It’s important for the big-government-dependent parties to deny the power of the Convoy.
Less than a week ago, there was a rally at Parliament House with around 3,000-5,000 people. And today there was another one, this one with around 600 vehicles according to Matt and Janet Thompson, and this one by people who have gone to extraordinary lengths, driving up to 5,000 kilometers from all corners of the country.
The convoy is a rolling protest that involved thousands of people across the nation. In Sydney, people switched their headlights on in sympathy, and Andrew Bolt records at least one witness suggesting half the cars on the road had their lights on.
Feelings and support for the convoy are widespread and running high. One of the convoy supporters from near Clermont reports: ‘In only 24 hours, we gathered 300 signatures for the petition, local beef producers had organised fuel donations of over $13,000 and the CWA had organised food and drinks for everyone on the convoy. This support from a town of only 2000 was amazing and a testament to a united effort.’
Dale Stiller’s comment is typical on Just Grounds: The convoy has experienced nothing but support. There have been flags, balloons & ribbons on gates, signs & fences all the way from Rockhampton to Goondiwindi. Other trucks as they pass on the highway are on the 2way, wishing the convoy well and of course often accompanied by a blast of the air horns.
The bottom line is that the nation supports the Convoy: There are over 100,000 votes on the NineMSN poll and 80% are with the trucks.
Photo: A convoy of trucks protesting against the Federal Government's proposed carbon tax make their way through the Canberra CBD (User submitted: Michael Sherwood)
So what do you do when hundreds of cars, trucks and vans descend on the Parliament in a historic move, from all over the country, demanding an election? If you are the ABC, you call it “200 trucks”, don’t mention the cars, feature those who have an interest in putting down the protest (Bob Brown), and make sure you mention how it was “smaller than expected” when actually, it started as one driver, and thousands of people joined in. The ABC coverage is so shamefully biased, a government PR agency could hardly have done a better job. They carefully avoided selecting any of the key messages in the speeches or petition (but they put in any odd unconnected grievance they could find); they didn’t interview the organizers, instead just showing a snippet of a song and a truckie tooting. They didn’t mention how far the trucks had come, how much expense they had gone too, or that the Convoy had gone to great lengths to make sure they didn’t inconvenience the people of Canberra.
That ABC report didn’t ask a single driver why they had felt it was necessary to take such extraordinary action.
ABC NEWS: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-08-22/convoy-converges-on-canberra/2849352
Unless I missed it, the 6pm ABC radio news in Perth found time to mention there was backburning around Broome (it is a big wildfire up there), but not enough time to mention that thousands of people are so angry with the government they drove all the way from Broome to protest.
The Convoy organizers staged their entry so carefully, coordinating it with the Federal Police. They meticulously planned everything so as not to put out the average Canberran, even starting at 5.30am so as to avoid the peak hour traffic. They were scrupulously considerate. (Perhaps too much so.)
In the end, the fact that they were so well organized and polite was used against them. The pro-government forces hyped up the anger against the out-of-towners with threats that “it would cause major traffic delays” and “bring Canberra to a standstill”. But when the protest didn’t cause any of the promised disruption, instead of admitting they were wrong, and apologizing, they pretended that the lack of traffic problems shows the Convoy was a fizzer. Spin spin spin. It’s too easy, isn’t it? If the Convoy had slowed up the traffic, it would be called a nuisance.
How do you portray the grassroots movement of cattlemen, miners, truck-drivers, business-people and farmers as being unrepresentative? Just call them all “truckies”. Oh, and ignore the devastating polls that show that this government is one of the most unpopular groups in all Australian history — that indeed 6 out of 10 Australians share similar opinions to the protestors that are being called “extremists”.
It’s time we protested about the ABC. What’s the point in protesting about the government, if it won’t be reported accurately by the main Australian taxpayer funded broadcaster? Solve the ABC problem first, then the other problem — inept, self serving governments — will tend to solve itself. It’s time to demand better reporting, or get our tax money back.
Some of the news round up:
Govt, Greens claim truck rally a ‘flop’
Canberra braces for truckie convoy protesting against Gillard Government
Police baffled by Alan Jones’ claim Convoy of No Confidence trucks stopped at ACT border
The Labor Party is mocking the people who would normally be its support base
Anthony Albanese, Labor MP, stood in the House of Reps and labelled the concerns of ordinary Australia, represented by the Convoy, as a “Convoy of No Consequence”. Then he and his colleagues laughed….
Rashida Khan replied: The government thinks the plight of the average Aussie of all walks of life who politely ask for better treatment and respect is a stupid joke.
Denise on Just Grounds: Paul, we’ll get the last laugh when they lose their seats at the next election. We will laugh loud an long.
The Just Grounds team are asking people to email the Government:
Please send out emails tonight and tomorrow morning to Labor and Greens MP’s – ask them whether they will meet with Convoy organisers and listen to the concerns of ordinary Australians.
You can either:
1. Click on this link http://www.convoyofnoconfidence.com/convoy.html and follow the instructions to send the pre-written letter to all politicians; or
2. Write your own letter and put this address in the “To” box of the email mailto:[email protected]; or
3. Write your own letter and manually put in email addresses. (Psst, says Jo, I have an email list here…for Australian Parliamentary Representatives)
UPDATE: Alan Jones was livid when an SMH journalist asked him if he was being paid to be there.
The SMH Journalist Jaqcueline Maley reports Alan Jones’s response:
”There are farmers there who say to their wives and family – I hope you’re listening and report this, Jacqueline Maley from The Sydney Morning Herald [SMH] – who say to their wives and family, ‘I’m just going [up] the back to fix up the fences, and they don’t come back,”’ he told the crowd, who duly jeered at me.
