Thursday, 7 May 2020
Australian Prime Minister 'Scotty From Marketing' Morrison fails to universally impress
The
Washington Post, 6 May 2020:
Australian
Prime Minister Scott Morrison at Parliament House in Canberra on
April 29. (Lukas Coch/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
“Morrison’s
sudden popularity and salvation from mediocrity is not of his own
genius. And hardly deserved. And there are several reasons why…..
Despite
bush fires being a common feature of the Australian summer, the
Morrison government was unprepared. It had ignored expert advice —
including from former fire chiefs and emergency responder leaders who
warned for months that the coming bush fire season was not only
likely to be catastrophic, but that they didn’t have the equipment,
including water-bombing aircraft to fight it. The government also
rejected scientific research that predicted the effects of climate
change would make bush fires more ferocious than in the past and
voted against an opposition attempt to declare a climate emergency.
And
then the prime minister went on vacation.
As
the biggest natural disaster in Australia’s living memory unfolded,
Morrison went to Hawaii. And when it became public, the prime
minister’s office tried to cover it up. When he finally returned
home, two days earlier than planned, it was not because New South
Wales had declared a state of emergency or that two volunteer
firefighters had died, but because of the negative publicity.
Morrison had taken an image hit…..
Now
there is the covid-19 pandemic. While volunteers were still
extinguishing fires on Jan. 25, Australia recorded its first case of
the novel coronavirus. As the number of cases began to climb, health
experts were apoplectic at the Morrison government’s refusal to
initiate a federal lockdown or cancel sporting matches. Instead,
Morrison spruiked his own plans to see his beloved Cronulla Sharks
play in the opening weekend of the National Rugby League.
Even
when the federal government finally did impose the first stage of
restrictions on March 22, it didn’t deserve all the credit. The
state’s premiers, in particular Victoria’s popular leader Daniel
Andrews, threatened to go it alone if Morrison refused to act.
The
initial stages of the emerging pandemic — like with the bush fires
— are further proof that the Morrison government’s instincts are
always political and not service-oriented or moral. A true leader
should not need to be poked into action by health professionals,
regional leaders or even a terrified public….”
NSW Northern Rivers online cattle sales power on during COVID-19 pandemic
The Northern Star, 5 May 2020, p.2:
Livestock sales at Casino and Tamworth delivered a total of more than $175,000 worth of stock to online bidders last Friday.
This result was thanks to an increasing number of bids being made online via StockLive during the auctions at the Northern Rivers Livestock Exchange (NRLX) and the Tamworth Regional Livestock Exchange (TRLX).
Blake O’Reilly, from Ray White Livestock Gurya, who purchased on behalf of clients at Casino, has been purchasing via StockLive since before the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said there had been a growth in the number of clients watching online.
“The number of vendors and buyers who are now watching and bidding online at StockLive-partnered auctions has grown significantly since COVID,” he said.
“Having the online platform working in with the physical auctions strengthens the marketplace and gives a true price for the stock, taking the risk of purchasing.
“The platform is especially useful for the increased number of sales using ring selling, which gives the purchaser full vision of the livestock being sold.”
Brad Willis, NRLX Manager, said despite a planned Telstra outage in Casino and Lismore, the auction went ahead successfully, with 360 viewers, 23 registered bidders, 141 bids taken online, and 13 lots sold to numerous buyers.
StockLive Manager, Libby Hufton, said the number of inquiries from saleyards across all regions continued to grow with more than 15 saleyards using StockLive’s platform.
“We continue to see the number of buyers and viewers grow each sale we have at these yards. It is a credit to the facility operators, agents and vendors,” she said.
Wednesday, 6 May 2020
Translating Australia's hard right prime minister in 2020
Scott
Morrison makes sure his press conferences are transcribed for
posterity at the Prime
Minister Of Australia’s Media Centre in a manner which meets with his approval.
There
is often some hours lag before a version of any particular press
conference is posted online. Though sometimes, as occurred on 5 May, Morrison is not happy with how a press conference panned out and subsitutes a media statement instead.
Probably hoping that nobody will remember to report this:
The Prime Minister concedes #COVID19 infection rates will rise in Australia as restrictions ease to get the economy moving. “Of course, you will see numbers increase,” he says. “That is to be expected.” [National Affair Editor Hugh Rimington, @10NewsFirst, 5 May 2010]
Due to the time lag at Morrison's media centre, mainstream media usually fills the gap on their own online platforms.
