First up, note two posts below this one dealing with ongoing electoral events: the resolution to the Tasmanian election count and the New South Wales state by-election for Upper Hunter on Saturday week.
The Guardian today reports on the latest fortnightly Essential Research poll, which includes the monthly leadership ratings. As was the case with Newspoll, this finds Scott Morrison pulling out of the slump that followed the Brittany Higgins and Christian Porter episodes, with his approval up four to 58% and disapproval to five to 32%, without quite restoring him to the respective 62% and 29% he recorded in the March poll. The recovery has been particularly pronounced with women, among whom he is up nine points on approval to 55% and down eight on disapproval to 34%. Morrison’s lead as preferred prime minister has widened from 47-28 to 50-24; Anthony Albanese’s ratings are said to be “constant compared to his standing last month”, when he had 39% approval and 34% disapproval.
The poll also finds 48% support and 27% opposition for the India travel ban, with 41% supporting jail time and fines and 33% opposed. However, 56% said they would support allowing citizens to return “provided they complete the necessary quarantine procedures when they arrive”, with 22% opposed. There was also a suite of questions on budget priorities that are probably better saved for the full poll release, which should be along later today.
UPDATE: Full report here. Albanese turns out to be steady on 39% approval and up one on disapproval to 35%. The poll was conducted Wednesday to Monday from a sample of 1092.
Some notable preselection action to report:
• The Tasmanian Liberal Senate preselection has seen Eric Abetz, long the dominant figure in the state branch, dumped to the loseable number three position behind fellow incumbents Jonathon Duniam and Wendy Askew. A source quoted by Sue Bailey of The Mercury said Abetz won the first round of the ballot for top position with 29 votes to Duniam’s 26 and Askew’s 12, before Duniam prevailed on the second round with 36 votes to Abetz’s 31. Askew then defeated Abetz in the ballot for second position by 37 votes to 30.
• Labor’s preselection for the new seat of Hawke on Melbourne’s north-western fringe is in limbo after the Victorian Supreme Court ruled a challenge by ten unions against the federal party organisation’s takeover of the process should proceed to a trial on May 26. This complicates former state secretary Sam Rae’s bid for the seat, which was set to be signed off on by the national executive under the terms of a deal reached between elements of the Left and Right, with Rae being a member of the latter. The Age reports Rae “will be challenged by Maribyrnong councillor Sarah Carter and former Melton council candidate Deepti Alurkar” – I’m not sure where this leaves state government minister Natalie Hutchins, earlier identified as Rae’s chief rival. Hutchins is an ally of Bill Shorten and the Australian Workers Union, who have been frozen out of the aforesaid factional deal.
• Barnaby Joyce has easily seen off a challenge for the Nationals preselection in New England from Tenterfield army officer Alex Rubin, whom he defeated in the local members’ ballot by 112 votes to 12.
Sold off to Chinese bottling companies?
Lets face it Eric Abetz is no Winston Churchill,
he is more akin to Mr Burns from the Simpsons
The headlines and bylines re last night’s budget with it’s record deficit, it’s lack of detail and frosted glass charade merely demonstrate that the MSN’s leftover senior “journalists” are comfortable with the duopoly and their city mortgages.
Whatever happened to “fearless” reporting of the facts together with balanced analysis ? Whatever happened to journalistic pride? Errand boys without adventure and little guile, no more than telegram delivery boys and girls. Pathetic.
https://www.pollbludger.net/2021/05/11/essential-research-leadership-ratings-and-preselection-latest/comment-page-14/#comment-3604920
Monty Burns is a satire of Rupert.
guytaur @ #648 Wednesday, May 12th, 2021 – 1:48 am
God I hope so.
Though I will add that, should it pass then you can be guaranteed the states that have already passed Voter Suppression laws will take a challenge to the federal law all the way to the overwhelmingly conservative now, SCOTUS.
Where is the god of USA ? Too busy attacking China.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/middle-east/palestinian-rockets-target-tel-aviv-setting-off-sirens-20210512-p57r0v.html
Gaza City: A confrontation between Israel and Hamas sparked by weeks of tensions in contested Jerusalem escalated on Tuesday as Israel unleashed new airstrikes on Gaza while militants barraged Israel with hundreds of rockets. The exchange killed a number of militants and civilians in Gaza and at least two Israelis.
