joe Aston’s book should be appreciated for the “textbook” promotion of a “I want to be significant” media type desperately seeking ” love” within his chosen profession.
Joe Aston has more than any Australian Journalist been consistent in exposing the outright hypocrisy & greed that drives the big end of town.
For those who are defending Albo on the upgrades matter because “they all do it…”:
Anyone who has ever flown for business travel knows that there is nothing at all unusual about frequent flyers, VIPs, etc being moved from economy into vacant business class seats (from business to first). This can happen when they check in or even after being seated. It’s even happened to me on flights in the US simply because I’ve paid full fare for my ticket when most others didn’t.
But what Joe Aston has alleged is something I have never heard of before: someone purchasing a seat of one class and then contacting the CEO of the airline to have that seat upgraded to a superior class. And being successful, on multiple occasions. And (although I acknowledge that we don’t have precise dates as to when these upgrades happened) that this might have occurred while the said person was Minister for Transport and/or Shadow Minister for Transport.
I acknowledge that we don’t yet have all the details. And that it is possible that it will come out very shortly that one or more Coalition Ministers used to do this back in the day, which would instantly kill the story.
But, for the present, it seems to me that Albo has a little bit of explaining to do.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
Jim Chalmers has warned the government’s increasingly worried backbench the pre-election budget will not be a spendathon to woo voters scarred by cost-of-living pressures as evidence grows that inflationary pressures are easing. Shane Wright says that ahead of this week’s critical September-quarter inflation figures, which many experts believe will show consumer prices growing at their slowest rate since the early stages of the pandemic, Chalmers said the government would not add to prices with irresponsible spending in either his mid-year budget update or the 2025-26 budget.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/no-budget-spendathon-as-shoppers-finally-see-inflation-relief-20241028-p5klwx.html
Independent Member for Wentworth Allegra Spender argued this week that the best result for Australia at the next election would be a hung Parliament. “Hear, hear”, exclaims Crispin Hull who writes that Spender argued at the National Press Club that a hung Parliament would break the paralysis that has overcome Australian politics. She said a crossbench could and would demand serious attention to major problems in Australia’s society and economy that have been ignored for more than two decades.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8803685/crispin-hull-political-paralysis-and-allegra-spenders-hope-in-a-hung-parliament/?cs=14258
Substantial evidence from independent agencies last week has affirmed the Albanese Government’s economic credentials, as Alan Austin reports.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/labor-big-spenders-myth-can-finally-be-laid-to-rest,19110
Greens figurehead Max Chandler-Mather says he has no regrets about blocking Labor’s housing plan or protesting alongside rogue CFMEU delegates, after his party’s poor results in the Queensland election raised the prospect it could lose two of its three federal seats in his home state.
https://www.afr.com/politics/chandler-mather-declines-to-own-greens-flop-in-queensland-20241028-p5klu6
The biggest influence in the Queensland election was an American billionaire living in New York, Rupert Murdoch. Michael West with the ‘take-outs’ – follow the money.
https://michaelwest.com.au/murdoch-media-the-queensland-election-and-the-bleeding-obvious/
Ontario subsidises its citizens’ electricity power bills by $7.3 billion a year from general revenue, an international energy expert has said, contradicting the Coalition’s claim that nuclear reactors would drive power prices down in Australia. Bianca Hall and Nick O’Malley write that Peter Dutton has repeatedly cited the Canadian province as a model for cheaper power prices from nuclear. Tritium Ted is flailing.
