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.
Stinkersays:
Thursday, October 31, 2024 at 8:45 pm
Remember this one?
https://www.theage.com.au/national/shorten-lands-visy-job-for-union-official-20070712-ge5bxg.html
=====================================================
What about Pratt’s dealing with the corrupt Liberal Party President John Elliot?. Didn’t he pass on the the Presidency of the Liberal Parties AFL team to him?
Richard Pratt, at the time saw Visy with the largest fine in Australian history for price fixing Bizarre story of calls from public telephone boxes Labor as the federal government added to the maximum fine and made the offence one that would find you in jail
Just so I understand things here, we’re talking about the possible perception by a ‘reasonable person’ of a potential conflict of interest based on hearsay?
meher babasays:
Thursday, October 31, 2024 at 8:18 pm
shellbell: “The point of trick or treaters is for supervising parents to become prospective buyers of your house”
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What a brilliant idea! I’ll keep it in mind.
==================================================
A good way to buy a haunted house?
We’re getting somewhere, Entropy! You’ve just put Bill and John Elliott on the same footing. Thanks for making my point.
Rewisays:
Thursday, October 31, 2024 at 8:58 pm
Just so I understand things here, we’re talking about the possible perception by a ‘reasonable person’ of a potential conflict of interest based on hearsay?
=========================================================
Only in Albo’s case. In Dutton’s case he admits asking Gina for free flights and getting them. So in his case we only have to decide if it constitutes a conflict of interest or not. I think most reasonable people on here would conclude it does. Though i’m awaiting the publication of the LNP stooge list of those still willing to defend Dutton on this.
Entropy @ #1084 Thursday, October 31st, 2024 – 8:08 pm
Lars Von Trier loves a whipping boy. He seems bereft without one.
Rossmcg @ #1080 Thursday, October 31st, 2024 – 8:01 pm
As a result, the PM suffered a week of unsubstantiated attack and innuendo and Peter Dutton got his daily close-ups to camera with his stern schoolmaster face on demanding this and that from the PM.
All for the sake of a Newspoll bump.
There is only 1 LNP stooge on here and that’s fubar. Not sure how to classify pp and bad thinker, but they are on an extreme on some dimension not known to most humans.
In regards the reference to the Murdoch Empire of the 1960’s that would be from the time of News Limited being the publisher of an afternoon paper in Adelaide, in competition with the morning paper “The Advertiser” whose headquarters were on King William Street
Murdoch’s business premises were on North Terrace where Keith Murdoch ran the business, Ken May his CEO and Rohan Rivett the journalist most associated with Murdoch In fact Murdoch ran to financial embarrassment, saved by his coverage of the Chamberlain case where he presented Chamberlain was guilty
I call bullshit on the now presentation on this site and as proof refer to the falling out between Murdoch and Rivett leading to Rivett resigning Sometimes you need to be careful over what you allege because it may just be that some with first hand knowledge are looking on Murdoch has got to where he is today courtesy of financial backers
The fixation of Murdoch on Labor leaders including particularly Dunstan was what it was and always has been including continuing today with Andrews and Albanese Nothing has changed
davesays:
Thursday, October 31, 2024 at 9:12 pm
There is only 1 LNP stooge on here and that’s fubar. Not sure how to classify pp and bad thinker, but they are on an extreme on some dimension not known to most humans.
====================================================
So “TM” who published the so called Labor Stooge list yesterday. You classify as what?
If Trump wins, to be honest with you, the struggle against the climate crisis is over.
Spain just had 1 year’s worth of rain in 1 day! The footage from there is horrifying. Yet, somehow, RWNJs here and everywhere try to tell us still, to this day, that Climate Change is a hoax. Their reckless abandonment of reason and the planet is gormless and criminal.
Deepers at 9:17 pm
I call bullshit on the now presentation on this site and as proof refer to the falling out between Murdoch and Rivett leading to Rivett resigning Sometimes you need to be careful over what you allege because it may just be that some with first hand knowledge are looking on Murdoch has got to where he is today courtesy of financial backers
You’re confusing the Ceduna Case with the Chamberlain Case.