”I spend a lot of my time doing those sorts of things. I’ve just been asked by a journalist from The Sydney Morning Herald, am I getting a fee from being here today?”
But goes on to say how intimidated she felt by the vitriolic booing: “All because I asked a question.”
Ms Maley completely underestimated the depth of the anger that it takes to get productive people to drive across the continent to protest. These people are losing businesses, sometimes their life’s work, and are protesting at great personal expense. Alan Jones is referring to suicides among farmers. Our politicians are using bare-faced outrageous lies, and treating the people they are supposed to serve with contempt. No wonder people are mad.
Ms Maley was presumably paid to be there. They just don’t get it.
UPDATE: Those in the Convoy had a blast.
Matt and Janet were euphoric when I spoke to them yesterday. See Quadrant for the Thompsons reports and photos.
“Matt and I both cried. After 4½ days of driving across Australia, hearing from every-day hard-working Australians about how difficult it is to just get on with producing, we had one hell of a welcome to Canberra yesterday morning!”
Saturday, 20 August 2011:Would you want to eat at a Gordon Ramsay restaurant?Yes: 18643 (31%) No: 41150 (69%)
Friday, 19 August 2011:Are you confident Australia will avoid an economic downturn?Yes: 31190 (38%) No: 51480 (62%)
Wednesday, 17 August 2011:Do the proposed Qantas changes put you off flying with them?Yes: 34349 (54%) No: 29265 (46%)
Tuesday, 16 August 2011:Should city speed limits be reduced to 30km/h?Yes: 14390 (17%) No: 72081 (83%)
Monday, 15 August 2011:Should a national ‘Ministry of Food’ be established to fight obesity?Yes: 33947 (50%) No: 33703 (50%)
Saturday, 13 August 2011:Do you believe in extraterrestial life forms?Yes: 34354 (63%) No: 19883 (37%)
Thursday, 11 August 2011:Should the Sydney Roosters sack Todd Carney?Yes: 43057 (75%) No: 14204 (25%)
Wednesday, 10 August 2011:Should there be a remake of cult film Dirty Dancing?Yes: 17465 (24%) No: 55202 (76%)
Tuesday, 09 August 2011:Are you worried there will be another global financial crisis?Yes: 59882 (72%) No: 23835 (28%)
Monday, 08 August 2011:Are you worried refugees won’t be treated fairly in Malaysia?Yes: 22961 (27%) No: 63253 (73%)
Sunday, 07 August 2011:Do you believe violence in popular culture inspires real-life crime?Yes: 39118 (80%) No: 9764 (20%)
Thursday, 04 August 2011:Would you travel interstate by high-speed train?Yes: 58825 (83%) No: 12005 (17%)
Wednesday, 03 August 2011:Is it wrong for mothers’ groups to serve alcohol?Yes: 29991 (47%) No: 34260 (53%)
Monday, 01 August 2011:Should Bailey have been sacked over Melbourne’s 186-point loss?Yes: 19933 (33%) No: 41332 (67%)
Sunday, 31 July 2011:Do you agree with the British PM’s praise of Gillard’s carbon plan?Yes: 9907 (20%) No: 40151 (80%)
Friday, 29 July 2011:Should the Melbourne child beauty pageant go ahead?Yes: 23306 (20%) No: 94828 (80%)
Thursday, 28 July 2011:Should bats be culled to stop the Hendra virus?Yes: 98956 (81%) No: 23443 (19%)
Wednesday, 27 July 2011:Should a roo have been put down after attacking an elderly woman?Yes: 46051 (35%) No: 84913 (65%)
Sunday, 24 July 2011:Is Cadel Evans’ Tour win the greatest ever sporting success by an Aussie?Yes: 49666 (50%) No: 50455 (50%)
Sunday, 24 July 2011:Is Evans’ win Australia’s greatest individual sporting achievement?Yes: 64822 (53%) No: 57934 (47%)
Saturday, 23 July 2011:Should there be an ‘adult only’ classification on video games?Yes: 80273 (89%) No: 9466 (11%)
Friday, 22 July 2011:Do you trust Malaysia to treat refugees humanely?Yes: 35675 (32%) No: 74695 (68%)
Thursday, 21 July 2011:Should parents be able to access their kids’ Facebook page?Yes: 123302 (86%) No: 19311 (14%)
Wednesday, 20 July 2011:Should Rupert Murdoch take responsibility for the hacking scandal?Yes: 81189 (61%) No: 52490 (39%)
Tuesday, 19 July 2011:Do you think Julia Gillard should step aside?Yes: 137820 (77%) No: 42195 (23%)
Sunday, 17 July 2011:Would you let your child attend shooting classes?Yes: 44769 (40%) No: 67005 (60%)
Friday, 15 July 2011:Should restaurants be allowed to ban children?Yes: 77403 (55%) No: 63832 (45%)
Thursday, 14 July 2011:Should there be an inquiry into media ethics in Australia?Yes: 80575 (80%) No: 19766 (20%)
Wednesday, 13 July 2011:Should Spain’s Running of the Bulls festival be banned?Yes: 60197 (51%) No: 58436 (49%)
Tuesday, 12 July 2011:Should boys be allowed to play in junior netball tournaments?Yes: 87317 (71%) No: 36501 (29%)
Sunday, 10 July 2011:Are you worried the carbon tax will drive up living costs?Yes: 107241 (88%) No: 14741 (12%)