https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/you-couldn-t-make-this-up-expert-pans-ontario-nuclear-option-20241028-p5klx1.html
The Coalition did not approach Geoscience Australia to ask about the suitability of any of the seven sites where it wants to put nuclear reactors, including asking about risks from earthquakes, a parliamentary hearing was told. Graham Readfearn reports that at the inquiry, John Grimes, the chief executive of the Smart Energy Council, an advocacy group representing clean energy businesses, told the inquiry the Coalition’s plan was “all about attacking renewables and boosting fossil fuels”. Grimes, recalling former prime minister Scott Morrison’s 2017 parliamentary taunt, labelled the proposal “today’s version of a lump of coal in parliament”.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/oct/28/peter-dutton-liberal-coalition-nuclear-plan-parliament-inquiry
Anthony Albanese could prove his moral courage with bold action to battle gambling harm, says Jenny Ware.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/oct/28/anthony-albanese-gambling-harm-online-ads-advertising
As Australia’s housing crisis worsens amid a critical shortage of labour and rising costs, experts are warning that major construction companies are increasingly at risk of becoming “zombie companies”. New data from KPMG Australia reveals that the number of ASX-listed zombies has spiked by 31 per cent in just six months, climbing from 94 in May to 122 companies. Companies are considered “zombies” when showing signs of financial distress while managing not to collapse, explains Hannah Hammond.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/australia-s-construction-sector-faces-zombie-apocalypse-20241028-p5klxn.html
Housing affordability is largely a matter of tax reform, argues Alan Kohler. He says The tax reform needed is pretty obvious: Put housing on the list of essentials excluded from GST (after all, shelter is as essential as food and medicine) and eliminate developer contributions for infrastructure, and pay for it by halving the capital gains discount and restricting negative gearing, which would also help reduce demand.
https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2024/10/28/alan-kohler-housing-affordability-tax-reform
Millie Muroi reports that Jim Chalmers has signalled a government clampdown on betting companies’ use of tax breaks to develop new poker machines and gaming apps, saying he considers the practice “problematic”.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/problematic-gambling-company-tax-breaks-on-chalmers-radar-20241028-p5klu3.html
Victoria’s child-protection department has received 66 reports of deaths of children, most of them younger than two years old, who were either inside or known to the system in the past four years. Kieran Rooney says that amid refreshed calls for reform, particularly from the Indigenous community, the state government statistics also reveal thousands more complaints of abuse over the same time.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/66-dead-children-5400-abuse-claims-state-s-child-protection-system-under-blowtorch-20241028-p5klwy.html
Rachel Dexter tells us that secret documents detailing the decision to raze Melbourne’s public housing towers may be released to the public after a judge refuted the Victorian government’s argument that they should stay locked under cabinet privilege.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/judge-may-force-release-of-secret-documents-detailing-decision-to-raze-melbourne-housing-towers-20241026-p5kljl.html
Following on from yesterday’s story, the SMH editorial says that the consumer watchdog should name those banks shown to be most vulnerable to scammers.
https://www.smh.com.au/money/banking/consumer-watchdog-should-name-banks-most-vulnerable-to-scammers-20241028-p5klwa.html
“If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck … (you know the rest). But for WiseTech Global’s billionaire lothario founder, Richard White, he might technically have lost the chief executive title but not the main gig. He receives the same salary ($1 million), he reports directly to the board, and he takes to the podium at annual meetings and investor days. White will also be at the helm of the company’s strategy and its products, which is the most important role any chief executive would have. Yet the duck called Richard White now has the title of consultant”, writes an incredulous Elizabeth Knight.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/richard-white-s-new-gig-is-better-than-his-old-job-20241028-p5klum.html
An extensive investigation has revealed claims of exploitation of female staff at hospitality giant Merivale. The company denies this, write Eryl Bagshaw and Bianca Hrovat. Nice mob!
https://www.smh.com.au/national/one-step-from-being-a-brothel-sex-drugs-harassment-alleged-in-ivy-penthouse-20241028-p5klss.html
Megan Gorry reports that North Sydney Council will consider hiking its rates to help fund the ballooning cost to rebuild its Olympic pool amid warnings the $91 million-plus project has pushed the council into a precarious financial position.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/north-sydney-pool-is-already-costing-91-million-now-ratepayers-might-need-to-chip-in-extra-20241028-p5klt7.html
The SMH says that apartments up to 45 storeys high would be squeezed into a section of Ku-ring-gai under a council move to appease the state government’s demands for increased housing density by creating alternative plans to the transport-oriented development scheme.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/45-storeys-in-gordon-ku-ring-gai-finds-its-own-density-options-20241025-p5klbn.html
Anne Hyland reports that Mosaic Brands, the retailer that owns clothing brands such as Katies, Millers and Noni B, has been placed into administration, putting the jobs of almost 3000 employees at risk.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/owner-of-katies-noni-b-and-millers-goes-into-administration-20241028-p5klzc.html
According to John Kehoe, Treasury and the Reserve Bank of Australia are making contingencies for the economic fallout from the result of the US presidential election, with everything from the potential firing of Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell to huge tariffs on China being analysed.
