Aussie aussie aussie …
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5:46 pm, May 18th, 2019 - 130 comments
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The Australian election is on today. Is this the end of Scomo and the Liberals? Is Tony Abbott goneburger? Will the last act of Bob Hawke’s life push Labor over the line?
Counting should start this evening 9 pm NZ time.
This is a discussion post.
130 comments on “Aussie aussie aussie …”
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- Tariff concessions on COVID-19 related productsNew Zealand will temporarily remove tariffs on all medical and hygiene imports needed for the COVID-19 response. Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Kris Faafoi said today that the New Zealand Customs Service will apply tariff concessions to all diagnostic reagents and testing ...4 days ago
- Clarification of modification to wage subsidy schemeMinister of Finance Grant Robertson has clarified that the changes to the wage subsidy scheme announced yesterday mean that employers should be passing on the full subsidy to workers, except in the case where the person’s normal income is less than the level of the subsidy. “We still want employers ...4 days ago
- Face masks flowing to DHBsMedical face masks from the national reserve supply are now being distributed to District Health Boards, while at the same time local production is being ramped up. Yesterday more than 640,000 masks were sent to DHBS – that is an immediate two week supply, with more to follow in coming ...4 days ago
- COVID-19: Further steps to protect New Zealanders’ jobsThe Government has made modifications to the wage subsidy scheme to ensure people don’t lose their jobs during the national lockdown. These changes will soften the impact of COVID-19 on workers, families and businesses, and position them to exit the lockdown and look to recovery, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. ...4 days ago
- Tax relief for Mycoplasma Bovis farmersFarmers whose herds were culled in response to the outbreak of Mycoplasma bovis will be able to minimise the tax treatment of their income in some circumstances. Revenue Minister Stuart Nash says Cabinet has agreed to change the law. It means farmers may be eligible to spread their income over ...5 days ago
- $27 million for NGOs and community groups to continue providing essential servicesA $27 million dollar package, effective immediately, is being provided to social sector services and community groups to ensure they can continue to provide essential support to communities as we stay at home as a nation to stop the spread of COVID-19, Minister for Social Development Carmel Sepuloni announced. “At ...6 days ago
- Statement on guilty plea of March 15 terrorist“The guilty plea today will provide some relief to the many people whose lives were shattered by what happened on March 15,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said. “These guilty pleas and conviction bring accountability for what happened and also save the families who lost loved ones, those who were injured, ...6 days ago
- COVID-19 updatesThe Prime Minister is holding daily press conferences to update New Zealanders on the Government's response to COVID-19. Links to videos and transcripts of these updates below. These transcripts also include All of Government press conferences led by Director Ministry of Health's Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield. 25 March: Live update from the Prime ...6 days ago
- Police numbers break through 10,000 markFrontline Police numbers have broken through the 10,000 mark for the first time in history as officers step forward to keep the community safe during the COVID19 lockdown. “Two Police graduations in Auckland and Wellington in the past week have been conducted in unprecedented circumstances,” Police Minister Stuart Nash said. ...6 days ago
- Urgent tax measures for economic recoveryUrgent legislation has been passed to support the package of economic and social measures needed to recover from the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. “The COVID-19 Response (Taxation and Social Assistance Urgent Measures) Bill will cushion New Zealanders from the worst economic impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak,” said Revenue Minister ...6 days ago
- Further support for farmers and growers as drought persistsFrom tomorrow, Government support for farmers and growers affected by drought will be expanded and extended across the country, with access to Rural Assistance Payments (RAPS) available throughout the North Island, parts of the South Island and the Chatham Islands, Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni announced. “These challenging conditions have ...6 days ago
- COVID-19: Temporary changes to Education ActParliament has passed amendments to legislation that give the Secretary of Education stronger powers to act in the fight to limit the spread of COVID-19, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “They are part of a suite of changes passed under the COVID-19 Response (Urgent Management Measures) Legislation Bill,” Chris ...6 days ago
- Canada, Australia, Chile, Brunei and Myanmar join NZ and Singapore in committing to keeping supply a...Canada, Australia, Chile, Brunei and Myanmar have joined forces with New Zealand and Singapore by committing to keep supply chains open and remove any existing trade restrictive measures on essential goods, especially medical supplies, in the face of the Covid-19 crisis. Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker today welcomed ...6 days ago
- COVID-19: Rent increase freeze and more protection for tenantsImmediate freeze on rent increases Tenancies will not be terminated during the lock-down period, unless the parties agree, or in limited circumstances Tenants who had previously given notice can stay in their if they need to stay in the tenancy during the lock-down period Tenants will still be able to ...6 days ago
- Working together to protect businesses and workersAs New Zealand unites to lock-down in the fight against COVID-19, the Finance Minister is urging all businesses and workers to stay connected over the next four weeks. “We understand the extreme pressure many businesses are under right now. I know most business owners think of their workers as family ...6 days ago
- State of National Emergency declared to fight COVID-19A State of National Emergency has been declared across the country as the Government pulls out all the stops to curtail the spread of COVID-19. “Today we put in place our country’s second ever State of National Emergency as we fight a global pandemic, save New Zealanders’ lives and prevent ...7 days ago
- Prime Minister’s statement on State of National Emergency and Epidemic NoticeMr Speaker I wish to make a Ministerial Statement under Standing Order 347 in relation to the recent declaration of a State of National Emergency. Having considered the advice of the Director Civil Defence Emergency Management, the Minister of Civil Defence declared a State of National Emergency for the whole of ...7 days ago
- Deadline for domestic travel extendedPeople needing to travel on domestic flights, trains and Cook Strait ferries to get home before the country moves into level 4 lock-down tomorrow night will be able to continue using the passenger services until midnight on Friday, Transport Minister Phil Twyford said today. Domestic passenger services, particularly ferries, have ...1 week ago
- Mortgage holiday and business finance support schemes to cushion COVID impactsThe Government, retail banks and the Reserve Bank are today announcing a major financial support package for home owners and businesses affected by the economic impacts of COVID-19. The package will include a six month principal and interest payment holiday for mortgage holders and SME customers whose incomes have been ...1 week ago
- Government working to keep air freight movingMinister of Transport Phil Twyford has today announced details of the Government’s support package to keep key air freight moving and ensure New Zealanders retain access to essential goods during the four-week level 4 lockdown. “The Government is working with airlines and air freight operators to ensure New Zealand’s key ...1 week ago
- New Zealand moves to COVID-19 Alert Level 3, then Level 4 in 48 hoursNew Zealand moved up to COVID-19 Alert Level 3 – Restrict New Zealand to move up to COVID-19 Alert Level 4 – Eliminate, in 48 hours Two-staged approach to give people and businesses time to prepare Level 3, from tomorrow Non-essential businesses must close All events and gatherings must be ...1 week ago
