The Media and the Australian election

Written By: - Date published: 2:03 pm, May 20th, 2022 - 28 comments
Categories: australian politics, elections, Media, the praiseworthy and the pitiful - Tags:

I cannot understand why in Australia Scotty from Marketing still has a fighting chance of remaining as Prime Minister.  But the recent tightening in the polls suggests that this is a possibility.

But how can this be happening?  What is wrong with Australians that so many of them would vote for him?

Ross Gittens in the Australian has this explanation that is depressingly plausible:

It’s a sad commentary on modern politics that no mainstream politician would dare suggest we vote for them because they’d best advance the public interest. They know that we know their greatest interest is in advancing their own career so, to attract our votes, they offer bribes.

They’ve trained us to see elections as transactional, not aspirational. You want my vote? What are you offering? And is that better or worse than the other side’s offering?

That’s how, with climate change and so many other, lesser problems needing attention, we’re devoting most of this campaign to grappling with the great challenge of our age … the cost of living. Really?

Now, I don’t blame people on low incomes with big commitments who really do struggle to get by for wanting to see what the two sides are offering that might make their lives easier.

But you don’t have to be struggling to tell yourself your life’s a struggle, and you wouldn’t mind voting for a pollie offering you a few more bangles and baubles.

Bernard Keane at Crickey, who is one of Australia’s best political commentators said this:

The reasons why Morrison has proven to be competitive will be examined endlessly if this scenario plays out. Much of it will have to do with the power of the political party News Corp, which operates in coalition with the Liberal Party and its campaign strategists, while its staffers masquerade as journalists. But the role of the actual media will also be scrutinised; the complaint that Labor made itself too big a target will be replaced with the complaint that Labor made itself too small a target; the more nuanced take might be that it failed to provide a defining reason for voters to identify with Labor.

The Media and in particular News Corp have a lot to answer for.  From Denis Muller at the Converstation:

What does a democracy do when a dominant news media organisation goes rogue during an election campaign?

In 2022, News Corporation is confronting Australia with this question once again, as it did in 2019, 2016 and 2013, and as it did in the United States in 2016 and 2020.

“Going rogue” here means abandoning any attempt at fulfilling one of the media’s primary obligations to a democratic society — the provision of truthful news coverage — and instead becoming a truth-distorting propagandist for one side.

The evidence that News Corp has gone rogue during the current federal election is plentiful. It can be seen every morning in its newspapers across the country, and every evening on Sky News after dark.

If you need proof of the bias then just look at the treatment of the Teal Independents, a group of mostly female independent candidates standing against Government MPs in conservative held seats.  Their reason for standing is that the Government is that crap on climate change that it should be removed as soon as possible so that a responsible approach can be adopted.  But Murdoch is not taking this well and his papers have chosen to act as repeaters of Liberal attacks on the Teal independents.

The attacks are extraordinary especially considering the easy ride that the likes of Bob Katter and Clive Palmer receive.  This earlier video of Katter talking about gay rights still amazes me.

And Palmer’s United Australia Party have been pushing the line that both major parties were planning to transfer all of Australia’s health assets and hospitals to the “Chinese-controlled” World Health Organisation.

And unvaccinated Pauline Hanson has contracted Covid.

More recently the Murdoch press have urged people to support the bulldozer over the journeyman.

But interestingly the Sydney Morning Herald has come out and said that Morrison should be ousted.

Tomorrow will be an interesting day.  And if somehow Scotty from Marketing wins progressives everywhere will have to have a deep long think on how we campaign.

28 comments on “The Media and the Australian election ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. riffer 1
    20 May 2022 at 2:45 pm

    I just returned on Wednesday from a week in Australia. This analysis is spot on. The huge disparity in advertising spend between Labor and Liberal/National is astounding too. If I ever hear "there's a hole in your budget, dear Labor, dear Labor" again I may go mad. In an ad break with six ads, three of them were that ad. Between the Liberal/Nationals and United Australia party ads, you hardly hear anything from Labor, other than what the news media tells you. And the papers are running front pages all about how you can't trust Labor. Still, at least they are talking about Labor. The Teals don't get a look in, other than dismissing laughter any time they are mentioned.

  2. Corey Humm 2
    20 May 2022 at 4:22 pm

    As a gay man I thank you for that Katter video rofl. His much, much younger brother is a gay former labour candidate and his dad was a labor mp who defected to the coalition interesting family.

    Glad someone in NZ is talking about the Australian election.

    The media are disgraceful. I've seen them constantly in packs screaming at Albo asking random questions trying to get a gotcha moment over his own policies but they are constantly checking their phones to remember their own questions. Pot kettle.

    If scomo wins I'll be forever happy we don't have STV. It's a weird weird system.

    Scomo has been called a psychopath, a compulsive liar, a sexist, a despot, a thug, a tyrant an authoritarian by his own cabinet let alone what Macron and others have said …

    If he wins… Good lord.