https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/rba-and-treasury-brace-for-fallout-whether-it-s-trump-or-harris-20241028-p5klu1
The German carmaker Volkswagen is planning to shut at least three factories in its home country, lay off thousands of workers and cut pay by 10%, according to the company’s union. The deeper-than-expected cuts come as the company faces weak sales and slow expansion in the electric vehicle sector amid tough competition from Chinese manufacturers.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/oct/28/volkswagen-shut-three-factories-cut-thousands-jobs-union
The EU and China are hastily drawing up their plans for retaliation should Trump win next week’s US election and press ahead with his plans to launch a global trade war, reports Stephen Bartholomeusz.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/donald-trump-has-europe-and-china-in-a-panic-20241028-p5kls5.html
Xi’s grandiose plan for the Asia-Pacific is not working and Kevin Rudd knows why, says Peter Hartcher.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/xi-s-grandiose-plan-for-the-asia-pacific-is-not-working-kevin-rudd-knows-why-20241028-p5klrc.html
With faith in the Albanese Government dwindling, now is a perfect time to consider action towards establishing an Australian republic, writes Dr Klaas Woldring.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/never-a-better-time-for-pm-albanese-to-sever-uk-ties,19111
Two of the US’s biggest newspapers won’t endorse a candidate. This is how democracy dies, argues Denis Muller.
https://theconversation.com/two-of-the-uss-biggest-newspapers-have-refused-to-endorse-a-presidential-candidate-this-is-how-democracy-dies-242280
Hundreds of early ballots cast for the US presidential election have been burned in two suspected attacks in Washington and Oregon, exacerbating tensions ahead of next Tuesday’s knife-edge contest. Police said Monday that the fires in the two states were believed to be connected and that a vehicle involved had been identified, according to the Associated Press. They’re off and running!
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/28/ballot-box-on-fire-washington-oregon
In 2020, Trump went to the courts after losing. This time, the legal challenges have already started, explains Marcus Wagner.
https://theconversation.com/in-2020-trump-went-to-the-courts-after-losing-this-time-the-legal-challenges-have-already-started-241266
The founder of the Proud Boys, the far-right group that played a major role in the January 6 riot at the US Capitol and was memorably instructed by Donald Trump to “stand back and stand by”, has told the makers of a Trump documentary: “We want to make America hate again.” America is f****d!
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/28/proud-boys-gavin-mcinnes-trump-documentary
In quite an extensive contribution, Sidney Blumenthal argues that we are witnessing the making of a fascist president in real time.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/oct/28/we-are-witnessing-the-making-of-a-fascist-president-in-real-time
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe
Matt Golding
Cathy Wilcox
Peter Broelman
Spooner
From the US
Thank you, BK. Soooooooooo dry. We are heading for a summer of fire and a bad drought at this rate.
Meher,
According to the SMH , Qantas execs could only upgrade you to an available seat, whereas only Joyce could order an upgrade regardless of seating.
It’s disingenuous spin to say its just upgrades – it’s the solicitation , which you have rightly identified is the issue.
You are right if one of the Libs partook in soliciting it most likely neutralises the issue for Albo on the basis of “they are all doing it”. The practice should be banned regardless.
#weatheronPB
Hushed drenched aftermath,
drying out after the rain,
a cool stillness reigns.
