Newspoll have held off this week owing to the New South Wales election, resulting in one of the occasional three week gaps in their schedule. However, the fortnightly Essential Research will come through as normal this (i.e. Monday) evening. In other non-New South Wales news, moderate faction nominee and Christopher Pyne ally James Stewart won the Liberal preselection for Sturt on Saturday, consistent with expectations and despite resistance from conservatives who sought to make hay from the fact that the moderates had chosen not to back a woman. We also have a front page headline in The Australian this morning that reads, “Gladys triumph: PM eyes May 11”. Beyond that, over to you.
Monday morning madness
Sturt preselection and election date talk – but above all, a new venue for general discussion of the political situation.
Thanks William we needed a fresh start for tomorrow
May 11…hmmmmm….as surmised by yours briefly a few days ago….announcement 6 or 7 April, writs on 8 April…makes sense…
48 days
Per William’s blog post:
Newspoll guesses will be carried over, but changing your guess is always open. And Essential guesses are…
PB-Guess: Essential 2019-03-26
PB median: ALP 53.0 to 47.0 LNP
PB mode: ALP 53.0 to 47.0 LNP
PB mean: ALP 53.4 to 46.6 LNP
No. Of PB Respondents: 52
ALP / LNP
54 / 46 (?)andy Murray
53 / 47 a r *until the election
53 / 47 Al Pal
54 / 46 BK
54 / 46 briefly
53 / 47 Burgey
52 / 48 chinda63
53 / 47 Clem Attlee
52 / 48 Confessions
55 / 45 d-money
54.7239618 / 45.2760382 Dan Gulberry *essential permanent
55 / 45 Dog’s Breakfast
52 / 48 Douglas and Milko
54 / 46 EB *permanent
54 / 46 Fozzie Logic *permanent
53 / 47 Frednk *permanent
55 / 45 Gecko
54 / 46 Granny Anny
53 / 47 Goll
53 / 47 Harry “Snapper” Organs
53 / 47 imacca
57 / 43 KayJay – all next polls
53 / 47 klasib
52 / 48 Late Riser
52 / 48 Marcos De Feilittt
55 / 45 martini henry
51.5 / 48.5 Matt
53 / 47 Matt31
53 / 47 max
52 / 48 MM
54 / 46 Mr Ed
53 / 47 pica
52 / 48 Player One
53 / 47 Puffytmd
53 / 47 Quasar *perpetuity
55 / 45 Question * until the election
53 / 47 Red13
55 / 45 rhwombat *chastened
55 / 45 Scott
53 / 47 SilentMajority
56 / 44 Simon² Katich® *eternal
54 / 46 Socrates
54 / 46 Sohar *Newspoll March 31
53 / 47 sonar *permanent
53 / 47 steve davis
52 / 48 Steve777
53 / 47 Terminator
53 / 47 Tricot
53 / 47 Victoria
53 / 47 Wayne
53 / 47 Yabba
Meep! Meep!
Radio’s $4.5 million-a-year man, Alan Jones, is a giant step closer to renewing his lucrative Macquarie Media contract.
Waste of money if ever I saw one.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/note-to-the-liberals-a-budget-surplus-doesnt-make-sense-,12502
Good morning Dawn Patrollers.
Deborah Snow says that Daley is set to receive a giant backlash after his “worst final week in living memory”.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/worst-final-week-in-living-memory-daley-faces-bitter-backlash-20190324-p51746.html
Nicole Hasham writes on how a surge of support in NSW for the Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party has revealed deep-seated anger towards the Nationals.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/backlash-in-the-bush-unsettles-coalition-before-federal-election-20190324-p5171c.html
David Crowe explores what elements of the successful NSW campaign could use federally.
https://www.smh.com.au/nsw-election-2019/the-liberal-party-s-smartest-move-in-the-nsw-election-20190324-p51732.html
Sam Maiden says that Morrison has emerged with renewed vigour after a close shave in the NSW election.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2019/03/24/scott-morrison-nsw-election/
The Age says that Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews will be a key weapon for Labor in May’s federal election, as the state emerges as a major battleground in the campaign.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/battle-of-the-bitumen-andrews-is-shorten-s-not-so-secret-weapon-20190324-p5172u.html
Tony Walker has a look at what’s ahead now the NSW election is out of the way.
https://www.smh.com.au/nsw-election-2019/after-nsw-we-re-left-with-hobson-s-choice-for-pm-20190324-p5171v.html
Michelle Grattan reckons the NSW result will give federal Liberals a boost in the mind games.
https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-nsw-result-gives-federal-liberals-a-boost-in-the-mind-games-114153
Troy Branston calls time on Michael Daley.