Not an easy mistake to make.
Entropysays:
Thursday, October 31, 2024 at 9:19 pm
davesays:
Thursday, October 31, 2024 at 9:12 pm
There is only 1 LNP stooge on here and that’s fubar. Not sure how to classify pp and bad thinker, but they are on an extreme on some dimension not known to most humans.
====================================================
So “TM” who published the so called Labor Stooge list yesterday. You classify as what?
_____________________________
TM doesn’t really fit the bill. He mainly posts stuff critical about Vic Labor and doesn’t really defend politicians with stooge like intensity. Such as yourself.
pied pipersays:
Thursday, October 31, 2024 at 9:14 pm
Halloween big in Perth this year.
Labor types went as themselves.
================================================
Did you go as yourself too? Playing a pipe and leading the Liberal party into a mountain?
The demented spud thug man has been caught out, the demented spud thug man
is finished he’s absolutely cooked… 😆 😆 😆
bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha 😆
“Peter Dutton’s office asked Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting for flight on private jet
Opposition leader, who says Anthony Albanese is ‘obfuscating’ in his answers on Qantas upgrades, says he never personally asked mining magnate”
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/oct/31/peter-dutton-flights-gina-rinehart-jet-albanese-qantas-upgrades-ntwnfb
No. The Stuart case was one event where Rivett was in conflict with Murdoch The relationship between Murdoch and Rivett deteriorated further from there until Rivett resigned Separately and later, in the lead up to the Chamberlain matter, the Murdoch press was under financial distress saved by the increased circulation courtesy of that case and Chamberlain being presented as guilty The Stuart case and the Chamberlain case were years apart Stick to what you know about – whatever that may be!
I bet the silence from the usual suspects about Peter Dutton’s cosy relationship with Gina will be deafening.
26 weeks till the next election campaign fed labor we’re up 57-43 now 49-51 behind and deteriorating.
Own goals ,no direction,dud Ministers,no vision,own goals galore and trashing their base etcetc
Labor has failed renters,mortgage holders,etc etc
Stick a fork in them they are cooked.
Well I’m just about off to the cot.
As a professional lurker it’s been a very disappointing day of lurking. The same subject all day.
It must be a slow news day if PB is still deciding wether a leader of 26 odd million people should or should not get upgraded to first class.
If a foreign leader were visiting Oz would we be shocked if an airline ushered them up to the pointy end? I think not!
There’s much more important things to worry about.
Halloween for starters! When I was a wee lad the only way I knew of Halloween was via American TV shows that flooded our black and white screens. Nobody did trick or treat. Nobody dressed up in horror movie gear. Whilst I understand it has older roots than the US, it still smacks of an American cultural import we could have done without. What happened to Guy Fawkes night etc.
Albanese has deserved a lot of whacks he’s been given recently but not on this upgrade thing (other than it’s overall obscene we put millions of dollars into each MP’s salary/travel/office/staff and they still take bribes from Qantas). Shades of the Godwin Gretch affair where Turnbull put his own reputation up against Rudd’s and was found lacking.
“ What happened to Guy Fawkes night”
timbo, I’m pretty sure on November 5 dave will be out in his back yard with his box of matches, his bonfire, and his effigy of Guy Fawkes.
