Two further polls in the wake of the weekend Newspoll, including voting intention numbers from Roy Morgan and its regularly conducted but irregularly published federal polling series. This shows Labor with a 50.5-49.5 lead on two-party preferred, unchanged from the last such poll a month ago, from primary votes of Coalition 41% (up one), Labor 34.5% (unchanged), Greens 12.5% (down half a point) and One Nation 2.5% (down one). The poll was conducted online and by telephone over the previous two weekends, from a sample of 2747.
The accompanying release takes a deep dive into gender breakdowns in light of recent events, as The Australian did yesterday with recent Newspoll data, which you can read about as an update at the bottom of this post. Whereas The Australian came up empty, Morgan tells us of a 4.3% differential in Coalition two-party preferred between April 2020 and early February (53.5% among men, 49.3% among women), but a 6.2% differential since late February (52.8% among men, 46.5% among women).
There is also the regular fortnightly Essential Research poll which includes the pollster’s monthly reading of leadership ratings. These have Scott Morrison down three on approval to 62% and up one on approval to 29%, Anthony Albanese up one to 41% and down one to 32%, and Morrison’s lead as preferred prime minister narrowing slightly from 52-24 to 52-26.
Concerning recent rape allegations, 37% agree with Scott Morrison’s contention that an inquiry into the Christian Porter matter would “say the rule of law and our police are not competent to deal with these issues”, with 33% disagreeing. Sixty-seven per cent felt it was “time women were believed when they say they have been assaulted”, but 62% also felt that “because the charge of rape is so serious, the burden of proof needs to be high” – a difficult circle to square. Fifty-five per cent felt there needed to be an independent investigation compared with 45% who favoured an alternative proposition that “the police has said they will not be pressing charges and that should be the end of the matter”.
Regular questions on COVID-19 management find federal and state governments recovering ground that most had lost in the previous result a fortnight ago. The federal government’s good rating is up eight to 70% and its poor rating is down two to 12%. For the state governments, New South Wales’ good rating is up three to 75%, Victoria’s is up thirteen to 62%, Queensland is up two to 75%, Western Australia is up six to 91% and South Australia is up to 85%. For the small states especially, caution is required due to small sample sizes (though the WA result may be the highest yet recorded anywhere, which would be neat timing if so).
Also featured is an occasional suite of questions on trust in institutions, which finds 66% expressing a lot of or some trust in state and territory governments, up six points six August, and 72% doing so for border security agencies, up five. Other institutions record little change except the print media, which already rated poorly and is now down four points to 35%. The poll also found 38% support for an aged care levy with 30% opposed. The poll was conducted Wednesday to Monday from a sample of 1124.
Newspoll, Essential and Roy Morgan between them have amounted to a healthy infusion of data for the BludgerTrack poll aggregates, which you can see summarised on the sidebar and in much greater detail here. Labor is now credited with a 51.2-48.8 lead on two-party preferred, following a dead heat when the numbers were last updated three weeks ago.
Kronomex
I managed to get the booking site to work this morning but it was useless because my local GP isn’t yet available because they’re still trying to get info from the government.
poroti @ #181 Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 – 12:46 pm
I used the Govt website which placed me in category 1B.
My local GP clinic is listed on the website as a vaccine rollout clinic.
Rang them to book in next week and was told they’re not taking bookings because they’ve received no information.
This rollout is a disaster.
This doesn’t appear to have been reported here. Over at the Pub there is stuff from Ronni Salt on Twitter.
This morning, Morrison held a presser exclusively about COVID in PNG. He did take one other question from Uhlmann about Flint’s comments, AFTER a staffer stood behind Uhlmann and indicated to Morrison that he should take the question. Morrison ansered and then left.
This was at 0955. At 0919, 36 minutes before the words came out of Morrisons mouth, his words were reported on the news site that employs Uhlmann. How’s that for fast reporting. How good is Costello media?
United States COVID 19 data :
549,367 total deaths
Today – 52,650 new cases ……………….. 1,248 new deaths
Disgraceful. Shame on the duopoly. This is them voting against raising JobSeeker to $80 a day. Instead, struggling people will now be left on just $44 a day thanks to the Coalition and Labor.
Well done to Bandt, Wilkie, Sharkie, Steggall and Haines for voting to keep people out of poverty.
The message is clear – vote for Greens or independents if you want a fairer Australia.
Labor should just say they welcome an investigation/inquiry (or additional one, if there’s already been one, or add it into any ongoing ones if that’s more appropriate) into what Nicolle Flint experienced and expect the same in the case of the allegations against Porter, as well as any other case that requires it. They should say this attitude of “I’ll keep your secrets if you keep mine” is part of the problematic workplace culture, that they want to see things improved regardless of the fallout for their own side, and if the Coalition have more complaints they should raise them now instead of sitting on them for future political advantage as part of some MAD strategy.