https://www.outline.com/NHcfuJ
John Ruddick has a gloat.
https://www.smh.com.au/nsw-election-2019/how-gladys-made-history-and-will-likely-make-more-20190324-p5172x.html
Gabrielle Chan says bush politics have changed, but the Nationals have not.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/mar/25/nsw-election-bush-politics-have-changed-but-the-nationals-have-not
Steven Hail writes that, contrary to conventional economic thinking, government surpluses don’t benefit the economy.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/note-to-the-liberals-a-budget-surplus-doesnt-make-sense-,12502
The Australian’s Ben Packham writes that Labor is positioning for a Mediscare 2.0 election campaign, vowing to unfreeze rebates on 100 GP items a year ahead of schedule as it kicks off a new marginal seats offensive over claimed Coalition “cuts” to health spending.
https://www.outline.com/kFd33M
The AFR reports that Scott Morrison and Michael McCormack are working on a peace deal over coal fired power to prevent another outbreak of hostilities within the Coalition.
https://www.outline.com/qWgjkq
Sean Kelly says that regardless of why Labor lost, Daley’s video was racist – and it cost.
https://www.smh.com.au/nsw-election-2019/regardless-of-why-labor-lost-daley-s-video-was-racist-and-it-cost-20190324-p5170f.html
Australian shares are on course for one of their worst days this year following a global market sell-off on Friday sparked by fears of a recession in the US.
https://www.outline.com/p9EAre
Bloody hell! Centrelink has threatened to charge daily compounding interest, garnish wages or seize funds from the bank accounts of former welfare recipients who fail to pay ‘robo-debts’ issued by the government’s automated recovery scheme.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/robo-debts-scheme-takes-hard-line-we-charge-compound-interest-daily-20190324-p5172p.html
The Guardian reports that leaked video, audio and images have revealed allegations of excessive force and harassment inside Australia’s network of onshore detention centres.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/mar/25/secret-recordings-allege-excessive-force-by-guards-in-australias-detention-centres
It’s all happening in the UH as ministers deny plotting to oust May as the Brexit rebels head for Chequers.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/24/brexit-hammond-denies-plotting-to-oust-may-but-admits-deal-may-not-pass
And an opinion piece in the UK Guardian declares that May’s time is up. She must make way for a caretaker prime minister.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/24/theresa-may-caretaker-prime-minister-david-lidington
Larry Elliott writes that the European Union has bigger problems to deal with than Brexit. He says the next recession will expose the eurozone as a half-baked project in need of leadership
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/mar/24/the-europe-union-has-bigger-problems-to-deal-with-than-brexit
With just days until the biggest change to health insurance in two decades, consumers are being urged and encouraged to review their policies. But the country’s biggest consumer advocate group has one clear piece of advice for you: Do nothing.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/money/consumer/2019/03/24/health-insurance-changes-april-1/
Michael West explains how Australian Unity is taking its elderly Home Care customers to the cleaners.
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/killing-it-australian-unity-takes-its-elderly-home-care-customers-to-the-cleaners/
However dysfunctional our domestic debate is on climate change, it’s abundantly clear the financial sector needs to give this issue growing attention writes Clancy Yeates.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/why-climate-change-risks-are-material-for-big-finance-20190322-p516or.html
Don’t listen to the climate sceptics that say Australia’s emissions are irrelevant to tackling climate change. Our contribution does matter — and it has real consequences for fighting this most urgent threat, writes Nicholas Bugeja.