The inflation reading is the lowest in 3 and a half years, having peaked at 8% just over 2 years ago, now with a quarterly reading of 2.8%
The reasons for the GLOBAL inflation are well described in an article on the ABC Website today by their Financial Editor including COVID impetus by governments and Central Banks globally then when lock downs globally were relaxed courtesy of vaccinations there was demand versus supply chain interruptions then Ukraine impacting energy prices Inflation whilst reducing across the board remains “sticky” globally particularly in regards the servicing industry starting with housing and insurance (where climate also impacts on risk and premiums) These factors see the pressure on Bond Yields, globally
That the Australian government has seen the latest quarterly reading at 2.8% in the face of these pressures, has achieved Budget surpluses, has achieved the jobs increases seeing the unemployment figure maintaining with a 4 in front of it with increased participation, has achieved wage increases plus has provided supports where needed across accomodation relief, energy cost relief, pre school and education support, reduced tax rates and otherwise supported the community will serve this government well on the hustings come an election And that is for starters
Inflation is a fact of life hence Central Banks referring to the margins they seek to retain inflation within It is when inflation exceeds these bands that damage is done to society as history from the times of Volker attest
Then you get to climate and the environment versus the positions of Nuclear Pete’s party of Pentecostals and austerity promoters The Liberals will lose further City seats to the Teals, Queensland will probably hold for the Coalition depending on the performance of the State government in the Regions and the Rural areas, Labor will fight off the Greens aka Brisbane and otherwise lose very little to the Queensland rural and regional centric Coalition and all this starting with the Coalition holding 50 something seats in a House of 151 seats, about half of those in Queensland so Queensland versus the rest Bit like Scotland v England
Currently we have a government governing including repairing the damage from 10 years of Abbott/Turnbull/Morrison now Dutton and the Coalition electioneering When the government starts electioneering the game will be over for Nuclear Pete and his friends So a little more detail from what the Nuclear Pete supporters put on here
Deepers, I don’t really see the current govt doing much at all currently, it just exists what it actually does and plans to achieve is a mystery. That a Dutton led L/NP is even remotely competitive shows how unimpressed people are with this Labor govt, it’s by far the most forgettable Labor govt I can ever remember. If they can’t start governing in an even mildly social democratic and reformist way they are going to end up alienating a generation of younger voters. I feel like we’re heading down the path of the USA but only about 20 years behind, our mainstream politicians have been relegated to brainless PR hacks whose primary job is to maintain the status quo as much as possible for the benefit of their donors.
Don’t see the issue with the Great Seal of Australia removing any reference to the “King of Australia”. The British monarchy is a historical vestige that we can’t easily get rid of but has in real life now no meaningful place in Australia.
FUBAR
Yeah the Nazi thing not great either.
“ If they can’t start governing in an even mildly social democratic and reformist way they are going to end up alienating a generation of younger voters”
mj, it’s too late. Albanese has already alienated a generation of younger voters. I remember being young and I remember being politically wakened by a friend, and then I voted Labor for my entire life. But young citizens now are suffering, and all they see is a Labor prime minister not giving a shit about them because he’d rather take smiling selfies with Alan Joyce, probably the most hated multi millionaire seen in this country for quite a while (and he did have serious competition).
The problem for Labor about throwing away a generation of young idealistic voters is that the Liberals will never run out of voters. Self interest rules and is legion while idealism dies.
Cat
“I bet the silence from the usual suspects about Peter Dutton’s cosy relationship with Gina will be deafening.”
———————————————————
I think the Liberals will try to argue that Dutton demanding free flights from Gina does not create a conflict of interest because the LNP already does whatever Gina says anyway.
Socratessays:
Thursday, October 31, 2024 at 11:24 pm
Cat
“I bet the silence from the usual suspects about Peter Dutton’s cosy relationship with Gina will be deafening.”
———————————————————
I think the Liberals will try to argue that Dutton demanding free flights from Gina does not create a conflict of interest because the LNP already does whatever Gina says anyway.
===================================================
LNP incorruptible, as they never had any morals in the first place. Sounds like a pretty convincing argument.
Eddy, it might be too late for some but it’s still redeemable for others if Labor can move with the times but it’s doubtful they will federally in the near future.
Atm you have LNP which represents unashamedly vested interests and Labor which also represents vested interests, shyly but with meaningless, feelgood sounding social conscience platitudes attached. Labor is probably going to be squeezed out for the real deal left and right parties if it cannot adapt and move left of the reality that is becoming more polarised between haves and have nots.