    My favorite answer from Albo and one NZ labour could use when asked about the perception labor is weak on defence and national security "I lead the party of John Curtin who led Australia through ww2" …. Nzlp never ever talks about our longest serving NZLP Pm Peter Fraser, the man who led us through WW2, next time we get accused of being weak on defence we should mention him

    One thing though that pisses me off about Albo and I see it every election worldwide on the left is not knowing the numbers on the OCR, unemployment, inflation AND THEY KNOW THE MEDIA IS GOING TO ASK BUT STILL DONT MEMORIZE THEM. I've seen Jacinda do it it's not a big deal and by no means justifies the lunatic attacks from the media but its just opening yourself up to unnecessary gotcha moments and it really stuffed Albos first week of the campaign.

    But for the love of god don't write them on your hand like Sarah Palin wrote the republicans only policy"tax cuts" on hers

    I hope Albo wins. A working class lad from a state house growing up to be pm is a great testament to an egalitarian democracy and tells kids they can be anything when they grow up. I liked that John Key was a state house kid, it was a testament to the social safety net that it was possible, the fact he further eroded it disgusted me but the fact it's possible to rise from the bottom to the top was a good for thing NZ (hated his policies of course) so go albo. Working class kid done good.

    Go Labor. If they win tomorrow, they'll have federal govt, and all state govts apart from Taz and NSW.

  3. tc 3
    20 May 2022 at 5:22 pm

    Bernard Keane not Keen I think mickey. Guy rundle's done a similar job to the one he did in the trump election campaign hanging out and observing what's actually happening on the ground.

    The job done over 3 terms on the abc/sbs is depressing for those who can recall what they used to be like.

    Even if they lose they've stacked so many authorities and bodies with long tenured mates not much is likely to change.

    [Bugger right you are. Have corrected. Bernard Keane is right up there with local commentators like Bernard Hickey and Neale Jones. He has this ability to clearly sum up the insanity of modern politics – MS]

  4. aj 4
    20 May 2022 at 8:24 pm

    I don't think history will look on Murdoch kindly.

    Meanwhile, this sums it up:

    https://twitter.com/marquelawyers/status/1527427903171923969?cxt=HHwWgsCoybrlwbIqAAAA

  5. adam 5
    20 May 2022 at 10:13 pm

    Tsar Murdoch and his family, will not give up their hold of Australia. And damn the rest of us for even suggesting otherwise.

    The coalition will do well, because the corporations who Tsar Murdoch protects and speaks for, can't have it any other way.

  6. barry 6
    21 May 2022 at 12:22 pm

    Australians are like – yes we know scomo is a useless prick, but albo might not be perfect!

  7. tc 7
    21 May 2022 at 1:08 pm

    Best result IMO is hung parliament with the 'teals' holding the balance with One Nation reduced to the whiny Hanson.

  8. roblogic 8
    21 May 2022 at 4:50 pm

    New "Australien" Govt ad by Juice Media… (the previous one was epic too)

    https://youtu.be/imuTUxBu-kQ

    • mickysavage 8.1
      21 May 2022 at 6:47 pm

      They are so good. I guess the best local comparison is White Man behind a Desk.

    • swordfish 9.1
      21 May 2022 at 7:03 pm

      .
      I've always voted in my undies … it's long been associated with a certain je ne sais quoi down our way.

      [I’m not sure that’s any cause for joe90 to call me an “amoral prick” (below) though]
      🙂

      • RedLogix 9.1.1
        21 May 2022 at 7:11 pm

        Good to see you up again. I hope things are travelling OK with you. yes

        • mickysavage 9.1.1.1
          21 May 2022 at 7:25 pm

          Second that!

        • swordfish 9.1.1.2
          22 May 2022 at 7:56 pm

          .

          Cheers Red & Greg.

          Genuinely appreciate it.

          Had a very good response to my first-line Chemo (which I received from Sep 21 to Feb 22) … officially a "near complete response" … described as "very good" by one oncologist & "fantastic" by another … obviously not quite as good as a "complete response" where there's no evidence at all of remaining cancer … but still the kind of response you can only hope for at the start. A lot of people unfortunately have either no response whatsoever or just a kind of holding response that stops the cancer advancing for a while ("stable disease") but doesn't actually reduce it in volume, or they experience a minor / partial response … so I'm very thankful.

          I did a lot of research in the first weeks after diagnosis (once I got over the intial shock that it was terminal … always knew Stage 4 was a possibility but was hoping & expecting Stage 3) … all the research encouraged me to initiate a little daily regimen of complementary medicine (not New Age- Middle Class Hippie nonsense, I hasten to add … all re-purposed conventional drugs based on rigorous medical research) … so that may have helped … but impossible to be sure … good response may have been purely the corollary of the Chemo & my particular physiology / molecular structure.

          CEA, having been extremely high, is now only slightly above normal levels for people without cancer … which is pretty unusual for those with terminal disease. Most of my tumours have disappeared to the human eye, though still there at microscopic level (incl the primary bowel tumour) … only 2 (of the initially many) cancer lesions on my liver are still visible & have shrunk enormously … so very happy with that.

          Still terminal, though … odds still strongly against 5 year survival … esp without the publicly-funded targeted therapies that are routinely given in Aus & the UK (not sure yet if Budget will change that). Patients currently have to raise $60-80k per year themselves.