- Prime Minister: COVID-19 Alert Level increasedGood afternoon The Cabinet met this morning to discuss our next actions in the fight against COVID-19. Like the rest of the world, we are facing the potential for devastating impacts from this virus. But, through decisive action, and through working together, do we have a small window to get ...1 week ago
- Govt takes significant economic decisions as NZ readies for Alert Level 4 in COVID-19 fightThe Government is announcing significant further support for the economy, workers and businesses as the country unites to prepare for Alert Level 4 in the fight against COVID-19. Cabinet today agreed to remove the cap on the Government’s wage subsidy scheme, which will inject a further $4 billion into the ...1 week ago
- Govt backs RBNZ move to support economy with lower interest ratesThe Government is backing the Reserve Bank’s latest action to support the economy by reducing longer-term interest rates, meaning lower costs for businesses and mortgage holders, and a lower currency to help our exporters. The Minister of Finance has signed a memorandum of understanding and a letter of indemnity with ...1 week ago
- Government statement on commercial cooperation during COVID-19The Government has asked the Commerce Commission to take account of the exceptional circumstances created by COVID-19 when monitoring business behaviour in coming weeks. “The purpose of my request to the Commerce Commission is to make sure businesses can work together in ways that will allow them to provide ...1 week ago
- New Zealand temporarily closes diplomatic posts in Barbados and Myanmar due to COVID-19The New Zealand Government has temporarily closed its High Commission in Bridgetown, Barbados and its Embassy in Yangon, Myanmar due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Due to the increasing scarcity of air links in and out of Bridgetown and Yangon, and the pressure COVID-19 is placing ...1 week ago
- Supporting Māori communities and businesses throughAssociate Health and Whānau Ora Minister Peeni Henare has today announced the Government’s plan to support Māori communities and businesses in the face of COVID-19. “Our Government’s $12.1 billion economic package will help many Māori whānau, workers and businesses, whether it’s through wage subsidies, income support and worker redeployment, or ...1 week ago
- Guidelines for hospitality establishments releasedThe Government and the hospitality industry have worked together to produce guidelines to assist with managing and reducing transmission of COVID-19, Health Minister David Clark announced today. The guidelines developed between the Government, Hospitality New Zealand and SkyCity Entertainment Group, set out how the new restrictions on physical distancing and ...1 week ago
- Nation steps up to COVID-19 Alert Level 2Four stage Alert System for COVID-19 announced New Zealand moved up to COVID-19 Alert Level 2 – Reduce Contact New Zealanders over 70 and those with certain medical conditions told to stay at home as much as they can to reduce risk of contact with the virus Workplaces to implement ...2 weeks ago
- PM Address – Covid-19 UpdateKia ora koutou katoa I’m speaking directly to all New Zealanders today to give you as much certainty and clarity as we can as we fight Covid-19. Over the past few weeks, the world has changed. And it has changed very quickly. In February it would have seemed unimaginable to ...2 weeks ago
- NZ and Singapore commit to keeping supply and trade links open, including on essential goods and med...New Zealand and Singapore have jointly committed to keep supply chains open and to remove any existing trade restrictive measures on essential goods, especially medical supplies, in the face of the Covid-19 crisis. Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker welcomed the commitment. “This is an important collective response, and ...2 weeks ago
- Joint Ministerial Statement by Singapore and New Zealand -Covid-19 situationJOINT MINISTERIAL STATEMENT BY SINGAPORE AND NEW ZEALAND AFFIRMING COMMITMENT TO ENSURING SUPPLY CHAIN CONNECTIVITY AMIDST THE COVID-19 SITUATION The COVID-19 pandemic is a serious global crisis. As part of our collective response to combat COVID-19, Singapore and New Zealand are committed to maintaining open and connected supply chains. We ...2 weeks ago
- Transit between Australia and New ZealandTravel restrictions, closing our border to almost all travelers came into force from 23:59 on Thursday 19 March 2020 (NZDT). All airlines were informed of these restrictions before they came into force. Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway says “The transit of passengers between Australia and New Zealand has been agreed upon and ...2 weeks ago
- Siouxsie Wiles & Toby Morris: Why those bubbles are so important
A quick reminder why we need to hold firm, and resist any temptation to bend the rules.For almost a week now, every one of us who isn’t an essential worker has been confined to their bubble. We are allowed to go shopping for groceries, to visit the doctor, and to ...2 hours ago - The Real Pod: The final pod for the final roseThe Real Pod assembles one more time to dissect the final week of The Bachelorette NZ, with special thanks to Nando’s.We’ve reached the end of our love journey in more ways than one, as this season of The Bachelorette NZ coincides with end of The Real Pod in its current ...4 hours ago
- More Equal Societies Are Better For All
We can be justifiably proud of our Government’s approach to the Covid 19 virus crisis. It has acted quickly recognising the WHO recommendations. The country “lock-down’ will do much to stop the spread of the virus and the Government support for people ...5 hours ago - PPE Victory For Frontline Health WorkersFrontline health workers in aged care, home care, and community support are relieved by the Ministry of Health announcement that proper PPE will now be made available to them through DHBs. E tū member Pam King, a support worker in Invercargill, congratulated ...5 hours ago
- Covid-19: Every New Zealand case, mapped and charted, March 31The second in our new series of charts, graphics and data-visualisations by Chris McDowall, covering the Covid-19 epidemic within New Zealand. We’ll publish the latest set each day on The Spinoff.This work is entirely funded by the generosity of The Spinoff MembersInformation about confirmed and probable cases of Covid-19 in ...7 hours ago
- Antibody tests: to get a grip on coronavirus, we need to know who’s already had it
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Larisa Labzin, Research Fellow, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland With much of society now effectively in lockdown, how will we know when it’s safe to resume something like normality? It will largely depend on being able to say who ...7 hours ago - ‘Pandemic drones’: useful for enforcing social distancing, or for creating a police state?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Richardson, Senior Research Fellow, UNSW People in Western Australia may soon see more than birds in the sky, as the state’s police force has announced plans to deploy drones to enforce social distancing. The drones will visit parks, beaches and cafe ...7 hours ago
- Federal government gets private hospital resources for COVID-19 fight in exchange for funding suppor...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Private hospitals will be on the frontline in the coronavirus battle, under an arrangement with the federal government that makes available the sector’s more than 30,000 beds and 105,000 workforce, including more than 57,000 nursing ...7 hours ago
- NZ lockdown – Day 6: Emergency extended by 7 days – PM on mediaBy RNZ News Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has eased restrictions on the media industry in New Zealand during the four-week lockdown, saying it was not exempt from the financial hardship caused by the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. She said community newspapers will now be able to be printed for hard ...7 hours ago
- ‘Pandemic drones’: useful for enforcing social distancing, or just for creating a police state?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Richardson, Senior Research Fellow, UNSW People in Western Australia may soon see more than birds in the sky, as the state’s police force has announced plans to deploy drones to enforce social distancing. The drones will visit parks, beaches and cafe ...7 hours ago