Granny Anny
Sorry, I’ve already posted that.
Granny Anny @ #203 Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 – 12:10 pm
Different time zones?
Itza – thanks!!
With one of the biggest demographics being on jobseeker these days women over 50, it must be a bit galling to see that the govt doesn’t give a stuff and Labor will be waiving their miserable shit through when it comes to Jobseeker.
Can’t even be stuffed trying to support more than the shit $3.50 Smoko is offering.
Not to mention the ridiculous demand for 20 job applications, where even one of the LNP’s own MP’s is stunned as the mercenary and bastardising attitude that is just likely to force people to breach the rules and have their benefits stopped.
Ohh, think of the money that the govt will save and the arguments and debate they will never need to face because Labor just waves through so much of their shit.
Andrew Wilkie MP
@WilkieMP
Labor has just voted against @AdamBandt’s amendment, which I seconded, to raise the #JobSeeker rate above the poverty line. Again it’s left to the crossbench to hold the Govt to account, while the ALP continue trying to walk both sides of the tracks #RaiseTheRate #auspol #politas
Theo Andelini @ #204 Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 – 1:12 pm
Why didn’t Labor just abstain ???
That way it makes the Govt the owners of this insulting and cruel adjustment.
Now they BOTH own this disgusting insult.
ItzaDream:
I had a CVT 15 years ago, in my 20’s, a week after commencing corticosteroid treatment (a suspected contributing factor for my underlying condition) for an inflammatory auto-immune disease. It resulted in a venous infarct (stroke) – <1% of strokes are due to CVT. I also have thrombocytosis (a higher than normal platelet count) due to a presumed autosplenectomy (I don't have a spleen but have never had it removed). I was on warfarin for 6 months afterwards, and now take a baby aspirin daily as secondary prevention.
From what I've read about CVT, it is most common in newborns and young children, and women on the contraceptive pill. In adults, CVT occurs most frequently among people in their 20's.
It doesn't really add up that low platelet count would be a risk factor.
Or you could just as easily say that The Greens and Andrew Wilkie, voted against a raise to JobSeeker benefits.
Theo Andelini @ #205 Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 – 12:12 pm
The result of voting for the Greens amendment (assuming this was repeated when the HOR rejected the amendment) would be that the Jobseeker recipients received NO INCREASE.
How could Labor justify that?
Rex and sockpuppet
Greens stunts have only one purpose – to marginalise Labor and therefore keep the LNP in power.
Katy Gallagher
@SenKatyG
After refusing to seek legal advice about the rape allegations against the AG
@ScottMorrisonMP
has however, sought legal advice on how to keep the AG in his job whilst defamation action underway #senateqt #March4Justice
Theo,
That is just not true.
The increase in job keeper is ending no matter what Labor does. On the other hand, the tiny increase in the pre-COVID rate provides a small increase to some very poor people.
I asked my son (Jobkeeper) and daughter (AUSTUDY) whether Labor should vote for the increase a few weeks ago.
I got yelled out of the room, because it was an insultingly small increase, and they would rather do without it.
Next day they both independently came back to me and said “actually, the money would be better than nothing”.
I am also sorry to see that Adam Bandt conflating two different issues.
He is smarter than that.
lizzie says:
Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at 10:49 am
@nicky_retro
·
36m
It was a random man. South Australian police confirmed this.
I am sure it was scary being stalked during election, however, it was not ALP, Unions or GetUp who did it.
Was a random called Dave Walsh per SA police.
Morrison lies, as per usual.
As Rex is trying to use the lack of knowledge on the subject to do a same-same, you probable should mention that it was not the Greens who did it either.
I wonder if the Greens approve Rex’s message, if so what a disgrace they are. Liberals and Green.
Longtime lurker, occasional poster here. Have posted regularly below the line on The Guardian for some years where my handle is Vincentwaslean.
I have several questions concerning the Coalition’s vaccine selection strategy and am hoping for further insights or directions from PBers. The strategic issues have interested for some time and occasional pieces of information have been disclosed over the past few months in reports of press conferences and interviews (e.g. in The Saturday Paper, etc.) but to my knowledge, none specifically address the following:
1. Why did Australia elect to procure such a limited menu of vaccines (i.e. Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Novavax – the last of which is just completing trials)? Canada, by contrast, selected a far more extensive suite of vaccines (six), although it appears to be having trouble accessing sufficient numbers – and is not alone in access difficulties.
2. Why did Australia elect not to purchase the Moderna mRNA vaccine (arguably across several matrices, the most efficacious of the C-19 vaccines)?
3. Why did Australia elect to purchase such a limited number of Pfizer vaccines (again, an mRNA vaccine, and the most efficacious and adaptable vaccine just behind the Moderna vaccine)?
