The second and third federal polls for the year have been published over the last few days, the more recent being a Roy Morgan result that has Labor down two on last month to 30%, the Coalition up four to 30.5%, One Nation down half to 15% (a distinctly different result from the other two recent polls) and the Greens steady on 13.5%. Whereas Morgan’s practice since the May election has been to publish large-sample monthly results compiled from its regular surveying, this result is limited to a 1676 sample over a one-week period from January 5 to 11, the former date marking the resumption of its surveying after a break that began in mid-December. Labor is credited with a 52-48 two-party lead using both respondent-allocated preferences and previous election preference flows, compared with respective leads of 55-45 and 55.5-44.5 last month.
The other comes from Fox & Hedgehog, a new outfit founded by former Peter Dutton staffer Michael Horner, and has Labor leading 53-47 from primary votes of Labor 29%, Coalition 25%, One Nation 21% and Greens 14%. Also featured are further two-party preferred match-ups showing Labor leading One Nation 56-44 and the Coalition leading One Nation 63-37, and a “three-party preferred” result with Labor on 46%, the Coalition on 29% and One Nation on 25%. Together with Anthony Albanese (33% approval and 48% disapproval) and Sussan Ley (19% approval and 32% disapproval), personal ratings were included for six further politicians, with Pauline Hanson scoring 38% approval and 41% disapproval. Albanese leads Ley 39-31 on preferred prime minister.
As well as extensive breakdowns on voting intention, the poll further offers the striking findings that 51% consider the Australian political system “fundamentally broken”, with only 22% disagreeing, and 55% in favour of “a pause to all migration to Australia other than tourists”, with only 22% disagreeing. Twenty-eight per cent favoured the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, with 32% opposed. The poll was conducted January 5 and 6 from a sample of 1608.
He keeps going on about some part of the law he says would ban Anzac uniforms. I decline to look into whether that’s true or not. If there is a technical error in the drafting I’m sure it will be fixed, that’s what drafts are for. But I don’t assume it is true, because this kind of attempt to ridicule gun laws is standard NRA practice
++++
Who is wearing WWI military garb?
Jacqui Lambie’s political party has been deregistered in Tasmania, closing the book on what her former right-hand man sees as a big missed opportunity for the state.
The Tasmanian Electoral Commission cancelled the Jacqui Lambie Network’s party registration in Tasmania this month. It followed the party not providing required paperwork known as a review of registration form by January 14, as the TEC required.
https://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/9154142/jacqui-lambie-party-deregistered-in-tasmania/
JJ you are referring to gun belts and like that hold more than 30 rounds of ammunition, then associating this with some restriction on ANZAC! That is a pretty ordinary way to argue against the legislation.
I doubt there would be too many Australians who would not be OK with ANZAC using some form of harmless replica.
Sorry really bad argument in my opinion.
They have more fun in Queensland…
https://ssaaqld.org.au/discipline/cannon-approval-required-3/
Hhb
Jacqui Lambie’s political party has been deregistered in Tasmania, closing the book on what her former right-hand man sees as a big missed opportunity for the state.
+++×
Big LOL from me. She never made any serious attempt to be a third party, even in the local government known as Tasmania.
Grievance only takes you so far. They drink their own koolaid.
Holdenhillbilly @ #2052 Saturday, January 17th, 2026 – 8:39 pm
One of the biggest missed opportunities in Tasmanian politics that one. Jacquie has some really good strengths, people management is not one of them.
“Who is wearing WWI military garb?”
The fourth season of Blackadder. I suspect JJ could be a character from there.
The fourth season of Blackadder. I suspect JJ could be a character from there.
“Darling…”
As an aside I’m sure costume for say remaking ‘1915’ would be fine
One of Jacquie’s, many, people mistakes was that she told her state MPs they could disagree with her and it’d be fine, I’ll at least give Pauline Hanson this, she said cross me and I’ll kick you out of the party, Jacquie just kicked them out as she couldn’t handle any minor disagreements, her daemons are strong.