“ Eddy, it might be too late for some but it’s still redeemable for others if Labor can move with the times but it’s doubtful they will federally in the near future.”
I like you mj but you are wrong about this. Labor doesn’t need to ‘move with times’ or ‘adapt’. What they need to do is return to their core beliefs and principles. Ageless stuff. Stand up, show some courage and fight the Tories. Stop selling out to the capitalist vested interests. Build on Medicare by adding dental. Stop funding rich people’s privileged prat children and invest in public education. Stop giving the Americans billions of dollars to become part of their war machine. Show some Foreign Affairs independence. Stop stuffing up the environment with massive coal mining expansions.
And for god’s sake – raise the dole!
I like you mj but you are wrong about this. Labor doesn’t need to ‘move with times’ or ‘adapt’. What they need to do is return to their core beliefs and principles. Ageless stuff. Stand up, show some courage and fight the Tories. Stop selling out to the capitalist vested interests…
———
I guess I’m looking at Labor in the context of what they have been since the 1980’s which is a neoliberal party. I’ve known nothing other than that, I was first eligible to vote in 2007. People like Albo remain student polticians he is a moron who has always been detached from the wider society and lucked out as PM being in the right place at the right time. But he has no gravitas as a leader, he just fell into his current role.
I like you mj. Keep up the good fight. I wish you all the best.
Thom Yorke walks off stage after being heckled by pro-Palestine protester at Melbourne concert..
Yorke has previously criticised the pro-Palestine Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement and has defended Radiohead’s decision to perform in Israel.
Radiohead played Tel Aviv in 2017, defying a BDS-led call to boycott the country that included public criticism from figures including the British director Ken Loach. In a statement on X at that time, responding directly to Loach, Yorke said: “Playing in a country isn’t the same as endorsing the government. We’ve played in Israel for over 20 years through a succession of governments, some more liberal than others. As we have in America. We don’t endorse Netanyahu any more than Trump, but we still play in America.”…
Meanwhile…
https://theconversation.com/boycotts-rallies-and-free-mandela-uk-anti-apartheid-movement-created-a-blueprint-for-activists-today-134857
Boycotts, rallies and Free Mandela: UK anti-apartheid movement created a blueprint for activists today
Published: April 4, 2020 8.39pm AEDT
The momentum for change in South Africa had become all but unstoppable. After 26 years in captivity, Nelson Mandela was the world’s most famous prisoner. He was embedded in popular culture and the symbol of the anti-apartheid movement. Within 18 months he would walk free, destined to become the first president of the “new” democratic South Africa.
This struggle is often represented as being driven entirely by Mandela and the African National Congress (ANC). Yet many other organisations and activists also contributed, and none more than the British Anti-Apartheid Movement (AAM), which co-organised the 1988 celebration. Established 60 years ago, today’s activists could learn much from its dedicated campaigning.
Do you think Radiohead et al are smart enough to see the different standards they apply?
Irene @ 9.29am (Thursday)
May I suggest you purchase, and read, “Economics for Dummies”.
You may then discover that through budget surpluses, the Government has saved over $80 Billion dollars in interest payments.
This is called responsible budget management.
By paying down CLP debt, funds are released to be allocated to worthy Government programmes, including Social Security.
Boerwar @ 10.57am (Thursday)
Totally agree.
When I purchase my Sydney Morning Herald, this morning, I expect to see Bridget ‘Integrity’ McKenzie
and the other two LNP members’ faces splashed across the front pages of the Telecrap & The Smearstralian, too.
But seeing those images will be akin to living to see Dutton/Littleprouds/O’Briens nuclear unicorns.
Sceptic, two days ago the Israeli parliament declared the United Nations relief agency UNRWA a ‘terrorist organisation’
So I thought I’d share this from Wolfgang Kaleck, 2014.