- What is homeschooling? And should I be doing that with my kid during the coronavirus lockdown?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rebecca English, Lecturer in Education, Queensland University of Technology “How to home school” has been trending on Google for the past few weeks as more and more children stay home from school because of COVID-19. So, what is homeschooling and is this ...7 hours ago
- The coronavirus lockdown could test your relationship. Here’s how to keep it intact (and even impr...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Raquel Peel, Lecturer, University of Southern Queensland With the raft of social distancing measures in place to control the spread of coronavirus, you may be spending more time with your partner than ever before. If you’re both working from home, and with ...8 hours ago
- A ‘rapid shift to a new way’ for supermarket business
The CEO of Foodstuffs tells Rod Oram he is certain food manufacturers and supermarkets can produce and distribute enough food for Kiwis, although the company is preparing for further challenges ahead Can New Zealand’s food manufacturers and supermarkets keep feeding the nation through the escalating Covid-19 crisis? “The answer is ...8 hours ago - Can mosquitoes spread coronavirus?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cameron Webb, Clinical Associate Professor and Principal Hospital Scientist, University of Sydney The pathogens mosquitoes spread by sucking our blood cause over half a million deaths each year and hundreds of millions of cases of severe illness. But there is no scientific ...9 hours ago
- Why closing our borders to foreign workers could see fruit and vegetable prices spikeSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Rose, Research fellow, Australian National University One aspect of the COVID-19 crisis that has so far escaped widespread public attention in Australia is its potential impact on our food security. We haven’t seen supermarket shortages of fruit and vegetables like toilet ...9 hours ago
- JobKeeper payment: how will it work, who will miss out and how to get it?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rebecca Cassells, Associate Professor, Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre, Curtin University The A$130 billion $1,500-per-fortnight JobKeeper payment will benefit six million Australians for six months, with payments expected from May 1. Eligible businesses include not-for-profits and businesses with turnovers of less than $1 ...9 hours ago
- The safest sex you’ll never have: how coronavirus is changing online datingSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa Portolan, PhD student, Institute for Culture and Society, Western Sydney University When Tinder issued an in-app public service announcement regarding COVID-19 on March 3 we all had a little laugh as a panoply of memes and gags hit the internet. Two ...9 hours ago
- Outlander recap: Jamie has the worst birthday everIt’s been a tough week in both 2020 and 1771, but things just got a whole lot worse for Jamie and Claire. Contains very big, very sad spoilers for season five, episode seven of Outlander.We are locked in a bubble of our own distress, we are self-isolating in a heavy ...9 hours ago
- Prime Minister Reconsiders Ban On Rural And Ethnic PublicationsPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced that rural and ethnic media outlets will be re-classified as essential services, if they are able to show they serve either a hard to reach or non-English speaking audience and follow health and safety ...9 hours ago
- Submit tax returns even if unable to meet payments, businsesses told
Businesses should continue filing their tax returns, even if they cannot make the payments, so the IRD can keep track. Under laws quickly passed before the country entered alert level four, Inland Revenue has the power to write off interest accrued on tax payments due on or after February 14. ...9 hours ago - Dramatic spending drop in lockdown
Spending through electronic payments dropped steeply on the first day of the Covid-19 lockdown compared with the same day a year ago. Figures just released by Paymark - which monitors electronic payments - show spending dropped by two-thirds - 72 percent - on the first day of level four restrictions ...9 hours ago - Businesses want minimum wage increase postponed
Businesses are asking the government to defer the minimum wage rise - scheduled to go up tomorrow - but workers do not agree. The minimum wage is due to rise to $18.90 from $17.70 per hour. The Employers and Manufacturers Association said the timing was inappropriate. "In the middle of ...10 hours ago - Oil and gas ban lacked consultation
A new report has found that a two-year-old a ban by the government on new oil and gas exploration would be costly, would do little for the environment and was done without proper consultation. The ban on new exploration permits, except on land in Taranaki, was announced by the government ...10 hours ago - If you’re worried about bushfires but want to keep your leafy garden, follow these tipsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Philip Gibbons, Professor, Australian National University As we witnessed last summer, the number of houses destroyed during bushfires in Australia has not been stemmed by advances in weather forecasting, building design and the increased use of large water-bombing aircraft. At the latest ...10 hours ago
- Delays and confusion surround wage subsidy scheme
Government agencies may be working overtime to get wage subsidies to people during lockdown but many are still in the dark over what they are entitled to and when they will get it. Gavin Somers runs a fishing charter company in Auckland's Waitematā Harbour. His business, Snapper Fishing Charters, started ...10 hours ago - Seven new Covid-19 clusters in NZ
There are seven new clusters of Covid-19 cases in New Zealand, doubling the number of clusters overnight. The Ministry of Health website notes that because they are connected to a known or likely patient zero, they're not classified as community transmission. However, they do represent the spread of Covid-19 within communities. The ...10 hours ago - Local government ‘unsung heroes’ of Covid-19
A new unit solidifies the role councils will play in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic Local government will help distribute food and medication to those most in need during the Covid-19 lockdown. Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management Sarah Stuart-Black announced the Society of Local Government Managers, Local Government New ...10 hours ago - Explainer: what is the national cabinet and is it democratic?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jennifer Menzies, Principal Research Fellow, Policy Innovation Hub, Griffith University Crises pose particular challenges for democratic leaders. They are expected to make critical decisions in times of uncertainty and rapidly develop effective plans to lead us out of the crisis. Normally, we ...11 hours ago
- Here’s hoping Big Pharma come up quickly with something to beat Covid-19
Stuff’s headline ran “Vaccine hopes push sharemarket higher”. An intriguing one, and sure enough Wall St had rallied on news the drug giant Johnson & Johnson had reported it expects to begin human clinical tests on a vaccine candidate for Covid-19 by September. Point of Order went in search of ...11 hours ago - Covid-19: More tests needed, Ardern says
Coronavirus testing is set to increase after government officials loosened the criteria for who should be checked and when The number of tests for coronavirus is set to ramp up, with health officials relaxing the testing criteria as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called for more testing to be done. New Zealand's ...11 hours ago - Alive from the US heart of Covid-19, New York City
Kiwi writer and photographer Cherie Aaarts Coley sent this dispatch from isolation in New York City, the US epicentre of Covid-19 I’m not sure what day it is today, or the date. I barely even know the month. It doesn’t seem to matter any more. Mostly all that seems to ...11 hours ago - What actually are ‘essential services’ and who decides?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gary Mortimer, Professor of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour, Queensland University of Technology The Morrison government keeps using the word “essential” to describe employees, public gatherings, services and businesses that are still allowed and not restricted as it tries to reduce the spread ...11 hours ago
- RITA was counting on a 2019/20 net profit of $165.8 million – but did they expect being nobbled by...