‘Independent Member for Wentworth Allegra Spender argued this week that the best result for Australia at the next election would be a hung Parliament. “Hear, hear”, exclaims Crispin Hull who writes that Spender argued at the National Press Club that a hung Parliament would break the paralysis that has overcome Australian politics. She said a crossbench could and would demand serious attention to major problems in Australia’s society and economy that have been ignored for more than two decades.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8803685/crispin-hull-political-paralysis-and-allegra-spenders-hope-in-a-hung-parliament/?cs=14258‘
==============================
She has no power. She wants power. She reckons that her having actual power would be a good thing. Shock!
Adding the Teals to the dog’s breakfast of governance would almost certainly increase governance paralysis. (I note in passing that the Teals failed to cross the Tweed in the recent Qld election).
Currently being delayed or blocked completely:
$22 billion Future Fund
The biggest Aged Care Package reform this century
Additional funding for 40,000 houses.
Religious discrimination reform.
Comprehensive Biodiversity conservation and protection reform.
Reserve Bank Reform.
About to be delayed:
A suite of controls and fines to prevent a repeat of the mistreatment and shonks which flourished under the Coalition. It includes provision for increasing fines (up to $15 million) on NDIS providers who do fail to control abuse of disabled clients.
Much appreciation BK
‘The EU and China are hastily drawing up their plans for retaliation should Trump win next week’s US election and press ahead with his plans to launch a global trade war, reports Stephen Bartholomeusz.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/donald-trump-has-europe-and-china-in-a-panic-20241028-p5kls5.html‘
=========================
Good luck to that. The EU and China are currently locked in a death struggle over the future of the EU’s car industry which Xi wants to capture.
The EU is looking at putting in tariffs to stop China dumping its vast over capacity of EV production (subsidized to the tune of $230 billion and growing). Included is a threat by China to (a) tax EU car manufacturers out of China’s market (b) totally withdraw a raft of promised Chinese car maker investments in the EU.
LVT: “According to the SMH , Qantas execs could only upgrade you to an available seat, whereas only Joyce could order an upgrade regardless of seating. ”
—————————————————————————–
Yes, this is the key factor. An upgrade to a business class seat that, as of one hour before takeoff, has not been purchased by anybody arguably has no tangible financial value. An upgrade ordered by the CEO, potentially days before the flight, has a very clear financial value (ie, the difference between that day’s price for the business class seat and the economy class seat). And on flights that are already full, it could even result in a fare-paying customer being turfed out of their seat.
——————————————————————————–
“The practice should be banned regardless.”
But did the practice ever apply to anyone other than Albo? We’re waiting to hear about that. I have known VIPs who would consider such a practice to be infra dig. Eg, they might pull strings to try to get a First Class seat on a full flight, but they would expect to pay the normal cost of the seat (which is comparatively meaningless to them: just a business cost or a personal cost that they could easily afford).
It seems to me that there’s a touch of commissar behaviour about this. It’s seems to me to be a little bit declasse.
I’m totally here for this person continuing to feature in the national media. The more people see of him and hear of his antics, the less likely they are to vote Greens.
Thank you bk.
Bw, everyone looks like a blocker when the government treats every speed bump as a road closure. They don’t have a majority Senate, but they do have a sympathetic crossbench.
What is the labor political party going to do to get their agenda over the line?
The Albanese Government is going to shut down a $90 million earner gifted to the gambling industry by the Morrison/Dutton Government.
https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2024/10/28/alan-kohler-housing-affordability-tax-reform
Millie Muroi reports that Jim Chalmers has signalled a government clampdown on betting companies’ use of tax breaks to develop new poker machines and gaming apps, saying he considers the practice “problematic”.
Chorus of cheers from the Greens, the Liberals, the Nationals and the Teals. It will, of course, be either delayed for six months or blocked outright by the extremist Greens for not being good enough.
‘Banquo911 says:
Tuesday, October 29, 2024 at 7:48 am
Thank you bk.
Bw, everyone looks like a blocker …’
==================
haha. It is just not that hard. The Greens are blockers because they block.
I note all the Murdoch rags are running with flight upgrades.
And so it begins!