The barrage of rockets from the Gaza Strip and airstrikes into the territory continued almost nonstop throughout the day, in what appeared to be some of the most intense fighting between Israel and Hamas since their 2014 war. The fire was so relentless that Israel’s Iron Dome rocket-defence system seemed to be overwhelmed. Columns of smoke rose from many places in Gaza.
OK Zerlo/Zoidlord, your zealotry is usually easy enough to follow, if not understand, let alone digest.
But how is the US ‘god’ attacking China evidenced by the events in Gaza City? The butterfly effect?
Griffsays:
Wednesday, May 12, 2021 at 6:46 am
You really need to look at the posts, Media, etc.
This will go down as the bullshit budget. Lots of ice cream no meat and potatoes.
frednk says:
Wednesday, May 12, 2021 at 6:50 am
This will go down as the bullshit budget. Lots of ice cream no meat and potatoes.
——————————-
I think bullshit budget is too kind for this rehashed budget of 2017,2018,2019,2020
This is a Budget that has Scotty from Marketing written all over it. I’m sure the Expenditure Review committee of Cabinet sat down and had a list of what their problem areas were which have caused them to lose popularity in the court of public opinion then said, what do we need to do to address this and get back in the black with the electorate? Simple as that really.
I’m not falling for it because I know, as sure as god created little green apples, that the Labor Lite mask will be torn off after this Budget has succeeded in securing another election win for the Morrison government.
Might I also note that they fully expect to be able to continue the rorts and mismanagement which favours Liberal mates and former MPs, if they do succeed in getting re-elected, because there was exactly $0 in the Budget for a National Integrity Commission.
That’s the real story behind this smoke/smirk and mirrors Budget.
Griff @ #615 Wednesday, May 12th, 2021 – 6:46 am
I can probably decipher the simplistic ‘logic’.
Israel, America’s bff, boo!
Palestine, friend of, and receiving support from, China, yay!
That’s about the depth of it.
The ways you are going to get independent reporting in all media platforms
Is corruption like inquiry into the media
Strong media authority who will take away licenses from any media outlet who breaches the media code and guidelines
Still not following C@tmomma. And Zerlo, if you cannot explain your post, I shall mentally move you from zealot, to racist.
Onto budget matters, I look forward to the Dawn Patrol post budget edition (Thank you BK!). From what I am seeing in The Australian and News, the reaction isn’t overjoyed. Interesting.
From Crikey. The budget is indeed a pre-election cash splash budget so we should expect an election this year as just about everyone has been flagging.
Cassandra Goldie (ACOSS) often disappoints me with her endorsement of LNP budgets. This morning she started off on the same train but fairly quickly changed to criticism of almost every measure.
Meanwhile, Michael Rowland turned to Jane Norman for an “expert commentary”. It wasn’t a very good joke.
Still do not understand how this budget is a cash splash
nothing for the pensioners, unemployed- and others who are in need of welfare assistant
Discriminates against jobseekers 35 and over
Discriminates against those who are not wealthy
Discriminates against those who are not Newsltd and other lib/nats propaganda media units and Lib/nats donors
Does nothing to get the economy moving
Does nothing for health .education , climate/environment ,etc
Griff @ #622 Wednesday, May 12th, 2021 – 7:00 am
I must admit I haven’t seen the post from Zerlo/Zoidlord and am only surmising based upon the general inclination of his posts. So I based my projection on the fact of his hatred of America would be the link to Israel via their close relationship.
I also am guessing that China is supporting anyone who is against Israel/America, ie Hamas and Palestine. Hence Zerlo’s likely support for them.
Sorry, just a guess on my part.
In other words, Scott, the money has gone to everyone likely to vote for the Coalition to lock in their vote. It marginalises everyone else.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers. I will try to limit budget coverage to commentary.