“ Yesterday’s terrorists can be tomorrow’s heads of state or allies. The clearest example: the case of Nelson Mandela, whose name wasn’t removed from US terrorist lists until just a few days before his 90th birthday in 2013, shortly before his death. The USA had added Mandela and his organization, the African National Congress (ANC), to the lists during the 1980’s. In the intervening period apartheid was abolished, Mandela was democratically elected president of South Africa and went on to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
These kinds of situations, are precisely the reason that states in the Global South remain reluctant to agree on a definition of terrorism at a UN level. They quite rightly fear that the category may be misused – after decades of witnessing antiand postcolonial freedom fighters be discredited as terrorist suspects.”
https://www.ecchr.eu/en/publication/my-terrorists-your-terrorists/
Mavis @ 3.04pm.
Vale Matt Peacock.
Thanks Mavis – due to storm repairs to our home we have missed most of yesterday’s news.
One of the dwindling band of ‘journalists’ who once graced ABC radio & television.
https://apple.news/AG9sYv05QRwGxcBmz7NNXiA, TGA: Sat to Thu,“The PM says he didn’t want to come out earlier in the week and issue a complete denial in case he’d missed something.”
[Ben] Fordham said on Thursday morning he asked: “Was there someone else at Qantas [Group] you were seeking upgrades from or sharing your travel plans with? Again, the PM replied: ‘No’.”
https://apple.news/AW-EfPE2ITHG5YBiRo3vKpA, Nine/ FewFacts: “A little sunlight on the Chairman’s Lounge is no bad thing. But this is not really about an airline club. It is about personal integrity and trust – for [LOTO Peter …] Dutton, just as much as [PM Anthony …] Albanese. The prime minister denies asking the Qantas boss for a favour. The opposition leader admits his office asked a mining boss for a favour.
That means Dutton has questions to answer. What does [Gina] Rinehart expect in return for helping the opposition leader? When politicians attack each other, the questions do not fly one way.”
Eddy @ 4.01pm
Your analogy is an absolutely correct description of the 2023 AFL Finals.
GWS was robbed in the Preliminary Final and Brisbane suffered the same fate in the GF.
However, I was proud to be able to attend the Preliminary Final and support my team despite the overwhelming voice of the Collingwood fans. A voice which did affect some of the umpiring decisions.
Morning all. Another SA State Independent (former Liberal) MP before the courts for expense fraud is trying to delay sentencing so he can remain in parliament!
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-31/independent-mp-fraser-ellis-to-keep-his-job-until-appeal-outcome/104542430
Socrates @ 7.19am
Born to rule, born to rort.
It is in their DNA.
Uncle Phil over at AFR has a piece saying Australians may want to do a Trump and “drain the swamp “ of labor federally.
A rolled gold shocker of a week what happened to the smiles and adults in charge?
Productivity is a disaster,economic growth close to zero and inflation too high,interest rates more likely going up then down and housing starts going nowhere labors targets are blowing out after a few months in a bad way.
Sold out democracy to China and Middle East dictatorships.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
Before we send Albanese to the ejection seat, let’s look at Dutton’s itinerary, suggests David Crowe after the accusers shot themselves in the foot.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/dutton-let-fly-at-pm-but-his-own-rinehart-freebies-will-create-turbulence-20241031-p5kmx1.html
Anthony Albanese has moved to calm ministerial colleagues about the Qantas flights saga, insisting at a meeting of his entire ministry last night that he has his house in order and is the victim of an unfair media campaign.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/prime-minister-denies-ever-seeking-travel-upgrades-from-qantas-20241031-p5kmry.html
Millie Muroi writes about supermarket prices and refers to Dr Andrew Leigh, former economics professor and now assistant minister for competition and treasury, who has had a deep-dive into the topic. It turns out the list of possible culprits when it comes to the costly lack of competition is longer than just the supermarkets – and it’s our farmers bearing the brunt of it.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/finding-it-hard-to-stomach-higher-prices-something-seedy-is-going-on-20241030-p5kmhk.html
There was some rare good news on the economic front this week when fresh data showed we are winning the battle against inflation, with Australia’s headline inflation sinking to its lowest level in more than three years. But services inflation continued to creep up, largely driven by increases to insurance premiums, childcare fees and rents, all of which remain a thorn in the side of governments, writes Annika Smethurst. She says that on one key front, days and days of housing announcements suggest Jacinta Allan isn’t shying away from this issue – in fact, she seems willing to stake her premiership on it.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/the-voters-allan-needs-to-win-over-on-housing-are-volatile-and-their-numbers-are-growing-20241031-p5kmut.html
The ‘big 4’ accounting firms often consult for the same clients they audit. Should that be allowed? This contributors to The Conversation examine the situation.