Oh come on Yabba. Do try to keep up. I posted that almost eight hours ago. If you think my posts are a waste of your valuable time then don’t read them. Simple.
Jolly Jumbuck says:
Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 7:52 pm
davidwh says:
Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 7:07 pm
Sensible move by Labor to split the bill so at least the gun laws get passed quickly. Not worth holding that up just to wedge the Opposition.
————————
So we must quickly pass laws that criminalise watching youtube videos and remove innocent until proven guilty…
But those hate speech laws just went too far and the outrage was deafening, now….crickets… Who gives two shits about some minority group we all hate and want stomped out of existence. They deserve zero fair laws like we think should apply to ourselves. The irony of hatred in Australia.
I bet 99% of people here and elsewhere know nothing about firearms and know nothing about what the bill proposes, especially the bans on use of the internet and bans on importing clothing. yes clothing is being banned because it is apparently evil.
______________________________________________
So I’ll address your concerns a little more directly and note that the Firearms pat of the draft legislation is ambiguous as to whether hand-loading related instructional material is banned or not.
And for those who might get excited about this, hand-loading ammo is high-effort, high capital cost activity for the purpose of achieving better scores in competitive shooting (esp long range competition). It has nothing to do with crime because many of the components still require a license to purchase.
The legislative carve out most specific to licensed dealers – so big NIOA doing a deal to boost sales?
Corleonesays:
Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 8:47 pm
The fourth season of Blackadder. I suspect JJ could be a character from there.
“Darling…”
As an aside I’m sure costume for say remaking ‘1915’ would be fine
—————————————————
The Jumbuk got grabbed and eaten. So the Blackadder equivalent is Speckled Jim.
I think most of us have had a chew on a Jolly Jumbuck portion or two.
Entropy @ #2062 Saturday, January 17th, 2026 – 9:09 pm
Ah, I like this, Blackadder characters with equivalents.
I think another one that would be apt is that of “Georgina” would be Tim Wilson, namely because he’s so convinced of his role of a “Moderate Liberal” that got back in the game that he’s fully prepared to dress up for the part and the big flaw in the plan there is if his media betters see what’s under his skirts then it’d be pretty embarrassing for both sides involved.
“Sensible move by Labor to split the bill so at least the gun laws get passed quickly. Not worth holding that up just to wedge the Opposition.”
Erghhhhh ….. put my head down at 13:30 and slept solid till 17:50 when they who must be obeyed (my partners ancient Beagle and her Beagle / Bloodhound cross ) pushed me out of bed with “FEED ME!!!” noises. 🙂 Yah D&M …… earlobe and top of jaw joint hot and swollen. 🙁 Doc looked at it, have antibiotics and i’ll see how it goes over the next couple of days.
Was interesting getting personal experience of the Urgent Care thing. I always though that they would quickly get crowded like FSH emergency. Maybe i was lucky with timing, but i think this program is a quiet grass roots winner for Albo.
“Sensible move by Labor to split the bill so at least the gun laws get passed quickly. Not worth holding that up just to wedge the Opposition.”
Yup, DwH …..agreed. And he just sits back for a while now, lets the Coalition wedge itself, while he does more consultation. By going NO, NO, NO ……. Susssssssan is channeling Aboot, and after screaming for fast action its THEM that is disappointing the Likud Zionist faction here.
davidwh
“JJ you are referring to gun belts and like that hold more than 30 rounds of ammunition, then associating this with some restriction on ANZAC! That is a pretty ordinary way to argue against the legislation.
I doubt there would be too many Australians who would not be OK with ANZAC using some form of harmless replica.
Sorry really bad argument in my opinion.”
————————————
I agree. A slight imposition on period re-enactors should not stop anti-gun laws. Absurd.
I suppose anti-knife legislation will stop people carrying historic rifle bayonets too. So what?