Saturday, 09 July 2011:Should governments oversee future space programs?Yes: 32026 (57%) No: 24148 (43%)
Friday, 08 July 2011:Should Australians boycott companies opposed to the carbon tax?Yes: 28370 (25%) No: 85788 (75%)
Thursday, 07 July 2011:Should the government have lifted the ban on live exports?Yes: 64296 (65%) No: 33940 (35%)
Wednesday, 06 July 2011:Will Darren Lockyer be sent out a winner in State of Origin?Yes: 42915 (59%) No: 29868 (41%)
Wednesday, 06 July 2011:Is the current Queensland Origin team the best ever?Yes: 23474 (64%) No: 13112 (36%)
Tuesday, 05 July 2011:Was NSW right to give police the power to remove burqas?Yes: 169486 (95%) No: 8138 (5%)
Monday, 04 July 2011:Has the Tiger debacle put you off flying budget airlines?Yes: 71169 (66%) No: 36923 (34%)
Friday, 01 July 2011:Would you feel confident flying Tiger Airways in future ?Yes: 13448 (15%) No: 74544 (85%)
Thursday, 30 June 2011:Should the AFL share more of its profits with players?Yes: 56162 (62%) No: 34106 (38%)
Monday, 27 June 2011:Should low-income households have to pay the carbon tax?Yes: 50713 (35%) No: 93950 (65%)
Monday, 27 June 2011:Do you think white settlers “invaded” Australia in 1788?Yes: 62510 (38%) No: 103103 (62%)
Monday, 27 June 2011:Should shoppers be banned from wearing hooded tops?Yes: 97225 (67%) No: 48019 (33%)
Saturday, 25 June 2011:Should Australia reduce its troop numbers in Afghanistan?Yes: 68114 (77%) No: 20216 (23%)
Thursday, 23 June 2011:Should Aussie troops ‘stay the course’ in Afghanistan?Yes: 42432 (34%) No: 81525 (66%)
Wednesday, 22 June 2011:Should schoolyard bullies face criminal charges?Yes: 136762 (90%) No: 15514 (10%)
Friday, 17 June 2011:Do you believe Gillard was right to oust Rudd? Yes: 20126 (18%) No: 93091 (82%)
Monday, 13 June 2011:Should the government return to the Nauru solution?Yes: 63679 (79%) No: 16988 (21%)
Sunday, 12 June 2011:Will emissions restrictions on new cars help cut smog levels?Yes: 30240 (41%) No: 43423 (59%)
Friday, 10 June 2011:Should Ricky Nixon get his player agent licence reinstated?Yes: 40157 (34%) No: 77034 (66%)
Wednesday, 08 June 2011:Do health concerns put you off eating fast food?Yes: 72570 (61%) No: 46681 (39%)
Wednesday, 08 June 2011:Should the live export ban be overturned for Aussie farmers?Yes: 57113 (51%) No: 55651 (49%)
Tuesday, 07 June 2011:Is it time for Australian troops to leave Afghanistan?Yes: 103737 (74%) No: 36935 (26%)
Monday, 06 June 2011:Should an election be called before a carbon tax is introduced?Yes: 117148 (81%) No: 27493 (19%)
Sunday, 05 June 2011:Do you think social networking sites create anxiety?Yes: 64766 (76%) No: 20569 (24%)
Friday, 03 June 2011:Should child refugees be part of the swap with Malaysia?Yes: 72667 (56%) No: 56478 (44%)
Thursday, 02 June 2011:Do you prefer to shop online?Yes: 47319 (40%) No: 72076 (60%)
Wednesday, 01 June 2011:Do the new cancer findings put you off using your mobile?Yes: 43477 (42%) No: 60920 (58%)
Tuesday, 31 May 2011:Should Australia ban live cattle exports to Indonesia?Yes: 34448 (79%) No: 9305 (21%)
Monday, 30 May 2011:Does the public have a right to know a child’s gender?Yes: 44200 (37%) No: 75046 (63%)
Sunday, 29 May 2011:Does celebrity endorsement sway your opinion on issues?Yes: 6649 (7%) No: 86482 (93%)
Saturday, 28 May 2011:Should betting ads be aired during sporting events?Yes: 16725 (21%) No: 63663 (79%)
Thursday, 26 May 2011:Will Queensland win this year’s State of Origin series?Yes: 19902 (76%) No: 6406 (24%)
Wednesday, 25 May 2011:Will NSW win tonight’s State of Origin clash?Yes: 31592 (33%) No: 63401 (67%)
Tuesday, 24 May 2011:Would you pay to get help checking in for a flight?Yes: 17192 (14%) No: 108022 (86%)
Monday, 23 May 2011:Have you changed your behaviour because of global warming?Yes: 45446 (36%) No: 81105 (64%)
Saturday, 21 May 2011:Do you think Rudd has a chance at ousting Gillard?Yes: 75631 (66%) No: 39508 (34%)
Saturday, 21 May 2011:Have rising fuel costs affected your quality of life?Yes: 80467 (82%) No: 17553 (18%)
Friday, 20 May 2011:Should employees be sacked for planking at work?Yes: 104791 (75%) No: 34840 (25%)
Wednesday, 18 May 2011:Do privacy concerns stop you uploading photos on Facebook?Yes: 73114 (69%) No: 32465 (31%)
Monday, 16 May 2011:Should the Botoxed girl have been removed from her mum?Yes: 108909 (84%) No: 21203 (16%)
Sunday, 15 May 2011:Does Operation Unite do enough to combat booze fuelled crime?Yes: 11870 (19%) No: 50106 (81%)
Saturday, 14 May 2011:Were producers right to make Diana inquest film?Yes: 23632 (34%) No: 45037 (66%)
Friday, 13 May 2011:Was the Sydney Harbour Bridge protest justified?Yes: 59545 (58%) No: 43260 (42%)
