The Guardian reports this week’s Essential Research poll has still more results on coronavirus, together with some findings on climate change. On the former count, the poll found 63% rating a second wave of coronavirus as restrictions are eased as very likely or quite likely, with only 13% rating it very unlikely; more than 60% expected international travel restrictions to remain for between one and two years; 70% thought it would take between one and two years for employment to recover; 60% expected a prolonged impact on the housing market; more than 60% expected a vaccine would be developed “over the next few years”; and 58% that the population would build resistance through exposure over that time. Despite it all, 45% said they felt very or somewhat positive about the next 12 months compared with 33% for very or somewhat negative.
On climate change, 52% now think Australia is not doing enough, down eight on November, with 25% holding the contrary view, up three. Forty-two per cent said they were now more concerned about climate change than they were a year ago, with a further 46% saying they were no more or less concerned. Full results from the poll will be published later today. (UPDATE: Full report here).
The definitive measure of the national psyche :
TPI
( Toilet Paper Index )
We all need a laugh. I wonder what these people feel about nudists.
Bill @ #2150 Friday, June 26th, 2020 – 9:07 am
Ok that’s it Billo, Mundo warned you, now I’m ringing Menzies House and they’re going to come round and put you back on the leash!
No different here?
The appeasing of pro lib/nats media , is not going to be stopped under the current Labor leadership ,
Whether Labor holds on or loses the seat after the by-election , change leadership
Labor criticism on any topic of the foreign controlled and owned Lib/nats government , have been short and sweet, the public will not remember many of the attacks.
Labor under Shorten ,attacks of the foreign controlled and owned Lib/nats government were consistent and were cutting through , there were not many quiet days
Partisanship was never the problem. Labor needs to learn to lead
://reneweconomy.com.au/partisanship-was-never-the-problem-labor-needs-to-learn-to-lead-10909/
From one of BK’s articles:
[‘About two-and-a-half years later, an independent “court inquiry” [my empahsis] found one of the nation’s pre-eminent legal minds (Heydon) sexually harassed six women.’]
That’s incorrect: ”The inquiry was an internal administrative inquiry and was conducted by a public servant and not by a lawyer, judge or a tribunal member. It was conducted without having statutory powers of investigation and of administering affirmations or oaths.”
It’s more probable than not, however, that a court, whether it will be a criminal or civil proceeding or both, will hear the allegations. The “Great Dissenter”, who thought his peers’
grammar was inferior to his, would be a very worried old man, his misconduct cutting short the careers of at least two of the cream of the crop law graduates. And it’s good to see that his shingle has been removed in Selborne Chambers, one of the most prestigious in this country.
lizzie @ #2152 Friday, June 26th, 2020 – 7:12 am
Just shows that they’re not completely human. 🙂
Lizzie
Sending all my love…….
Mavis @ #2158 Friday, June 26th, 2020 – 7:33 am
I think you’ll find that “court inquiry” refers to the fact that it was initiated within the High Court.
Im not to worried about the ABC.
It’s had a good run. I wonder why PK was so harsh yesterday. Did some of the cuts finally hit home?
I really think if they moved the ABC HQ to someswhere like gosford or ballarat they could totally save costs. They should totally do it.
What on earth is the point of this? We already know what he’ll say.
My suspicions of a cultural group being the cause of outbreak here in Victoria is now being reported.
Whilst I was very frustrated about it during the past few weeks, the last thing we need is the likes of Andrew bolt to incite racial angst
Victoria
A quiet morning. Dogs all asleep around my desk. 🙂
Lizzie
Hugs……
south
Anderson said yesterday that selling buildings would not really help because the ongoing running costs were the problem. Accountancy nerds will understand, I think.
lizzie @ #2167 Friday, June 26th, 2020 – 7:47 am
And many parts would need to be replaced, so new studios, production facilities and offices would need to be acquired or built.
Victoria @ #2166 Friday, June 26th, 2020 – 9:45 am
And from here. About to take my little hearing assistance dog out for a walk
Wtf
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A registered nurse has been charged after allegedly trying to suffocate an elderly hospital patient with a pillow in Sydney’s southwest. #7NEWS
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While I am not happy with the cuts to the ABC, it has to be recognised that many media outlets are doing it tough. The BBC is under similar pressure.
The point for me is that, as per usual, the Oz electorate wants it both ways………….On the one hand there is general recognition through various polls at least, that the ABC does a good job, is trusted when it comes to news and is a bit like a pair of old slippers – comfortable when put on and when needed. Trouble is, the world is changing and a new generation does not give a stuff as long as the App works.
The ABC costs.