Probably hoping that nobody will remember to report this:
The Prime Minister concedes #COVID19 infection rates will rise in Australia as restrictions ease to get the economy moving. “Of course, you will see numbers increase,” he says. “That is to be expected.” [National Affair Editor Hugh Rimington, @10NewsFirst, 5 May 2010]
Due to the time lag at Morrison's media centre, mainstream media usually fills the gap on their own online platforms.
These
are the opening paragraphs of a news report on the press conference of Tuesday 5 May 2020.
SBS
News, 5 May 2020:
Addressing
the media on Tuesday after a historic national cabinet meeting that
featured a brief appearance by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda
Ardern, Mr Morrison reiterated that one million Australians had lost
their job in a single month as a result of the pandemic.
"We
now need to get one million Australians back to work, that is the
curve we need to address," Mr Morrison said.
"As
long as these restrictions are in place, they are costing our economy
some $4 billion each week ... it certainly puts enormous pressure, as
it should, on the timetable as we seek to move Australia back to that
safe economy."…..
For
some of the growing number of people who are irritated or angered by
the Liar From The Shire’s carriage, demeanor, opinions, obfuscations, downright untruths or
chronic refusal to answer journalist’s questions, this barebones
news reporting sometimes suffices.
For
others, real time social media descriptions of Morrison’s press
conferences are preferred.
Here
is one example…...
Ingrid
M @iMusing,
5
May 2020, Thread
commencing at
approx. 2:29pm:
prime
minister is up. He is focusing on the topic of “getting Australia
back to work” today. Heavy breathing. Opening spiel is as usual
self-congratulations.
a
million out of work, says Morrison. He tips a nod to the Treasurer.
Lies that “children are unable to go back to school”. He means
many children are not *in classrooms*. The $4 billion a week cost of
restrictions figure is going to do a lot heavy lifting here.
getting
a million Australians back to work, more than a million Australians
have had their claims for jobseeker processed. So given eligibility
requirements and the number of pre-roni unemployed people, there are
well over one million unemployed now.
Morrison
has a slide show. Babbles out a list of sectors and jobs figures.
Arts and recreation services, hospitality and food services, the
agricultural sector, restaurants and cafes are closed. Note the
absence of humans from this rhetoric.
oops,
spoke too soon. The grower and the chef got a mention. Morrison says
the job losses will be greater in Victoria because the restrictions
are stronger so now we can begin to see where that $4 billion a week
is. How unpolitical of him.
confidence.
I love it when some economist explains the confidence variable to
politicians. They never get it, as a predictive nor explanatory
factor. Astrology for white dudes.
Christian
Porter is up, as IT minister today. Workplace “safety”
legislation is his brief, an area the Liberal Party is renowned for
deliberately dismantling - see the double dissolution election
Turnbull called using the ABCC bill.
babbles
a bit about a dynamic and fluid environment whatever. The safe work
Australia website is being re-built? Expanded. It will provide a
“granular level of detail”. Porter has swallowed a buzzword list
today.
I
guess the queries function and info on the safework Australia website
will be as efficient as jobkeeper application processes ie it will
work for applicants whose application is consistent with Liberal
Party ideology and political objectives and a clusterfuck for
everyone else.
next
up is covid committee chair and mining industry CEO Nev Power. Maybe
no construction giant grifters whose greed kills workers were
available to speak on workplace safety today.
unions
are the main repository of workplace safety expertise btw but we have
a business guy and couple of politicians from the party of business
here instead.
the
Morrison goldfish gulp and malapropic garbling is worse than usual
today. Why is he so tense?
questions.
Who is Greg? He starts with the fucking nonsense the Trump
administration is spewing to try and cover for its monumental public
health failures.
Morrison
obliges by repeating the semiotic anti-Chinese racism terms a number
of times.
schools.
Morrison says “not opening schools fully is costing jobs and it
does cost the economy”. So he has stopped lying about using schools
for his political-economic objectives, at least.
Power
adds lots of words and not much meaning on businesses adapting as
restrictions are eased. Recall the vast majority of businesses -
outside hospo - were not closed by official roni restrictions but by
going to the wall (or into “hibernation”).