          Great response possibly boosted by considerably less stress = one of the key sources of stress over last 5 years – my Parents' violent anti-social prick of a neighbour – has largely lived elsewhere for around 11 months – though he's still holding on to the house (!!!), largely using it as storage for alcohol & periodically suddenly turning up late at night / early hours (sometimes with his mate), often drunk & almost always causing major trouble. But overall, a significantly less stressful situation for me over the last year in terms of having to worry about them & suffering sleep deprivation from having to ring Police & dealing with his intimidation of them through early hours.

          Unfortunately, though, this relatively calm situation may be coming to an end … he inflicted around 4 hours of violent intimidation on them (& other neighbours) last night & through the early hours of this morning … first time he's done anything on that scale since Nov 2021 (he's turned up a few times & played aggressive hip hop (MoFo lyrics) at full volume on his stereo, keeping them awake throughout the early hours & he aggressively abused & intimidated one of their other neighbours a couple of months ago with threats of violence & a whole lot of "fuck ya s" and, as I mentioned in a brief comment here a few weeks back, we had some hopes after he was arrested & taken away in handcuffs by Police … but nothing on this scale of abuse in recent months. He was dropped off around 1:40am, reasonably drunk by the sound of it & immediately started swearing & shouting threats at my Parents while strutting back & forth in front of their house (sort of behaviour that everyone was beginning to think was in the past), a neighbour saw him walk onto my Parents' property (driveway) while swearing around 2am, then he smashed a beer bottle onto the road, followed by another sudden surge in violent rage, throwing another beer bottle onto my Parents' roof, scaring the bejesus out of them. My Father then rang the Police who had to return twice over the next 3 hours (multiple calls from concerned neighbours) but never arrested him.

          Four & a half year saga … last year much better with him largely elsewhere … now beginning to look ominous again. Precisely zero sign of him changing personality or behaviour … true psychopath. But, then again, why worry because the miracle of "wrap-around services" (Sarc on a massive, deeply angry & exasperated scale)

          • RedLogix 9.1.1.2.1
            22 May 2022 at 8:02 pm

            wow – thank you for this. A real mix of good and bad news there.

            Interestingly I had a long convo with my daughter last night who due to the nature of her work means she gets to see a great deal of what goes down locally. The deal according to her is that the Police have been instructed pretty much not to touch people like your neighbor unless extreme circumstances apply.

          • lprent 9.1.1.2.2
            22 May 2022 at 9:54 pm

            Damn about the terminal. Good news about the current response – long may it continue to defer the day. I’d really miss your numeric abilities and common sense commentary.

            This is from a totally different perspective

            Drunk neighbours are a terrible pain in the arse. I have seen two of them depart our apartment building feet first over the last 24 years, and several other depart alive in ambulances to never return. We have 60 single bedroom apartments, so there is usually at least one problem occupant in any one year.

            Mostly it is quiet around here as you can when you’re just behind the intersection of K Rd, Ponsonby Rd, Newton Rd and Great North Road – just outside Auckland’s CBD.

            The worst drunks are usually the family trust bunnies planted here. Some grow out of their addictions. Some learn to handle it in a way that doesn’t fuck off the neighbours. Some die of it.

            If the drunks are renting, then we just organise that residents know the contact details of the landlord or the representatives. Much more effective targeting them than anyone else. If they are family black sheep dumps, then the same to the trustees or parents. Pays to lookup the property ownership to find out who to target and get their contact details. I can’t think of an actual owner occupant we have had a problem with.

            We call the police if they look like they’re getting violent or starting to sound suicidal.

            But for us it is a bit like the fairly frequent fire drills or false alarms. A bloody nuisance, but comes with apartment living.

            Curiously we don’t get bothered by the drug users much. Just the occasional request from police to be let in at odd hours of the day or night as they arrest someone.

            Same with the domestics. That is usually just someone storming out of a couple’s apartments. There aren’t the families with kids here.

            • RedLogix 9.1.1.2.2.1
              22 May 2022 at 10:14 pm

              All that makes good common sense in the context of your apartment experience. Oddly enough we had a dose of something like it – a physical yelling and shoving match that needed breaking up – just last week.

              But swordfish's parents are in quite a different scenario – both in their 90's and unable to move, nor get Kianga Ora or the police to act.

              • lprent …
                22 May 2022 at 11:26 pm

                Yeah. I'm not that old. We have 3 Kianga Ora apartments in the block – one next door to my partners one where we have been living for the last 5 years. But I think I have dealt with about half of their tenants over the decades.

                Kianga Ora are a pain in the arse to deal with sometimes mostly because they are terrible at responding. We just treat them as really annoying stupid landlords. They respond pretty well to having a lot of complaints from neighbours when their tenants have repeated incidents. Not to mention the followup calls, emails, and visit asking what in the hell are they’re doing about the last flood of complaints. Plus over the years they have learned to distinguish the chronic complainers (we always have a few) from the people who complain when it is really a problem.

                Generally their tenants are somewhat broken but not too hard to deal with socially. The only actual drunk we had from them was a quiet one, and eventually was one of those who exited feet first after not surviving his detox.

                I've ignored them when they don't seem to need help. Befriended them to point of my offering opinion, criticism, and even advice and them accepting or ignoring it if I thought that they could use it – typically after they turn up on my doorstep asking for it.