https://theconversation.com/the-big-4-accounting-firms-often-consult-for-the-same-clients-they-audit-should-that-be-allowed-242588
Today, clinicians are navigating mental health systems that are deeply broken — systems that too often fall short of offering respect, dignity, or true healing to those reaching out for help, writes Claire Hudson-McAuley.
https://independentaustralia.net/life/life-display/caring-as-a-revolutionary-act-the-fight-for-humane-mental-health-practice,19114
Paul Sakkal tells us that University debts could be slashed by tens of thousands of dollars under a Albanese government plan to make financially strained young Australians feel better off before next year’s election.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/radical-plan-to-slash-student-debts-by-tens-of-thousands-of-dollars-20241031-p5kmvu.html
Australians are paying more for domestic flights after the collapse of regional airlines Rex and Bonza, with prices on the Melbourne to Sydney route soaring. Data from online travel agent Webjet shows the average booking price for a return ticket between Melbourne and Sydney jumped from $385 in late July to $537 in late October – up 39.5 per cent. Hmmm.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/how-much-the-cost-of-domestic-airfares-has-surged-since-the-collapse-of-rex-bonza-20241029-p5kmep.html
The robodebt investigation about-face is a win for Australia’s new integrity system. AJ Brown tells us why this is the case.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/nov/01/robodebt-investigation-national-anti-corruption-commission
Since Rio Tinto blew up the 46,000-year-old Juukan Gorge rock shelters in 2020, a string of Australian companies has had their own “Juukan” moments – detonating their social licence credentials on the back of their treatment of Indigenous Australians. Optus has joined this ignominious list, writes Elizabeth Knight.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/forget-the-yes-slogan-optus-it-s-a-big-no-from-the-accc-20241031-p5kmv1.html
Reforms to the NDIS will save more than $1bn from the growing cost of the ballooning scheme, according to new official projections that promise to deliver critical structural savings to the federal budget, reports Simon Benson about Bill Shorten putting thr NDIS back on track.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/bill-relief-1bn-shaved-from-ndis-as-bill-shorten-puts-the-scheme-back-on-track/news-story/cfd8e702383cb94b52934a42c8bcb3f2
Sally Rawsthorne tells us how the police latched on to Mark Chikarovski, the son of a former NSW Liberal opposition leader, and took him down over selling mass quantities of cocaine, MDMA, crystal methylamphetamine and prescription drugs on the dark web since 2017.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/the-lavish-lifestyle-and-stunning-downfall-of-an-eastern-suburbs-high-flier-20241023-p5kkmt.html
The anti-abortion activist Joanna Howe has been banned from South Australia’s upper house after its president revealed in parliament that he had received several complaints from MLCs alleging she had used “insults and threatening and intimidating tactics” towards politicians during a debate about the state’s controversial “forced birth” legislation. The crazies are on the move.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/31/anti-abortion-advocate-joanna-howe-banned-from-south-australias-upper-house-for-alleged-threatening-tactics-ntwnfb
The Australian says that the new Queensland Premier has cancelled a landmark ‘truth-telling’ inquiry, as his newly elected LNP government immediately shuts down work on a mega pumped hydro project.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/david-crisafulli-dumps-truthtelling-inquiry-and-pioneer-burdekin-in-first-week/news-story/f8d70626dbd30e4f341f5cd8ebea5e73?amp
The Albanese government’s $4.7 billion “cheaper childcare” subsidy has all but been eaten up by fee increases, just over a year since it started being rolled out, the latest inflation data shows.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/pm-s-5b-cheaper-childcare-subsidy-gobbled-up-by-fee-hikes-20241031-p5kms6
Kate Aubusson reports that a backlog of MRI scans at a major Sydney hospital is putting patients at risk of diagnosis and treatment delays, forcing radiologists to pull out of crucial meetings to determine treatment for cancer patients so they can focus on clearing it. Not good!