K
Murphy asks about the trans Tasman travel bubble and contextualises
with federalism - state and territory border closures. Morrison is
very defensive. He is essentially telling premiers and chief
ministers to open the borders. He *forgets* the trans-Tasman part of
the question.
after
being reminded, Morrison pretends to answer the trans-Tasman travel
bubble question. But other than fetishising the alleged firstness (it
isn’t) of the NZ PM being at National Cabinet, there is nothing
specific to announce. “We are working co-operatively together” he
says.
they
have a stronger biosecurity regime and so do we? says Morrison. What
does that mean?
Coorey.
He is told this is about a covid safe economy (there’s the slogan
for the near), Morrison tells him. The $4 billion a week gets another
outing. Grattan. Gets a stream of self-congratulatory gibberish. We
have tripled our ICU capacity. Okay.
Probyn:
you have talked about pubs and restaurants.
Morrison:
no I didn’t.
Probyn:
well Neville was. When can the two Andrews, I mean the two Dans,
legally have a drink together?
Morrison:
they can now, just not in a pub. Andrew.
Nev and I, says Morrison quickly. Subtext: don’t wedge me, mate. Andrew.
PvO.
His friend was stood down today.
PM
indulges some bullshit federalism rhetoric. National cabinet has more
to discuss about easing restrictions. Flattening the curve has come
at a price.
Looks
like no agreement on anything at all was reached in national cabinet
today.
asked
again about schools, Morrison says it wasn’t on the agenda today.
He is happy to “encourage non-state schools by bringing forward
funding”. The Premier of Victoria can make decisions about state
schools, that’s his bailiwick.
Yes,
Morrison said bailiwick.
asked
whether he was against Barilaro contesting Eden-Monaro because
Barilaro would have been a destabilising force if he won (the Sunday
Savva thesis) Morrison says no and no.
okay
I’ve had enough. Tl;dr: national cabinet was an unproductive and
discordant session today, Morrison is therefore delivering a set
piece with his biz CEO mate, which is essentially gaslighting workers
and babbling bullshit.
Labels:
economy,
far right politics,
pandemic,
Scott Morrison
Tuesday, 5 May 2020
Individual wealth in the NSW Northern Rivers region
Richmond and Page federal electorates in the Northern Rivers region ranked 24th and 112th respectively when it come to net wealth per capita and median net wealth by the end of 2019.
In Richmond half the individual interviewees had net wealth of $325k or less and in Page half had $175k or less.
The highest indivdual average net wealth was unsurprisingly found in the electorates of Wentworth (Liberal MP Dave Sharma), Warringah (Independent MP Zali Steggall), Bradfield (Liberal MP & Minister Paul Fletcher), North Sydney (Liberal MP Trent Zimmerman), Mackellar (Liberal MP Jason Falinski) and Cook (Liberal MP & Prime Minister Scott Morrison).
The current COVID-19 pandemic is likely to significantly change net wealth across many electorates in this table.
Roy Morgan, 1 May 2020 24 months to December 2019, average 12-month sample, n = 50,431 Personal Net Wealth is calculated by subtracting debt from assets, predominantly equity in owner-occupied homes, plus superannuation. |
Labels:
electorates,
Income,
Northern Rivers,
Wealth
Healthy surfing rules during COVID-19 pandemic
Surfing Australia, April 2020:
Surfing is fun, and a great way to get your daily exercise. It’s also non-contact and easily done by yourself whilst following the physical distancing rules, if we all adjust a few things together.
EIGHT STEP SURFING ADVICE
1. Surf the spot closest to your home ONLY.
2. Wax up and prepare at home. Put on your wetsuit, boardies and other gear at home before driving to the beach.
3. Follow physical distancing at all times coming and going to the beach. For example, if you have a narrow path to the beach wait an extra minute for it to clear before you walk down.
4. Have a surf and leave immediately, don't chat with mates in the car park. Call them on your phone.
5. If the surfing spot is overcrowded - don’t go out 6.
Don’t paddle next to someone like you would normally. Give them more space.
7. CRITICAL CHANGE – take it in turns. Do not paddle back over to the peak after catching a wave. Wait your turn patiently on the shoulder.
8. Don’t change in the parking lot. Wrap your towel around yourself & go home.
SPECIAL NOTE: Some beach closures have been a direct result of the public not making an effort to follow social distancing rules. Not all beaches are equal as it relates to observing social distancing rules and regulations. A local council's decision to close a beach is made up of multiple factors outside of 'surfing as exercise'. These decisions need to be respected by the surfing community.