Thursday, 12 May 2011:Does Gould’s return give NRL an edge over AFL in Sydney’s west?Yes: 21247 (35%) No: 39684 (65%)
Wednesday, 11 May 2011:Will you be better off under the new federal budget?Yes: 12728 (11%) No: 105642 (89%)
Tuesday, 10 May 2011:Should pensioners be given free set-top boxes in the budget?Yes: 76065 (50%) No: 76875 (50%)
Monday, 09 May 2011:Do you agree with the ‘Malaysia solution’ for asylum seekers?Yes: 37063 (31%) No: 82818 (69%)
Sunday, 08 May 2011:Are Australian workplaces flexible enough for parents?Yes: 39094 (44%) No: 50248 (56%)
Thursday, 05 May 2011:Should teen parents be forced to work or study for welfare?Yes: 120473 (86%) No: 19183 (14%)
Wednesday, 04 May 2011:Should the US release a photo of bin Laden’s body?Yes: 107345 (63%) No: 62418 (37%)
Tuesday, 03 May 2011:Do you fear revenge attacks in the wake of bin Laden’s death?Yes: 94985 (68%) No: 43962 (32%)
Monday, 02 May 2011:Was Jessica Marais the best dressed at the Logies?Yes: 22831 (35%) No: 41670 (65%)
Friday, 29 April 2011:Have Will and Kate changed your opinion of the royals?Yes: 63038 (36%) No: 109707 (64%)
Thursday, 28 April 2011:Should the Chaser’s royal wedding show have been axed?Yes: 78736 (56%) No: 62042 (44%)
Wednesday, 27 April 2011:Is Gai Waterhouse right to criticise the PM’s wardrobe?Yes: 73956 (53%) No: 66481 (47%)
Tuesday, 26 April 2011:Should law breaking asylum seekers face deportation?Yes: 150035 (96%) No: 6383 (4%)
Thursday, 21 April 2011:Should the Villawood rioters be deported?Yes: 123849 (95%) No: 7185 (5%)
Thursday, 21 April 2011:Is the refugee rights rally planned for Anzac Day inappropriate?Yes: 83903 (83%) No: 16823 (17%)
Wednesday, 20 April 2011:Would you pay more for chocolate to help stop child labour?Yes: 77063 (67%) No: 38755 (33%)
Wednesday, 20 April 2011:Should Megan Gale have confronted the women gossiping?Yes: 82332 (76%) No: 26184 (24%)
Monday, 18 April 2011:Should Kevin Rudd replace Julia Gillard as leader of the ALP?Yes: 114716 (66%) No: 58996 (34%)
Sunday, 17 April 2011:Should the government be liable for ADF sex assaults?Yes: 49376 (55%) No: 41180 (45%)
Saturday, 16 April 2011:Should NAB customers be compensated after computer glitch?Yes: 64079 (83%) No: 12878 (17%)
Thursday, 14 April 2011:Should Sheen be allowed back on Two and a Half Men?Yes: 81121 (54%) No: 69862 (46%)
Wednesday, 13 April 2011:Are you struggling to pay your electricity bills?Yes: 117859 (82%) No: 26275 (18%)
Sunday, 10 April 2011:Should poker machine bets be limited to $1-a-pull?Yes: 78583 (73%) No: 29489 (27%)
Thursday, 07 April 2011:Should red and yellow caps stay part of the lifesaver uniform?Yes: 122497 (93%) No: 8766 (7%)
Tuesday, 05 April 2011:Do the new workplace bullying laws go far enough?Yes: 28585 (34%) No: 56602 (66%)
Monday, 04 April 2011:Should daycare staff be fined if children are put into time-out?Yes: 14995 (10%) No: 135051 (90%)
Sunday, 03 April 2011:Should workers be drug tested at building sites?Yes: 88349 (85%) No: 15843 (15%)
Saturday, 02 April 2011:Should smoking be banned from residential blocks?Yes: 66250 (56%) No: 51320 (44%)
Thursday, 31 March 2011:Does Australia need to curb its population growth?Yes: 93482 (70%) No: 39429 (30%)
Wednesday, 30 March 2011:Should Michael Clarke replace Ricky Ponting as captain?Yes: 11713 (47%) No: 13337 (53%)
Wednesday, 30 March 2011:Is Michael Clarke the right choice for captain?Yes: 54355 (48%) No: 60074 (52%)
Tuesday, 29 March 2011:Will you boycott cut-price chicken to support farmers?Yes: 67598 (57%) No: 51052 (43%)
Monday, 28 March 2011:Will Queensland be the next state to fall to the coalition?Yes: 89918 (73%) No: 32822 (27%)
Sunday, 27 March 2011:Does Earth Hour help the environment?Yes: 46096 (37%) No: 78394 (63%)
Saturday, 26 March 2011:Did Labor deserve a drubbing in the NSW election?Yes: 73576 (77%) No: 21495 (23%)
Thursday, 24 March 2011:Should Abbott apologise over the ‘offensive’ carbon tax posters?Yes: 47706 (34%) No: 90717 (66%)
Tuesday, 22 March 2011:Did you sympathise with the schoolyard video bully?Yes: 55869 (38%) No: 89937 (62%)
Monday, 21 March 2011:Should the West have launched airstrikes against Libya?Yes: 93044 (70%) No: 40468 (30%)
Sunday, 20 March 2011:Should women reveal their baby plans in job interviews?Yes: 46934 (37%) No: 80110 (63%)
Friday, 18 March 2011:Should bullying victims be encouraged to fight back?Yes: 109524 (83%) No: 22273 (17%)
Wednesday, 16 March 2011:Are laws the way to tackle school yard bullies?Yes: 67400 (63%) No: 39472 (37%)
Tuesday, 15 March 2011:Do you worry about personal Facebook data being misused?Yes: 108824 (78%) No: 30200 (22%)
Sunday, 13 March 2011:Should Australia still consider using nuclear power?Yes: 79752 (44%) No: 101878 (56%)