Didn’t they have dress and field uniforms back then? Surely there is a uniform without the bandoliers.
Since we are discussing a lot about religion in the last few weeks, I sometimes wonder whether things changed from the days of WW2
See new posts
Conversation
Abhishek
@AbhishBanerj
People don’t realize the big role that religion plays in US policy
General Douglas MacArthur explained why the US had a duty to free the Philippines from Japan in WW2
Because Filipinos were Christians!
(Book Source: Nimitz at War, Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay, by Craig L Symonds)
https://x.com/AbhishBanerj/status/2012396682252804323?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet
I have a different take on what’s played out this week & today.
Albo’s attempt at a wedge, I believe will backfire in his face.
I suspect some more sub 30 ALP primaries over the next few weeks.
His net/sat will take a hit too.
We should have about 4 polls reporting over the next 3 days, but only 2 of these polls will fully cover today’s “backdown”.
Albo’s attempt at a wedge, I believe will backfire in his face
÷÷÷===
You can’t be serious. He won a landslide. The target is the Nigerian. Once she’s gone the libs will pick an even less attractive option. The one who is too hastie. Unless he defects too, in which case can the last one out turn out the lights.
This unpopular albo can afford a few losses and the only people talking about him gone are thr pathetic Murdoch and Costello camps hoping to make some money on it.
Bizzcan says:
Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 8:15 pm
Wow, the gun nut is the only one this whole past week who actually cited a line of legislation they find objectionable!
I’m sure he has been fed his lines by Advance. Rather than having read through the legislation himself.
Corleone @ #2069 Saturday, January 17th, 2026 – 9:49 pm
Yeah, I agree with this. Politics is on a rollercoaster at the moment, there’s so much more to play out from here until 2028.
Significantly so is that the next Australian election is due before the next US Presidential election in 2028, and unless something unusual happens before then, Trump or Vance will still be the US President in that time, and I highly doubt that will be beneficial for the Australian Coalition if they continue down this MAGA path.
So … yet another political masterstroke by Albo?
How lucky are we?
Unfortunately I read through the legislation to see what he was on about. At my age I can’t afford to waste precious time chasing unicorns. 🙁
Star Trek humor for Trump getting awards.
Oh dear. nadia’s back on the ‘Sub _._’ bandwagon. 🙄
nadia, I told you before, stop reading and listening to the Right Wing media. They have an agenda and it’s Anti Labor Party, all the way down.
@Jolly Jumbuck:
“I would say it shows what sort of a person you are.”
Yes, one who would be perfectly happy if there were no guns in private hands at all and values his time not to be reading early draft legislation that might get changed a dozen times before it comes to the vote.
I already know what sort of person you are, and don’t need any further indicators.
Socratessays:
Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 10:05 pm
——————–
“What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others,”
Can I just state, for the record, that I am proud to know sfa about guns!
Evil killing machines that they are.
And I will brook no Whataboutisms about the damned things.
Especially either, they are needed to kill feral animals, or the sporting shooters argument that is always brought up to justify loosening the gun laws we already have, as almost just happened in NSW.
Didn’t you play cowboys and Indians as a kid C@t?
Hope this doesn’t breach the new laws.
Some ridiculous rainfall totals are building up around Sydney and the Central Coast tonight. Koolewong, which lost 16 homes to bushfires last month, has had over 150 mm since 9:00 AM. Nearby Woy Woy has had over 220 mm. Avalon (Sydney Northern Beaches) has received 179 mm.
And it continues to bucket down.
Seriously, like Canberra and Melbourne, we need a rain shadow. We have the Great Dividing Range, but it’s on the wrong side.
As well as the gun laws, Labor want to get this passed:
Labor will also try to push through legislation giving the government powers to ban hate groups, including neo-Nazi organisations and Islamic organisation Hizb ut-Tahrir, as well as to revoke or refuse visas for people with extremist views seeking to come to Australia.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jan/17/labor-albanese-gun-control-proposed-hate-speech-laws-racial-vilification
And it continues to bucket down.