                Helped them when they've repeatably locked themselves out. Threatened phone companies for them after they have been sold a ridiculously overpriced 'cheap' phone deal. Inspected the poor workmanship on some of the repairs 'KO' contractors have done, and lent my washing machine until the damn thing was done properly. Helped them understand why their last employer dumped them. Turned up as a support at formal employment meetings. Donated wifi on a separate channel and even old computer hardware, furniture, household appliances if they can use it. Read their damn essays, CVs, etc etc..

                Basically the same as I do for anyone who can use a helping hand – and I have the time, expertise or gear to do it. Have never had to bail them out like I have had to do with my own family – usually for protesting or under age drinking.

                The police don't have any more powers over Kianga Ora drunks that they have over any other drunk. But usually they only come in to KO apartments to keep the peace. Which for KO here is usually moving non-resident family members resisting being told to go home by the resident.

                Only once they had to come for aggro from a KO resident. They came to find a group of older women standing around the guy telling him to calm down and stop making a racket (and keeping the guys in the complex observing from a distance). It was amusing to observe in retrospect and kind of upsetting watching my reactions as I was observing – also in retrospect. They weren’t that helpful in the situation.

                He got wound up because one of his mates lifted a parcel in the foyer on the way out and was upset when it was captured on camera.

                We have effectively got WO to move a tenant out, not because of her, but because she kept having her brother staying over to support her – and he was a bit of arsehole and seemed to enjoy trying to get into peoples faces. They went to a place for two people.

                As you say – it is completely different to the problem that swordfish has. But trying to do what needs to be done while fighting a disease isn't effective. But it shouldn't have to be solely up to him or his parents. Surely they aren't the only neighbours this idiot drunk is upsetting.

                The basics are the same – organise in a neighbourly manner and deal with the problem communally. Help if you can because people respond to neighbours making a effort. If needs be hammer the landlord or owner of the property if they don't deal with problem tenants.

                But deal with it locally because the police and social services usually can't do it much without a concerted local social effort. They are the ambulance.

              • swordfish …
                27 May 2022 at 12:13 am

                Thanks RL. Some more incidents tonight, including once again casually walking onto my parents property … get the impression he's moving back in. He's a really malevolent character, very well-known to the Police… bad atmosphere whenever he's around … & he knows there are no consequences.

            • swordfish 9.1.1.2.2.2
              27 May 2022 at 12:08 am

              Cheers, Lynn.

    • Mike the Lefty 9.2
      22 May 2022 at 7:27 am

      If you can see the sea they are togs.

  10. joe90 10
    21 May 2022 at 7:01 pm

    Amoral pricks.

    https://twitter.com/TamePunk/status/1527832398737526784

    Scott Morrison has breached his own rule against commenting on “on-water matters”, confirming an asylum seeker boat from Sri Lanka has been intercepted.

    In a last-ditch pitch to voters on election day, Morrison told Australians they “need to vote Liberal and Nationals” for him to be there to stop future boats, despite Labor having an identical policy to intercept and turn back boats where safe to do so.

    On Saturday voters reported receiving text messages, from the NSW Liberals, warning them about the “illegal boat” and urging them to “keep our borders secure by voting Liberal today”.

    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/may/21/scott-morrison-breaks-own-rule-against-commenting-on-on-water-matters-to-confirm-asylum-boat-intercepted

    • Mike the Lefty 10.1
      21 May 2022 at 7:30 pm

      The uncanny timing of this "asylum seeker boat" being found on election day should raise suspicions of any thinking voter, but I suppose the great unwashed will swallow it without a murmur.

  11. Mike the Lefty 11
    21 May 2022 at 7:23 pm

    The Australian electoral system allows campaigning on election day. It also allows election posters, billboards and other electioneering to be done almost to the doors of the voting booths. Such a system allows fat billionaires to spend something like $60 million telling lies to try and prevent Labour from winning because there are no limits on campaign spending.

    If we ever thought our elections rules were bad – they are pretty good compared to the circus going on over the Tasman right now.

  12. aj 12
    21 May 2022 at 7:27 pm

    Go David Pocock.

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  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Hipkins fires up in leaders’ debate, but has the curtain already fallen on the Labour-led coalitio...
    Labour’s  Chris Hipkins came out firing, in the  leaders’ debate  on Newshub’s evening programme, and most of  the pundits  rated  him the winner against National’s  Christopher Luxon. But will this make any difference when New  Zealanders  start casting their ballots? The problem  for  Hipkins is  that  voters are  all too ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    3 days ago