Monday, 4 May 2020
By 24 April 2020 there were 1,346,172 unemployed people across Australia, at least 500,000 of whom had lost their jobs due to the pandemic
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics in January 2020 there were est. 778,700 people of workforce age who were unemployed in Australia and, est. 207,200 (26.6%) of these were New South Wales residents.
By 24 April 2020 there were est. 1,346,172 unemployed people (between the ages of 15 to 64 years) spread across the nation and, it is likely that unemployed people in New South Wales then exceeded est. 224,700 individuals.
The national figure represents an additional 567,472 unemployed people between January and late April - with an est. 500,000 of this number out of work due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Initial results in a Monash Univerity ongoing study suggests that 90% of those who lost their jobs due to COVID-19 public health restrictions/changed economic climate were given less than one week's notice and of those 44.7% received no notice at all.
Processing unemployment benefit applications for over half a million extra Australians in need is taking time and, est. 317,597 applications were still outstanding on 24 April.
Apart from an initial $750 economic support payment for those receiving Jobseeker (previously Newstart), no enhanced unemployment benefits or JobKeeper* subsidised wage payments commenced until after 27 April 2020, with some payments not due to be received until 11 May [See Senate Select Committee on COVID-19, public hearing transcript, 30 April 2020, p.22].
Which means that, commencing on 28 February, between est. 20,320 to 249,875 Australian citizens had been without income support** and those single people on unemployment benefits had been struggling to live on as little as est. $18-$40 per day.
According to a Senate estimates hearing on 30 April, est. 400,000 more people are expected to lose their jobs by September 2020, at which time the unemployment rate is predicted to be around 13 per cent.
Goldman Sachs analysts are reportedly predicting an effective unemployment rate*** of 19 per cent by June-July.
Prime Minister & Liberal MP for Cook Scott Morrison is adamant that once the pandemic crisis passes all enhanced unemployment benefit rates will return to pre-pandemic levels - he is less clear about where the est. 1.74 million out of work Australians will be able to find a job.
Note:
* As of 28 April 2020 an est. 540,000 businesses have registered for the JobKeeper wage subsidisation scheme. The est. 3.3 million workers in these businesses are considered employed. JobKeeper wage payments to workers are subject to tax which is witheld by employers before payment is made.
** This last figure does not take into consideration unemployed non-citizens on student or work visas who are ineligible to apply for unemployment benefits.
*** An effective unemployment rate takes into consideration those who have had their hours of paid worik reduced, those who have given up looking for work since they lost their jobs and, those receiving JobKeeper payments but whose employer has temporarily ceased operating or is not operating at full capacity and therefore they are not going to work.
Labels:
Australia,
COVID-19,
New South Wales,
pandemic,
unemployment
Sunday, 3 May 2020
Pandemic bullies come in all shapes & sizes
The shrivelled soul of small business in Australia was on view in April 2020.....
Image found on Twitter |
The Sydney Morning Herald, 28 April 2020:
A chamber of commerce on Sydney's north shore has been forced to back down from comments demanding local businesses refuse entry to customers and staff who had not downloaded the COVIDSafe tracing app.
Ku-ring-gai Chamber of Commerce secretary Peter Vickers said he emailed between 1500 to 2000 businesses across its local government area on Monday directing them to ensure their customers had downloaded the app....
But Mr Vickers followed this email with another in the early hours of Tuesday morning, after some of the email's recipients informed him that such a direction was illegal.
The federal rules governing the app's operation state that a person must not coerce another into downloading the app, or refuse them entry or services on the grounds they have not done so.
Mr Vickers clarified in the subsequent email that businesses should only encourage people to install the app, while also taking aim at federal Health Minister Greg Hunt's decision to make the app voluntary.
"In fact he (Mr Hunt) should have ordered Apple and Android to compulsorily download the app to all phones in Australia," Mr Vickers wrote.
"The government forced businesses to close and even had the police chase sunbathers down the beach. They should be using the same force to open up again.".....
He said the fact the app was optional should give businesses the right to refuse service.
"You don't have to download the app but businesses should have the freedom to say we don't want infected people coming into our businesses."
Labels:
business,
COVID-19,
COVIDSafe app,
Ku-ring-gai,
pandemic
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