According to a Stuff report: New Zealand might be in lockdown but at a time when problem gamblers are at their most vulnerable, the TAB and online gambling sites are open for business. Might be in lockdown? We wonder where sports writer Mat Kermand was when he wrote that sentence as ...11 hours ago - More masks for community care workers
The Government will release "a large number" of masks and other protective equipment to DHBs to distribute for community and home care workers, Marc Daalder reports Community care workers who have been left without access to personal protective equipment (PPE) will now have their wishes granted as the Government moves to ...12 hours ago - Madeleine Chapman: Our PM is the finals MVP we need right nowMadeleine Chapman, who wrote the just-published biography Jacinda Ardern: A New Kind of Leader, says watching our prime minister handle the Covid-19 response is like watching an NBA star burst out from the pack. (Yesterday we published an extract). Rajon Rondo was the fourth-best player on the Boston Celtics roster in ...12 hours ago
- CEAC – “Gov’t Must Charter Airlines To Fly Stranded Kiwis Home.”NZ Gov't must charter airlines to fly stranded Kiwis home just as British Gov’t has agreed to do here today; https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-52099252 Quote; BBC 30th March 2020. Coronavirus: Foreign Office links up with airlines to fly stranded Britons ...12 hours ago
- CEAC – “Gov’t Must Charter Airlines To Fly Stranded Kiwis Home.”NZ Gov't must charter airlines to fly stranded Kiwis home just as British Gov’t has agreed to do here today; https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-52099252 Quote; BBC 30th March 2020. Coronavirus: Foreign Office links up with airlines to fly stranded Britons ...12 hours ago
- Covid-19 in NZ – Tuesday’s numbers charted
How is Covid-19 spreading within the country? Newsroom is collating information as it's available to paint a picture of what's happening. There were 58 new cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand, down from the previous day's 76 new cases. Details of how many tests have been completed are now being ...12 hours ago - Covid-19: How banks and Govt are working together
Newsroom Pro’s Bernard Hickey and Kiwibank Chief Economist Jarrod Kerr zoom out at lunch to talk about the Reserve Bank’s latest move to help banks lend to corporates. Bernard Hickey talks with Kiwibank Chief Economist Jarrod Kerr and Kiwibank CEO Steve Jurkovich about how the banking sector, the Reserve Bank and ...12 hours ago - Covid-19 definition may be broadened over test fears
A new committee set up to oversee the Government's Covid-19 response has held its first meeting - with testing criteria under the microscope Health officials are set to expand the criteria for coronavirus testing, amidst concerns of suspected cases being turned away at testing facilities. The Government has also been ...12 hours ago - Australians are moving home less. Why? And does it matter?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Aude Bernard, Lecturer, Queensland Centre for Population Research, The University of Queensland Australians are among the most mobile populations in the world. More than 40% of us change address every five years, about twice the global average. Yet the level of internal ...12 hours ago
- Flexible, Responsive Family Violence Services Needed During COVID-19 Crisis...13 hours ago
- Great first time to try: travel writing from the homeSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben Stubbs, Senior Lecturer, School of Creative Industries, University of South Australia Being in isolation might be a great time to try something new. In this series, we get the basics on hobbies and activities to start while you’re spending more time ...13 hours ago
- Keith Rankin Chart Analysis – Covid19: United States’ Deaths as at 29 March 2020Analysis by Keith Rankin While, United States’ local data on Covid19 is more readily available than for other countries, the American ‘country’ system of local governance is way out of date and often does not well represent urban conglomerations. Doing my best from the available data, I constructed the following ...13 hours ago
- ‘My partner’s being punished because I’m a doctor’
Shared custody of children between separated parents has become a flash point under pandemic lockdown rules, Teuila Fuatai reports. An Auckland doctor and her partner have been forcibly separated from their five-year-old son for the lockdown, in breach of a court-mandated 50/50 custody arrangement. The boy’s parents split three years ...13 hours ago - ‘I need people to make sure I’m OK’: How teenagers are coping with lockdownEmily Writes talks to teens about how the level four restrictions are affecting them, and asks how they can be better supported.There are unfortunately so many terrible stereotypes about teenagers, but Gen Z might just be our most resilient generation yet.Struggling through feelings of helplessness around climate change, they started a ...13 hours ago
- NZ mine worker killed, two others wounded in Freeport shootingBy Victor Mambor in Jayapura A New Zealand employee of gold and copper mining company PT Freeport Indonesia was shot dead on Monday by gunmen in Timika, the capital city of Mimika regency in Papua. The employee, identified as 57-year-old Graeme Thomas Weal, according to RNZ Pacific, was engaged ...13 hours ago
- Covid-19: Questions fired in first Epidemic Response Committee meeting
Top health officials fronted this morning as the Epidemic Response Committee held its first public meeting via video conference. ...13 hours ago - Migrants Need Access To Benefits Considering COVID-19 CrisisAuckland Action Against Poverty is calling on the Government to grant people who do not meet the residential requirements access to benefits so that everyone can have a roof over their head and follow the Alert Level 4 Covid-19 guidelines. We ...14 hours ago
- What’s on RNZ News at midday – Mar 31
Top health officials are fronting as the Epidemic Response Committee holds its first public meeting via video conference. ...14 hours ago - Minimum Wage Increase Should Be DeferredThe Government's decision to continue with the implementation to increase the minimum wage will further hurt economic recovery. The minimum wage is set to rise to $18.90 tomorrow, up from $17.70, in what will be the second $1.20 increase in a row. "Right ...14 hours ago
- Government books in surplus before Covid-19Official figures show the government's finances had a surplus of $1.39 billion for the eight months ended February - a shade above expectations. ...14 hours ago
- COVID-19 Sign Language Interpreters Under Pressure Due To Online CriticismDeaf Aotearoa and the Sign Language Interpreters Association of New Zealand (SLIANZ) say sharing online parody videos and memes of New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) interpreters causes added stress on their interpreters who are providing access to important COVID-19 ...14 hours ago
- Do Māori Made Easy with me: Week one, day twoJoin Leonie Hayden as she works through the first four weeks of Scotty Morrison’s Māori Made Easy.Rātū/TuesdayWe’re learning te reo Māori in lockdown, e te whānau. Today we’re practising the ‘ng’ and ‘wh’ sounds. The letter combinations ‘ng’ as in sing, and ‘wh’ pronounced like an ‘f’, are called digraphs. ...14 hours ago
- Online forum to help businesses amid Covid-19 lockdown
An online forum set up to help businesses navigate the Covid-19 lockdown period is providing insight into what help companies need, and what they don't know. Manaaki was set up only days ago by small business owner Pat MacFie of the innovation company Indigo, whose own business has been severely ...15 hours ago - Warehouse and Noel Leeming reopen online stores
Warehouse is re-starting some of its operations to supply appliances and other items now classified as essential goods. The retailer says it will reactivate 16 Warehouse and Noel Leeming stores as well as two national distribution centres to supply a limited range of products and services. The move follows the ...15 hours ago - No decision coming on Tiwai strategic review
The country's only aluminium smelter has had a decision on its fate postponed even as it closes its fourth potline due to Covid-19. ...15 hours ago - Air NZ to start cutting staff after revenue slashed
Air New Zealand will start laying off workers this week and says Covid-19 has slashed its revenue by more than $5 billion. In a message to staff, chief executive Greg Foran said international travel made up two-thirds of the company's revenue and that was gone now for the forseeable future. ...15 hours ago - NZ Post courier staff stood down over non-compliance of social distancing