  • Govt is energising housing projects with solar power – and fuelling the public’s concept of a di...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Not long after Point of Order published data which show the substantial number of New Zealanders (77%) who believe NZ is becoming more divided, government ministers were braying about a programme which distributes some money to “the public” and some to “Maori”. The ministers were dishing ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • MIKE GRIMSHAW: Election 2023 – a totemic & charisma failure?
    The D&W analysis Michael Grimshaw writes –  Given the apathy, disengagement, disillusionment, and all-round ennui of this year’s general election, it was considered time to bring in those noted political operatives and spin doctors D&W, the long-established consultancy firm run by Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Known for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • FROM BFD: Will Winston be the spectre we think?
    Kissy kissy. Cartoon credit BoomSlang. The BFD. JC writes-  Allow me to preface this contribution with the following statement: If I were asked to express a preference between a National/ACT coalition or a National/ACT/NZF coalition then it would be the former. This week Luxon declared his position, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • California’s climate disclosure bill could have a huge impact across the U.S.
    This re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Andy Furillo was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The California Legislature took a step last week that has the potential to accelerate the fight against climate ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • Untangling South East Queensland’s Public Transport
    This is a cross post Adventures in Transitland by Darren Davis. I recently visited Brisbane and South East Queensland and came away both impressed while also pondering some key changes to make public transport even better in the region. Here goes with my take on things. A bit of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago

  • Try A Little Kindness.
    My daughter arrived home from the supermarket yesterday and she seemed a bit worried about something. It turned out she wanted to know if someone could get her bank number from a receipt.We wound the story back.She was in the store and there was a man there who was distressed, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • What makes NZFirst tick
    New Zealand’s longest-running political roadshow rolled into Opotiki yesterday, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters knowing another poll last night showed he would make it back to Parliament and National would need him and his party if they wanted to form a government. The Newshub Reid Research poll ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • September AMA
    Hi,As September draws to a close — I feel it’s probably time to do an Ask Me Anything. You know how it goes: If you have any burning questions, fire away in the comments and I will do my best to answer. You might have questions about Webworm, or podcast ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    3 days ago

  • Bludgers lying in the scratcher making fools of us all
    The mediocrity who stands to be a Prime Minister has a litany.He uses it a bit like a Koru Lounge card. He will brandish it to say: these people are eligible. And more than that, too: These people are deserving. They have earned this policy.They have a right to this policy. What ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • More “partnerships” (by the look of it) and redress of over $30 million in Treaty settlement wit...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point of Order has waited until now – 3.45pm – for today’s officially posted government announcements.  There have been none. The only addition to the news on the Beehive’s website was posted later yesterday, after we had published our September 26 Buzz report. It came from ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • ALEX HOLLAND: Labour’s spending
    Alex Holland writes –  In 2017 when Labour came to power, crown spending was $76 billion per year. Now in 2023 it is $139 billion per year, which equates to a $63 billion annual increase (over $1 billion extra spend every week!) In 2017, New Zealand’s government debt ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • If not now, then when?
    Labour released its fiscal plan today, promising the same old, same old: "responsibility", balanced books, and of course no new taxes: "Labour will maintain income tax settings to provide consistency and certainty in these volatile times. Now is not the time for additional taxes or to promise billions of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • THE FACTS:  77% of Kiwis believe NZ is becoming more divided
    The Facts has posted –        KEY INSIGHTSOf New Zealander’s polled: Social unity/division 77%believe NZ is becoming more divided (42% ‘much more’ + 35% ‘a little more’) 3%believe NZ is becoming less divided (1% ‘much less’ + 2% ‘a little less’) ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the cynical brutality of the centre-right’s welfare policies
    The centre-right’s enthusiasm for forcing people off the benefit and into paid work is matched only by the enthusiasm (shared by Treasury and the Reserve Bank) for throwing people out of paid work to curb inflation, and achieve the optimal balance of workers to job seekers deemed to be desirable ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    4 days ago

  • Wednesday’s Chorus: Arthur Grimes on why building many, many more social houses is so critical
    New research shows that tenants in social housing - such as these Wellington apartments - are just as happy as home owners and much happier than private tenants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The election campaign took an ugly turn yesterday, and in completely the wrong direction. All three ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Old habits
    Media awareness about global warming and climate change has grown fairly steadily since 2004. My impression is that journalists today tend to possess a higher climate literacy than before. This increasing awareness and improved knowledge is encouraging, but there are also some common interpretations which could be more nuanced. ...
    Real ClimateBy rasmus
    4 days ago

  • Bennie Bashing.
    If there’s one thing the mob loves more than keeping Māori in their place, more than getting tough on the gangs, maybe even more than tax cuts. It’s a good old round of beneficiary bashing.Are those meanies in the ACT party stealing your votes because they think David Seymour is ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • The kindest cuts
    Labour kicks off the fiscal credibility battle today with the release of its fiscal plan. National is expected to follow, possibly as soon as Thursday, with its own plan, which may (or may not) address the large hole that the problems with its foreign buyers’ ban might open up. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • Green right turn in Britain? Well, a start
    While it may be unlikely to register in New Zealand’s general election, Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak has done something which might just be important in the long run. He’s announced a far-reaching change in his Conservative government’s approach to environmental, and particularly net zero, policy. The starting point – ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    5 days ago

  • At a glance – How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2 emissions?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • How could this happen?
    Canada is in uproar after the exposure that its parliament on September 22 provided a standing ovation to a Nazi veteran who had been invited into the chamber to participate in the parliamentary welcome to Ukrainian President Zelensky. Yaroslav Hunka, 98, a Ukrainian man who volunteered for service in ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    5 days ago