It won’t matter what the truth actually is or whether Coalition ministers have requested upgrades.
It won’t matter that Coalition ministers took private jets & choppers at taxpayers expense to exclusive parties.
The media campaign has begun & its going to get real dirty.
Boerwarsays:
Tuesday, October 29, 2024 at 7:50 am
‘Banquo911 says:
Tuesday, October 29, 2024 at 7:48 am
Thank you bk.
Bw, everyone looks like a blocker …’
==================
haha. It is just not that hard. The Greens are blockers because they block
______________
So what’s to be done? Moan about it by looks. Good luck with that! Anyway, you were talking about the teals.
‘Confessions says:
Tuesday, October 29, 2024 at 7:48 am
Greens figurehead Max Chandler-Mather says he has no regrets about blocking Labor’s housing plan or protesting alongside rogue CFMEU delegates, after his party’s poor results in the Queensland election raised the prospect it could lose two of its three federal seats in his home state.
I’m totally here for this person continuing to feature in the national media. The more people see of him and hear of his antics, the less likely they are to vote Greens.’
===========================
The Mouth Almighty is the Greens’ answer to Screaming Lord Sutch.
This is the utter white trash you’re voting for America 😡
This is the human garbage foodbar, pooed pooper et al champion 😡
“US election live: outrage grows over ‘hateful’ Puerto Rico comments at Trump Madison Square Garden rally”
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2024/oct/28/us-election-live-donald-trump-tony-hinchcliffe-puerto-rico-kamala-harris-obama-springsteen
meher babasays:
Tuesday, October 29, 2024 at 7:08 am
But what Joe Aston has alleged is something I have never heard of before: someone purchasing a seat of one class and then contacting the CEO of the airline to have that seat upgraded to a superior class.
_____________________
What a cheapskate.
Tighter than a fish’s arse hole.
Max hyphen is a godsend to Albo 😆
Dee @ #17 Tuesday, October 29th, 2024 – 7:50 am
Just as in America because Murdoch supports Conservative Authoritarians.
Boerwar @ #11 Tuesday, October 29th, 2024 – 7:47 am
The European car manufacturers survived and thrived when the 1 billion Chinese rode bicycles everywhere. I’m sure the other 7 billion people in the world and the rise of the Indian Middle Class will compensate for the shut out in China if that’s Xi’s plan for retribution.
Davo
It’s been said Trumps rally will secure more votes.
wt!
How would Allegra Spender resolve the dichotomy that would exist in her preferred scenario of a Hung Parliament in the Lower House when The Greens, who are no friends of the Teals as they see them as competitors for votes, would hold the balance of power in the Senate and would likely seek to frustrate Teal-Labor initiatives or Teal-Coalition policy?
Dee @ #25 Tuesday, October 29th, 2024 – 8:13 am
It’s been said by Trump boosters. Pfft!
Voting Paradoxes – Numberphile
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B09THPzM42c
Dee: “It won’t matter what the truth actually is or whether Coalition ministers have requested upgrades.”
—————————————————————————–
It will most certainly matter, as I’ve already explained. If one case emerges of a Coalition minister having done this, the story will be killed stone dead. Littleproud has been sounding a bit muted in his criticisms of Albo, so perhaps he is aware of skeleton hidden in the Coalition’s closet.
Of course, there was this:
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/big-bucks-for-mps-bollywood-adventure-20131005-2v0wf.html
—————————————————————————–
“It won’t matter that Coalition ministers took private jets & choppers at taxpayers expense to exclusive parties.”
————————————————————————–
Well, choppergate resulted in Bishop resigning from the speaker position and retiring to the bankbench, and soon after, out of the parliament.
If Albo’s career ends up going the same way, then this story will also no longer matter.
The district attorney of Philadelphia filed a lawsuit Monday to halt Elon Musk ‘s $1 million giveaways as part of his political organization’s effort boosting Donald Trump ‘s presidential campaign.
The suit by Democratic District Attorney Larry Krasner is the first legal action to be brought over the America PAC’s sweepstakes offering $1 million every day until Nov. 5 to a person in a battleground state who has signed a petition supporting the Constitution.