And, who am I to criticise? I use PB as my first port of call for news in the morning, followed by Crikey and then, when I have 5 minutes to spare, I look through our local Harvey Norman – otherwise known as The West Australian. After that, London FT on line……
My observation here is that PB’ers are very media savvy and go far and wide, way beyond the ABC, Murdoch and Stokes for news, views and entertainment…
Looks like ita might step up to the plate.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/ita-buttrose-lashes-government-over-handling-of-abc-funding-cuts-20200625-p5569n.html
“Puffin”
***
Porgs Only Exist Because Star Wars: The Last Jedi Couldn’t Get Rid of Puffins
GQ is a proudly pro-Porg publication. Sure, some of us want to pet them and some of us want to eat them—but either way, we like them.
But what do we actually know about the Porgs? Despite Star Wars: The Last Jedi’s two hour and 33 minute runtime, the amount of concrete information we get on the Porgs is vanishingly small. They live on Luke Skywalker’s weird little Jedi island, they make annoying little squeaks, and they get all weepy if you roast one of their siblings over a fire. But where do they come from, anyway?
Now we know. In an interview with StarWars.com, creature concept designer Jake Lunt Davies reveals that the Porgs were only invented to cover up the actual adorable creatures that turned out to be a huge pain in the ass for writer/director Rian Johnson. Skellig Michael, the Irish Island on which the Luke Skywalker scenes were shot, is a wildlife preserve that pays home to “hundreds” of puffins—squat little birds that bear a not-inconsiderable resemblance to Porgs. And by law, Star Wars: The Last Jedi was not permitted to mess with the puffins.
https://www.gq.com/story/porgs-only-exist-because-star-wars-the-last-jedi-couldnt-get-rid-of-puffins#:~:text=Skellig%20Michael%2C%20the%20Irish%20Island,to%20mess%20with%20the%20puffins.
Now you know lol
Tricot @ #2171 Friday, June 26th, 2020 – 8:03 am
Surely that’s one of the reasons not to cut, as it maintains at least one major media outlet at full functionality.
At a time of major crisis this is more essential as the major private media companies become more concentrated and editorial lines become more polarised.
Tricot @10.03
“I use PB as my first port”
That would explain many of the comments.
Firefox
Friday, June 26th, 2020 – 10:14 am
Comment #1800
“Puffin”
Chewbacca eating a porg ❓
Wrong sort of ‘puffin’ ?
“lefty_esays:
Friday, June 26, 2020 at 9:29 am
Partisanship was never the problem. Labor needs to learn to lead”
FFS – just like they listened to the hard left and led on tax reform at the last election. And everyone was so concerned about housing affordability, except on election day.
An opposition who want to win government (so not the Greens) have to envelope the electorate in a great big warm hug. Pick a small number of policies where everyone will win in a completely unarguable way, reinforce how great everyone is and otherwise be as unremarkable as possible.
They also need to portray the governing party as mean spirited and out to “get” everyone. That was the gift of workchoices for Rudd, as an example.
The next election is going to have to go back to the Clinton staple of “it’s the economy, stupid”
Why do I mention the Greens – not to get into the usual war here, but simply because when you’re not trying to win government then the tactics are different. In that case you want to appeal to people who are very similar to your current voters. All you’re trying to do in that case is increase your present vote by a small amount at each election. So you’re chipping away at people who already think very similarly to your present voters.
For the LNP and the ALP, what they require is to actually convert people who think like their opposition. So going with policies that are radically different is not going to cut it.
“Tricotsays:
Friday, June 26, 2020 at 10:03 am
While I am not happy with the cuts to the ABC, it has to be recognised that many media outlets are doing it tough”
Putting aside any media considerations, from a purely economic perspective cutting government jobs at the minute is simply stupid.
C@tmomma says:
Friday, June 26, 2020 at 8:33 am
Taylormade @ #2129 Friday, June 26th, 2020 – 8:26 am
Another CFA chief officer bites the dust. 40 years firefighting experience gone, all because Andrews cannot say No to Marshall and the UFU.
Waste of time appointing a replacement.
They should say, ‘Yes’, to the Liberal Party, who don’t mind populating the CFA with unpaid volunteers in the exurbs that are not as professionally-trained, instead, shouldn’t they?
—————————————
C@T
The CFA provides extensive training to its volunteers.
Counter-espionage agency ASIO is conducting a sweeping investigation into allegations Chinese government agents have infiltrated the office of a NSW Labor politician to influence Australian politics.
Multiple sources aware of the foreign interference investigation said it was scrutinising the office of NSW Labor MP Shaoquett Moselmane as part of one of the most significant inquiries in recent ASIO history.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/nsw-mp-s-sydney-home-raided-as-asio-probes-china-links-20200626-p556f6.html
I really wish China would simply learn to influence other countries politics in the same way the US does.