  • Always Be Campaigning
    The big screen is a great place to lay out the ways of the salesman. He comes ready-made for Panto, ripe for lampooning.This is not to disparage that life. I have known many good people of that kind. But there is a type, brazen as all get out. The camera ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • STEPHEN FRANKS: Press seek to publicly shame doctor – we must push back
    The following is a message sent yesterday from lawyer Stephen Franks on behalf of the Free Speech Union. I don’t like to interrupt first thing Monday morning, but we’ve just become aware of a case where we think immediate and overwhelming attention could help turn the tide. It involves someone ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Competing on cruelty
    The right-wing message calendar is clearly reading "cruelty" today, because both National and NZ First have released beneficiary-bashing policies. National is promising a "traffic light" system to police and kick beneficiaries, which will no doubt be accompanied by arbitrary internal targets to classify people as "orange" or "red" to keep ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • Further funding for Pharmac (forgotten in the Budget?) looks like a $1bn appeal from a PM in need of...
    Buzz from the Beehive One Labour plan  – for 3000 more public homes by 2025 – is the most recent to be posted on the government’s official website. Another – a prime ministerial promise of more funding for Pharmac – has been released as a Labour Party press statement. Who ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: The Vested interests shaping National Party policies
    As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that might arise. One of the key individuals of ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 days ago

  • Labour may be on way out of power and NZ First back in – but will Peters go into coalition with Na...
    Voters  are deserting Labour in droves, despite Chris  Hipkins’  valiant  rearguard  action.  So  where  are they  heading?  Clearly  not all of them are going to vote National, which concedes that  the  outcome  will be “close”. To the Right of National, the ACT party just a  few weeks  ago  was ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    5 days ago

  • GRAHAM ADAMS: Will the racists please stand up?
    Accusations of racism by journalists and MPs are being called out. Graham Adams writes –    With the election less than three weeks away, what co-governance means in practice — including in water management, education, planning law and local government — remains largely obscure. Which is hardly ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on whether Winston Peters can be a moderating influence
    As the centre-right has (finally!) been subjected to media interrogation, the polls are indicating that some voters may be starting to have second thoughts about the wisdom of giving National and ACT the power to govern alone. That’s why yesterday’s Newshub/Reid Research poll had the National/ACT combo dropping to 60 ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    5 days ago

  • Tuesday’s Chorus: RBNZ set to rain on National's victory parade
    ANZ has increased its forecast for house inflation later this year on signs of growing momentum in the market ahead of the election. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: National has campaigned against the Labour Government’s record on inflation and mortgage rates, but there’s now a growing chance the Reserve ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • After a Pittsburgh coal processing plant closed, ER visits plummeted
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Katie Myers. This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. Pittsburgh, in its founding, was blessed and cursed with two abundant natural resources: free-flowing rivers and a nearby coal seam. ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • September-23 AT Board Meeting
    Today the AT board meet again and once again I’ve taken a look at what’s on the agenda to find the most interesting items. Closed Agenda Interestingly when I first looked at the agendas this paper was there but at the time of writing this post it had been ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    5 days ago

  • Electorate Watch: West Coast-Tasman
    Continuing my series on interesting electorates, today it’s West Coast-Tasman.A long thin electorate running down the northern half of the west coast of the South Island. Think sand flies, beautiful landscapes, lots of rain, Pike River, alternative lifestylers, whitebaiting, and the spiritual home of the Labour Party. A brief word ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Big money brings Winston back
    National leader Christopher Luxon yesterday morning conceded it and last night’s Newshub poll confirmed it; Winston Peters and NZ First are not only back but highly likely to be part of the next government. It is a remarkable comeback for a party that was tossed out of Parliament in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • 20 days until Election Day, 7 until early voting begins… but what changes will we really see here?
    As this blogger, alongside many others, has already posited in another forum: we all know the National Party’s “budget” (meaning this concept of even adding up numbers properly is doing a lot of heavy, heavy lifting right now) is utter and complete bunk (read hung, drawn and quartered and ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    6 days ago

  • A night out
    Everyone was asking, Are you nervous? and my response was various forms of God, yes.I've written more speeches than I can count; not much surprises me when the speaker gets to their feet and the room goes quiet.But a play? Never.YOU CAME! THANK YOU! Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • A pallid shade of Green III
    Clearly Labour's focus groups are telling it that it needs to pay more attention to climate change - because hot on the heels of their weaksauce energy efficiency pilot programme and not-great-but-better-than-nothing solar grants, they've released a full climate manifesto. Unfortunately, the core policies in it - a second Emissions ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • A coalition of racism, cruelty, and chaos
    Today's big political news is that after months of wibbling, National's Chris Luxon has finally confirmed that he is willing to work with Winston Peters to become Prime Minister. Which is expected, but I guess it tells us something about which way the polls are going. Which raises the question: ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • More migrant workers should help generate the tax income needed to provide benefits for job seekers
    Buzz from the Beehive Under something described as a “rebalance” of its immigration rules, the Government has adopted four of five recommendations made in an independent review released in July, The fifth, which called on the government to specify criteria for out-of-hours compliance visits similar to those used during ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Letter To Luxon.
    Some of you might know Gerard Otto (G), and his G News platform. This morning he wrote a letter to Christopher Luxon which I particularly enjoyed, and with his agreement I’m sharing it with you in this guest newsletter.If you’d like to make a contribution to support Gerard’s work you ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: Alarming trend in benefit numbers
    Lindsay Mitchell writes –  While there will not be another quarterly release of benefit numbers prior to the election, limited weekly reporting continues and is showing an alarming trend. Because there is a seasonal component to benefit number fluctuations it is crucial to compare like with like. In ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • BRIAN EASTON: Has there been external structural change?
    A close analysis of the Treasury assessment of the Medium Term in its PREFU 2023 suggests the economy may be entering a new phase.   Brian Easton writes –  Last week I explained that the forecasts in the just published Treasury Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU 2023) was ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • CRL Progress – Sep-23
    It’s been a while since we looked at the latest with the City Rail Link and there’s been some fantastic milestones recently. To start with, and most recently, CRL have released an awesome video showing a full fly-through of one of the tunnels. Come fly with us! You asked for ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    6 days ago