4. Crucially, why did Australia elect to pursue a strategy to offer a less efficacious and, thus far, less adaptable to variants vaccine, the AZ adenovirus vaccine, to the vast majority of Australians – who also happen to be the most mobile cohort of Australians?
I am trained in the law, have no barrow to push for any particular vaccine and certainly hope to be vaccinated as soon as possible (I am fortunate to be in category 2a). Much of my ‘general reader’ knowledge about the state of play regarding the COVID vaccines generally comes from the esteemed U.S. physician, Dr. Eric Topol, of the Scripps Institute in California (@EricTopol).
But what I truly do not understand is this: at say, $40/person for the Moderna (the most expensive of the vaccines), Australia could vaccinate the entire population for less than $1 billion. Why did we decide not to do this?
Given that Moderna will produce 1 billion vaccines this year (Pfizer will produce 3 billion) and that Joe Biden procured another 200 million Moderna vaccines just on three weeks ago (each notation from @EricTopol), is Australia seeking to procure more of the most efficacious vaccines now? If not, why not?
Labor voted for punitive measures for 1.4 million people.
Labor owns that.
Labor threw a lifeline to the Greens Andrew Wilkie and others to being politically relevant.
Trotting out old lines of “stunts etc does not change Labor’s recorded vote
Mexicanbeemer says:
Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at 11:15 am
I don’t mind dixer questions as long as there is an equal number of questions for both the government backbench and the opposition. The real problem in QT is the shallowness of the answers because ministers have always been accursed by the opposition of not answering questions but unlike earlier parliaments the current generation of politicians are just boring with no notable wit or humor.
——————————————————————-
Well, Beemer you should mind them if you want Parliament to work as it should.
What’s significant is the quality and relevance of the question, not the numbers. You’re naiive if you think the government backbenchers dream up the questions themselves. Wikipedia explains it below.
Dixers are invariably produced by a Minister’s staff who then get a backbencher to ask the question. It’s a sham and a waste of the time of Parliament.
Question Time is supposed to be an instrument of accountability, giving the people’s representatives an opportunity to question the government of the day on matters of some urgency. It was not designed as a vehicle for the government to skite about its activities and attack the Opposition.
If the government wants to tell the world how great it is, it can make a statement on motions that gives the Opposition a chance to respond. And of course at the moment it also has the Murdoch press as its P.R. arm.
“In Australian politics, a Dorothy Dixer is a rehearsed or planted question asked of a government Minister by a backbencher of their own political party during Parliamentary Question Time.
“The term can be used in a mildly derogatory sense, but in common usage today is simply pre-arranged questions from a friendly audience member. Often, the question has been written by the Minister or their staff rather than by the questioner, and is used to give the Minister a chance to promote themselves or the work of the Government, or to criticise the opposition party’s policies, to raise the profile of the backbench Member asking the question, or to consume the time available for questioning and thereby avoid tougher questions. It is a common and widely accepted tactic during Question Time in the House of Representatives and the Senate.
“It is common for “Dorothy Dixers” to end in the question: “Is the Minister aware of any alternative policies?” This enables the responding Minister to launch into extended criticism of the Opposition and its policy on the question’s subject matter, while still remaining technically relevant to the question as asked, as Standing orders require. “ Wikipedia
-0-
In another words this phony practice, eating up the time available for questions, is a means for the goverment to evade accountability. If you’re comfortable with that, good luck and good night.
So the Greens and Andrew Wilkie, voted against a raise to JobSeeker benefits. The Greens, even more tight fisted than the Liberals, what a pathetic bunch.
Douglas and Milko @ #217 Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 – 12:20 pm
And your children have a high income parent tot help them. How abandoned would someone without that family support feel if Labor and the Greens political posturing resulted in no increase.
So according to Labor pissants, jobseekers should just be grateful for what they get, just like Australian women should be gratefull they don’t get shot in the street if they make too much noise or something.
Don’t argue, don’t question, don’t think about, she’ll be right mate, even if she is a homeless women in her 50’s with no super or income support
Labor voted to punish 1.4 million against the express views of the union.
The tweet Theo posted was retweeted by that union.
Labor does not have the support of the unemployed on the issue they know they are worse off.
To be clear from the union
@AusUnemployment We’ve been informed that Labor will not come up with a JobSeeker figure before the next election. People’s lives are being destroyed right now — and offering them no tangible hope is incredibly dangerous. Thanks to your lack of conviction, they’ll see no way out
Labor will decide which of its supporters to shaft and the circumstances in which it shafts them.
That is all.
beguiledagain @ #220 Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 – 12:23 pm
Back in the day, question time also provided an avenue for GOVERNMENT backbenchers to put pressure on the government in relation to matters important to their electorate. It was part of the INTRAparty argy bargy as well as the INTERparty duel. Such questions were regarded as legitimate by all parties, so a member didn’t necessarily suffer from embarrassing their own government a bit, at least
Quoll
So according to the Greens pissants the poorest should suffer more and get no rise in benefits. Easy to fight for more forever when your not the one starving. pissants too wealthy to realize cents matter.
beguiledagain
Thanks for the lecture but i already know how parliament works and how dixers are written by the minister or PMO.