New Zealand Post has stood down four courier workers in Wellington for not observing social distancing with each other on the job. New Zealand Post central and southern general manager of operations Matthew Riordan said workers were aware of the need to maintain a two-metre separation with others at all ...15 hours ago - Easter Trading: Be Kind To Supermarket Workers, Prime Minister"Be kind to supermarket workers this Easter" is the message to Government from the union representing supermarket staff. "We make this call as the Government considers whether or not supermarkets should be open on Easter Friday and Sunday ...15 hours ago
- Expansion of essential goods sold in lockdown welcomed by retailers
People can now buy whiteware, heaters, blankets and devices during the lockdown through online or phone orders that will be delivered in a contactless way. The government has eased restrictions slightly to allow the sale of some essential goods, which people may need to safely isolate, stay connected to one ...15 hours ago - $1,500 a fortnight JobKeeper wage subsidy in massive $130 billion programSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Morrison government will provide a flat $1,500 a fortnight JobKeeper payment per employee for businesses to retain or rehire nearly six million workers, in a massive $130 billion six-month wage subsidy scheme to limit ...15 hours ago
- New modelling shows scale of Covid-19 threat
The Government has released the modelling it used to inform its decision to lock down the country, and the numbers paint a stark picture of the threat Covid-19 poses, Marc Daalder reports Last week, Jacinda Ardern said if she didn't take the unprecedented step of locking down the entire country ...15 hours ago - Restaurant review: Our Place, a hot new addition to the Auckland suburbsOur Place is the latest in a plethora of new suburban eateries opening up across Auckland city. When Sonya Wilson visited this week, she discovered a relaxed newcomer that embraces its homely, neighbourhood vibe. Compared to many of Auckland’s fine-dining establishments, Our Place is rather unassuming upon approach. Diners enter via ...15 hours ago
- Kiwis believe cannabis prohibition failing, controls preferrWith the COVID-19 pandemic set to see more state governments in the US contemplate legalising personal use cannabis to boost tax revenue and help restore balance sheets, our Government’s draft Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill could gain further ...16 hours ago
- ‘Clear warning of consequences’: Ministry of Health releases Covid-19 modelsIn the worst-case scenario modelled, almost 150,000 New Zealanders would be hospitalised with Covid-19 and more than 35,000 would lose their lives.The Ministry of Health has released its mathematical models that project the severity of the Covid-19 outbreak based on different measures imposed on the populous. The modelling delivers “a ...16 hours ago
- Minimum Wage Increases Vital For Over 250,000 WorkersTomorrow’s scheduled minimum wage increase is vital for the hundreds of thousands of minimum wage earners who are doing it tough through the COVID-19 global pandemic. E tū Assistant National Secretary Annie Newman says that while life is difficult ...16 hours ago
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I just really want Peter Dutton to lose his seat above all else, whatever the overall outcome. That guy is the most nasty racist, bigoted PoS.
And for no more Pauline Hanson or Fraser Anning, for that matter.
[I have changed your Username because you appeared to be using your real name – Incognito]
Please see my Moderation note.
Oi, oi, oi – go Labor.
The Pollbludger website gets the numbers from the lat poll of some 3000 people
On the primary vote, Labor is steady on 37% and, contrary to Ipsos and Essential Research, the Coalition is down a point to 38%; the Green are steady on 9%; the United Australia Party is steady on 4%; and One Nation is down one to 3%. https://www.pollbludger.net When they trnsfer that to TPP it becomes 51.5-48.5. labour- coalition. Don't ask me how.As while parties give how to vote cards voters don't always follow that. One nation and UAP voters seem to split their preferences say 55-60% coalition and 40-45% to labour
A bizzarre system for a bizarre nation. And why are there so many independents? Is that too a result of their bizarre system?
more a thing of swing voters like in the US? Not wanting to give away party affiliation or not having one?
I mean here in NZ we could argue that anyone not with a party membership is an independent? No?
Exit polling is currently suggesting a Labor win.
Will the last act of Bob Hawke’s life push Labor over the line?
Shades of the 2005 New Zealand election: David Lange died just before it, and Labour narrowly won.
You don't really think that Lange's death had an effect do you? Personally, having seen the Australian result, I think Hawke's death did as much for Labour there as Lange's did for Labour here. In other words zilch.
Have you really forgotten the massive bribe of the interest free student loans? Now that was what saved Labour in 2005.
You're right, no doubt. Lange's death led to a great deal of sentimental reminiscing, but probably had little or no influence on the way people voted.
I would agree with you about the reaction to Lange's death. I was sad that he had died so young, given that he was less than a year older than I was. He was truly a breath of fresh air to New Zealand politics after the dire days of Muldoon, and I voted for his party twice at the time he was leader. However by 2005 he had no place in the Labour ranks.
I just don't think his death had any effect on the 2005 voting, despite what Micky Savage seems to think in his comment just below this. How MS comes to his opinion about my response is beyond me.
How MS comes to his opinion about my response is beyond me.
Don't worry, Alwyn—I think MS is a little down after yesterday's vote.
“You don’t really think that Lange’s death had an effect do you? Personally, having seen the Australian result, I think Hawke’s death did as much for Labour there as Lange’s did for Labour here.”
I don’t think you should hold out your personal response as an example of what much of the population went through.
Very early days (& huge Early Vote which could change things) … but might just be an upset Coalition victory.
Abbott out, but.
This is going to be tight one, but the mad monk is gone.
Buttons looks like he’s back with a 3.8% margin
I’ll be piss if the Lib’s get back in as Ubet had the Libs at 15/1 and my bookie had them at 25/1 with a hang House of Representatives at 50/1 before the SocMo called the election as i didn’t put any money on the muppets as Labour was almost even money.
I wouldn’t trust any exited polls tonight or pre election polls according to Antony Green
Quicker than a rat up a drain pipe and a downed brown one the ozzie election turned into a landslide for the ……….crackle…crackle….pop…splutter……… hissssssssssssssssssssssssssssssshhhhhhh…….poof
There is a 4.2% swing for the Libs in QLD and at this stage Labour is stuff unless they pull the red rabbit out of the hat in WA
Tas and Vic are only about 2.2% to 2.4% swing to Labour
The latest from the Antony Green, he is saying if the Libs don’t lose any seats in WA they will have just sneak over the line and if they don’t they will be in minority government.
Banana-Benders (Qlders) have not been kind to ALP.
What's ALP done to them?
Depressing.
only positive is Abbott is losing to climate change activist
Abbott is irrelevant. He would have probably gone before the next term was up. This is no consolation. The ALP was destroyed tonight. Australians seems to care more about their retirement nest egg than their fellow countrymen. Similar case here.
Australians seems to care more about their retirement nest egg than their fellow countrymen.
Given that their 'fellow countrymen' don't appear to care much about them either, is this not surprising?
I'm not arguing this is a good thing, quite the opposite, environments that are relatively low trust and high threat will reliably induce people to vote conservative.
Old Barnaby give the Labour Party an all might spray, about Labour giving the working class seats the two finger salute in Qld. As the Libs/Nats have picked a number of working class seats.
But in saying that a number of the wealthy electorates the Libs are struggling because of leftist independents and greens have been running a strong campaign in those seats, I’m sort of thinking had Labour not stood any candidates in those seats? Labour might have its nose in front, but Labour haven’t giving some working class seats an up yours in Qld and else where then this election would’ve been a Labour win.