It’s really kicked off in the Middle East as an Israeli air strike has destroyed a 13-storey residential block in the Gaza Strip, triggering a Hamas threat to fire 130 rockets into Tel Aviv and its suburbs.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/world/2021/05/12/israel-gaza-strike-block/
Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg had the makings of a champion of budgets, but their courage failed them, writes Ross Gittins who says it’s more of a marketing exercise.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/missed-it-by-that-much-good-effort-at-marketing-misses-the-main-chance-20210507-p57pyr.html
Peter Hartcher looks at some of the budget’s hidden challenges.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/marriage-of-convenience-comes-with-some-hidden-hazards-20210507-p57q0j.html
The Australian’s Geoff Chambers says Frydenberg has sparked a “superspender event”.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/bigspending-budget-to-lock-in-recovery/news-story/a805ad63bdd326bf8c5b5736081b4ffd
Greg Jericho explains the six graphs we need to see to understand Australia’s back-to-the-future federal budget.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2021/may/11/australia-federal-budget-2021-six-graphs-you-need-to-see-grogonomics-greg-jericho
Katherine Murphy says we should make no mistake, this is a keeping options open for an election this year budget.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/may/11/make-no-mistake-this-is-a-keeping-options-open-for-an-election-this-year-budget
Rob Harris and Anthony Galloway reckon Scott Morrison’s pandemic budget leaves open the option of a snap poll in coming months, with billions of dollars set aside for a potential election war chest.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/billions-of-dollars-set-aside-for-possible-election-war-chest-20210507-p57pwz.html
Rachel Clun paints a rosy picture of the aged care part of the budget saying it’s all good. (Just wait until the providers do the sums and find the mandated requirements will drive them further into operational deficit.)
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/billions-flow-into-struggling-aged-care-homes-awaiting-major-law-reforms-20210507-p57pxi.html
She follows up with a piece that goes to some of these concerns and concludes by saying, “So far there is a rough outline, but no detailed roadmap of how the government will move through its accepted changes to the sector. Providers, workers and the elderly will want to see a clear plan before truly believing the government is committed to change.”
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/billions-promised-to-fix-aged-care-but-real-reform-takes-more-than-money-20210507-p57pxb.html
Almost $18 billion will be invested into aged care over the next five years in what the federal government is describing as a “once-in-a-generation reform”. But advocates say the boost is little more than a good first step, explains Euan Black.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/news-federal-budget/2021/05/12/federal-budget-aged-care-shortfall/
This big-spending budget exposes a shift in economic policy that turns the old fiscal rules upside down, writes John Kehoe.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/a-fiscal-revolution-in-a-zero-interest-rate-world-20210510-p57qkc
Summing up the budget, Michelle Grattan says that hard decisions have been eschewed. Prime Minister Scott Morrison is trying to avoid offending voters.
https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-frydenberg-finds-the-money-tree-159225
This week’s budget announcement allowing international students to work unlimited hours in hospitality and tourism jobs presents puzzling contradictions. But research by Stephen Clibborn and Chris F. Wright shows it is consistent with a troubling 25-year trend. They conclude that there is serious risk of deepening a low-wage, low-skill, poor job quality equilibrium in hospitality and tourism. These are not the types of jobs that will drive up wages, encourage skill investment and career development, and aid other stated intentions of the government’s post-COVID economic recovery plans.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/peter-costello-said-australia-would-never-be-a-guest-worker-state-now-josh-frydenberg-is-smoothing-the-way-20210510-p57qn4.html
Matthew Cranston says that workers should not expect a real wage increase for up to four years under Treasury’s forecasts as inflation edges higher than wage growth.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/no-real-pay-rises-expected-for-years-treasury-20210510-p57qm7
Josh Butler tells us about Labor’s first response to the budget.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2021/05/11/budget-political-fix-coalition-problems/
Economics professor, Laura Meriluoto, writes that as the government is learning, a ‘wage freeze’ can come with unintended consequences.