https://independentaustralia.net/environment/environment-display/yes-australias-carbon-emissions-do-have-an-impact,12499
Greg Jericho talks about Jacinda envy and why the days of a middle-aged white male leader could be over.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2019/mar/23/jacinda-envy-why-the-days-of-a-middle-aged-white-male-leader-could-be-over
John McDuling tells us that the next chapter in the turbulent history of the Murdoch dynasty has begun.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/the-next-chapter-in-the-turbulent-history-of-the-murdoch-dynasty-has-begun-20190322-p516pu.html
Australia’s largest telco, Telstra, has bolstered the coffers of Labor and the Coalition, particularly by paying to attend events hosted by politicians, but has not filed any federal political donation disclosures since 2000 despite many other companies reporting what they pay to attend similar functions.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/telstra-s-undeclared-100-000-in-political-donations-spark-reform-call-20190313-p513qi.html
Nicole Hemmer tells us that the Christchurch shooting showed the US how dangerous ‘white power’ has become.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/christchurch-shooting-showed-us-how-dangerous-white-power-has-become-20190322-p516nw.html
New Zealanders are debating the limits of free speech after their chief censor banned a 74-page manifesto written by the man accused of slaughtering 50 people at two mosques in the city of Christchurch.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/oceania/christchurch-terrorist-attack-sparks-free-speech-debate-in-new-zealand-20190325-p5175n.html
There are four types of anti-vaxxer activists online, ranging from conspiracy theorists and people who distrust the health community to those who swear by homeopathic treatments, and people who question a vaccine’s safety.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/life/wellbeing/2019/03/24/anti-vaxxers-facebook/
Robert Reich writes that partisan fury over the special counsel’s report may obscure the ways the president has damaged our democracy.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/24/robert-mueller-report-donald-trump
And the Democratic presidential candidate Kirsten Gillibrand has used a speech in front of a Trump hotel in New York on Sunday to call the president a “coward” who “punches down” and is “tearing apart the moral fabric of our country”.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/mar/24/kirsten-gillibrand-speech-trump-coward
A legislative loophole requiring councils to report suspicions of child abuse, but not the contractors operating their facilities, meant the Mosman Swim Centre did not have to report a complaint of an “inappropriate hold” nine months before a swimming teacher was arrested on multiple charges of child sex abuse. Top effort that!
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/legislative-loophole-exposed-by-alleged-child-sex-abuse-at-mosman-pool-20190324-p51729.html
Stinky balls of used nappies, wipes, condoms, hair and oil are clogging up Australian sewers and horrifying beachgoers who stumble upon them on the sand. Dubbed ‘fat balls’, the congealed balls of waste are smaller versions of ‘fat bergs’, made up of material flushed down sinks or toilets that have failed to break down in the sewerage system. Nice.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2019/03/24/fat-balls-the-last-thing-you-want-to-find-at-the-beach.
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe has some ominous views through Gladys’s top windows.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D2Z9XgsUwAAN1nZ.jpg)
![](https://static.ffx.io/images/$width_828/t_resize_width/q_86%2Cf_auto/9a20cac34278f61ab2e2fd30e485fde278de14e2.jpg)
![](https://static.ffx.io/images/$width_828/t_resize_width/q_86%2Cf_auto/49a0eb020a02f0b6d28d5163e668a64a9f82e9b6.jpg)
![](https://static.ffx.io/images/$width_828/t_resize_width/q_86%2Cf_auto/9730b7978a90639bfcc6de07a3221f2924571185.jpg)
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D17DbyyUYAAFBlQ.jpg)
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CUbPArbUcAEMq-V.jpg)
Pat Campbell on Theresa’s train wreck.
John Shakespeare has Gladys seeing off Daley.
Matt Golding brings out the dog whistle.
Glen Le Lievre with things that kill more Australians than does terrorism.
And he has one on terrorism manufacture.
Johannes Leak and a triumphant Gladys.
https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/554b65682e4c19740fae99eba06366b4?width=316
From the US
Finch flailing as predicted
Maybe I’m wrong, but it seems that every time a service is privatised, we (govt & taxpayers) are taken to the cleaners.
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/killing-it-australian-unity-takes-its-elderly-home-care-customers-to-the-cleaners/
Dawn Patroller to BK .
Good morning and thanks for this morning’s effort.
I think I will start work later, after remedial lawn mowing, on a process (Pat Pend) to coat my house with a thin film of Tin Foil.
Of course, as will be readily understood, visitors of the dickhead persuasion will need to be screened and counter measures undertaken. Exactly how this last will work is not yet clear. Perhaps a universal language translator — such that —
Visiting last night were my favourite daughter – her husband and their youngest son. The SIL insists on telling me stuff. Foolishly – I sometimes listen. Bad move – last night he recounted the really funny story of how that red headed woman (what’s her name) made a mad speech about men – what a hoot said DH SIL. What a stupid person he said about Ms. Gillard. SIL has never met an ist he cannot love.
Ageist, racist, misogynist -anti-intellectualist – anti science.
Don’t get me wrong apart from these few minor foibles he’s a really nice bloke.
My universal translator will take this information – direct from brain ❓ and rework the information into something resembling sense and – dammit – I suppose I could try the old technique of telling him he’s and idiot. Dammit again – I have tried that previously – nothing seems to work.
End of mini rant.
Tea and toast for two please Muriel ❓ No – don’t get up – my turn. ☕🍞
My ‘duh?’ for the morning.
lizzie @ #10 Monday, March 25th, 2019 – 6:02 am
If we have no support from family and friends – in time
Sir David Attenborough | Mental health and nature – will feature predators and prey of the aged care and disability world.