Have you seen tomorrow’s forecast, Steve777? 😯
10-80mm
davidwh says:
Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 10:23 pm
Didn’t you play cowboys and Indians as a kid C@t?
Nope. Doctors and Nurses. 🙂
Didn’t you play cowboys and Indians as a kid…
Cow persons and Native Americans…
Jolly Jumbuck:
yes clothing is being banned because it is apparently evil.
Oh dear, will we all be forced to become naturists? The internet is right – the Nude World Order is upon us!
Compare the pair:
Sussan Ley’s…spokesperson’s… response to the Bill being split:
100% pure, unadulterated by anything constructive, political rhetoric.
And Larissa Waters:
An adult response.
C@t originally I made an error and had to edit the post ….
C@t didn’t you lay cowboys and Indians. (Oops)
You would think that ought to be a lay down misere.
Steve777says:
Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 10:29 pm
Some ridiculous rainfall totals are building up around Sydney and the Central Coast tonight. Koolewong, which lost 16 homes to bushfires last month, has had over 150 mm since 9:00 AM. Nearby Woy Woy has had over 220 mm. Avalon (Sydney Northern Beaches) has received 179 mm.
And it continues to bucket down.
Seriously, like Canberra and Melbourne, we need a rain shadow. We have the Great Dividing Range, but it’s on the wrong side.
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Unlike Canberra, Melbourne is on the wetter coastal side of the Divide too. Just moisture off the colder oceans to south of Melbourne doesn’t have the same moisture carrying potential as those off the warmer eastern oceans near Sydney.
It is the Otway Ranges (not part of the Divide) that provides some rain shadow to Melbourne’s south west.
Bystander yes you would hope so.
Presumably this is intended to promote hatred because of the national origin of the target.
”It is the Otway Ranges (not part of the Divide) that provides some rain shadow to Melbourne’s south west.”
Although Melbourne is also protected from Tasman Sea air masses by high ground to its East and North East. The Tasman Sea seems to have become a cauldron of instability in recent years.
Well what do you know Sussan Ley born in Nigeria, lived in UAE and England before coming to Australia. Hope she doesn’t have dual citizenship somewhere.
That makes sense of the comment William referred to above.
Can you discriminate against a White Anglo Australian?
davidwh,
Norty! 😆
I was tempted to leave it C@t. 🙂
Regardless of where Ley was born or raised, she’s Australian. All federal MPs are.
Arky says:
Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 10:10 pm
Yes, one who would be perfectly happy if there were no guns in private hands at all
———————–
So one that does not like people having freedoms they do not agree with. Oh I know what people will say, I want the freedom not to be killed by a gun. Funny how those same people seem to want to be killed by alcohol though.
No one needs to drink alcohol, alcohol costs the country billions of dollars a year and kills and maims thousands if not tens of thousands a year. Just look at a hospitals A&E on a saturday night for proof. We could crack down further on alcohol, make all cars have a device where you must prove you have no alcohol in your system before it will start.
I do not drink alcohol so a total ban to me will mean nothing, will have zero effect on my lifestyle. But wait, I accept some people like alcohol so while alcohol will kill me before any gun will, I will will respect people wanting to drink alcohol. But those people certainly will not reciprocate and expect me not accept their demands on banning my freedoms.
And I have not even got into cars and kids murdered and killed by cars every year.
And there will be complete silence over what I just wrote.
Jolly Jumbucksays:
We could crack down further on alcohol, make all cars have a device where you must prove you have no alcohol in your system before it will start.
_________________
Sounds like a good idea. Let’s do that after getting rid of guns.
Comment of the Day to nath! 🙂
Oh, and there is a little problem of alcohol being disinhibiting. Combine that with a gun? Not a good combination. So as there would be riots in the streets if we tried to get rid of alcohol (it’s been tried already and was a complete failure), it’s probably better to regulate possession of guns.