I forgot that big Clive Palmer’s deal over first preferences to the Liberal/ Nats has also killed off a Labour Government especially in Qld.
Barnaby is a fool. Carrying on about 'working class' when his party will gleefully shaft them for the big agriculture and mining interests that bankroll him.
Australia will continue to burn coal and country. Climate change/nah.. pocket change.
Off the ABC: "Many commentators thought this was going to be a big night for Labor but early results are worrying for the party, with Penny Wong acknowledging that Queensland is a problem."
Queensland is a problem? Fact saying that like it's a new thing. Isn't that where Pauline Hanson is from?
Not looking good. Coalition is gaining. 67 to 60 on ABC news. 76 is required to win.
ALP relying on WA (& early vote) has the distinct whiff of clutching at straws.
Will it be a majority or minority Coalition Govt ?
10 mins later … Antony Green confirms that it's now virtually impossible to see how the ALP could win enough seats to form a new Govt.
I wouldn't call it just yet.
Well that sucks.
3 more years I guess.
Now we are going to have the next few weeks listening to talking heads bang on about how to get the votes of reactionary tradies.
This caps off a pretty shit week for me.
Are you calling it?
Yeah. I don't see how Labor can do it now. Only good thing to come out of this is that Shorten and the rest of these empty suits will be cleaned out over the next 3 years and a new generation will come through, who will move away from the Blairite triangulation.
Recriminations are already starting in ALP with some pointing the finger at Shorten. It's funny … just a few days ago I was wondering if the Aussies would end up with an Ed Miliband situation on Election Night … Polls pointing to a Lab victory … but an unpopular leader proving decisive when potential swing-voters to Labor actually entered the booths.
Generally around 10 points behind Scotty in Pref PM Polls … & with big Dissatisfaction numbers.
Whether or not the Shorten factor proved absolutely decisive … it almost certainly played some part in these pretty dismal results.
There does seem to be parallels with UK15.
The parties of the left cannot seem to be able to oust right wing parties that should very well be oustable
The question you shpuld ask yourself is why can't they.
Still too close to call.
Not a prayer of a labor government.
/aussie-aussie-aussie/#comment-1618333
I’m told there has been a swing against to Warren what’s has name in the NT which has a Labour safe seat the early 80’s. Antony Green has said that it’s impossible for Labour to form Government, so its going to be either majority or minority government for the Libs/ Nat.
The figures from Qld are very similar to old Johnny Howard’s win back in 2004
Sorry I seem I can’t reply to post here via my IPad for some reason. Is there any fix for this problem?
Great day for Au if it goes to plan for Scomo, Likewise no pesky abbott causing mischief in the background Morrison seems a straight up and likeable guy, Short dodgy in person and in past
Yes I think ScoMo won’t be having a knife throwing contest during this term and I wouldn’t be surprised if we could see a possible a term Lib/Nat Government (yuck)
Labour probably should’ve gone for Albo instead of shifty Shorten?
Press seem to think labour lost the oldies ( franking credits) and Howard’s Tradies on Tax and redistribution
Millsy @ 14.1, it’s more of a dig at Labour for sucking up to the big end of the town and giving the working class seats the flick and you now something is wrong when those usually Labour held seats have gone over to the Lib or Nats or independent. I believe if Albo had been the Labour Leader these working class/ Labour seats would’ve been held or gained
Not sure working class how we traditionally see it really exists any more as a unified voting class or that if it does labour really represents it Labour is more upper middle class Champaign socialists and identity politics, likewise anti Christian that does not help with this class if it still exists
Christians seem to have the habit of denying science and telling people who they and cannot have intimate relationships with and what they can do with their bodies. Labour should be damn well anti Christian.
Sure they can ignore a large voting block across many identities and classes Its a very naive and selected view of Christianity you have Millsy focussing on the fundamentalist who are a very small minority Not all Christian’s have a simplistic view of Christianity as a old white gut sitting on a cloud and firing thunder bolts hating gays and adulterers
Christians will purge evolution from schools and take gays out the back and shoot them given half the chance. Look at what has happened in Alabama when you give the god botherers full control of things. Of course you don't mind women being told what they can and cannot do.
Yes dear, Nz and Au are exactly like Alabama, similarly let’s deals in extremes Maybe not extreme socialism does not have a great past in taking out and shooting any one who does not agree with it, nor in controlling women reproductive decisions
Communist countries such as East Germany and Poland had abortion on demand and full access to birth control. Things that can only happen be imposing restrictions on the god botherers.
Have a look at communist China abortion 1 child policy and practice , 2 levels telling you how many you can have and forced abortion if you break the rules Let’s not even get to how they treated those lucky enough to survive the policy, if they felt a problem Ughurs the most recent recent poor souls who need to fit in to the socialist nirvana
Bewildered @ 23.1, it was one of the causes, but I don’t it was a major issue in my books. It think the biggest issue is around the middle class toffs and the workers in Labour seat turning to the Liberal/ Nats? As old shiffy Shorten didn’t seem to to properly explain Labour’s policy on tax, negative gearing, or dividend share tax etc.
Bewildered @ 24.1 I fully agree with your comment that is more a middle class toffs party now than looking after the workers or underprivileged and really don’t give them a toss nowadays
I don't think you are wrong there. There wasn't really much of a policy difference between the ALP and the Coalition.
Sort of agree EKW but not sure the average Aussie worker is that bad off, compared to kiwi low skilled labour etc they are pretty well looked after. This voting block plus tradies etc are no longer traditional labour or exist as a unified voting class The underprivileged are another matter and don’t tend to vote or a relatively small cohort , similarly the so called working class are not big on massive redistribution of their hard earned income or seeing their jobs destroyed by greens or transformation that hits their hip pocket
Old Barrie Cassidy, said yo can’t have an ambitious manifesto now from opposition almost shades of poor old Foot and old Hewson with Keating which was mean to be a Lib election win.
Millsy@ 26.1 Yes Labour has almost a shade of Blair’s New Labour and they wonder why the workers, the underprivileged have given them the two fingers and bugged off to the blue side or green of politics.
My electorate of Lingiari has had a 6.3% swing to the Country Liberal Party against the sitting Labour member which is normally a safe Labour seat, but this seat covers about 90% of the NT so there is a lot of remote polling votes to come in yet and at the moment the young lady J Price from the CLP is currently ahead. Knowing her mum Bess Price and her daughters background, I will say this seat will change hands for the first time since the 80’s when this seat was formed.
I’m going to call the election as a Lib/ Nat with a majority Government with 77 or 78 seats.
The race for the senate is going to be interesting and on that note folks
I’m off to get my evening med’s and head off to bed.
See you tomorrow morning folks
Heading that way.
Unbelievable result. The right certainly know how to win elections. Hopefully the Australian Labor party can rebuild and win back those voters who have clearly abandoned them.
Bill Shorten has conceded from the looks of things, and stepped down as leader.
It's all over. Only one way to go now, that is up.
or further down.