Thursday, 10 March 2011:Should welfare payments to gamblers be managed?Yes: 123291 (89%) No: 14571 (11%)
Tuesday, 08 March 2011:Should there be a quota for women on company boards?Yes: 29515 (23%) No: 98331 (77%)
Monday, 07 March 2011:Should sports stars stay away from notorious night spots?Yes: 82643 (74%) No: 28978 (26%)
Sunday, 06 March 2011:Should the law change to allow same sex-marriages?Yes: 63344 (45%) No: 78458 (55%)
Saturday, 05 March 2011:Is high school violence becoming more of a concern?Yes: 77768 (92%) No: 6612 (8%)
Friday, 04 March 2011:Should extra beds go into immigration detention centres?Yes: 32376 (28%) No: 83716 (72%)
Thursday, 03 March 2011:Should the number of kids removed from at-risk homes be capped?Yes: 10830 (10%) No: 96816 (90%)
Wednesday, 02 March 2011:Would you have withdrawn ‘free money’ from the faulty ATMs?Yes: 56516 (38%) No: 93618 (62%)
Tuesday, 01 March 2011:Did you think this year’s Oscars were boring?Yes: 80309 (82%) No: 17502 (18%)
Monday, 28 February 2011:Should The King’s Speech win the best picture Oscar?Yes: 33902 (70%) No: 14334 (30%)
Monday, 28 February 2011:Should The King’s Speech have won the Best Picture Oscar?Yes: 39842 (72%) No: 15830 (28%)
Sunday, 27 February 2011:Do you think Greg Combet would make a good prime minister?Yes: 21854 (26%) No: 63510 (74%)
Saturday, 26 February 2011:Should Charlie Sheen be given another chance?Yes: 42497 (38%) No: 68629 (62%)
Friday, 25 February 2011:Do you think the carbon tax will create jobs?Yes: 15379 (12%) No: 109104 (88%)
Thursday, 24 February 2011:Do you have money left to give after all the natural disasters?Yes: 5238 (21%) No: 19813 (79%)
Thursday, 24 February 2011:Should Anna Bligh have posed for Women’s Weekly?Yes: 68946 (59%) No: 48695 (41%)
Wednesday, 23 February 2011:Do you think charges against Julian Assange are politically motivated?Yes: 87209 (83%) No: 17895 (17%)
Tuesday, 22 February 2011:Do ‘naughty’ Top Gear presenters need to tone it down?Yes: 32138 (34%) No: 61560 (66%)
Sunday, 20 February 2011:Do you support Australia’s military effort in Afghanistan?Yes: 45450 (47%) No: 51740 (53%)
Saturday, 19 February 2011:Do you think Sweden would give Julian Assange a fair hearing?Yes: 35447 (38%) No: 57595 (62%)
Friday, 18 February 2011:Are soccer fans the most violent spectators?Yes: 79169 (78%) No: 22638 (22%)
Thursday, 17 February 2011:Should banks charge non-customers ATM fees?Yes: 25922 (19%) No: 112216 (81%)
Wednesday, 16 February 2011:Should taxpayers cover the funeral costs of asylum seekers?Yes: 31127 (19%) No: 136957 (81%)
Tuesday, 15 February 2011:Is it wrong for celebrities to endorse junk food?Yes: 82096 (69%) No: 36135 (31%)
Monday, 14 February 2011:Should an ‘opt-out’ system for organ donation be introduced?Yes: 66425 (67%) No: 32245 (33%)
Sunday, 13 February 2011:Should the number of supervised hours be reduced for learner drivers?Yes: 34815 (30%) No: 80239 (70%)
Saturday, 12 February 2011:Should private schools be allowed to expel students for being gay?Yes: 28292 (20%) No: 110364 (80%)
Friday, 11 February 2011:Should supermarkets be allowed to sell super-cheap milk?Yes: 50292 (33%) No: 100703 (67%)
Wednesday, 09 February 2011:Has the media treated Tony Abbott fairly?Yes: 52754 (33%) No: 109334 (67%)
Sunday, 06 February 2011:Does Julian Assange deserve an apology from the PM?Yes: 44169 (50%) No: 43757 (50%)
Saturday, 05 February 2011:Do you think the situation in Egypt can be resolved peacefully?Yes: 29102 (32%) No: 63276 (68%)
Friday, 04 February 2011:Should poker machines be banned from pubs and clubs?Yes: 81035 (60%) No: 54003 (40%)
Wednesday, 02 February 2011:Will Thorpe’s comeback be good for men’s swimming?Yes: 73399 (67%) No: 35501 (33%)
Wednesday, 02 February 2011:Do pop culture artefacts belong in museums?Yes: 33399 (40%) No: 49694 (60%)
Tuesday, 01 February 2011:Should isolated Amazon tribes be left alone?Yes: 133129 (96%) No: 5029 (4%)
Monday, 31 January 2011:Did Michael Clarke deserve to be booed by the Gabba crowd?Yes: 41944 (29%) No: 101597 (71%)
Sunday, 30 January 2011:Should people from NSW be exempt from the flood levy?Yes: 41873 (26%) No: 117417 (74%)
Friday, 28 January 2011:Will the government flood levy stop you from donating?Yes: 124296 (77%) No: 36539 (23%)
Thursday, 27 January 2011:Should Australians be forced to pay a flood levy?Yes: 26695 (15%) No: 145741 (85%)
Wednesday, 26 January 2011:Is it time for the Australian flag to change?Yes: 29213 (22%) No: 103054 (78%)
Tuesday, 25 January 2011:Should you be allowed to film the birth of your baby in hospital?Yes: 107341 (78%) No: 30757 (22%)
Monday, 24 January 2011:Would you be happy to buy flood-damaged produce?Yes: 70036 (59%) No: 49586 (41%)