Krasner’s office said the lawsuit, coming just over a week before Election Day, doesn’t preclude potential criminal action.
Talk about a beatup regarding Albo’s business class flights (especially when the shadow cabinet has also gotten these perks).
That is what gets me Taylormade – Albo and all politicians are able to afford business class – why lower yourself by begging for a favour?
Spooner has obviously confused the two Presidential campaigners.
Holdenhillbillysays:
Tuesday, October 29, 2024 at 8:25 am
____________
I’m not a constitutional lawyer (I know, I’m as shocked as you are), but this seems dumb to me. The attack against this is obvious (Philadelphia DA is against the constitution), and the campaign doesn’t intuitively seem like it disadvantages or privileges any voter or party over another unless I’ve missed a bit that excludes Democrats from participating in the sweep?
A fool and his money will soon be separated or whatever. Let the man cook.
Morning all. Thanks for the roundup BK. Further to the story about the coalition;s nuclear brainsnap, there was an interesting discussion on the Renew Economy podcast a few days ago.
The SA State manager of Electranet explained the history of renewables and the grid in SA. Because the main SA power link to Adelaide went from Port Augusta to Adelaide when the coal fired Leigh Creek power station was operating, when it close it also became the logical place to put wind farms, solar farms and the battery, because the grid capacity was already there. However now that grid capacity is entirely used by the big battery and the wind/solar farms.
This means that talk of a nuclear power plant at Port Augusta (“to suit the grid”) was nonsense. The only way it could work would be if they closed the wind and solar farms (with world leading efficiency) or built a new grid.
Dutton’s 7 nuclear power plant sites were plucked from thin air. They are nonsense.
Thomas @ #31 Tuesday, October 29th, 2024 – 8:31 am
Yep. Good old double standards and turning a blind eye to the hypocrisy inherent in the criticism.
Dud thug grub spud is nonsense 😡
Thomas @ #31 Tuesday, October 29th, 2024 – 8:31 am
I am sure I saw Bridget McKenzie caught out again yesterday.
Claiming she had never been upgraded then having to retract that statement.
The prospects of a three way trade war between the EU, China and USA look pretty strong, especially if Trump wins the election and tariffs all US imports.
I’m having a hard time feeling sorry for EU car makers. They have been warned about EVs, and talking about the need to invest in EV manufacture, for 10 years. Their response was to ignore it, invest billions in fake “clean” diesel cars, then beg governments not to enforce environmental laws on them when caught.
China has subsidised investment in EVs, but USA is doing the same thing now via the “Inflation Reduction Act”. Does the EU tariff both?
Any trade war won’t be great for Australia, as it will tend to reduce export volumes, and we have an economy highly exposed to export prices.
Banquo911: Only Republican supporters at a Trump rally were eligible for the $1m.
‘C@tmomma says:
Tuesday, October 29, 2024 at 8:09 am
Boerwar @ #11 Tuesday, October 29th, 2024 – 7:47 am
‘The EU and China are hastily drawing up their plans for retaliation should Trump win next week’s US election and press ahead with his plans to launch a global trade war, reports Stephen Bartholomeusz.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/donald-trump-has-europe-and-china-in-a-panic-20241028-p5kls5.html‘
=========================
Good luck to that. The EU and China are currently locked in a death struggle over the future of the EU’s car industry which Xi wants to capture.
The EU is looking at putting in tariffs to stop China dumping its vast over capacity of EV production (subsidized to the tune of $230 billion and growing). Included is a threat by China to (a) tax EU car manufacturers out of China’s market (b) totally withdraw a raft of promised Chinese car maker investments in the EU.
The European car manufacturers survived and thrived when the 1 billion Chinese rode bicycles everywhere. I’m sure the other 7 billion people in the world and the rise of the Indian Middle Class will compensate for the shut out in China if that’s Xi’s plan for retribution.’
=============================
I am sure that there are no grounds for such certainty.