(sigh)
Congratulations to Scott Morrison. The accidental PM has personally pulled off the totally unexpected. He will likely be a decent PM even if the left won't be thrilled with his govt, we could certainly have hoped for a different outcome.
From the moment ScoMo became PM he's juggled a series of disunity crisis' that would have destroyed many others. You have to have some respect for this; managing through tough times competently is an under-rated skill.
Shorten was terribly unlucky, up against Turnbull he would have likely won. I've met him in person and he's impressive enough. But resigning is his only option and the ALP will go through the process of coming to terms with what has happened.
I've no particular sense of why QLD led the swing against them, but the unpalatable truth is that across the entire country the left has lost what should have been an unloseable election. They should have done better everywhere; not dissimilar to how Clinton lost to Trump, only this time without the populist demagogue to blame. Hopefully the ALP will take ownership of this hard truth with quiet dignity and intellectual integrity.
A successful adoption of the GOP tactic of reducing voter enrollment – a win for John Howard. There is no way Queensland would have gone so well for the Coalition if all the Kiwis there had voted.
There is also the white man thing, security in those of their kind continuing to rule – the abuse of women in the Liberal caucus probably won them more votes than it lost.
And the capacity of the boomers to look after themselves is going to be their generational legacy …
There is no way Queensland would have gone so well for the Coalition if all the Kiwis there had voted.
Well in fact many of us Kiwis in Australia are effectively disenfranchised in both countries. We can't vote in Australia and often we can't in NZ either. The rules require that we either:
https://www.elections.org.nz/voters/get-ready-enrol-and-vote/enrol-and-vote-overseas
I'm not sure what fraction of the 600,000 kiwis would be disqualified by this but it would be significant. Plus there are several extra steps involved in making an online or overseas vote. It's not surprising only a tiny fraction of ex-pats finish up actually casting a vote.
Australia has always had a "citizens only" voting qualification, unlike NZ where permanent residents can vote as well.
So I don't think the "Kiwi factor" would have made any difference in the Australian election (in Queensland). Even before the changes in 2001, most Kiwis did not take out Australian citizenship.
And even if Kiwis could vote, many would vote for the Liberals.
Suck it up sun shine and just accept it not every one agrees with your world view Democracy is the winner on the day Whining and throwing out stock lefty excuses is sad The Sun came up this morning ( just a little brighter) 😊
ALP and Liberals aren't that different, unfortunately. Both owned by the fossil fuel lobby and both powerfully neoliberal.
Woke up to hear if the exciting victory and the labour leader quitting.
Good start to the day so far.
Happy with this result.
Gloating is ugly James. The only purpose for making that comment was to inflict a bit more pain on people who you know will already be disappointed and therefore vulnerable.
It speaks poorly to your character. Mate.
Perhaps you might want to read the thread when Jacinda became PM.
and to say people are venerable because if this is atypical snowflake bullshit.
Labour lost – big deal. You congratulate the winners and hope they do the best job possible.
You can't have it both ways James; you can't deplore the 'thread when Jacinda became PM' and then go and do it yourself.
You congratulate the winners and hope they do the best job possible.
Which is what I did above and precisely not what you did.
you are a little thick this morning.
If you read the thread when Jacinda became pm – it is exactly what I did.
However the gloating from people on here was immense.
My my comment wasn’t gloating – I’m genuinely happy that “my team” won – I think Australia will be a lot better for it.
Sorry I can’t join the pity party some on here are having.
Bullshit.
nooe – it’s true. I really am very happy about the result.
The taliban are well organised.
Immediately blaming others for their own failure. Also speaks poorly to character.
Being despondent that the electorate plainly gives no fucks about the environment and that religious extremists will likely end up running the shop isn't blaming others.
Yes it is. The Libs had gone through a catastrophic leadership knife fight, the ALP was leading all the polls, the tide of opinion on climate change is turning, the issue of illegal immigration has cooled dramatically, even the media wasn't all bad as usual … all the big cards were stacked in their favour. Yet still they couldn't win. They have to look to themselves long and hard as to why.
Blaming 'racist/fanatic fuckheads in the electorate' is the hallmark of losers.
A woman voicing her fears about the influence of religious extremists is a loser. Nice.
Expressing 'fears' without any attempt at justifying them is otherwise known as whining. (And this being a gender non-specific activity.)
Blaming 'racist/fanatic fuckheads in the electorate' is the hallmark of losers.
Going too far there Redlogix.
My initial reaction when hearing the news this morning was:
"well that's it. Trump America has arrived in Australia."
Actually it was always there but now they are out in the open. And that is the darned truth. It's not blaming others.
When the towns and cities start going up in flames and they hop in their little boats and row across the Tasman, we'll turn them away like they turn other desperate folks away now. That'll learn them.
S'alright James and co. I don't really mean it. I don't think. 😳
Actually it was always there but now they are out in the open.
There may well be some element truth to of that, but to imply that every Australian who voted Lib yesterday is a racist fuckhead modeled on Trump's America … is still avoiding the truth. It's the same game the Democrats have played pointing the finger at the 'deplorables' instead of doing the honest work to understand why they're unelectable.
I did not take that meaning from Joe 90's comment because I thought the same albeit in a less orally provocative way.
The "racist fuckheads" voted for the Libs 'in toto' otherwise the result would have been different. Doesn't mean all the Lib voters fall into this category and Joe 90 wasn't suggesting as much.
I haven't checked the figures this morning. but it looked like Queensland was the big spoiler last night and that is not surprising. The state has a reputation for having a very large contingent of "racist fuckheads" going back many decades.
The state has a reputation for having a very large contingent of "racist fuckheads" going back many decades.
Yes while they are more conservative (and this has geographic parallels with the USA) it's really not dramatically different; it's the usual mix just a little more tilted.
This idea that Australia is full of six fingered rednecks is just a Kiwi conceit.
An interesting point that speaks to an underlying problem we have with democracy:
https://www.news.com.au/national/federal-election/federal-election-2019-labor-defeat-is-humiliating/news-story/4cadec03271d70e14280e2846255ced4
It's arguable Ardern only just squeaked into power here in NZ because she didn't have enough time to articulate a detailed vision, and part of her on-going success is that she's preferred the pragmatic over idealistic.
<blockquote>
It's arguable Ardern only just squeaked into power here in NZ because she didn't have enough time to articulate a detailed vision,
</blockquote>
it wasn’t her lack of vision – it was how much she was willing to give Winston to buy power with our money. That squeaked her into power.
Ardern did remarkably better in the election than would have been expected months earlier. If she hadn't pulled Labour up in to the high 30's Winston would have been irrelevant.
What Ardern and Morrison have in common, along with the likes of Trump, was a lack of incumbency, a lack of detailed political track record on which they could be attacked.
What a tragedy for Australia.
what is it with some of you lefties and your hatred of democracy?
The people voted and selected their leader. The majority got what they asked for.
Thats a good result – not a tragedy.
It's great having one proud Australian on here today.
Two.
It is a triumph for Australia. The people have chosen a pro growth path that should sustain for the next two decades. Lip service will be paid to the Paris Agreement, preceeding a withdrawal in 2025.