Sunday, 23 January 2011:Do you believe Australia makes migrants feel welcome?Yes: 58655 (60%) No: 39870 (40%)
Saturday, 22 January 2011:Does China’s growing military might worry you?Yes: 66911 (64%) No: 38375 (36%)
Friday, 21 January 2011:Would you be happy to pay a ‘flood tax’ to help Queensland?Yes: 38044 (25%) No: 111589 (75%)
Thursday, 20 January 2011:Should Germaine Greer be on an Aussie legend stamp?Yes: 16301 (14%) No: 99668 (86%)
Wednesday, 19 January 2011:Should junk food ads be banned from kids’ TV?Yes: 99135 (81%) No: 22958 (19%)
Tuesday, 18 January 2011:Should the government change flood insurance regulations?Yes: 117658 (92%) No: 10007 (8%)
Monday, 17 January 2011:Should levees be built along the Brisbane River?Yes: 79999 (70%) No: 33639 (30%)
Saturday, 15 January 2011:Have you donated any money to the flood relief fund?Yes: 56928 (42%) No: 77753 (58%)
Friday, 14 January 2011:Would Anna Bligh make a good prime minister?Yes: 76530 (54%) No: 63941 (46%)
Wednesday, 12 January 2011:Is the AFL nude photo girl being exploited by the media?Yes: 10684 (55%) No: 8818 (45%)
Wednesday, 12 January 2011:Are the Queensland floods Australia’s worst natural disaster?Yes: 87215 (64%) No: 49122 (36%)
Tuesday, 11 January 2011:Does the sound of a dentist’s drill terrify you?Yes: 51024 (55%) No: 41031 (45%)
Monday, 10 January 2011:Would fear prevent you from going to someone’s aid? Yes: 50764 (46%) No: 58767 (54%)
Sunday, 09 January 2011:Should Ian Thorpe compete in the London 2012 Olympics?Yes: 54935 (60%) No: 35953 (40%)
Saturday, 08 January 2011:Should couples be able to choose the sex of their child?Yes: 22505 (17%) No: 109700 (83%)
Friday, 07 January 2011:Is the current Aussie cricket team the worst ever?Yes: 81286 (72%) No: 31155 (28%)
Thursday, 06 January 2011:Do you think cricketer Phil Hughes cheated?Yes: 23242 (31%) No: 51909 (69%)
Wednesday, 05 January 2011:Should online shoppers pay GST on purchases under $1000?Yes: 23551 (18%) No: 106275 (82%)
Tuesday, 04 January 2011:Should Australia negotiate a lower whale hunt quota?Yes: 56559 (56%) No: 43653 (44%)
Monday, 03 January 2011:Should whaling in Australia’s Antarctic waters be banned?Yes: 93654 (95%) No: 4910 (5%)
Sunday, 02 January 2011:Are you willing to donate your organs after death?Yes: 74242 (76%) No: 23642 (24%)
Thursday, 30 December 2010:Is Michael Clarke the right man to captain Australia?Yes: 23522 (38%) No: 38578 (62%)
Wednesday, 29 December 2010:Should Ricky Ponting resign as Australian cricket captain?Yes: 91925 (57%) No: 68701 (43%)
Tuesday, 28 December 2010:Do you prefer an e-reader over printed books?Yes: 8509 (11%) No: 69064 (89%)
Monday, 27 December 2010:Should gay couples be banned from fostering children?Yes: 53533 (49%) No: 54688 (51%)
Sunday, 26 December 2010:Will you take advantage of Boxing Day sales?Yes: 19815 (20%) No: 81362 (80%)
Saturday, 25 December 2010:Did you get fewer Christmas presents this year?Yes: 42516 (63%) No: 25132 (37%)
Friday, 24 December 2010:Did you finish your Christmas shopping before today?Yes: 41270 (25%) No: 123645 (75%)
Wednesday, 22 December 2010:Should telcos charge police for data that help solve crimes?Yes: 22695 (23%) No: 77999 (77%)
Tuesday, 21 December 2010:Does more need to be done to protect the privacy of sports stars?Yes: 71191 (48%) No: 78330 (52%)
Tuesday, 21 December 2010:Should more be done to protect the privacy of sports stars?Yes: 49112 (41%) No: 69530 (59%)
Saturday, 18 December 2010:Have you regretted anything from your work Christmas party?Yes: 11217 (16%) No: 58292 (84%)
Friday, 17 December 2010:Should Ponting retire if Australia lose the Ashes?Yes: 64680 (59%) No: 45093 (41%)
Thursday, 16 December 2010:Does the government need to change its boat people policy?Yes: 96710 (76%) No: 31249 (24%)
Wednesday, 15 December 2010:Should the government do more to help Julian Assange?Yes: 61059 (54%) No: 52458 (46%)
Tuesday, 14 December 2010:Should our money have been used to bring Oprah to Australia?Yes: 59663 (36%) No: 107771 (64%)
Saturday, 11 December 2010:Should Disney cut ties with Miley Cyrus? Yes: 49973 (70%) No: 21189 (30%)
Friday, 10 December 2010:Are you struggling to pay your power bill ? Yes: 101739 (78%) No: 29196 (22%)
Thursday, 09 December 2010:Were Visa and Mastercard right to cut off WikiLeaks?Yes: 52117 (37%) No: 87440 (63%)
Wednesday, 08 December 2010:Are you excited that Oprah is in Australia?Yes: 34990 (19%) No: 146655 (81%)
Tuesday, 07 December 2010:Are you buying more Christmas presents online this year?Yes: 31947 (29%) No: 79572 (71%)
Monday, 06 December 2010:Should smoking be banned at outdoor public areas?Yes: 92038 (63%) No: 53083 (37%)