https://theconversation.com/as-the-government-is-learning-a-wage-freeze-can-come-with-unintended-consequences-160530
If your head is spinning at the idea of a Coalition government that came to office shrieking about a debt emergency now going on a spending spree with a starting deficit of $161 billion, and forecasting $1.2 trillion of gross debt, join the club, says Alan Kohler.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2021/05/12/alan-kohler-coalition-conversion-debt-and-deficits/
The editorial in the AFR warns that Australia has gone straight back to its recurring bad habit: the permanent spending of any temporary budgetary gain. It just assumes everything will keep going the government’s way.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/casual-approach-to-the-deficit-leaves-australia-hostage-to-fortune-20210510-p57ql0
Doug Dingwall writes that public service jobs will grow as the federal government pours money into services and leans on its agencies to deliver the health and economic recovery from COVID-19. But the government will keep its cap on staffing levels despite embracing larger numbers of bureaucrats on its payroll and flagging a new approach to planning the public service’s workforce.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7244568/public-service-jobs-to-grow-as-govt-leans-on-agencies/?cs=14225
David Crowe reports that at the Coalition party room meeting yesterday Scott Morrison warned MPs that the pandemic is more threatening today than it was one year ago.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/scott-morrison-warns-of-pandemic-threat-in-new-sign-of-border-caution-20210511-p57qua.html
Tony Wright says that Josh Frydenberg is rolling in the red, and he’s mighty proud of it.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/josh-frydenberg-is-rolling-in-the-red-and-mighty-proud-of-it-20210507-p57q0k.html
The government says all Australians will get two shots of a COVID vaccine by the end of the year, but international travel is still expected to be barred until mid-2022. The bold vaccination prediction was made on Tuesday night under key assumptions in the federal budget, which Treasurer Josh Frydenberg admitted were “imprecise”, writes Josh Butler.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/news-federal-budget/2021/05/11/budget-2021-vaccination-travel/
Matt Wade has done a gender audit on the budget but cannot see that it is a game changer for women.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/no-game-changer-a-gender-audit-of-the-federal-budget-20210507-p57q0i.html
How fitting that in the same week the Morrison government holds its nose to table a lavish, woman-friendly budget we’re treated to a fresh instalment in the exquisite revenge of Christine Holgate, writes Julie Szego.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/christine-holgate-delivers-revenge-with-rival-posting-20210511-p57qw0.html
We have found the limits of hotel quarantine and bow it’s time we fixed it urges Aisha Dow.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/we-found-the-limits-of-hotel-quarantine-it-s-time-we-fixed-it-20210510-p57qlv.html
Scott Morrison’s claim that Australian politics have become corrosive because of identity politics and tribalism misses the point. All too often the divisive and polarising events in Australian politics are not efforts of outsiders to get themselves power or a voice, but efforts of the establishment in trying to deny them just such a seat inside the councils of state, writes Jack Waterford who says there is no room for the poor at the Pentecostal table.
https://johnmenadue.com/no-room-for-the-poor-at-the-pentecostal-table/
Nick Bonyhady reports that the embattled Liberal MP Andrew Laming has retained his position as the chair of a parliamentary committee, which pays him an extra $23,237 annually, even though he vowed two months ago to stand down from all parliamentary roles. And every single Coalition MP voted to prevent him being stripped of the position from which he had previously declared he would stand down.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/andrew-laming-refuses-to-give-up-committee-position-despite-vow-to-stand-down-20210511-p57qyb.html
Dutton’s ambiguous statement telling soldiers the Government ‘has their back’ has added to the damage. Moreover, he has politicised the system of military honours. Labor deserves no less condemnation for going along with this interference. By not resigning in protest, General Angus Campbell has left uncertainty about the ADF’s commitment to repair the cultural problems Brereton identified. Resignation might have forced a re-think by the Government (and the Opposition) focusing on the nation’s reputation as well as the ADF’s culture, writes Andrew Podger.
https://johnmenadue.com/what-values-should-we-expect-among-the-profession-of-arms/
Eric Abetz has suggested his gender and age were factors in a shock demotion to third place on the party’s Senate ticket. He HAS to be joking!