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/backlog-of-thousands-of-mri-scans-threatens-missed-diagnoses-20241029-p5kmcy.html
More than a quarter of Victoria’s emergency patients are not being treated within the recommended time frames, as the Allan government also falls short on a raft of other performance benchmarks. The failings are detailed in the Health Department’s annual report, tabled in state parliament yesterday – along with more than 170 other documents.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/hospitals-homes-and-hoons-everything-you-need-to-know-about-dump-day-2024-20241031-p5kmwe.html
Drug-driving rates are soaring in NSW, but it’s not just down to extra testing, explains disaster risk expert, Milad Haghani who says the government might need to broaden its approach by incorporating behavioural interventions and public education campaigns – similar to the anti-drink-driving ads that shifted public attitudes with the message, “If you drink then drive, you’re a bloody idiot.”
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/drug-driving-rates-are-soaring-but-it-s-not-just-down-to-extra-testing-20241030-p5kmmh.html
Writing about the US election, Waleed Aly writes, “It’s an extraordinary situation: elections being decided largely by the victims of globalisation – the very globalisation the US itself championed and engineered having won the Cold War. That’s a mighty structural contradiction, and it throws off all kinds of sparks.”
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/every-four-years-america-s-forgotten-people-become-kings-of-the-world-20241031-p5kmv6.html
How will the outcome of the US election affect Australia, Aukus and our region? Ben Doherty addresses the question.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/nov/01/us-election-2024-result-trump-harris-presidency-australia-impact
America’s economy remains robust despite the sickness infecting its politics. But Donald Trump still says emergency economic surgery is needed, writes Jennifer Hewett.
https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/how-the-us-has-a-healthy-economy-unhealthy-politics-20241031-p5kmtz
“They’re coming after you, Trump says. But who are ‘they’?”, asks the Washington Post’s Danielle Paquette.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/theyre-coming-after-you-trump-says-but-who-are-they-20241031-p5kmub.html
There could be a potential surge in political violence following the upcoming US election, and pro-Trump right wing vigilante “poll watchers” might surveil ballot drop boxes as Americans cast their votes, experts warned this week. A new report from the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism (GPAHE) highlighted alarming trends in online chatter, mirroring patterns observed in the lead-up to the 2020 election and the January 6 Capitol insurrection. America is f****d!
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/31/election-political-violence-surge
It’s not just Democrats who fear a Trump victory – it would be a disaster for Europe too, says Nathalie Tocci.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/oct/31/europe-trump-harris
America’s plutocrats are systemically complicit in the Trump restoration. Whether from ideological affinity, fear of retribution, or cynicism, big money is either passively or actively contributing to his attempts to subvert the anchor institutions of American democracy, writes Ambrose Evans-Pritchard who tells us how America’s rich and powerful let Donald Trump get away with it.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/how-america-s-rich-and-powerful-let-donald-trump-off-the-hook-20241030-p5kmf7.html
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe
Matt Golding
Cathy Wilcox
Simon Letch
Geoff Pryor
Maria Ercegovac
iffland
Fiona Katauskas
Ben Jennings
Glen Le Lievre
Leak
From the US
Err fed labor types on here were saying there was no labor meeting yesterday.
Err backbenchers see their seats going whilst Albo has his $4.5 million property to retire to.
Albo is worried his grip on the leadership is slipping.Blames the media and everyone else but his own goals and his parties.
Come over to WA again Albo spend another billion driving up inflation it’s sitting at 6 % in Perth says this weeks stats.
https://apple.news/AHNBl1715ToqwoCLrA47Hmg, trust < integrity < ethics.