Sunday, 05 December 2010:Will an R18 rating for games help protect children?Yes: 33735 (36%) No: 59852 (64%)
Saturday, 04 December 2010:Should the drink-driving limit be lowered to 0.02?Yes: 46511 (44%) No: 59763 (56%)
Friday, 03 December 2010:Did Australia deserve to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup?Yes: 67337 (51%) No: 65373 (49%)
Thursday, 02 December 2010:Should an Oprah logo be allowed on the Harbour Bridge?Yes: 35481 (23%) No: 116060 (77%)
Wednesday, 01 December 2010:Should smoking in all public spaces be banned?Yes: 105940 (66%) No: 55779 (34%)
Sunday, 28 November 2010:Should underground mining be stopped in Australia?Yes: 31300 (31%) No: 68760 (69%)
Saturday, 27 November 2010:Would you feel safe flying a Qantas A380?Yes: 52870 (57%) No: 39101 (43%)
Thursday, 25 November 2010:Do you think universities should ban smoking on campus?Yes: 86175 (70%) No: 36870 (30%)
Wednesday, 24 November 2010:Have economic pressures made you put off having children?Yes: 52510 (51%) No: 50170 (49%)
Tuesday, 23 November 2010:Should there be minimum jail sentences for serious crimes?Yes: 103998 (81%) No: 24296 (19%)
Monday, 22 November 2010:Is alcohol abuse a bigger problem than illegal drug addiction?Yes: 112218 (73%) No: 41163 (27%)
Saturday, 20 November 2010:Would you be happy to see Camilla Parker Bowles as queen?Yes: 17601 (15%) No: 98208 (85%)
Thursday, 18 November 2010:Is too much fuss made about royal weddings?Yes: 108324 (71%) No: 43846 (29%)
Tuesday, 16 November 2010:Should parliament have a conscience vote on gay marriage?Yes: 68459 (55%) No: 55307 (45%)
Monday, 15 November 2010:Should foreigners be stopped from buying prime farmland?Yes: 148201 (90%) No: 16454 (10%)
Sunday, 14 November 2010:Do you want Pauline Hanson to return to politics?Yes: 50924 (45%) No: 62196 (55%)
Saturday, 13 November 2010:Do you trust the big four banks after their recent rate rises?Yes: 8118 (8%) No: 90472 (92%)
Friday, 12 November 2010:Does dropping exit fees make up for interest rate rises?Yes: 7503 (8%) No: 83321 (92%)
Thursday, 11 November 2010:Should the government limit the fat content of fast food?Yes: 38063 (72%) No: 14721 (28%)
Wednesday, 10 November 2010:Was the school right to ban the lesbian couple from the dance?Yes: 13579 (9%) No: 143628 (91%)
Sunday, 07 November 2010:Should fast food giants list kilojoule counts on menus?Yes: 73368 (84%) No: 14048 (16%)
Saturday, 06 November 2010:Would a greater US military presence in Asia make you feel safer?Yes: 30916 (35%) No: 57694 (65%)
Thursday, 04 November 2010:Would you change banks if exit fees were abolished?Yes: 98025 (81%) No: 23242 (19%)
Wednesday, 03 November 2010:Are you emotionally attached to any Australian TV characters?Yes: 22633 (18%) No: 102538 (82%)
Tuesday, 02 November 2010:Should Melbourne Cup day be a national holiday?Yes: 116276 (62%) No: 69839 (38%)
Monday, 01 November 2010:Should sharks that attack people be killed?Yes: 111257 (54%) No: 94828 (46%)
Sunday, 31 October 2010:Should hospitals sack nurses who flirt with patients?Yes: 24499 (22%) No: 86238 (78%)
Saturday, 30 October 2010:Are you going to bet on the Melbourne Cup?Yes: 33200 (35%) No: 61305 (65%)
Friday, 29 October 2010:Should the militia of an Afghan warlord be trained in Australia?Yes: 9553 (9%) No: 95926 (91%)
Thursday, 28 October 2010:Would you pay more to support Australian-made groceries?Yes: 83749 (63%) No: 49769 (37%)
Wednesday, 27 October 2010:Should families be limited to two children?Yes: 37216 (25%) No: 112184 (75%)
Monday, 25 October 2010:Should prisoners be allowed to buy houses while in jail?Yes: 17775 (12%) No: 127633 (88%)
Sunday, 24 October 2010:Should the Aussie athletes who tested positive be named?Yes: 87137 (87%) No: 13486 (13%)
Saturday, 23 October 2010:Do you think judges give lighter sentences to celebrities?Yes: 87939 (91%) No: 8228 (9%)
Friday, 22 October 2010:Should sexualised imagery be more tightly controlled?Yes: 67873 (71%) No: 27667 (29%)
Monday, 18 October 2010:Do you take harassment more seriously after the DJs case?Yes: 28447 (25%) No: 84954 (75%)
Sunday, 17 October 2010:Do you think Australia is over-committed in Afghanistan?Yes: 48838 (63%) No: 29036 (37%)
Saturday, 16 October 2010:Is it a good thing our dollar hit parity with the greenback?Yes: 61515 (67%) No: 30955 (33%)
Friday, 15 October 2010:Are the proposed Murray-Darling water cuts too severe? Yes: 59685 (69%) No: 26649 (31%)
Thursday, 14 October 2010:Was Shane Warne right to criticise Ricky Ponting?Yes: 43730 (44%) No: 56266 (56%)
Tuesday, 12 October 2010:Should abortion be decriminalised in Queensland?Yes: 92050 (73%) No: 34718 (27%)