More terrifying that Aliens worserer than Hereditary much, much more cringeworthy than Attack of the Killer Tomatoes.
I suppose that the ideal situation for the provider would be some type of suspended animation for the
victimsclients and a direct from taxpayer to provider bank account system.Somewhere, I feel sure, somebody is working on that last.
Au revoir. Over and nearly out. ☮
KayJay
This may interest you. 🙂
https://thenewdaily.com.au/life/2019/03/24/why-time-flies-when-we-age/
Good morning,
I unreservedly apologise to Pegasus and Gladys Berejiklian for my comments about them said on this forum yesterday and any hurt that may have been caused to them or others. No excuses.
That’s all I am going to say today. I have taken a vow of silence for one day.
Re Lizzie @6:02
Privatisation –> soaring prices, plunging service
From the ‘no shit Sherlock’ files, which the Daily ToiletPaper saves for the Monday after the election..
“Radio station 2GB has been embroiled in another drama, with a former staff member alleging that host Ray Hadley bullied him, and that he was verbally abused weekly for more than a decade.
A Macquarie Radio spokesman said the company was “not aware of any complaints related to this matter” and invited them “to be raised directly with the station”.
Former producer Chris Bowen wrote that he “suffered mental health problems” after the death of his parents and “16 years of intense bullying” by a work colleague at Radio 2GB, which is owned by the Nine Network.
“I was subjected to vile and inexcusable behaviour,’’ he wrote. “Out of control sheer rage. It was directed at me at least weekly.”
https://outline.com/b3gccs
Thanks BK
Lizzie,
My theory is that years become proportionally smaller compared to our age.
KayJay,
Write off the SIL and concentrate on the grand kids 🙂
It appears Mueller has determined Trump was a ‘useful idiot’, finding no evidence of active collusion
lizzie @ #15 Monday, March 25th, 2019 – 6:51 am
Not only does it interest me – it coincides with what my old geezer brain is reporting.
Thanks for the reference. In return and as a mark of my gratitude I will not make any reference to articles in The Australian – The Daily Telegraph or the Sydney Morning Herald.
Just as an aside to the observations of babies – I was sitting at the local hospital last week patiently waiting – waiting. Must have been a two for the price of one with little kids and broken arms. Quite near was a Granny with the grandchild in a stroller. Granny rocking the stroller back and forth and the little one looking here and there, feet on the move and taking in everything. In the background playing the Hospital piano was a talented gentleman accompanied by a cornet player (muted cornet). They played Moon River for me. Ah ❗ we takes our pleasures where we can.
🎹🎺👼👶
So the US AG has written a summary, and not released the report.
There are 2 parts to the summary, the first on ‘collusion’, no evidence, and the second on ‘obstruction of justice’, the extract below raises more questions..
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/mar/25/secret-recordings-allege-excessive-force-by-guards-in-australias-detention-centres
Reading this produces only depression. No wonder some detainees commit suicide. I know I would, too.
Come on Labor, fix this, for humanity’s sake.
So much for “Trump will die in jail”, “Meuller’s got him where he wants him” etc. etc. ad infinitum.
my newspoll prediction for next week is
56/44 to Labor
Cat
Good on you.
When I find out what was discussed at Morrison’s 10.30″Tactical Meeting” this morning, I’ll let you know.
Funny, that the meeting required all support staff to be at work today.
We’ll see soon enough.
But as I said last night, I’m told Morrison is inspired by the NSW result seeing it as a sign that the advance of Labor, as a result of Turnbulls knifing, has been halted.
C@tmomma
‘Vow of silence’
Good onya but some will hear ya in kind
Red13
Morrison would look silly on a horse and an unlikely General.
Who wants to place their bets now on whether the full Mueller Report makes an implication of some kind of wrongdoing on Trump’s behalf that is unmentioned by the US AG’s summary?
Goll,
I’m told he was enthused by the victory party on Saturday night. Had a couple of drinks on board and loved the adulation being put about by the throng in attendance, thus his comment re seeing you all again in a couple of months.
It seems he has made a decision off the back of Berejiklian’s win.
Will find out more this morning. If elections are the subject of the meeting this will be the first time he has openly canvassed a date in the PMO.
I daresay his Backbench will still be reluctant to go.
C@t…..good on you…good to see…
The beauty of following the astronomical seasons (starting on the solstices and equinoxes) is that autumn only started a few days ago. 🙂
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6840803/The-Centrelink-families-splurging-cash-accidentally-receiving-10-000.html
Since no-one is supposed to question Robodebt, I expect they thought the same applied to a benefit. 😉
Meanwhile – in Thailand:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/vote-counting-begins-thailand-election-coup-190324114756822.html
There is some preliminary release on the Mueller Report – grain of salt atm
(((Rep. Nadler)))Verified account @RepJerryNadler
“The Special Counsel states that ‘while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.’”