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/may/11/i-cant-do-anything-about-my-sex-eric-abetz-blames-sexism-and-ageism-for-senate-ticket-demotion
By enacting the travel ban against Australian citizens returning from India, the Morrison Government has managed to unite Matt Canavan, Andrew Bolt, the Greens and Labor, writes Tarric Brooker.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/aussies-abandoned-in-india-the-australian-citizenship-lie,15074
“Is it fair to call Scott Morrison a racist? Where’s the evidence?”, explores John Lord.
https://theaimn.com/is-it-fair-to-call-scott-morrison-a-racist-wheres-the-evidence/
Demand for Australian-made products soared in 2020 as borders closed, global manufacturing and supply was disrupted, and waves of panic-buying swept the nation, new data from market research firm Roy Morgan has revealed.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/consumer/2021/05/12/australian-made-consumer-pandemic/
Eryk Bagshaw explains how China’s population is growing at its slowest rate since the 1961 famine.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/china-s-population-grows-at-slowest-rate-since-1961-famine-20210511-p57qvq.html
The SMH tells us that a little over six months ago the NSW government passed legislation with the support of Labor, the Greens and most of the crossbench to deliver a watershed in its energy policy. The legislation and its implementation roadmap commanded widespread support and it’s not hard to see why: it was well thought through and imaginative, something that can rarely be said of energy policy in Australia.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw-is-dropping-78-million-on-the-blockbuster-of-energy-production-when-the-world-has-moved-to-netflix-20210509-p57qbk.html
Doug Hendrie has written a delightful article which promotes the idea that parents need to learn to love their kids taking risks.
https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life-and-relationships/parents-need-to-learn-to-love-their-kids-taking-risks-20210511-p57qri.html
Miriam Berger sets out to explain what is happening in Jerusalem and Gaza.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/middle-east/what-is-happening-in-jerusalem-and-gaza-20210511-p57qu8.html
The Queen’s a class act but the bills she has to read out are not, writes the entertaining John Crace.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/may/11/the-queens-a-class-act-but-the-bills-she-has-to-read-out-are-not
Cartoon Corner
Matt Golding
Cathy Wilcox
Matt Davidson
Peter Broelman
David Rowe
Glen Le Lievre
https://twitter.com/i/status/1392105315160641538
Fiona Katauskas
John Shakespeare
John Spooner
Johannes Leak
From the US
Scott
Agree with all your points. “Cash splash” is extremely lazy reporting. I also disagree that this is a Labor budget so they can have nothing to say.
Since the 2014 budget , tax cuts were supposed to bring in Jobs failed
Cutting the penalty rates were supposed to bring in the jobs failed
Abbott/Turnbull/Morrison’s Tradies have all been non existent
Tax write offs were supposed to bring in jobs failed
lizzie says:
Wednesday, May 12, 2021 at 7:19 am
Scott
Agree with all your points. “Cash splash” is extremely lazy reporting. I also disagree that this is a Labor budget so they can have nothing to say.
—————————————————————
Agree with you about the claim of a Labor budget
this is nothing like a labor budget – hopefully Labor points that out
Scott:
The govt are throwing money around in a way that reminds me of the Howard govt. The fact the money isn’t being thrown in the directions it’s needed doesn’t mean they aren’t throwing money around nonetheless. Cash splash.
Mark McGowan knows where credit for the federal budget should go 😆
https://www.facebook.com/MarkMcGowanMP/posts/323462285809290
Eric Abetz, with his protest that he has been rejected because of his age and sex, reminds me of this Robert Burns line,
Rex Patrick is a good commentator, with a front row seat…
‘Extended border restrictions are a clear consequence of the Federal Govt’s slow vaccine rollout & failure to build quarantine capacity. But don’t be surprised if @ScottMorrisonMP orchestrates a pre-election open borders announcement. #spin #auspol #Covid19
Robert Burns was born on my birthday. And that’s the only connection to greatness that I will ever have! 🙂
From twitter:
‘all children’s essence that contain the engine of life, only comes from the males sperm, which already contains independent thought and action, BEFORE conception….’
Discuss, writing on both sides of the paper.
sprocket_ @ #637 Wednesday, May 12th, 2021 – 7:37 am
He knows how to think outside the frame the Coalition want people to see things through, that’s for sure.