So how was it in the national interest that more flights by Qatar [morphed to Virgin code shares] or Emirates [allied with Qantas] were problematic, but Turkish ones were okay? I suppose, competition, concentration.
Or take the promotion of gambling.
PollyTICs as more than lobbyists, courtiers, acolytes for haves/ merchant kings and warlords, rather than focused on progressing/ advancing Australia fair for have nots? Needs-based, data as against influenced. Public rather than special schools come to mind.
Anyone in power turfed out of office, gone to court yet over Robodebt? [Afghan Files then?]
JobKeeper refunds or share of equity [which is how some governments overseas supported organisations during Covid], instead of JobSeekers below the poverty line.
WFH going RTO, think of all them office owners [hmmm, apartments?] facing stranded assets, never mind suburban coffee shops. [Watch for more offloading of energy transition cost to households, be it somewhat subsidised generation or storage.]
Perhaps term limits, recall provisions, popular initiatives, besides a non-Ersatz anti-corruption and integrity commission would make sense.
Just like campaign finance reform.
Useful freedom of information, whistleblower protection, journos, activists …
Mandatory and binding referendums, such as on war powers, republic/ monarchy/ getting the colonial Union Jack off the flag …
Ausminster/ Washminster, the FIFO that is Canberra ACT, Versailles on Lake Bloody Griffin’s governance needs some work.
Governance matters.
The risk/ threat from within. May be more than powershift, climate, inequality, health …
I can’t remember who wrote it this morning but the ALP seems to have gone centrist, blue Libs lite. Joining the LNP on the spectrum to the right of centre. Same, same. Ah well, sparking the emergence of progressive/ conservative crossbenchers.
And so Australia’s less socially or direct democratic and more liberally or extreme disaster capitalism democratic, with touches of communist, theocrazy, fascist autocracy.
Trickle down seems to have done gangbusters for gazillionaires, same for limiting royalties on resources.
Just try and save an old growth forest nearest to you by disrupting commutes.
Principles?
First of all do no more harm. [I reckon the Federal Treasurer is onto something with measuring what matters: UN iHDI/ sustainable development goals, GNH/ OECD better life index, WEForum world competitiveness, TI corruptions perceptions index …, learn from Northwestern Europe/ Scandinavia, may be Switzerland/ Singapore/ Bhutan/ Costa Rica rather than the Poms/ Yanks?]
The many before the few.
Don’t be evil!
Thanks BK!
This is a sensible article, IMO.
IMO, there are four main challenges in integrating traditional burning practices with western scientific approaches.
1. Traditional burning was part of a mobile life-style. Burn and move, move and burn. The result was many small fires over vast distances. Today’s Indigenous lifestyle is sedentary.
2. Cost. Managing lots of small fires at landscape scale is expensive. This is offset by a reduction in damage.
3. Private landowners may not want Indigenous people to set small fires on their properties.
4. Unchecked fires nowadays run into the built environment, including fences.
5. Lindenmayer is right that some areas were never burned. In some areas there has been so much disruption that local Indigenous people have any memory of what was NOT burned. Or why. Or how.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/nov/01/indigenous-cultural-burning-managed-australias-bushfires-long-before-colonisation-its-needed-now-more-than-ever-a-study-says
Irrespective of whether I agree with the sentiment, mixing religion and politics is a worry
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/australian-hindus-lose-faith-in-divisive-greens/news-story/e49be0216ac69eccc3e60fa289ee7eeb
I’m still on this horse.
-McKenzie
Coalition has demonstrated public declarations don’t work. They either forget to declare, don’t know when they have to declare, or don’t care to
Whether there is quid pro quo or not, soliciting gifts and favors (even just accepting gifts and favors) creates the impression that the politician is compromised and engaged in misconduct. Every flight, every upgrade, every bottle of wine, sports game or concert ticket erodes the public’s trust in democracy, and it can’t be allowed to continue.