“Red13
Morrison would look silly on a horse and an unlikely General.”
The very model of a British General in the Napoleonic Wars before Wellington and the Peninsular campaign then.
But you are forgetting. ScoMo is a Royal Navy man, after all: striding forth manly on the Quarterdeck …
I think Morrisson is right to take some comfort from the NSW election – it may just possibly stop the poor polls and give the LNP a breather – William’s Pollbludger chart shows a down trend for Labor and it’s possible this trend will continue a bit more.
I hope it bottoms out at 52/48 over the next few polls – would not want to see it dip much below that leading up to the election.
But Turnbull endorsed the NSW Liberal Leader as a true Liberal
Will the Federal Government enjoy the same endorsement, noting the intervention of Turnbull Jnr in Wentworth?
I have long been of the view that the Liberal Party post Howard has bastardised the Liberal Party making them unable to be voted for – the worst of this bastardisation being Bastiaan in Victoria (and replicated in other State branches?)
lizzie
Monday, March 25th, 2019 – 8:14 am
Comment #35https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6840803/The-Centrelink-families-splurging-cash-accidentally-receiving-10-000.html
My eldest favourite daughter who has a tiny child care cottage – told me of this complete stuffup months ago. Apparently the payment system foulup system is now at a fire for effect setting and therefore will continue until the end of time. (Currently the setting for stuffups is for intermittent).
On another matter, a friend posed the question (re Centrelink)
Can they never get anything right ❓
What could the possible answer be ❓
For Morrison to be returned as PM the Libs have to keep all their seats and then win others without losing any.
Bludgertrack has them losing 21 at the moment, So the question is how many of the 21 are going to swing back to the govt and why?
Personally I think the result in NSW was more to do with state issues than federal and when Morrison calls the date the baseball bats will be out ready to swing.
Tony Windsor is correct. It’s passing strange to me that Gladys will probably scrape in with a one seat majority which amounts to a major coalition victory against a party that no one, well notably those who call the scrape home a triumph, in retrospect thinks was even remotely capable of governing.
Red13 @ #27 Monday, March 25th, 2019 – 7:51 am
I wonder if the GP infestation of yesterday was a manifestation of the Scrofulous mAd Man’s new found hubris, or just a symptom Rutting Rutaga Disease.
sonar says:
Monday, March 25, 2019 at 8:32 am
———
Also the libs/nats combined primary vote needs to be 42%+ to get more than 75 seats
booleanbach @ #39 Monday, March 25th, 2019 – 8:19 am
—
Makes me laugh when the losing team claim a State election was lost on “State based issues” {Victoria, NSW) and the winner claims at least some of the credit for the win, AKA Scomo on Saturday night BEFORE either Daley or Gladys spoke.
I don’t see what Morrison can take much comfort in beyond the possibility that the anti-Liberal brand in Victoria post Turnbull getting the flick MAY be long forgotten in NSW. Moreover, the NATIONALS losing 2 seats and seeing the PV tumble in massive numbers in at least a couple of seats does not auger well for the NATS when the big game comes to town.
I am definitely putting a punt on Gilmore, Page and OAKESHOTT to win Cowper at the very least.
The Shooters released a 10-point Murray-Darling management strategy during the election, which includes pausing water buybacks from farmers, establishing a federal royal commission and protecting environmental flows from irrigators.
Interesting; maybe I should have voted for them after all!
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/mar/24/shooters-say-support-for-nsw-government-conditional-on-murray-darling-action
From BK this morning, predawn really, comes –
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/the-next-chapter-in-the-turbulent-history-of-the-murdoch-dynasty-has-begun-20190322-p516pu.html
– which contains, amongst the obscene amounts of money swirling around, a question to Lachlan, supposed social liberal, as to whether he is embarrassed by Fox News’ anything-but social liberalness. To this, he defends Fox News’ extreme intolerance, of everyone and everything other than its own prejudices, by exhorting everyone to be more tolerant (of Fox News).
Kevin Bonham pointed out that at the Menindee City Hall polling booth, of 267 votes cast, only 7 (I repeat, SEVEN) were for the Nats!
I wonder if Barnyard wants to become Nat leader again to shore up the vote in his own electorate.
The mental & emotional anguish that humans visit upon themselves is endless; This story is so disheartening:
https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-caliphate-is-crushed-but-isis-infantsinnocent-abandoned-and-despisedlive-on?ref=home