  • Monday’s Chorus: Not building nearly enough
    We are heading into another period of fast population growth without matching increased home building or infrastructure investment.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Labour and National detailed their house building and migration approaches over the weekend, with both pledging fast population growth policies without enough house building or infrastructure investment ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Game on; Hipkins comes out punching
    Labour leader Chris Hipkins yesterday took the gloves off and laid into National and its leader Christopher Luxon. For many in Labour – and particularly for some at the top of the caucus and the party — it would not have been a moment too soon. POLITIK is aware ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • Tax Cut Austerity Blues.
    The leaders have had their go, they’ve told us the “what?” and the “why?” of their promises. Now it’s the turn of the would be Finance Ministers to tell us the “how?”, the “how much?”, and the “when?”A chance for those competing for the second most powerful job in the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • MIKE GRIMSHAW:  It’s the economy – and the spirit – Stupid…
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Over the past 30-odd years it’s become almost an orthodoxy to blame or invoke neoliberalism for the failures of New Zealand society. On the left the usual response goes something like, neoliberalism is the cause of everything that’s gone wrong and the answer ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 week ago

  • Safeguarding Tuvalu language and identity
    Tuvalu is in the spotlight this week as communities across New Zealand celebrate Vaiaso o te Gagana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week. “The Government has a proven record of supporting Pacific communities and ensuring more of our languages are spoken, heard and celebrated,” Pacific Peoples Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Many ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago

