The readers still say Labor. Our readers have Labor and the Coalition running neck and neck on primary votes when it comes to predicting the result of next week’s Newspoll. At midday today the calculations put Labor on 41%, Liberals on 37% and the Nationals 4% (to give the Coalition a combined 41%.) The predicted primary vote the Greens is 11% with others on 7%.
The guesstimate of how that will work out in two-party preferred terms is Labor 53% to the Coalition’s 47%.
Perhaps we have a bias towards the lefties among the entrants because the expectation is that Kevin Rudd’s approval rating will go back up to 53% from the 50% mark actually recorded in the last Newspoll while those satisfied with how Tony Abbott is doing his job as Opposition leader is expected to be recorded at 39% compared with his last actual figure of 41%.
The pledges are in and the result is … Nothing has changed. With the January 31 deadline for nations to put in their proposals for inclusion in the Copenhagen Accord passed, the Climate Institute has recalculated its Climate Scoreboard. And the result is that the institute’s best guess of the temperature increase likely by the end of the century is 3.9 degrees Centigrade.
Before the Copenhagen Conference began the Scoreboard showed a 3.8 degree C increase. All that talk and all the solemn promises and things have actually gone backwards!
A Cairns tragedy. If Peter Garrett’s political future is in any real danger then it is the grieving Cairns mother Wendy Sweeney who is responsible. She it was featuring on the television news bulletins last night saying that the Environment Minister should be dismissed because of his role in the death of her son, Mitchell, who was electrocuted last month at the age of 22 while working on the insulation of a house roof being paid for under a federal Government scheme. Sweeney’s dignified criticism of the Minister will have had far more impact on the general public than any of the words of criticism mouthed on the subject by Coalition politicians.
But not too much influence on the editor of the Cairns Post. While their local resident was achieving national recognition, this example of the Murdoch tabloids had other things on its news agenda. Covering the whole of page one this morning was the story of a little dog saved by the blood transfusion from a big dog. A touching story and a delightful picture but it does make you wonder about editorial priorities up north.
Re Wendy Sweeny’s tragic loss, any unnecessary death is to be lamented.
However she is plain wrong to connect Garrett to the responsibility chain.
Poor work practice in a roof space is the direct responsibility of the gang
boss. Its more than obvious that foil should be handled with great care around
live wires, any half competent workman should realise that.
James L
It is regretful that these tragic deaths are being laid directly at the feet of Minister Garrett, without definite proof of exactly what has occurred, why and how.
I can understand Mrs Sweenys grief and the need to have answers about her sons death. directly blame the Minister without even the result of an inquest is most unfortunate. In Abbotts case it is blatant politicising of the worst kind. He knows full well his blatant non stop accusations over 3 days on all forms of the media and in the House is political point scoring and To accuse the Minister of manslaughter repeatedly reveals him to be the low life he has become.
“Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely”
This quote as far as I can remember refers to the history of monarchs ruling over their kingdoms. Especially the kings/queens who truly believe in ‘divine right. Abbott sits very nicely in divine right, he would like to think.
I have no doubt that the Coroner will, in reviewing the death of this unfortunate worker, consider the Building Code of Australia, the Australian Standards relating to the work, the legslative duty of the employer and employees and the pre-existing condition of the house in which the accident happened.
I very much doubt that the Minister’s role will be considered relevant. So, why the bleating about Garrett? Utter nonsense, as usual from the Mad Monk.