“That is just not true.”
It actually is. The amendment moved by Bandt would have resulted in an increase of JobSeeker to $80 a day if it was passed. Labor voted against that and instead support the Coalition’s $44 a day.
You are right that the increase is insultingly small. So small in fact that it is not really an increase at all considering the extra requirements that are going to be passed along with it. JobSeekers will be forced to look for more jobs (that in many cases aren’t even there) and jump through even more hoops, which will increase their costs. Really it’s actually a reduction in real terms, not an increase. It’s a terrible policy and Labor should not be supporting it.
FredNK
According to the union you are talking BS
Always bizzare that Greens supporters blame Labor for LNP policies – it’s almost as if they don’t realise that, with Greens support, the Coalition has been in government for 8 years.
Labor just voted to increase depression and other mental health problems with compliance measures.
So much for Labor caring about mental health.
sprocket
More sophisticated but still a lie.
So bad the unemployed have a voice now.
Labor has also shafted LGBTQI people with its new draft policy manifesto.
Focus Group said “no”
In regard to Jobseeker, Labor should continue to promise a review as to the rise required in Jobseeker while saying a further (unquantified) increase is required. Of course they will have the review predetermined before the election. If the coalition can dogwhistle, why can’t Labor?
For those wondering where 1.4 million comes from
@ACOSS tweets
@getup and @AusUnemployment set up 1400 chairs on the lawns of #aph to represent the 1.4 million people struggling to get by on income support.
Lars Von Trier says:
Labor will decide which of its supporters to shaft and the circumstances in which it shafts them.
..
The Liberal decided the magnitude of the rise, pissants to wealthy to know what poverty is, too wealthy to know that you need resources to get a job, not the bullshit put in place that has people running around presenting poorly for jobs they will never got.
The Liberals too stupid to realize that most on the street suffer mental health issues and the punitive measure just creates a bigger problem.
FredNK
And Labor voted FOR it.
guytaur says:
Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at 1:31 pm
FredNK
According to the union you are talking BS
Nothing justifies the Greens trying to get no increase for the unemployed.
ajm says:
Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at 1:34 pm
In regard to Jobseeker, Labor should continue to promise a review as to the rise required in Jobseeker while saying a further (unquantified) increase is required. Of course they will have the review predetermined before the election. If the coalition can dogwhistle, why can’t Labor?
________________________
No votes in povo folk ajm – Labor knows this. Labor hacks schemed their way into secure employment and think why can’t povo folk!
Most likely posted already,
She’ll be right.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drLUPJQgJ5E
guytaur @ #218 Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 – 1:23 pm
Correct.
In situations like this, the option to abstain must be taken.
An insulting and cruel adjustment up is better than no adjustment at all.
Just make the Govt own their crap rather than vote for co-ownership of it.
It actually is. The amendment moved by Bandt would have resulted in an increase of JobSeeker to $80 a day if it was passed. Labor voted against that and instead support the Coalition’s $44 a day.
If the amendment had got up, what would happen next?
FredNK
Listen to the Union.
Then your party would have voted for Adam Bandts motion.
Sure it would have failed. The Government legislation would still have passed. Labor would be on record supporting the unemployed.
You are still too scared of Murdoch
Frednk @ #239 Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 – 12:38 pm
Is there anything preventing the Greens and the UWU from criticising the government BOTH for the size of the increase AND for its cynicism in playing politics with the issue by trying to wedge Labor.
That would be the honest approach.
That they also attack Labor means they are no better than any of the other groups in our political system and have no moral ground, let alone a high one, to speak from.
guytaur says:
Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at 1:37 pm
FredNK
And Labor voted FOR it.
Of cause; Labor know enough about money to know 44 is greater than zero. Doesn’t mean it is enough but it is better than nothing. Even if the Greens can’t work it out, Labor knows there is a difference between being in Government and getting the best deal on offer.
The Greens are so pathetic they vote against the increase and use their failure to campaign against Labor who are willing accept the advise of the reserve bank and business, that is increase job keeper to a reasonable level.
Dandy Murray @ #NaN Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 – 1:42 pm
Here let me answer for guytaur (and it’s not even a case of the Amendment getting up, as it appears The Greens and Wilkie just wanted Labor votes)…the government and its supporters on the Cross Bench would have voted it down and it would have given the Coalition the golden opportunity to tar and feather Labor for not voting for an increase that was the only one that had a chance to pass the House and Senate.
AJM
Classic we cannot criticise Labor post from you.
Labor is perfect. All must bow down.
If you truly love the party ajm, are you prepared to submit to party discipline ?