Have you taken a break from yelling at the pub-goers next door?
We need to talk about the remaining left who are in power in the world.
It's shrinking very, very fast.
Indeed. Only this time the left really has nowhere else to place the blame. Morrison came back from political death, ran an effective political campaign and has won decisively. The left got outplayed … again.
If we want to change the outcomes we can only change ourselves. Whining that the other guys are nasty people, that they cheat, they treat us mean and don't recognise our intellectual and moral superiority, is just that … whining.
Here is my starting point. The conversation needs to understand what politics is really for and how we can play a more effective role in it. Hint, it isn't about 'winning and losing':
The paradox of running an effective political campaign versus effectively running a country. The campaign is the glossy add, full of appealing promises. The term in Government is the product. Voters are the consumers that are lured by ads making the assumption that the better the ad, the better the product. It is much easier to improve the ad than the product; once the sale is done, the money is in. People tend to by brands they know and trust.
And may this excellent trend continue Hard lefties are really deplorable as comments by Ann, SPC and Joe 90 detest I am always surprised why they are surprised when their know all, superiority complex sees their favourites who hold similar world views are crushed at the ballot box
Citing a woman who fears the prospect of religious extremists holding power makes one a deplorable hard leftie. Really?
The conflation by pulling these extreme comments with liberal election win to demean liberal voters Joe is the issue and I suggest you know it Not to mention using this crazy womens comments as your shield is deplorable but a common tactic of the left
The Australian liberals are heading down the same path as the GOP. Goldwater warned about the preachers getting control of the [Republican] party and the past while has shown him to be correct.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/the-religious-minority-seizing-power-in-the-liberal-party-20180601-p4ziyq.html
http://theconversation.com/as-australia-becomes-less-religious-our-parliament-becomes-more-so-80456
Just because they say it Joe it don’t make it so Re US good chance democrats pick up the next election if they can get their loony left rump under control The centre left or right do not like the extremes
It would appear one word decided the Aussie election.
Tax
Yes. The Libs. ran a false smear campaign on Federal Taxes in the same way the Nats ran the campaign on CGT. We've got a name for it – Dirty Politics. Others call is Fake News.
There may have been misrepresentation but there was also 'incentive'….it seems that less tax remains a vote winner, and once 'less tax' is in place it is almost impossible to reverse…a fundamental difficulty for any 'left' party…and fertile ground for libertarians.
https://www.smh.com.au/federal-election-2019/what-the-morrison-government-promised-to-do-next-20190518-p51ore.html
The flip side when a new tax is introduced it is very hard to remove so it’s not really difficult to understand why people from all persuasions don’t like more tax If labour have just worked this out they really do live in La la land
On the contrary, removing taxes if the easiest thing in the political realm, as you yourself note tax is broadly unpopular, the difficulty is the likely necessity to remove services to compensate for the lost revenue…that appears to be more politicly palatable, especially if those services are not likely to be accessed by your constituency
Getting rid of tax burden and replacing it with another tax is not getting rid of tax burden overall but moving the deck chairs Proposing new taxes and increasing overall tax burden and believing that will not be popular is a “know shit Sherlock moment” If labour Have just realised this more fool them
you really do seem to be struggling with this…..
"Getting rid of tax burden and replacing it with another tax is not getting rid of tax burden overall but moving the deck chairs Proposing new taxes and increasing overall tax burden and believing that will not be popular"
are you sure you wouldnt like to edit that?
Others call it Politics, not that labour is not prone to a healthy amount of bs and smearing If you can’t handle the heat get out of the kitchen This was labour’s election to lose, they did in a grandiose way
Pat @42. Blaming National for this governments inability to implement a CGT is a disgrace, Labour in particular have no one to blame but themselves. Ardern and co threw in the towel before they even got off the stool. They let National control the narrative because they refused to go in and fight for what's right. That's on us, accept it.
An honest man that mickeyboyle Taking ownership where ownership lies
Pardon?….you would appear somewhat confused
How so is MickeyB confuse there Pat, Please enlighten, facts please
Must be contagious….read my post @42 and it should be abundantly clear.
will do
see post 42.111
really Pat your comment at 42 is a know shit Sherlock moment My comments on MickeyB stands
Meh…you would appear to be a lost argument looking for somewhere to land…and your comment to Mickey Boyle is of no relevance to my response to his confusion
Come on, Pat! We all know that Jacinda Ardern campaigned hard for CGT in Oz. She even sent over Sir Michael but National got wind of it and sent Simon to neutralise Sir Mike. It paid off, didn’t it? The Mad Monk is gone. This is the sole reason why JC will be the next leader of National. Please keep up!
Your ducking for cover Pat Mickey highlighted as with Ardern and Nz labour needed to own Cgt shambles LABOUR Au need to own this election loss , you seem to be arguing that they where blindsided by the people response to their tax policy and the libs exploiting this As Mickey indicates they need to own this if they where to dumb to understand that this is what they would be judged and attacked on, well as I said more full then In reality I think it was way more than tax
lol…a lot of projection going on there B.
There is no need to duck for cover as I have made a brief judgement on that which swung the Aussie election, is it the sole reason?undoubtably not but I suggest it is a key reason for although they lost badly in Queensland (apparently) their support in the largest states failed to counter that…two states with falling property values I may add.
As to ownership i made no judgement though that should be obvious in a democracy
Apologies that was my fault for the confusion. I was actually referring to Pat's comment at 42.1.1. And Arderns and Labours inability to even put up an ounce of fight for a policy they say they believe in. Less tax is currently only a vote winner because our side refuses to convey what effects a CGT etc would have on the average kiwi. We seem reluctant to fight for our policies, which leads to plenty of poll watching without much real action. Year of delivery, transformational, it all means nothing if you are not prepared to state your case and fight for it. Sorry but for some reason when I press reply I cannot type anything in the comment box?
Again Im not sure why you are taking umbrage as my comment at 42.1.1 makes no reference to CGT, National, Ardern or even NZ…it is a general observation about the implications of tax policy on parties with a public ownership model, or 'the left".
This is what you wrote, "it seems that less tax remains a vote winner, and once 'less tax' is in place it is almost impossible to reverse". That's all I'm arguing against. Less tax is only currently a vote winner because those on our side who are currently in power and whom believe in paying more to support our vulnerable or deliver better social policies, refuse to fight and counter the false narrative that we allow our opponents to foster. I have no doubt that Ardern and co could've got a CGT across the line, my point is that they didnt even try. Less tax is only a vote winner because voters do not see how an alternative would benefit themselves and society.
now compare your statement here @ 44.1 with this
"Blaming National for this governments inability to implement a CGT is a disgrace, Labour in particular have no one to blame but themselves. Ardern and co threw in the towel before they even got off the stool. They let National control the narrative because they refused to go in and fight for what's right. That's on us, accept it."
and wheres the blame and lack of acceptance?….it certainly isnt in 42 or 42.1
You must have been an opening batsman Pat or a boxer. Your weaving and bobbing is impressive 😀
One too many drinks last night, me thinks. Pat was as clear as succinct @ 42.