Now that the ALP has left the field, this is the kind of argument we will have to rely on to get the LNP to act on climate change:
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/global-gdp-to-fall-25-per-cent-without-more-climate-action-banks-warn-20200625-p5563t.html
Once global warming starts hitting their mate’s bottom lines, the Liberals will act. It will be too little and too late, but they will act.
What a legacy we are leaving to our kids 🙁
“Player Onesays:
Friday, June 26, 2020 at 10:48 am
Now that the ALP has left the field, this is the kind of argument we will have to rely on to get the LNP to act on climate change:”
Can’t change the laws from opposition. If climate action were actually a vote winner in Australia, then the Greens would be in government.
Labor has so become scared of being seen as radical it does not know how to fight.
Instead it’s all run away.
The word austerity still has not passed Chalmers lips.
No mask?
Blobbit @ #2184 Friday, June 26th, 2020 – 10:50 am
At some point doing what’s correct will take precedence over doing what’s popular.
Blobbitt
Yes Labor so did not help change the Marriage Equality laws from Opposition. Labor is as useless as tits on a bull in Opposition.
The Qantas announcement yesterday highlights one of the problems with the Government delaying the budget and uncertainty over stimulus policies like JobKepper.
Companies normally finalise their next financial year knowing what the Government is proposing, this year they don’t and there is much uncertainty about what it will contain.
July next year seems to be an optimistic estimate for international travel, but still it is way beyond anything the Government has forecast.
Blobbit @ #2184 Friday, June 26th, 2020 – 10:50 am
We’ll now never know if decent climate change policy could win an election, will we? Labor muffed it last time by sending mixed messages on coal, and this time they have just given up on it altogether.
ar
Labor’s job is to make doing what’s correct popular
Keating made a recession popular enough to win elections.
Blobbitsays: Friday, June 26, 2020 at 10:46 am
I really wish China would simply learn to influence other countries politics in the same way the US does.
******************************************************
Suggested Reading :
Killing Hope – U.S. Military and CIA Interventions Since World War II – William Blum
Is the United States a force for democracy? In this classic and unique volume that answers this question, William Blum serves up a forensic overview of U.S. foreign policy spanning sixty years.
If you flip over the rock of American foreign policy of the past century, this is what crawls out… invasions … bombings … overthrowing governments … occupations … suppressing movements for social change … assassinating political leaders … perverting elections … manipulating labor unions … manufacturing “news” … death squads … torture … biological warfare … depleted uranium … drug trafficking … mercenaries …
It’s not a pretty picture. It’s enough to give imperialism a bad name.
https://williamblum.org/books/killing-hope/
Tehan’s Turkey, day whatever (10?):
No seriously, you’re going to love this one.
When you dig into the fine print, you discover this: Subjects under ‘society and culture’ that will increase from ~$6800 to $14,000 fees include Social Work, Children’s Services, Youth Work, Care for the Aged, Care for the Disabled, Residential Client Care and Counselling.
No jobs in that! Especially not with an ageing population.
What an explosive arse-spray of airborne turd particles.
I ask, in all seriousness: is this the most incoherent policy *ever* put forward by an Education Minister?
Very droll, Goll. The port (local stuff not allowed to be called ‘port’ of course) comes in handy when the trolls turn up later in the day………………So droll, Goll, troll……………….As far as the ABC cuts are concerned it does mean Midsommer Murders will be on every night as I think the ABC has episodes going back about 50 years or so…..Mind you, if you miss an episode on ABC there is always same MMs on 72 or 92…..All is not lost………………………………
Free to air is now a very passe model of broadcasting……….unfortunately. Even BBC now flogs its good stuff out to the likes of Netflix and Apple…..sometimes before Beeb airs the stuff itself.
Rinse and repeat!
Is it going to be one of those days?
“At some point doing what’s correct will take precedence over doing what’s popular.”
Sure. I agree. I just don’t see any evidence that we’re at the point where that’s true. The next election is going to be about jobs. The biggest opportunity for the ALP will be to cast climate action in terms of jobs growth, not in terms of saving the planet.
“Keating made a recession popular enough to win elections.”
1. not from opposition.
2. by making the opposition look radical with their GST policy
Another reminder.
Keating was radical with his Redfern Speech.
Labor was correct and won on the issue. He set the foundation so well today even the LNP pay lip service to Recognition.
Just as they pay lip service to reducing carbon emissions
guytaur @ #2191 Friday, June 26th, 2020 – 10:54 am
I’d settle for simply not advocating incorrect things in a desperate grasp at popularity. That would be good enough.
Blobbit @ #2196 Friday, June 26th, 2020 – 10:57 am
Yes, no argument there.
“We’ll now never know if decent climate change policy could win an election, will we? Labor muffed it last time by sending mixed messages on coal, and this time they have just given up on it altogether.”
Yes we can. Look at the Greens election results in the lower house. If climate policy was such a vote driver, they should be much higher than they are.