Tuesday, 12 October 2010:Are Australian diggers in Afghanistan ‘dying in vain’?Yes: 81247 (67%) No: 40876 (33%)
Monday, 11 October 2010:Did the PM mislead the public about Tony Abbott’s troop visit?Yes: 100409 (70%) No: 42972 (30%)
Sunday, 10 October 2010:Are we being charged too much for electricity?Yes: 127002 (96%) No: 4779 (4%)
Thursday, 07 October 2010:Should the players quizzed over assault have been named?Yes: 57661 (46%) No: 67231 (54%)
Wednesday, 06 October 2010:Are Kerri-Anne’s views on women and footballers justified?Yes: 76734 (78%) No: 21968 (22%)
Tuesday, 05 October 2010:Should Tasers be banned in the police force?Yes: 37681 (27%) No: 101380 (73%)
Tuesday, 05 October 2010:Should Tony Abbott have stopped off in Afghanistan?Yes: 31337 (54%) No: 26412 (46%)
Monday, 04 October 2010:Do Australian troops in Afghanistan need more support?Yes: 92227 (85%) No: 15730 (15%)
Sunday, 03 October 2010:Would you feel safe going to the Delhi Games?Yes: 14713 (14%) No: 91844 (86%)
Friday, 01 October 2010:Should the ‘bikini race’ be allowed to go ahead?Yes: 94984 (68%) No: 43931 (32%)
Wednesday, 29 September 2010:Do you think the Top Model winner debacle was staged?Yes: 48349 (40%) No: 71563 (60%)
Tuesday, 28 September 2010:Will the minority government last the full three-year term?Yes: 27426 (19%) No: 116274 (81%)
Sunday, 26 September 2010:Is it a good idea to replay the AFL grand final?Yes: 34239 (29%) No: 84459 (71%)
Saturday, 25 September 2010:Do you think the Delhi Games will be a success?Yes: 16167 (16%) No: 82785 (84%)
Thursday, 23 September 2010:Should baby formula only be available on prescription?Yes: 20416 (15%) No: 117864 (85%)
Tuesday, 21 September 2010:Is Kevin Rudd behaving like a PM overseas?Yes: 82125 (70%) No: 35768 (30%)
Monday, 20 September 2010:Is it too dangerous for athletes to go to the Games?Yes: 103275 (77%) No: 31609 (23%)
Sunday, 19 September 2010:Should the Coalition be obliged to co-operate with Labor?Yes: 34113 (36%) No: 61484 (64%)
Saturday, 18 September 2010:Should police do more to protect foreign students?Yes: 26445 (36%) No: 46105 (64%)
Wednesday, 15 September 2010:Did France act fairly by banning the burqa-style Islamic veil?Yes: 137581 (85%) No: 24441 (15%)
Tuesday, 14 September 2010:Should smoking be banned at outdoor cafes?Yes: 115575 (67%) No: 57326 (33%)
Monday, 13 September 2010:Is burning religious texts an abuse of freedom of speech?Yes: 69275 (57%) No: 53319 (43%)
Sunday, 12 September 2010:Is Gillard’s new ministry a reward to Rudd plotters?Yes: 67236 (75%) No: 22550 (25%)
Saturday, 11 September 2010:Do you think Rudd will make a good foreign affairs minister?Yes: 65027 (59%) No: 44412 (41%)
Friday, 10 September 2010:Are popular songs appropriate at Catholic funerals?Yes: 84204 (83%) No: 17760 (17%)
Thursday, 09 September 2010:Should the Brisbane Lions sack Brendan Fevola?Yes: 99506 (71%) No: 40021 (29%)
Tuesday, 07 September 2010:Have the independent MPs taken too long to decide?Yes: 99558 (86%) No: 15868 (14%)
Sunday, 05 September 2010:Is it right for the independents to demand parliamentary reforms?Yes: 42033 (46%) No: 50249 (54%)
Saturday, 04 September 2010:Should the three independents back Labor?Yes: 119060 (61%) No: 76018 (39%)
Thursday, 02 September 2010:Should ‘gay’ be removed from the Kookaburra song?Yes: 11814 (7%) No: 152100 (93%)
Wednesday, 01 September 2010:Is Paul Hogan the victim of a witch-hunt?Yes: 82803 (64%) No: 46917 (36%)
Tuesday, 31 August 2010:Would a cap on poker machine bets curb problem gambling?Yes: 64969 (38%) No: 107755 (62%)
Monday, 30 August 2010:Should the independent MPs be forced to choose sides this week?Yes: 91626 (71%) No: 37644 (29%)
Saturday, 28 August 2010:Should Paul Hogan be forced to stay in Australia?Yes: 37093 (39%) No: 57542 (61%)
Friday, 27 August 2010:Could Greens and Liberals co-operate in government?Yes: 51640 (32%) No: 108150 (68%)
Thursday, 26 August 2010:Should Tony Abbott hand his costings to Treasury?Yes: 112815 (66%) No: 59047 (34%)
Wednesday, 25 August 2010:Is it time to debate our involvement in Afghanistan?Yes: 87280 (72%) No: 34600 (28%)
Monday, 23 August 2010:Does the Governor-General have a conflict of interest?Yes: 115523 (65%) No: 62303 (35%)
Saturday, 21 August 2010:Will the country’s government change today?Yes: 82610 (56%) No: 64298 (44%)
Saturday, 21 August 2010:Do you think Tony Abbott will be Australia’s next leader?Yes: 121055 (54%) No: 101263 (46%)
Friday, 20 August 2010:Does Tony Abbott’s marathon campaign session impress you?Yes: 55673 (41%) No: 81350 (59%)
Thursday, 19 August 2010:Have you decided how you will vote on Saturday?Yes: 134775 (79%) No: 36345 (21%)
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