The EU currently makes ten times more out of car sales into China than China into the EU.
VW is already monstrous trouble.
What I was questioning was whether Batholomeuz had sound grounds for asserting that the EU and China would, or even could, work together to offset Trump when they are in a massive conflict over the future of car manufacturing in the EU.
UK fertility rate falls to 1.44. Amusingly, this rate of 1.44 is almost exactly what Japan’s fertility rate was (1.43) when the BBC aired the infamous 2013 documentary “No Sex Please, We’re Japanese,” which sought to blame lack of children on frigid Japanese men and their video games
laughtong @ #38 Tuesday, October 29th, 2024 – 8:50 am
There is a desperation to find anything to catch Albo out at present and they (all of the ‘they’s from the MAGAts to the Max Wanker-Hyphens) are scraping the bottom of the relevancy barrel until next Tuesday, when the world will revert to normal service.
Banquo911
I thought it was a crime to solicit votes with individual cash bribes in both Australia and USA?
‘Socrates says:
Tuesday, October 29, 2024 at 8:56 am
The prospects of a three way trade war between the EU, China and USA look pretty strong, especially if Trump wins the election and tariffs all US imports.
I’m having a hard time feeling sorry for EU car makers. They have been warned about EVs, and talking about the need to invest in EV manufacture, for 10 years. Their response was to ignore it, invest billions in fake “clean” diesel cars, then beg governments not to enforce environmental laws on them when caught.
China has subsidised investment in EVs, but USA is doing the same thing now via the “Inflation Reduction Act”. Does the EU tariff both?
Any trade war won’t be great for Australia, as it will tend to reduce export volumes, and we have an economy highly exposed to export prices.’
====================
It is not really about emotions.
Xi stole a march with a $230 billion subsidy of Chinese EV manufacturing in the process creating both huge IP and massive overcapacity.
Xi’s Plan is, obviously, to use classic mercantilism to destroy vehicle manufacturing in the West in the same way China have destroyed practically all other manufacturing in the West.
The strategic question for the West is whether it wants to retain a vehicle manufacturing capacity.
Boerwar @ #41 Tuesday, October 29th, 2024 – 8:59 am
If that is to be the case then I view it as a distinct possibility as China’s economy is the one in trouble right now and they would possibly be open to making concessions to the EU, and vice versa, in order to put up a bulwark against Trump should he win. However, it’s not a very entertaining prospect to have the Trade/Tariff Wars fought all over again.
IMO, of considerable significance:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/28/israeli-lawmakers-pass-bill-that-could-halt-unwra-relief-work-in-gaza
Is it just me or has Trump been better behaved this campaign? I haven’t seen the endless stream of ridiculous comments he’s made that I’m used to (apart from the dog thingie).
And seriously, what kind of a dickwad rings the CEO of QANTUS grovelling for an upgrade from business to first class?
c@t: “Thomas @ #31 Tuesday, October 29th, 2024 – 8:31 am
Talk about a beatup regarding Albo’s business class flights (especially when the shadow cabinet has also gotten these perks).
Yep. Good old double standards and turning a blind eye to the hypocrisy inherent in the criticism.”
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Nope. We are yet to hear about a case of anyone else receiving the same sort of perks that Albo got. Being offered a free upgrade at the check-in counter is a very different matter to ringing up the CEO and asking for one.
I’m still expecting that an instance of a Coalition politician doing the same thing is going to come to light: see my earlier comment about Littleproud’s rather guarded attack on Albo about the matter (basically emphasising that what Albo did was entirely within the rules but arguing that he should have been more careful given the likely appearance of a conflict of interest).
If another instance does come to light, then Albo will be able to wriggle his way out of this controversy.
But you have to admit that his carefully-cultivated image of an ordinary sort of bloke who grew up in social housing and loves the Rabbitohs has become somewhat tarnished in recent months. And that this has coincided with some questions arising aboout his political judgement. He hasn’t had a very good year at all.
Spooner has obviously confused the two Presidential campaigners.
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Steve777
Spooner is a mess!