Of course, referring to it as a Labor budget (as they were doing before it had even been released) now means that the media can challenge any Labor criticisms of it with ‘but this is a Labor budget, isn’t it?”
And, if the perception is that there is no difference between the majors, people won’t switch their votes from Liberal to Labor.
Is this really a “pink budget”?
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/news-federal-budget/2021/05/12/alison-pennington-federal-budget/
To me the real question is what will scomo do with full senate control post the next election?
I’m inclined to think nothing much given the accepted wisdom re work choices other than some tinkering.
Another question : – think how the Liberals demonised pink batts ? Have you heard anything re home builder ? I cannot believe out of millions in home renovation grants there hasn’t been at least some dodgy invoicing – yet not a word from the Opposition? Why don’t u get a staffer to go through the records and do some research?
The saddest part of the budget – not a dollar for social housing. Surely if there is money to spend they (the Liberals) could have found money for those povo people ?
zoomster @ #682 Wednesday, May 12th, 2021 – 5:41 am
I read somewhere recently that the reason there are an increasing number of people who are gender uncertain is because male sperm count has declined 40% in the last 50 years.
Lars Von Trier says:
Wednesday, May 12, 2021 at 7:47 am
To me the real question is what will scomo do with full senate control post the next election?
—————-
Hopefully
After this rehashed of the 2017,2018,2019,2020 budgets
whether this year or next ,
Josh frydenberg the leader of the opposition
Michael Pascoe’s Budget summation is the best of the lot… worth reading in full
‘The areas causing the government political pain received cash – women, aged care – but buried in the budget papers’ fine print are acknowledgements that the key to building a stronger for longer economy is missing.
And the Band-Aids in Josh Frydenberg’s third budget are largely temporary, never mind all the rhetoric.’
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/news-federal-budget/2021/05/12/federal-budget-2021-michael-pascoe/
ACT Chief Minister this morning delivered the now familiar Labor message – welcome any extra Morrison/Frydenberg funding but asks will it ever be delivered.
This looks to be the line that Labor (with justification) will take all the way to the election.
With five Labor premiers and chief ministers repeating the line, that’s a lot of messaging.
Irrespective of the Budget and its sugar hits, the key to the next election will be how much the State Premiers in Vic, Qld and WA get involved. If they are front and centre they will ensure gains of seats in those three States for the ALP.
In relation to SA, has Steven Marshall been kidnapped? He is a no where man at the moment.
I didn’t watch Joshie’s live performance, but the grabs in the morning news showed a very solemn set of faces behind him in HoR. They really don’t like spending money, do they, unless it’s targeted at their own electorates
Friend who lost their license (suspended as of May 5) received their first official notification from VicRoads today….
The don’t-mention-climate budget delivers on its goal
Ketan Joshi 12 May 2021
https://reneweconomy.com.au/the-dont-mention-climate-budget-delivers-on-its-goal/
The single most common defining driving force behind Scott Morrison’s climate policy has been avoiding talking about climate policy.
For the majority of the time, it isn’t too hard to achieve. Media and political discourse is mostly reactive, and if neither major party wants to talk about climate, all they need to do is simply ensure they don’t talk about it. The rest follows neatly.
I don’t know what to think about this. Does the gov approve of migration or not?
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/may/11/immigration-australia-federal-budget-2021-migrant-families-four-year-wait-benefits-payments-cost-cutting-christmas-island-detention-centre
Tip for Lars.
People requiring social housing are not necessarily, to use your degrading term,”povo”.
However it does align with the thinking of smug Liberals.
Thanks BK for the Dawn Patrol.
Been There
Are you saying that social housing is being directed away from those most in need?
A quick check of the Macquarie distionary shows that
POVO is derived from “poverty”
What a useful addtion to my vocabulary.
Required – a word to descrbe those who use the word “POVO”
This to justify the worst debt & deficit in three generations:
[“This pandemic is 30 times worse globally, economically, than the globally, economically, than the global financial crisis. That is how serious it is and it is still raging now.’]
This is just malarkey:
[‘Mr Morrison reiterated his position that the next federal election will not be called until 2022.“The election is next year,” he said.’] – SMH