  • New community-level energy projects to support more than 800 Māori households
    Seven more innovative community-scale energy projects will receive government funding through the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund to bring more affordable, locally generated clean energy to more than 800 Māori households, Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods says. “We’ve already funded 42 small-scale clean energy projects that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Huge boost to Te Tai Tokerau flood resilience
    The Government has approved new funding that will boost resilience and greatly reduce the risk of major flood damage across Te Tai Tokerau. Significant weather events this year caused severe flooding and damage across the region. The $8.9m will be used to provide some of the smaller communities and maraes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Napier’s largest public housing development comes with solar
    The largest public housing development in Napier for many years has been recently completed and has the added benefit of innovative solar technology, thanks to Government programmes, says Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods. The 24 warm, dry homes are in Seddon Crescent, Marewa and Megan Woods says the whanau living ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Te Whānau a Apanui and the Crown initial Deed of Settlement I Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me...
    Māori: Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna i tētahi Whakaaetanga Whakataunga hei whakamihi i ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū o roto mai o Te Whānau ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Plan for 3,000 more public homes by 2025 – regions set to benefit
    Regions around the country will get significant boosts of public housing in the next two years, as outlined in the latest public housing plan update, released by the Housing Minister, Dr Megan Woods. “We’re delivering the most public homes each year since the Nash government of the 1950s with one ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Immigration settings updates
    Judicial warrant process for out-of-hours compliance visits 2023/24 Recognised Seasonal Employer cap increased by 500 Additional roles for Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement More roles added to Green List Three-month extension for onshore Recovery Visa holders The Government has confirmed a number of updates to immigration settings as part of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Poroporoaki: Tā Patrick (Patu) Wahanga Hohepa
    Tangi ngunguru ana ngā tai ki te wahapū o Hokianga Whakapau Karakia. Tārehu ana ngā pae maunga ki Te Puna o te Ao Marama. Korihi tangi ana ngā manu, kua hinga he kauri nui ki te Wao Nui o Tāne. He Toa. He Pou. He Ahorangi. E papaki tū ana ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Renewable energy fund to support community resilience
    40 solar energy systems on community buildings in regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events Virtual capability-building hub to support community organisations get projects off the ground Boost for community-level renewable energy projects across the country At least 40 community buildings used to support the emergency response ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • COVID-19 funding returned to Government
    The lifting of COVID-19 isolation and mask mandates in August has resulted in a return of almost $50m in savings and recovered contingencies, Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Following the revocation of mandates and isolation, specialised COVID-19 telehealth and alternative isolation accommodation are among the operational elements ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Appointment of District Court Judge
    Susie Houghton of Auckland has been appointed as a new District Court Judge, to serve on the Family Court, Attorney-General David Parker said today.  Judge Houghton has acted as a lawyer for child for more than 20 years. She has acted on matters relating to the Hague Convention, an international ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government invests further in Central Hawke’s Bay resilience
    The Government has today confirmed $2.5 million to fund a replace and upgrade a stopbank to protect the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant. “As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, the original stopbank protecting the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant was destroyed. The plant was operational within 6 weeks of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Govt boost for Hawke’s Bay cyclone waste clean-up
    Another $2.1 million to boost capacity to deal with waste left in Cyclone Gabrielle’s wake. Funds for Hastings District Council, Phoenix Contracting and Hog Fuel NZ to increase local waste-processing infrastructure. The Government is beefing up Hawke’s Bay’s Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up capacity with more support dealing with the massive amount ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Taupō Supercars revs up with Government support
    The future of Supercars events in New Zealand has been secured with new Government support. The Government is getting engines started through the Major Events Fund, a special fund to support high profile events in New Zealand that provide long-term economic, social and cultural benefits. “The Repco Supercars Championship is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • There is no recession in NZ, economy grows nearly 1 percent in June quarter
    The economy has turned a corner with confirmation today New Zealand never was in recession and stronger than expected growth in the June quarter, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said. “The New Zealand economy is doing better than expected,” Grant Robertson said. “It’s continuing to grow, with the latest figures showing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Highest legal protection for New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs
    The Government has accepted the Environment Court’s recommendation to give special legal protection to New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs, Te Waikoropupū Springs (also known as Pupū Springs), Environment Minister David Parker announced today.   “Te Waikoropupū Springs, near Takaka in Golden Bay, have the second clearest water in New Zealand after ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • More support for victims of migrant exploitation
    Temporary package of funding for accommodation and essential living support for victims of migrant exploitation Exploited migrant workers able to apply for a further Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa (MEPV), giving people more time to find a job Free job search assistance to get people back into work Use of 90-day ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Strong export boost as NZ economy turns corner
    An export boost is supporting New Zealand’s economy to grow, adding to signs that the economy has turned a corner and is on a stronger footing as we rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle and lock in the benefits of multiple new trade deals, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. “The economy is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Funding approved for flood resilience work in Te Karaka
    The Government has approved $15 million to raise about 200 homes at risk of future flooding. More than half of this is expected to be spent in the Tairāwhiti settlement of Te Karaka, lifting about 100 homes there. “Te Karaka was badly hit during Cyclone Gabrielle when the Waipāoa River ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Further business support for cyclone-affected regions
    The Government is helping businesses recover from Cyclone Gabrielle and attract more people back into their regions. “Cyclone Gabrielle has caused considerable damage across North Island regions with impacts continuing to be felt by businesses and communities,” Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Building on our earlier business support, this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • New maintenance facility at Burnham Military Camp underway
    Defence Minister Andrew Little has turned the first sod to start construction of a new Maintenance Support Facility (MSF) at Burnham Military Camp today. “This new state-of-art facility replaces Second World War-era buildings and will enable our Defence Force to better maintain and repair equipment,” Andrew Little said. “This Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Foreign Minister to attend United Nations General Assembly
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will represent New Zealand at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this week, before visiting Washington DC for further Pacific focussed meetings. Nanaia Mahuta will be in New York from Wednesday 20 September, and will participate in UNGA leaders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Midwives’ pay equity offer reached
    Around 1,700 Te Whatu Ora employed midwives and maternity care assistants will soon vote on a proposed pay equity settlement agreed by Te Whatu Ora, the Midwifery Employee Representation and Advisory Service (MERAS) and New Zealand Nurses Association (NZNO), Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. “Addressing historical pay ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • New Zealand provides support to Morocco
    Aotearoa New Zealand will provide humanitarian support to those affected by last week’s earthquake in Morocco, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. “We are making a contribution of $1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to help meet humanitarian needs,” Nanaia Mahuta said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Government invests in West Coast’s roading resilience
    The Government is investing over $22 million across 18 projects to improve the resilience of roads in the West Coast that have been affected by recent extreme weather, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today.  A dedicated Transport Resilience Fund has been established for early preventative works to protect the state ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Government invests in Greymouth’s future
    The Government has today confirmed a $2 million grant towards the regeneration of Greymouth’s CBD with construction of a new two-level commercial and public facility. “It will include a visitor facility centred around a new library. Additionally, it will include retail outlets on the ground floor, and both outdoor and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • Nanaia Mahuta to attend PIF Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will attend the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, in Suva, Fiji alongside New Zealand’s regional counterparts. “Aotearoa New Zealand is deeply committed to working with our pacific whanau to strengthen our cooperation, and share ways to combat the challenges facing the Blue Pacific Continent,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • PREFU shows no recession, growing economy, more jobs and wages ahead of inflation
    Economy to grow 2.6 percent on average over forecast period Treasury not forecasting a recession Inflation to return to the 1-3 percent target band next year Wages set to grow 4.8 percent a year over forecast period Unemployment to peak below the long-term average Fiscal Rules met - Net debt ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • New cancer centre opens in Christchurch
    Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall proudly opened the Canterbury Cancer Centre in Christchurch today. The new facility is the first of its kind and was built with $6.5 million of funding from the Government’s Infrastructure Reference Group scheme for shovel-ready projects allocated in 2020. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

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